First Time

By: Stella Starling

Narrated by: Michael Fell

Length: 4 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

It’s 2007, and no one is out at Hamilton High School....

...least of all Cody McPherson, the star quarterback everyone says is destined for the NFL; the boy who the entire school expects to see crowned Homecoming King in a few weeks.

Cody’s dad wants to see Cody start the professional football career he’s been grooming him for all his life. Cody’s friends all want him to hurry up and ask Jessica Edmonds to be his Homecoming date. Some days, it feels like everyone in the state of Ohio wants to chime in with an opinion about which college he should play for.

Just about the only one who doesn’t seem to want anything from Cody is Simon Andrews, the transfer student who’s been tutoring him in biology. Cody’s pretty sure he wants something from Simon, though. Not something he can ever admit to, of course. Not something he’d ever do anything about. And definitely not something he expects Simon to want, too.

It’s 2007, and Simon has no plans to come out any time soon....

...especially not before he graduates. Hamilton is the sixth school that Simon Andrews has attended during his high school career, and all he wants to do is keep his head down, his grades up, and make it through graduation without attracting any attention. Of course, that doesn’t mean there aren’t things at Hamilton that attract Simon’s attention.

Well, just one thing, really: Cody McPherson, the too-nice, too-hot, too-straight jock who Simon’s been crushing on - er, tutoring, ever since the start of the school year.

Simon has started looking forward to his study dates with Cody more than he should. He can’t imagine ever letting Cody know he’s interested. Not after he’s already experienced firsthand just how ugly coming out at the wrong time, to the wrong people, can be. Besides, Simon doesn’t expect to be at Hamilton for long enough to matter. Sure, his mother has promised that this time, she’ll hold down a job long enough for them to stick around, but Simon’s too smart to trust that either.

There’s a first time for everything though, and at Hamilton High School, there are going to be a lot of firsts.

First Time is a coming-of-age gay romance novella of approximately 34,000 words that contains an unruly set of butterflies who take up residence in Simon Andrews’ stomach, biology tutoring that comes with a heaping side of sizzling chemistry, a quarterback with two left feet, a first date with far too many participants, and two boys who are each terrified of coming out...right up until the moment that they finally manage to do it.

Every Stella Starling romance takes place in the same interconnected, contemporary world.

First Time is a prequel to Cody and Simon’s present-day love story, which will be told in the novel Second Chance.

©2018 Stella Starling (P)2019 Stella Starling

A good comfort read, but very little else

I read "The Boyfriend Game" by Stella Starling, but when I bought First Time, I didn't quite put it together that it was the same author. And if I'd known it was, I wouldn't have bought it. Not that I disliked The Boyfriend Game, it was just a little too unrealistic for me. I did like First Time, however, so I'm glad I bought it.

Cody and Simon are crushing on each other hard at the beginning of First Time, and being very obvious about it. From the very first chapter, however, the audience knows that all of Cody's friends already know about it and are working to get them together. Since Simon doesn't seem to have friends (he's new in school), this means that every character in the book is already ok with Cody and Simon having a relationship right from the start. Which is great--I actually think jocks and cheerleaders get a bad rap in fiction; most of the ones I know are perfectly nice people--but it doesn't really leave much room for any sort of conflict. There were a couple avenues I thought the book could go down to throw a couple obstacles in Cody and Simon's path, but Starling never quite gets around to actually doing it, so what we're left with is a novel that starts out with everyone relatively happy and they just keep getting happier throughout.

Which is good, if you're looking for a comfort read. But don't go into this expecting any complications or angst whatsoever. I don't particularly like huge amounts of angst but a little conflict would have been welcome. The book does say "A Second Chance Prequel" on the cover but there doesn't seem to be any more books in the series (maybe they're being written).

The book doesn't have a lot of sex in it until the final chapter which is quite explicit. Again, not a complaint.

Michael Fell does a great job as narrator.

There is no plot

This book is heavy on meaningless dialogue that never goes anywhere. The tedium will chase your attention away. Several minutes later, you’ll realize you have not been listening to the book, rewind, then realize you didn’t miss anything the first time. Listen to The Quarterback by Mackenzie Blair instead.

Boring

Both story and narration were boring. Can’t even get halfway. It just made me sleepy. Both did not capture any of my interest.

Michael's Terrific Job of So Sweet First-Time Love

Michael Fell did a terrific job with this wonderfully sweet story of first-time love between a high school football player and his tutor. I love how supportive the football player's friends were and how in love Cody and Simon are. Michael brought the story to life so skillfully that it made it so much fun to listen to! Recommended to anyone who enjoys sweet, hot love stories!

Great book

Perfect book for high school gays! Its a beautiful romance for high school sweethearts and their friends!

Not for me

I received an ARC of this audio for my honest review. I listened to a couple of chapters and stopped as it didn't catch my attention to want to finish it. This was my first book by this author. Not a fan of the narrator at all.

Sweet Story

This is a sweet story of Simon and Cody in high school who each have a lot to lose by coming out. Simon is tutoring Cody and although they are attracted to one another, they are each afraid to do anything about it. Some things are worth taking a risk for and I'm so glad that Simon and Cody could see that. I'm looking forward to reading their story, this was a prequel, to see how they turned out. The narrator did a great job with the characters and the story. I voluntarily reviewed a gifted copy of this audiobook.

Sweet high school romance

I was a little leery of a coming out in high school story. I’ve heard too many disastrous tales to know it always ends well. Or even sometimes. No one in my high school came out although later some did. Turns out my prom date was gay. I probably knew it but didn’t understand. Beyond my realm of experience.


That was the early 1990s. Have things gotten better? Today, perhaps, but 2007? I wasn’t holding out a lot of hope.

Simon is a young man who has been hurt a lot. Those tasked with caring for him haven’t done a great job. His mother tries, but consistency isn’t her strong suit and Simon’s in his sixth high school in four years. I moved twice and that was traumatic enough, but six schools? Almost too much to bear. He’s learned his lesson, though, and he has no intentions of making friends. Safer that way.

Cody is the quarterback in a football town. In a football state. Hell, in a football nation. The NFL is still the be-all and end-all for some many young men. For some, it’s a way out of poverty. For others, it’s all about the fame. For still others, like Cody, it’s about making people proud – people of the town, to be sure, but his father in particular. And if he were to disappoint everyone? Almost too much to bear.

I liked this story. I liked that both young men had plenty to lose but were still, in the end, willing to take the risk. I loved that they got support from the most unlikely of places. I was thrilled that the book had such a positive tone.

What I’m really excited about is seeing where this high school romance lands the two young men. The synopsis gives a few hints – this is a prequel novella and the book takes place ten years later. Part of me aches suspecting these two don’t spend those ten years together, but how realistic is that anyway? Sure some marry their high school sweethearts right out of school, but often people’s paths veer significantly from their intended goal. Does Simon get to study science at university? Does Cody make it all the way to the NFL? Needless to say, I’m looking forward to finding out.

I really enjoy Michael Fell’s narration of the story. These are two young men and Michael nails both characters really well. He did a great job and I hope if the next book gets narrated that he’s brought back. So if you’re looking for a coming of age story with some interesting twists and two great protagonists, this is your book.

Can't wait for the next.

Great! First time listening to narration by Michael Fell and am hooked. Even though this is a shorter listen it is full of everything you could need in a story. Cody and Simon are both dealing with their own insecurities and struggles with coming into your own. Fell represents them brilliantly, I really felt like I was there with them and watching their connection grow. Can't wait for the next.

Finding courage and acceptance

This was a sweet story about two teenagers who find the courage to be themselves and ultimately find acceptance in their circle of friends.
The plot is realistic with teenage emotions and challenges. The characters were well described and developed. I'm eager to see what happens to them in the future.

The narration was smooth and engaging. An enjoyable experience.