NEW YORK, January 14 – Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, will publish THE FIRST TIME by former NFL star and ABC’s popular Bachelor Colton Underwood.

In this frank and engaging book, Underwood opens up about his childhood and goes behind the scenes of his dramatic and unconventional experience of finding love on the beloved reality show The Bachelor.

In THE FIRST TIME, Underwood tells his compelling life story, which is at times unpredictable, humorous, and inspiring.  As the Bachelor of the hit show’s 23^rd season, Underwood reveals the highs and lows that have made him who he is today: growing up in Indiana, struggling with self-image and bullying, two time all American and three years in the NFL, and of course, his journey to find love.

Underwood’s season was likely one of the most dramatic the show has ever seen. But behind the spectacle is a human being, one who will candidly share the memories of his quest for the love of his life – and the aftermath of making it work.

This compelling and entertaining memoir is sure to excite Bachelor Nation and romantics alike and to tell everyone what life is like for Underwood on the other side of the fence before and after The Bachelor.

“I’m excited to share my life in this book and hope it will give people more of an understanding of where I have come from and who I am today,” Underwood said.

Jen Bergstrom, Senior Vice President and Publisher of Gallery Books, acquired world rights from Dan Strone at Trident Media Group, with Senior Editor Natasha Simons editing.

THE FIRST TIME will be published March 31, 2020.  It will also be published simultaneously as an audiobook from Simon & Schuster Audio, read by the author.

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GALLERY BOOKS is an imprint dedicated to publishing a variety of must-read books on an array of topics. Launched in February 2010, Gallery showcases established and emerging voices in both fiction and nonfiction. This Simon & Schuster imprint collects titles from literary to commercial.  Because of its large range in authors, Gallery Books will appeal to every kind of reader.

SIMON & SCHUSTER is a global leader in general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages, and in all printed, digital and audio formats. Its distinguished roster of authors includes many of the world’s most popular and widely recognized writers, and winners of the most prestigious literary honors and awards. It is home to numerous well-known imprints and divisions such as Simon & Schuster, Scribner, Atria Books, Gallery and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom, and proudly brings the works of its authors to readers in more than 200 countries and territories. For more information visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.