The First Time I Said Goodbye

by Claire Allan

[Leah]

Claire Allan is a favourite author of mine, someone I always enjoy, so when she offered me the chance to read an early copy of her new novel The First Time I Said Goodbye I, of course, said yes. Knowing it’s being released at the end of August, I decided it was best I read it next lest it get lost in the mire that is my full-to-bursting Kindle, so that’s what I did, and it was a really enjoyable novel.

The First Time I Said Goodbye is my favourite type of story – it’s a story set in two time periods. It’s set in both 2013 and the 1950′s and tells the story of why Annabell’s mother just had to return to Ireland just a few short weeks after the death of her husband. You see, before she met and fell in love with Annabell’s dad, she fell in love with a marine named Ray, but it all fell apart in devastating circumstances and since then she’s wished she had the chance of a proper goodbye. Annabell, however, can’t quite believe her Dad is gone and can’t believe how her mother is acting – she can’t believe she’s been brought all the way to Ireland for her Mother’s whim. Reeling from the devastating loss of her dad and her breaking down relationship with her boyfriend, Craig, Annabell is feeling lost and confused and her Mum isn’t helping matters, but can Stella fix what hasn’t been mended in almost half a century?

I was really excited to get stuck into The First Time I Said Goodbye, I thought it sounded fabulous and it didn’t disappoint – there were a few extra bits I’d've liked, like Annabell perhaps getting a bit more romance, and I’d probably have preferred if the novel had been set in 3 parts – with the 1950s bit all in one go, as that would have been brilliant, instead of the waiting for the next bit, but they’re only minor complaints and nothing that really detracted from the novel. I really loved learning more of 1950s Derry, I’m not a big history buff at all, but I always enjoy learning about other cultures and times and how Stella and Ray met was storybook perfect, at least for a while, and I loved being whisked back in time to when a love story was so magical.

I really enjoyed The First Time I Said Goodbye, Claire Allan gets better with every novel she writes, and The First Time I Said Goodbye is a good read. I’d definitely recommend the book, it has some wonderful characters – Sam was a favourite of mine in particular and his storyline is a little bit sad. I can’t wait to see what novel Claire writes next, I loved that this was inspired partly by a couple like Stella and Ray, a real-life couple, and it was a lovely read. Do read it, it’s well worth reading.