The First Time: Finding Myself and Looking for Love on Reality TV

Written by Colton Underwood

Narrated by Colton Underwood

With a new afterword about Colton’s battle with Covid-19 and breakup, this New York Times bestseller from former football player and star of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette is “full of the kind of juicy details ‘The Bachelor’ franchise enthusiasts yearn for” (HuffPost).

Before Colton Underwood captured the hearts of millions on The Bachelor, he was a goofy, socially awkward, overweight adolescent who succeeded on the football field while struggling with personal insecurities off it. An All American gridiron hero, he was also a complex, sometimes confused, soft-hearted romantic wondering how these contradictions fit together. Old-fashioned and out of step with the swipe right dating culture of today, he was saving the most intimate part of life for the love of his life. If only he could find her…

Now, in The First Time, Colton opens up about how he came to find himself and true love at the same time via the Bachelor franchise. Unencumbered by cameras and commercial breaks, he delivers a surprisingly raw, endearing, and seriously juicy account of his journey through The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, and The Bachelor. He opens up about being dumped by Becca, his secret dalliance with Tia, what it was like to be the world’s most famous virgin, his behind-the-scenes conflicts with production, and how his on-camera responsibilities as the Bachelor nearly destroyed him after he knew he had already fallen in love with Cassie.

A memoir for Bachelor Nation and anyone who believes in the magic of love, The First Time “is a thoughtful exploration into what it means to discover oneself” (USA TODAY).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Mar 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9781797104652

Colton Underwood

Colton Underwood was a linebacker and a tight end in the NFL from 2014 to 2016. A fan favor­ite on season fourteen of The Bachelorette, he starred in The Bachelor on season twenty-three of the show. Underwood is the founder of the Colton Underwood Legacy Foundation, a charity to support cystic fibrosis, with which his cousin Harper was diagnosed as a baby. Born in Indianapolis and raised in Illinois, he now lives in Denver, CO.

Reviews for The First Time

[Emily Hawley · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was like listening to a long boring recap of the season when it was over. There was really nothing new in this and Colton or whoever wrote this for him has a pretty flat writing talent. I was just annoyed most of the time listening to this. Barely worth my time at all.

[chapterobsessed · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As a person who watches The Bachelor religiously, I was excited to read this book. It follows Colton’s life before he was cast for the franchise, his time during all 3 shows and a little glimpse at his life after.

I liked that we got to learn more about his family, his time in High-School, College and with the NFL. I felt his pain when he talked about his parents divorce and his confusion with his thoughts about sex. It broke my heart reading about his relationship with Aly, and how much he cared for her. It was raw and real, but his acceptance and understanding for what she was going through, was that of a real gentleman.

The part I was most excited for, behind the scenes info on The Bachelorette and The Bachelor—it did not disappoint! I liked getting to know how the show works and how Colton stumbled upon the casting call, how he met Tia and their short lived relationship. How he was feeling vying for Becca during her season, and everything he felt while he was The Bachelor. It also helped me understand Cassie better. I was very much team Cassie until she broke up with him on their Fantasy Suite date. I just couldn’t get over the “I don’t knows!” I thought, “Dude, she’s just not that into you.” But after reading everything they were both feeling in the moment, I honestly get it now. The show didn’t accurately show the feelings Cassie had. I know now she was 100% genuine in her feelings for him, she just needed time to step back and articulate them and they both definitely needed more time to really get to know each other.

I’ve been following their journey since after the show and I’m beyond happy and truly excited for their future. Lastly, I’ll always remember, that love is worth jumping a fence for.

[Sandy Benemerito Bailey · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Very digestible book; I listened to the entire book in just two sittings. I am impressed by Colton’s honesty, and it was interesting to hear more BTS action that underpinned what Bachelor fans saw on TV. This will be a deservingly popular read in Bachelor Nation.

[Brian Batchelor · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is NOT the coming out story...at all! If that is what you are looking for watch the Netflix series "Coming Out Colton".