Marco Álvarez: The Dark Horse Love Interest in A First Time for Everything
Overview
Marco Álvarez appears first as an old schoolmate working his family’s catering company at the engagement party of Mads’s brother Austin. Over the novel’s timeline, he moves from a casual acquaintance to Mads’s love interest, ultimately becoming her boyfriend. His arc is defined by shedding a high‑school “golden boy” persona to embrace his authentic self—a thoughtful writer, a loyal friend, and a young man learning to trust his own feelings. Marco’s journey intertwines with the novel’s exploration of coming of age and self-discovery, showing that growing up sometimes means letting go of old identities.
Plot Role
Marco serves as a catalyst for Mads’s emotional growth. He is the confidant who listens without judgment, the observer who notices her discomfort, and eventually the person who challenges her to see herself clearly. His presence threads through key turning points: the Princeton coffee meeting, the disastrous prom rescue, the summer cookout, the shore house trip, and the bachelorette weekend. He also acts as an intermediary between Mads and Katie, though this role later creates conflict when Mads learns he was “spying” at Katie’s request.
Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions
Marco’s actions consistently reveal a quiet, perceptive nature beneath an easy‑going shell. He buys Mads’s coffee when she forgets her purse, walks her to her car, and later waits until she drives away. He quits Division I soccer to pursue writing and research—a decision that astonishes Mads but proves he is willing to redefine success. When Mads is hurt at Princeton, Marco finds her at Wawa and offers to walk her back, respecting her refusal. He shows up at her house unannounced to apologize after the ugly fight, and later asks her parents’ permission to date her. These acts demonstrate maturity, empathy, and a willingness to be vulnerable.
Chronological Arc
- Early encounters (Chapters 3, 7) — Reconnection at the engagement party, playful banter. Marco notices Mads’s discomfort with the bridesmaids’ matchmaking scheme.
- Spring and summer (Chapters 9, 11, 13) — He rescues her from a bad prom date, offers support after the Derek incident, and visits her home for a family cookout. At the cookout, he reveals he quit soccer and is writing a book.
- Shore house (Chapter 15) — Intimate moments: a private sunrise, a blood‑moon walk. Marco begins to show romantic interest.
- The rift (Chapters 19, 24) — Mads learns he was reporting to Katie; a fight erupts. Marco reconciles by confessing his love and explaining his fear of falling too hard.
- Final reconciliation (Chapter 25) — After Mads’s ankle surgery, they officially start dating, take things slow, and share their first kiss at Fable. By the end of the novel they are a committed couple.
Relationships
Mads Fisher‑Michaels — The central relationship. Marco goes from “an old schoolmate” to “the last suitor standing.” Their bond is built on honest conversations, shared vulnerability, and a teasing dynamic that masks deeper feelings.
Katie — Marco’s childhood babysitter. He agrees to “keep an eye” on Mads during the blind‑date scheme, a decision that nearly destroys his relationship with Mads. Yet his loyalty to Katie is rooted in old affection and a desire to help.
Connor McCallister — A friendly rival. Marco recognizes Connor’s importance to Mads and even jokes about him, but never acts spitefully. He eventually accepts that Connor and Mads needed to try being together first.
Shelly Freeman — A toxic “situationship” that represents the old Marco—someone who settled for easy connections because he was afraid of real intimacy. Breaking up with Shelly for good is a sign of his growth.
Key Decisions and Consequences
| Decision | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Agreeing to spy for Katie | Deeply wounds Mads when she discovers the truth; leads to a painful confrontation. |
| Quitting soccer to focus on writing | Recasts his identity from “the man” to a more authentic, introspective self. |
| Getting back with Shelly out of jealousy | Delays his happiness with Mads and causes her additional hurt. |
| Confessing his love honestly | Secures Mads’s trust and leads to their official relationship. |
| Asking Mads’s parents for permission | Demonstrates respect and maturity, earning family approval. |
Themes and Symbol Connections
Marco’s arc ties directly to the novel’s themes:
- Self-discovery — He stops being “the soccer star” and becomes a writer. His line “This is Marco Álvarez, Mads. I feel like I’m finally him” is the thesis of his transformation.
- Trust and communication — The spying subplot tests both his honesty and Mads’s ability to forgive. Their eventual reconciliation hinges on open dialogue.
- Family obligation and belonging — Marco works for his family’s business, respects his parents’ values, and later integrates into Mads’s family. He understands the weight of familial duty.
- Friendship versus romance — His friendship with Mads is the foundation of their romantic relationship; he models that real love grows from mutual respect.
- Growing up and agency — His choices—from quitting soccer to breaking up with Shelly—are active assertions of who he wants to be.
Book‑Specific Questions
1. How does Marco know Katie, and why does he agree to spy on Mads?
Marco’s mother worked as a waitress in high school, and Katie babysat Marco several nights a week. When Katie noticed Mads’s discomfort with the blind‑date scheme, she asked Marco to simply watch over her—he was not instructed to interfere, only to make sure Mads was safe. Marco agreed out of loyalty to Katie and a genuine desire to help. (Evidence: Chapter 19, Chapter 24)
2. Why does Marco quit soccer in college?
He discovers that playing a Division I sport is a huge time commitment, and he wants to explore other interests. A fiction‑writing course convinces him to try authorship; he becomes a research assistant for a history professor and begins writing his own novel. (Evidence: Chapter 13)
3. What is Marco’s book about?
Marco never reveals the subject during the novel. He tells Mads, “Nobody knows. Sometimes I’m not even sure I do yet.” It remains a private project that symbolizes his new intellectual life. (Evidence: Chapter 13)
4. How does Marco’s high‑school persona differ from his college self?
In high school, Marco was the quintessential “Homecoming King”—always carrying a soccer ball, surrounded by teammates and girls, perpetually rushing off. By college, he wears glasses, reads literary fiction, writes, and seems calmer and more present. Mads notes that he now “truly heard every word” exchanged. (Evidence: Chapter 13)
5. What does Marco’s “dark horse” nickname imply about his role in the love triangle?
The term highlights that Marco was never the expected romantic choice; Connor, the boy next door, seemed the obvious partner. Marco’s late emergence as the “last suitor standing” underscores the novel’s message that love often arrives from an unexpected direction, and that timing and personal growth matter more than proximity or history. (Evidence: Chapter 25)