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First Time for Everything
Henry Fry
400 pages | Published by Ballantine Books
Danny is living in London but it's not the life he's always imagined. His boyfriend doesn't seem to actually like him, he works for a less than reputable online culture website, and now his roommates are asking that he move out soon, please. As his life seemingly implodes, Danny moves in with his best friend Jacob and their eccentric roommates. Danny starts the process of unpacking why he's so unhappy, and in trying find Danny 2.0 his friends worry he may be overcorrecting a bit.
Henry Fry really nailed the ending with this - over the course of the book Danny becomes SO unlikeable I was beginning to worry that the book was going to reveal that Danny's true self was just a horrible and self-centered person. It was interesting to see Danny dig himself into a hole and then work his way back out again.
Obviously since I'm me I loved the found family here. The Centerfold was home to some of the coolest and weirdest and most loving characters I've read. I particularly loved Melania and how quick she seems to take people under her wing.
This book really gets into the ways different people deal with judgment and shame. Danny and Jacob had this incredible friendship but were complete opposites in how they chose to guard themselves - Danny choosing to become invisible while Jacob leaned into being the center of attention.
I'd say that even though this book isn't Young Adult it is fairly PG and hopefully will be an amazing story that young queer people will find relatable.
Thanks to NetGalley & Ballantine Books for the advanced e-book!
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