Devi Nair
π Read as a book π 306 pages | ARC by publisher π·οΈ Publisher: Vagrant Press | Nimbus Publishing π Published: January 15, 2026
Let's get one thing on the record: when an award-winning YA author makes the leap into adult fiction, the stakes are real. Vicki Grant has built a career writing for younger readers with the kind of wit and emotional precision that most adult authors would envy. So, when she announced These Are The Fireworks as her adult debut, I was already sold. No blurb needed.
What I didn't anticipate was how good the family dynamics would be. The Fforde sister dynamics are the heartbeat of this story. That tight-knit, slightly suffocating bond felt incredibly real, especially as they orbit around Petra, their newly-widowed mother. Petra, meanwhile, is a strong force in herself. Watching a sixty-nine year old woman essentially reinvent herself is equal parts chaotic and quietly devastating, once you understand what was underneath the marriage she's escaping.
The rotating POV is handled really well. Nina anchors the story, but getting glimpses from Petra, Gord, and the detective adds genuine depth and texture to the story. I tore through this in one sitting. It's that kind of addictive. There were a few moments where the pacing dipped (some of the sister-focused details), but overall, nearly everything served a purpose.
Would I recommend it These Are the Fireworks is Vicki Grant announcing that she belongs in adult fiction as much as she does in YA, and doing it with wit, warmth, and a mystery that genuinely surprised me. Itβs sharp, character-driven, and just twisty enough to keep you guessing without losing its grounding.
π Read as a book π 306 pages | ARC by publisher π·οΈ Publisher: Vagrant Press | Nimbus Publishing π Published: January 15, 2026
Let's get one thing on the record: when an award-winning YA author makes the leap into adult fiction, the stakes are real. Vicki Grant has built a career writing for younger readers with the kind of wit and emotional precision that most adult authors would envy. So, when she announced These Are The Fireworks as her adult debut, I was already sold. No blurb needed.
What I didn't anticipate was how good the family dynamics would be. The Fforde sister dynamics are the heartbeat of this story. That tight-knit, slightly suffocating bond felt incredibly real, especially as they orbit around Petra, their newly-widowed mother. Petra, meanwhile, is a strong force in herself. Watching a sixty-nine year old woman essentially reinvent herself is equal parts chaotic and quietly devastating, once you understand what was underneath the marriage she's escaping.
The rotating POV is handled really well. Nina anchors the story, but getting glimpses from Petra, Gord, and the detective adds genuine depth and texture to the story. I tore through this in one sitting. It's that kind of addictive. There were a few moments where the pacing dipped (some of the sister-focused details), but overall, nearly everything served a purpose.
Would I recommend it These Are the Fireworks is Vicki Grant announcing that she belongs in adult fiction as much as she does in YA, and doing it with wit, warmth, and a mystery that genuinely surprised me. Itβs sharp, character-driven, and just twisty enough to keep you guessing without losing its grounding.