Perfect First By Maya Hughes - The

Persephone "Seph" Alexander is a math genius who has lived a highly sheltered life under the strict, almost abusive control of her father. With only one semester of freedom left at Fulton University before her father forces her into a PhD program, Seph creates a list of "firsts" she wants to experience—the most pressing being to lose her virginity.

She begins conducting interviews for a candidate to help her with this goal. Reece Michaels, the university’s star football receiver with NFL aspirations, accidentally walks in on one of these interviews. Intrigued and protective, Reece offers to be her guide through her list of firsts—with one strict rule: no sex. As they spend time together ticking off activities like skinny dipping and partying, their platonic agreement is tested by an undeniable connection. The Perfect First by Maya Hughes

The "meet-cute" and the slow-building tension between the leads are highlighted as strong points. Persephone "Seph" Alexander is a math genius who

However, some reviewers from The StoryGraph noted that the book contains frequent time jumps and felt that certain heavy topics, such as the abuse Seph faced, were resolved too quickly or not addressed with enough depth. The "meet-cute" and the slow-building tension between the