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Chasing Fireflies
It’s that nothing age―too young to actually do anything but old enough to want to do everything. So, we wait, always chasing tomorrow. But sometimes, there is no tomorrow. That realization hit me hard, a real epiphany. I knew I had to do something to make it all worthwhile, and not just for myself. But also for her.
264 pages, Paperback
Published March 27, 2018
About the author
Imogen Rose
23 books586 followersImogen Rose is the author of the bestselling series, Portal Chronicles, which has attained cult status within indie literature and become a favorite among teens and adults alike. An immunologist by profession, Dr. Rose published her first work of fiction in 2010. She now writes full time and is currently working on her second teen series, the Bonfire Chronicles. Imogen was born in Sweden and has lived in several places, counting London among her favorites. She moved to New Jersey in 2001. A self-confessed Hermès addict, Imogen freely admits to being obsessed with Kurt Cobain. She enjoys shopping, traveling, watching movies, and hanging out with her family, friends, and Chihuahua.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 21, 2017
This book is a story from 15 year old Atticus aka Fitz. He has a best friend called Maddie ( who is a spoilt girl{well to me anyway}) she reads to be shallow and whiny but we get to know shes unique and cares about Fits as her best friend.
When something terrible happens Fitz and Maddie come up with a way to tribute a trip in the honor of a school friend. Fitz realises that they are no longer kids but not yet adults, an age that is awkward, full of emotions and heartache. Fitz invites a school friend Tamsin along and has the biggest crush on her. This trip allows them to get close... but one thing stopping him from trying... her boyfriend.
Their trip was exciting and eventful. I don't like Tamsins cousin he was arrogant and stuck up.
A beautifully written story. It has focus on the in between age and all the social, physical and experiences that teens either long for, desire or have experienced.
When something terrible happens Fitz and Maddie come up with a way to tribute a trip in the honor of a school friend. Fitz realises that they are no longer kids but not yet adults, an age that is awkward, full of emotions and heartache. Fitz invites a school friend Tamsin along and has the biggest crush on her. This trip allows them to get close... but one thing stopping him from trying... her boyfriend.
Their trip was exciting and eventful. I don't like Tamsins cousin he was arrogant and stuck up.
A beautifully written story. It has focus on the in between age and all the social, physical and experiences that teens either long for, desire or have experienced.
May 18, 2017
Chasing Fireflies by Imogen Rose
Fitz, a fifteen-year-old teen, easily drew me into his story with his opening monologue. He and his mother moved from their home in England to Princeton, New Jersey after the untimely death of Fitz’s father two years ago. Having moved from a private boarding school to a public school system has been a huge adjustment for them both. His best friend is Maddie: a typical teen girl who has just broken up with her boyfriend and plays the drama queen well. Tamsin is a classmate that Fitz is lusting after, however, she already has a boyfriend.
After a tragic accident where another classmate, Amber, is killed by a hit-and-run driver, these three friends are left reeling from the reality of Amber’s short-lived life. As a tribute to her, they plan an adventure in her honor to some of her favorite places. It’s a heart-touching tale told through Fitz’s eyes and, as cultured or sophisticated as he is, he still suffers some insecurities.
All three personalities were engaging and realistic in both their dialog and actions. The settings were well detailed to draw the reader into each scene. The only parts I have to nitpick about were all of Fitz’s flashbacks from his past. I felt like they were too numerous and slowed down the pace of the story. I will say the remembrances were entertaining, but I was excited for their adventures to begin. So color me impatient?
All in all, I think readers of all ages will enjoy “Chasing Fireflies.”
Fitz, a fifteen-year-old teen, easily drew me into his story with his opening monologue. He and his mother moved from their home in England to Princeton, New Jersey after the untimely death of Fitz’s father two years ago. Having moved from a private boarding school to a public school system has been a huge adjustment for them both. His best friend is Maddie: a typical teen girl who has just broken up with her boyfriend and plays the drama queen well. Tamsin is a classmate that Fitz is lusting after, however, she already has a boyfriend.
After a tragic accident where another classmate, Amber, is killed by a hit-and-run driver, these three friends are left reeling from the reality of Amber’s short-lived life. As a tribute to her, they plan an adventure in her honor to some of her favorite places. It’s a heart-touching tale told through Fitz’s eyes and, as cultured or sophisticated as he is, he still suffers some insecurities.
All three personalities were engaging and realistic in both their dialog and actions. The settings were well detailed to draw the reader into each scene. The only parts I have to nitpick about were all of Fitz’s flashbacks from his past. I felt like they were too numerous and slowed down the pace of the story. I will say the remembrances were entertaining, but I was excited for their adventures to begin. So color me impatient?
All in all, I think readers of all ages will enjoy “Chasing Fireflies.”
July 10, 2017
I got to chase Fire Flies ~
I went into this book blindly which is how I like to read,I absolutely loved the cover it was beautiful and it screams at you to read it and I really love this author as a writer.
Firstly as a parent I love the insight inside a young mans head,it helped me understand how my sons brain ticks at time. The characters in this story I connected well with as some were a reminder of friends from school and friends i have made now!
I'm sure we have all had friends that have a little bit of there personalities which is fun and gives you a laugh and makes you look back into your teens.A trip down memory lane.
Secondly
The story that is created here is one that will touch your heart as I'm sure we have all experienced this sadness in our lives,what I truly loved was how these kids approach and deal with it and the trip they take you on is beautiful,adventurous,exciting and educating. As the places they visit are places I have never been and maybe never will
(it lit a light inside me wanting to be adventurous)
It's definitely worth a read as a parent and a young adult as its story will click with you in so many ways ~
Assassins Reading Reviewing Group
I went into this book blindly which is how I like to read,I absolutely loved the cover it was beautiful and it screams at you to read it and I really love this author as a writer.
Firstly as a parent I love the insight inside a young mans head,it helped me understand how my sons brain ticks at time. The characters in this story I connected well with as some were a reminder of friends from school and friends i have made now!
I'm sure we have all had friends that have a little bit of there personalities which is fun and gives you a laugh and makes you look back into your teens.A trip down memory lane.
Secondly
The story that is created here is one that will touch your heart as I'm sure we have all experienced this sadness in our lives,what I truly loved was how these kids approach and deal with it and the trip they take you on is beautiful,adventurous,exciting and educating. As the places they visit are places I have never been and maybe never will
(it lit a light inside me wanting to be adventurous)
It's definitely worth a read as a parent and a young adult as its story will click with you in so many ways ~
Assassins Reading Reviewing Group
May 30, 2017
Great Read.
Though Chasing Fireflies was not in my typical choice of genre, I found it quite charming and captivating. Imogen talent shows how well she can pull in and captivate outsiders even from their norm with her writing. Chasing Fireflies was quiet frankly a great easy pick up.
I always find it intriguing when females authors write POV of a male, and can deliver because well lets face it boys/men are complicated. Chasing Fireflies is a story/POV of a 15 year old teen named Atticus, aka Fitz wishing to be the "golden age of 16 where everything changes."
This coming to age book tells Fitz's story of trying to be a good friend to his BFF Maddie and trying to be cool and collective and totally normal when it comes to his crush Tamsin, and of course their escape to New York City in honor of a lost schoolmate.
I found myself chuckling and laughing out loud throughout the whole book. Definitely recommended.
Though Chasing Fireflies was not in my typical choice of genre, I found it quite charming and captivating. Imogen talent shows how well she can pull in and captivate outsiders even from their norm with her writing. Chasing Fireflies was quiet frankly a great easy pick up.
I always find it intriguing when females authors write POV of a male, and can deliver because well lets face it boys/men are complicated. Chasing Fireflies is a story/POV of a 15 year old teen named Atticus, aka Fitz wishing to be the "golden age of 16 where everything changes."
This coming to age book tells Fitz's story of trying to be a good friend to his BFF Maddie and trying to be cool and collective and totally normal when it comes to his crush Tamsin, and of course their escape to New York City in honor of a lost schoolmate.
I found myself chuckling and laughing out loud throughout the whole book. Definitely recommended.
June 5, 2017
This was my first time reading an Imogen Rose novel and, while it wasn't my normal type of read, it was well-written. The story revolves around Fitz (nickname), a 15-year-old boy who has dealt with more than his share of loss already, and his friends who have to deal with a tragedy. They (of course) make some bad decisions, but they learn from their mistakes, and the reader gets to watch them grow throughout the book. Since this was written from Fitz's point of view, I got a little hung up on how well Fitz seemed to understand the psychology of human emotions and reactions, because it seemed a little far-fetched for a 15-year-old. But other times, the writing seemed more like a teenager, kind of rambling on.
June 4, 2017
She has done it again! I have been a fan of Imogen since day one and she never ceases to amaze me. Our main character Fitz (nickname) and two others Maddie and Tamsin are a hoot. The character development is spot on and I was left hanging for more. Imogen has a way of drawing you into her world and not letting you go. Now you do get some teenage strife but there is a hidden message to everything. I wont give any spoilers away but it was well done. There may be times when you want to roll your eyes and go "yep I did that when I was a teenager" but you are able to see them grow up a little. I would recommend this book to anyone.
June 12, 2017
Chasing Fireflies is a great coming of age story about angst and young love. I loved how Imogen touches on real life problems that teens face without making it whiny or depressing. Because let's face it, teenagers can be very whiny. There are some valuable lessons within the story as well for all ages. I really enjoyed reading this from Fitz's perspective, and I liked the flashbacks we got into some of his past. I would have liked a little more background on some of the other characters. But otherwise, this was a very enjoyable read. It's not my typical genre but would definitely recommend to the younger generation. Great job.
December 25, 2020
I nearly gave up on this book multiple times because the main character, Fitz (Atticus Basil Fitzgerald-Lloyd III), is kind of the worst.
I have to wonder if this is how teenaged boys think because his thoughts were kind of horrible. Especially towards how he thinks about the girls and women in his life.
The one highlight I made was this:
Girls that giggle are just the worst, am I right? Especially when I'm just so hilarious all the time.
Ugh, gross.
I have to wonder if this is how teenaged boys think because his thoughts were kind of horrible. Especially towards how he thinks about the girls and women in his life.
The one highlight I made was this:
Heather could have been a potential love target, but alas, it was not to be. Every time she laughed—and that was a lot when she talked to me, I’m pretty good at amusing people—she giggled like a two-year-old.
Girls that giggle are just the worst, am I right? Especially when I'm just so hilarious all the time.
Ugh, gross.
June 11, 2017
This is a story from Fitz view point. He is a 15 year old from England that comes up with an escape idea (which is getting away to NYC and out of normal routine) when something happens to a friend. You get to follow Fitz through his life from a party all the through the escape. His is joined in the escape by his from Maddie who helped come up with the idea and Tamsin how Fitz only invited because of his teenage hormones. This book shocked me along with made me laugh out loud. Very good read,i recommend it.
May 31, 2017
This books delves into the mind of a teenage boy, its not as scary as it sounds!
It is well written, and the story line kept me intrigued the entire time.
A group of high school friends deal with the death of a friend, working out how to mourn and celebrate their life at the same time.
The book deals with several issues facing young people in today's society.
Worth the read!
It is well written, and the story line kept me intrigued the entire time.
A group of high school friends deal with the death of a friend, working out how to mourn and celebrate their life at the same time.
The book deals with several issues facing young people in today's society.
Worth the read!
June 1, 2017
What a great page turner!!!
Whilst it’s set around 3 teenagers, everyone who reads this can relate. Was a great pace and will not disappoint. I highly recommend this book for older teenagers and adults.
Whilst it’s set around 3 teenagers, everyone who reads this can relate. Was a great pace and will not disappoint. I highly recommend this book for older teenagers and adults.
May 31, 2017
A very well written book, that holds your interest. Im sure some people can find some relation to their own life in this book. A nice pleasurable read.
June 3, 2017
Its a pretty good read, I didn't finish it because I did not understand it but maybe other people might like it and finish it
May 6, 2017
Life is short, sometimes too short. That's what three teens discover when one of their own died. It will left them with grief and questions. They decide they want to do something special for her. Some kind of tribute. So they make some research and decided to go on a trip. They want to follow her path and make things and visit places that were dear to her.
My Opinion:
What a cute little story. Teens not always know how to cope with the lost of a friend and in this books, the three friends find an amazing way to do that. I was lucky enough to be a beta-reader on that book. Thank you so much Imogen for allowing me to be part of the time. It's always a pleasure.
My Opinion:
What a cute little story. Teens not always know how to cope with the lost of a friend and in this books, the three friends find an amazing way to do that. I was lucky enough to be a beta-reader on that book. Thank you so much Imogen for allowing me to be part of the time. It's always a pleasure.
September 2, 2020
Chasing Fireflies is a coming of age story for a handful of teens surrounded by a tragic event. You get to see the full extent of the ripple effect of how a death can kickstart a whole slew of emotions and how teens deal with them. There are topics that many people may disagree with in this book, but the author interviewed several teens to get the most accurate depiction of what actually goes on in female and male teens minds. Just when you think they are at their pettiest, they change their course and begin to mature in their thinking. I enjoyed this read and would recommend it for a younger crowd.
April 23, 2017
As a fan of slice of life/coming-of-age/adventure books (ie. Catcher in the Rye), and movies like Paper Towns, Edge of Seventeen, or any 80s John Cusack/teen flick really, I loved Chasing Fireflies. It's one of those stories that doesn't have much of a plot, which is awesome. It's very realistic and entertaining (I was laughing out loud through most of it). And I could totally relate to the main character, Atticus, his train of thought was like my own and brought me back to my high school days, and reminded me of what it was like to be a teen. My favorite characters were Buckle and Mickey, they were hilarious. Overall, GREAT book!
April 28, 2017
On the surface this is a fun story about teenage hijinks, but lurking in the background is a consideration of some of life’s big questions. The story focuses on three teens. Atticus who prefers to go by the nickname Fitz is the protagonist, but two girls, Maddie and Tamsin, figure prominently in the story as well. When a schoolmate dies these three decide to honor her in their own unique way. In the planning and execution of this tribute (details would be a bit of a spoiler) Fitz and his sidekicks gain a fuller, more mature perspective on life. Yeah, they grow up just a bit. While an obvious fit for the young adult reader, it's a story that will appeal to an older crowd, too. Even grandfathers like me.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
May 2, 2017
She has done it again! I have been a fan of Imogen since day one and she never ceases to amaze me. Our main character Fitz (nickname) and two others Maddie and Tamsin are a hoot. The character development is spot on and I was left hanging for more. Imogen has a way of drawing you into her world and not letting you go. Now you do get some teenage strife but there is a hidden message to everything. I wont give any spoilers away but it was well done. There may be times when you want to roll your eyes and go "yep I did that when I was a teenager" but you are able to see them grow up a little. I would recommend this book to anyone.
May 22, 2017
I fell head over heels for Imogen Rose's stories when stumbling upon her Bonfire Chronicles a long time ago. I devoured every book she had as quickly as I could flip the pages (even going backwards a bit to her previously released Portal series, didn't hinder the experience one bit), & from that moment I was a fan for life! Since then I have awaited each of her newer releases with great anticipation. Fast forward to now & here we sit with her newest ... Chasing Fireflies.
This happens to be different from anything else I have read of hers although the attention to detail & depth of characters remains very much the same. This is about normal (human) teens working through normal teen issues (ok not so "normal" as these are mostly privileged kids living a life many would only ever dream of, but the issues they face are still fairly common for many teens) while all of the previous were paranormal tales filled with magic & mayhem.
Chasing Fireflies brought about an assortment of feelings as well as memories of personal teenage shenanigans past. It were as if we'd transported directly inside a teenagers mind, & as you can imagine that was quite a shocker...but we are actually getting inside the heads of multiple teens as the story progresses which adds layer upon layer of information, personalities, emotion, drama, & adventure.
Quite early in this story a tragedy occurs that creates a yet another major milestone in these teens lives, & the way that this particular group deals with their loss makes the adventures to come that much more important. If teenagers don't drive you completely insane then chances are this story will be one you will like, & if teenagers drive you totally bonkers then this story may help you see things from their point of view for a moment (while possibly confirming that your teen will never be allowed out of the house unsupervised ...like EVER!!! LOLz LOLz LOLz). Either way, the journey will be memorable. Personally, I enjoyed reading every detail, & the homage paid to Amber Kane was a very nice tribute (and it definitely topped many of my own "maybe-I-should've-thought-that-through-a-bit-more" teen stunts)! If only all teens put as much thought into things as Fitz does. And the ending felt simply perfect.
This happens to be different from anything else I have read of hers although the attention to detail & depth of characters remains very much the same. This is about normal (human) teens working through normal teen issues (ok not so "normal" as these are mostly privileged kids living a life many would only ever dream of, but the issues they face are still fairly common for many teens) while all of the previous were paranormal tales filled with magic & mayhem.
Chasing Fireflies brought about an assortment of feelings as well as memories of personal teenage shenanigans past. It were as if we'd transported directly inside a teenagers mind, & as you can imagine that was quite a shocker...but we are actually getting inside the heads of multiple teens as the story progresses which adds layer upon layer of information, personalities, emotion, drama, & adventure.
Quite early in this story a tragedy occurs that creates a yet another major milestone in these teens lives, & the way that this particular group deals with their loss makes the adventures to come that much more important. If teenagers don't drive you completely insane then chances are this story will be one you will like, & if teenagers drive you totally bonkers then this story may help you see things from their point of view for a moment (while possibly confirming that your teen will never be allowed out of the house unsupervised ...like EVER!!! LOLz LOLz LOLz). Either way, the journey will be memorable. Personally, I enjoyed reading every detail, & the homage paid to Amber Kane was a very nice tribute (and it definitely topped many of my own "maybe-I-should've-thought-that-through-a-bit-more" teen stunts)! If only all teens put as much thought into things as Fitz does. And the ending felt simply perfect.
May 28, 2017
I mostly read paranormal/fantasy/sci-fi, but I have to say that I liked this book. I have read and loved other books by Imogen Rose and while this may not be my favourite book by her, it was still a pleasant read and one I would recommend to others. This book deals with some serious topics but manages to not be depressing but entertain you till the end. So, go ahead and grab your copy to read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews