A First Time for Everything is a really enjoyable audiobook that’s perfect for fans of YA romance and coming-of-age stories. While it has some predictable moments, it’s still a heartwarming and fun listen. Mads’ journey of first experiences and learning to step out of her comfort zone is something a lot of people can relate to, especially in high school. If you’re looking for a light yet meaningful story to get lost in, I definitely recommend giving it a listen. Also, the audiobook is narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya, and I think she did a really good job. Her voice is clear and expressive, and she really captures the personalities of the characters.

This author is generally a go-to for me--while her books are generally YA, I love the pick-me-up attitude they bring. I had the pleasure of listening on audio and the narrator was wonderful! Read if you like: great family connections, wedding planning, LGBTQ+ rep. **I received a complimentary ARC from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

A First Time for Everything is a cute Teen/YA novel. I listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed the narrator's voice (Jennifer Jill Araya) but found that I turned up the speed a bit. She was able to changed her voice to differentiate characters. The story was a little thin but by the end I found myself routing for the characters and wanting to know what would happen next for them. This is a good YA summer read or listen.

Thank you Net Galley, K. L. Walther and Tantor Audio for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.
A First Time For Everything is available.

This book was such a funny and wholesome read. It definitely portrays the awkwardness of being a teenager well and what it’s like going through a lot of new experiences during this age. This made the main character feel very relatable. I appreciated the Harry and Taylor references 😆. I also liked that there was diverse representation with the main character having 2 dads. The main character also had a lot of friendships with guys such as the Princeton group that weren’t toxic and only platonic which I appreciated. I feel like this book had a semi unexpected ending compared to other romances by not following certain tropes when it came to the love interests which I liked. I listened to the audiobook version of this book and it had me laughing out loud and I was very entertained from start to finish.

There is a lot going on in this book, but it was one of my favorite reads of the year so far! First of all, Madeline’s older brother is getting married and Mads is asked to be a bridesmaid, which is totally awkward for her as she is only 17 and everyone else in the wedding party is in their mid-twenties. Then during a bridal party game of truth or dare, Mads is roped into a dating contest, since she hasn’t ever been on a date or been kissed yet. So between the blind dates for Mads, the bridal party shenanigans, and the relationship tension between the bride and groom, this was a book I couldn’t put down! I loved the characterization, how they were super easy to relate to, and the situations all seemed very realistic. The writing style was easy to read/listen to, and I never got lost and had to back up a few seconds. 4.5 stars, highly recommended for high school and up (lots of drinking references but pretty much a 0 on the spicy scale except for one instance where she almost gets taken advantage of at a college party).

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First Time for Everything by K.L. Walther
🎧 Narrated by: Jennifer Jill Araya
Thank you to NetGalley, K.L. Walther, Dreamscape Media, and the publisher for this ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Starting right off the bat with the audio: stellar. Jennifer Jill Araya was so good, I kept forgetting there was only one narrator. Her delivery was seamless, and her ability to bring each character to life—especially the more masculine voices—was seriously impressive. It felt like an entire cast.

Now let’s talk about the writing. Walther paints scenes that feel vivid enough to be a Netflix movie. I felt fully immersed from the very first chapter—and my emotions were all over the place. I adored Mads, even when I wanted to shake her for being so oblivious. And there’s one character I swore I would never like. Famous last words.

This book is an emotional rollercoaster. About halfway through, I got so anxious I started scanning for clues about how things would end. Spoiler: I found nothing. This book kept me guessing till the very end, and that never happens for me.

I’m 37, but I teach high school, and maybe that’s why this felt so relevant. Mads captures the strange in-between space of almost-adulthood—hopeful, terrified, deeply unsure. It hit. And honestly, I think everyone, regardless of age, can relate to the sweeping, confusing, completely romantic mess that love can be—especially when it hits you like a Hallmark movie but messier and realer.

I’ll admit: I was initially disappointed about the 80% mark. I was really close to screaming into a pillow. (I’m dramatic. Really dramatic.) But after sticking it out, I got it. When you’re 17 or 18, the world doesn’t always look the way you think it does—and maybe that’s okay. The final chapters wrapped everything up in a way that felt authentic. I was left satisfied and smiling….and a little teary. That earned the book 5 stars from me.

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.

The behavior from a lot of the women in this book makes me sad. There is so little communication or support, and the rivalries over men are just hard to read. As much as I want to like the plucky heroine, her whining and anxiety were a little much for me.

I very much enjoy KL Walther and have loved some of her other books, but this one just wasn’t quite up my alley.

2.5 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second K. L. Walther that I have seen. I think this author is simply not for me. I didn't enjoy this one, but I definitely believe it has an ideal audience! That audience just isn't me.

A First Time for Everything by K.L. Walther is an interesting, fun read about a High School Field Hockey Player finding her place in the world of dating, college applications and athletics, and her family as they prepare for her brother's wedding to someone she doesn't quite mesh with.

I really enjoyed the relationships in this book and seeing how Mads' view of Catie evolved throughout the book. It was definitely a YA book--the voices and storylines weren't overly complicated, but in a way I think that made it more fun. It was easy and not too wild. I loved the relationship Mads developed with the bridal party and their attitudes towards her and acceptance of her. I also thought the bits about field hockey and recruiting were fun--it's not a sport that's often written about, so I think that added a great element to it. Finally, I think her dates with all of the boys showed a great variety of experiences by women, especially when they're in high school. It was a fun and quick read and I quite enjoyed it. 4.25*

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

This is a cute YA romance. I listened to the audiobook and Jennifer Jill Araya did a fantastic job. She has such a nice voice.

Mads is a seventeen year old whose brother just recently got engaged. She has been asked to be a bridesmaid in the wedding. This is an opportunity for her to get to know her future sister-in-law.

Mads has never dated or even been kissed. She goes on a series of dates to try to find her plus one for the wedding. The bridesmaid brigade helps her along the way.

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This was a cute read, this is the 2nd K.L
Walther book I’ve read, just as good as the summer of broken rules.

This was full of family dynamics and friendships filled with tension, drama and laughs along the way. The story was an easy read & I binged it in one sitting! Lovley audiobook! I will now be trying out some more contemporary reads on audio.

I am such a fan of K.L Walther and the books that she puts out. This was such a fun story of firsts for a young 17 year old Mads. This book was a wonderful YA romance filled with tension, friendship, drama, friends to lovers and a really good plot.

I feel like each character was well developed and unique. Mads is asked to be in her brothers wedding as a bridesmaid and she is the youngest one. All the other bridesmaids want to help her find a date for the wedding and starts trying to set her up with different boys. Through these dates and talking with her brother she really begins to understand what she is looking for in a partner and she realizes she already has that!

I wont spoil this for others, but this was such a fun read! I was given the opportunity to listen to the audio for this book and I enjoyed it. The narrator was really great! I am always so surprised how one person can come up with so many different voices for the characters and continue that throughout the entire story! It was really well done!

DNF. This book is not for me. I Read another book by this other and I liked, but this one I couldn’t finished.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the early listening audiobook. This was my first KA Walther book and I enjoyed her writing style. The narrator did an excellent job giving each character their own personalities. This book is a coming of age and realization of who the FMC Madeline really is. She’s not just the fiancés little sister, she’s a field hockey star, a pre college student and a great friend. I was so glad when Mads and Marco finally ended up together.

My gosh this book was absolutely amazing 😍😍.I couldn't have picked a better read for my first book in June!
Blurb:
The book follows Madeline the narrator.Her brother suddenly annonces that. he is getting engaged (without giving the family a heads up prior). Determined to understand why her brother loves this girl --Katie so much and didn't choose his ex-friend and best friend Sam,Mads tries to get closer to Katie, and even reluctantly agrees to be Katie's bridesmaid!
When Mads reveals that she has never been on a date and hasn't even had her first kiss yet,the bridesmaids go into a frenzy to try to find Mads a plus-one for the marriage ceremony.
Mads goes on a series of dates and ends up stuck between her boy best friend Conner ,who is also her neighbour and former classmate Marco.Despite always loving the friends-to-lovers trope ,is Conner the right match for her? Or are her heart strings tugging from the other direction?

review:
I absolutely loved this book and am not afraid to say that i picked the BEST book to be my furst audiobook arc.I love how supportive all of the bridesmaids were with Mads,with one of her dates,with every guy and just with everything.I resonated with Katie so so much.Like i get it girl , being an introvert and needing to try to fit in with a whole family is hard.I love how Cady sent Margo to "spy" on her dates knowing that Mads wasn't exactly the most excited about going and making sure Mads was safe at all times.I love how the plot ends with a found family ending with Katie boning with Mads .The smallest lose ends such as why Sam wasn't the perfect fit for Austen(Mad's brother) and why he lived Katie so much were also tied up!
Ovetall, this was the perfect start to my June and definitely worth the read!I literally binged this in 6 hours 🤣🤣,even with finals literally tomorrow!
This is the perfect coming-of-age read and ya book for eveyone.The book has basically no spice at all with only a singular line at the very end of the book with the most closed door scene you've seen

It was fun going on Madelene's journey to find love. Her dad is so humorous, and he definitely has an endless supply of dad jokes. I loved how close Mads was to her brother Austin. I felt like I could relate so much since my brother is also my best friend.

I never felt that connected between her and Davis. I felt like Davis was still hung up over a recent break up and only wanted a date to prom. I think it was unfair for him to invite her and not let her know that his ex was going to the friend group. It put Mads in a very uncomfortable and unwelcome situation. Derek? Also sleazy. Marco? Ugh. I guess these men are just accurate descriptions of what most women experience in their college era. I didn't really care for the idea of Connor and her together either.

I don't really understand why a group of twenty something bridesmaids cared about a seventeen year old's love life. To me, Mads felt a bit mature for her age, and I didn't really see her as seventeen. I did enjoy the ending, I like that Katie finally let down her hard exterior even though it seemed a bit sudden. Thank you to Netgalley, Tantor Audio, and K.L. Walther for an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion

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.

I’ve had two 5 stars from this author so I had high hopes for this book. While it’s wasn’t my fav it was still a lot of fun. I took a minute to get into but once I was it flew by. The audio was great.

3.5 stars. This was a decent YA read that follows 17-year old Madeline in a sort of coming-of-age romance. Her brother is engaged to a woman who Mads fears may not be the right fit. This book is about her family interactions as well as many firsts- dates, kiss, and more. I liked the premise but felt like this book lost its way slightly in the love triangle aspect with potential suitor Connor and Marco. I appreciate that this book was not totally expected and messy at times in a real life sort of way. I listened to an ARC audiobook on NetGalley.