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Fulton U #1

The Perfect First

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“How long do you last in bed?” Those were her first words to me, swiftly followed up with, “And how big would you say you are?”

Persephone Alexander. Math genius. Lover of blazers. The only girl I know who can make Heidi braids look sexy as hell. And she’s on a mission. Lose her virginity by the end of the semester.

I walked in on her interview session for potential candidates (who even does that?) and saw straight through her brave front. She’s got a list of Firsts to accomplish like she’s only got months to live. I’ve decided to be her guide for all her firsts except one. Someone’s got to keep her out of trouble. I have one rule, no sex. We even shook on it.

I’ll help her find the right guy for the job. Someone like her doesn’t need someone like me and my massive...baggage for her first time.

Drinking at a bar. Check.

Partying all night. Double check.

Skinny dipping. Triple check.

She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. The walls I’d put up around my heart are slowly crumbling with each touch that sets fire to my soul.

I’m the first to bend the rules. One electrifying kiss changes everything and suddenly I don’t want to be her first, I want to be her only. But her plan was written before I came onto the scene and now I’m determined to get her to re-write her future with me.

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 25, 2019

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About the author

Maya Hughes

38 books6,244 followers
Maya Hughes is an Amazon Top 20 author of swoon worthy, laugh out loud, and emotional new adult and contemporary romances.

Add Maya's next releases to your Goodreads Shelf!

The Art of Falling For You (Falling, #1) by Maya Hughes The Sin of Kissing You (Falling #2) by Maya Hughes The Hate of Loving You (Falling, #3) by Maya Hughes

NEW AUDIO!
The Art of Falling For You (Falling, #1) by Maya Hughes The Sin of Kissing You (Falling #2) by Maya Hughes The Hate of Loving You (Falling, #3) by Maya Hughes
The Perfect First (Fulton U, #1) by Maya Hughes The Second We Met (Fulton U, #2) by Maya Hughes The Third Best Thing (Fulton U, #3) by Maya Hughes The Fourth Time Charm (Fulton U, #4) by Maya Hughes

RECENT RELEASES

The Perfect First (Fulton U, #1) by Maya Hughes The Second We Met (Fulton U, #2) by Maya Hughes The Third Best Thing (Fulton U, #3) by Maya Hughes The Fourth Time Charm (Fulton U, #4) by Maya Hughes

Shameless King (Kings of Rittenhouse #1) by Maya Hughes Reckless King (Kings of Rittenhouse, #2) by Maya Hughes Ruthless King (Kings of Rittenhouse, #3) by Maya Hughes Fearless King (Kings of Rittenhouse, #4) by Maya Hughes Heartless King (Kings of Rittenhouse, #5) by Maya Hughes

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,556 reviews
Profile Image for elena ❀.
336 reviews3,973 followers
August 1, 2021
“And I’d give it all up for you.”


There is nothing new and surprising about The Perfect First, but considering this is compared with the Off Campus series by Elle Kennedy, this was everything I wanted the that series to be. I found myself smiling from beginning to end, it felt like the romance developed nicely, I was able to feel the chemistry between the characters, and I adored the friendships and families.

Unlike my encounter with the Off Campus series, I appreciated how Reece and Seph started off as strangers, actually became friends, and slowly made their way up as a couple. While they would describe their first encounter as awkward, I like how, despite the fact that we weren't shown each and every second between them, we were told how they had developed as friends, which made their affections for one another more realistic. Not only that, but we also do see enough scenes about them hanging out. As I would see it, their relationship grew pleasantly—not very fast yet in addition not very slow either. They hung out, and a piece of that time was accustomed to becoming more acquainted with one another while others were used to check off a portion of Seph's list, which made me accept how their affections for one another developed. I also never found Reece to sexualize Seph in any way whatsoever, which is something that I felt all the Off Campus men did.

Adding on to that, I loved how respectful Reece was. What started off as confusion for why Seph plastered an ad to help her with her first became something he wanted to continue being a part of. I found him to be patient, caring, and overall a good man. His friendship with Seph was delightful and I liked how defensive he was. It was not full of possessiveness or jealousy but rather concern, and I loved how he defended Seph when she didn't understand the help she required. Examples include when her roommate, Alexa, is rude to Seph and she shrugs it off, pretending it’s not something that hurts her, but he reminds her how valid her feelings are. Another example is how he notices early on how abusive and problematic her father is. While he offers the choice of leaving with him, he doesn't drive her to settle on any choices and cause her to feel invalid for feeling the manner in which she does and protecting her dad.

Some may say she has a doormat personality as a result of how she didn't defend herself (like with her rude roommate and father), yet considering the controlling dad she has and how she had no socialization with her companions, there wasn't a lot to expect about her history. She's been accustomed to being told she's insufficient and isn't valued for what she's refined, continually being pushed to accomplish more and not have a say in her life. She obviously improved, which I was appreciative for. I liked to see how she wanted to take advantage of the time she had so she wouldn’t regret it later on. She saw how short life is and how tomorrow isn’t promised so she decided to take into consideration how many things she can do that she hasn’t. Her list can be inspiring in that reason, in how caught up we get in life that we don’t realize what we’re missing out on. Her innocence was additionally not the exhausting kind for me since it wasn't utilized as a benefit to Reece. I feel like virgins and heroines who are really innocent are taken advantage for that reason. Their emotions are played with and they’re used by others as a distraction. I liked how Reece didn’t do this with her because it showed he actually cared about her as a friend first and then as someone he started catching feelings for.

“Maybe it’s like that because people run into it headfirst. Just because it’s that way for a lot of women, it doesn’t mean you need to force it to be that for you. If you’re with the right person, it will be amazing.”


Adding on to that, I loved the friendship and family dynamics here. Reece’s friends accepted Seph like anyone into the group. There were never any mean or snarky comments about her or what she’s doing but instead, they treated they would treat any friend. Not only that but Reeces’s family was also a beautiful addition. The love his parents had was adorable, and I loved how they weren’t embarrassed or ashamed to show the world how in love they are. It makes me really happy when parents act this way, with no care of the worlds judgement because of how in love they are.

Overall, I throughly enjoyed this. My only quibble is the near end and how the common break up scene we see in many NA romances made its appearance. It felt superfluous and unreasonable, particularly due to how that choice came to be framed. We were tossed some back history of Reece that wasn't referenced once more, which I didn't completely mind, yet it was irritating how rapidly it occurred and how rapidly it was fixed. I realize this was written in 2019, yet I actually trust writers will quit adding that pointless separation. I’d rather read about some other type of drama, like more drama between Seph and her family, how Reece helped Seph stand up to her father, or anything else, really.

All things considered, this was quick and sweet, and it was everything I needed and more. After reading both angsty and messy reads recently (that I enjoyed and didn’t enjoy), this was a good break all of it. I’m planning on just binge reading the rest of the series because I can’t deny the fact that I really liked all of Reece’s friends, and knowing they get their own stories makes me all the more excited.

“No fair, Seph’s stealing bacon.” Berk’s chair skidded on the kitchen floor.
“Are you five?” Nix leaned against the counter with his mug in one hand, reading a folded newspaper.
“What are you, fifty? Who reads the paper anymore?”
Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].
2,573 reviews25.1k followers
April 18, 2019
The Perfect First is book one in the brand new Fulton U series by Maya Hughes. You know those books where by the end of the first chapter, you’re already in love with the characters? Well, that happened in this one. I couldn’t love these two more.

“This was going to be the year of perfect firsts.”



Persephone (Seph) Alexander is an eighteen year old mathematical prodigy. She is attending Fulton University for two years before entering a PHD program. She’ll be there an even shorter amount of time if her father gets his way. Seph spent her life under the rule of her domineering father and was home schooled. This time away from home was finally supposed to be her time to spread her wings, make friends. Only that wasn’t happening. Seph decides that if she really wants to experience life, experience her list of firsts that she has made, she’s going to have to take some drastic measures.

“I needed to get proactive. If I wanted to finally start living, I needed to jump-start my life.”



Reece Michaels grew up in a close knit family, knowing at an early age that football was his life. He is a senior at Fulton U and is a receiver for the football team. All he wants is to make the pros and he is so close. Scouts are at every game and this is the year that their team is going to make the championship. All his focus needs to be on his team. Except that a chance encounter in a coffee shop changes everything when he meets up with a cute girl taking interviews for the right man to take her virginity.

“I was tired of being nice and quiet and small. I was tired of being me, and the only way to change that was to stoop being afraid of what I wanted.”

Reece agrees to help Seph with her list of firsts, with one exception, no sex! But with every check mark off that list, Reece experiences life through Seph’s eyes, and falls a little more. Can he really stand the thought of someone else touching her, of being her first? Because he wants that man to be him, only he doesn’t just want to be her first, he wants to be her only.

“She’d gotten so fully and completely under my skin, I didn’t know how I’d existed before I met her.”



These two were adorable. I fell so in love with Seph. She was the bravest girl I have ever known. She thought she was weak but she really was so strong. And I loved the way she experienced the things Reece introduced her to. The simplest things gave her so much joy.

sweet couple

But both of these characters have outside issues that needed to be dealt with. Their time together had an expiration date. Reece was moving on to a pro career after graduation and Seph was supposed to move on to a PHD program. So that just made them cherish their time together more. Because that’s all they had, right?!

you are enough

I loved everything about this book. I especially loved all of Reece’s friends and the way they took Seph in to their fold and gave her their friendship, showing her something she’d never before had. This book was fun, sweet, and sexy. The angst level was pretty low but there are going to be some characters that you aren’t going to like. I can’t wait for the next book in this series, The Second We Met, which will be Reece’s friend Nix’s story. Until then, I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

For more about this book and so many more, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/44036...

Profile Image for aly ☆彡.
370 reviews1,553 followers
February 2, 2024
I find this book a bit lacking, probably in terms of plot development because the shift to solely romance felt sudden (not that I am complaining) but it is still enjoyable and adorable.

I actually kind of like them better than Hannah and Garret (I know, it's hard not to compare this to the Off-Campus series) but the second half (the part where they're together) didn't win me as much :( I love the chase and the pining part more eheks.

Also, I kind of love Nix so, pretty excited for his book 👀

Full RTC
Profile Image for Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾.
2,120 reviews13.1k followers
April 23, 2019
4.5 STARS
I’d give her the other firsts, as many as I could, because if I gave her too much, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from never wanting to stop.


Calling all New Adult Romance fans, because The Perfect First is an absolute must read. It was a swoony, quirky, steamy, funny and utterly endearing page-turner. I devoured this. I binge read it. I couldn't put it down for even a minute.

I've read my fair share of New Adult romance and some of these stories are a dime a dozen. But this was not one of those stories! There was this uniqueness to this book that just resonated with me. It made it into one of those books that I won't be forgetting any time soon.

Shy virgin meets sexy college football superstar? Yes, please. But this book was so much more than that! I think what really made the story for me was Seph. On paper, she's not a heroine that I gravitate towards. She's a shy and totally sheltered genius. She has no friends because she has no idea how to handle social situations. She's never so much as been exposed to them outside of school mixers with older professors and tutors. But she's not the quirky introvert that I was expecting. Her father is a domineering tyrant that expects nothing short of extraordinary from her and it's been a weight on her shoulders for her entire life. Being away from home and in college, she's determined to have all of the firsts that she's missed out on her entire life, even if she has to take an ad out for the perfect first to take her virginity.

Reece doesn't answer her ad. He has no shortage of willing females on campus being the football superstar that he is. But when he inadvertently stumbles on Seph's "interview session" he can't help but be intrigued by the girl. What starts as an unlikely friendship soon begins to develop into something neither one of them were expecting.

I can't tell you enough just how much I loved Seph's character. There was this sweet and naive quality to her. It was so entertaining to see her grow into herself with each new experience she has with Reece. Until she finally grows into someone that stands up for what she wants. I loved watching her become more and more comfortable in her own skin. I loved the way her friendship with Reece slowly develops into that something more. I seriously couldn't get enough of the two of them together.

The Perfect First was simply delicious! I'm talking finger-licking good sort of NA and I'm beyond excited for this brand new series. Every secondary character that's been introduced already has my full attention and all of the grabby hands. I need LJ and Nix's books like YESTERDAY. If you're a fan of fun and quirky NA with plenty of steam, unique characters, and a romance that you will root for from begging to finish, The Perfect First is NOT TO BE MISSED!

ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review

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Profile Image for Christy.
4,081 reviews34.6k followers
September 5, 2021
4.25 stars

Oh my gosh… this book was so fun but also had a bit of emotion. I haven’t read anything by this author before but now I want to binge all the other Fulton U books!

Persephone isn’t your average eighteen year old girl. She’s super intelligent, but hasn’t lived a normal teenage life. She’s almost done with her college experience and she wants to live a little, so she has a list of ‘firsts’ she wants to do.
“This was going to be the year of perfect firsts.”

Reece is the star of Fulton U’s football team and is headed to the draft after this year. He’s focusing on football and nothing else this year. Until he meets Seph. He knows helping her with this list could be trouble, but he can’t stand the thought of someone else doing it so he does.

I could see the writing on the wall with these two and yeah, it was a bit predictable but I didn’t even care. These two were the most adorable! I loved their story. It made me laugh so hard and gave me so many feels! I loved both of these characters and I especially loved seeing Seph stand up for herself.

This was a great new adult/sports romance and I can’t wait to read the others from this series! Reece’s friends seem like a hoot and I’m sure their books will be great as well.
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 4.25 stars
Narrators: Jason Clarke and Emma Wilder
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance (NA)
Length: 8h 48m

Profile Image for Drey.
167 reviews989 followers
November 24, 2020
"Sometimes memories are all we have, and there’s no amount of money in the world that can get those back.”

There's something in this book that made me loved it right from the very start. It's because it made me elated the entire pages or because Reece and Seph's relationship made me giddy? Whichever reason is it, all that matters is this book captured my heart.

Seph is unbelievably good as a heroine. She is a resemblance of brilliant, alluring, compassionate and naivety.

“Okay, this might seem a little invasive.” I cleared my throat again. “But how big is your penis? Length is fine. I don’t need to know the circumference, you know—the girth.”

Reece is painstakingly beautiful inside out. He aspired to be a part of NFL, which his dad also played. But this gradually changed when Seph entered his life. He soon realizes that there is more to the boundaries of football.

"A pro career lasted however long it took for my body to fail, but her love…that was forever."

Overall, this book is engrossing. It only takes one chapter to fully captured my attention and never stop reading. This book is a must read!

“There wouldn’t be a day that went by without you that I wouldn’t feel that never-ending sense of loss, knowing I gave up something I could never get back, knowing I sacrificed being with the person I love for fame and glory to strangers who could never mean as much to me as you do.”
Profile Image for Syndi.
3,133 reviews910 followers
November 1, 2020
I never thought this book could be very entertaining. From the blurp I thought it is about rom com. For NA audience. And it is delivers more than rom com.

It is a very sweet story between a football player and a genius geeky heroine. They first met is a meet cute scenario. It stars with an advertisement and morphs into a love story. The jokes, the college wild adventure is surreal.

I enjoy listening to the audiobook very much. So much that I just sat on my cubicle listening to this audiobook without doing ny work done. It is that worth it.

4 stars
Profile Image for Sabrina.
3,592 reviews2,289 followers
April 25, 2019
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK



The Perfect First quickly became my perfect first read from Maya Hughes. It also has me kicking myself for not reading her before now because I really liked her writing. Seph and Reece were the quintessential college romance couple. Him, a football legend that's living his life to the fullest, and her a sheltered good girl looking to let lose. It's a popular trope for a reason, but if you want to know more of why it's so popular, just read this book.

I'm not going to lie, I had my reservations about Seph in the beginning. I'm not one to be totally in love with the innocent heroines. But I do love me some hot bad boys that can make them let loose. Which is why I was so excited to jump into this story. But Seph actually shocked me and she wasn't a super naive person. Instead I found her to be a breath of fresh air. She knew what she wanted and, even if it wasn't always in the best way, she went after it and I admired that about her. Especially when it was Reece she was going after and I was rooting them on the entire time.

I also fell in love with all of the secondary characters and now I'll be stalking this author until I get their stories. In a fangirl way, not a Joe Goldberg way of course. The bottom line is that you need to read this book. Especially if you're a fan of some really amazing NA romance.

ARC kindly provided in exchange for and honest review.
Profile Image for Cristiina♡Reads.
577 reviews3,430 followers
April 16, 2019
A novel full of firsts, yet finding a funny aspect to it all Seph and Reece know how to connect in the both the intimate and physical level...

For once I am keeping this review short and sweet, the reason being is because this is a first novel that I have read by Maya's that has a lot of ups and downs from my point of view. At first Reece is not my favorite that's for sure, and the reason being is because he is actually kind of a jerk and very cocky in the beginning. Not something I am really invested when it comes down to male characters. With Seph, I guess you could say I can relate to her common innocence emotionally, and when she meets Reece it is a strange interaction yet they end up together and their chemistry is off the roof!

As previously mentioned, keeping this nice and sweet because Maya deserves so much high praise for this bad boy! My hands are already itching for a the next books from all the bad boys featuring in this one. Thank you to Maya for letting me read her novel, this one is a must read!

ARC galley kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review...

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Profile Image for  Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕.
987 reviews1,140 followers
May 5, 2019
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The Perfect First was the perfect New Adult romance that I didn’t even know I wanted!! From the first chapter this book reeled me in with the curiosity but it held me with the quick witty humor and lovable authentic characters. Football heartthrob and a shy genius with some quirks of her own? What more can you ask for?!

Reece is living some of the best moments of his life right now. Top player on a winning team, popular guy on campus, life-long friends through his teammates, and a good family, life isn’t too bad for this twenty one year old star. Already trying to put his professional career at the forefront, Reece is off to a perfect start. But when a mix up lands him on the radar of the shy and timid woman, life as he knows it, is about to get hilariously complicated.

From the moment she learned how to talk, Seph was a rule follower. A genius in her own right, her social life has suffered tremendously and that has forced her to be a loner of sorts. When she meets the big man on campus due to a hilarious misunderstanding, she quickly learns that there is more to life than just living in the moment and she’s more than determined to make what she wants, come true.

I honestly had no idea how I was going to feel about this one but I had faith because based on the author’s previous books, I fell in love and this story was no different. Seph was this breath of fresh air in a female heroine that I didn’t know I wanted to breathe in. She had her quirks and her hang-ups, but those imperfections made her real and genuine. I also really loved seeing her evolve into this confident strong female even when she was unsure of herself. The chemistry between her and Reece were palpable and I liked that their friendship was and love for each other was always at the forefront and it meant a lot to them.

If you’re looking for a sexy funny NA romance, then this one is for you.


   
Profile Image for M..
507 reviews701 followers
December 2, 2021
i stick with my first review lol

---

ngl this book would be five a stars if Seph's dad had died at some point
Profile Image for Lien.
296 reviews234 followers
April 19, 2021
2.5 Stars

➤ This was pretty insta for me even though they didn’t love each other at first sight. Insta-protective-instincts, insta-attraction, insta-possessiveness. After their first encounter, both already couldn’t stop thinking about each other so the chemistry fell flat.

➤ I couldn’t connect with the heroine at all! She’s everything I don’t like rolled in one. I’m okay with an awkward-dorky h from time to time but does she have to possess every attribute I usually dislike? She’s a fumbling, bumbling virgin with no confidence whatsoever and a pushover who blurts out awkward things from time to time that DON’T embarrass her but then gets embarrassed by other things even though they weren’t even her fault. I was exasperated with her! It got better later on because backgrounds were revealed that made me understand her more (thankfully), but unfortunately, this couldn’t erase the first half of the book where I just couldn’t stand her…

"Sometimes memories are all we have, and there’s no amount of money in the world that can get those back."

➤ The end was pretty cute and I loved the dad’s story/revelation. It was something I’ve never read before and it actually moved me a bit so kudos to the author.


**Reader’s copy generously provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Profile Image for Maya Hughes.
Author 38 books6,244 followers
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October 18, 2019
The Perfect First Now Live Banner

The Perfect First is LIVE! You can read a chapter of Reece and Seph's story HERE!

His jeans went down right along with his boxers. I spun on my heels, trying not to think about his toned ass. And, oh, what an ass it was. A warm water droplet hit my face, which quickly turned into a cold splash as the freezing air cooled it. The sharp sound of him hitting the water was the only thing I heard over the thundering jackhammering of my heart.

“I’ll turn my back. Get naked, Wild Child.

******
Grab your copy today at the special release price or read it for FREE in KU!

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The Perfect First teaser
Profile Image for Jessica .
2,234 reviews14.7k followers
June 8, 2019
I love new adult sports romances and some of my favorite books ever fall under that category. I was so excited when Maya Hughes sent me a copy of The Perfect First because it is a romance between a college football player and a math genius determined to make her last year of college a memorable one.

Reece loves football and knows that's his only future, which means he has to buckle down and be serious when it comes to NFL scouts. What he doesn't need is the distraction that is Persephone. Seph has been driven to be perfect by her father her whole life, which is not including her next year in school. Left feeling like her life is out of her control, Seph decides to make a list of everything she hopes to do before the school year is out. Reece was definitely not part of those plans, but when the two accidentally meet, Reece can't stop thinking about Seph and decides to help her on her quest.

I love a romance between two unlikely people and you can't get more different than Seph and Reece. I loved how Seph was determined to try new things and really live her life and it was so fun how Reece decided he was the one who was going to help her do it. There was an inexplicable draw to Seph that Reece felt and I loved how he slowly realized he was actually kind of falling for her.

What I also tend to love about new adult books are the entire cast of characters that surround the two main characters. In this book, Reece had some pretty awesome friends and, as soon as I finished this book, I ran to Goodreads to see who was getting the next two books. I am so excited for the next books because I fell in love with all of the characters and their quirky personalities in this book.

Overall, this was such a fun sports romance and I loved how both characters really grew and learned from one another. If you're a fan of the Off-Campus series or the Game On series, you have to try out The Perfect First!
Profile Image for Angie - Angie's Dreamy Reads.
689 reviews13.7k followers
April 2, 2021
I LOVED this book. It was my first from Maya Hughes and OMG! IT HAD THE BEST FEELS. So swoony, so sweet, so flirty and fun and STEAMY! GAH! When it got hot, it was HOTTTTTT AF, you guys. Like soooooooo sexy, and the emotion in the steamy scenes was THE BEST. My heart MELTED. I just loved the way these characters connected. It was so natural, so organic, so real. I adore watching them fall in love. Dreamy, dreamy, dreamyyyyyy! I felt wooed!! I can't wait to read more from this author. I grabbed the rest of this series and I'm planning to devour them soon! So incredibly good!! 4.5 stars!

PS: If you like authors like Elle Kennedy, DEFINITELY pick this up! NA sports romance with STEAM AND HEART AND SWOON!
Profile Image for Kim.
732 reviews1,866 followers
November 15, 2022
Not even the discount Hemsworth on the cover could bump this up to more than 3 stars. It was an okay romance book with two MC’s I liked but I’m probably not going to continue this series.

PS: Honestly I could have done without reading the word “mushroom” -coughs- every time the guy whipped it out. Ew.
Profile Image for Princess under cover.
608 reviews302 followers
May 7, 2019
DNF @49%.

I don't usually rate DNF books, but I know it will be at most a 3 if I do finish it, I just don't want to finish it, cuz I'm too bored by the non-scintillating story and writing.

It's OKAY. That's why I give it a 3. The premise was interesting enough for me to try it out - I've always had a thing for geeky girls (and guys) - and the h putting out an ad to lose her virginity and asking for the guy's measurements was the best scene (and the blurb) of the book.

The rest of it? Not so interesting. No tension, no LOL humor, no nothing. No spark.

So. Can't be bothered to continue. DNF.
Profile Image for isy | roth's wife.
227 reviews466 followers
March 16, 2023
This is my number one comfort book. Words will not do it justice.

Seph and Reece have a forever place in my heart. Their story is one that I become addicted to every time I read this book and they make it SO HARD for you to put the book down.

I absolutely ADORE these two. Reece is well the SWEETEST man who just wants to help Persephone with her list and Seph is just such a cutie. I swear I just want to squeeze her and never let go because this girl LIVES in my heart.
Profile Image for Laura.
471 reviews564 followers
January 3, 2020
This book was everything I wanted from a college romance. I really flew through the pages and fell in love with all the characters.

Seph and Reece were absolutely adorable together. So soft and pure.

It was your typical contemporary book with your standard writing and I was glad. I love these kind of books and they do me so much good.

I'm really looking forward for the series.
Profile Image for ✩ Mira ✩.
94 reviews157 followers
August 16, 2020


4.5 stars

"You are enough."

Song: august by taylor swift

I feel like august really fits the narrative with the girl experiencing so many things for the first time, falling in love, wanting to feel hopeful about their relationship but at the same time knowing that there is an end-date for them in the near future, so just savouring everything for as long as she can.

The Perfect First was sold to me as something with the same feel as The Deal. Now, I LOVE The Deal , it is one of my all time favourites book, so I was afraid that my expectations for The Perfect First were too high. They weren't! This book delivered on everything, it was, well....perfect.

Here's what I think made this book extra special to me. So, we all love enemies-to-lovers, dark and forbidden romances. The alpha heroes, the angst, the push and pull *chef's kiss* BUT would I want a relationship like that to actually happen to me? Hell no.
However, Seph and Reece's ralationship is exactly what my lonely single heart dreams of. This is something that I want to have, that I can see myself having. Oooof, I just LOVE books that hit so close to home.

The Characters
Seph was such an amazing character. The way she was at the beginning - so sad, meek and lonely just tugged at my heartstrings. Her reminiscing about her childhood legit made me tear up.

"The loneliness that hit when I was around people was worse somehow that when I was all alone."

not to be a dramatic sad bitch but


Seph starting to live and experiencing all those firsts just made me giddy with happiness. She was so amzing to read about. I loved her confidence of always "having extensively studied something" before doing it, she was alsways such a kind person with a silent strength to her. No matter what happened to her, she was never mean or degrading in any way. I just want to be her friend, okay🥺🥺🥺

Reece my oh my.


What I loved about Reece is that he is this super popular guy, he's a jock, he lives in a party house, so you'd expect him to be a rude, stuck-up manwhore and and asshole BUT HE ISN'T. Like, yes, he is (or was) a manwhore at one point and says that he doesn't do relationships, but he is still so genuinely good and supportive. He felt so mature and most importantly realistic .

Reece wasn't perfect, he had his issues, he had his inner insecurities and demons, but that never made him treat Seph like trash. No, he was the sweetest with her, but without being a total simp or just plain unrealistic because of how good he is.

The Romance

"I leaned in and closed my eyes. A wish didn't come to mind because I'd already gotten it. I blew out the candles, and the room broke out into applause."

I guess that you could say the romance is strangers-to-friends-to-lovers . Everything about it was so wholesome, it just had me like that for the entirety of the book:


Let's say it again for the everyone in the back, 👏 it👏 was👏 so👏 realistic👏 .
Their first kiss had me tearing up, them realising they're in love had me bawling. It was everything you could want from such a book, the connection, the chemistry, the slow burn.

The reason for them separating towards the end made so much sense. Dare I even say, them being apart for a bit felt necessary, so that they could reflect on and realise some things. Even with the separation though I feel like there was almost no angst, it was handled perfectly.

The only reason why I'm docking half a star is that the steamy scenes didn't really do it for me and there were some weird decriptions of some body parts.

I also loved all the boys in the house, they were the best!!!!

In conclusion, The Perfect First is a sweet realistic story about first love and living life the way you want to, and I definitely recommend reading it.

okay some extra content because i just COULDN'T stop thinking about this the whole time i was reading the book
So, this is all about my ACOMAF-obssessed ass who can catch NO break even after 4 years

Our hero is called Reece..... you can see the connection to Rhys
Our heroine's name is Persephone. Now, listen to me, ACOMAF was said to be a Hades and Pesephone retelling when it came out, sooo Persephone=Feyre

Which means that Reece and Persephone (at least their names) were inspired by Rhys and Feyre

Am I grasping at straws, is it obvious that I want to reread ACOMAF again? obviously. but i really wanted to share my theory

I'll leave you with a visual of me finding all the (probably) non-existent connections


Profile Image for Nerdread.
444 reviews47 followers
April 18, 2020
3.5 stars

I want to give it 4 stars because it was very entertaining and enjoyable to read however, the author introduced aspects of emotional abuse, intimidation and harassment into the story but did not actively deal with these issues in a realistic way. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the author did not balance the possible psychological affects of having to grown up emotionally abused and the reality and struggle of moving on from that type dynamic and finding self worth. I felt like the story would have been richer if the author was able to tackle that along with the romance.

But then I maybe I might just be expecting too much from a simple college romance book 🤷 oh well 😔

Overall, it was a good book.
Profile Image for Rochelle ♡.
386 reviews211 followers
June 22, 2019


Maya Hughes has started an addictive series featuring irresistible footballers in Fulton U. Despite the countless sports romances floating around, the unique creativity and authentic quality of this narrative prevents it from becoming reused material. With innumerous sweet moments, intense chemistry and stomach-aching humour, The Perfect First ensures your attention is captured and thoughts consumed by this endearing romance of perfect firsts.

I was tired of being me, and the only way to change that was to stop being afraid of what I wanted.


Persephone Alexander’s innocence is charming and refreshing, though her chaste nature doesn’t mean she’s naive. Unashamed and unassuming in conversation, her lack of tact creates an amusing meet cute situation that left me guffawing in absolute delight! Quiet, fierce rebellion unveils itself, as Seph’s determination to experience certain moments before she’s suffocated by an authoritative father’s demands comes to fruition, making me invested in this heroine’s transformation from introverted to free-willed with confidence.

I’d give her the other firsts, as many as I could, because if I gave her too much, I wouldn't be able to stop myself from never wanting to stop.


I love a conceited football hero—the cockier, the better—however there’s no denying that hidden sweetness and kind-heartedness creates an irresistible character with dimension. Despite Reece Michaels odd but entertaining meet cute with Seph, he isn’t deterred by the unusual situation. By starting a friendship, Reece provides Seph more than firsts; he also brings friendships and connections, both encouraging and heart-warming gestures that allow this quirky heroine to flourish into a self-assured woman who understands her self-worth.

She'd gotten so fully and completely under my skin, I didn't know how I'd existed before I met her.


“Sweet” isn’t an accurate definition to truthfully encapsulate the undeniable connection between Seph and Reece. Intense and unbreakable, the friendship they form transitions into an undeniable, romantic bond full of immense affection and charming chemistry that latches itself to your mind, ensnaring your full attention. It tugs on your heart-strings, dousing you in all the good feelings that come with reading a humorous, contemporary romance. Wherever Maya Hughes directs this series, I’m keen to have more of these footballers!



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Profile Image for Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile.
1,765 reviews395 followers
January 12, 2021
Spoilers ahead


Seph has lived a life controlled by her dad, with her time of freedom coming to an and she makes a plan to finally live a little. Losing her virginity is a big step and so Seph posts an ad and has her questions ready. A case of mistaken identity leads her to Reece who decides to help her achieve some of the other items on her list.....but no sex
Reece is a cocky football player determined to go pro, he's letting nothing stand in his way especially a relationship. From his first meeting with Seph he knows there's something different about her. He feels protective of the geeky Math genius and pretty soon his feelings go from helpful friend to much more. But Reece has worked his whole life to not end up like his dad and not even Seph is going to stand in his way.

********
Ok from the first meeting I didn't like Reece, he was a cocky asshole and I feared I'd hate this book because of him but eventually he grows. He's more cooperative and caring with his teammates,less boastful and much more humble. I liked him ok enough but there were still a couple niggles at the back of my mind, one of the biggest being his response to his father's actions. He ASSUMED that his dad quit pro ball and was drowning in regret and so was determined not to be like him but he never asked him. He and his dad eventually had a heart to heart that cleared it up
We're told Reece has been celibate after an incident with a female, there're little hints that seemed to suggest a pregnancy trap but no revelation! I needed to know what took place especially as it was the reason he suddenly broke up with Seph
And that leads me to the break up, why is this a thing? A break up at about 90% before a rushed makeup and then the end? Whyyyyyyyyy is it necessary??? Reece already knew he loved her, one joke and that's it?? His past reared it's head so he broke things off??? We need better conflict and conflict resolution in romance
Seph was an ok h, though a bit stereotypical. The awkward, shy, naive virgin h who's been repressed her entire life and just wants to break out of her shell isn't anything new but she was still a pretty likeable person and was eventually able to stand up to her bitchy roommate and her controlling dad
All in all this was pretty ok, enough so that I'll check out the next in the series as I liked the secondary characters


Virgin h
H was apparently a baby manwhore but he'd been celibate a while
No cheating or OW drama
h went out with OM at the beginning but it wasn't even a thing
Profile Image for Mojo_Mama.
1,484 reviews708 followers
June 5, 2021
3 stars...I’m being kind.

I hate sugary, sweet fluffy-bunny, like loathe it with a capital L, O, A, T, H, E. But I’m not an asshole and won’t one star it cuz I knew I would hate it going in.

My sis in-law loves this shit. I promised her I’d read the series for some baked goods. BB’s red velvet cupcakes could bring world peace. No lie. Her hubby is a lawyer and there’s always a plate of those cupcakes during any of his negotiations. She says it’s cuz everyone’s drunk on sugar they just roll over for him. I’m pretty sure it’s cuz his IQ is pushing 140. But, you know, to-MAY-toe, to-MAH-toe.

Yeah...so...this book.

It’s like those cupcakes.

My sugar high from reading this bit of confection is bringing on a migraine. I’ve read this plot more times than I’d like to admit (thanks, BB) and it does get hard to be original with it.

What I liked the most is that the h reminded me of my 21 yo son who has Aspergers. Brilliant as fuck, really good looking, and ZERO social skills. Like watching a trainwreck from 50 feet away.

Because he’s attached to my hip at work, I see him interact with people his age and girls are all over him (boys, too) and he’s just so clueless. Like the h putting out an ad in the college newspaper to interview candidates to take her virginity. I’m sure if my kid had thought of that he’d have done it too. I’m stunned, even, that he didn’t think of that. I can see him, like the h, sitting there interviewing people with notecards and forms and scientific about the entire process.

This was cute. If you love college/NA sweet and safe and so sugary it gives you tooth decay like BB’s cupcakes...then this one is for you ;)
Profile Image for Melanie (mells_view).
1,777 reviews364 followers
April 26, 2019
I was tired of being me, and the only way to change that was to stop being afraid of what I wanted.

Awe. Reece and Seph were sugary sweet goals. Reece is a baby manwh*re, and Seph is seriously people challenged. Seph wants to spend the last 7 months at college doing things she’s never done before. Checking off the firsts! one of them being her first time!

Reece wasn’t looking for a Seph, but she found him, and for some reason he couldn’t let go. I enjoyed this story, because the angst was pretty low. Of course the characters insecurities get in the way a bit, but those things aren’t dragged out. I think the author does a great job giving us a college sports romance with just enough angst, sweetness, fun times, and heat to keep it entertaining without feeling over the top.

Can’t wait to see if we get more of this series, because I loved some of the side characters! Also can we not leave Dan out. I know he’s not exactly part of the friend group, but he at LEAST needs a short story/novella LOL!

https://instagram.com/p/BwuRvV6g-na/
^fan edit on IG!
Profile Image for Antonella.
3,695 reviews512 followers
January 25, 2020
I really really enjoy this one
It has all too familiar plotline but written really well
I like these two together and can't wait to read more
If you are a New Adult fan what are you waiting for, read this
I like how all characters were portrayed, it was believable




Profile Image for Amy .
2,837 reviews
April 25, 2019
“I’ve been dreaming of you every night, and if I’m still dreaming, I don’t want to wake up. I need you.”

The Perfect First is wonderful heartwarming opposites attract romance. Told from dual points of view, The Perfect First follows the story of Seph & Reece. Seph and Reece couldn’t be more different if they tried. While Seph is young, she is smarter than her years; the total nerdy girl. And then you have Reece. Reece is the experienced jock who could have any girl he wanted. Their first encounter might have been rocky and definitely unconventional, but totally unforgettable. Reece will quickly find that there is more to Seph than meets the eye and will do anything to continue on with this unexpected friendship…..

The Perfect First was such a fun and entertaining read. It was so fresh and so unexpected. I couldn’t help but read it in just a single sitting. Seph and Reece pulled me in from the very first page and left me hanging on every word. Reece & Seph had amazing chemistry. I loved how different they were and how they brought out the best in one another. I loved the slow burn and build toward their something more. The took the time to get to know one another and really let the tension build. And once the lines began to cross, all bets were off and I just couldn’t get enough.

The Perfect First is a really sweet story filled with fantastic humor and lots of great firsts. I laughed. I swooned. I totally fell in love with these characters and their story. The Perfect First was a joy to read, from beginning to end. I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in these characters.

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
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