by Kevin Wilson
First published 2019
Lillian receives an unexpected letter from Madison, her former boarding school roommate. Madison needs help with her twin stepchildren, but there's something unusual about them: they spontaneously ignite when upset, their skin erupting in flames. Lillian thinks Madison is joking until she discovers the truth. With her own life stuck in a rut, Lillian accepts the job as their caretaker. During one sweltering summer, she learns to manage the twins' fiery episodes while navigating the household dynamics with Madison's ambitious politician husband. The twins test Lillian's patience and creativity, but she develops fierce protective instincts toward them. As the summer progresses, Lillian realizes these extraordinary children might be exactly what her disappointing life has been missing. The relationship transforms all three of them, offering Lillian a chance at the meaningful existence she had always wanted.
Genres: fiction, contemporary, magical-realism, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
254 pages · Hardcover · Ecco