Ratings2
Average rating4
A “big-hearted” (The Daily Beast), “LOL-worthy” (Cosmopolitan) debut about a down-on-his-luck gay man working out how he fits into the world, making up for lost time, and opening himself up to life’s possibilities “Part of a new wave of authors releasing uplifting queer literature that casts its characters as the heroes of their lives . . . crammed with blossoming romances and glittery escapism.”—The Guardian Danny Scudd is absolutely fine. He always dreamed of escaping the small-town life of his parents’ fish-and-chip shop, moving to London, and becoming a journalist. And, after five years in the city, his career isn’t exactly awful, and his relationship with pretentious Tobbs isn’t exactly unfulfilling. Certainly his limited-edition Dolly Parton vinyls and many (maybe too many) house plants are hitting the spot. But his world is flipped upside down when a visit to the local clinic reveals that Tobbs might not have been exactly faithful. In fact, Tobbs claims they were never operating under the “heteronormative paradigm” of monogamy to begin with. Oh, and Danny’s flatmates are unceremoniously evicting him because they want to start a family. It’s all going quite well. Newly single and with nowhere to live, Danny is forced to move in with his best friend, Jacob, a flamboyant nonbinary artist whom he’s known since childhood, and their eccentric group of friends living in an East London “commune.” What follows is a colorful voyage of discovery through modern queer life, dating, work, and lots of therapy—all places Danny has always been too afraid to fully explore. Upon realizing just how little he knows about himself and his sexuality, he careens from one questionable decision (and man) to another, relying on his inscrutable new therapist and housemates to help him face the demons he’s spent his entire life trying to repress. Is he really fine, after all?
Reviews with the most likes.
This book was a disappointment. I felt it wasn't written for an LGBTQ+ audience, but more for the straights to understand what queer people go through when coming out etc.
It was tame and and times just plain boring. Like the “Love, Simon” of novels. The main character is really annoying and the story arc is a typical coming of age one, but with nothing genuine about it.
The author is clearly trying too hard.
There really is a first time for everything as this is my first read on my Kindle. Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC ebook!
First Time for Everything by Henry Fry is a story of truest finding yourself and where you belong. Danny is fresh from a break up, getting evicted, and generally just lost after his world has been flipped.
I thoroughly enjoyed this ebook ARC. It was well thought out and had lots of really enjoyable moments. It is a must read for anyone who feels lost, especially in the queer community.
First Time for Everything is out on May 10, 2022!