K.L. Walther returns to the YA romance scene with A First Time for Everything, a coming-of-age tale that promises to explore the awkward, exhilarating territory of first dates, first kisses, and finding your place in a changing family dynamic. After the success of The Summer of Broken Rules and What Happens After Midnight, Walther attempts to capture lightning in a bottle once more—with mixed but ultimately charming results.
At its heart, this is Madeline “Mads” Fisher-Michaels’s story—a seventeen-year-old who discovers that being the perfect younger sister doesn’t necessarily prepare you for the messy realities of growing up. When her beloved older brother Austin gets engaged without including the family in his Parisian proposal, Mads finds herself thrust into the unfamiliar role of bridesmaid to Katie, a future sister-in-law she barely tolerates.
Character Development That Hits and Misses
Mads: A Protagonist Worth Rooting For
Walther’s greatest strength lies in creating Mads as a genuinely relatable protagonist. Unlike many YA heroines who seem to stumble into romance effortlessly, Mads feels authentically seventeen—complete with the self-doubt, family loyalty, and social awkwardness that comes with the territory. Her voice crackles with wit and vulnerability, particularly when she’s forced to admit during a bridesmaid sleepover that she’s never been kissed or even on a proper date.
The author excels at showing Mads’s growth through her relationships rather than telling us about it. Her evolution from someone who defines herself primarily as “Austin’s sister” to a young woman discovering her own romantic agency feels organic and earned. Walther particularly shines in depicting Mads’s internal monologue, capturing that uniquely teenage ability to overthink every interaction while missing obvious signals.
The Supporting Cast: A Mixed Ensemble
The supporting characters present a more uneven picture. Connor McCallister, the boy-next-door love interest, serves his purpose but occasionally feels more like a plot device than a fully realized character. His relationship with Mads works best in the quieter moments—their easy banter and shared history provide the book’s most genuine emotional beats. However, when the story demands romantic tension, Connor sometimes falls flat, lacking the complexity needed to make readers truly invested in their potential romance.
Marco Álvarez emerges as the book’s most intriguing character development. Walther does excellent work transforming him from what could have been a typical “reformed popular guy” trope into someone with genuine depth. His transition from high school soccer star to Princeton intellectual feels authentic, and his growing friendship with Mads crackles with the kind of chemistry that keeps readers turning pages.
The bridesmaid ensemble provides solid comic relief and sisterly support, though they occasionally blur together despite Walther’s efforts to give each a distinct personality. Katie, Austin’s fiancée, represents perhaps the book’s most ambitious character arc—her journey from seemingly cold and controlling to vulnerable and misunderstood provides some of the novel’s strongest emotional moments.
Plot Structure: Familiar Formula with Fresh Execution
The Dating Game Setup
Walther wisely doesn’t reinvent the wheel with her central premise. The “find a date for the wedding” setup provides a perfect framework for exploring first relationships, and the author makes the most of it. The series of disastrous dates that follow Mads’s admission about her romantic inexperience range from genuinely funny to cringe-worthy in the best possible way.
What elevates these scenes beyond typical YA romance fare is Walther’s attention to the small details that make dating feel real. The awkward silences, the misread signals, the internal panic when conversations stall—these moments ring true because they’re specific rather than generic. The author clearly understands that the best romantic comedy comes from character-driven humor rather than manufactured situations.
Pacing Challenges and Seasonal Structure
The novel’s seasonal structure (Winter-Spring-Summer-Autumn-Winter) provides a satisfying framework, but the pacing occasionally suffers under the weight of its extended timeline. Some sections, particularly in the middle portion, feel padded with scenes that don’t advance either plot or character development significantly. The field hockey subplot, while adding dimension to Mads’s character, sometimes feels disconnected from the main romantic storyline.
However, Walther demonstrates real skill in building toward her climactic moments. The wedding sequence that anchors the final act brings together all the novel’s threads—family dynamics, romantic tension, and personal growth—in a way that feels both inevitable and surprising.
Writing Style: Warm Familiarity with Room for Growth
Dialogue That Sparkles
Walther’s greatest strength as a writer lies in her dialogue. Characters speak with distinct voices, and their conversations feel natural rather than forced. The banter between Mads and her two dads (Lee and Harry) provides some of the book’s warmest moments, showcasing a family dynamic that feels lived-in and authentic. The author has a particular gift for capturing the way teenagers actually talk to each other—complete with interruptions, tangents, and the casual cruelty that can emerge even among friends.
The romantic dialogue works especially well when Walther allows her characters to be themselves rather than forcing them into traditional romantic roles. Mads’s interactions with Marco feel effortless because they’re grounded in genuine friendship and mutual respect. These scenes demonstrate the author’s understanding that the best romantic tension often emerges from characters who genuinely like each other as people.
Descriptive Writing: Effective but Inconsistent
While Walther excels at dialogue, her descriptive writing presents a more mixed picture. She has a strong sense of place—the Fisher-Michaels family home feels like a real location where real people live, complete with two misbehaving dogs and parents who actually parent. The seasonal changes that frame the story are well-observed, particularly the autumn wedding preparations that provide the book’s emotional climax.
However, some passages feel overwrought, particularly when describing romantic moments or internal emotional states. The author occasionally falls into the trap of telling readers how to feel rather than trusting them to understand the characters’ emotions through action and dialogue.
Thematic Depth: Beyond the Romance
Family Dynamics That Feel Real
One of the novel’s strongest elements is its portrayal of family relationships. The Fisher-Michaels family feels genuinely loving without being unrealistically perfect. Mads’s relationship with her brother Austin provides the book’s emotional anchor—their easy affection and shared history make his engagement feel like a real threat to her sense of identity.
Walther does particularly strong work exploring how families change when new members join. Katie’s arc from outsider to family member feels earned rather than forced, and the author avoids the easy path of making her simply misunderstood. Instead, she’s shown to be both genuinely difficult and genuinely vulnerable—a much more interesting character choice.
Coming-of-Age with Complexity
The theme of first experiences—first dates, first kisses, first heartbreaks—could easily become saccharine in less skilled hands. Walther manages to keep these moments feeling fresh by grounding them in specific character details rather than generic teenage experiences. Mads’s anxiety about her lack of romantic experience feels real because it’s tied to her specific family situation and personality rather than being a generic teen insecurity.
In A First Time for Everything, the author also does solid work exploring the pressure to have experiences before you’re ready for them. Mads’s journey toward romantic readiness feels organic rather than rushed, and Walther wisely avoids the temptation to have her character completely transformed by her first relationship.
Critical Analysis: What Works and What Doesn’t
Strengths That Elevate the Material
- Authentic Family Relationships: Walther’s portrayal of the Fisher-Michaels family stands out in a genre often populated by absent or dysfunctional parents. These feel like real people who love each other despite their flaws.
- Genuine Character Growth: Mads’s development from insecure sister to confident young woman feels earned rather than handed to her by the plot.
- Fresh Take on Familiar Tropes: While the basic setup isn’t original, Walther finds ways to make standard YA romance elements feel fresh through specific character details and authentic emotional stakes.
- Strong Sense of Place and Time: The seasonal structure works well, and the various settings—from Stone Harbor beach houses to Princeton eating clubs—feel researched and authentic.
Areas for Improvement
- Pacing Inconsistencies: “A First Time for Everything” occasionally feels too long, with some subplots (particularly around field hockey recruiting) feeling disconnected from the main narrative thrust.
- Secondary Character Development: While the main characters are well-developed, some of the supporting cast members feel underdeveloped, existing primarily to serve plot functions rather than feeling like real people.
- Predictable Plot Points: Despite Walther’s skill with character development, many of the major plot developments can be seen coming from early in the novel, reducing dramatic tension.
- Inconsistent Tone: “A First Time for Everything” occasionally struggles to balance its lighter romantic comedy elements with more serious themes about family and identity, leading to some tonal whiplash.
Comparison to Walther’s Previous Work
Readers familiar with Walther’s previous novels will find familiar themes and writing style in A First Time for Everything. Like The Summer of Broken Rules, this novel excels at portraying complex family dynamics and the ways major life events can disrupt established relationships. The author’s gift for dialogue and character development, evident in What Happens After Midnight, continues to serve her well here.
However, “A First Time for Everything” feels less focused than some of Walther’s previous work. While The Summer of Broken Rules benefited from its concentrated timeline and single-location setting, A First Time for Everything sometimes feels sprawling, with multiple subplots competing for attention. The seasonal structure, while providing a satisfying framework, doesn’t quite provide the narrative momentum of Walther’s previous novels.
The Romance Factor: Love Triangles Done Right
Multiple Love Interests with Purpose
Walther deserves credit for creating love interests who feel like real people rather than romantic archetypes. Connor’s role as the childhood friend provides genuine emotional stakes—readers understand why Mads would be drawn to him while also recognizing the obstacles to their romantic connection. The author avoids the trap of making him perfect, instead showing how familiarity can sometimes work against romantic tension.
Marco’s presence as a potential love interest works because it’s grounded in genuine friendship and intellectual connection. Their relationship develops naturally through shared experiences and conversations rather than being forced by plot convenience. Walther shows real skill in building romantic tension through small moments—shared glances, meaningful silences, casual touches that linger just a bit too long.
Realistic Romantic Development
Perhaps most importantly, Walther avoids the common YA romance pitfall of having her protagonist fall instantly and completely in love. Mads’s romantic journey feels authentic because it’s messy, uncertain, and tied to her overall personal growth rather than existing in isolation.
The author also deserves credit for showing that not every romantic relationship needs to work out. Mads’s brief relationship with Connor provides important character development while avoiding the suggestion that childhood friends are automatically destined for romance.
Final Assessment: A Solid Addition to the YA Romance Canon
A First Time for Everything succeeds more often than it stumbles, providing readers with a warm, engaging story about family, friendship, and first love. While it doesn’t break significant new ground in the YA romance genre, it executes familiar elements with enough skill and heart to make the journey worthwhile.
Walther’s greatest achievement here is creating characters who feel like real people dealing with recognizable problems. Mads’s journey toward romantic readiness parallels her growth as a family member and individual, providing thematic coherence that elevates the material beyond simple wish fulfillment.
The novel’s flaws—pacing issues, predictable plot points, occasional tonal inconsistencies—are real but don’t significantly detract from its overall effectiveness. Readers looking for a comfort read that combines humor, heart, and genuine emotional stakes will find much to enjoy here.
Recommendations for Similar Reads
Readers who enjoy A First Time for Everything might also appreciate:
- “Eleanor & Park” by Rainbow Rowell – For similar authentic teenage voices and romantic development
- “The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han – For family dynamics and seasonal romance structure
- “What’s Not to Love” by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka – For college-aged romantic complexity
- “Beach Read” by Emily Henry – For witty dialogue and character-driven romance
- “The Unhoneymooners” by Christina Lauren – For family wedding drama with romantic complications
- Walther’s own “The Summer of Broken Rules” – For more of the author’s signature family-centered storytelling
Bottom Line
K.L. Walther delivers a charming, if occasionally uneven, exploration of first love and family dynamics that will satisfy fans of contemporary YA romance. While A First Time for Everything doesn’t reinvent the genre, it executes its familiar elements with enough warmth, wit, and emotional authenticity to make it a worthwhile addition to any romance reader’s library. At its best, the novel captures the universal experience of growing up and discovering who you are when the people you love most begin to change—a theme that resonates far beyond its target demographic.
