His First Girlfriend

by Nora Valters

Your son’s new girlfriend.

Your new worst enemy…?

My heart thuds as the front door swings open, and my precious son Seth walks in with his new girlfriend Lily on his arm. I’m so nervous. But she’s everything I hoped she’d be. Before long, she’s part of the family and staying every evening. We relax together and have long conversations. It’s a dream – Lily is like the daughter I never had.

But as our family dynamic shifts, the precious bond with my husband and son begins to change. I’m convinced they’re avoiding me and talking to me differently… Am I being paranoid, or is Lily turning my loved ones against me?

Then I receive a warning. It hints at a past I’ve tried so hard to erase. My carefully controlled world starts to unravel.

Is the secret I’ve tried so hard to bury about to destroy my perfect family?

And can I trust Lily? Or is my life and my son’s life in danger?

An utterly addictive psychological thriller that will have you gasping out loud. If you love None Of This Is True, John Marrs, T.M Logan and Freida McFadden you’ll be gripped by His First Girlfriend.

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Lie

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 3, 2026

About the author

Nora Valters grew up in the New Forest in the south of England and has lived in London, Manchester, Bournemouth, Oxford and Dubai. She currently resides in Weston-super-Mare.

She studied English Literature and Language at Oxford Brookes University before embarking on a career in marketing and copywriting.

Her debut psychological thriller Her Biggest Fan was published in October 2020. Now You Know came out in June 2021, Here For You in January 2022, and The Party in November 2022. The New Girl was released in February 2024 and she’s currently writing her sixth novel, which will be out soon.

Nora loves to travel and has journeyed around the world. She enjoys exploring new places, knitting/crochet, painting, hiking, and is an avid reader. She’s also a bit obsessed with dogs!

Subscribe to be notified by email when Nora’s next novel is released, for giveaways, price promotions, book recommendations as well as exclusive extra content at www.noravalters.com/subscribe

Reviews

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a wild and crazy ride! I couldn't stop listening to this twisted story of revenge, betrayal, and lies. Everyone has a secret, and many prove deadly. Lucy Paterson masterfully brings the characters to life adding intense emotion and intrigue. This one kept me guessing with its unpredictable, cleverly crafted plot. Highly recommend! Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.

[plantsandpageturners · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into His First Girlfriend by Nora Valters not knowing much and ended up flying through it on audio. It does take a minute to get moving, but once it does… buckle up.

This one is packed with secrets, messy family stuff, and the kind of past decisions that absolutely refuse to stay buried. A few parts had me raising an eyebrow because they were a bit far fetched, but honestly? I was still entertained the whole time.

Lucy Paterson’s narration kept things flowing and made it an easy listen, and that ending definitely caught me off guard.

If you want a fast, twisty thriller that keeps you guessing without a huge time commitment toss this on your TBR — it’s publishing February 3rd. Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

At one point, I even felt like I was getting gaslight in this story lol. There has to be a special name for this level of grudge holding. Jen was excited when Seth brought Lily home. She was worried about him going off to college and finding his way so she is simply thrilled that he has found his first girlfriend! But when sinister things start to occur, Jen slowly realizes that someone is gaslighting her & there’s only 1 new addition to their circle. This story kept me at the edge of my seat, as Nora Valters absolutely threw in a few twists to make you doubt what you’re thinking & the narrator did an amazing job magnifying every tense filled moment! I was fully invested in the outcome of this domestic thriller and I will definitely be reading more from this author! Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture & Bookouture Audio for an advanced reader copy & listening copy!

[leslie mayorga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley for this arc!
So I got an early copy of the audiobook. And let me tell you something I was flying through this book. It caught my attention pretty quick and I was curious to see what was wrong with her son’s first girlfriend or was she just going crazy because sometimes mother-in-law’s and daughter-in-law’s don’t seem to have the best relationship. I was curious to see how that dynamic would go down. Of course, in the beginning, Lily her son’s girlfriend is super friendly and nice even helps her out when she gets hacked because she is a computer genius. Then things starts to take a turn. Some stuff starts happening to her, and she becomes super paranoid and starts doubting people around her. She doesn’t know who to believe or what. She starts to think that his son‘s girlfriend Lily is after her. So many twists and turns happen throughout the book. I was gasping a couple of times while listening to this. It was like a whole movie, which I like, and I think the narrator did a good job in portraying the characters. Overall, I think the plot was interesting and I was pretty satisfied with the ending.
Would I recommend?
Yes

[Tara Bawdon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing from the start! A rollercoaster of questions that keep you wanting to continue and follow along for answers. The characters are not very likable and at times frustrating. Story was a bit exaggerated and unrealistic.
Overall was fun and keeps you needing to know where the story is going.

Narrator, Lucy Paterson, is wonderful. Clear soft tone with great pacing.

[Natalia Farnham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why have one crazy girlfriends when you can have two heheheheh. This was fast paced and my goodness the crazy twists and turns kept me racing to the end. This book did a great job telling a story that didn’t prolong the ending. The author did a great job developing the characters and rounding them out. Even I started doubting things!!! Thanks NetGalley!

[Ashwini]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Nora Valters is a new author to me so I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, but it was a lightning-fast, addictive read that kept me guessing until the very last page. Valters does an excellent job at weaving parallel plot threads that demand you keep reading just to see how they all come together in the end. The writing and Jen and Lily's characters were also done so well that I felt inclined to believe that maybe Jen really was just an unreliable narrator and was losing her marbles.

Despite the fast pace and interesting plot, the characters were incredibly frustrating at times with such tactless actions and reactions that had me screaming. And while the twists are frequent, the final reveals felt somewhat rushed and relied on a few "out of left field" connections that stretched the narrative's logic in my opinion.

Special mention to the audiobook narrator, Lucy Patterson who was absolutely fantastic. Her voice was so gripping and emotive that I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the story and entertained during the entire book.

All in all a pretty good book to read in one or two sittings!

[Christina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

His First Girlfriend is a gripping and entertaining read filled with plenty of twists and turns that kept me hooked from start to finish. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, another surprise was thrown in, making it hard to put down.

The audiobook narration deserves a special mention as she did a fabulous job bringing the characters and tension to life and truly engaging the listener throughout the story. The pacing was strong, the suspense was well done, and overall it was a very enjoyable experience.

[Melissa Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-easy thriller! I was entertained throughout.
I didn’t even try to figure out the double timeline.
I would’ve guessed incorrectly 🤭. Overall, I would like to read another of this authors work.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!
I enjoyed this a lot!
I will definitely read this authors next book!

[Aislinn Kennon · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I wasn’t to say thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to receive this audiobook early.

Your son's new girlfriend.
Your new worst enemy...?

She seems to have the perfect husband, son, and life that is until her son’s girlfriend comes to visit and everything starts to crack. This book had elements from the dark web, cyberstalking, buried past and murder.

This book started kinda slow for me but once the ball started rolling it just kept pulling me in. I like that everything in my opinion was tied up. I don’t recall any loose ends. I will keep my eye out for more from Nora.

[Kelsey Irish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I really enjoyed this fast paced thriller. I got this as an audible and loved the narration, once I started I couldn't stop listening! This book follows Jen, her NFL retired husband Todd, their son Seth and his new girlfriend Lilly. This is a single POV and also a dual timeline. Everyone, except sweet Seth, has a past and it made it very tough to know who you could trust. this book kept me intrigued the whole time. there was a scene towards the end that I could have done without. but dont want to give anything away! this was my first read from Valters, but will definitely be checking out more of her books!

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

His First Girlfriend by Nora Valters, although Jennifer married a famous football player being in the limelight is something she avoids like the plague her and Todd have been married for 16 years and have a son at university who’s 18 years old. They’re very excited because that night they’re finally going to meet sunSeth’s new girlfriend Lily. when they finally meet her Jen and Todd couldn’t love Lily more she’s so sweet and feels like a new awesome addition to their family they even allow her to move in when her university Apartment needs to be fumigated for rats. Lilly even helped Jen out when her computer got hit with malware and the hacker wanted $75,000 to give her back her information on her computer. needless to say Seth is over the moon and totally in love but when a woman called Keeley claiming to be a documentary director and has something desperately she needs to talk to Jennifer about at first Jennifer tries to blow her off because she’s fiercely private and she doesn’t know this woman. When she tells her it’s life and death Jennifer begrudgingly agrees to meet her at a coffee shop, Lily even goes with her. Director Keeley meets Jennifer and Lily and tells them she found her name off the black web, due to something previously stated in the book she knew her information was there what she didn’t know was that someone was paying to have her killed. She is already a paranoid person so learning someone whose identity is unknown wants to kill her only makes gin more frightful. More than once Jen thinks she knows who it is and her first suspect she even has lots of proof. Unfortunately for Jen it’s not going to end that easy and when it does will she survive? She can’t call the police because she has things in her past that if her husband or son and or the police knew she would go to jail and probably never see the family she loves so much ever again. Let me just say because when the book started I thought I knew and that this book was going to be predictable but it was absolutely not predictable it blew my mind more than one time and although I see nothing wrong with suspending belief when it comes to thrillers I think the ending or rather the showdown at the end jump the shark just a little bit just a tiny little bit because really? Now having said that I still would recommend this because I read thrillers to be shocked surprise left in awe guessing who’s the culprit in this book definitely does that in spades I do think the ending kind of ruined it in the reactions of her family really made me so angry but had they acted another way it wouldn’t have been thriller worthy. I do recommend this book it isn’t a five star read but definitely a four star read that everyone should read if thrillers are there vive.#NedGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Elisa Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Seth brings home his first ever girlfriend, she charms the whole family. But very quickly, things take a darker turn. Is Lily really out to get her, or is she just being paranoid? And are her own secrets from the past as hidden as she thought they were?

This book was gripping from the beginning, and kept me invested in the story and constantly guessing where it was going to go. The narration by Lucy Paterson was excellent - she embodied all of the characters and truly brought the story to life.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Mostly Bookish Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 🌟's

This was my first book by Nora Valters, and it certainly won’t be my last.

His First Girlfriend is a twisty, unsettling psychological thriller that gets under your skin. Jenn appears to have built a stable life ..married to her former football star husband, raising their son Seth, and working in a role helping other women. But when Seth brings home his first girlfriend, Lily, Jenn’s carefully constructed world begins to crack.

What starts as an awkward family dynamic quickly turns into something far darker as Jenn is forced to confront secrets from her past. I found myself questioning everyone’s motives right alongside her. The tension builds slowly at first, but once the story hits its stride, it races forward like a car speeding down a winding, pitch-black road.

Emotional, suspenseful, and at times quite savage, this is a great pick for fans of domestic and family-centered thrillers. If you enjoy authors like Adele Parks or Lisa Jewell, you’ll likely love this.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A parent’s worst nightmare—and a twisty ride I could not put down.

This story had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I listened to it in one sitting because I had to know how everything unraveled and where it would land. That kind of compulsive listening is always the mark of a win for me.

The audiobook is narrated by Lucy Paterson, and honestly… she could read me the iPhone manual and I’d hang on every word. Her sultry tone paired with her British accent was an absolute treat. She speaks at a slightly slower-than-average pace, but I was pleasantly surprised that speeding it up to 2x didn’t affect her tone or inflection at all. It kept me fully engaged with the plot and elevated the entire experience.

I will say—none of the characters are particularly likable. But that’s exactly what makes this story so compelling. You’re taken on an emotional rollercoaster alongside the FMC, and that discomfort adds to the tension rather than detracting from it.

I did figure out the main twist early on, but I didn’t mind. Watching how the author carefully unraveled the truth was still incredibly satisfying, and I fully approve of the execution.

If you enjoy dark, twisty thrillers that tap into parental fear and emotional chaos, this one is well worth your time—especially on audio.

I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Bookouture Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

[Suzi Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun thriller to read with a lot of unexpected moments throughout. The characters had many secrets that made the story surprising at the end!!
This was tough to put down!!
Enjoy 😊😊!!

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc of His First Girlfriend in exchange for an honest review.

I completely ate this book up! I listened to the audiobook and I found myself racing towards the finish for all the right reasons. I had to know what happened! Nora Valters is a new author for me and this was the first book from her I’ve read. I will be definitely picking up more of her novels.

The premise intrigued me for the beginning. Jen, a mother with a seemingly perfect life who is coming to terms with the fact her only son, Seth, is growing up and found himself a seemingly perfect girlfriend. Although all is not how it originally seems and Seths girlfriend is as mysterious Jen’s past.

I was completely on the edge of my seat at points and loved all the red herrings throughout. The pacing was really consistent and the story didn’t lag or slow which is the type of novel I like. I also enjoyed the tension and inner turmoil the book employs. You can really feel the love Jen feels for her family. There really is no fiercer love than a mother’s.

I also have to commend the audiobook narrator, Lucy Paterson. I am a firm believer that the narrator can make or break an audiobook and I liked the emotion and tone throughout. Lucy held my attention for the whole book!

I’m only deducting a star as I found myself getting frustrated at the continued naivety of Jen’s family throughout. While probably intended there is a limit to the amount of times I can believe they would so oblivious!

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would definitely be recommending to others!

[Bossmanaries Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for giving me an ARC of this title. My first expectation based upon the title alone is in the form of question. “Who is going to need to be unalived or committed to a long-term facility for psychoanalysis”? This is not a spoiler but the book starts off with the mom making warm peanuts with a honey rosemary drizzle. This lets me know it’s going to be sweet at times and a little crunchy at other times. I am pleasantly amazed that the book gives a steady medium-paced tone to flow throughout the book to develop the characters.

One of the greatest strengths in the audiobook is the narrator, Lucy Paterson. She gives great strength to the voices of each character, both male and female, and we are able to differentiate between whose speaking and who is being spoken to. I sense a British accent but it did not overpower the narrative. This is a wonderful example of the audio does strengthen the overall experience of the book.

As this is a thriller, you can expect to get slapped in the face with some reveals. In this book, you will have a mark on your face and some bruises after the slap from these twists. You might have to put the book down for a minute and wonder how Nora do it. If you love John Marrs or Freida McFadden, you will want to pull up a seat at the table with His First Girlfriend.

#netgalley
#hisfirstgirlfriend

[Haider]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fast-paced, addictive, and truly unputdownable. I was hooked from the very beginning, and every time I thought I had it figured out, another twist pulled me right back in. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Highly recommend! 4.5/5 ⭐️

The audiobook narration by Lucy Paterson was fantastic! She did an amazing job bringing the story to life. 5/5 ⭐️

This book releases on February 3, 2026. Be sure to grab a copy!

[Rebecca Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing from the start, His First Girlfriend pulls you in with an immediate sense of unease and a constant stream of questions that make it hard to stop listening. I found it to be an engaging psychological thriller that maintains a steady undercurrent of tension throughout—even when it occasionally tested my patience.

The story follows a main character who begins experiencing a series of strange and unsettling events, and I appreciated how strongly the book leaned into her growing confusion and paranoia as she tried to make sense of what was happening around her. At times, the repeated references to a murder that occurred many years earlier felt a bit confusing and made the story seem disjointed. However, these elements were eventually explained by the end and did make sense within the larger context, even if they contributed to the story feeling slightly exaggerated and unrealistic overall.

The pacing was fairly even and kept me engaged, especially as the book entered its final quarter. While I initially thought I had the plot figured out, the story delivered several twists near the end that genuinely surprised me and helped pull everything together. That said, those twists also pushed the story into slightly over-the-top territory for me.

The characters were intentionally frustrating rather than likable, which definitely heightened the suspense. The family dynamics, in particular, were deeply unsettling—especially the way the mother spoke about her son, which drove me a bit bonkers but clearly added to the tension and discomfort the story was aiming for. While I didn’t enjoy spending time with these characters, I do think that reaction was very much by design.

The audiobook narration by Lucy Paterson was a standout. Her clear, soft tone and excellent pacing added a lot to the listening experience and helped keep me immersed, even during moments where the story felt far-fetched.

Overall, this was a fun, twisty listen that kept me needing to know where the story was going. I rated it 3 stars, which for me means the author absolutely achieved their aims and delivered a solid thriller—I just didn’t personally fall in love with it. I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy page-turners that require a healthy suspension of disbelief. With its footballer’s wife premise and dramatic twists, I can easily imagine this story working even better as a TV adaptation. I also think it might have worked better for me in third person, as I struggled with being inside the head of the first-person narrator for the entire novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of the audiobook for His First Girlfriend

[Lu thrillskillsandchills · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

I read this eARC in under 24 hours and honestly, with it sitting under the 300 page mark, it’s very much a one day, easy to fly through kind of thriller.

This is a fast paced, messy family dynamic psychological thriller built around secrets that absolutely refuse to stay buried. The paranoia element is strong, especially as the family relationships start shifting and you’re constantly questioning whether things are actually happening or if we’re seeing events through a very unreliable lens.

There were definitely a few moments that felt a little far fetched for me, which is what pulled this down slightly from a higher rating, but overall I was entertained the entire time and genuinely wanted to keep going to see how everything would unravel.

If you’re looking for a quick, twisty domestic thriller you can realistically finish in a day, this is a solid pick.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review – His First Girlfriend by Nora Valters

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @BookoutureAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!!

The plot was somewhat predictable, but it still managed to deliver a few solid twists—especially toward the end. While it becomes clear that the main character did commit the crime, the way the story unfolds keeps you engaged and invested.

I really enjoyed how the author incorporated flashbacks from 18 years ago and seamlessly tied them into the present-day storyline. Those moments added depth and context, making the overall mystery more compelling. The character development was strong; you truly get to know the characters and feel the emotional weight of a mother doing everything she can to protect her son.

The ending offered a satisfying twist and leaned toward a mostly happy conclusion, which I appreciated. Overall, this was a fast-paced, engaging read that kept me turning the pages. I would definitely recommend it to fans of emotional thrillers and family-centered mysteries.

[Jacklyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good read! I often found my heart racing and so many questions swirling around my mind. My attention was grabbed in the beginning and held to the very end. The tense atmosphere held throughout the story and when I thought I had it all figured out, I was proven wrong. The narrator, Lucy Paterson, did an excellent job bringing this story to life! I'm looking forward to reading more of Nora Valters work!
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Arleigh Salerno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy edge of the seat read... the main "bad person" is almost known the whole time, but doubt drawn in often to make you second guess yourself and information. Slighted people thinking they deserved someone else's life... that they had it taken away causes so many problems. promises made, people turned on... people framed. truths are brought to light. what I got out of some of it? some of the headache could have been relieved if there was better communication in the family. I highly recommend this read, even in audiobook form!

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
His First Girlfriend is my first read by thriller author Nora Valters.
A very good, tension filled story that had me hooked quickly.
The build up of drama was excellent and I was flipping the pages as I wanted to know the truth.
I quite enjoyed a chaotic suburban family melodrama and when it’s filled with secrets, lies, deception and intrigue and this one had it in bucket loads.

[Sarah MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to get an advanced audiobook copy of this book and I devoured it! It reminded me of the show, “The Girlfriend” which I equally devoured. Was it riveting? No. Was it far-fetched at times? Yes. But it was extremely entertaining and I loved it. Solid thriller with good twists!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Susete Kunkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolutely a psychological ride !!!

Even though it’s clear who the “bad guy” is from the first few chapters, and even though the author hints early on enough to guess some of the twists coming, I was still surprised by the sheer number of small details, connections, and turns. ( and the amount of tiny twists that got me completely out of guard 😅).
This read had me on the edge of my seat for sure! !

[Laura Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIS FIRST GIRLFRIEND
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
I enjoyed the pacing for this book.
I found it very addictive and a very intense psychological thriller.
The characters were very well developed.
This is a great domestic and I very much recommend it ☺

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good! Little bit of a build up at the beginning, but based on the title you sorta know the story is building towards something. The ending was a little cray cray, but I would compare this to a Frieda. Short, simple, and a fun time! Audiobook was great!