Review: Beautiful story! Another fabulous book from J.A. Redmerski
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 12, 2014
Your first love can be one that stays in your heart until your old and grey. You will think of that person and your heart may still flutter, you have all those “what if” questions about how things may have turned out differently for you had you stayed with them. In Song of the Fireflies, J.A. Redmerski writes of first love and it is a captivating, beautiful, and emotional story of love, heartbreak, and destiny. Can first love be forever love? Can it stand the test of time?Elias Kline is only 9 years old when he meets 8 year old Brayelle Bates for the first time. They spent many summer nights together swimming, sharing laughs, first kisses, and dares. It brought me back to my childhood—a time when there wasn’t a care in the world. They chased fireflies for hours and laid on the grass staring up at the stars. At that moment, their fate was sealed—they promised to always be best friends.“Promise me we’ll always be best friends.” --Bray“No matter what. Even if you grow up ugly and I grow up mean.” –EliasDid they become something more to each other? The truth was—they did.So their story unfolds. And what a story it is. My heart twisted, I had chill bumps, I felt every emotion, every feeling, every bump in the road they traveled as if I went through it myself. J.A.’s writing is incredible. She makes you devour every word and feel as if you are in the moment living them with Elias and Bray.Elias is a constant in Bray’s life. He is always there for her. He teaches her how to kiss, along with other “firsts” and he’s the only guy that Bray cares about. She doesn’t want things to change between them and is afraid to give in to her feelings for him. The finally decide to head in that direction—and she was right, it changed everything. She moves away to South Carolina, running away from the fear of falling even harder for him than she already did. But she is dead inside. She is agonizing pain without him. She desperately craved the love Elias gave her. So she returns home—four years later.Their reunion is filled with professions of love and promises.“Do you remember what I told you on my twenty-second birthday? ...I said it was always about you… It’s always been you Bray. I could never love another girl the way that I’ve loved you since we were kids. Never.”Two weeks into their newfound relationship, and everything is perfect. One fateful night changes their lives forever. A horrible, tragic accident causes Elias and Bray to run…desperate to escape a prison sentence. Nothing would be the same again.They are determined to live life and start partying to escape their harsh reality. They wind up in Florida hitting nightclubs and bars. Another craptastic event crashes down and they escape to the beach where they meet a group of rebellious people who take them in.Secrets are held and truths are faced. They are so in love with each other that you feel it deep in your heart. You will laugh at their memories and cry with every battle they face.“Because we belong together! In life and in death! Because without you I’m dead anyway!”J.A. Remerski writing tears at your soul. You fall in love with these characters and you pray that they push through all their troubles. Bray confronts her painful history, and Elias is there for her every step of the way. You just don’t know if he’ll be able to save her from all the pain she holds inside, but you hope and wish on a star that he can. This book is one you will remember. It will make you open your eyes and savor each moment.