A Season for Fireflies audiobook

It takes a lot anymore to truly impress me when it comes to this genre. There are so many young adult contemporary reads and sadly, most of them are so much alike that it is hard to tell one from the other, so it's with pleasure that I tell you, this read was not only heartwarming, but it truly did stick out. The characters were just fun and memorable and yes, swoon worthy. Wes was someone that any person who keeps a list of book boyfriends, needs to add his name to the list because yes, he is that awesome. Kind, caring, romantic, and one heck of an inventor, he truly was the very best part of this novel. Well, that and the fabulous writing. This isn’t the same old story wrung out and retold but rather something that will touch you, make you teary eyed, make you smile, and most of all leave you with a warm feeling deep in your heart that will sit there hours after you are done. Fresh, fun, heartwarming and some pretty amazing characters, this is one novels fans of the genre will not want to miss out on. *ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I feel like a black sheep, but I enjoyed this. Penny seemed to have so much going for her, but her home life was a mess. That was a HUGE problem, but it was exacerbated by Penny NOT trusting her friends enough to help her carry the weight of her mother's alcoholism with her. She makes a decision, and a clean break from her former life. After a year as "new" Penny, she was struck by lightning and left with a year long memory gap. The bulk of this story was Penny trying to piece together what happened, why it happened, and getting back to the things and people she loved. I enjoyed Penny's journey and appreciated how difficult Maizel made it for her, and I felt like the conclusion was on the real side of things, while still making me warm and fuzzy. BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS

First I want to say that I have been in a reading funk lately. It seems to me every book I read is crazier than the next. First I read love stories, then I read action, then dystopian and back to love stories. I needed a change and this is the book that was a spark in my reading.This is a story about a girl who has it all then loses it only to regain it and so much more. This story is written with such passion and the descriptions of people and places was amazing and the fireflies OMG. After reading this story I looked up what exactly fireflies are and this is what I found from National Geographic "Fireflies are familiar, but few realize that these insects are actually beetles, nocturnal members of the family Lampyridae. Most fireflies are winged, which distinguishes them from other luminescent insects of the same family, commonly known as glowworms."After reading the story and reading about fireflies I understood the story so much better. I have to say the author nailed this book! This is a must read for all this summer.

The cover for this one caught my eye and the synopsis intrigued me. I've never read anything else by Rebecca Maizel but she's been on my list of authors to check out since I heard about her first book. I'm glad I chose A Season for Fireflies to read first because I enjoyed it immensely.Pros:Story: The story was pretty much perfect, in my eyes. I love anything to do with memory loss so I knew this one would capture my attention pretty easily. I'm pretty sure that the whole memory loss thing is not the only thing that would go along with being struck by lightning but hey, it's fiction. Penny loses her memories from the past year and basically gets a chance to try again. It would certainly be easier if everyone else also forgot everything she did over the past year but it was good to see her try and work past those things, even without knowing what she did. The way the story is told really moves things along quickly and it doesn't hurt that the book is so short anyway. It's a fast-paced story that leaves enough mystery to really grab your attention and not let it go. Characters: I really enjoyed all the characters. Penny's friends from drama were so quirky and fun. They were totally the type of people that I could see myself being friends with. As for Wes, he was almost too perfect. He was so sweet and sensitive and it was so obvious how much he cared for Penny. While I loved seeing how much he wanted to be with her, I also loved that he wasn't willing to let her walk all over him. They had a lot of stuff to work out to even be friends again and watching their friendship being rebuilt was one of the best parts of A Season for Fireflies. I was also impressed by Penny's new friends. Of course I didn't like how she ditched all her old friends for her new ones, but they weren't bad people. Penny had two very different friend groups but I could see how she would fit in with either one. She had some issues balancing them all for a while but I liked seeing how she made amends with old friends while also trying to stay true to her new friends, even if she didn't remember becoming friends with them.Family: While the things that go on with Penny's family are not a pro, the way they are handled definitely is. Penny's mom is an alcoholic and her dad is a workaholic. They have very little to do with each other and not much to do with Penny either. It's clear from the start of the book that her mom really needs help and her dad isn't paying much attention to that. Everything changes with Penny's accident though. They are brought together and they are forced to see exactly what they have each done wrong. There are some nasty fights and some harsh words but I think that's true of any family. I greatly appreciated that Rebecca Maizel didn't choose to just show the good side or the bad side of family relationships. Cons:Believability: I know that's not a word but I don't know how else to phrase this one. I mentioned this briefly earlier but things were a little unbelievable at times. Penny gets struck by lightning and instead of dying or even being horribly injured, she loses some of her memories. And not just a random bunch of memories but a very specific time period. As you find out more about her memory loss, you realize it's more of a defense mechanism on Penny's part but it's still very odd. I just found myself having to suspend my disbelief more than once with this story and it did take away a little bit of my enjoyment.Overall, A Season for Fireflies is one book I'm glad I chose to pick up. It's a quick, fun read with a little more to it than meets the eye.

I loved this story of second chances and redemption! I've been in a book funk for a little over a month now. Most books have been in the miss category lately, thanks to an exquisite book that released last month. When I first picked up A Season for Fireflies I wasn't sure if it was the right time. Even upon starting last night, I almost decided to put it down temporarily. Not because of the story, but I just wasn't sure if I'd give it my full attention. I am so glad I stuck with it!Penny is a theater star. She is best friends with most of those who work with her in theater, including her best friend, Wes. Who she's realizing has changed and she possibly has feelings for. But she has problems at home. Her mother is an alcoholic. She's on a fast downward spiral. And it's affecting Penny. She won't talk to anyone about it --- she keeps it all hidden. Finally, everything blows up. The story jumps from sophomore year to senior year. It's here we see a new Penny. She has ditched/abandoned her old crew for the popular one. On an odd evening, she is struck by lightning. And once again, everything changes. When she wakes up, she's stuck a year in the past. She doesn't remember her most recent life.Once the accident happens, I was really sucked into the book. As Penny starts to relearn things, she is also made aware of how she's been acting. It truly bothers her and she wants to make things right. She just isn't sure how. After so long, no one from her old life is willing to talk to her. But she never gives up and I loved that about her! It was tough for me to figure out what should happen. I think she needed her old crew, but also needed Kylie (the newest BFF) for reasons. People come into out lives at the right times, when we need them. And this was no different. And even though we probably weren't meant to love Kylie, I think she had good and bad qualities. I felt sorry that Penny had forgotten her and was more focused on winning back the theater group. But I also understood that was closer to the real Penny in a lot of ways. The real Penny was a mix of the two, she just needed to figure out how to get there. And Wes! As is the case in any good story, he's a gem. The perfect guy we'd have liked in high school. Their interactions were painful at times. I knew Penny had work to do, but it was clear his feelings had never changed. It was just a matter of being on the same page at the same time. And forgiveness. I really liked this story. It was never slow for me --- I think I finished in a matter of hours! Things aren't resolved in seconds. It takes time, and even at the end, some aspects aren't magically perfect. The real struggles are still present, as they most likely always will be. I loved that realistic aspect, too. Plus, this is more than a romance disguised as something else. It focuses on EVERY relationship in Penny's life --- family, best friends, love, even academic ones. If you want a fast-paced, fun, and easy read, I recommend A Season for Fireflies.

Actual rating: 4.5 starsTo be perfectly honest, I wasn't sure about whether I wanted to read this book or not. I saw a lot of people wanted to read it, so I just requested it as well. But then I saw that the Goodreads ratings weren't so high, and I had a teeny tiny panic attack about not liking this book. However, this is the only instance when I'm glad my opinion varies from everyone else because I actually really liked this one! I haven't been able to connect to a main character for the books that I recently read so the fact that I was able to connect to Penny was a major, major plus point. I also connected to the story as well, and the romance made me feel all the feels! I'm a sucker for romance filled with tension so this was a major win! A Season for Fireflies explored a heavy topic - alcoholic parent - but it wasn't a heavy book. Yes, it made me feel a lot of emotions but it wasn't exactly the kind of heavy book that I used to read. And I'm actually glad because I've been avoiding heavy-emotion books so far because they sometimes ruin my mood. A Season for Fireflies, in my opinion, is the perfect in-between between heavy-issue and light and fluffy. Aside from the fact that I really loved the romance and how the author showed the side of how a school's queen b can also be hurt and feel jealous, I don't know what else to say about this book. I mean, the friendship and development is good, but it's not exceptional. The family aspect is explored, but it's nothing special as well. However, I really, really loved this book for some reason, and I don't know why people rated it so low.Overall, I really enjoyed this book and all the feels it gave me. I would say that I recommend it but based on the not-so-high reviews from other readers, I would also advice you to listen at your own risk.

If I could give A Season for Fireflies more than five stars, trust me, I would. I mean… I can give it more than five stars… this is my fucking blog. So… I give this book ALL OF THE STARS AND ALL OF THE FIREFLIES. I knew I’d be in for a treat because Between Us and the Moon was incredible. I think I read it in six hours in one sitting last summer. Ugh, Rebecca Maizel, what are you doing to me?!“They think I’m just loud, funny Penny, top ten in the class and the party girl at Kylie’s side who never takes anything too seriously.”The first 38 pages of the novel consist of one version of Penny Berne, our lovely protagonist. A couple things happen and then the novel fast forwards from the end of Penny’s sophomore year in high school, to the beginning of Penny’s senior year of high school. And there is quite a difference in the two versions of Penny that Maizel presents us with. But of course, they’re still the same Penny, deep down. A record number of fireflies are showing up in Penny’s town and no one can figure out why there are thousands of fireflies showing up in September. That doesn’t stop Penny and her bestie Kylie from partying, though. But then, a freak lightning accident happens and the next thing Penny remembers is waking up in the hospital. And it’s as if the last year hasn’t happened. She doesn’t remember becoming friends with Kylie or exactly why she’s not friends with her old theatre posse. And thus begins the journey of Penny Berne figuring out exactly who she is. I honestly think I’m in love with Penny Berne. Even when she was the sidekick to Kylie, she still lit up every room she was in and she was the life of the party. She might’ve been closed off when it came to actually opening up to people, but it’s hard to be open to judgment. There is something so special about Penny and who she is, deep down inside, that will have you following her around with puppy eyes. Rebecca Maizel always writes such well-developed and lovable characters.“Wes made me a planetarium?” I have to talk about Wes next. He didn’t say much throughout A Season for Fireflies, but I fell for him just as much as I fell for Andrew in Between Us and the Moon. Again, Maizel writes her characters so incredibly charming it’s hard to not fall for them, you know? The way that he never really stopped caring for Penny even when she went through her “lost year.” (Her words, not mine!!) He was just so cute and I love him. He’s mine!!!!! Also, he’s a great gift giver. That is honestly just beautiful.“’You’re back, babe.’ She laughs. ‘My number one bitch.’” I really loved Kylie and Penny’s friendship. It was born out of a need for something new and maybe not the healthiest place in Penny’s heart, but it was still a genuine and true friendship. And I really enjoyed Penny’s friendships with all of her theater friends as well. I think it just attributes to Penny’s personality and how fun and caring and friendly she is!“To be brought back together, to be reconciled, I had to lose myself in the shadows and find my way back out to the light.” A Season for Fireflies is truly a story about second chances. And I absolutely love Penny’s character arc and how much she changed from her sophomore year to her senior year. It’s a beautiful journey and I’m so glad Rebecca Maizel gave me the opportunity to take it with Penny! The only thing is I wish it were longer! I need more. But, that just makes me think that we don’t get many details of what really happened in Penny’s “lost year” so it’s like we have the same memory loss and it just fits so well. But, of course, with any good book I want so much more. Please, pick up this book!!! It’s incredible.Happy Reading!Love,The Cosmic Reader

http://nobsbookreviews.com/eves-revie...I received a copy of this book for an honest review.This book was such a quick read. I flew through it in one sitting which is a great feeling to start and finish a book so rapidly and have that sense of completion.That said this book hits one of those areas that I’ve seen pop up a bit more as of late, memory loss. Whatever the circumstance the memory is lost to a point and how life has changed. This always intrigues me and makes me wonder if I lost my memory and had to ask people what kind of person I was would I like the answer. Penny didn’t lose all of her memories just those from the last year when her life went completely upside down from what she was used to.Penny is fun and quirky. She always likes to make an entrance and she loves her friends and has her passion. She is having a hard time with things at home though and it takes a toll. I could relate to some of her decisions and her lack of desire to want to talk about things even with her closest friends. When you’ve always thrived at being in the spotlight and now you need to step back and stay out of the light. Sometimes it’s easier to start fresh, rather than pull down the good in one’s life with the bad. She makes some pretty crappy decisions along the way. She basically decides to change her entire life in one emotion filled night. While it made an interesting concept but it was a bit harder to see her sticking to her guns like that.Two others who really caught my eye were Wes and new BFF Kylie. I loved the dynamic after Penny loses her memory and pretty much doesn’t remember Kylie but on the other end she always felt a connection to Wes. There is something really great in those parts to read. Maizel did a great job there. I enjoyed post memory loss the best part because it was like relearning things all over again, and the emotions portrayed were so genuine. Confused to find your life not as you remember….horrifying. Thankfully for me my life doesn’t change all that much so I wouldn’t have much issue but it’s still a scary thought. I wish we had a bit more with her original drama friends before to get more of a feel for them and just have a bit more of a connection to them but for such a short read it gave me enough to imagine the depth of their connection.This book is full of complex dynamics between friends past and present and reconciling the different, but it also touches on some serious family dynamics. Her mom is not mom of the year. Her dad is sweet but distant, lost in his own world. Throughout the book they both come into play and both factor into who she is and who she becomes because in the end it’s a book of self discovery. It only took a little lightening strike in a pool to help her put her priorities in order. Side note here, I apologize to my mother for all the times I rolled my eyes as she made me get out of the pool when it started to storm because yep nope this doesn’t sound fun in the least.Overall I enjoyed it, and for a couple hours of reading, I had a great time. I even liked the idea of the influx of fireflies because who doesn’t remember being a kid and chasing after them to catch them. In times much more innocent before things got all wonky and adulting took over.

Penny's first love has always been the theater. She loves being the center of attention and has the most fun when she has a big part in a play. She has a loyal group of friends who are just like her. Her best friend, Wes, is especially important to her and there might be more between them. While her life at school is going well for Penny things at home are rapidly going downhill. Because of this she takes a rash decision which changes the course of her life entirely.Penny does no longer spend time with her theater friends and now has a new best friend, Kylie. Kylie seems to get her and Penny doesn't have to talk about the difficult things in her life to be understood. She misses the stage, but she has found other ways to spend her free time. When a terrible accident nearly kills Penny she loses part of her memory, the past year. She can't remember her new friends and doesn't know how she lost her old ones. Will Penny be able to find out the truth about herself and will she be able to share her memories with the people who care about her when she does?A Season for Fireflies is a beautiful, moving story. Penny doesn't want anyone to know what's going on inside her. She's closed off and doesn't want to share the bad things, so she can pretend everything is great. Her friends know that something is going on, because part of Penny's story has been in the papers, but as she doesn't talk they don't know what it is exactly. I could feel her pain, her struggles and her heartbreak. Rebecca Maizel has described these feelings in the exact right way. Her writing is impressive and sensitive and she definitely knows what she's talking about. The tears were streaming down my face when I read about Penny's situation. I was completely overwhelmed by how well the author portrays her emotions, her descriptions are spot-on.Penny is an incredibly strong girl. She's actually much too tough on herself which leads to a lot of difficulties. Rebecca Maizel describes them in a realistic and heartfelt way. She plays with tension and that meant I kept being curious about what would happen next. A Season for Fireflies is a fast-paced story. It's filled with meaningful scenes. I think this book is absolutely amazing. You often have no idea what happens behind closed doors. This story is an impressive example of the problems difficulties at home can cause in someone's life. Penny needs to find a way to deal with hers and even though her journey is far from easy she will learn how to manage eventually. I loved the wisdom she gathers along the way. A Season for Fireflies is a fantastic mix of compassion, honesty, sadness and hope.

Received a copy from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.A SEASON FOR FIREFLIES by Rebecca Maizel is a contemporary YA novel about Penny, a high school theatre star who loses an entire year of her memory after being struck by lightning one night at a party. Penny learns she has become someone she doesn’t even know: popular, kind of mean, top of her class… She’s no longer an actress—the life of the party, nor is she a member of her childhood group of friends. As she attempts to recover both physically and emotionally from her accident, she realizes she’s not sure she ever knew who she really was. She’s been given a second chance to reconcile the two very different people she has been.I found the story captivating and the characters relatable. Maizel is definitely a gifted writer. However, her style and pacing felt slightly off at times (this was a LOT to pack into a very short read). I wish she’d taken a little bit more time in the beginning of the story to let us get to know Penny and her group of friends before jumping ahead.That being said, this is an incredibly sweet and emotional read. I took it down in one sitting. Absolutely recommend!

I LOVED this. I expected it to be just another contemporary YA, but it was so much more than that. This story shed light on alcoholism, amnesia, being different and that's okay. There are no bad guys. Everyone makes mistakes, but that doesn't make someone a bad person. Rebecca Maizel depicted that beautifully. This new release of hers makes me want to read all of her other ones. I can't wait.

This was a lovely fluffy good feeling story. Great read if your just feeling down. I gave this book four stars only because it started slow for me but once it began to pick up I was hooked or connecting to the characters. I liked that the parents weren’t lacking in intelligence they seem more like possible parents or typical parents. We have Penny she is in theater has been since childhood and has some wonderful friends well Penny’s mom is a alcoholic and one night Penny takes everything her mom says to heart and becomes a different Penny-quits the play, drops her friends and just changes. Then a year later she is at a party with her new circle of friends and decides to jump into the pool and again Penny’s life changes. I won’t share any further so as to not spoil this book but I personally loved this story and at one part when Penny is auditioning it just brought me to tears. Such a lovely well written story. The fire flies I believe are there because of Penny or I would like to think so.

A coming of age, coming to adulthood story. Some larger bits cringingly true to life, smaller parts improbable, a sprinkle of whimsy here and there for glittery accents. Really enjoyed the shifts and twists between friendships. Probably deserves 4 1/2 stars because I finished it in one go.

LOVED THIS BOOK!!! The romance was great, the characters were interesting, and the plot had me hooked from beginning to end. Definitely a must read for all YA contemporary fans!

Thoughts to come.