One of the reasons I enjoyed reading this book is because our protagonist, Lillian, is such a witty narrator. She is thrust into this unexpected situation, and her internal monologue reflects that. Her thoughts are chaotic, but imagine being the caretaker of two children who burst into flames when they feel strong emotions. Yeah. Your mind would be a mess too. But you know what? She is doing the best she can, and I love her for it.

When Lillian meets the twins Bessie and Roland for the first time, she approaches them with sincerity. These kids have been told that they are different and difficult to manage, and their lives have just been turned upside down, so it takes them a while to trust Lillian. And to be fair, it takes a while for Lillian to trust herself with them too.

Spontaneous combustion aside, Bessie and Roland are children of divorce. Their mother dies, they are transferred temporarily into the care of their grandparents, before they are shuttled off to their father’s large estate, to live with a stranger who will be their primary caretaker, while their stepmother and half-brother watch from the sidelines and their father is still noticeably still absent.

Lillian sees something of herself in Bessie and Roland. She’s lived a hard life, she’s had her failures held against her, and a mother who couldn’t care less about her. Because people have made her feel small all her life, Lillian promises that she will do right by Bessie and Roland. That she would not fuck them up.

It’s so heartwarming to see Lillian heal her inner child by consciously becoming the parental figure she needed when she was a child. She becomes that person for Bessie and Roland. She trusts them, trusts that they are intelligent and capable. She doesn’t belittle their interests. She allows them to have their big feelings, and she lets them know that she will be there with them for all of it. She treats Bessie and Roland like people. Not like freak shows, not like a problem to be solved, or a situation to contain. Underneath the flames, Lillian sees Bessie and Roland for who they are, and who they could be when given the chance. 

As heartwarming as this story is, it is also set against the backdrop of rich people sh*t. If you couldn’t tell, Madison is rich rich. And so is her husband, Jasper Roberts. A Tennessee senator who comes from a long line of politicians, Jasper is set to become an even bigger political figure. So of course, the problem of his fire children needs to be addressed. And by addressed meaning hushed up, hidden away, and bribed off the public sphere. Typical (or stereotypical??) rich people response of throwing money at the problem, or sending the problem to boarding school abroad.

Madison is only marginally better than Jasper. She’s there, she actually interacts with the kids, but I feel like she sees them as dangerous creatures that have to be tamed. She is willing to give them everything they will ever want or need, but she will always hold them an arm’s length away, because her husband’s political career, her son’s future, and her own desire for power and influence will always come first.

Class differences also play a role in Lillian and Madison’s friendship. They were roommates at an exclusive boarding school. And even though Madison was rich and Lillian was a scholarship kid, they bonded because of their shared weirdness, and a similar drive to be better and move upward. Lillian’s expulsion from the school threw them into different paths, with Madison continuing her upward trajectory and Lillian spiraling downwards. When they reunite and Lillian moves into the estate, she sees the sort of life that would have been possible for her if she wasn’t expelled from school.

They may have maintained a friendship throughout the years, but they see the world differently because of where they are in life. Madison is quick to throw money at things, while Lillian is more willing to find ways to make it work no matter how complicated it may be. They disagree on the matter of raising Bessie and Roland and Lillian is reminded that money is power, and Madison will have her way.

The standout relationship for me is the one between Lillian and Bessie. Bessie is smart, perceptive, determined, and highly protective of her twin brother. She has been parentified by necessity, and she has been disappointed so much in her short life that she doesn’t trust anything easily. Lillian recognizes all this, and she allows Bessie her space while giving her the support she needs. Their conversations are my favorite part of this book, they tug on my heartstrings the most.

I’m glad that with Lillian, Bessie gets to be a child again. She has someone to look up to, someone she can trust and depend on. An adult who has who sees her worth and is willing to fight for what is best for her and her brother. They come to understand each other and develop a connection that is both deep and strong. Parenting, as Lillian discovers, is a series of ups and downs. Of feeling like you’ve gotten the hang of things until the next curveball hits you and it feels like going back to square one. It’s complicated and messy, and most days will feel like you’re playing catch-up. But she will always do her best. And hopefully, she won’t fuck it up (too much)