What do you think?
Rate this book
I Saw Him First
Dana doesn't know which is her first mistake: falling for Seymour Finkelstein or confiding in her best friend, Andrea. Telling Andrea wasn't supposed to be a problem. Dana doesn't expect Andrea to want Seymour for herself - and she certainly doesn't expect her to go after him!
But Dana's life isn't all bad. Not everyone gets a chance to appear on a local talk show and meet tennis star and author Buzz Janos. Buzz is not only more appealing than Seymour, he might even be interested in her. But what of her first love? Is Seymour worth fighting for? And what should Dana do about Andrea? How can she call herself a friend, all the while plotting to get the boy Dana saw first? Can Dana win Seymour back when she never had him in the first place? Does she want to?
But Dana's life isn't all bad. Not everyone gets a chance to appear on a local talk show and meet tennis star and author Buzz Janos. Buzz is not only more appealing than Seymour, he might even be interested in her. But what of her first love? Is Seymour worth fighting for? And what should Dana do about Andrea? How can she call herself a friend, all the while plotting to get the boy Dana saw first? Can Dana win Seymour back when she never had him in the first place? Does she want to?
- GenresYoung AdultFiction
120 pages, Hardcover
First published March 15, 1983
About the author
Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
253 books117 followersMarjorie Weinman Sharmat was an American children's writer. She wrote more than 130 books for children and teens and her books have been translated into several languages. They have won awards including Book of the Year by the Library of Congress or have become selections by the Literary Guild.
Perhaps Sharmat's most popular work features the child detective Nate the Great. He was inspired by and named after her father, who lived to see the first Nate book published. One story, Nate the Great Goes Undercover, was adapted as a made-for-TV movie that won the Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival Award. Sharmat's husband Mitchell Sharmat expanded Nate's storyline by creating Olivia Sharp, his cousin and fellow detective. Husband and wife wrote four Olivia Sharp books published 1989 to 1991. During the 1990s, their son Craig Sharmat (then in his thirties) wrote three Nate books with his mother. In the late 2010s, their other son Andrew Sharmat co-wrote the last two Nate books written while Marjorie Weinman Sharmat was alive. With Marjorie Weinman Sharmat's passing in 2019 Andrew has continued writing the series with Nate the Great and the Earth Day Robot (2021).
In the mid-1980s Sharmat wrote three books published in 1984 and 1985 under the pseudonym Wendy Andrews.
Sharmat also wrote the Sorority Sisters series, eight short novels published in 1986 and 1987. They are romantic fiction with a sense of humor. They are set in a California public high school (day school for ages 14 to 18, approximately).
Perhaps Sharmat's most popular work features the child detective Nate the Great. He was inspired by and named after her father, who lived to see the first Nate book published. One story, Nate the Great Goes Undercover, was adapted as a made-for-TV movie that won the Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival Award. Sharmat's husband Mitchell Sharmat expanded Nate's storyline by creating Olivia Sharp, his cousin and fellow detective. Husband and wife wrote four Olivia Sharp books published 1989 to 1991. During the 1990s, their son Craig Sharmat (then in his thirties) wrote three Nate books with his mother. In the late 2010s, their other son Andrew Sharmat co-wrote the last two Nate books written while Marjorie Weinman Sharmat was alive. With Marjorie Weinman Sharmat's passing in 2019 Andrew has continued writing the series with Nate the Great and the Earth Day Robot (2021).
In the mid-1980s Sharmat wrote three books published in 1984 and 1985 under the pseudonym Wendy Andrews.
Sharmat also wrote the Sorority Sisters series, eight short novels published in 1986 and 1987. They are romantic fiction with a sense of humor. They are set in a California public high school (day school for ages 14 to 18, approximately).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 24, 2022
Dana and Andrea are about to go toe-to-toe over a boy with the unfortunate moniker of Seymour Finklestein only Dana doesn't know it - see, she saw him first and took too long to remind Andrea of this fact or what that actually means between friends.
Definitely an 80s classic. That cover, that wry tone. However sometimes I found its humor to be too strange (Dana imagines different scenarios so a lot of the scenes don't actually happen) although there were scenes that made me lol, its details too wish-fulfillment as it turns the usual Sweet Dreams formula of fighting over a boy -- who may or may not be worth it -- on its ear.
Her parents are talk show hosts who introduce her to a dreamy tennis champ making the reader think who cares about Seymour too quickly, although all this might have worked better when I was nine. Sharmat is a great writer, I preferred Sorority Sisters but I'm looking forward to her gorgeous series. If you want to see my full review of this book - check it out on my blog featuring all 80s teen series & middle grade fiction - Cliquey pizza 2 - https://cliqueypizza.wordpress.com/
Definitely an 80s classic. That cover, that wry tone. However sometimes I found its humor to be too strange (Dana imagines different scenarios so a lot of the scenes don't actually happen) although there were scenes that made me lol, its details too wish-fulfillment as it turns the usual Sweet Dreams formula of fighting over a boy -- who may or may not be worth it -- on its ear.
Her parents are talk show hosts who introduce her to a dreamy tennis champ making the reader think who cares about Seymour too quickly, although all this might have worked better when I was nine. Sharmat is a great writer, I preferred Sorority Sisters but I'm looking forward to her gorgeous series. If you want to see my full review of this book - check it out on my blog featuring all 80s teen series & middle grade fiction - Cliquey pizza 2 - https://cliqueypizza.wordpress.com/
August 3, 2010
Oh, my god, I can't believe I forgot all about Marjorie Sharmat!
August 26, 2022
"Your eyes haven't met? That sounds gloppy."
One of a small stack of 80s teen paperbacks I took in a bag sale during the final hours of an estate sale overflowing with books, with intent to distribute in Little Free Libraries. Husband got such a kick out of the cover that I set aside a lunch hour to read through this one first. Very silly, but it was fun to giggle my way through it.
Dana's voice is charming and it touches on a few interesting ideas, like being the daughter of minor-celebrity local morning show hosts (which, she notes, can both attract and repel potential friends), or recognizing that just because a girl is very conventionally pretty and knows it doesn't mean that she can't also be a true friend. Best of all, Landing A Boy does not turn out to be the pinnacle of achievement.
And now I've FINALLY read a Marjorie Sharmat book!
One of a small stack of 80s teen paperbacks I took in a bag sale during the final hours of an estate sale overflowing with books, with intent to distribute in Little Free Libraries. Husband got such a kick out of the cover that I set aside a lunch hour to read through this one first. Very silly, but it was fun to giggle my way through it.
Dana's voice is charming and it touches on a few interesting ideas, like being the daughter of minor-celebrity local morning show hosts (which, she notes, can both attract and repel potential friends), or recognizing that just because a girl is very conventionally pretty and knows it doesn't mean that she can't also be a true friend. Best of all, Landing A Boy does not turn out to be the pinnacle of achievement.
And now I've FINALLY read a Marjorie Sharmat book!
November 5, 2019
iconic from my childhood. Such a frenemy.
Read
June 2, 2023Old teen reads
July 2, 2025
An oldie but a goodie. This was one of my mom's favorite books growing up and she told me to read it. It's a cute little romance book. Wanted to slap Andrea :))))
June 4, 2014
When I was done taking a test we had to read a book. This book was on my Teacher's bookshelf so I read it. It was a bit corny and wierd the first two chapters but then I just kept goin and.... This book is GOOD. Like the ending just got me like DANG. Great book for all girls who want to pass the time.
September 23, 2011
this is a great book (for girls that is)... hilarious!!!!
Read
June 3, 2018nk
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews