Review of First Love by Lilly Dancyger

*First Love* by Lilly Dancyger (2024). Published by Dial Press.

As I entered a period of what I called funemployment, waiting for a visa that would never arrive so I could start my work and research abroad, I ended up spending a lot of time catching up on my to-read lists. It’s how I ended up catching up on my blog as well; I’m well scheduled in advance when it comes to posts.

I usually receive advanced copies of books from publishers. I get one or two emails a day now, which means that publishers are very much aware that I spend a lot of time on this blog reviewing books. And I do love reading, but it does get overwhelming sometimes when it comes to how much I have to read.

There was a solid chunk of time where I fell seriously behind on my advance copies. First Love was in this batch, and I did not end up getting to the book in time to put a review out on its publication date.

But when I was in this unemployed era, I was determined to catch up, and I did! There are a lot of upcoming reviews when it comes to the advance copies I received throughout this time.

Let’s get into the review before I start rambling. Much love to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy.

A series of essays on female friendship and how it impacted the author.

The reason why I requested this advance copy through NetGalley originally was because of the fact is focused on women’s friendship and how they engage with each other throughout the author’s life. One of the early striking stories she tells is actually about her cousin.

The two were thick as thieves, but then tragedy strikes: her cousin is violently murdered one day, leaving behind a massive hole. This is one of a few stories throughout the book about the loss of love and friendship, although this is the most brutal one. The others are more natural, like people drifting away with time.

It’s the loss of Lilly’s cousin that drives her to hold her other female friends close. Sometimes a little too close as we see from the essays, but these are pretty moving portraits of girlhood I would say.

We see references to the Tumblr days, how there were times they would just roam the streets in search of something new. I have no read any of Dancyger’s other work, so this was the first time I dipped my toes into her world. And my, it was fascinating.

There’s a lot of love in these stories, but to me it’s fairly easy to summarize this book because it relies solely on describing said love and friendships.

As a book this one isn’t too complex, and a lot of it can be said to just be vibes at times. You know you sometimes feel like you’re reading a diary with some books? This feels a little bit like one of those books.

There are references to writers like Plath and Nin, the fellow icons of sad girl literature and writers people stereotype as “girly” and “belong on Tumblr.” I’m thinking of the introduction to the biography of Sylvia when I write this, Red Comet, and about how her sadness and writing has become a source of “girlish” mockery by men who don’t see value in her work.

Overall Thoughts

Sometimes we don’t need books to be complex in order to enjoy them. I think I could even argue with myself in saying it’s not complex; it is and isn’t. Perhaps what I am meaning to say is that this is a book to return to when you need comfort, and you’ll also find there’s more to unravel. No book doesn’t have any meaning in the world.

I’m glad I read this at the end of the day. I had a great time reading what Dancyger had to say in these fifteen little chapters, or tiny love letters, to female friendships and coming of age stories.

Pick this one up if you’re interested in it for sure. Go to the library, buy a copy at your local independent bookstore, borrow a friend’s copy. You might find it very much worth it in the end.

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