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A First Time for Everything
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer of Broken Rules comes a fun new coming-of-age romance full of dating disasters, powerful firsts, and the importance of family.
Madeline has always been extremely close to her family, so she is shocked when her older brother gets engaged without including them (or even giving them a heads up!). Mads has never been the biggest fan of his fiancée, Katie, so in order to remain one happy family, she is determined to bond with Katie before the big day, which includes reluctantly agreeing to be a bridesmaid.
During a late-night bridesmaids-only game of "Truth or Dare" Mads is cornered into revealing she has never been kissed or even been on a date, which spurs the other girls to unite on a quest to find Mads the perfect plus-one for the wedding. Next thing she knows she’s navigating a series of disastrous dates that include some major misunderstandings and mishaps.
All of a sudden Mads finds her heart tugged in different directions: to Connor, the boy next door who knows her best. To Marco Álvarez, the former classmate who knows how to push all her buttons. And to some of the new suitors who surprisingly aren’t all bad.
As the wedding draws nearer, Mads has to figure out who she wants most as a forever dance partner, while also making sure her brother isn't making the biggest mistake of his life.
Madeline has always been extremely close to her family, so she is shocked when her older brother gets engaged without including them (or even giving them a heads up!). Mads has never been the biggest fan of his fiancée, Katie, so in order to remain one happy family, she is determined to bond with Katie before the big day, which includes reluctantly agreeing to be a bridesmaid.
During a late-night bridesmaids-only game of "Truth or Dare" Mads is cornered into revealing she has never been kissed or even been on a date, which spurs the other girls to unite on a quest to find Mads the perfect plus-one for the wedding. Next thing she knows she’s navigating a series of disastrous dates that include some major misunderstandings and mishaps.
All of a sudden Mads finds her heart tugged in different directions: to Connor, the boy next door who knows her best. To Marco Álvarez, the former classmate who knows how to push all her buttons. And to some of the new suitors who surprisingly aren’t all bad.
As the wedding draws nearer, Mads has to figure out who she wants most as a forever dance partner, while also making sure her brother isn't making the biggest mistake of his life.
416 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2025
290 people are currently reading
31878 people want to read
About the author
K.L. Walther
9books4,641followersK.L. Walther was born and raised in the rolling hills of Bucks County, Pennsylvania surrounded by family, dogs, and books. Her childhood was spent traveling the northeastern seaboard to play ice hockey. She attended a boarding school in New Jersey and went on to earn a B.A. in English from the University of Virginia. She is happiest on the beach with a book, cheering for the New York Rangers, or enjoying a rom-com while digging into a big bowl of popcorn and M&Ms.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 361 reviews
March 20, 2025
3.5˖⁺ħ✮
such a beautiful book that follows 17 years old Mads and her brother’s weeding; family; and first love!
ˏˋ°�*⁶� this was such a great read, especially for the valentine’s day because it had everything a ya romance needed: tension, friendships, drama and well developed plot. i enjoyed almost everything about it and at some point i was convinced this book is a 5 star read, however, there were some � weird moments.
firstly, i was truly impressed with the plot and each character’s storyline! each character was distinguished and had a unique detail to their characteristics. they were especially seen at the end when you get to know all of them better. therefore, i’ll start with characters:
mads was a nice teenager, very realistic and positive for her age. i really don’t have anything to say about her because she seemed nice, kind and open to something fun and exiting. however, i do believe her whole storyline wasn’t something she wanted. for preview: the book basically follows mads as she tells her brother’s fiancée about not kissing anyone. and the whole bridesmaid group is encourages a romance throughout the book. why am i telling this? because mads did not seem interested in romance before this whole thing. what i’m saying is, it felt very pushed toward mads wanting to date and see guys. especially, when she started to intensely look for a guy, instead of going with the phase.
ˏˋ°�*⁶� however, here comes the fun part. i loved who she ended up with. it was kind of obvious throughout the book, but i was still so glad with the last chapters and the finale.
i can’t say that i was expecting this from kate because she genuinely felt very weird the whole time. i mean, nice for the drama to go away but i was kind of confused with her personality🤷♀�
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for approving my request for an arc.
pre-read
another rtc
such a beautiful book that follows 17 years old Mads and her brother’s weeding; family; and first love!
ˏˋ°�*⁶� this was such a great read, especially for the valentine’s day because it had everything a ya romance needed: tension, friendships, drama and well developed plot. i enjoyed almost everything about it and at some point i was convinced this book is a 5 star read, however, there were some � weird moments.
firstly, i was truly impressed with the plot and each character’s storyline! each character was distinguished and had a unique detail to their characteristics. they were especially seen at the end when you get to know all of them better. therefore, i’ll start with characters:
mads was a nice teenager, very realistic and positive for her age. i really don’t have anything to say about her because she seemed nice, kind and open to something fun and exiting. however, i do believe her whole storyline wasn’t something she wanted. for preview: the book basically follows mads as she tells her brother’s fiancée about not kissing anyone. and the whole bridesmaid group is encourages a romance throughout the book. why am i telling this? because mads did not seem interested in romance before this whole thing. what i’m saying is, it felt very pushed toward mads wanting to date and see guys. especially, when she started to intensely look for a guy, instead of going with the phase.
ˏˋ°�*⁶� however, here comes the fun part. i loved who she ended up with. it was kind of obvious throughout the book, but i was still so glad with the last chapters and the finale.
i can’t say that i was expecting this from kate because she genuinely felt very weird the whole time. i mean, nice for the drama to go away but i was kind of confused with her personality🤷♀�
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for approving my request for an arc.
pre-read
another rtc
Want to read
July 31, 20242 BOOKS IN 2025??? 2025 IS MY YEAR. my favorite authors are coming out with multiple books and it’s the best feeling ever. I love K.L Walther <3
June 12, 2025
REVIEW:
06/12/25: 4.5 ⭐️
ok it’s official: kl walther is one of my new favorite authors! i absolutely DEVOUR everything she writes and this was no different. the bachelor-esque vibe was soooo much fun and i loved reading about mads everyday life with her family, field hockey, and college decisions. and don’t even get me started on the mmc�.(wink wink)
this book was just so much fun and i loved the speak now vibe (timeless will be played on a loop) and the fact that You was mentioned made me an even bigger KLW fan. GO READ THIS IF YOU HAVENT YET I MEAN IT.
PRE READ THOUGHTS:
07/23/2024: I AM ACTUALLY GOING INSANE. A TSOBR COMPANION?? A WEDDING?? SPEAK NOW TV??? K L WALTHER I LOVE YOU
06/12/25: 4.5 ⭐️
ok it’s official: kl walther is one of my new favorite authors! i absolutely DEVOUR everything she writes and this was no different. the bachelor-esque vibe was soooo much fun and i loved reading about mads everyday life with her family, field hockey, and college decisions. and don’t even get me started on the mmc�.(wink wink)
this book was just so much fun and i loved the speak now vibe (timeless will be played on a loop) and the fact that You was mentioned made me an even bigger KLW fan. GO READ THIS IF YOU HAVENT YET I MEAN IT.
PRE READ THOUGHTS:
07/23/2024: I AM ACTUALLY GOING INSANE. A TSOBR COMPANION?? A WEDDING?? SPEAK NOW TV??? K L WALTHER I LOVE YOU
April 21, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
this book was sooooo super cute. it of course had romance elements but the friendships and family dynamics were my favorite part of this book. the main character acted her age and wasn’t annoying in the slightest. all of the different types of relationships romantic,platonic, and familial were all sooo natural and believable. i felt like the characters were people i knew in real life and couldn’t put this book down. i think this author has truly mastered writing the new age ya book. some older ya novels read as too young sounding and some newer ones are obviously not written with actual teenage readers in mind. i’ve loved all of her books and i would highly recommend this one!!
this book was sooooo super cute. it of course had romance elements but the friendships and family dynamics were my favorite part of this book. the main character acted her age and wasn’t annoying in the slightest. all of the different types of relationships romantic,platonic, and familial were all sooo natural and believable. i felt like the characters were people i knew in real life and couldn’t put this book down. i think this author has truly mastered writing the new age ya book. some older ya novels read as too young sounding and some newer ones are obviously not written with actual teenage readers in mind. i’ve loved all of her books and i would highly recommend this one!!
June 13, 2025
eeeek, this was so cute! love a good cute romance!
June 13, 2025
review
i love kl walther. but i love her so much more after reading this masterpiece. she absolutely fed us this time around. THERE WERE SO MANY EASTER EGGS, with mentions of characters from EVERY. SINGLE. KLW. BOOK. not kidding i was eating this up.
anyways i have an english assignment ive been procrastinating so im gonna lock in and ill be right back!!
ok so i locked in and did all of it this morning, so now im free to yap about this amazing book!
i do think that i enjoyed while we're young more than this, only bc i just love ferris bueller. this was good, but since i dont loveeee love triangles, i enjoyed the fast paced romcom vibes more.
anyways, i loved how different this was to klw's past books. it was set over almost a year, so WAYYYY longer than basically any of her books. (most of them are 24 hrs/ a week) and it fit this story so well! it flowed really great and everything was shared, the plot was engaging and SO SO CUTE!!!!
biiiiiiiiiig paragraph of ranting about cameos now incoming
ok so. i absolutely love the klw universe. and what i love even more is how everyone is connected. we saw this a bit in tsobr, but she FULLY outdid herself this time.
im gonna wait til i get home so i can post my highlights & notes for this book COZ THEY ARE PEAK. (most of them are crossovers/cameo reactions!)
- ok so to start. mer and wit are in this story so much.
current reading thoughts
- HAVE ALREADY FOUND MANY CROSSOVERS/CAMEOS !!!!! these cameos give me life and this is why klw is my fav author, yall!
- francine and arthur are absolute icons and may be my fav book dogs.
- katie's whole family is kinda pmo
- BUT THE VIBES ARE IMMACULATE
- and you better believe im eating up every mention of mer and wit. I LOVE THOSE GUYS SM.
- also klw mentioned a companion book for tsobr in her newsletter (the summer of second chances) AND IM SAT. THERE IS NO COVER. NO RELEASE DATE. NO SYNOPSIS. JUST VIBES. AND IM HERE FOR IT.
ARGHHHHHHH THIS BOOK IS MY NEW PERSONALITY I SWEAR
pre-read
when i got that email saying it had been released you better believe i dropped my science test revision (rip) and bought it, then stayed up late reading it in the dark on my kindle. anyways ive got my science test today and dont feel prepared at all bc of this AMAZING book. oh well. my reward for finishing it is reading ig.
pre-release
ok so. ive read the excerpt and i cannot wait. MEREDITH FROM TSOBR IS IN IT???? AND SHES THE ONE WITH THE PLAN. GUYS IM SCREAMING RN THIS IS GONNA BE AMAZING
guys im sat. like im ready. like give it to me now please.
also- speak now is its album?????? ugh klw you know me too well marry me please
2025 is klws year im calling it
i love kl walther. but i love her so much more after reading this masterpiece. she absolutely fed us this time around. THERE WERE SO MANY EASTER EGGS, with mentions of characters from EVERY. SINGLE. KLW. BOOK. not kidding i was eating this up.
anyways i have an english assignment ive been procrastinating so im gonna lock in and ill be right back!!
ok so i locked in and did all of it this morning, so now im free to yap about this amazing book!
i do think that i enjoyed while we're young more than this, only bc i just love ferris bueller. this was good, but since i dont loveeee love triangles, i enjoyed the fast paced romcom vibes more.
anyways, i loved how different this was to klw's past books. it was set over almost a year, so WAYYYY longer than basically any of her books. (most of them are 24 hrs/ a week) and it fit this story so well! it flowed really great and everything was shared, the plot was engaging and SO SO CUTE!!!!
biiiiiiiiiig paragraph of ranting about cameos now incoming
ok so. i absolutely love the klw universe. and what i love even more is how everyone is connected. we saw this a bit in tsobr, but she FULLY outdid herself this time.
im gonna wait til i get home so i can post my highlights & notes for this book COZ THEY ARE PEAK. (most of them are crossovers/cameo reactions!)
- ok so to start. mer and wit are in this story so much.
current reading thoughts
- HAVE ALREADY FOUND MANY CROSSOVERS/CAMEOS !!!!! these cameos give me life and this is why klw is my fav author, yall!
- francine and arthur are absolute icons and may be my fav book dogs.
- katie's whole family is kinda pmo
- BUT THE VIBES ARE IMMACULATE
- and you better believe im eating up every mention of mer and wit. I LOVE THOSE GUYS SM.
- also klw mentioned a companion book for tsobr in her newsletter (the summer of second chances) AND IM SAT. THERE IS NO COVER. NO RELEASE DATE. NO SYNOPSIS. JUST VIBES. AND IM HERE FOR IT.
ARGHHHHHHH THIS BOOK IS MY NEW PERSONALITY I SWEAR
pre-read
when i got that email saying it had been released you better believe i dropped my science test revision (rip) and bought it, then stayed up late reading it in the dark on my kindle. anyways ive got my science test today and dont feel prepared at all bc of this AMAZING book. oh well. my reward for finishing it is reading ig.
pre-release
ok so. ive read the excerpt and i cannot wait. MEREDITH FROM TSOBR IS IN IT???? AND SHES THE ONE WITH THE PLAN. GUYS IM SCREAMING RN THIS IS GONNA BE AMAZING
guys im sat. like im ready. like give it to me now please.
also- speak now is its album?????? ugh klw you know me too well marry me please
2025 is klws year im calling it
June 4, 2025
and another win for kl walther!! her books always hit and this one was no different.
there was so much to love about this book, and it was the perfect combination of funny and serious! i loved getting to see mads figure out who she wanted to be with and it was so funny to see all of her failed dates. im glad she ended up with someone who truly loved her! i also really liked getting to see her and katies relationship get stronger as they spent more and more time together, and all really started to feel like family!
also this is so random and literally only related to me (and anyone else who likes these things) but i love it when a book mentions things that im obsessed with. we had taylor swift, top gun maverick, and so much more and it just made me giggle every time!! mads also got into upenn (good for her, that was my top choice that i didnt get into but im so glad i didnt #govols) so reading about her time in philly was relatable because i went twice to visit HAHA
i also lovedddd how important meredith and wit were to this story!! mer was always looking out for mads and she honestly seemed like a big sister to her and i just loved that so much! i also loved the little grace barbour cameo we got, you can never go wrong with putting your characters from different books together! ALSO i screamed at the tamlin mention like hello what are you doing here
anyways this was really good!!
there was so much to love about this book, and it was the perfect combination of funny and serious! i loved getting to see mads figure out who she wanted to be with and it was so funny to see all of her failed dates. im glad she ended up with someone who truly loved her! i also really liked getting to see her and katies relationship get stronger as they spent more and more time together, and all really started to feel like family!
also this is so random and literally only related to me (and anyone else who likes these things) but i love it when a book mentions things that im obsessed with. we had taylor swift, top gun maverick, and so much more and it just made me giggle every time!! mads also got into upenn (good for her, that was my top choice that i didnt get into but im so glad i didnt #govols) so reading about her time in philly was relatable because i went twice to visit HAHA
i also lovedddd how important meredith and wit were to this story!! mer was always looking out for mads and she honestly seemed like a big sister to her and i just loved that so much! i also loved the little grace barbour cameo we got, you can never go wrong with putting your characters from different books together! ALSO i screamed at the tamlin mention like hello what are you doing here
anyways this was really good!!
June 8, 2025
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audiobook in exchange for an honest review!*
3.75 stars.
All the tropes, the chaos, and everything in between—this book just reminded me why I’ll always love the Young Adult genre.
Also, characters from The Summer of Broken Rules appeared in this one too! It’s been years since I last read that book, so I think I’ll be rereading both of these books this summer.
AAAAHHHHH!! I've been eyeing this book for a long time and now I get to listen to it on an audiobook!!
3.75 stars.
All the tropes, the chaos, and everything in between—this book just reminded me why I’ll always love the Young Adult genre.
Also, characters from The Summer of Broken Rules appeared in this one too! It’s been years since I last read that book, so I think I’ll be rereading both of these books this summer.
AAAAHHHHH!! I've been eyeing this book for a long time and now I get to listen to it on an audiobook!!
June 12, 2025
A solid YA contemporary!
While not my favorite of K.L. Walther's books it was still enjoyable. I really loved the last 20%.
for the pros: I loved the narrator for the book, Jennifer Jill Araya does an awesome job with the book. I also really loved how realistic the characters and the story felt, it's something I love about all of Walther's books. I do have a couple of favorite characters, I loved Marco and all his friends, friendship goals for sure. I also rally loved Meredith she was an icon.
as for the cons: I didn't like our main character. She was incredibly annoying. I also wasn't a huge fan of Katie or the whole conflict surrounding Katie. The book felt like a lot of complaining. The book feels like it was trying to be a new adult but kept forcing itself to be YA. The sex scene at the end is a little cringe. It took me a while to really get into the book but once I did I enjoyed it.
Thank you Netgalley and Tantor Audio for the audio arc!
*All opinions are my own!*
While not my favorite of K.L. Walther's books it was still enjoyable. I really loved the last 20%.
for the pros: I loved the narrator for the book, Jennifer Jill Araya does an awesome job with the book. I also really loved how realistic the characters and the story felt, it's something I love about all of Walther's books. I do have a couple of favorite characters, I loved Marco and all his friends, friendship goals for sure. I also rally loved Meredith she was an icon.
as for the cons: I didn't like our main character. She was incredibly annoying. I also wasn't a huge fan of Katie or the whole conflict surrounding Katie. The book felt like a lot of complaining. The book feels like it was trying to be a new adult but kept forcing itself to be YA. The sex scene at the end is a little cringe. It took me a while to really get into the book but once I did I enjoyed it.
Thank you Netgalley and Tantor Audio for the audio arc!
*All opinions are my own!*
May 27, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
this was so nostalgic. this was a cute one. by far my favorite book from the author. i seen so much of my younger self in madeline so it allowed me to connect to her character.
madeline’s (mads) brother is getting married and his fiancé’s bridesmaid group wants to set her up on dates for them to be a bust. however, she has chemistry with two boys she has known for years, connor, her best friend and marco, a fellow athlete and friend. was it predictable with which one she’d end up with? yes but i still ate it up because i loved her chemistry with him (remaining nameless to keep this spoiler free).
i was curious what was going to happen with her brother austin and his fiancé katie because she was a bit hard to read. as you read on, you learn more about her and how her rocky relationship with mad’s develops (they don’t really have much of a relationship to start).
this was so nostalgic. this was a cute one. by far my favorite book from the author. i seen so much of my younger self in madeline so it allowed me to connect to her character.
madeline’s (mads) brother is getting married and his fiancé’s bridesmaid group wants to set her up on dates for them to be a bust. however, she has chemistry with two boys she has known for years, connor, her best friend and marco, a fellow athlete and friend. was it predictable with which one she’d end up with? yes but i still ate it up because i loved her chemistry with him (remaining nameless to keep this spoiler free).
i was curious what was going to happen with her brother austin and his fiancé katie because she was a bit hard to read. as you read on, you learn more about her and how her rocky relationship with mad’s develops (they don’t really have much of a relationship to start).
June 19, 2025
A First Time for Everything was a sweet and nostalgic coming-of-age story that captures all the awkward, exhilarating, and emotional moments of firsts � first crush, first kiss, first time stepping outside your comfort zone.
That said, while I appreciated the heart of the story and the overall message, the pacing felt a bit slow at times, and some of the dialogue and internal monologue didn’t fully resonate with me, especially Katie overall. The overall Bachelor Nation plot also seemed weird to me considering she was only seventeen.
Still, I think this would be a comforting read for anyone looking to reminisce about those in-between years � awkward but formative, uncomfortable but unforgettable.
That said, while I appreciated the heart of the story and the overall message, the pacing felt a bit slow at times, and some of the dialogue and internal monologue didn’t fully resonate with me, especially Katie overall. The overall Bachelor Nation plot also seemed weird to me considering she was only seventeen.
Still, I think this would be a comforting read for anyone looking to reminisce about those in-between years � awkward but formative, uncomfortable but unforgettable.
Want to read
August 14, 2024OMG STOP WHATTTTT. 2025 IS K.L. WALTHER'S YEAR I CANT WAITTT, TSOBR COMPANION YESS
June 11, 2025
This was so cute! i loved all the nods to her other books, it was really fun to connect all the dots! I always adore all of the taylor swift references in her books, especially in the acknowledgments! Also a fun little nod at acotar?? that was actually so cool! the love story was super sweet and it was a really fun read! 5 stars!
April 24, 2025
OH MY GOSH THIS WAS SO CUTE AND HEARTFELT AND SWEET
i loved all the characters and i resonated with so many of them for different reasons. i loved the whole plot line of mads getting set up dates and i just loved her entire character so much.
i also loved seeing the sister and sister-in-law bond grow throughout the book, idk why but the ending had me tearing up
this is now one of my favorite romance books and also one of my favorite books i’ve read so far this year
thank you netgalley for the arc i can’t express how amazing this book is
i loved all the characters and i resonated with so many of them for different reasons. i loved the whole plot line of mads getting set up dates and i just loved her entire character so much.
i also loved seeing the sister and sister-in-law bond grow throughout the book, idk why but the ending had me tearing up
this is now one of my favorite romance books and also one of my favorite books i’ve read so far this year
thank you netgalley for the arc i can’t express how amazing this book is
March 9, 2025
no, he's one of your best friends, i realized, and felt a swift swirl of sweetness in my core.
you are my favorite person, you know?
you are my favorite person, you know?
May 9, 2025
I loved TSOBR so much it was a 5 star book for me, unfortunately this gets a 2.5. I liked the plot and the setting however the pacing felt off. The end seemed very rushed. The love triangle was also very unnecessary. I like who the mc ends up with but I didn’t feel it was built up well enough for how it ended.
February 8, 2025
Rating: 4.5⭐️
I missed not having a KLW book to read in 2024, but now I’m being blessed with two of her books in 2025 and I got an ARC of one of them! And I had the best time!
I was addicted from the start and could not put this down. The author always does such a good job of writing fun adventures for her characters to experience and this was no exception. I loved all the different dates that the protagonist Mads was going on and meeting all of her suitors. I also really just liked Mads as a lead in general. She was witty, smart and kind. I had a lot of fun being in her head.
I was also really invested in the family and wedding drama. I was super curious to see how everything would play out with her brother’s fiancée as well. There were so many heartfelt moments and I just found myself getting lost in the story. We got cameos/mentions of characters from previous KLW books too and I loved it so much! It really was the cherry on top.
As for the romance, there were a few love interests just based on the premise of the book, but there were really only two serious ones. In my eyes, there was an obvious winner. She just had the best chemistry with him. I won’t say who it is just to keep it spoiler free though. But they were super cute!
All in all, this was such a charming read and I would highly recommend if you’re looking for a new romance read.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I missed not having a KLW book to read in 2024, but now I’m being blessed with two of her books in 2025 and I got an ARC of one of them! And I had the best time!
I was addicted from the start and could not put this down. The author always does such a good job of writing fun adventures for her characters to experience and this was no exception. I loved all the different dates that the protagonist Mads was going on and meeting all of her suitors. I also really just liked Mads as a lead in general. She was witty, smart and kind. I had a lot of fun being in her head.
I was also really invested in the family and wedding drama. I was super curious to see how everything would play out with her brother’s fiancée as well. There were so many heartfelt moments and I just found myself getting lost in the story. We got cameos/mentions of characters from previous KLW books too and I loved it so much! It really was the cherry on top.
As for the romance, there were a few love interests just based on the premise of the book, but there were really only two serious ones. In my eyes, there was an obvious winner. She just had the best chemistry with him. I won’t say who it is just to keep it spoiler free though. But they were super cute!
All in all, this was such a charming read and I would highly recommend if you’re looking for a new romance read.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Want to read
February 14, 2025I’m not sure why but i don’t want her to end up with Marco� it should be Connor. I can’t explain it it’s a huge vibe😭
June 6, 2025
A First Time For Everything is a cute YA rom com following Mads through the year coming up to her brothers wedding. In an attempt to bond with her stand offish future sister in law and her clique-y bridesmaids, Mads agrees to let them set her up on first dates, have her first kiss, and try to find her perfect plus one in time for the wedding. Along the way her feelings for someone already in her life become clear.
There are some cute, funny moments and some heartwarming ones, and the romance was so sweet to watch unfold. The innocence of first discoveries is such a beautiful thing, and it is captured perfectly here, down to sitting in the movie theatre wondering if they’ll hold your hand.
K L Walther has such a distinct style and voice, while still writing such different and fun books every time. Her books are firmly YA in a way I fear we are losing as the new generation mature faster and access all the things sooner than I ever did.
I loved that this book had some Easter eggs or blatant inclusion of characters from other books. I also really liked it being set over a whole year rather than the 24hrs to a week that the other books tend to follow.
KL’s books are perfect for fans of YA Lynn Painter, innocent rom coms and cute little adventures.
The narration from single POV was done well with a female narrator whose put on male voice didn’t remove you from the story at all, which can be a difficult task! The audiobook was a great listen.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and RB media for providing an advanced listener copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
There are some cute, funny moments and some heartwarming ones, and the romance was so sweet to watch unfold. The innocence of first discoveries is such a beautiful thing, and it is captured perfectly here, down to sitting in the movie theatre wondering if they’ll hold your hand.
K L Walther has such a distinct style and voice, while still writing such different and fun books every time. Her books are firmly YA in a way I fear we are losing as the new generation mature faster and access all the things sooner than I ever did.
I loved that this book had some Easter eggs or blatant inclusion of characters from other books. I also really liked it being set over a whole year rather than the 24hrs to a week that the other books tend to follow.
KL’s books are perfect for fans of YA Lynn Painter, innocent rom coms and cute little adventures.
The narration from single POV was done well with a female narrator whose put on male voice didn’t remove you from the story at all, which can be a difficult task! The audiobook was a great listen.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and RB media for providing an advanced listener copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 10, 2025
Happy publication day 🎉🥳🎧
3.75 🌟
We all know I’m quite a fan of YA, I enjoy the distraction, I like to know what my young people might be reading but most of all they’re generally fairly easy and quite comforting. This was so cute, a close knit family with one sibling terrified that she’ll lose the other when he marries a woman that she doesn’t gel with, in the background she’s disastrously dating, sometimes though what you want is right there in front of you. My cheeks hurt from smiling at this. I felt exceptionally cool for getting the tv and music references.
Lovely narration!
Huge thanks to Tantor Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
3.75 🌟
We all know I’m quite a fan of YA, I enjoy the distraction, I like to know what my young people might be reading but most of all they’re generally fairly easy and quite comforting. This was so cute, a close knit family with one sibling terrified that she’ll lose the other when he marries a woman that she doesn’t gel with, in the background she’s disastrously dating, sometimes though what you want is right there in front of you. My cheeks hurt from smiling at this. I felt exceptionally cool for getting the tv and music references.
Lovely narration!
Huge thanks to Tantor Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
April 26, 2025
This was such a cute read, K.L. Walther really knows how to write a fun YA summer/beach read. This one takes place over the course of a year, all leading up to Mads' brother, Austin's wedding to Katie. I really enjoyed getting to know Mads and her whole family was so much fun! I had trouble with some of the characters at the beginning, especially Kate but I really ended up liking her in the end. The cameos from A Summer of Broken Rules were such a perfect touch and such a fun peek into their lives a few years later. The setup dates for Mads made me so sad, I wish she didn't have to go through everything she went through but the end was just so perfect. I was so happy for her and her whole family too!
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 8, 2025
K.L. Walther returns to the YA romance scene with A First Time for Everything, a coming-of-age tale that promises to explore the awkward, exhilarating territory of first dates, first kisses, and finding your place in a changing family dynamic. After the success of The Summer of Broken Rules and What Happens After Midnight, Walther attempts to capture lightning in a bottle once more—with mixed but ultimately charming results.
At its heart, this is Madeline "Mads" Fisher-Michaels's story—a seventeen-year-old who discovers that being the perfect younger sister doesn't necessarily prepare you for the messy realities of growing up. When her beloved older brother Austin gets engaged without including the family in his Parisian proposal, Mads finds herself thrust into the unfamiliar role of bridesmaid to Katie, a future sister-in-law she barely tolerates.
Character Development That Hits and Misses
Mads: A Protagonist Worth Rooting For
Walther's greatest strength lies in creating Mads as a genuinely relatable protagonist. Unlike many YA heroines who seem to stumble into romance effortlessly, Mads feels authentically seventeen—complete with the self-doubt, family loyalty, and social awkwardness that comes with the territory. Her voice crackles with wit and vulnerability, particularly when she's forced to admit during a bridesmaid sleepover that she's never been kissed or even on a proper date.
The author excels at showing Mads's growth through her relationships rather than telling us about it. Her evolution from someone who defines herself primarily as "Austin's sister" to a young woman discovering her own romantic agency feels organic and earned. Walther particularly shines in depicting Mads's internal monologue, capturing that uniquely teenage ability to overthink every interaction while missing obvious signals.
The Supporting Cast: A Mixed Ensemble
The supporting characters present a more uneven picture. Connor McCallister, the boy-next-door love interest, serves his purpose but occasionally feels more like a plot device than a fully realized character. His relationship with Mads works best in the quieter moments—their easy banter and shared history provide the book's most genuine emotional beats. However, when the story demands romantic tension, Connor sometimes falls flat, lacking the complexity needed to make readers truly invested in their potential romance.
Marco Álvarez emerges as the book's most intriguing character development. Walther does excellent work transforming him from what could have been a typical "reformed popular guy" trope into someone with genuine depth. His transition from high school soccer star to Princeton intellectual feels authentic, and his growing friendship with Mads crackles with the kind of chemistry that keeps readers turning pages.
The bridesmaid ensemble provides solid comic relief and sisterly support, though they occasionally blur together despite Walther's efforts to give each a distinct personality. Katie, Austin's fiancée, represents perhaps the book's most ambitious character arc—her journey from seemingly cold and controlling to vulnerable and misunderstood provides some of the novel's strongest emotional moments.
Plot Structure: Familiar Formula with Fresh Execution
The Dating Game Setup
Walther wisely doesn't reinvent the wheel with her central premise. The "find a date for the wedding" setup provides a perfect framework for exploring first relationships, and the author makes the most of it. The series of disastrous dates that follow Mads's admission about her romantic inexperience range from genuinely funny to cringe-worthy in the best possible way.
What elevates these scenes beyond typical YA romance fare is Walther's attention to the small details that make dating feel real. The awkward silences, the misread signals, the internal panic when conversations stall—these moments ring true because they're specific rather than generic. The author clearly understands that the best romantic comedy comes from character-driven humor rather than manufactured situations.
Pacing Challenges and Seasonal Structure
The novel's seasonal structure (Winter-Spring-Summer-Autumn-Winter) provides a satisfying framework, but the pacing occasionally suffers under the weight of its extended timeline. Some sections, particularly in the middle portion, feel padded with scenes that don't advance either plot or character development significantly. The field hockey subplot, while adding dimension to Mads's character, sometimes feels disconnected from the main romantic storyline.
However, Walther demonstrates real skill in building toward her climactic moments. The wedding sequence that anchors the final act brings together all the novel's threads—family dynamics, romantic tension, and personal growth—in a way that feels both inevitable and surprising.
Writing Style: Warm Familiarity with Room for Growth
Dialogue That Sparkles
Walther's greatest strength as a writer lies in her dialogue. Characters speak with distinct voices, and their conversations feel natural rather than forced. The banter between Mads and her two dads (Lee and Harry) provides some of the book's warmest moments, showcasing a family dynamic that feels lived-in and authentic. The author has a particular gift for capturing the way teenagers actually talk to each other—complete with interruptions, tangents, and the casual cruelty that can emerge even among friends.
The romantic dialogue works especially well when Walther allows her characters to be themselves rather than forcing them into traditional romantic roles. Mads's interactions with Marco feel effortless because they're grounded in genuine friendship and mutual respect. These scenes demonstrate the author's understanding that the best romantic tension often emerges from characters who genuinely like each other as people.
Descriptive Writing: Effective but Inconsistent
While Walther excels at dialogue, her descriptive writing presents a more mixed picture. She has a strong sense of place—the Fisher-Michaels family home feels like a real location where real people live, complete with two misbehaving dogs and parents who actually parent. The seasonal changes that frame the story are well-observed, particularly the autumn wedding preparations that provide the book's emotional climax.
However, some passages feel overwrought, particularly when describing romantic moments or internal emotional states. The author occasionally falls into the trap of telling readers how to feel rather than trusting them to understand the characters' emotions through action and dialogue.
Thematic Depth: Beyond the Romance
Family Dynamics That Feel Real
One of the novel's strongest elements is its portrayal of family relationships. The Fisher-Michaels family feels genuinely loving without being unrealistically perfect. Mads's relationship with her brother Austin provides the book's emotional anchor—their easy affection and shared history make his engagement feel like a real threat to her sense of identity.
Walther does particularly strong work exploring how families change when new members join. Katie's arc from outsider to family member feels earned rather than forced, and the author avoids the easy path of making her simply misunderstood. Instead, she's shown to be both genuinely difficult and genuinely vulnerable—a much more interesting character choice.
Coming-of-Age with Complexity
The theme of first experiences—first dates, first kisses, first heartbreaks—could easily become saccharine in less skilled hands. Walther manages to keep these moments feeling fresh by grounding them in specific character details rather than generic teenage experiences. Mads's anxiety about her lack of romantic experience feels real because it's tied to her specific family situation and personality rather than being a generic teen insecurity.
The author also does solid work exploring the pressure to have experiences before you're ready for them. Mads's journey toward romantic readiness feels organic rather than rushed, and Walther wisely avoids the temptation to have her character completely transformed by her first relationship.
Critical Analysis: What Works and What Doesn't
Strengths That Elevate the Material
Authentic Family Relationships: Walther's portrayal of the Fisher-Michaels family stands out in a genre often populated by absent or dysfunctional parents. These feel like real people who love each other despite their flaws.
Genuine Character Growth: Mads's development from insecure sister to confident young woman feels earned rather than handed to her by the plot.
Fresh Take on Familiar Tropes: While the basic setup isn't original, Walther finds ways to make standard YA romance elements feel fresh through specific character details and authentic emotional stakes.
Strong Sense of Place and Time: The seasonal structure works well, and the various settings—from Stone Harbor beach houses to Princeton eating clubs—feel researched and authentic.
Areas for Improvement
Pacing Inconsistencies: The novel occasionally feels too long, with some subplots (particularly around field hockey recruiting) feeling disconnected from the main narrative thrust.
Secondary Character Development: While the main characters are well-developed, some of the supporting cast members feel underdeveloped, existing primarily to serve plot functions rather than feeling like real people.
Predictable Plot Points: Despite Walther's skill with character development, many of the major plot developments can be seen coming from early in the novel, reducing dramatic tension.
Inconsistent Tone: The novel occasionally struggles to balance its lighter romantic comedy elements with more serious themes about family and identity, leading to some tonal whiplash.
Final Assessment: A Solid Addition to the YA Romance Canon
A First Time for Everything succeeds more often than it stumbles, providing readers with a warm, engaging story about family, friendship, and first love. While it doesn't break significant new ground in the YA romance genre, it executes familiar elements with enough skill and heart to make the journey worthwhile.
Walther's greatest achievement here is creating characters who feel like real people dealing with recognizable problems. Mads's journey toward romantic readiness parallels her growth as a family member and individual, providing thematic coherence that elevates the material beyond simple wish fulfillment.
The novel's flaws—pacing issues, predictable plot points, occasional tonal inconsistencies—are real but don't significantly detract from its overall effectiveness. Readers looking for a comfort read that combines humor, heart, and genuine emotional stakes will find much to enjoy here.
At its heart, this is Madeline "Mads" Fisher-Michaels's story—a seventeen-year-old who discovers that being the perfect younger sister doesn't necessarily prepare you for the messy realities of growing up. When her beloved older brother Austin gets engaged without including the family in his Parisian proposal, Mads finds herself thrust into the unfamiliar role of bridesmaid to Katie, a future sister-in-law she barely tolerates.
Character Development That Hits and Misses
Mads: A Protagonist Worth Rooting For
Walther's greatest strength lies in creating Mads as a genuinely relatable protagonist. Unlike many YA heroines who seem to stumble into romance effortlessly, Mads feels authentically seventeen—complete with the self-doubt, family loyalty, and social awkwardness that comes with the territory. Her voice crackles with wit and vulnerability, particularly when she's forced to admit during a bridesmaid sleepover that she's never been kissed or even on a proper date.
The author excels at showing Mads's growth through her relationships rather than telling us about it. Her evolution from someone who defines herself primarily as "Austin's sister" to a young woman discovering her own romantic agency feels organic and earned. Walther particularly shines in depicting Mads's internal monologue, capturing that uniquely teenage ability to overthink every interaction while missing obvious signals.
The Supporting Cast: A Mixed Ensemble
The supporting characters present a more uneven picture. Connor McCallister, the boy-next-door love interest, serves his purpose but occasionally feels more like a plot device than a fully realized character. His relationship with Mads works best in the quieter moments—their easy banter and shared history provide the book's most genuine emotional beats. However, when the story demands romantic tension, Connor sometimes falls flat, lacking the complexity needed to make readers truly invested in their potential romance.
Marco Álvarez emerges as the book's most intriguing character development. Walther does excellent work transforming him from what could have been a typical "reformed popular guy" trope into someone with genuine depth. His transition from high school soccer star to Princeton intellectual feels authentic, and his growing friendship with Mads crackles with the kind of chemistry that keeps readers turning pages.
The bridesmaid ensemble provides solid comic relief and sisterly support, though they occasionally blur together despite Walther's efforts to give each a distinct personality. Katie, Austin's fiancée, represents perhaps the book's most ambitious character arc—her journey from seemingly cold and controlling to vulnerable and misunderstood provides some of the novel's strongest emotional moments.
Plot Structure: Familiar Formula with Fresh Execution
The Dating Game Setup
Walther wisely doesn't reinvent the wheel with her central premise. The "find a date for the wedding" setup provides a perfect framework for exploring first relationships, and the author makes the most of it. The series of disastrous dates that follow Mads's admission about her romantic inexperience range from genuinely funny to cringe-worthy in the best possible way.
What elevates these scenes beyond typical YA romance fare is Walther's attention to the small details that make dating feel real. The awkward silences, the misread signals, the internal panic when conversations stall—these moments ring true because they're specific rather than generic. The author clearly understands that the best romantic comedy comes from character-driven humor rather than manufactured situations.
Pacing Challenges and Seasonal Structure
The novel's seasonal structure (Winter-Spring-Summer-Autumn-Winter) provides a satisfying framework, but the pacing occasionally suffers under the weight of its extended timeline. Some sections, particularly in the middle portion, feel padded with scenes that don't advance either plot or character development significantly. The field hockey subplot, while adding dimension to Mads's character, sometimes feels disconnected from the main romantic storyline.
However, Walther demonstrates real skill in building toward her climactic moments. The wedding sequence that anchors the final act brings together all the novel's threads—family dynamics, romantic tension, and personal growth—in a way that feels both inevitable and surprising.
Writing Style: Warm Familiarity with Room for Growth
Dialogue That Sparkles
Walther's greatest strength as a writer lies in her dialogue. Characters speak with distinct voices, and their conversations feel natural rather than forced. The banter between Mads and her two dads (Lee and Harry) provides some of the book's warmest moments, showcasing a family dynamic that feels lived-in and authentic. The author has a particular gift for capturing the way teenagers actually talk to each other—complete with interruptions, tangents, and the casual cruelty that can emerge even among friends.
The romantic dialogue works especially well when Walther allows her characters to be themselves rather than forcing them into traditional romantic roles. Mads's interactions with Marco feel effortless because they're grounded in genuine friendship and mutual respect. These scenes demonstrate the author's understanding that the best romantic tension often emerges from characters who genuinely like each other as people.
Descriptive Writing: Effective but Inconsistent
While Walther excels at dialogue, her descriptive writing presents a more mixed picture. She has a strong sense of place—the Fisher-Michaels family home feels like a real location where real people live, complete with two misbehaving dogs and parents who actually parent. The seasonal changes that frame the story are well-observed, particularly the autumn wedding preparations that provide the book's emotional climax.
However, some passages feel overwrought, particularly when describing romantic moments or internal emotional states. The author occasionally falls into the trap of telling readers how to feel rather than trusting them to understand the characters' emotions through action and dialogue.
Thematic Depth: Beyond the Romance
Family Dynamics That Feel Real
One of the novel's strongest elements is its portrayal of family relationships. The Fisher-Michaels family feels genuinely loving without being unrealistically perfect. Mads's relationship with her brother Austin provides the book's emotional anchor—their easy affection and shared history make his engagement feel like a real threat to her sense of identity.
Walther does particularly strong work exploring how families change when new members join. Katie's arc from outsider to family member feels earned rather than forced, and the author avoids the easy path of making her simply misunderstood. Instead, she's shown to be both genuinely difficult and genuinely vulnerable—a much more interesting character choice.
Coming-of-Age with Complexity
The theme of first experiences—first dates, first kisses, first heartbreaks—could easily become saccharine in less skilled hands. Walther manages to keep these moments feeling fresh by grounding them in specific character details rather than generic teenage experiences. Mads's anxiety about her lack of romantic experience feels real because it's tied to her specific family situation and personality rather than being a generic teen insecurity.
The author also does solid work exploring the pressure to have experiences before you're ready for them. Mads's journey toward romantic readiness feels organic rather than rushed, and Walther wisely avoids the temptation to have her character completely transformed by her first relationship.
Critical Analysis: What Works and What Doesn't
Strengths That Elevate the Material
Authentic Family Relationships: Walther's portrayal of the Fisher-Michaels family stands out in a genre often populated by absent or dysfunctional parents. These feel like real people who love each other despite their flaws.
Genuine Character Growth: Mads's development from insecure sister to confident young woman feels earned rather than handed to her by the plot.
Fresh Take on Familiar Tropes: While the basic setup isn't original, Walther finds ways to make standard YA romance elements feel fresh through specific character details and authentic emotional stakes.
Strong Sense of Place and Time: The seasonal structure works well, and the various settings—from Stone Harbor beach houses to Princeton eating clubs—feel researched and authentic.
Areas for Improvement
Pacing Inconsistencies: The novel occasionally feels too long, with some subplots (particularly around field hockey recruiting) feeling disconnected from the main narrative thrust.
Secondary Character Development: While the main characters are well-developed, some of the supporting cast members feel underdeveloped, existing primarily to serve plot functions rather than feeling like real people.
Predictable Plot Points: Despite Walther's skill with character development, many of the major plot developments can be seen coming from early in the novel, reducing dramatic tension.
Inconsistent Tone: The novel occasionally struggles to balance its lighter romantic comedy elements with more serious themes about family and identity, leading to some tonal whiplash.
Final Assessment: A Solid Addition to the YA Romance Canon
A First Time for Everything succeeds more often than it stumbles, providing readers with a warm, engaging story about family, friendship, and first love. While it doesn't break significant new ground in the YA romance genre, it executes familiar elements with enough skill and heart to make the journey worthwhile.
Walther's greatest achievement here is creating characters who feel like real people dealing with recognizable problems. Mads's journey toward romantic readiness parallels her growth as a family member and individual, providing thematic coherence that elevates the material beyond simple wish fulfillment.
The novel's flaws—pacing issues, predictable plot points, occasional tonal inconsistencies—are real but don't significantly detract from its overall effectiveness. Readers looking for a comfort read that combines humor, heart, and genuine emotional stakes will find much to enjoy here.
May 24, 2025
“wouldn’t it be awesome if your best friend became your favorite person?�
2.5⭐️ rounded up!
this is unfortunately my least favorite book i’ve read by K. L. Walther. there were glimpses of fun and cute romance but it didn’t stick. the best character of course was meredith! every time she popped up it made it better!! i had to give one star for her! 🫶🏼 the romance, while predictable, was cute and i loved the themes of the fine lines between friendship and love. the sports integration was also well done! 🏑
my main problem was that the main character was just so insufferable. she complained so much about the wedding/katie it made it hard to read. also the brief sex scene at the end was so weird and rushed. seemed like she just threw that in at the end with no thought. also why was underage drinking brought up so many times?? it gave me an ick. 🤧
overall if you love her books you’ll probably enjoy this one as well, it was just a miss for me!
⚠️ spice rating of 1.5 (vague & brief open door scene that is only one paragraph) & language rating of 3/5
thank you sourcebooks fire and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! 🏑
2.5⭐️ rounded up!
this is unfortunately my least favorite book i’ve read by K. L. Walther. there were glimpses of fun and cute romance but it didn’t stick. the best character of course was meredith! every time she popped up it made it better!! i had to give one star for her! 🫶🏼 the romance, while predictable, was cute and i loved the themes of the fine lines between friendship and love. the sports integration was also well done! 🏑
my main problem was that the main character was just so insufferable. she complained so much about the wedding/katie it made it hard to read. also the brief sex scene at the end was so weird and rushed. seemed like she just threw that in at the end with no thought. also why was underage drinking brought up so many times?? it gave me an ick. 🤧
overall if you love her books you’ll probably enjoy this one as well, it was just a miss for me!
⚠️ spice rating of 1.5 (vague & brief open door scene that is only one paragraph) & language rating of 3/5
thank you sourcebooks fire and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! 🏑
June 19, 2025
A First Time for Everything was such a charming read and a great addition to K.L. Walther's growing collection of heartfelt stories. I love when books have subtle connections to an author’s previous work, so the callback to the characters from The Summer of Broken Rules and What Happens After Midnight was a fun touch. The way the character arcs intertwine feels effortless—it adds depth without taking over the story, which I really appreciate.
The romance in this book is something special. The way the love interests connect feels so real, like you can actually feel the emotions between them. It’s the kind of relationship that makes you wish you had something like that, and it left me feeling giddy in the best way.
That said, there were a lot of characters to keep track of. It wasn’t overwhelming, but the side characters—especially the bridesmaids—kind of blended together. They had little details to set them apart, but nothing major, so I found myself losing track of who was who at times.
I also wish we got to see more layers to Mads� character development beyond just her journey of exploring her sexuality. That was an important part of her story, but the ending focused so much on her relationship "firsts" that it didn’t really dive into other aspects, like sisterhood or her transition into young adulthood and college life.
Overall, A First Time for Everything is such a heartfelt, fun read. The romance is swoon-worthy, and the story pulls you in. I recommend this for anyone who is looking for a lighthearted, cozy read!
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC!
The romance in this book is something special. The way the love interests connect feels so real, like you can actually feel the emotions between them. It’s the kind of relationship that makes you wish you had something like that, and it left me feeling giddy in the best way.
That said, there were a lot of characters to keep track of. It wasn’t overwhelming, but the side characters—especially the bridesmaids—kind of blended together. They had little details to set them apart, but nothing major, so I found myself losing track of who was who at times.
I also wish we got to see more layers to Mads� character development beyond just her journey of exploring her sexuality. That was an important part of her story, but the ending focused so much on her relationship "firsts" that it didn’t really dive into other aspects, like sisterhood or her transition into young adulthood and college life.
Overall, A First Time for Everything is such a heartfelt, fun read. The romance is swoon-worthy, and the story pulls you in. I recommend this for anyone who is looking for a lighthearted, cozy read!
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC!
April 10, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
This is the second book by KL Walther that I have read and I really enjoy her writing style. This was a really cute book about family, friends, and falling in love. I enjoyed a bit of the back and forth with the main character and the two main men in her life but also the evolving relationship with her brothers fiancé.
While the book takes place over the course of about a year, it felt very summery with talks about playing sports outside and going to the shore. My only quip with the book is the main character felt a little immature for her age. She was about to turn 18 and go to college but she felt more like a 14/15 year old than someone going to college with a sports scholarship but that could just be me outgrowing my own youth 😂. I think this is a great YA book and would make a great read while hanging out during the summer.
This is the second book by KL Walther that I have read and I really enjoy her writing style. This was a really cute book about family, friends, and falling in love. I enjoyed a bit of the back and forth with the main character and the two main men in her life but also the evolving relationship with her brothers fiancé.
While the book takes place over the course of about a year, it felt very summery with talks about playing sports outside and going to the shore. My only quip with the book is the main character felt a little immature for her age. She was about to turn 18 and go to college but she felt more like a 14/15 year old than someone going to college with a sports scholarship but that could just be me outgrowing my own youth 😂. I think this is a great YA book and would make a great read while hanging out during the summer.
June 3, 2025
THIS WAS SOOO CUTEEE!!! Her and Marcus were everything to me, I love them so much. We got to see so many different cameos with characters from her other books which was SO fun. Some parts of the books did feel a little weird, i really did not like Katie for most of the books, we did get reasoning for why she acted the way she did so that made up for it a bit! I also really loved Madeline’s dads they were so so funny, also Marcus� friends reminded me so much of Colin and Finn from Gilmore Girls hehe🤭
Some of the characters didn’t feel as fleshed out as they could have been which was kind of sad cause a lot of them had a lot of potential!
BUT I WOULD STILL RECOMMEND THIS SO HARD CAUSE IT WAS SO AMAZING AND K.L. WALTHER IS A GENIUS
Thank you so much Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for letting me read an advance copy!!
Some of the characters didn’t feel as fleshed out as they could have been which was kind of sad cause a lot of them had a lot of potential!
BUT I WOULD STILL RECOMMEND THIS SO HARD CAUSE IT WAS SO AMAZING AND K.L. WALTHER IS A GENIUS
Thank you so much Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for letting me read an advance copy!!
November 27, 2024
Here I am in tears yet again 😭
May 31, 2025
A big thanks to NetGalley and RBmedia for the audio ARC. This title will be published on June 3, 2025.
I fell in love with K.L. Walther's writing when I read her first book "The Summer of Broken Rules". She knows how to write YA and have it be fun for adult readers.
Mads brother Austin has gotten engaged to his long time girlfriend, Katie, who Mads is pretty sure hates her guts. So it's a big surprise when Mads receives a package in the mail from Katie asking her to be a bridesmaid. Mads gets thrown into the bridesmaids group, and being the youngest by many years, she feels a bit uncomfortable. At a bridesmaid slumber party they play "truth or dare" and everyone finds out that Mads has never been kissed or been on a date. The bridesmaids make Mads their very own Bachelorette, setting her up on dates and giving her dating advice. All the while Mads is trying to balance field hockey, her friendships with Connor and Marco, and the wedding planning.
Get ready for a whirlwind of frustrating emotions as Mads navigates dating, kissing, and trying to make friends with the bridesmaids and her unfriendly future sister-in-law.
There was a way I wanted the story to end from pretty early on and I'm happy to say that some of it did happen. I found the whole story to be fun, endearing, and at some points downright annoying, mainly because Katie was unlikeable and came across as a huge brat. I know that Katie was written this way to cause contention in the book and make interactions uncomfortable, but at some points it was so obnoxious that if I'd had the physical copy I'd probably have chucked it or slammed it on my bed, lol.
I fell in love with K.L. Walther's writing when I read her first book "The Summer of Broken Rules". She knows how to write YA and have it be fun for adult readers.
Mads brother Austin has gotten engaged to his long time girlfriend, Katie, who Mads is pretty sure hates her guts. So it's a big surprise when Mads receives a package in the mail from Katie asking her to be a bridesmaid. Mads gets thrown into the bridesmaids group, and being the youngest by many years, she feels a bit uncomfortable. At a bridesmaid slumber party they play "truth or dare" and everyone finds out that Mads has never been kissed or been on a date. The bridesmaids make Mads their very own Bachelorette, setting her up on dates and giving her dating advice. All the while Mads is trying to balance field hockey, her friendships with Connor and Marco, and the wedding planning.
Get ready for a whirlwind of frustrating emotions as Mads navigates dating, kissing, and trying to make friends with the bridesmaids and her unfriendly future sister-in-law.
There was a way I wanted the story to end from pretty early on and I'm happy to say that some of it did happen. I found the whole story to be fun, endearing, and at some points downright annoying, mainly because Katie was unlikeable and came across as a huge brat. I know that Katie was written this way to cause contention in the book and make interactions uncomfortable, but at some points it was so obnoxious that if I'd had the physical copy I'd probably have chucked it or slammed it on my bed, lol.
March 26, 2025
I was beyond excited to get my hands on an early digital copy of A First Time for Everything, and K.L. Walther did not disappoint one bit. As an already big fan of her books, I loved being back in this universe and seeing familiar threads woven into a heartwarming and extremely swoon-worthy story. Of all the books I’ve read, I don’t think I’ve ever highlighted as many quotes that made me squeal and swoon as I did in this one!
The main character, Mads, had me craving the athletic lifestyle again with her field hockey recruitment process. (shout out to student athletes, it’s tough!) She had such a unique flair in her personality and I wanted to give her a hug all the time, or dance with her, both would work.
This book comically yet accurately captures the dating life of a high schooler, but more importantly it perfectly captured the rocky relationship one can have with a misunderstood family member. The relationship between Mads and Katie had all the golden nuggets: poor assumptions, people-pleasing, doubt, and a struggle to connect. My only push back on this story would be how Katie was reflected throughout the book. I know this was the point, but I strongly disliked her for so many reasons, and I felt a slight emotional whiplash with the ending.
The romance had me grinning, squealing, and gripping my kindle. The humor was spot-on, and the characters felt so real. K.L Walther does a fantastic job at having a dynamic “cast� so to say, and I love learning and falling in love with her people.
There was so much charm and ANGST and humor and emotional depth shining through in this novel, making it a must-read this summer in my opinion! Release date is June 3rd. ☀�
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. �
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The main character, Mads, had me craving the athletic lifestyle again with her field hockey recruitment process. (shout out to student athletes, it’s tough!) She had such a unique flair in her personality and I wanted to give her a hug all the time, or dance with her, both would work.
This book comically yet accurately captures the dating life of a high schooler, but more importantly it perfectly captured the rocky relationship one can have with a misunderstood family member. The relationship between Mads and Katie had all the golden nuggets: poor assumptions, people-pleasing, doubt, and a struggle to connect. My only push back on this story would be how Katie was reflected throughout the book. I know this was the point, but I strongly disliked her for so many reasons, and I felt a slight emotional whiplash with the ending.
The romance had me grinning, squealing, and gripping my kindle. The humor was spot-on, and the characters felt so real. K.L Walther does a fantastic job at having a dynamic “cast� so to say, and I love learning and falling in love with her people.
There was so much charm and ANGST and humor and emotional depth shining through in this novel, making it a must-read this summer in my opinion! Release date is June 3rd. ☀�
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. �
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 5, 2025
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.
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.
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