At Library Love Fest, we LOVE debut authors, we LOVE WWII historical fiction, and we extra-LOVE when these two coalesce into fresh and powerful new perspectives on this oft-studied topic. Enter The Fire by Night by Teresa Messineo, a bold and heartfelt debut that shines light on the unsung heroes of the war—military nurses—through the eyes of two best friends providing care on the front lines. Check out some of the praise below!
Booklist calls The Fire by Night "a powerful read" in the upcoming December 1st issue.
Kirkus Reviews hails it as "…an All Quiet on the Western Front from American women's perspectives…Jo's and Kay's devastating military experiences ring true. A vibrant telling of the nurses' nightmares during a brutal war."
Library Journal adds, "Meticulously researched…Messineo has an eye for accurate historical detail and skillfully portrays her characters’ inner emotions; this story will stay with readers long after they have finished the book."
Finally, Publishers Weekly says, "Messineo’s writing style, in which scenes often play out without extensive explanation but are later elucidated, adds to the feel of wartime chaos…Engaging."
We also gushed about this book in our October episode of Under the Radar, Over the Moon. Give it a watch here. The Fire by Night goes on sale January 17th, so you can head over to Edelweiss to request an egalley. Enjoy!
-Chris