When We Caught Fire

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Luxe series comes a lush, romantic novel about the love triangle that started Chicago’s infamous Great Fire.

It’s 1871, and Emmeline Carter is poised to take Chicago’s high society by storm. Between her father’s sudden rise to wealth and her recent engagement to Chicago’s most eligible bachelor, Emmeline has it all. But she can’t stop thinking about the life she left behind, including her childhood sweetheart, Anders Magnuson.

Fiona Byrne, Emmeline’s childhood best friend, is delighted by her friend’s sudden rise to prominence, especially since it means Fiona is free to pursue Anders herself. But when Emmeline risks everything for one final fling with Anders, Fiona feels completely betrayed.

As the summer turns to fall, the city is at a tipping point: friendships are tested, hearts are broken, and the tiniest spark might set everything ablaze.

Sweeping, soapy, and romantic, this is a story about an epic love triangle—one that will literally set the city ablaze and change the lives of three childhood friends forever.

In a city simmering with secrets and summer heat, who will get burned when passions finally ignite?

• Love Triangle: Emmeline is engaged to the perfect high-society gentleman, but she can't let go of her first love, Anders. The problem? Her best friend, Fiona, is determined to claim Anders for herself.
• Best Friends to Rivals: Fiona has always stood in Emmeline’s shadow. Now, with a chance at the boy they both adore, their lifelong friendship is about to go up in smoke.
• High Society Romance: Step into the opulent world of 1871 Chicago, where new money clashes with old, and every society ball hides a scandalous secret.
• A City on the Brink: As romantic tensions boil over, the long, dry summer of 1871 has Chicago at a tipping point. One spark is all it will take to burn it all down.

It’s 1871, and Emmeline is poised to take Chicago’s high society by storm. With her faithful best friend and lady’s maid, Fiona, by her side, all of Emmeline’s dreams are about to come true. And Fiona is delighted by her best friend’s rise to prominence—even if it means living in the shadow of Chicago’s elite.

But on the night of Emmeline’s engagement party to the most eligible man in the city, Emmeline is suddenly struck with the memory of a life long ago, a childhood spent in the swamplands of Chicago, and Anders, the boy who she left behind there. Anders, who is now a hot-shot boxer in the bad part of town . . . Anders, who Fiona loves as well.

When Emmeline risks everything to see him for a final fling, Fiona can’t help but feel like she’s losing the last thing that was truly hers—her heart.

It’s only a matter of time before everything goes up in flames: their friendship, their love, and even the city of Chicago itself.

Praise for The Luxe series: “A big, sumptuous tale of catty girls, dark secrets and windswept romance unfurls in this compulsively readable novel of late–19th century New York City socialites…Readers will clamor for this sharp, smart drama of friends, lovers, lies and betrayal.” - Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Luxe series: “Mystery, romance, jealousy, betrayal, humor, and gorgeous, historically accurate details. I couldn’t put The Luxe down!” - Cecily von Ziegesar, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Gossip Girl series

Praise for The Luxe series: “Skillfully plotted and full of decadent detail. Godbersen captures the drawing–room sensibilities and society flair of Wharton, Thackeray, and James without burdening readers with their posh literariness or social critique.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“The action-packed ending leads to an apogee that will appeal to lovers of soap operas. Danielle Steele for the younger set.” - Kirkus Reviews

“A steamy romance set amid the tragic Chicago fire of 1871 that will intrigue fans of dramatic, swoony historical fiction.” - School Library Journal