TJ Klune has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Since reading The House in the Cerulean Sea, I’ve loved everything I’ve read by TJ. We Burned So Bright is his newest release and it’s about an older couple taking a road trip while waiting for the world to end. Today I want to tell you more about this book and if it’s also lived up to my expectations!
A big thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC to read and review. This doesn’t affect my opinion in any way.
A heart-wrenching standalone novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, We Burned So Bright follows an older queer couple on an end-of-the-world road-trip.
The road stretched out before them. No other cars, just the headlights on the blacktop. Above, the cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky….
Husbands Don and Rodney have lived a good long life. Together they’ve experienced the highest highs of love and family, and lows so low that they felt like the end of the world.
Now, the world is ending for real. A wandering black hole is coming for Earth and in a month everything and everyone they’ve ever known will be gone.
Suddenly, after 40 years together, Don and Rodney are out of time. They’re in a race against the clock to make it from Maine to Washington State to take care of some unfinished business before it’s all over.
On the road they meet those who refuse to believe death is coming and those who rush to meet it. But there are also people living their final days as best they know how—impromptu weddings, bright burning bonfires, shared meals, and new friends.
And as the black hole draws near, among ball lightning and under a cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky, Don and Rodney will look back on their lives and ask if their best was good enough.
Is it enough to burn bright if nothing comes from the ashes?
Review
When I sit down to read a book by TJ Klune, I know it’s going to be an emotional read in one way or another. We Burned So Bright has us following a couple living their final days before a black hole basically devours Earth.
Don and Rodney decide to take a road trip to fulfil a family wish before it’s too late. As they’re on that road trip, they reflect on their lives and their love. Was it enough? Did they get everything out of life that they wanted? Did they want to do anything differently? Their love is one for the books and you notice it in such small things. They’re open with each other in a way I think we should all be to the ones we love.
Also, as they travel to their final destination they meet different people along the way. This is the part of the book that truly fascinated me. I feel like the author really showed up that people deal with difficult things in many different ways. People are in denial, some get dark, some celebrate the life that they’ve had so far. I will say that I teared up a few times while reading this story.
We Burned So Bright is only 176 pages, but it’s filled with so much emotional. Life is fragile and as humans we deal with a lot. Some relationships definitely get strong and grow over years and I think Don and Rodney were a great example of that. It shows we’re connected in many ways we don’t realize when it comes to relationships and feelings. This definitely will be added to my favorite books of the year.
Also, Kirt Graves narrated this story in such an incredible life. The characters were brought to life and I felt all of the emotions the story wanted us to feel while listening along.
We Burned So Bright is definitely going to be a book I remember! Have you read anything by TJ Klune? Do you have a favorite? Or how would you spend your final days if you knew the planet was going to be taken over by a black hole? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!
