Why Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Essay, “The Story of My First Love,” is a Must-Read
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has a way with words. She writes as if she’s sitting right beside you, casually sharing her most intimate thoughts over a cup of tea.
It’s no surprise that her latest essay, The Story of My First Love, has generated a whirlwind of excitement online.
In this beautifully candid piece published in Vogue, Adichie takes readers back to her teenage years, where she first fell for Echezona, a boy from a very different background.
Growing up on the University of Nigeria campus, where her father worked as a professor, Adichie’s world was peaceful and academic—nothing like the chaotic, vibrant world Echezona came from. And oh, how she was drawn to it.
You can feel the electricity of young love coursing through her words as she reflects on the complexity of their relationship.
One of the most compelling aspects of this essay is how Adichie captures the essence of first love: awkward, thrilling, confusing—and all of it happening at once. She paints a vivid picture of Echezona—the way he walked, what he said, the way he made her feel.
She doesn’t sugarcoat the experience. Echezona wasn’t perfect, and he did things that didn’t sit right with her. That’s what makes this piece so relatable.
It’s not a fairy tale; it’s the messy, exhilarating reality of young love.
Adichie also delves into deeper themes: identity, independence, and the choices we make, many of which we only understand when we look back.
She reflects on how her emotions for Echezona shaped her sense of self and how their fleeting romance, though brief, helped her better understand what love truly means.
And just when you think it’s over, Adichie ties it all together with a poignant connection to her upcoming novel, Dream Count, set for release on March 4, 2025.
This article was updated 4 weeks ago
