The Watervale Ladies’ Writing and Firefighting Society (Mette Menzies, HarperCollins)

Mette Menzies’ debut novel, The Watervale Ladies’ Writing and Firefighting Society, is a charming and layered exploration of unexpected friendship, personal reinvention and the quiet strength of women who show up for themselves and each other. Menzies is the pen name of Steven Reynolds and Viktoriya Butler, whose longtime friendship brings warmth and humour to the novel’s memorable cast. When high-flying lawyer Matilda ‘Tilly’ Marr arrives in Watervale Downs, a small town in South Australia’s wine country, she expects to close a deal and return to London within days. Instead, she’s handed an ultimatum: stay for a month as the town’s new solicitor, with the possibility of revisiting the deal later, or walk away from it entirely. What begins as a frustrating detour soon draws Tilly into the lives of three women – Bev, the guarded town matriarch; Fenna, a former TV host seeking privacy; and Jane, the town’s quietly hopeful librarian. The friendships that form through their shared writing group and firefighting training feel genuine, and while the pace and scale of transformation within the month-long timeline require some suspension of disbelief, the novel’s vivid setting and satisfying resolution keep the story grounded. The romance between Tilly and local barista Xavier emerges as a strong narrative focus, slightly outshining some of the friendship storylines but providing a satisfying emotional centre. A thoroughly enjoyable and easy-to-devour read perfect for book clubs and fans of Sophie Green’s Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel and Joanna Nell’s Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year. 

Books+Publishing reviewer: Jess Lomas is reviews editor for Books+Publishing. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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