As always, I love Walther's character and the presence they have on the page. There were a few storylines that I did not feel added to the story in a positive way (if you know you know) but I had an overall fun time reading this book.

A First Time for Everything by K. L. Walther is a delightfully sweet and genuinely uplifting rom-com that shines from beginning to end. Walther captures the thrill and vulnerability of life’s “firsts”—from falling in love to chasing new dreams—with warmth and charm. The main characters feel real and easy to root for, their connection full of spark, playful banter, and heartfelt moments that truly resonate. Lighthearted yet full of heart, this is the kind of feel-good read that leaves you grinning and reminded that stepping into the unknown can lead to exactly the place you belong.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

I loved this book! A First Time for Everything was such a fun, heartwarming read. The characters felt real, the romance was sweet, and it gave me all the summer nostalgia vibes. It was a perfect mix of light and meaningful—definitely recommend if you’re in the mood for a cozy YA rom-com! 💕
As somebody who prefers YA rom-coms, this was perfect!

Obsessed with this book and these characters. Like with every fiber of my being. Mads, Connor, and Marco. I love them. The chemistry, the confusion, the love, the friendship, the loyalty, the drama. Here for it all.

But I must say Marco had my heart. And his family owns restaurants? Way to my heart.

Mads family (yes, Katie too) can they like adopt me?? Seriously. And they get to live on a farm?? Jealous.

K L Walther continuing to be up there on my favorite author list. And most recommended author to the kids in my HS library. Yes. Most definitely already on the shelf.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

Thank you Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC! K.L. Walther was one of the authors who got me into reading, so receiving this arc was so emotional for me. I loved every bit of this book, the authors writing always makes me feel so happy when reading. I really connected to the characters and saw myself in them. They were so relatable to me. And I loved who Mads ended up with, they were perfect together!

Thank you Sourcebooks Fire for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

Some authors just excite you and that is KL Walther for me. I fell in love with her story The Summer of Broken RUles because it made me feel nostalgic for the YA books I read growing up while still being entertaining to read as an adult. I like that she writes teenagers as they are meant to be: messy, impulsive, and eye roll inducing. And the only reason I say that is because as an adult, we know so much more than teens so it is easy to roll your eyes at them, but they don’t deserve it. They deserve to be taken seriously and given the chance to grow and learn.

I loved getting to revisit some of the characters from that beloved book and meet new ones I equally love now. A great fall read as it spans an entire year as the main character’s brother prepares to get married!

Synopsis:

“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.”

What I Liked:

The Timeline—I love following a group of characters for a long time. It helps me get to know them and I like to see them through multiple seasons.

The Characters—I loved them all! Especially Dad and Da. And getting to see Meredith and Wit again! I loved how they grew up.

The Writing—It’s so fun and nostalgic and makes you want to keep reading.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

The Conflict between Mads and Katie—I like how it was resolved, but I struggled with it throughout the book. However, as a little sister, I did relate to Mads a lot.

If you’re not a Swiftie, you might cringe at some of the references…or not even know about them because they may be frequent but they’re not obvious. more IYKYK type I think.

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Overall Rating: 4/5

K.L. Walther is an auto-read for me, and I am always left with so many feelings once I have finished another book released by this author. This one was no different. I have worked through the collection of books released by Walther, and cannot wait until the next one!

Not as into the young adult romances anymore but this one had me hooked! I loved the pop up of the characters from the summer of broken rules and I will continue to read books by this author!

This was my second K.L. Walther book and I was fan-girling when I got approved for this eARC since I loved "The Summer of Broken Rules"! In the same fashion I found that I loved Madeline’s story. It's funny, sweet, and surprisingly moving. I loved watching her navigate messy family relationships, awkward firsts, and the possibility of love. It’s a charming coming-of-age romance that left me smiling the whole way through. Also the closed door aspect was a breathe of fresh air compared to some other romance books I've been reading. Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc (even after the release date....😬)

This is not a slight, but the young adult vibes are strong in this one. I opted to read this as an audiobook, and I found that worked really well for the YA energy as a "not young" adult reader. Madeline's world is changing. Her older brother is getting married. She hasn't exactly connected with his fiancee, Katie. At Katie's bachelorette, Katie's friends find out that Madeline doesn't have a lot of dating experience. So they decide to take her on as a special project, and as you can infer, things go from there. I loved the layers of this quest, and it was a fun journey, but all had some feels as Madeline explored different connections. There was also the added layer of wedding planning/stress/etc., as well as some other relationships. For actual young adults, this handles lots of complexities of relationships, and for not young adults, it's a good time, too. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the look at this June 2025 release!

K.L Walther does it again! I absolutely loved this book. It’s light hearted but profound! I had to get the printed copy because it was just too good!

KL Walther has done it again! I find her books extremely bingeable and fun. Mads was such a dynamic character who experienced many ups and downs. While I was interested in her romantic trajectory, I also loved that she was exploring new family dynamics and her growth as an individual character. The story of her dating through the summer was fun, and I was rooting for the relationship that she ended with!

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC!

I love K.L. Walther, and this book doesn't disappoint. A very enjoyable read, well-written and a perfect young adult romance to snuggle up with.

K. L. Walther’s A First Time for Everything is an absolute delight from start to finish! This book perfectly captures the excitement, awkwardness, and sweetness of new experiences and first loves. Walther’s writing is fresh, heartfelt, and filled with humor that had me laughing out loud one moment and swooning the next.

The characters are wonderfully developed and incredibly relatable, each with their own quirks and vulnerabilities that made me root for them wholeheartedly. The chemistry between the leads is electric and genuine, making their journey feel authentic and utterly captivating.

What I loved most about this story is how it balances lighthearted fun with meaningful moments of growth and self-discovery. It’s a beautifully told tale that celebrates stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing life’s unexpected adventures.

If you’re looking for a charming, feel-good read that will leave you with a smile on your face and warmth in your heart, A First Time for Everything is the perfect choice. K. L. Walther has crafted a truly memorable story that I’ll be recommending to everyone!

absolutely adored this, what a fun read !! madeline was such a sweet character and i loved reading about her dating mishaps and being a bridesmaid (which were part of the reason for said dating mishaps). the side characters also made this book stand out, they each were such a great addition to the story. and the romance !! i loved madeline and marco's dynamic, their scenes together were never enough.

overall, a very cute read for summer and i really enjoyed it !!

If you're looking for a new adult closed door romance this is a really good one. Madeline grows into a strong young lady and finds her way I'm life and love.

This book was so cute! While I love a good spicy romance, a cute YA romance is such a good palate cleanser. It was good, but didn’t keep me up thinking about it, which is something that I appreciate at times. This came at the perfect time!

I really enjoyed this novel.
It was emotional and also cute.
I will definitely be reading more from this author.

**A First Time for Everything** by K. L. Walther is an utterly charming and refreshingly heartfelt rom-com that sparkles from start to finish. With relatable characters navigating the awkward yet exhilarating world of firsts—be it love, career moves, or self-discovery—Walther delivers a playful and uplifting story that’s impossible not to root for. The chemistry between the leads is fun and electric, sprinkled with witty banter and genuine moments that hit right in the feels. It’s the perfect pick-me-up read that'll leave you smiling and believing that sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone leads you exactly where you’re meant to be.

This was a YA novel about Madeleine who I immediately disliked. She was being such a judgmental brat at the beginning. But she quickly grew on me and I enjoyed her character arc. Set in the background of her brother’s impending wedding, Madeline embarks on a quest to find a wedding date, trying to bond with her soon to be sister in law. I enjoyed this one!