*Thank you to Penguin Random House via NetGalley for the ARC*

I was reluctant to read and review First Time for Everything since I’m a 30-something mom and was worried I’d unintentionally misspeak/offend someone if I misunderstood something, but I kept going back to the blurb and decided to give this a go. I’m so, so glad I did. First of all, the things that I did pick up, nourished my parched millennial soul (Grey Gardens, Buffy, TLC, Gossip Girl, Clueless, Britney, ‘call me — maybe’ (was that intentional or just a happy coincidence?!)). The things I didn’t understand, I felt like Fry was there to patiently hold my hand and gently guide me along (especially all things Dolly, I know, sorry).

FTFE centers on our dear Danny, whose life is slowly unraveling: health scare, boyfriend issues, being voluntold to move out, best friend issues, and worst of all, identity issues. He goes through ups and downs and swirls around but he teaches us some very valuable lessons along his *journey*. While Danny’s busy living and learning, the reader is also along for an informative ride. There’s a particularly meta moment when Danny is told “I loved that you played this clueless character as a window into these worlds” and I had to literally lol cause the entire book is like that. We learn as Danny learns.

Stereotypes aside (for I cannot say what is true and what is nonsense being a straight person myself) I can see how helpful this book can be for young people (or honestly anyone) who might need a crash course/reminder on self love and acceptance. Spoilerish: there was a scene when Danny goes to see a therapist for the first time and his meeting was written in such an approachable manner. Hopefully it can be encouraging for those who might recognize Danny’s feelings, but are fearful of seeking help themselves. There’s another instance when Danny and his friend are discussing relationships and they draw out how unhappy Danny actually was even though Danny himself was desperately trying to convince them he was just fine. Like is this book a low key PSA on how to life your best life?! I stan! (Ew, again sorry)

Overall, I give this book a 4.5/5 stars. There’s so many funny parts. There’s lots of frustrating and painful moments. There’s points when I had to set the book down and come back to it later because some themes hit a little too close to home (roll call: anxiety?! Here ✋🏼imposter syndrome? Present ✋🏼) But through it all, it had lots of important messages, not just for the queer community but for other marginalized communities as well. I loved reading different perspectives on how everyone overcame their struggles. I really enjoyed this book and wish Fry lots of mainstream success when First Time For Everything publishes in May ‘22.

“For everyone else who’s late to the party. Let’s make up for lost time.” 🥹🥹🥹

First Time for Everything by Henry Fry follows out main character Danny as he is trying to navigate through life in a very Bridget Jones-esque manner.

First thing about this book is it is so honest about the experiences that Danny goes through. To the point where I wondered if the author was self inserting into the text. Some parts of this book made me laugh out loud. The very first scene that takes place in a clinic had me snort laughing in the middle of the night. There were also parts of this book that were heartbreaking and a lot of them had to do with Danny not seeing what was going on in front of him so you, as a reader, saw thing coming before he did.
This book is very British. The way the characters talk can take some getting used to if you aren’t familiar with some of the slang and pop culture references.
This book is very a love letter to the modern queer life which is not something I relate to so I feel like I am not the right person to give a full critique of this book. I do feel like there is a lot of homophobia in this book. To me, it made sense to the story because it was a more realistic outlook on the world but if that is something that may bother you, be aware of it going into this book. There are characters that do not seem to even want to try to understand certain characters and it can be very frustrating.

All in all, this book was more entertaining than I thought it would be. It is something I never would have picked up on my own but I’m so glad I got to read an early copy. I feel like this book will be so important to queer young adults as they are trying to figure out who they are but in a way that is both funny and endearing for the most part.

A beautifully written book revealing the self actualization of a gay man, while providing a better understanding of the queer community. Danny Scudd is a twenty-seven year old, pasty-faced shy and skinny, writer for an app, called the Cultur. He grew up with his best friend Jacob in a small provincial town in the UK. He spent most of his formative years being invisible … his attempt at trying to be “one of the crowd” was a lie …. as he continually tried to act the part of a straight person. While his best friend, the only mixed race individual in school, embraced and experimented with his queerness. He flitted between groups, jumping from art-weirdos to the sexually ambiguous stoners. We find Danny, bewildered in an STD Clinic with a swollen testicle and being tested for possible gonorrhea or chlamydia. How could this be? I’ve been in relationship for the last year, with my boyfriend “Tobbs”. The nurse opines : “Isn’t it an open relationship ?…. I know you boys are into that sort of thing.” She thrusts several pamphlets at him in regards to “risky sex” - he counters with: “I’m not having risky sex! I’m having consensual, loving sex with one partner.” Danny soon learns that his boyfriend was frequently enjoying other partners, and had no idea that their relationship was exclusive.
As this stress in his life rages, he is presented with other anxiety ridden problems, Since finishing University, he has been living with Laura and her boyfriend Luke. He has known her since secondary school and reconnected after university. They were comfortably living together in a flat bought by her parents. Laura announces at a party that “their pregnant and going to be married.” Within minutes she turns to Danny and suggests he move out quickly , so they can make room for the baby. ( As Jacob tells Danny: not surprising … they initially like to have “a little pet faggot” around , to show off to their friends … but quickly realize there are more pressing issues to attend to ). Another interesting issue arises at this same party. While talking about the sex of the baby. “We don’t know the baby’s gender”. A hip-type discussion ensues …. Sex refers to the biological body …. And gender is a social construct, usually ascribed at birth. And Laura couldn’t understand why gay people made such a big deal about “coming out”
Tobbs insisted that monogamy is a heteronormative paradigm steeped in misogyny, designed to control us, and queers have the right to define our own relationships. Blame is the last thing we need in the LGBT+ community. With the aid and advice of Jacob … Danny seeks counseling to address his anxiety and torment over issues of relationships and acceptance of his queerness. Ultimately Danny moves into “The Centerfold” …. a massive dilapidated Victorian townhouse… housing seven queer housemates and his binary friend, Jacob. This madhouse is a virtual Addam Family house filled with gays, dykes, binaries and other assorted
“amazing people, from all over the world, all talented, and unique…. Each with their own story to tell”. ( in other words .. all happy in their own skin ). On Jacob’s door to his room is a placard: “Black Queer Lives Matter”
Henry Fry crafts a masterful narrative with an assortment of colorful characters that allow the reader to enjoy and understand Danny’s road to enlightenment and understanding. Don’t we all want to fit in and try to be the perfect version of ourselves. The real goal: Can’t every LGBTQIA person live freely, openly, and honestly? Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group / Ballantine Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. Publication Date: May 10, 2022

First Time for Everything is the chaotic and joyful story of a man on the brink. Danny is not having a good time. This holds true for most of the book. From discovering his partner hasn’t been monogamous (as he assumed), a brush with illness, and desperately needing a new housing situation- Danny is about to implode. He may make it through, but only with the help of his best friend Jacob, their flatmates, and a new therapist.

This is a book with a breakneck pace, not in terms of plot, but humor and dialogue. So much of it is blink and you’ll miss it! I do see the comparison to Bridget Jones, though this led me to believe there would be more of a focus on romance. And there is, but Danny primarily goes on a journey of self-acceptance towards himself and identifying as a gay man. I loved the wisdom laced through pages, about the work queer people must do to acknowledge their trauma and in many cases their privilege.

First Time for Everything is a book that pulls no punches, yet successfully balances heavy content with lots of tongue-in-cheek humor. I would recommend this for readers who enjoy lots of witty banter, found family, and fabulous LGBTQ+ characters. And of course, Dolly Parton fans. First Time for Everything releases on May 10, 2022. Thank you to Henry Fry, Ballantine Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

This book was like a rollercoaster. By rollercoaster, I think I mean this threw me clear out of my comfort zone. I have never read anything like this. Most of the time I couldn’t decide if I liked or hated it. It is a bit chunky and took me some time to get through, but there are some golden moments throughout this book. There were also a handful of times that I almost called it quits (content warnings/ heavy material).

Danny’s life is really really rough through most of this book. My eyes were wide in shock a lot. The more I thought about it though, I realized a lot of Danny’s problem where probably pretty common for a lot of people. This book was an eye opener into the LGBTQ+ community and actually shoved my privilege into the light. Way uncomfortable, but in a good way. Probably in a necessary way.

I think there are a lot of points in this that everyone can benefit learning from.

ALWAYS check content warnings.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this digital ARC.

"The massive task of our lives as queer people is to unpick the parts of ourselves that are truly us and the parts we've created to protect ourselves." This is the essential message of First Time for Everything, as we watch Danny Scudd lose his home and his boyfriend, and embark on a wild journey of self-discovery and acceptance. It's laugh out loud funny and heartwarming, and filled with zany characters and crazy situations (think very queer version of Bridget Jones' Diary). And Dolly. Lots and lots of Dolly! Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the advance digital copy.

I wanted to love this book, but I couldn't quite get into it. Of all the characters we're introduced to, I was ambivalent toward Danny and kind of liked Jacob-- and hated all the rest. I couldn't connect with the humor; a lot of it left me either confused or uncomfortable.
While I understand why homophobic comments and misgendering (I'll come back to this one in a bit) were included, there was such a sheer amount of it all in the beginning that I felt alienated from this book. If it were peppered in, or only coming from people who it's clear we're meant to hate, it would be one thing, but it was so pervasive that I felt like I, as the reader, was supposed to be siding with, or at least understanding of, some of the homophobic positions.
I also took issue with *how* Danny approached people using gendered pronouns for Jacob-- twice, in the first few chapters, Danny tells us in the narration that Jacob is actually okay with pronouns other than they/them, including he/him, but whenever people use he/him for Jacob, Danny turns it into an argument-- which WOULD be great, except that we've been told Jacob doesn't actually mind, so it seems like it's coming more from a place of wanting to be combative rather than actually supporting his best friend. But also-- having Danny's beloved parents AND best friend Laura misgender Jacob, a character who wasn't even present, in the first few chapters (which, we're led to believe it both is and isn't misgendering in a way that I think was meant to be clear but really wasn't at all to me) was overwhelming and felt like too much.
Overall, First Time for Everything just wasn't a good fit for me, and I ended up DNFing it a bit less than halfway through.

Cute and funny novel about a gay man in his late 20s having to deal with the aftermath of the life he’s been living getting turned upside down. Lots of queer rep with sexuality as well as gender.

Rounded to 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

CONTENT WARNING: gay slurs, panic attack, blood, bullying, drug use

I’m not sure why I didn’t think this book was be as serious as it was, but I did. Even though the summary mentions that Danny has issues with her significant other not being monogamous as he thought, having to find a new home to live in, and learning to accept himself and his sexuality. And while it was a lot heavier than I had originally expected, I found myself quickly absorbed in Danny’s story. It didn’t hurt that there are some funny parts, as well as some parts that were so painful as to be uncomfortable to read about—it’s never easy to see someone’s life explode before you on the page.

Danny himself is a total pushover. He deals with anxiety and panic attacks, which are described in incredible detail. And when he’s offered new housing, it comes with a caveat—he has to agree to attend therapy with an LGBTQ-friendly therapist. I loved how mental health and therapy are placed at the forefront of the story as Danny works to sort out his issues and discover who he really is.

The author takes us on a hilarious, uncomfortable, painful, and ultimately uplifting journey through Danny’s life, as he starts realizing things that need to change, and then working on them, not always with ideal results. But it also talks about homophobia, internalized homophobia, bullying, painful relationships, the value of supportive friends and family, and self-love.

In short, I enjoyed much of this story. It was sometimes difficult to read, but I feel like I finished with a greater understanding of what this one man and many gay men go through in their own journey through life and acceptance, both internal and external. I enjoyed seeing Danny’s relationships grow and change, and realizing where he was wrong and needed to change. He’s exposed to a wide range of diverse people, and seeing how LGBTQ people struggle in ways that are both similar and different to his own experiences. He winds up moving in with a quirky and fun group of people, who are gay, transgender, non-binary, and of different backgrounds from his own. All of the side characters are beautifully rendered, and I especially appreciated how therapy done right is portrayed, especially since often therapists are portrayed inaccurately and negatively. I’m definitely going to be keeping an eye out for more work by Henry Fry.

I tried to give this book a chance and was so intrigued by the synopsis, but for me it dragged and I DNF it at 43%. I didn’t connect with the characters. I also did not like the explicit content, especially in the first few pages. I liked the writing style but in the end it was just not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 out of 5 rounded down to 3!

First Time for Everything by Henry Fry is a book that surprised me over and over again! I found myself laughing along with the best friends Danny and Jacob, relating to Danny's anxiety and experiences after first time therapy and felt sympathy with the constant blows he experiences throughout the story. It is a story with complex gender identities, endearing characters and friendships and I definitely recommend for any member of the LGBTQ+ community and anyone who would like to understand the complexities of people. It is a truly eye opening and relatable read!

I will say that one of the hardest parts of reading the story was the references and slang terms used constantly. Not to say that it isn't realistic! I have certainly know people like the characters in the story! But it definitely takes from the experience of reading and makes it a little confusing to keep up. But I feel that while it made it hard to read, it did not take from the overall story and I was still able to empathize with the characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this arc!

okay here’s my last read/review of march and YALL! whoa 🤯

@henry__fry YOU ARE MY HERO

i received an arc through netgalley and, i gotta say, i was a little reluctant to read it because i just haven’t seen ANYTHING about this book. but i saw it was gay so i went right in. and boyyyyyy did i get more than i bargained for. it wasn’t just gay, it was the most inclusive queer represented book that i’ve read in a reallyyyy long time. like, think about all the queers in One Last Stop and double, no, triple it. IT. WAS. EVERYTHING!

the mental health rep and the journey of the MC’s mental state throughout the entire book was, just, GAH! it was so good! his character arc, his journey of self discovery and self worth, his relationships with his family and friends and partners, his growth in style etc etc etc it was all so amazing well done. like i’ve never, let me repeat, NEVER related to an MC more than i did with danny in this damn book. IT WAS BRILLIANT!

there’s only one tiny, tiny thing i would have liked to see. i feel like the MC was on the asexual spectrum and i really wish that was explored more as it had a lot to do with his journey. i could be wrong but it made sense for him, i think.

i adored this book from start to end! and you can ask one of my bookish besties @reneesbookclub because i kept sending her all the quotes! THIS BOOK WAS MF HILARIOUS!! and deep, and thought provoking, and inspiring, and and and! it’s the most relatable queer book with everything under the rainbow, including bipoc rep as well.

i loved it i loved it i loved it

First Time For Everything by Henry Fry is raw, achingly honest adult fiction about a gay man whose life gets broken to shambles, who now decides to slowly build the life he was always too scared to live. It’s like a coming of age story in one’s twenties to one’s true authentic adult self.
This novel is about discovering oneself & the complicatied evoling of friendships & relationships. It’s also about uncovering what you’re worth, what you believe in & how you want to live your life. It touches on social justice. This book acknowledges the fact that black trans pioneers have been the force of many movements for freedom & justice. It briefly talks about capitalism & politics as the main character is a journalist covering & being apart of protests.
The book showcases the extent to which queer people have to act & live in order for straight people to feel comfortable. It displays the relentless exhaustion that comes from being someone that unfortunately not everyone accepts. It’s heartbreaking & stomach-sickening for anyone to not be able to feel comfortable in their own skin & for other people to not accept them as they are.
This book offers you a front seat to view the complexities & struggles of someone in their twenties that’s finally fully exploring who they are, who they want to be & how their life should be, along with everything that entails. It’s messy. It’s deep. It feels personal & it’s flattering to be able to join this story.
As with most young people, there’s mistakes that can be frustrating, but as with life I think if you’re paying attention, they can also be valuable lessons:
I loved the author’s writing style & all the pop culture references. I wished it was a tad shorter but that could be my ADHD talking. I did appreciate that they openly talked about mental health struggles along with the use of therapy & coping techniques to help.
From the wonderful words of the fabulous Dolly Parton, “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” First Time For Everything by Henry has lots of it all, the rain, the rainbows & of course, queen Dolly Parton.
First Time For Everything comes out May 10, 2022!

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Ballantine Books for giving me the opportunity to read an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely soul at Ballantine Books pre-approved me for this & this was the book I didn’t know I needed, but they somehow did & for that, I say thank you.

Extra things I loved:
-I loved the show Nurse Jackie & thought they had such a clever reference.
-Xoxo Gossip Gay was amazing.

Trigger warnings: This book mentions &/or contains homophobia, sex, racism, mental health struggles & drugs.

I will add links once I post this to my socials within the next week & then post on Amazon after it’s released.

I really wanted to like this book. I thought the concept was interesting, but I had to dnf it. I usually don’t dnf books but I was 10% in and felt like i was having to drag myself through the mud to get to the next chapter. I’m sure this is someone’s book, but for sure not mine.

I really wanted to love this book, but the protagonist was so frustrating it distracted me from the story. The real star here is Jay, an incredible non-binary artist who I wish were my best friend!

This is a wonderful coming of age story about Danny that broke my heart and made laugh at the same time. It is a powerful story with important subject matter and most definitely a book that needs to be out in the universe. This book challenged me as a reader and was a great educational experience on pronouns. While I enjoyed the story, I am not the target audience for this book and within the intended target audience this book is going to be a smash hit.

This was a good coming of age/ figuring out who you are book. I enjoyed Danny, and his journey throughout this story. The characters in this book are so well created. They feel so real, and I think the author did a great job of rounding out imperfections with positive aspects to create someone so true-to-life.

This book has great representation and a wonderful view of how people struggle to figure out life.

3.5 rounded to 4 stars

OK, let’s get the criticism over with first. I deducted 1.5 stars as I am too old and too far across the pond to understand all the British slang and pop culture thrown about in this book. I sure wish I had as I bet there was a lot of fun stuff I missed. It was frustrating. Most of this was in the first half of the book.

Now for the good stuff. This book offers a wonderful protagonist (and best friend), lots of feels, and a big dose of wisdom. Many reviewers have commented that the ideal reader is a young person trying to find their way. I agree 100% with that, but I also have to say this old and out lesbian also loved and appreciated this book.

Danny Scudd is a gay 27-year-old creative content editor for a London culture app. His best friend is Jacob, a mixed-race, nonbinary, flamboyant ace of a guy. Danny’s “boring” life hits the skids when he loses his home and his boyfriend and runs into difficulties at work. Having an anxiety order to begin with, this is not at all good. Basically, Danny is lost.

This book seems real. It is raw and heartrending but ultimately enlightening and gratifying. Interpersonal relationships and finding oneself is at the crux. My favorite parts were the therapy sessions with Nina. What a kind and perceptive woman. I think despite her fictionality, Nina could jump-start the betterment of life for many young readers who feel themselves to be “different.” I also liked the humor (though, again, I probably missed a good portion of it with my unfamiliarity of the culture). Even more so, I really appreciated the depth of understanding the author has for human personality. I wonder if he has a background in psychology?

Overall, I really liked this debut novel, and it was an easy decision to round up to 4 stars. If I were privy to all the British references, it could have been 5 stars for me. I highly recommend it to anyone struggling to figure out how to fit in yet still be themselves and for all who have an interest in human psychology.

I would like to thank Net Galley, Ballantine Books (Kathleen Quinlan), and Henry Fry for the gift of an ARC. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

I am very grateful I was given the opportunity to read this book as an Advanced Reader Copy.

I have made an effort to read more LGTBQ+ novels and this was a perfect read to fit into that space. The main character Danny Scuds is cringeworthy and a doormat the first quarter of the book. Thankfully, you see him work through traumas of his past and discover who he really is. Unfortunately, we don’t see that Danny until the very end of the book.

It was challenging for me to keep up and understand some of the vernacular used in the book. I also had trouble following some of the characters and side stories. Being that I believe this story is more so about the journey then the end point, I can appreciate why the’ newly discovered Danny is so briefly seen at the end.

I think this was well-written. I believe this will be a very loved novel for some people. I am thankful I was able to read it.

This book was absolutely perfect. Danny, a 27 year old gay man, is down on his luck and learning to be true to himself. Learning to process past issues with new issues and becoming the version of himself he is proud of, this book has something for everyone. Laugh out loud funny at times, I loved every page of this book. Not to mention, I loved every single Dolly Parton reference! Henry Fry’s first novel is truly a masterpiece and it makes me incredibly excited to see what he writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and the author for an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.