First Love


Fiction - Short Story/Novela
7 Pages
Reviewed on 02/13/2023
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Savannah Aldridge for Readers' Favorite

Valerie Allen’s First Love twists your expectation of romance and loss. In this flash fiction piece of just under 750 words, Dick and Jane sit in the kitchen and discuss their daughter Mary’s plight; her first broken heart. The heartbreak is so devastating that it seems she will not even be able to attend school on this day. Dick is completely lost as to how this relationship could have brought up so many deep emotions and plans for his daughter, but Jane takes the time to remind him of the emotional roller coaster that early love can be. Even as they discuss the shattered remnants of Mary’s romantic relationship, they know that she has a bright future ahead with people who will appreciate the depth of who she is. The story concludes with a humorous surprise twist!

What a perfect short story for Valentine’s Day and for bringing love into every other day of the year. I appreciated how Valerie Allen brought nostalgia, character, and a genuine display of family love into such a brief piece. I was initially uncertain about the choice to name the couple Dick and Jane, but I was sold when I saw how well they fit with the setting of an idyllic morning in the kitchen. While I do not want to elaborate too much on the ending to keep the surprise for the reader, I will say that I did not see it coming and it completely changed my understanding of the story.