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First In Line
Ethaniel's first few days at college are challenging and are complicated by a sudden attraction to Nesto. Will he find the courage to be his true self?
16,000 word stand-alone short with a happy ending!
This story originally appeared in the How We Began anthology.
16,000 word stand-alone short with a happy ending!
This story originally appeared in the How We Began anthology.
50 pages, ebook
First published August 28, 2018
1 person is currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Annabeth Albert
94 books3,723 followersFrequent tweeter, professional grammar nerd, and obsessive reader, Annabeth Albert is also a Pacific Northwest romance writer in a variety of subgenres.
Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.
Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 26, 2018
I swear I read this story as part of an anthology, but I can't remember which one. I liked it but didn't love it. The MCs didn't feel fully fleshed out, and the ending was super abrupt. This isn't a romance, more like the possibility of a romance.
June 26, 2019
Ethaniel is a freshman in college. Leaving his small town of Nebraska to a school in NY. He wants this to be his first step of being his true-self. He wants to be out and proud. However, he struggles with breaking the habit of hiding in fear of others not accepting him.
It was a good little short. I do think it seemed more like the beginning of a story and probably could be expanded. I would love to read more on him and Nesto, as this seemed more like a set up to the beginning of their relationship.
It was a good little short. I do think it seemed more like the beginning of a story and probably could be expanded. I would love to read more on him and Nesto, as this seemed more like a set up to the beginning of their relationship.
November 28, 2018
Cute, yet nothing to write home about.
A beginning more than anything, and one that cries out for a sequel that rounds out the story.
A beginning more than anything, and one that cries out for a sequel that rounds out the story.
June 21, 2019
‘First in Line’ is a story about finding the courage to be honest – with yourself, with your friends, and maybe even with your family. It is an emotional journey for Ethaniel, who has planned to come out now that he is at college, half a country away from his superconservative parents and tiny little hometown in the middle of Nowhere, Nebraska. His thoughts and feelings a raw, presented without a filter, and his account had me spellbound. There are so many cases where young people come out, reveal their true self, only to find that their family suddenly rejects them just because they are “different” from what they “should” be to fit in.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
June 24, 2022
Really sweet! Yes, a few little peeks of some of this author's other MCs, but nothing overwhelming. I just want to wrap Ethaniel up in a Mom hug and tell him that he's loved for who he is, not what he's expected to do.
October 17, 2018
Cute! Very adorable story of a boy taking his first steps and coming out to the world =]
May 5, 2019
Read as part of the How We Began anthology.
S'ok. Not as good as her usual stuff, though.
S'ok. Not as good as her usual stuff, though.
December 21, 2019
4 stars
November 25, 2018
Very sweet cute short story about college and coming out.
December 21, 2022
This is a very short coming out story. Ethaniel has finally arrived at college and is determined to come out and be true to himself. He finds it a little harder than he expected but meeting Nesto pushes him out of his comfort zone. This was short, sweet, and a great coming out short story.
Trigger Warnings: homophobic parents; brief mention of miscarriage
Trigger Warnings: homophobic parents; brief mention of miscarriage
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March 3, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings:
Coming out themes
Homomisia
Conversion therapy, mentioned
Racist language
Miscarriage, mentioned
Coming out themes
Homomisia
Conversion therapy, mentioned
Racist language
Miscarriage, mentioned
August 22, 2019
A sweet NA romance, really just the promise of one. E’s angst is so real, so painful. I like that the ending is upbeat and a HFN.
Freebie from author.
Freebie from author.
June 29, 2022
➸ Trigger warnings for .
▷ Representation: Ethaniel (mc) is gay; South East Asian gay sc.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
▷ Representation: Ethaniel (mc) is gay; South East Asian gay sc.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
February 13, 2024
Sweet and so scary for Ethaniel but he got his brave on. I loved the glimpses of other Cathia residents (Ollie!) and Nesto is adorable. It's really a very beginning but you can see the HEA in their future.
October 6, 2018
This was exactly what I needed - a break from the intense non-fiction book I've been working my way through. This story was low-angst, which I appreciated.
Ethaniel is a freshman in college, moving away from his small rural farm to a progressive college in the East. He'd planned for two years for this move, but finds himself shy and scared to take that first step, joining the GSA club at school and telling people he is gay. He meets Nesto, a member of the GSA club, while moving into the dorm, and we get a front row seat to watch Ethaniel work his way through his fears to what his dreams could be, getting help from new friends along the way.
I loved Ethaniel and Nesto. Nesto was patient and understanding of Ethaniel's situation, background, and fears. Ethaniel's roommate, Will, was the best. After reading this, I feel some positive hope in the world. Goodness knows we all could use some of that this weekend.
Ethaniel is a freshman in college, moving away from his small rural farm to a progressive college in the East. He'd planned for two years for this move, but finds himself shy and scared to take that first step, joining the GSA club at school and telling people he is gay. He meets Nesto, a member of the GSA club, while moving into the dorm, and we get a front row seat to watch Ethaniel work his way through his fears to what his dreams could be, getting help from new friends along the way.
I loved Ethaniel and Nesto. Nesto was patient and understanding of Ethaniel's situation, background, and fears. Ethaniel's roommate, Will, was the best. After reading this, I feel some positive hope in the world. Goodness knows we all could use some of that this weekend.
September 27, 2018
A very sweet short! It worked through having a plan to come out, versus the actuality of going ahead and doing it. Ethaniel knows he is gay and has gone across country to an Alliance friendly college with a full scholarship ride so that he can finally embrace what he has known for years. His family would disown him if they knew and his town has ran out kids who came out before, so Ethaniel knew he needed to get away and decided that once he did he would immediately be out. But running into out and proud Nesto who is on the GSA and meeting up with his very straight roommate instead has him back to afraid and struggling to say what he has always dreamed. The story went through the way that Ethaniel came to terms with being out and having the courage to have the life he wanted.
November 14, 2018
A really lovely story about a kid who goes to College because he's a) smart and b) looking for a place where he can finally be himself.
It breaks my heart that stories like this - kids with backgrounds like this - are quite common. And when conversion therapy is mentioned in passing my heart still seized. No child should ever have to endure shit like that.
For most of the book I just wanted to give the main character a hug. I love the ending, and the book in general. A quick, and heart-warming read.
It breaks my heart that stories like this - kids with backgrounds like this - are quite common. And when conversion therapy is mentioned in passing my heart still seized. No child should ever have to endure shit like that.
For most of the book I just wanted to give the main character a hug. I love the ending, and the book in general. A quick, and heart-warming read.
December 24, 2020
First In Line by Annabeth Albert is a stand-alone short about a college freshman coming to grips with the beginning of the rest of his life as he starts life away from his judgmental parents and the negative conditioning of a lifetime...
Ethaniel's at the college of his dreams on a scholarship, and is struggling to take the first steps to making his outer life match what he's longed for. Nesto is a kind upperclassman who lives down the hall. Annabeth Albert's characterizations ring true, and this short tugs on the heartstrings.
Ethaniel's at the college of his dreams on a scholarship, and is struggling to take the first steps to making his outer life match what he's longed for. Nesto is a kind upperclassman who lives down the hall. Annabeth Albert's characterizations ring true, and this short tugs on the heartstrings.
September 22, 2018
3.5 stars
I thought it was cute. It tackled that uncertainty about being new college student and wanting to "be yourself"-- in this case coming out as gay -- in a different environment pretty well. And I loved that the University students are ALL positively welcoming :). Also kudos for a character with South East Asian descent.
I thought it was cute. It tackled that uncertainty about being new college student and wanting to "be yourself"-- in this case coming out as gay -- in a different environment pretty well. And I loved that the University students are ALL positively welcoming :). Also kudos for a character with South East Asian descent.
October 13, 2018
It’s college iniation and a week of firsts for Ethaniel just off the plane after crossing the country from his alpaca ranch home. His first roommate, his first job placement, his first admission that he’s gay, his first gay club, his first boyfriend. How scary was that, well maybe just a little bit.
September 29, 2021
3.5 stars
Very cute and kind of emotional tale of Ethaniel, a freshman student who moves away from his very traditional and religious home to college where he plans to be true to himself and come out. As a romance, there isn't much to tell to be honest, but as a coming of age story this was quite cute.
Very cute and kind of emotional tale of Ethaniel, a freshman student who moves away from his very traditional and religious home to college where he plans to be true to himself and come out. As a romance, there isn't much to tell to be honest, but as a coming of age story this was quite cute.
September 24, 2018
SHORT & SWEET!
First in Line is a fast, easy read! This was a super cute, and a perfect addition to Annabeth Albert’s story collection! Ethaniel and Nesto are sweet characters and I really hope we get more of their time together in the future!
First in Line is a fast, easy read! This was a super cute, and a perfect addition to Annabeth Albert’s story collection! Ethaniel and Nesto are sweet characters and I really hope we get more of their time together in the future!
October 17, 2018
Loved this one, I'd like a lot more of these two. Ethaniel has escaped to college to be true to himself. He had a bit of trouble acting on that desire. Nesto comes to his aid again and again. He's sweet and caring. I'd love to see a book of these guys a bit in the future.
All read
All read
August 17, 2019
I love how all of Albert's story worlds are connected and it isn't weird to have any of her other guys mentioned or even walk through a scene - like Nesto and Ethaniel could go see an Embellish concert and meet Lucas and Cody and it would totally work.
March 23, 2022
Ethaniel has waited until college to come out, but is paired with a jock roommate who seems determined to hook him up with the first available female despite his obvious attraction to the dorm Procter Nesto. When is it safe to be your true self? When to overcome the fear? An interesting short read.
October 11, 2023
4- stars
This is a very short story and everything happens in a span of two days. But it's so sweet and hopeful. A new beginning for Ethaniel who's been repressed his whole life, and can now finally start living honestly, as long as he can overcome some of his old fears and insecurities.
This is a very short story and everything happens in a span of two days. But it's so sweet and hopeful. A new beginning for Ethaniel who's been repressed his whole life, and can now finally start living honestly, as long as he can overcome some of his old fears and insecurities.
September 23, 2018
Cute story! I love the college aus!
September 25, 2018
It was a good short story, but I feel too old to read about young people coming out. *headdesk*
October 9, 2018
I love everything that comes from this author. It's funny, lovely and enjoyable. A bit annoying that it's so short but it's wrapped up correspondently.
October 12, 2018
First reading from this author, glad to see there are characters from here that appear in other books, just might give them a read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews