By Emily Sherwell
First Summer is Ekin Oklap’s debut novel, centring around two girls on the cusp of adulthood who find solace in each other and their shared adoration of a children’s sci-fi novel. This is usually where I’d provide an outline of the general plot, however, that’s where my main issue with the book arises: not much happens in it. At least, nothing that feels too important in the grand scheme of the story. I found the first half of the novel enjoyable, expecting that things were being set up for a satisfying pay off towards its conclusion. Instead, many elements of the story seemed to lack a clear purpose, and rather than tying everything together in a clear and satisfying way, the ending falls flat, making the events of the novel seem unimportant and uneventful.
To give credit where it’s due, Ekin Oklap’s skill is undeniable on a line level. The novel blends evocative imagery and gorgeous prose to explore themes of nostalgia and young love—which it does at a high level, but I feel there does need to be more thought put into the story itself. The book was a slow build for the entire first half, then something finally happens at the midway point which doesn’t leave the author enough room to resolve the issue and present a satisfying ending.
The last fifty pages felt overly expository, with the writing trying to tell me how to feel, rather than actually making me feel it. The ending was a let-down for a variety of reasons. There is a huge time jump with no previous context given outside of a few lines referencing the summer, which makes the entire novel feel somewhat unimportant. Despite this, the characters speak about it wistfully, as if it were the most life changing summer ever. Somehow, I’m not convinced.
At first, I was intrigued by the sci-fi side plot, assuming it would start to mirror the dynamics and inner mindset of the characters as the story progressed. Instead, it seemed to be its own stand-alone story, almost as if the author forgot why it had been included, but really wanted to write sci-fi. I think the side story could be scrapped completely, instead allowing for more development within the main plot, allowing for better pacing and less frustration. Instead, we end up with two stories that both feel rushed and unfulfilling.
In addition to weakening both stories, it also alienates potential readers due to the stark difference between genres. The novel feels like a slice of life novel, which would have its own potential readership (look at the popularity of the novel Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, for instance). Unfortunately, the random sci-fi inserts would alienate this potential audience, meaning that the novel now doesn’t appeal to either of the demographics that each genre on its own might interest.
If I were to highlight what I think could be improved about First Summer, I would definitely advise the author to focus on one key story, only having a subplot if it elevates the primary plot and character development. In addition to this, I think the storyline and chapter progression should be plotted out a bit more so that the ending isn’t rushed, allowing the time needed to flesh out characters and their interactions, leading to a more satisfying ending. However, Oklap’s prose was a pleasure to read and would lend itself well to a novel with a stronger storyline, and I hope to see more from her in the future.
