Book Review: Make The Fireflies Dance by Rachel Bateman

Quincy—also known to her friends and family as Quin or Q—has a clear idea of what a first kiss should be. And even though it sort-of-maybe already happened, she still wants to at least have that idea of a perfect first kiss to come true because of a sweet, firefly-esque conversation she had with her mother who has since passed away. But then she’s kissed by a random, mystery person at her Grandmother’s birthday party, and it sets off a whirlwind of movie-style plotting and shenanigans. 

Quincy and her friends get to work finding out who Mystery Kisser is, and against her wishes of wanting control over the situation, they are starting with blind dates with suitable people that fit the mould from the party. But as prom creeps closer, her older brother’s continual vanishing acts weighing on her shoulders, plus health scares from her dad and final film class project on her mind, Quin is caught between what love and life should be and letting things fall into place naturally. And letting go of control over it is not her favourite thing. Especially when the one she’s falling for blindsides everything she thought she wanted—because what if that’s not what’s meant to be after all?

Overall, Make The Fireflies Dance was a glorious, charming ode to growing up and owning the magic in the messiness of love and being human. Quin was such a loveable, relateable main character and I enjoyed reading her POV. I was expecting the mystery kisser storyline to carry on a little further and the plot definitely steered in a different direction than I was expecting in the middle, but by the end, I was wholeheartedly won over by this cute, feel good novel with important messages at it’s heart. A wonderful four star book that’s perfect for readers that love classic YA romances!