I'm having this exact same problem. I'm trying so so hard to love this game because I know the payoff is going to be worth it if I get over the first few hours but I'm really struggling. Any advice for struggling newbies?
As i wrote earlier, use the IGN guide till your lvl 5, youll be able after to go outside of town,you have tons on inside quest in the city to do, plus you have to invistigate on the murder to advance the main quest. Once you go out, the game really pick up. You have to find by yourself who sells stuff, who you csn sell, etc.
Im crossing my finger that in the second one, they will add something to make the quest easier to follow, but still, its an rpg, you have to find it by yourself, so it add to the challenge. Iv put i dont know, maybe 100 hours so far in this game, and by looking at the IGN guide, jesus i seem only at a bit more than half of the game.
It really worth it to get use to the first city at the beginning, but im saying it again, IGN guide is really helpful . You dont have to follow it to beat the game,but im following the guide just to show me whats the best thing to do next. This game as massively huge content in it i think its incredible. I like it even more than Witcher 3, which i played for like 10 hours, and for some reason, im just not feeling the overall story so far.