Author: Heather Ezell
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date: March 13, 2018
Pages: 320
Source/format: ARC//publisher
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Synopsis (from goodreads.com):
A dark, riveting YA contemporary novel that follows sixteen-year-old Audrey as she navigates a tumultuous and all-consuming relationship, while reckoning with her family's evacuation from the path of a deadly wildfire.
The autumn morning after sixteen-year-old Audrey Harper loses her virginity, she wakes to a loud, persistent knocking at her front door. Waiting for her are two firemen, there to let her know that the moment she's been dreading has arrived: the enormous wildfire sweeping through Orange County, California, is now dangerously close to her idyllic gated community of Coto de Caza, and it's time to evacuate.
Over the course of the next twenty-four hours, as Audrey wrestles with the possibility of losing her family home, she also recalls her early, easy summer days with Brooks, the charming, passionate, but troubled volunteer firefighter who enchants Audrey--and who is just as enthralled by her. But as secrets from Brooks's dark past come to light, Audrey can't help but wonder if there's danger in the pull she feels--both toward this boy and toward the fire burning in the distance.
M Y T H O U G H T S
Nothing Left to Burn is a touching and moving novel about Audrey Harper who needs to pack her belongings and evacuate her home. A fire is engulfing Orange County California at a rapid rate and Audrey has no choice but to abandon her home all by herself without the physical support of her family.
The novel spans within 24 hours alternating between present time and back to before the fire even started. Just like the fire, Audrey's life is unpredictable and a lot happens within a day. Nothing Left to Burn delves into Audrey's life with her friends and the volunteer firefighter who she is smitten with.
Heather Ezell writes with an honest voice. Ezell compares and contrasts three types of relationships within the novel. Audrey has a complex relationship with her sister. She talks about how she used to dance but became bored with it. The only reason why Audrey stuck with ballet until she was fourteen is to keep her sister's dream alive. Maya had cancer at a young age and then Maya relapsed. Audrey was living Maya's dream but not her own because Maya was in and out of hospitals for a long time. It wasn't until Maya became cancer free that she was able to pursue dancing. That is dedication for Audrey to pursue dance for Maya. Audrey pushed herself because she wanted to see Maya happy.
Grace is Audrey's best friend. She is true to herself, is resilient and is very supportive. Grace always has Audrey's best interests and is there to give Audrey advice when needed. The last relationship is quite a toxic one but it's a spoiler to the end of the plot line. Because Ezell has experienced first hand of evacuating due to a fire in Southern California at a young age, Audrey's POV is authentic. I also enjoyed reading Audrey's internal monologues.
Although the journey is unpredictable and can be volatile like a burning fire, Nothing Left to Burn is compelling and is a heart racing read. Pick up this debut contemporary novel when you have a chance.
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