Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  To Catch a Firefly

AUTHOR:  Emmy Sanders

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  313 pages

RELEASE DATE:  February 15, 2024

BLURB:

He was my beginning. And my never-ending.

Ellis
There’s a lot I’ve never told my best friend. The fact that I love him. That I miss him every day he’s gone. That, sometimes, I ache for him with a ferocity that leaves me breathless.

Lucky Buchanan tore into my life as a boy, wild and daring, my opposite in every way. He drew me in, stole my heart without trying. He hears me, even though I rarely speak a word. But I always knew this place wouldn’t be enough for my free-spirited friend. I knew he wasn’t mine to keep.

So why, when I finally try to get over him, does he sweep back into town? Why is he upset? Why is there tension between us for the first time in years?

I never saw a future where Lucky could be mine. But now, unless I want to lose my friend, I might not have a choice but to tell the truth. My heart belongs to him. It has from the start.

If only I knew how to hold onto a creature that’s meant to fly.

To Catch a Firefly is a standalone, childhood friends-to-lovers romance told in dual POV. There’s epic levels of pining, a neurodivergent MC with selective mutism, two friends who always come back to one another, glass hearts and romantic declarations, and a HEA beneath the night sky.

REVIEW:

Ellis doesn’t talk much.  When Lucky unhappily moves to Nebraska from Chicago when his father get a job at the paper mill, his 10-year old life is upended.  Ellis lives next door and although he’s not the same as everyone else, Lucky thinks maybe it won’t be so bad there.  They are best friends.

Lucky is gay but Ellis doesn’t care – and he doesn’t understand why anybody else does either.  He’s got Lucky’s back and given Ellis’s size, he eventually makes sure that nobody else will mess with Lucky when they are in high school.  But Lucky wants a boyfriend and he’s been saying for years he’s going to leave as soon as he can.  He’s never been kissed and there isn’t anyone for him to date.  This makes Ellis sad for multiple reasons.  He does what he can for Lucky, but he knows he’ll never be enough.

When Ellis’s mother has a health issue come up, Ellis gives up any idea of leaving that he might have ever had.  But he knows Lucky is meant for bigger things.  As he learned from a young age, you can’t keep a firefly alive if you catch it.  He tries to be a good friend to Lucky but he misses him something fierce.

Lucky gets his dream job and they he’s gone.  He’s all over the world taking gorgeous photographs.  He sends them to Ellis and the talk regularly.  Ellis has his job as a husker.  Over time Ellis realizes that his feelings for Lucky are more than friendship, but he knows that Lucky is meant to be free and that he has to stay where he is.

Lucky goes about his life.  He has hookups but his coworker calls him on his feelings for Ellis.  He doesn’t exactly deny it, but he can’t lose his best friend. What if he doesn’t feel the same way?  How can he know how Ellis really feels?

OMG.  This is undoubtedly one of THE best friends to lovers stories I’ve ever read.  Every single thing about it is perfect.  Ellis’s difficulty communicating with his selective mutism is so beautifully written.  Lucky’s acceptance and love for his best friend from the first time they meet.  The ups and downs of their lives.  The beautiful way Ellis does eventually share his feelings with Lucky.  I could go on and on.  The way this author described the setting in Nebraska.  Ellis’s mother’s love and acceptance and encouragement and Lucky’s friendship have grounded Ellis for so long.  Lucky moving on with his life was hard, but Ellis was his best friend.  He couldn’t hold him back.  Why?  Because he loves him.  It takes a while for Ellis to figure out how he feels about Lucky and he doesn’t want to make Lucky feel guilty about living his life.  He pours his love for Lucky into his art.  Yes there is some miscommunication, but it’s not in the least bit contrived.  It’s the reality of these two men wanting what’s best for each other.  It takes them some time to realize what’s best for them is each other.  When they do figure it out – well it’s not all smooth, but it is glorious in the end.

Warning!  Serious book hangover ahead.  This book.  Soooooo good.  Make sure you have tissues at hand because there will be tears.  This is hands down one of the most touching and beautifully written love stories I’ve ever read.  Emmy Sanders is an autobuy for me since her first book, Fool Hearts, and this book is a perfect illustration of why.  The emotional punch packed into the lives of these gorgeous characters is absolutely brilliant.  I really don’t want to spoil anything for readers, but this is an amazing story.  Also, can we just talk about that unbelievable cover?  In this case the beauty of the story really matched the beauty of the cover art.  Truly swoonworthy.  I guarantee this will be high on my best of the year list.

RATING:

BUY LINK:

Amazon