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Firsts and Lasts
An exciting fiction YA anthology that celebrates the new experiences and final moments teenagers face on their journey into adulthood from editor Laura Silverman and a cast of spectacular contributors.
From first breakups and romantic vampire encounters to last band performances and the deadly end of a friendship, Firsts and Lasts is an anthology that is just as unpredictable as being a teenager. While each of these stories span different genres and styles, they all perfectly capture the big emotions--confusion, joy, uneasiness, and anticipation--that many teens experience as they grow up.
Whether you are hopelessly in love and not sure how to tell your crush, going through loss and can't fully process it, or just trying to figure out where you belong in the world, this collection of sixteen stories has something for every reader.
Stories written by: Adi Alsaid, Keah Brown, Monica Gomez-Hira, Kika Hatzopoulou, Shaun David Hutchinson, Amanda Joy, Loan Le, Joy McCullough, Yamile Saied M�ndez, Anna Meriano, Nina Moreno, Tess Sharpe, Laura Silverman, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Diana Urban, and Julian Winters.
From first breakups and romantic vampire encounters to last band performances and the deadly end of a friendship, Firsts and Lasts is an anthology that is just as unpredictable as being a teenager. While each of these stories span different genres and styles, they all perfectly capture the big emotions--confusion, joy, uneasiness, and anticipation--that many teens experience as they grow up.
Whether you are hopelessly in love and not sure how to tell your crush, going through loss and can't fully process it, or just trying to figure out where you belong in the world, this collection of sixteen stories has something for every reader.
Stories written by: Adi Alsaid, Keah Brown, Monica Gomez-Hira, Kika Hatzopoulou, Shaun David Hutchinson, Amanda Joy, Loan Le, Joy McCullough, Yamile Saied M�ndez, Anna Meriano, Nina Moreno, Tess Sharpe, Laura Silverman, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Diana Urban, and Julian Winters.
Hardcover
First published September 26, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 18, 2023
“Part of the dance, ready to follow wherever it takes me, ready for the ups and downs and the unknowns and the pounding of my heart through it all.”
This was a fun YA short story anthology with a mix of genres focusing on new experiences and final moments in the journey to adulthood.
I didn’t love every story, but there were some really good ones!!
The First Time I Dated a Vampire by Julian Winters
★★★☆☆
Not bad, just a little boring
Explores grief
(CW: death)
The First Day of College by Monica Gomez-Hira
★★★☆☆
The feeling of starting anew
Family heritage
Good, I just wasn’t super invested
The First Kiss by Nina Moreno
★★★☆☆
I liked the witchy vibes
But didn’t really like the romance
The First Time We Buried a Body by Tess Sharpe
★★★★☆
Well written!
Disturbing but fun?
(CW: death; attempted assault)
The First Breakup by Anna Meriano
★★★★☆
Really good!
I liked all the characters
Friendship and possibility
The First Time I Saw the Stars by Shaun David Hutchinson
★★★★★
Amazing!
Aliens & mental health
I’d read a full length novel based on this
I love Shaun David Hutchinson
(CW: depression; self-harm)
The First Crush by Keah Brown
★★☆☆☆
It was just so boring
I didn’t like the writing
The First Job by Yamile Saied Méndez
★★★☆☆
I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing
Kind of boring
The haunted house aspect was cool
The Last Dinosaur by Laura Silverman
★★★★★
Aww cute
Dinosaurs & loneliness
Exploration of grief and moving on
(CW: death)
The Last Purity Ball by Joy McCullough
★★★★☆
I wasn’t sure at first but it grew on me
I feel like churches often get a negative portrayal in fiction, same with this story
In the end I liked the message
The Last Bout by Amanda Joy
★★★★☆
Cool worldbuildng
Gave Avatar the Last Airbender vibes
The whole time I was totally picturing the battle between Zuko and Katara in the Northern Water Tribe
Everything got wrapped up way too perfectly at the end
The Last Days in the Only Place That Ever Felt Like Home by Adi Alsaid
★★★★★
Oh. My. Gosh. I related so hard to this
Like, this was basically my childhood (besides the magical realism)
Living abroad, moving around a lot, going to the US every summer and feeling like you don’t fit in with your cousins anymore, the feeling of never being rooted anywhere, not keeping in touch with your old friends, the feeling of wasting your time in the new place because you miss the old place so much
And Taiwan!!!!
Just wow, so well written
The (Hopefully) Last Demon Summoning by Kika Hatzopoulou
★★★★☆
Wasn’t expecting this to be paranormal so when it said “Sébastien is a half-vampire and Cesar is a were-jaguar” I was so confused
I didn’t like it at first but it grew on me
Friendship!
The Last Goodbye by Loan Le
★★★★☆
Very interesting
Vietnamese culture!
A bit slow but overall good
(CW: death; drug addiction)
The Last Concert by Rachel Lynn Solomon
★★★★★
Sooo cute!!!!
Okay why do want to join a band now?
Well written characters and chemistry
The Last Time I Saw Her Alive by Diana Urban
★★★☆☆
Wait, what?
The plot twist was cool but confused me so much
I hated all the characters
(CW: death)
“The world’s a big and hollow place, isn’t that what you said? It’s up to us to fill it.”
***
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review
September 5, 2024
3 stars
ehhhh this was a bit hit or miss for me. some of the stories were really cute or well-written, whereas others were just really not. a bit of a mixed bag.
ehhhh this was a bit hit or miss for me. some of the stories were really cute or well-written, whereas others were just really not. a bit of a mixed bag.
June 7, 2024
4.5 stars. Read this book in my last weeks of college (and school ever)- perfect timing. Makes the future seem comforting. I always like a good short story collection
September 8, 2023
I love the diversity and variety of themes in these! There’s aliens, dinosaurs, murder, paranormal, and some sweet family stories as well. A great mix of short stories that left me with a huge smile on my face. 💕
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a digital arc.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a digital arc.
April 5, 2025
4 stars for this YA anthology A great variety of short stories by favorite and familiar authors. Stories about paranormal beings, dinosaurs, crushes, break-ups, graduation, dances, etc. What I loved about these short stories was the emphasis on how relationships can really shape you and your perspective on life. My favorite “firsts” include: 1. The First Break-up 2. The First Time I Saw the Stars. Favorite “lasts” stories: 1. The Last Dinosaur 2. The Last Days in the Only Place That Ever Felt Like Home 3. The Last Concert.
January 26, 2024
This isn't the first YA short story collection edited by Laura Silverman that I have read. I love a good theme, and I especially love how these anthologies always revolve around one. In the case of Firsts and Lasts, this coming of age collection explores the first and last experiences of teens as they set off to embark on their adult lives. Divided into two sections - Firsts and Lasts - these stories cover a wide variety of experiences - both those grounded in reality and others sprinkled with fantasy.
As for my personal reading experience, I definitely preferred the "Lasts" collection of stories better than the "Firsts." The "Lasts" stories were more creatively done and explored a variety of experiences, whereas the "Firsts" stories primarily featured LGBTQIA relationships. While relationships are certainly an important part of any teen's life, multiple stories on the same general subject get stale when you are fed them one after another. The stories in "Lasts," however, included everything from dinosaurs, to arena fighting, to purity balls, to murder.
FIRSTS
The First Time I Dated a Vampire by Julian Winters (2 stars) - A gay teenage movie buff who is grieving the loss of his father, finds acceptance, and possibly love, by way of the literal vampire who works at his local movie theater.
Unfortunately, there is nothing entirely memorable about this story. It feels like it was written to check off a social issues checklist, rather than to tell an engaging story.
-----
The First Day of College by Monica Gomez-Hira (4 stars) - A Colombian American college freshman with her family in tow, moves into her dorm and learns about family ties and heritage.
This is a touching coming-of-age story about looking to the future, but also remembering everything we leave behind. Authentically-written, it also includes a vibrant cast of characters.
-----
The First Kiss by Nina Moreno (3 stars) - A witch casts a spell to find love on her birthday (which also happens to be on Halloween), but things don’t play out quite as expected.
I enjoyed the Halloween/spooky vibes of this story, but questioned why Moreno chose to make her female lead bisexual, yet her crushes were all male. Why not just make her straight?
-----
The First Time We Buried a Body by Tess Sharpe (4 stars) - When a teenager commits murder to protect her friend from assault, the two girls are left with a body they need to bury.
This story is engaging and entertaining, but I am a bit worried about how the story is written as if resorting to murder was the only choice in this situation.
-----
The First Breakup by Anna Meriano (3 stars) - A girl navigates her first breakup in the search of something more.
A bit of self-discovery as the main character learns what it is she wants out of life and love is what unfolds in this story. While good, the story is pretty vanilla fare and is not quite memorable enough.
-----
The First Time I Saw the Stars by Shaun David Hutchinson (2 stars) - When an alien lands on a future Earth, it connects with a boy who has been struggling with his mental health.
Despite many readers loving this story, I just couldn’t get into it! I found it confusing to be thrown into an unfamiliar setting right off the bat, and it took me awhile to gather what was going on in this story. There were also a few distasteful sexual references that I didn’t care for.
-----
The First Crush by Keah Brown (2 stars) - A girl grapples with a way to fell her friend that she has feelings for her.
This story is all about friendship, but also falling in love with your friends. Unfortunately, it had to much going on for a short story and I kept losing interest.
-----
The First Job by Yamile Saied Mendez (3 stars) - When her long-time high school boyfriend makes out with her best friend, a girl struggles to navigate her small town on her own before finding her place.
I felt like this story was written with all of the angst and immaturity that scorned teenagers possess. I like that the main character’s first job ends up being a haunted house - it adds a fun Halloween vibe to this story.
-----
LASTS
The Last Dinosaur by Laura Silverman (5 stars) - When a young girl encounters a lone dinosaur while hiking the Appalachian Trail with her family, she makes a friend for life.
I always really enjoy Laura Silverman’s contributions in these short story collections. This story was a breath of fresh air. I was so glad that it didn’t deal with relationships and identity. Just a poignant, yet at the same time, fun, story involving a girl and her dinosaur.
-----
The Last Purity Ball by Joy McCullough (5 stars) - A girl who is attempting to plan a Purity Ball while also juggling her ever-intensifying feelings for her boyfriend, has to juggle both what she wants to do with what she feels is expected of her.
I found this story to be really engaging, and I was entertained throughout. It was a bit stereotypical and predictable, but overall, it contained some good lessons.
-----
The Last Bout by Amanda Joy (5 stars) - Two girls with mystical powers battle it out in an arena event.
This was the first story that I thought would work really well as a full-length novel. I appreciated Joy’s ability to world-build and layer on detail in just a few pages. Didn’t care for the romance side of things, but the battle and character attributes was really neat.
-----
The Last Days in the Only Place That Felt Like Home by Adi Alsaid (4 stars) - A teenage girl with a transient family is tired of always having to start over, but thinks she has found something worth holding onto when she discovers a magical time-warping fountain.
This was a touching story about trying to make a home for one’s self. I really enjoyed the magical element included in the story as well - it added a nice touch of fun.
-----
The (Hopefully) Last Demon Summoning by Kika Hatzopoulou (2 stars) - A group of friends about to diverge on their own paths accidentally summon a demon during their last hurrah.
I almost skipped over this story because I just couldn’t get into it. The characters end up being supernatural beings, which threw me off and just made things confusing. There was too much superfluous detail involved in this story, in my opinion.
-----
The Last Goodbye by Loan Le (3 stars) - A young girl connects with her mother over a drug addiction death in their past.
This story had a bit of a supernatural element to it, which isn’t my favorite. I had a hard time getting into this story, although I do think it was well done.
-----
The Last Concert by Rachel Lynn Solomon (4 stars) - A group of high school friends in a band prepare for their last performance.
This story was fun and nostalgic all at the same time. It gave off good vibes, and I enjoyed the friendships among the band members.
-----
The Last Time I Saw Her Alive (5 stars) - A girl contemplates the last time she saw her best friend alive, before she stole her boyfriend.
Holy plot twist - I did not see that one coming! I had to re-read parts of this story more than once because it completely took me by surprise.
As for my personal reading experience, I definitely preferred the "Lasts" collection of stories better than the "Firsts." The "Lasts" stories were more creatively done and explored a variety of experiences, whereas the "Firsts" stories primarily featured LGBTQIA relationships. While relationships are certainly an important part of any teen's life, multiple stories on the same general subject get stale when you are fed them one after another. The stories in "Lasts," however, included everything from dinosaurs, to arena fighting, to purity balls, to murder.
FIRSTS
The First Time I Dated a Vampire by Julian Winters (2 stars) - A gay teenage movie buff who is grieving the loss of his father, finds acceptance, and possibly love, by way of the literal vampire who works at his local movie theater.
Unfortunately, there is nothing entirely memorable about this story. It feels like it was written to check off a social issues checklist, rather than to tell an engaging story.
-----
The First Day of College by Monica Gomez-Hira (4 stars) - A Colombian American college freshman with her family in tow, moves into her dorm and learns about family ties and heritage.
This is a touching coming-of-age story about looking to the future, but also remembering everything we leave behind. Authentically-written, it also includes a vibrant cast of characters.
-----
The First Kiss by Nina Moreno (3 stars) - A witch casts a spell to find love on her birthday (which also happens to be on Halloween), but things don’t play out quite as expected.
I enjoyed the Halloween/spooky vibes of this story, but questioned why Moreno chose to make her female lead bisexual, yet her crushes were all male. Why not just make her straight?
-----
The First Time We Buried a Body by Tess Sharpe (4 stars) - When a teenager commits murder to protect her friend from assault, the two girls are left with a body they need to bury.
This story is engaging and entertaining, but I am a bit worried about how the story is written as if resorting to murder was the only choice in this situation.
-----
The First Breakup by Anna Meriano (3 stars) - A girl navigates her first breakup in the search of something more.
A bit of self-discovery as the main character learns what it is she wants out of life and love is what unfolds in this story. While good, the story is pretty vanilla fare and is not quite memorable enough.
-----
The First Time I Saw the Stars by Shaun David Hutchinson (2 stars) - When an alien lands on a future Earth, it connects with a boy who has been struggling with his mental health.
Despite many readers loving this story, I just couldn’t get into it! I found it confusing to be thrown into an unfamiliar setting right off the bat, and it took me awhile to gather what was going on in this story. There were also a few distasteful sexual references that I didn’t care for.
-----
The First Crush by Keah Brown (2 stars) - A girl grapples with a way to fell her friend that she has feelings for her.
This story is all about friendship, but also falling in love with your friends. Unfortunately, it had to much going on for a short story and I kept losing interest.
-----
The First Job by Yamile Saied Mendez (3 stars) - When her long-time high school boyfriend makes out with her best friend, a girl struggles to navigate her small town on her own before finding her place.
I felt like this story was written with all of the angst and immaturity that scorned teenagers possess. I like that the main character’s first job ends up being a haunted house - it adds a fun Halloween vibe to this story.
-----
LASTS
The Last Dinosaur by Laura Silverman (5 stars) - When a young girl encounters a lone dinosaur while hiking the Appalachian Trail with her family, she makes a friend for life.
I always really enjoy Laura Silverman’s contributions in these short story collections. This story was a breath of fresh air. I was so glad that it didn’t deal with relationships and identity. Just a poignant, yet at the same time, fun, story involving a girl and her dinosaur.
-----
The Last Purity Ball by Joy McCullough (5 stars) - A girl who is attempting to plan a Purity Ball while also juggling her ever-intensifying feelings for her boyfriend, has to juggle both what she wants to do with what she feels is expected of her.
I found this story to be really engaging, and I was entertained throughout. It was a bit stereotypical and predictable, but overall, it contained some good lessons.
-----
The Last Bout by Amanda Joy (5 stars) - Two girls with mystical powers battle it out in an arena event.
This was the first story that I thought would work really well as a full-length novel. I appreciated Joy’s ability to world-build and layer on detail in just a few pages. Didn’t care for the romance side of things, but the battle and character attributes was really neat.
-----
The Last Days in the Only Place That Felt Like Home by Adi Alsaid (4 stars) - A teenage girl with a transient family is tired of always having to start over, but thinks she has found something worth holding onto when she discovers a magical time-warping fountain.
This was a touching story about trying to make a home for one’s self. I really enjoyed the magical element included in the story as well - it added a nice touch of fun.
-----
The (Hopefully) Last Demon Summoning by Kika Hatzopoulou (2 stars) - A group of friends about to diverge on their own paths accidentally summon a demon during their last hurrah.
I almost skipped over this story because I just couldn’t get into it. The characters end up being supernatural beings, which threw me off and just made things confusing. There was too much superfluous detail involved in this story, in my opinion.
-----
The Last Goodbye by Loan Le (3 stars) - A young girl connects with her mother over a drug addiction death in their past.
This story had a bit of a supernatural element to it, which isn’t my favorite. I had a hard time getting into this story, although I do think it was well done.
-----
The Last Concert by Rachel Lynn Solomon (4 stars) - A group of high school friends in a band prepare for their last performance.
This story was fun and nostalgic all at the same time. It gave off good vibes, and I enjoyed the friendships among the band members.
-----
The Last Time I Saw Her Alive (5 stars) - A girl contemplates the last time she saw her best friend alive, before she stole her boyfriend.
Holy plot twist - I did not see that one coming! I had to re-read parts of this story more than once because it completely took me by surprise.
November 11, 2024
finally got around to doing a review on another anthology yipee
the firsts
the first time i dated a vampire by julian winters
3/5
for some reason i couldn't rlly get into. but whenever julian winters has a short story in an anthology i always say he should make it a full legnth novel, i think its specifically applicable to this one bc i feel like what was lacking was a lot of back story and other tidbits that could be better explored in a longer setting. still cute.
the first day of college by monica gomez-hira
3.3/5
i thought this one was sweet. this is like a very good neatly wrapped up oneshot. i like that.
the first kiss by nina moreno
2/5
not a fan. wasnt bad but well, js not a fan. pretty boring to me.
the first time we buried a body by tess sharpe
5/5 fuck it/5 this deserves awards oml
i cannot stress how much i adored this one. hhhh i need more. fuck jayden. hope they never find his body and it rots away, forgotten by the entire world. hope meredith n evie live happily ever after. idc she killed him, if it were me, id do it too.
the first breakup by anna meriano
4.3/5
hc this one as aroallo idc idc idc!! i have a feeling ok. the thrill of possible romance also runs deep in my veins despite being aro. js the vibe of it all, casual romance is fun, better than being tied down (no offense to those who like relationships, im js poking fun). rlly liked it.
the first time i saw the stars by shuan david hutchinson
5/5
i actually adore this. he showed him the stars and it made him feel alive again holy fuck. the weight of depression and what that can do to someone, the question of why remaning always unanswered. love love love. fuck FUCK. this line btw? "the stars are the promise that there's more to the universe than you can know. that you're alive even when you feel like you shouldn't be" i may start crying actually.
the first crush by keah brown
2/5
kinda boring ngl. cute but eh yk? lesson to be learnt: dont get so drunk u throw up on ur crush's shoes
the first job by yamile saied méndez
3.1/5
quite sweet. fuck carmen and victor, hope they never find love.
the lasts
the last dinosaur by laura silverman
4/5
learning to let go of the ones u love has got to be one of the most difficult things to do. grief is so consuming but we have to learn to live with it, to walk beside it, to let it be with us because it doesn't go away, but we can't let it take over our lives. this one makes me sad, but like, i get it.
the last purity ball by joy mccullough
not for me/5
dunno what to rate it. didnt connect w it much. i vv much dislike purity culture tho, dislike how it punishes women more harsly than men, its js gross.
the last bout by amanda joy
5/5
i cried. god this could be so well explored in a full length novel. could rlly dive deep into the explotation n everything. wish there was more. wish these two took down the monarchy.
the lasy days in the only place that ever felt like home by adi alsaid
4/5
lovely lovely lovely. i rlly wanna go to taiwan omgggg, i think i would like the vibe. especially the night markets, ive been to some in hk and china (hopefully will get to go to some more and explore more when i go back this time, was too young to know what's fun the last couple of times lmao) but wooooah the way its written in this story?? i need to go to taiwan oml. lol besides taiwan now...i adore the messaging of this story. i think as i get older, i forget to live in the moment and instead worry about losing time. good read.
the (hopefully) last demon summoning by kika hatzopoulou
2.5/5
fun concept. big fan of paranormal normal lol, same vibes as combining anicent chinese cultivation and modern china. story was ok. change is def scary thats for sure.
the last goodbye by loan le
3/5
good. i enjoyed it. dont have much to say tho.
the last concert by rachel lynn solomon
3/5
another change is scary one. i like this one. cute.
the last time i saw her alive by diana urban
.../5
congrats i hate everyone in this? twist was well it was a twist for sure.
the firsts
the first time i dated a vampire by julian winters
3/5
for some reason i couldn't rlly get into. but whenever julian winters has a short story in an anthology i always say he should make it a full legnth novel, i think its specifically applicable to this one bc i feel like what was lacking was a lot of back story and other tidbits that could be better explored in a longer setting. still cute.
the first day of college by monica gomez-hira
3.3/5
i thought this one was sweet. this is like a very good neatly wrapped up oneshot. i like that.
the first kiss by nina moreno
2/5
not a fan. wasnt bad but well, js not a fan. pretty boring to me.
the first time we buried a body by tess sharpe
5/5 fuck it/5 this deserves awards oml
i cannot stress how much i adored this one. hhhh i need more. fuck jayden. hope they never find his body and it rots away, forgotten by the entire world. hope meredith n evie live happily ever after. idc she killed him, if it were me, id do it too.
the first breakup by anna meriano
4.3/5
hc this one as aroallo idc idc idc!! i have a feeling ok. the thrill of possible romance also runs deep in my veins despite being aro. js the vibe of it all, casual romance is fun, better than being tied down (no offense to those who like relationships, im js poking fun). rlly liked it.
the first time i saw the stars by shuan david hutchinson
5/5
i actually adore this. he showed him the stars and it made him feel alive again holy fuck. the weight of depression and what that can do to someone, the question of why remaning always unanswered. love love love. fuck FUCK. this line btw? "the stars are the promise that there's more to the universe than you can know. that you're alive even when you feel like you shouldn't be" i may start crying actually.
the first crush by keah brown
2/5
kinda boring ngl. cute but eh yk? lesson to be learnt: dont get so drunk u throw up on ur crush's shoes
the first job by yamile saied méndez
3.1/5
quite sweet. fuck carmen and victor, hope they never find love.
the lasts
the last dinosaur by laura silverman
4/5
learning to let go of the ones u love has got to be one of the most difficult things to do. grief is so consuming but we have to learn to live with it, to walk beside it, to let it be with us because it doesn't go away, but we can't let it take over our lives. this one makes me sad, but like, i get it.
the last purity ball by joy mccullough
not for me/5
dunno what to rate it. didnt connect w it much. i vv much dislike purity culture tho, dislike how it punishes women more harsly than men, its js gross.
the last bout by amanda joy
5/5
i cried. god this could be so well explored in a full length novel. could rlly dive deep into the explotation n everything. wish there was more. wish these two took down the monarchy.
the lasy days in the only place that ever felt like home by adi alsaid
4/5
lovely lovely lovely. i rlly wanna go to taiwan omgggg, i think i would like the vibe. especially the night markets, ive been to some in hk and china (hopefully will get to go to some more and explore more when i go back this time, was too young to know what's fun the last couple of times lmao) but wooooah the way its written in this story?? i need to go to taiwan oml. lol besides taiwan now...i adore the messaging of this story. i think as i get older, i forget to live in the moment and instead worry about losing time. good read.
the (hopefully) last demon summoning by kika hatzopoulou
2.5/5
fun concept. big fan of paranormal normal lol, same vibes as combining anicent chinese cultivation and modern china. story was ok. change is def scary thats for sure.
the last goodbye by loan le
3/5
good. i enjoyed it. dont have much to say tho.
the last concert by rachel lynn solomon
3/5
another change is scary one. i like this one. cute.
the last time i saw her alive by diana urban
.../5
congrats i hate everyone in this? twist was well it was a twist for sure.
September 19, 2023
Thank you to Penguin Workshop for sending me a copy of this book to read and give my honest review.
I love anthologies. Especially those with authors I may not have read yet. It gives me a good idea of whether or not I might like an author's writing and if I'd like to read books they have written or may write in the future. I will say anthologies are a bit hard to review. I find it hard to remember each story, so good notes were a must with this. I did get the overall theme from this book of diversity, which was a breath of fresh air.
For this review, I'll do things a little differently, I'll list each title with a rating and my thoughts about what that story explores.
The First Time I Dated a Vampire by Julian Winters
Three stars
This one was fun, a bit of romance and it had a paranormal aspect.
The First Day of College by Monica Gomez-Hira
Three stars
A fun story that explores family, heritage, and starting on something new
The First Kiss by Nina Moreno
Three stars
This one had fun witchy vibes that I really enjoyed and a cute romance
The First Time We Buried a Body by Tess Sharpe
Three stars
Probably my favorite story in the book which explores a bit of girl power in a disturbing way
The First Breakup by Anna Meriano
Three stars
The characters in this one are fun and relatable who show great friendship!
The First Time I Saw the Stars by Shaun David Hutchinson
Five stars
This one explored the aspect of mental health and the use of a stereotype (mental health patients see small green men) which turns out to be more true than not!
The First Crush by Keah Brown
Two stars
This one explored first love but fell short for me and I wasn't a huge fan of the writing
The First Job by Yamile Saied Méndez
Three stars
This gave me Halloween vibes and made me want to feel all fall like, plus reminded me of college when we used to go to haunted houses in the fall!
The Last Dinosaur by Laura Silverman
Five Stars
This one was adorable with its dinosaurs and special friendship while exploring the idea of letting go and moving on.
The Last Purity Ball by Joy McCullough
Two stars
I appreciated the message in this one and it was interesting how the author worked in the religious aspect.
The Last Bout by Amanda Joy
Three stars
This one was cool because it had a bit of world building bordering on sci fi
The Last Days in the Only Place That Ever Felt Like Home by Adi Alsaid
Four stars
I loved the idea of how this one explored the idea of uprooting and how this can skew a point of view on what happens in life
The (Hopefully) Last Demon Summoning by Kika Hatzopoulou
Five stars
LOVED this one, I adore the paranormal and this one hit them all with it's school for magical beings. I was totally getting my Harry Potter on with this one that explored the importance of friendship.
The Last Goodbye by Loan Le
Two stars
This one was a bit difficult for me with it's dealings of drug culture but I did enjoy the Vietnamese aspect as I've not had a chance to explore that before
The Last Concert by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Five stars
This one gave me Daisy Jones and the Six vibes and having grown up in the 80s with music being such an important part of my life, I loved the idea of a band made up of high school friends,
The Last Time I Saw Her Alive by Diana Urban
Two stars
I'm just confused with how this went down
Overall the stories were fun and I can see how they could be relatable to teens who may be experiencing similar things.
I love anthologies. Especially those with authors I may not have read yet. It gives me a good idea of whether or not I might like an author's writing and if I'd like to read books they have written or may write in the future. I will say anthologies are a bit hard to review. I find it hard to remember each story, so good notes were a must with this. I did get the overall theme from this book of diversity, which was a breath of fresh air.
For this review, I'll do things a little differently, I'll list each title with a rating and my thoughts about what that story explores.
The First Time I Dated a Vampire by Julian Winters
Three stars
This one was fun, a bit of romance and it had a paranormal aspect.
The First Day of College by Monica Gomez-Hira
Three stars
A fun story that explores family, heritage, and starting on something new
The First Kiss by Nina Moreno
Three stars
This one had fun witchy vibes that I really enjoyed and a cute romance
The First Time We Buried a Body by Tess Sharpe
Three stars
Probably my favorite story in the book which explores a bit of girl power in a disturbing way
The First Breakup by Anna Meriano
Three stars
The characters in this one are fun and relatable who show great friendship!
The First Time I Saw the Stars by Shaun David Hutchinson
Five stars
This one explored the aspect of mental health and the use of a stereotype (mental health patients see small green men) which turns out to be more true than not!
The First Crush by Keah Brown
Two stars
This one explored first love but fell short for me and I wasn't a huge fan of the writing
The First Job by Yamile Saied Méndez
Three stars
This gave me Halloween vibes and made me want to feel all fall like, plus reminded me of college when we used to go to haunted houses in the fall!
The Last Dinosaur by Laura Silverman
Five Stars
This one was adorable with its dinosaurs and special friendship while exploring the idea of letting go and moving on.
The Last Purity Ball by Joy McCullough
Two stars
I appreciated the message in this one and it was interesting how the author worked in the religious aspect.
The Last Bout by Amanda Joy
Three stars
This one was cool because it had a bit of world building bordering on sci fi
The Last Days in the Only Place That Ever Felt Like Home by Adi Alsaid
Four stars
I loved the idea of how this one explored the idea of uprooting and how this can skew a point of view on what happens in life
The (Hopefully) Last Demon Summoning by Kika Hatzopoulou
Five stars
LOVED this one, I adore the paranormal and this one hit them all with it's school for magical beings. I was totally getting my Harry Potter on with this one that explored the importance of friendship.
The Last Goodbye by Loan Le
Two stars
This one was a bit difficult for me with it's dealings of drug culture but I did enjoy the Vietnamese aspect as I've not had a chance to explore that before
The Last Concert by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Five stars
This one gave me Daisy Jones and the Six vibes and having grown up in the 80s with music being such an important part of my life, I loved the idea of a band made up of high school friends,
The Last Time I Saw Her Alive by Diana Urban
Two stars
I'm just confused with how this went down
Overall the stories were fun and I can see how they could be relatable to teens who may be experiencing similar things.
December 15, 2023
This short story collection encompasses a wide array of genres and styles, although each does address some sort of first or last. This can be as unusual speculative fiction such as Julian Winter's The First Time I Dated a Vampire, which approaches this in an oddly realistic way, or Silverman's own The Last Dinosaur, which melds grief with the unlikely existence of prehistoric creatures. The realistic entries also were very distinctive. I think my favorite was Monica Gomez-Hira's The First Day of College, since leaving home is such a pivotal experience, and this story underscored the unique challenges of being a first generation student settling in to the college environment while trying to uphold family traditions. While alarming in its detail and accuracy, I also enjoyed Tess Sharpe's The First Time We Buried a Body, a story which true crime fans will love, and which makes me want to investigate this author's other work.
A lot of the stories deal with romantic relationships, like Nina Moreno's The First Kiss, Keah Brown's The First Crush, and Anna Meriano's The First Breakup, and a large number of the stories highlight characters who represented many facets of the LGBTQIA+ community. The authors represent diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds as well.
These are definitely young adult offerings, so there is some more adult language and situations. There is a list of trigger warnings for the various stories at the beginning of the book.
This is a great collection of stories aimed at the audiences who have enjoyed anthologies like First-Year Orientation (Gibaldi and Smith), Morrow's Take the Mic, Together, Apart and Mandanna's Color Outside the Lines. Having a wide variety of authors presented is a great way to meet lots of new writers, so that readers can investigate the novels written by the authors of their favorites.
A lot of the stories deal with romantic relationships, like Nina Moreno's The First Kiss, Keah Brown's The First Crush, and Anna Meriano's The First Breakup, and a large number of the stories highlight characters who represented many facets of the LGBTQIA+ community. The authors represent diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds as well.
These are definitely young adult offerings, so there is some more adult language and situations. There is a list of trigger warnings for the various stories at the beginning of the book.
This is a great collection of stories aimed at the audiences who have enjoyed anthologies like First-Year Orientation (Gibaldi and Smith), Morrow's Take the Mic, Together, Apart and Mandanna's Color Outside the Lines. Having a wide variety of authors presented is a great way to meet lots of new writers, so that readers can investigate the novels written by the authors of their favorites.
July 30, 2024
Wow, I like anthologies. They're a really good way to find out about writers who are new to me; if you can handle the cramped quarters of a short story, you're worth my attention.
The lovely thing about this collection is that almost all the stories are written for teenagers, not just for 20-somethings. Concerns in the stories are ones teens often have: relationships, leaving the comforts of home and childhood, the excitement and anxiety of upcoming change.
There's a variety of stories here: "The First Time I Dated a Vampire" and "The First Time I Saw the Stars" and "The (Hopefully) Last Demon Summoning" are among the speculative fiction stories; others, like "The First Job" and "The Last Concert", are slices of ordinary life.
The stories work really well. "The Last Purity Ball" does an excellent job of portraying its purity-obsessed protagonist with sympathy while making clear how oppressive her culture is. I found myself really interested in reading more set in the world of "The (Hopefully) Last Demon Summoning"--I mean, a world where magic is just an everyday activity; what's not to like? I also very much enjoyed "The First Time I Saw the Stars," with its mysterious haze and the symbolism of the stars and the realistic mental health difficulties of teenager-hood and the uplift at the end--and, of course, the title is also optimistic, because surely there must be later times the main character sees the stars ... "The First Time We Buried a Body" has some uplift at the end, as well, though it's not a particularly feel-good story. (And, some of the titles of the "First" stories have interesting implications: just how many times did you date a vampire? How many other bodies have you two buried?)
All in all, a collection I very much enjoyed. I'll have fun exploring the other works by these authors.
The lovely thing about this collection is that almost all the stories are written for teenagers, not just for 20-somethings. Concerns in the stories are ones teens often have: relationships, leaving the comforts of home and childhood, the excitement and anxiety of upcoming change.
There's a variety of stories here: "The First Time I Dated a Vampire" and "The First Time I Saw the Stars" and "The (Hopefully) Last Demon Summoning" are among the speculative fiction stories; others, like "The First Job" and "The Last Concert", are slices of ordinary life.
The stories work really well. "The Last Purity Ball" does an excellent job of portraying its purity-obsessed protagonist with sympathy while making clear how oppressive her culture is. I found myself really interested in reading more set in the world of "The (Hopefully) Last Demon Summoning"--I mean, a world where magic is just an everyday activity; what's not to like? I also very much enjoyed "The First Time I Saw the Stars," with its mysterious haze and the symbolism of the stars and the realistic mental health difficulties of teenager-hood and the uplift at the end--and, of course, the title is also optimistic, because surely there must be later times the main character sees the stars ... "The First Time We Buried a Body" has some uplift at the end, as well, though it's not a particularly feel-good story. (And, some of the titles of the "First" stories have interesting implications: just how many times did you date a vampire? How many other bodies have you two buried?)
All in all, a collection I very much enjoyed. I'll have fun exploring the other works by these authors.
December 13, 2023
What worked: First off, I'm a huge fan of short story anthologies. They're perfect for those who are on the go and don't have time and/or want to read long novels. FIRSTS AND LASTS is an engaging collection of fiction shorts that go over new experiences and final moments experienced by teens before they go on their journeys toward becoming adults. So many great authors in this collection as well!
Some of my favorites:
Firsts:
THE FIRST DAY OF COLLEGE by Monica Gomez-Hira shares the time a teen gets ready to start college and her experience meeting her roommate. I totally related to this story, remembering my own experience of going away to a university and knowing no one there.
THE FIRST TIME WE BURIED A BODY by Tess Sharpe shows the aftermath of a girl helping another one out in a horrific event.
THE FIRST BREAKUP by Anna Meriano is one of having the courage to realize it's okay not to settle.
LASTS:
THE LAST PURITY BALL by Joy McCullough shows a girl who puts everything into being someone and then finds out the truth later on.
THE LAST TIME I SAW HER ALIVE by Diana Urban has a twist on how far someone goes to get what they want.
Other stories in this book include paranormal hints and ones that are sure to resonate with readers.
Entertaining collection of short stories with something for everyone.
Originally posted: https://www.yabookscentral.com/firsts...
Some of my favorites:
Firsts:
THE FIRST DAY OF COLLEGE by Monica Gomez-Hira shares the time a teen gets ready to start college and her experience meeting her roommate. I totally related to this story, remembering my own experience of going away to a university and knowing no one there.
THE FIRST TIME WE BURIED A BODY by Tess Sharpe shows the aftermath of a girl helping another one out in a horrific event.
THE FIRST BREAKUP by Anna Meriano is one of having the courage to realize it's okay not to settle.
LASTS:
THE LAST PURITY BALL by Joy McCullough shows a girl who puts everything into being someone and then finds out the truth later on.
THE LAST TIME I SAW HER ALIVE by Diana Urban has a twist on how far someone goes to get what they want.
Other stories in this book include paranormal hints and ones that are sure to resonate with readers.
Entertaining collection of short stories with something for everyone.
Originally posted: https://www.yabookscentral.com/firsts...
October 20, 2023
A short story collection written by multiple YA authors, each focusing on the space between childhood and adulthood.
First a personal note: I didn't read all 16 stories, yet I don't want to mark the book as DNF because I may read more when the mood hits. In fact, I rarely review collections because I usually don't read them front to back without a break. I tend to read a story or two between longer books or when I have an appointment that includes time in a waiting room. Note too that I have no problem skipping stories that don't catch my attention on the first couple of pages.
Things I liked in general about the stories I read: Diverse characters (in many senses) placed in emotionally authentic situations, even if the specific situation was uncommon (vampires & dinosaurs, for example). The stories were well-structured and complete with relatable characters.
Unfortunately, because I'm older than the target audience, I didn't connect to the collection to the depth I suspect younger people (young adults & new adults) will. Still, I recommend you give the collection a try.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
First a personal note: I didn't read all 16 stories, yet I don't want to mark the book as DNF because I may read more when the mood hits. In fact, I rarely review collections because I usually don't read them front to back without a break. I tend to read a story or two between longer books or when I have an appointment that includes time in a waiting room. Note too that I have no problem skipping stories that don't catch my attention on the first couple of pages.
Things I liked in general about the stories I read: Diverse characters (in many senses) placed in emotionally authentic situations, even if the specific situation was uncommon (vampires & dinosaurs, for example). The stories were well-structured and complete with relatable characters.
Unfortunately, because I'm older than the target audience, I didn't connect to the collection to the depth I suspect younger people (young adults & new adults) will. Still, I recommend you give the collection a try.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
December 7, 2023
This is an entertaining anthology with a lot of diversity in ethnicity, gender/sexual orientation, topics, and genres. There are funny stories (like "The First Time I Saw the Stars" by Shaun David Hutchinson.) There are plot-twist, more psychological-thriller-type stories (like "The Last Time I Saw Her Alive" by Diana Urban.) There are multiple sweet, romantic stories (like "The First Time I Dated a Vampire" by Julian Winters, "The First Kiss" by Nina Moreno, and "The Last Concert" by Rachel Lynn Solomon.) Even a story about a dinosaur was written well enough that I almost teared up ("The Last Dinosaur" by Laura Silverman.)
Everything is themed around complex human feelings that everyone experiences at some point, making the ultimate effects of the stories meaningful. I recommend this anthology as a fun read for all YA fans!
Everything is themed around complex human feelings that everyone experiences at some point, making the ultimate effects of the stories meaningful. I recommend this anthology as a fun read for all YA fans!
August 28, 2023
Dinosaurs, rock stars, and haunted house shenanigans? Pretty dang cute. I enjoyed the overall theme of the book - half of the book being focused on firsts and the other being focused on lasts. The nice thing about these anthologies is that there are so many different stories and themes. Don't like one? Just skip to the next. (I did this for 1 story, just because I wasn't being drawn in)
My favorite was easily Laura Silverman's, because dinosaurs duh. But it was great seeing many of the authors I'm familiar with and a few that I'll be keeping an eye on in the future. Just overall a very interesting short story anthology!
*Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
My favorite was easily Laura Silverman's, because dinosaurs duh. But it was great seeing many of the authors I'm familiar with and a few that I'll be keeping an eye on in the future. Just overall a very interesting short story anthology!
*Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
August 9, 2023
The one thing I can always count on with these short story anthologies is the collection of diverse characters and love stories. It's always so nice to see how each author dives into the story they've chosen to include. But I think after trying to read so many different anthologies, I've come to the conclusion that maybe short story collections aren't really my thing. I always end up like the authors I'm familiar with more than the rest of the stories, and even though they're quick I feel I get stuck on some. The idea of firsts and lasts was really cute and I think that was done well. This collection just wasn't my favorite. Thank you to Penguin teen and Netgalley for the ARC.
September 9, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC!
DNF 50%. I really wanted to finish this book because I'm trying to get into short stories and I find that they can be really nice when you don't want to get into an entire 300-page story, but with this one I really couldn't. There were a few stories I genuinely enjoyed, but none of them really gripped me or stayed with me afterwards, and for some of them the writing was so bad I genuinely had to skim most of it and skip to the next story. I might get back to this time and again when I'm in the mood for a shorter story, but for now I think I need to put it down.
DNF 50%. I really wanted to finish this book because I'm trying to get into short stories and I find that they can be really nice when you don't want to get into an entire 300-page story, but with this one I really couldn't. There were a few stories I genuinely enjoyed, but none of them really gripped me or stayed with me afterwards, and for some of them the writing was so bad I genuinely had to skim most of it and skip to the next story. I might get back to this time and again when I'm in the mood for a shorter story, but for now I think I need to put it down.
September 23, 2023
This is a short story or anthology where teens experience their final and first moments into adulthood. Going through the motions and experiences.
Collectively I liked the stories and rereading some things I also went through going into adulthood. My only falter was some of them were either slow and didn’t grasp me or felt cheesy. Obviously some were very fictional, because let’s be real there is no vampires, no matter how much we’d love them to be real 😂
All in all, it was stories meant for young adults.
Collectively I liked the stories and rereading some things I also went through going into adulthood. My only falter was some of them were either slow and didn’t grasp me or felt cheesy. Obviously some were very fictional, because let’s be real there is no vampires, no matter how much we’d love them to be real 😂
All in all, it was stories meant for young adults.
October 3, 2023
Laura Silverman's commitment to editing this YA anthology needs to be celebrated. The stories flow together like an endless creek until to hit the last one and are left with such an utter feeling of satisfaction. My emotions ran the gamut while reading this true work of wonder.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Penguin Workshop, and Netgalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Penguin Workshop, and Netgalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.
September 27, 2023
I love how anthologies never have two stories that are the same. Each other takes the prompt and makes it their own thing. This book will have something for everyone, from a paranormal romance (The First Time I Dated a Vampire) to a story about a high school band (The Last Concert). It was so much fun to read & I highly recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!
August 24, 2023
A fun read. A few stories I would've like to read more. I skipped a couple because I just couldn't get into them. I appreciate the diversity of authors and characters/stories.
This title was provided in exchange for a review from NetGalley.
This title was provided in exchange for a review from NetGalley.
October 31, 2023
Pretty good collection of stories, a good mix of different genres ranging from supernatural to realistic. I tend to favor the more realistic ones, as I don't read much fantasy. My favorites were: The First Breakup, The First Job, The Last Dinosaur and The Last Concert.
September 29, 2023
The dinosaur story was too cute :’)
October 10, 2023
This is a great collection of fun short stories with a range of emotions. Somehow I was fully invested in each story and fully satisfied by most of the endings.
Want to read
October 16, 2023Pretty good YA stories. I may not be the right audience, but I enjoyed many of these stories, and suspect many others will as well.
I really appreciate the free copy for review!!
I really appreciate the free copy for review!!
December 3, 2023
Always love a good short story collection and this was a unique construct.
December 17, 2023
most of the stories just didn’t hook me
December 18, 2023
Some are hits, some are misses, I love the diversity of it all in authors, genres, and experiences.
January 19, 2024
This was a decent anthology. I would say I had a couple stories in here that were a little too short for my liking that carried on a little bit longer.
March 4, 2024
these are fun and short stories. i dont really know if i would reread them again but i thought each one was pretty good and nothing too overwhelming that you couldnt read in a sitting
Read
July 17, 2025some stories i really liked, others i really didn't
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