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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
I loved this book so much, the family, the characters and everything all the relationships in the book weather it was romance or friendships. Every character that was friends with Mads or related to her were all very supportive throughout the whole book. That’s all I’m going to say for now
Thank You again NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire
The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Thank You again NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire
The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
When Madeline's older brother gets engaged, she unexpectedly finds herself as a part of the wedding party. During a game of truth or dare with the other bridesmaids, Mads reveals that she has never been on a date. The bridesmaids then make it their mission to set Mads up with someone for the wedding. Throughout the course of several disastrous dates, Mads keeps bumping into her former classmate Marco.
3.5 stars.
This is one of those YA books that I know I would have been obsessed with as a teen. The romance was super cute and Marco was such a good character. I also enjoyed the subplot of Mads trying to bond with the future sister-in-law that she's never really liked.
The main issue I had with this book was Katie. I know that Mads doesn't like her, so we're not supposed to like her either. But I actually think the author made her too unlikeable, and then the redemption wasn't enough. Every time she showed up in the story I was annoyed and it took me out of it.
I also think the Taylor Swift song title references were getting to be too much, but I recognize that this is YA, so I'll give it a pass.
The narration was excellent!
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor audio for the ALC!
3.5 stars.
This is one of those YA books that I know I would have been obsessed with as a teen. The romance was super cute and Marco was such a good character. I also enjoyed the subplot of Mads trying to bond with the future sister-in-law that she's never really liked.
The main issue I had with this book was Katie. I know that Mads doesn't like her, so we're not supposed to like her either. But I actually think the author made her too unlikeable, and then the redemption wasn't enough. Every time she showed up in the story I was annoyed and it took me out of it.
I also think the Taylor Swift song title references were getting to be too much, but I recognize that this is YA, so I'll give it a pass.
The narration was excellent!
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor audio for the ALC!
Oh what a cute little read this was.
A First Time for Everything follows a 17 year old Mads as she gets ready for her brother’s wedding whilst trying to figure out her confusing boy dilemma.
Mads is your typical teenager filled with confusing thoughts and feelings. She’s finally at the point where she wants a boyfriend but who that boy will be is the main plot of this book.
I found myself rooting for one and then the other because each boy is both equally as suited to Mads and would both make her so happy. I will say I loved who she ended up with though.
As well as boy drama we have the build up to the wedding. When Mads is finally asked to be bridesmaid she feels odd, like she doesn’t fit in. Her soon to be sister in law is stand off ish and doesn’t seem to want to try which bugs her but she doesn’t give up on being nice and wanting a relationship with her.
It’s been so exciting reading this book and waiting to see what was going to happen and what the ending would be. This author is another new author to me that I’ll be coming back to. The writing style was great and the character build up was spot on, I loved them all.
A First Time for Everything is a book about family dynamics and friendships filled with tension, drama and laughs.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was good! Unfortunately I am definitely getting to a point where reading about high schoolers isn't super fun or relatable anymore, but I thought the underlying plots of Mads connecting with her soon to be sister-in-law and all the things that surrounded that were super interesting. I don't think I would have gotten fully through this without the audiobook, though. The middle was kinda slow, and I think a chunk of it could have been cut out.
The audiobook for this was super well done. I thought the narrator (Jennifer Jill Araya) did SUCH a good job with this. The way she narrated it made this a lot more interesting to read - it kinda felt like a friend telling me a story over the phone rather than reading a book.
Thank you to Tantor Audio and Netgalley for the advanced copy!
The audiobook for this was super well done. I thought the narrator (Jennifer Jill Araya) did SUCH a good job with this. The way she narrated it made this a lot more interesting to read - it kinda felt like a friend telling me a story over the phone rather than reading a book.
Thank you to Tantor Audio and Netgalley for the advanced copy!
3 stars ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆
this book was super quick to read and was genuinely enjoyable but a few things did leave me with some weird emotions.
firstly all the bridesmaids being so invested in a 17 year olds dating life was kind of weird to me like yall really shouldn’t care that much. i also get she’s a bridesmaid but as a minor there were definitely some situations she should not have been invited or included in.
katie’s whole thing about her being a shy introvert seemed like an excuse almost for her behaviour for most of the book. i totally get being shy especially when you’re around a family who’s extremely outgoing but certain things didn’t feel like a fair reaction to the situation.
the narrator Jennifer Jill Araya did an amazing job at bringing this novel to life and giving Madeline a real voice and personality.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio, Sourcebooks Fire & K.L. Walther for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Another fun YA from K.L. Walther. Mads and Austin's relationship is truly sibling goals. Complicated a bit by Austin's wife-to-be, Katie, the family dynamic change is in for a real shake up! For everyone! ESPECIALLY when sister and parents still have their hearts set on Austin's former love, Samira.
Stream of consciousness word vomit: I adored how Katie's family sprang to action when Mads needed help. I found the college visit to be very realistic. The whole storyline being built around the planned wedding gave great pacing. The "bachelor" premise was loose but fun!
Narration was really well done. The narrator captured the age of the characters very well and I believe it amplified the story!
(Thanks to RBmedia and NetGalley for the advance listener copy!)
First off, Jennifer Jill Araya is a fantastic narrator. Her teen persona is completely believable, and I was hooked by the way she carried Mads’ emotions through every inflection. Some might think Mads is overdramatic, but I understood her and felt protective of her from the start. I felt her frustration with Kate, her anxiety about meeting the bridal party, her nerves around dating—all of it. Araya made each emotion land with care, and her narration is a huge part of why the story felt so alive.
The story itself pulled me in right away. A First Time for Everything follows Madeline (Mads) as she navigates her brother’s upcoming wedding—being a bridesmaid, not liking the bride, and dealing with a lot of unfamiliar social situations. Some moments were definitely nerve-wracking, but that’s expected when you’re a teenager being pushed into adult spaces you’re not ready for.
My biggest question throughout was: why are the adults around her pressuring her into things she clearly isn’t comfortable with? These are new experiences for her, so of course she reacts with defensiveness at first. Everyone else in the bridal party is a legal adult, yet she’s expected to just go along with their plans like she fits in. It felt odd that only Meredith initially considers how Mads might be feeling. That said, the narrow focus makes sense as this is told from Mads’ POV, and as a teen, her perspective is still very much forming.
Personally, I don’t see Mads as bratty at all. She just needed someone to play a big sister role or even just a few close girl friends in her life. Her character development was one of my favourite parts of the story. It felt real with the way she owns up to her mistakes. Her emotions are valid and she learns from the experience. Sure, some of her actions were questionable, but haven’t we all done questionable things as teens? Mads is strong-willed, opiniated, caring, feisty, and full of personality.
This book captures the highs and lows of being a teenager and the complicated emotions that come with growing up. I don’t read much YA and hadn’t read anything by K.L. Walther before, but this was an enjoyable introduction. I’ll definitely be checking out more from her in the future!
First off, Jennifer Jill Araya is a fantastic narrator. Her teen persona is completely believable, and I was hooked by the way she carried Mads’ emotions through every inflection. Some might think Mads is overdramatic, but I understood her and felt protective of her from the start. I felt her frustration with Kate, her anxiety about meeting the bridal party, her nerves around dating—all of it. Araya made each emotion land with care, and her narration is a huge part of why the story felt so alive.
The story itself pulled me in right away. A First Time for Everything follows Madeline (Mads) as she navigates her brother’s upcoming wedding—being a bridesmaid, not liking the bride, and dealing with a lot of unfamiliar social situations. Some moments were definitely nerve-wracking, but that’s expected when you’re a teenager being pushed into adult spaces you’re not ready for.
My biggest question throughout was: why are the adults around her pressuring her into things she clearly isn’t comfortable with? These are new experiences for her, so of course she reacts with defensiveness at first. Everyone else in the bridal party is a legal adult, yet she’s expected to just go along with their plans like she fits in. It felt odd that only Meredith initially considers how Mads might be feeling. That said, the narrow focus makes sense as this is told from Mads’ POV, and as a teen, her perspective is still very much forming.
Personally, I don’t see Mads as bratty at all. She just needed someone to play a big sister role or even just a few close girl friends in her life. Her character development was one of my favourite parts of the story. It felt real with the way she owns up to her mistakes. Her emotions are valid and she learns from the experience. Sure, some of her actions were questionable, but haven’t we all done questionable things as teens? Mads is strong-willed, opiniated, caring, feisty, and full of personality.
This book captures the highs and lows of being a teenager and the complicated emotions that come with growing up. I don’t read much YA and hadn’t read anything by K.L. Walther before, but this was an enjoyable introduction. I’ll definitely be checking out more from her in the future!
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“A First Time for Everything” was a cute romance, predictable but not 100%! It was a quick and easy read…in fact, I read it in one day! This was my 2nd K.L. Walther book, and while I did enjoy it, I didn’t like it quite as much as the other. This would definitely be a good book for younger populations!
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for an advanced copy!
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for an advanced copy!
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Thanks to RBmedia and NetGalley for the advance listener copy and to SOURCEBOOKS Fire for the advance reader copy! I did an immersion read and really enjoyed the experience—especially with the excellent narration, which brought Mads and her world to life beautifully.
A First Time for Everything is a fun, engaging story that captures the highs and lows of being a teenager. K.L. Walther does a fantastic job portraying the complexities of growing up—figuring out who you are while juggling school, sports, friendships, and family expectations. The story had an authentic voice and great emotional balance.
I really liked Mads as a character, and her relationships with her friends and family were believable and well-developed. Her journey felt genuine and relatable, with moments of both vulnerability and strength.
My only critique is that a significant portion of the conflict centered around her future sister-in-law, Katie, and the resolution felt a little too neat and rushed. It also left me feeling that Austin, Mads’s brother, came off as a bit insensitive for not doing more to help integrate Katie into the family sooner.
Still, this was a heartfelt, enjoyable read with strong characters and real emotion. A great pick for readers who love contemporary YA with depth and charm.