First Time, Long Time

First Time, Long Time by Amy Silverberg 

First Time, Long Time by Amy Silverberg is a darkly funny and emotionally layered debut novel about ambition, grief, identity, and the messiness of desire in the shadow of powerful men.

Allison, an aspiring writer and emotionally adrift English teacher, moves to Los Angeles hoping for clarity and reinvention. But between mourning her brother’s death and navigating her complicated relationship with her mercurial father, she finds herself stuck—creatively and emotionally. When she crosses paths with Reid Steinman, a legendary radio host worshipped by her father and late brother, she tumbles into a relationship that feels more like a performance than a life.

Just as she begins to lose herself in Reid’s orbit, Allison meets his magnetic adult daughter, Maddie. Their connection sparks something urgent and unfamiliar, forcing Allison to confront both her grief and her sense of self. As past and present blur, First Time, Long Time explores what happens when a young woman is caught between the personas projected onto her and the person she wants to become.

Perfect for fans of Melissa Broder, Emma Cline, or Raven Leilani, Amy Silverberg’s debut is a sharp, intimate exploration of love, longing, and the slippery nature of power.