First Love: A Novel Summary
Gwendoline Riley

First Love: A Novel Overview

First Love, by Gwendoline Riley, is a tragic narrative that chronicles Neve's tumultuous relationships with the men in her life. Neve's primary example, her father, was a slovenly and abusive parent who showed no affection to his daughter. Now Neve is married to Edwyn, whose personal struggles with his health often cause him to lash out in ways reminiscent of Neve's time with her father. The novel spans a short time in Neve's life, with each chapter jumping back and forth from a time when she is married to a time when she is not. This fragmented narrative allows readers to examine which man in Neve's life is truly her first love.