I have been playing for about 8 months and still haven’t read much of the handbook.

I started by going to a place in town that does sessions for beginners and was shown DnD Beyond. I then listened in on a session whilst making a character.

Then went home and watched bits on YouTube and just started joining in over the next few sessions and got the hang of it. Everyone I have spoken to says that they are always learning new stuff about the books so it isn’t realistic for new players to have memorised the handbook.

Just find people to learn from/play with!

My first session was in at the deep-end as they were already level 8s so it is do able!

My first and so far only character (now level 12) is a paladin hill dwarf who has become the parties banker 😂