Things You Save in a Fire: A Novel

Written by Katherine Center

Narrated by Thérèse Plummer

"In this charming listen, narrator Therese Plummer portrays Cassie Hanwell--a confident, talented firefighter whose solitary life is upended when her estranged mother asks her to relocate to Boston...A wonderful story of forgiveness, friendship, love, and hope." — AudioFile

From the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away comes a stunning new audiobook about courage, hope, and learning to love against all odds.

Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she's seen her fair share of them, and she's a total pro at other people's tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to give up her whole life and move to Boston, Cassie suddenly has an emergency of her own.

The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie's old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren't exactly thrilled to have a "lady" on the crew—even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the infatuation-inspiring rookie, who doesn't seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can't think about that. Because love is girly, and it’s not her thing. And don’t forget the advice her old captain gave her: Never date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping...and it means risking it all—the only job she’s ever loved, and the hero she’s worked like hell to become.

Katherine Center's Things You Save in a Fire is a heartfelt and healing tour-de-force about the strength of vulnerability, the nourishing magic of forgiveness, and the life-changing power of defining courage, at last, for yourself.

Praise for Things You Save in a Fire:

"Oh, how I love Katherine Center’s writing…and her newest novel is a gem...a story that reminds us that the word emergency has, at its heart, a new beginning. Just read it, and thank me later.” - Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author

“...a sharp and witty exploration of love and forgiveness that is at once insightful, entertaining, and thoroughly addictive.” - Kirkus, starred review

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Aug 13, 2019
• ISBN: 9781250221391

Katherine Center

BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of over half a dozen books, including How to Walk Away, Things You Save in a Fire, and What You Wish For. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” Her books have made countless Best-Of lists, including RealSimple’s Best Books of 2020, Amazon's Top 100 Books of 2019, Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and many more. Bestselling author Emily Henry calls her summer 2022 book, The Bodyguard, “a shot of pure joy.” The movie adaptation of Katherine’s novel The Lost Husband (starring Josh Duhamel) hit #1 on Netflix, and her novel Happiness for Beginners is now a Netflix original starring Ellie Kemper. Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two kids, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.

Reviews for Things You Save in a Fire

[Liat Mizrachi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great story and one of the best narrator I had the pleasure to listen to. Highly recommended ❤

[Casey Jones · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book has everything you want in a book! Strong main character. Great character evolution! Best epilogue I've ever read! Tied up all of the story and left me feeling complete after reading it!

[Shoshi River Sudry · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A charming story, the writer knows what she's talking about. Most enjoyable and interesting. Touches on many points of life. And the narrator, takes the story to the next level. She was great.

[letty · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing book, one of my fav this year... love the Boston accents too

[Heather Cockerline · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I wasn’t sure at first but this book drew me in. If you let it, you will be left with topics to reflect on in your life like chronic illness, neuroplasicity, rage, forgiveness and being brave. This book has surprising depth for an easy read.

[Justine Gillis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was not at all what I was expecting. It was so much more. I can’t even remember the last time I had so many feelings while reading.

[Diana Rise · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Katherine Center's writing will have you laughing then boom she hits you in the solar plexus with a bomb of emotion that reduces you to sobbing ..I cried so hard in the last third of this book..I wonder why I missed this book in 2019., but I i am adding this to my fave books of 2019 on Good Reads. The narrator was an absolute amazing voice actor.. had me thinking of the mom from the Incredibles ..see my full review on @angelsmomreads on IG and Good Reads

[Valentina · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing! One of the best contemporary novels I have read this year.

[Dana Noweder · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I didn’t want it to end! I fell in love with the characters and the message. This will be a book I will be gifting because so many people need to read it!

[Patti Piorkowski · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book. I will recommend it to my friends

[samantha · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The narrator is awesome! however i feel the book should have been more flashed out, it was a lot of tell but not show.

[Mindy Kittay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the characters I love the love story I love learning about fires and firefighters it just was a great book with a great narrator.

[Helen O. F. · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Rounded up to 5 stars. I did really enjoy this book. Cassie is a badass. The best of the best. It's also a romance story, with a tragic past. It's hopeful and sad and a story about forgiveness. Only downside for me is the "looked at me like X" in narration. It's a bit too much for me.

[Tīna · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of the Goodreads 2019 nominees.
I would give 3,8 stars for this chick-lit romance. It says it all. A cheesy, amusing, thrilling book with few cliche elements.
Still hard to put it down (or stop listening to an audiobook) and go to sleep.
Easy and fast read during a pandemic.

[Todd Habeger · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book!!! Good moral to the book. Must must must read!

[Britney · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After finishing up an extensive nonfiction book, this was the perfect audio book to relax my mind and whisk me off into a fun, romantic world. Great characters! Great, realistic storyline. Also, I would love to clone The Rookie! Haha!

Bonus: I absolutely love how it addresses a major issue in society for women, sending us all away with something to reflect on and to be careful about.

[Maria Bautista · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An amazing and extremely extraordinary journey with Cassie.
I love it, from the beginning till the end.
As well I laughed it too much.
This book with a woman firefighter as a protagonist was totally new journey of what women are capable to do.
I recommend you to read it.
Now.. click it and start a beautiful of love and grow.

[Mercedes Stafford · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved this book read it in one day the only pet peeve was how often the author used duh

[Gemma Arnold · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this audiobook.
I listened to it over a couple of days and really liked the story. Great characters and relationships, great plot, I laughed and felt heartbroken. I loved the firefighter camaraderie. Would recommend it to friends.

[Dawn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this audiobook. Easy listening, but not long and dragged out as some stories like this could be.

[Tina Mclaughlin · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Just terrible. There was too much detail and unbelievable, as far as the story went. The mother did not deserve forgiveness.

[Lara Bailey · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

So so. Predictable. Fair message and moral to the story.

[jchiricu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book. Have great characters a be a fun plot.

[Tricia Roebuck · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Nicely done, easy listen, good story told from female perspective.

[Sakunthala Sambanthan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Funny book. Learned a lot about firefighters in the US.

[Saira Meza · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The book was way too detailed. The book didn’t start getting good until 10-11 chapters in.

[Terry Sanders · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Pretty obvious and contrived. I’m not big on romance stories.

[irene · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The pace was quite slow at the beginning and the build up was very good. Even though I couldn’t relate to the main character at all times (because my life and character are so different) I did empathise with her so much! I’m not a big crier with books, but this made me cry at least four times. I loved the book and the story and will definitely listen to it again or reread it.

[Varsha rajanahally · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

the book was a lovely romantic stroll and then towards the end so deep with the message about forgiveness and healing. This book came to me just at the perfect time in my life. The epilogue felt like a msg just for me and I hope it feels the same for everyone who reads/listens to it!

[Emily Yeoman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Possibly a new favourite. Loved, Loved, Loved this book. X