First Year

by Kristina Ross

The winner of the 2024 The Australian/Vogel's Award for Young Writers.

'Captures the high stakes, the intense competition, the vulnerability of the characters very well.' Caroline Overington, The Australian

'An assured and elegant debut.' Kate Adams, Collins, Thirroul

At seventeen, Maeve is naively single-minded about pursuing a life in the theatre. After a rigorous audition process, she secures a position at one of the most competitive drama schools in the country. Leaving behind the security of her childhood home in Queensland, Maeve moves to Melbourne and devotes herself to the course.

The expectations of the faculty are made clear from the to avoid failure, the process must be adhered to without question and, as the youngest student at the school, Maeve knows she must gain life experience in order to inhabit her roles. With the encouragement of her new classmates, Maeve explores the darker pockets of her personality, disastrously blurring the line between the characters she must play and herself.

For readers of Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney, Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler and Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors, First Year is a deeply intelligent and insightful exploration of creativity and performance, marking the entry of an audacious new literary talent.

Genres: Fiction, Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook

352 pages, Paperback

Published February 25, 2025

Reviews

[Rosemary Atwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

For an author to successfully convey the total immersion of both mind and body within a creative art form is no small feat. The power of Ross’s writing is quite astonishing, but you don’t realise just how good ‘First Year’ is until you’re around halfway through. The relentless emphasis on self-discovery, risk, rivalry, camaraderie and ego slowly build and envelop the reader in a claustrophobic thicket of constant analysis, self-doubt and the occasional (and very welcome) breakthrough.

And the descriptions of Melbourne are just as arresting.

[ValTheBookEater]

I feel personally attacked by the bibliotherapist who recommended this to me.

It really does depict the intricacies of studying acting and all the physical and emotional and psychological demands that come with it. In that sense, it gave me the words to articulate some of this. And this is where the novel truly succeeds.

I will point people to this book when they ask me what I do at drama school (minus the predatory, authority figures who do more than blur the lines between teacher and student, the relationship drama and the stuff that goes on outside of classtime). Hated Yates, and felt super uncomfortable anytime he showed up.

Felt let down by some of the characterisation (ahem, Saxon who could have been far more interesting and I wish appeared more rather than sporadically depending on the status of his connection and relationship with Maeve). But I guess that's part of having such a location-specific story with a whole cohort and set of tutors. Also Melbourne! I have been consuming a lot of Melbourne-set narratives lately so I think it's a sign.

----
second time read: yeah, I can relate to alot of this. that's all.

[kashbot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and honest depiction of what it is to move from the naivety and optimism of commencing creative studies, to the harsh realities of what these institutions actually demand of students, both physically and emotionally.

Ross writes vividly about what is, for many, a deeply challenging experience. Although fictionalised, the acting methods described in the novel are an accurate representation of those taught at the VCA in the early 2000s. And while the book goes into specific detail about the structure of lessons at an acting school, the emotional and interpersonal experiences of its students are, I imagine, universal to all young people undertaking rigorous artistic studies.

This is not an easy book (perhaps more so for me as a classmate of Kristina’s) but it is rewarding, and powerful. I highly recommend it.

[Chloe Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the best book I’ve read this year!! The character development felt so visceral and intriguing. Really impressive writing that draws you into the complex world of these characters! I can’t wait to read it again

[Cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an experience for me. The first 200 pages I was torn between wanting to see what happened next while also wanting to end the book then and there. Upon around page 200 something changed. The story came to life in my mind, the characters felt more real, distinct. I began to care what happened next. I was curious, I floated through the scenes and the movements with them. I wanted to see what happens to Maeve. By the end of the book I was won over by this story after what felt like a really long haul to get there. Glad I gave this Australian debut a chance.

[victoire hemedi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this soo bad, especially being an actor also going through Aussie drama school, I can relate to intensity of it all. But, maaaann, it’s a tough read at times. With some pretty awkward and cringe dialogue and a blurb more interesting than the actual plot. However, it was nice to read a book that delved into a pretty niche experience.

[Chloe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found 'First Year' interesting for the way it's written in scenes which chop and change rapidly, like Maeve's drama classes and rehearsals. I also liked the evocation of Melbourne and the novel made me keen to visit again.

But my primary pleasure was in the stylistic considerations of the novel because the plot doesn’t have a lot going for it. I had to force my way through to the end, and as it turned out, the blurb is more intriguing than the novel.

The character development is incredibly subtle, to the point where I wonder whether Maeve or her friends have learned anything at all about the tenuous imbalance of power between students and their teachers.

In 'First Year', the students are aware of the illicit relationships their teachers pursue with them, but it's considered par for the course, a normal practice in theatre, accepted without fuss form the students who are anxious for their teacher's approval. At one of the country's most prestigious drama schools, their teachers determine what parts they play, which determines how their talent is showcased to agents, practically determining their career.

Hearts are broken, friendships are shattered, and trust is broken because the teachers can't keep their hands off their students and the students are so dependent on them for approval and opportunity that they let them. Add to the mix, a near-endless supply of alcohol, cocaine, and weed, the students dull their pain and discomfort and the gruelling introspection required by the work night after night.

Students are utterly expendable for the sake of the work and the institution: "There was a only a small window for exploration before the faculty locked you into the version of yourself that was easiest to access, the name of the school more important than your own." (p. 229)

I hoped the cruelty of Quinn, Judith, and Yates was more fiction than fact, but given Ross' connection with the work, I suspect that more of the story and characters are history thinly veiled as fiction. The physical and sexual threat posed by Yates and the violence of the student rivalries are disgusted in ambiguous prose that felt to me like it was trying too hard to be literary.

On the whole, it's a novel about the vulnerability of early-adulthood, and the vulnerability of being a passionate student chasing study as the most direct path to a career. I wonder, too, if the novel is critiquing this mindset since Emmet ends up the happiest and most successful of the students after he leaves the school. The insidious abuse in the novel is important to bear witness to, but it doesn’t make for escapist reading.

Perhaps drama students would enjoy this more than I did… or perhaps they'd steer clear to avoid admitting the violations that run rampant in such schools of the arts despite their prestige.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️.⭐️
First Year follows the story of Maeve, a seventeen year old actinf student at VCA. Ross portrays the world of exclusive creative institutions and the diverse characters that inhabit it so accurately. When the rhetoric is “you are LUCKY to be here” there is an inherent power dynamic between teacher and student. It left me reflecting on my own studies— when you’re immersed in these institutions it feels like the be all and end all. However, as Ross illuminates, what can people with so much power—holding the hopes and dreams of their students, “get away with”in the name of the process?

[Georgia Lilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book based on the blurb. The story is about a young girl (Maeve) attending the Victorian College of Arts prestigious acting course. Having auditioned for VCA at one time in my life, and then having undertaken a local acting course with the intention of continuing to audition for VCA until I got in (spoiler alert: I fell in love and had kids instead), this story felt like it could be both a window into what my life might have been if I had moved to Melbourne and made it into VCA, as well as a nostalgic revisit to my own theatre degree days.

As it turns out, VCA’s course as described in this novel, and the personal lives of its students, are both remarkably similar to the course I did and the people I worked with. Yes, right down to the hook ups, affairs, drugs and booze, freezing winters, and obscenely pretentious coursework. The only thing I will say for my cohort is we didn’t launch into random monologues at every given opportunity (though when I mentioned this to my partner, he says he absolutely does remember my theatre friends doing this at parties). The characters even do it during sex once! Outrageous, cringey, and so utterly, utterly pretentious.

Anyway, what I liked about First Year is that it really captured the experience of this type of course with incredible detail and truth. I knew these people - I definitely knew a Judith, worked with a Dylan or two, and recognise Sylvie. I can think of no other book that captures the experience of a theatre degree so vividly and accurately.

What I didn’t like is that Maeve was an exceptionally boring protagonist. Did she have any hobbies? All she ever seemed to think about was “the work” and her boyfriend. And even with him, it’s mostly physical.

Let’s talk about Saxon. What do we even know about him? By the end of the book, still not a whole lot. This was frustrating. He felt so 2D, with a tiny emotional arc that felt tacked in there to try and give a very flat character a crumb of depth. I wanted to like him, or at the very least be invested in him, but by the end of the story I was still left with no real impression of who he even was. Plus, the Judith storyline, in my opinion, was never quite resolved. I wanted an explanation and never got one.

What I both loved and hated about the book was Yates. The strongest thing about the book in my opinion was it’s discussion of the power struggles that exist in the actor’s world between the mentors and the mentees, never better illustrated than when it came to Yates. A vile character, disgracefully realistic in his depiction. A predator, manipulative and intimidating. The “Miss Julie” scene was visceral, and made me cry. [spoiler/content warning: sexual harassment].

I’m not sure if being familiar with this world was a benefit or detriment to my enjoyment of it. On the one hand, I understood everything that was happening, it very much took me back there, and felt honest and fresh. I can’t say I’ve ever read any book that details the coursework with such specificity, breaking down what theatre training really is with breathwork, movement, meditation, as well as “self” work; breaking yourself down, harnessing real experiences, examining yourself in a way that can only be compared to therapy, but for the benefit of the show/company/director rather than for your own healing or personal growth exclusively.

On the other hand, maybe that made it a little predictable for me? I found I got bored, especially within the first 100 pages, with all the descriptions of the coursework. Perhaps that would be more interesting to someone who hasn’t already lived it.

The book in general was a bit of a slow burn and took me a while to get into it, but I did enjoy the second half. Although, I think there was definitely room for more, as the plot was a bit thin.

And I’m sorry but Maeve was so dull, even when she was being “bad”.

This quote really summed up my 3 years of theatre training succinctly:

Page 105 “On hands and knees, I curved my spine and looked for someone to imitate. I had no idea what a coyote was. Beside me, Dylan snarled at the wall and tore his nails along the floorboards. Moments like this took me completely out of the task, and I’d wonder, what does any of this have to do with becoming an actor?”

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars. Read as an audiobook after attending an author talk about the novel. I was intrigued by her statement that no one has written using a drama school and acting training as the setting and drive behind a novel. Then I read this and realised why. I have studied drama and theatre and this novel reminded me why I moved away from that industry. Too much self importance, too much over-analysing, too much judgement of yourself and others, too many people using positions of power over the vulnerable. While this was a very good representation of the world of dramatics arts training, it doesn't make for good reading unless your doing it as a cautionary tale. I mean, who really enjoys hearing about the over-inflated emotional inner-workings of a teenage student? If you do, read this. I personally read to end because I was trapped in a vehicle on a long drive with nothing else to listen to, not because it was something I just couldn't put down. I really enjoyed the silence once it finished.

[Jillwilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seventeen-year-old Maeve has recently arrived in Melbourne from the Gold Coast to begin her first year studying Drama/Acting at the Victorian College of the Arts. At the outset, it’s made clear that this is a place that is really hard to get into – and that about half the successful entrants do not graduate at the end of the three-year course. It’s tough. Maeve is also quite young to be accepted – most of the other first years have some experience under their belt. When she arrives on campus, Maeve hears stories of a student who committed suicide after experiencing the intensity of the course, but she also hears about Sylvie, a student apparently so talented that her second-year performance led to a part in an upcoming film of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull.

I really liked this book. As the title indicates, it’s the story of Maeve’s first year at college. It made me remember how raw, expansive, exciting, embarrassing and daunting it felt to go to college/university. And the drama course puts an emphasis on psychologically pushing people to the limits. The underlying premise (I think) is that you must really know yourself in order to leave that persona and enter into that of a character, to take risks, to fully inhabit another personality/ way of seeing the world. People are routinely pushed and humiliated in front of their peers. AI tells me that “Actors use their own memories and experiences to understand and identify with their character's motivations and emotions. The goal is to create a performance that feels lived, rather than acted.” Maeve’s course is really tough. I’d never thought in any depth about what the preparation for acting might be.

You so rarely encounter novels which are about someone’s work (or potential line of work) – as this one is. I felt while reading it that I was doing the course along with Maeve. The novel closely mirrors Ross’s life – she says in an interview: “I was only seventeen when I was accepted into drama school; one of the youngest to ever train there. I was also an outsider, coming from Queensland. Melbourne was an intimidating city, buzzing with creativity, and I sought an education from it.“ (https://www.allenandunwinblog.com/pos...) She writes about Melbourne vividly and well, along with capturing the close relationships that form between the students as they work through first year. IN the same interview, Ross says: “When I was a young actor in training there weren’t any stories set in Australian cities that truly articulated the beauty and the cost of choosing a creative life. If female actors were referenced in literature they were often described as vapid and their process was ignored, inflated or made a mockery of.”
Along with use of psychological techniques to push people, there are some loose boundaries between staff and students. One reviewer notes: “In such an environment, it is easy for predators to flourish. And so we meet Yates, the famous actor and director, whose sexual harassment of female students is accepted as normal by the teaching staff. This is one of the implied questions raised by the author: is it worse to damage people by exploiting their bodies, or their minds?” (https://theconversation.com/vca-gradu...) That same reviewer also noted: “Some of the portraits may be composite but the Head of School, the charismatic Quinn Medina, is drawn in such precise detail that it is relatively easy for insiders to guess the person on whom it is based.”

There’s nothing particularly notable about the prose (and you could say that most of the characters apart from Maeve are a bit one-note) but I really liked being immersed in the life of this young woman and reading about this very dramatic drama course.

[Harrislp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a bit of a random pickup from me from the library, I read the blurb and was interested to see it was a debut novel from an australian author and won some kind of award, so I thought I would give it a go. I did have some initial misgivings about reading a novel set in a drama course at university and having finished the book I think that most of those misgivings were pretty justified.

The writing itself is very solid and quite lyrical at times, and what was most impressive is the way in which Ross was able to hit a groove and really stay within it -- that is to say that there are no real high or low points in the style and pacing of the book. This means that the engagement I had with the story and the characters got deeper the further I read into the book, and by the end I sort of cared about what happened to Maeve. This stylistic solidity is probably the main reason I am giving the book four stars, just because it was so impressive. However there are a lot of issues that prevented me from giving the book five stars, or at least things that I didn't really love about the book.

I think my main issue with the novel is just how uniquely unlikeable all of the characters are. Maeve is a one-dimensional, vapid, privilege-soaked white woman who is almost insufferably reliant on the approval of others and doesn't seem to gain any knowledge or insight by the end of the book. Her main love interest, Saxon, is also a flat cardboard cutout of a person, and overall every single character seems to have exactly the same traits, interests, voice and role in the book, until they all seem to blend together and you don't know who is talking, who has slept with who, and who is making the narrative move along. Talk about a bunch of spoiled whiteys, if you told me all white people are the same after reading this I would not disagree. The lack of diversity became very grating after a while.

Also the constant red wine drinking annoyed me, in fact red wine (and toward the latter stages cocaine) became almost the most important character in the story. Nobody could do anything or go anywhere without drinking the stuff, and it oftentimes stood in place of character traits or plot development.

I did like the relationship between the teachers and the students being so fraught with abuse of power though, this was the main conceit of the novel and it played out well, I really got a sense of how naive young Maeve was as a seventeen year old getting statutory raped by her teachers and peers and how that affected her confidence and place in the world.

Overall this was a really promising debut, and I hope that Ross continues to work on her craft and writes more books, I wouldn't read a sequel to this one (would be pretty insufferable to be honest) but she has great talent and can create a very specific and interesting world out of not a lot of material, so it would be fun to see what she can do with a little more meat on the bone.

[Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

At seventeen, Maeve is naively single-minded about pursuing a life in the theatre. Joining one of the most competitive drama schools in the country, Maeve moves to Melbourne and devotes herself to the course. The expectations of the faculty are made clear from the outset: the process must be adhered to without question. With the encouragement of her new classmates, Maeve explores the darker pockets of her personality, disastrously blurring the line between the characters she must play and herself.

Oh, this was my kind of coming-of-age story! It was a full exploration of what a defining whole year could be, in terms of finding identity, passion, friendship, ambition, competition, and relationship (perhaps even love). Of course, this was probably the more dramatised version of the events (it was set in a drama school afterall!), but I totally got the vibe.

I loved the format of the storytelling, slowing down the year and dividing the book in (school) terms. I still remember processing time in that exact way a long time ago during my school days. It felt longer than it was, and everything was superimposed as I processed each experience.

Maeve gave me a good reminder of how glorious the first year (of any new experience, really) could be, despite of all the negative influences and toxic adults who should’ve known better. What a great, well-written book! The fact that this was an autofiction added to the depth of it.

(Thanks to Allen & Unwin for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)

See my bookstagram review.

[Lauren Pacella · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve ever dreamed of going to drama school or being part of the creative scene in Melbourne, this is the book for you. You need to be prepared to lose yourself in this world and not entirely understand everything going on. I love books about art and creative types including the pretention that comes along with it, so this worked for me but if you aren’t into this style of novel you’ll probably find these characters insufferable. It’s about giving everything for your art and the mental and emotional consequences that inevitably result. The book highlights some questionable teaching methods and culture at the Victorian College of the Arts based on Ross’ own experience of attending several years ago. It covers seventeen-year-old Maeve’s first year at the pretentious school and the friends, enemies, questionable teachers and work undertaken along the journey. There are the coming-of-age reflections of feeling torn between two places, losing connection with your family and friends from your hometown as you experience the wider world and what it means to be the youngest person in the room. Be prepared to be swept along for the ride and then maybe thank God you went to a ‘normal’ university where people don’t quote plays as part of their daily conversation.

Descriptions of Melbourne are fantastic too. The setting is so vivid.

[Sydney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some really interesting things about being in an arts program are captured (or at least touched on) in this story. The myopicness and strangeness of sinking into the environment and then the weirdness of being outside and feeling the need to justify/defend/or at least explain what it's like. The question mark of whether it's worth it mixed with the urgency of 'the work' and how important it feels as you go through it. The teenage moment when you realize how asshole-ish your thinking has been about your mom, about your hometown.

A large percent of the dialogue is truly insufferable. This story relishes in the things that it also seems to be trying to critique about the drama program, and ultimately hit me as self-indulgent. There are several revelations all in a row at the end of the story that verge on non-sensical individually, but are extra bizarre in sequence.

It seemed like we're meant to hate on one big bad theater teacher more than other characters in the story whose actions were much more disturbing and/or sinister. There were many under-explored avenues that could have made for a richer, more honest, more interesting story.

[Okimura1170 · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing debut novel, rightly deserved Vogel award winner 2024 for best new author less than 35 yrs.
A little bit slow at 1/4 mark but pace picks up till it's like a thriller towards the 3/4 mark as the protagonist has experienced her fall and then begins her journey back upwards in the story arc of fallen heroine.
I liked the plays referenced by the characters and drama school as part of the curriculum some of which I looked up .
The book made me want to do a BFA ....but the mental/ emotional intensity of the course for the characters in the novel is way too overwhelming.

well worth your time to read 5 stars

[Matthew Brew · Rating 5 out of 5]

First year was an intriguing and captivating insight into the mysterious world of drama school, a journey very unknown to the vast majority. I feel that Kristina Ross takes you on a rollercoaster journey of the coming of age of the protagonist. Her writing keeps you captivated and constantly drawn into the intricacy of the characters and their relationships. Ross makes the story so relatable as we all have been on a somewhat relatable path to discover ourselves and our place in the world. Ross is extremely eloquent and a brilliant writer. 10/10 would recommend to a friend!

[Kate Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful read! And so interesting getting a glimpse into the world of drama school!! I loved the way this book explored the layers between drama school and the art of acting, as well as the relationships between teachers and students. A true microcosm of talent and desires mixed with hopes and heartbreak. It is all captured within the dirty streets of Melbourne - the twisted laneways, boozy nights. As someone who spent her university years walking between flinders street and the arts precinct, I could see it all! Second year??

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

First year is an extraordinary debut that showcases her exceptional talent for storytelling. Kristina’s ability to create deeply relatable characters is unmatched, with the protagonists journey through personal growth and academic pressures resonating on every level. I can’t wait to see what comes next. Flawlessly written, this book makes sure you are captivated from start to finish.

An excellent read, 5 stars

[Layna Fong · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 3 star rating is not a reflection of the book itself but a reflection of me as the reader.

I don't think I was the right audience. I couldn't relate to the characters and found everything pretty far removed from my own world.

But I did enjoy how easy the story flowed and recommend people who are in the performing arts to pick this one up.

I will be picking up more of Kristina Ross' books in the future.

[Akriti Verma · Rating 3 out of 5]

My one-word review: "vivid"

"First Year" dives into the journey of becoming an artist. It immerses the reader in the intense world of creative studies, focusing on self-discovery, taking risks, and facing competition. The book gives a candid look behind the scenes of what it takes to become an artist. It shows how we shed parts of ourselves while trying to improve for the chance to make a breakthrough. The narrative honestly portrays the shift from the idealism of starting creative studies to the challenging realities of these institutions, both physically and emotionally. This book provides a moving and thought-provoking look at the struggles and achievements of pursuing art.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating. It was a challenge to leave the intoxicating world of Maeve and her Melbourne every time I put the book down. The shifts in cadence and pacing, emphasis and meaning in the silences sucked me in and kept me there. The commentary on the ethics of constructing and extracting art are so relevant and worth exploring.

[Katie Snell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very good writing style and an interesting subject that I had not read before. However, the characters beyond the main character were not well developed and hard to grasp. There was a lot of theatre speak that was hard to understand and if you are not across the intricate details of many plays there's a lot you will miss.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a unimelb graduate albeit a different faculty I really enjoyed the setting and the realness of it from that perspective. An enjoyable read overall but an unsatisfying ending and the quoting did drive me a bit nuts

[Maureen Bowra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because the font was funky. Then a quick read is the blurb I saw ‘Queensland’ and ‘Victorian College of the Arts’. A niche story that all my drama-school pals will relate to!! Flowed nicely, excruciating at times, could have read all three years cos I was invested.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting
It sort of gives a vibe of a Sally Rooney book but in an Australian context and a drama school.
My favourite part was just seeing the interactions between the different characters as the story progresses events happen
The school is ruthless I would not survive

[Freya Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who also attended the VCA albeit in the music department, this book was fascinating. Wonderful writing, highly intelligent. A book for people watchers and eavesdroppers.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was hard for me to get into but I warmed to it and enjoyed it in the end.

[Stacey Whitmore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the concept, did not love the execution ☹️

[Meng Tan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't quite understand it ...