I had been on the hunt for a cute gay Rom-com with a character that wasn’t a YA genre and while this book isn’t that, it definitely filled a great space that I was craving to read. In the book we meet Danny Scudd, a gay character who after finally leaving a toxic relationship under relatable circumstances begins to ask himself who he really is, how his attitude has affected all of his relationships, seeking help for mental health and finally finding himself in a space he’s comfortable in. I really enjoyed the character arc and his journey to self discovery! Along the way we met some fantastic characters and hilarious situations. If you enjoyed the series ITS A SIN on HBO and general road to self discovery books this is for you.

This book has been described as a "gay Bridget Jones Diary" . That description is pretty accurate. Danny is a 27 year old gay man who has a lot going on. He just found out his boyfriend has been cheating on him and perhaps given him an STD. He's gotten kicked out of where he's been living and needs to find somewhere else to live. He's really down on himself and has started therapy.
The writing is great, so kudos to Henry Fry on his debut novel. There are lots of laugh-out-loud funny moments. There are lots of angsty part too, though, which did make me feel anxious through quite a bit of the book. No one who is already down on himself needs to be brought down even more by a significant other.
I recommend this book for its LGBTQ+ story, the great writing, the wittiness, and Danny's friend Jacob.
Thanks to Kathleen Quinlan at #PenguinRandomHouse for getting this book on my radar and providing a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

It's far from my first time for...well, almost anything. Yet this British tale of being a twentysomething soul whose entire world turns upside down, whose every point of trust in his relationships is called into question because he wasn't having the same relationship with others they were having with him, just called to me.

Danny is our PoV character, a young man who's daring to think his life is going well and he's among the people who understand and love him. It's a heady place to be. So, this being a story, we know it's not the way things will stay. First, Tobbs (his long-term love) brings home an STD. So there goes that whole monogamy fantasy...and his love says some self-serving things about it being heteronormative and I cringed so hard I looked like I was trying out for the Hunchback of Notre Dame. I've used that line, though I hasten to say not to excuse my transmission of an STD! Just...well, Author Fry, you scored a point with me by holding the Ouch Oculus up to my face.

Thank goodness, given this, that Danny doesn't live with that knob Tobbs. Laura and her husband seem...nice. Do please note I said "husband" and extrapolate from there that there is procreative activity taking place. We who have paid attention in sex-ed classes (or just had families) will be unsurprised to learn that Danny's rent payments are less desirable than the space he's taking up when the inevitable pregnancy occurs...just as his relationship with that knob Tobbs is over.

Danny's in therapy...terrible anxiety issues...and that completely won me over. Nina, Danny's therapist, is brilliant (in the UK sense) and comedy gold. She's not a comedy therapist, the kind you read in older books who either bumbles or is sibylline. She's commonsensical, not here for self-pity, and deeply committed to Danny learning to manage his issues. Her solidity and warmth were equaled by the obligatory wild BFF: Jacob. They are enby (non-binary), ace (asexual), and so utterly FABULOUS that I think they should have a book of their own.

Hint, hint.

The things that happen in Danny's world, in hindrance that proves to be help, are all relatable. The voice the story's told in makes the project of reading it a pleasure, and the laughter it evokes is frequently tinged with sad recognition as well as joyful anticipation. Given that Author Fry, in an interview with Debutiful.com, says he was inspired to write this story in part by television sitcoms, it's no surprise that he's already got an adaptation in the works from Aussie production company Moonriver as it expands its UK footprint.

This debut novel is a delight from giddy-up to whoa. I'd've kept this review back until my June Pride Month cavalcade of Queerness but I just couldn't...I want you to go get one and read it now.

3.75 stars rounded to 4. Everyone in Danny’s life sucks and he doesn’t see it yet. His boyfriend sucks. His roommates suck. His coworkers and boss suck. The only person who doesn’t completely suck is his best friend, Jacob. So when his life falls apart all at once, he moves in with Jacob and several of Jacob’s other creative friends. He’s learning who he is as a person and as a member of the queer community and that can be a bumpy ride.
This book is very character driven which is hard for me. But the characters are also well-rounded and realistic and funny. I liked the writing style but felt like the plot meandered at times. Ultimately though it’s a good story about unlearning trauma behaviors and living authentically as a queer person. It made me cry a couple of time and laugh a lot. I wanted Danny to stand up for himself more. But I liked the direction the story took and what he learned along the way.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Marketing and NetGalley for providing me with and ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a really good, queer story about self-realization and friendship. Danny Scudd is a young, gay man just trying to find his place in the world. This books dives into the LGBTQ+ community and issues they face (a lot of which I do not have knowledge on as a cis-female). Danny is definitely one of those characters that you root for more and more the longer you read the book. Jacob “Jay,” who is Danny’s best friend is unapologetically themself and is probably one of the best characters I have read about all year. Everyone needs a Jay in their life to be present for the highs and lows of life. I really enjoyed the other characters but a lot of them lived in the house and at times I had difficulty keeping up with who was who. Overall, I think this is a great story about self-discovery and would be great for those who may be in similar stages in life. A strong debut from this author and thank you to Random House Publishing for recommending this to review.

Danny Scudd thinks his life is alright - he has a boyfriend, a job, and a place to live and that is... alright. But when he ends up in an STI clinic and finds out his boyfriend has been operating under the belief they're in an open relationship when Danny decidedly hasn't, things start to derail. His landlords push him out to make room for an upcoming baby and he ends up moving in with his best friend Jacob, a nonbinary force of nature. As Danny tries to figure out who he is and what he really wants out of life, he careens from one bad decision to another, threatening his friendship with Jacob and his own future.

Danny is honestly hard to like - he is going through so much all at once and the emotional turmoil makes him horrible to practically everyone around him. It is understandable but it is hard to watch. The overall feel of the novel is like a gay Bridget Jones's Diary without the Pride and Prejudice overtones. Danny's dad Joseph is the most pure character in the entire novel. He is loving and tender and quietly funny, accepting his son for all that he is. However, the resolution is satisfying and makes sense for what Danny goes through and who he is at heart, even if watching him stumble from one cringy situation to another is painful. It is painful because his experiences feel so real and there is nothing the reader can do to help Danny figure things out faster!

Thank you to Random House Publishing/Ballentine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read First Time for Everything in exchange for an honest review!

Plant loving, Dolly Parton obsessed Danny is struggling to find himself as a young gay man in East London. From toiling at an unsatisfying job to nursing fresh heartbreak, Danny has reached a critical point in trying to figure out who he is and what he wants. A memorable cast of characters help him navigate life and relationships as he discovers what it means to love and accept yourself. This story is full of depth, heart and so many witty one liners it’ll make your head spin. Lovers of Grey Gardens, Dolly Rebecca Parton, and Meryl Streep, this book is for you!

Many thanks to Random House-Ballantine and Netgalley for the ARC.

This is a witty story about a young gay man trying to figure out who he truly is inside. He has been living as everyone expects him to be and not who he wants to be. I really liked all of the characters, especially the friends! Jacob was a great friend, even when Daniel was being a crappy friend to him. I think it was a good story about figuring out your identity that many readers could identify with. It did feel like it went on longer than needed at times but overall a solid hilariously worded read!

I received this book from Net Galley, Henry Fry, and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine in return of my honest review.

DNF 64%

I do not think I was the targeted audience for this book. I wanted to like it, I wanted to enjoy it so bad, but I just could not. I struggled so much with this book. I had to stop reading it at one point, read a different one, and come back to it. I eventually decided that I could not finish it, which was a very hard decision for me to make, as I hate DNFing books.

I think overall, Danny was just too depressed and down on his luck for me. He was very woe is me and though he was trying to better himself, I felt that he was just too sorry for himself and not taking responsibility for his actions.

If you enjoy down on your luck books and can relate to them then this book is for you.

I think this is one of the bigger bummers of the year for me. With a lot of readers saying it was a "queer Bridget Jones diary" I had to know, but unfortunately some of the humorous elements and story telling from our main character fell flat for me.

While the book is well written, this is a book I will not be finishing due to triggering content. This was not a good fit for me.

I think I just was t the best reader for this book. I'm not a single young male living in London, I'm not even a male or single or young haha so I did have a hard time relating and becoming engaged with this book even though the story line seemed good. I always give a book 3 stars when it's not for me because that's mostly on me as the reader

Raw and real "coming of age" story with heart and hilarity. Danny hasn't figured himself out yet; actually, he hasn't figured out much at all, when it comes down to it. So when his whole world crashes down, he's got only himself to blame, probably. Building it back up is harder than he could ever imagine. Doing it alone? Impossible.

I absolutely fell in love with Dan and every side of his changing personally. We're all just trying to find ourselves, only some of us are hiding a little better, and a little longer, than others. The heartbreaking layer of making life's journey with an LGTQ+ on ramp added in is even more frightening. Henry Fry introduces us to this difficult but beautiful other part of the map in ways both nuanced and fabulous.

Treat yourself to this hard but important story! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the advanced reading copy. Review contains my own thoughts and opinions.

“…as Dolly says, if you want a rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”

A very well-written, humorous, and heartfelt coming of age story about a 27-year old gay man, Danny Scudd, after he deals with a breakup and getting kicked out of where he lives. Who is Danny Scudd? He finds out maybe he’s not so sure.

There is a fairly large cast in the book, and I admit that I did have some difficulty keeping them all separated. But the really important ones definitely stood out - Jacob/Jay, Danny’s longtime best friend; Tobbs - his toxic ex-boyfriend; and Nina - Danny’s new therapist.

I enjoyed the first hand view into Danny’s journey to finding his true self. This was a superb debut from Henry Fry!

Dear Dolly Diary: you know when you see the end of a book is coming so you slow down on purpose? Bridget Jones meets Dear Evan Hansen. We start the book at a Dr office where Nurse Jackie is all but sure our hero, Danny Scudd has an STD, even though he’s been in a serious relationship for over a year. Then his roommate gets engaged & pregnant and asks him to move out - straight away thank-you-very-much. And the hits don’t stop. Thank GOD for Jacob, his best friend from home - who suggests their therapist Nina. Enter - the Dolly Diary. The lines in this book that had me laughing out loud are too many to count. Bravo Henry Fry, please don’t ever stop writing.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the arc for review.

There's so much packed into this story that by the end, I was jarred to realized that I'd almost forgotten that the book opened with a scene depicting a vigorous ball exam, something I was immediately certain would be a standout moment.

Learning he's likely got an STI leads Danny Scudd to finding out that he and his kind of crap boyfriend of a year, Tobbs (THE CARPETED BATHROOM OF HUMAN BEINGS), are not on the same page re: monogamy, and thus begins a cascade of events including being gently evicted by his straight and newly pregnant roommates, moving into a sort of queer commune house with his best friend Jacob (the Big Edie to his Little Edie), a re-gay awakening, and all sorts of behaviors all up and down the scale, ranging from fragile self-exploration to absolutely appalling self-destruction.

What I found really compelling and interesting about this book - what really propelled me through it, I mean - was the absolutely human simultaneous implosion & explosion Danny experienced in his new situation. Surrounded by new people (and, for the first time, a therapist), Danny is learning all kinds of lessons: where he's allowed himself to accept too little (a boyfriend who thinks he's "too much"), where he's forced himself to swallow too much (toxic boss), experiences he's missed out on (growing up/living trying to blend in with the straights), who he's missed out on being.

Unfortunately, with a bit of an air of the "zeal of the convert" about him, this all floods in at once, and he starts firing these lessons off all willy nilly, loose cannon-style, and on one hand, YES, ABSOLUTELY DANNY, but on the other hand, NO, DANNY, NOT LIKE THAT.

Another highlight is that no one in this book - not Danny, Jacob, Tobbs, or any of the side characters, not a single one - is one dimensional. Every last character took their turns getting my wide eye and my most suspicious side eye. Some more aggressively and deservedly suspicious than others, but still.

This book is a real trip. With as much that happens, it's unsurprising that the pace never drags - I finished it in an evening. The dialogue is funny and snappy, and packed with references that had me sending off screenshots at 3am, though it does very occasionally veer into "okay, that was just one too many," but that's just about the worst thing I've got to say about it.

Recommended for all levels of relatability: a queer story, a breakup recovery story, a growing & changing alongside your best friend story, a finding your people story, a no longer making yourself small to placate others story, a mental health story, a standing up for yourself story, a letting your ugly side out & putting it back in story, a Death Becomes Her & Empire Records quotes story.

Danny Scudd is a twenty seven year old Londoner about to be ejected from his current apartment by his friend Laura and her dopey, hunky boyfriend so they can start a family. Poor Danny is stuck. He’s been dating a guy for the past year who not only doesn’t seem to want to take their relationship to the next level, but at the start of the book might have in fact given him an STD. Suddenly faced with the prospect of losing his current living arrangement as well his love life, Danny moves in with Jacob, his non-binary best friend and diva extraordinaire and his colorful collection of housemates.
⠀
Up to this point Henry Fry’s debut plays mainly for laughs, his self deprecating narrator both relatable and witty. But Fry wisely flips it, and the book moves into a larger story about mental health, gay culture and finding ones own voice and identity and the costs both positive and negative with this. His therapist sessions in particular really resonated with me.
The result is a poignant and winning book that everyone can enjoy, but will feel particularly relatable to many in the gay community. Thanks to @randomhouse books and @netgalley for the advance copy.
#FirstTimeforEverything is out today!

Henry Fry wrote an intriguing coming of age story in his debut novel First Time for Everything. Danny Scudd faces his first big breakup at the same time he finds himself needing a new place to live. These two events coincide to send him into a living arrangement that forces him to deal with his mental health, his sexuality, and his career. Fry writes about the challenges of growing up gay and the idea of creating family out of friendship. The mood of this novel was a little dark for me and I struggled to connect to the main characters.

A highly entertaining and thought-provoking novel, First Time for Everything features 27-year-old Danny who lives in London. Following his relationship ending with his boyfriend and having to move in with his best friend, Danny soon learns that he doesn’t know himself like he thought he did and seeks help to do so.

This is a very moving coming-of-age story generously sprinkled with comic relief. The reader gets a bird's-eye view into Danny’s unraveling, privy to his inner speak and personal history growing up as a gay man in a small town. The author addresses so many important issues in a gentle, candid way.

I highlighted quite a few sentences, but the dedication, in particular, stands out: “For everyone else who’s late to the party. Let’s make up for lost time.”

This book grabbed my attention from the first page, and I knew that sleep would go to the back-burner in favor of finishing this story. I highly recommend this to fans of coming-of-age novels with found family and homage to Dolly Parton.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a free ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Happy pub day, Henry Fry!

I adored this book. Devoured it. Laughed out loud. Heart ached. Did have to take breaks to look some phrases up, because it is very deeply British, and solidly #ownvoice LGBQT+, and I am neither. But books are a wonderful way to walk a mile in someone else's shoes, and this first person narrative about MC Danny Scudd's life falling apart, coming-of-age journey was time well spent. I think we all encounter moments of losing the plot on who we really are at various life inflection points, but this book opened my eyes to how much more intense those moments can be if one is outside of the cis/het norm. I was rooting for Danny (and the many wonderful characters in his life) the whole way, and loved how this book portrayed mental heath and therapy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book, in exchange for my honest review.