First Love: Essays on Friendship BY Lilly Dancyger

In First Love, Lilly Dancyger crafts a vivid and introspective collection of essays that celebrate the profound and often underestimated power of female friendships. Drawing from her own experiences, Dancyger explores the intensity and significance of her closest bonds, treating them with the same depth and reverence as romantic relationships.

Following the murder of her beloved cousin, Dancyger's appreciation for the women in her life deepened into a poignant urgency. This collection is a tribute to the profound connections between women, examining the complexities of adolescent friendships, evolving identities, and the nurturing roles of chosen families. Each essay delves into different aspects of female relationships, revealing how these connections shape and sustain us in a world that often seeks to diminish our voices.

Dancyger's essays weave together personal reflections with references to literature, pop culture, and broader cultural narratives, from fairy tales and true crime to Anas Nin, Sylvia Plath, and contemporary internet culture. Through this rich tapestry, she investigates how friendships serve as a source of identity, support, and resistance against societal constraints.

First Love is both a tribute to the women who have shaped Dancyger's life and a broader examination of the role of friendship in crafting and understanding one's identity. It’s a reminder that while friendship cannot shield us from all of life's dangers, it provides essential support and love, making the journey through life more bearable and meaningful.