Seventeen-year-old Mercedes Ayres has an open-door policy when it comes to her bedroom, but only if the guy fulfills a specific criteria: he has to be a virgin. Mercedes lets the boys get their awkward fumbling first times over with, and all she asks in return is that they give their girlfriends the perfect first time-the kind Mercedes never had herself.
Keeping what goes on in her bedroom a secret has been easy - so far. Her mother isn't home nearly enough to know about Mercedes' extracurricular activities, and her uber-religious best friend, Angela, won't even say the word "sex" until she gets married. But Mercedes doesn't bank on Angela's boyfriend finding out about her services and wanting a turn - or on Zach, who likes her for who she is instead of what she can do in bed.
When Mercedes' perfect system falls apart, she has to find a way to salvage her own reputation -and figure out where her heart really belongs in the process. Funny, smart, and true-to-life, Laurie Elizabeth Flynn's Firsts is a one-of-a-kind young adult novel about growing up.
"A fearless debut that dares you to question what you really know about that girl. Edgy, smart, and heartbreaking, Firsts will stay with you long after the last page."
Amanda Maciel, author of Tease
"A brave debut, tackling a sensitive subject matter that succeeds thanks to Laurie Elizabeth Flynn's deft skill and understanding that above all, character comes first. Readers will be drawn in by Mercedes and this original story that is near impossible to put down. FIRSTS is gutsy storytelling with both humor and heart."
Lori Goldstein, author of Becoming Jinn
"Emotionally charged with a modern heroine determined to control her own destiny, Firsts is a powerful coming of age story that tied my heartstrings in knots. Relevant and riveting, Mercy's story will break your heart and put it back together again. Fans of "Easy A" will root for Mercy in hopes that she learns to let go of the control she craves and accept the love she deserves."
