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Nolan U Football #0.5
The First Play
Zander's the gorgeous quarterback that every girl wants…and he's only got eyes for Sienna…
She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen.
If there's one thing I have to do with my last year of high school, it's getting to know her.
Being around her makes me feel alive.
There's no pressure when we're together.
It's just us.
The world can't touch me when I'm with her.
Except that it can…
My football future is hanging in the balance and my parents will do anything to make sure I don't f**k it up.
They're blaming everything on her, which is bullsh*t.
They want me to leave her, but that's not going to happen.
Except that I might have to…
The First Play is a sweet and spicy prequel novella to the Nolan U Football series setting you up for Zander and Sienna's second chance romance in The Forever Play.
Perfect for fans of Kelsie Rae, Hannah Gray and Rebecca Jenshak.
She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen.
If there's one thing I have to do with my last year of high school, it's getting to know her.
Being around her makes me feel alive.
There's no pressure when we're together.
It's just us.
The world can't touch me when I'm with her.
Except that it can…
My football future is hanging in the balance and my parents will do anything to make sure I don't f**k it up.
They're blaming everything on her, which is bullsh*t.
They want me to leave her, but that's not going to happen.
Except that I might have to…
The First Play is a sweet and spicy prequel novella to the Nolan U Football series setting you up for Zander and Sienna's second chance romance in The Forever Play.
Perfect for fans of Kelsie Rae, Hannah Gray and Rebecca Jenshak.
ebook
Published January 1, 2025
454 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
About the author
Katy Archer
32 books272 followersKaty Archer is the author of sweet and spicy college sports romance. Her debut novel, The Forbidden Freshman, released in February 2024 and is for fans of slow burn hockey romance, forbidden love, and found families.
In her novels you're guaranteed to find happy endings, protective book boyfriends and sassy heroines. Welcome to the world of Nolan U, where love is a game changer…
You can find out more on her website and sign up for a sneak peek of The Forbidden Freshman!
In her novels you're guaranteed to find happy endings, protective book boyfriends and sassy heroines. Welcome to the world of Nolan U, where love is a game changer…
You can find out more on her website and sign up for a sneak peek of The Forbidden Freshman!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 1, 2025
This story is a prequel to a new series with Nolan U. This time the theme is football.
Zander and Sienna were teens in their final years of highschool. They fell fast and intense, their relationship was all consuming.
Distractions while planning their college futures was detrimental for Zander as his grades and football were not up to college standards.
Time for one of them to go to college causes such a heart break, we see a little of Zanders life then go back in time to them both. What of Sienna, looks like a big surprise for the future. We'll have to wait to see if they have a second chance as adults.
Great story, I'm looking forward to more of this series.
Zander and Sienna were teens in their final years of highschool. They fell fast and intense, their relationship was all consuming.
Distractions while planning their college futures was detrimental for Zander as his grades and football were not up to college standards.
Time for one of them to go to college causes such a heart break, we see a little of Zanders life then go back in time to them both. What of Sienna, looks like a big surprise for the future. We'll have to wait to see if they have a second chance as adults.
Great story, I'm looking forward to more of this series.
March 11, 2025
3.75/4 ⭐️
Author Katy Archer is back with a brand new Nolan U sports series.
Kicking off Nolan U Football series, The First Play is a prequel that follows the story of Zander ‘Zan’ Donahue and Sienna ‘Sen/Senny’ Beth Erling through their dual POVs in this Novella.
Although the story starts in the present, majority of it takes place in the past allowing us to get the backstory to Zander and Sienna of how they met and got together.
When it came to learning about how Zander and Sienna met, to the way their relationship flourished taking them from Friends to Lovers.
Courtesy of entertainment from shared witty banter, along with funny moments causing laughter at times, on top of cute moments coming from their evolving relationship, eventually leading to some hot and spicy times. It made for a sweet and entertaining read.
With the ins and outs, and the ups and downs showcased in their growing relationship, it allowed times of realism, seeing as it was not all sunshine and rainbows. Not when it came to outside involvement courtesy of friends and families pitching their two cents in, causing bumps to occur along the way given the rough patches Zander and Sienna were having to navigate through. Allowing the narrative development to gain some depth due to the drama that caused it, adding some dimension to the overall story.
To me this is what made the story more interesting when reading. Especially seeing how Zander and Sienna handled it all, as individuals and as a couple, given their POV chapters that expressed as so through their inner monologues.
Although advertised as a novella, I can’t deny it didn’t feel like that at times. And to me that was due to the story feeling a little slow and prolonged. But mostly due to the repetitiveness that came from reading similar sort of scenes reoccurring between Zander and Sienna of when they were together that ended in intimacy.
IMO some of it could’ve been done without, only because from how often it took place, it made you feel like you were reading the same thing one too many times. Which to me just seemed to prolong the story more than necessary.
The ending…Katy Archer most definitely finished with a bang given how she left us hanging, with wanting more considering what a cliffhanger it was.
The First Play has me excited for the continuation of Zander and Sienna’s story and where it will lead for them next in their full length novel The Forever Play from Nolan U Football series.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Author Katy Archer is back with a brand new Nolan U sports series.
Kicking off Nolan U Football series, The First Play is a prequel that follows the story of Zander ‘Zan’ Donahue and Sienna ‘Sen/Senny’ Beth Erling through their dual POVs in this Novella.
Although the story starts in the present, majority of it takes place in the past allowing us to get the backstory to Zander and Sienna of how they met and got together.
When it came to learning about how Zander and Sienna met, to the way their relationship flourished taking them from Friends to Lovers.
Courtesy of entertainment from shared witty banter, along with funny moments causing laughter at times, on top of cute moments coming from their evolving relationship, eventually leading to some hot and spicy times. It made for a sweet and entertaining read.
With the ins and outs, and the ups and downs showcased in their growing relationship, it allowed times of realism, seeing as it was not all sunshine and rainbows. Not when it came to outside involvement courtesy of friends and families pitching their two cents in, causing bumps to occur along the way given the rough patches Zander and Sienna were having to navigate through. Allowing the narrative development to gain some depth due to the drama that caused it, adding some dimension to the overall story.
To me this is what made the story more interesting when reading. Especially seeing how Zander and Sienna handled it all, as individuals and as a couple, given their POV chapters that expressed as so through their inner monologues.
Although advertised as a novella, I can’t deny it didn’t feel like that at times. And to me that was due to the story feeling a little slow and prolonged. But mostly due to the repetitiveness that came from reading similar sort of scenes reoccurring between Zander and Sienna of when they were together that ended in intimacy.
IMO some of it could’ve been done without, only because from how often it took place, it made you feel like you were reading the same thing one too many times. Which to me just seemed to prolong the story more than necessary.
The ending…Katy Archer most definitely finished with a bang given how she left us hanging, with wanting more considering what a cliffhanger it was.
The First Play has me excited for the continuation of Zander and Sienna’s story and where it will lead for them next in their full length novel The Forever Play from Nolan U Football series.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2025
Wow, I could not put this down!
This was a great prequel. I’ll admit I saw the end “surprise” coming from some intuition on the way the story was written but it was still great. I read this in a few hours and could not stop. I loved the chemistry between Zander and Sienna and seeing their relationship build. Watching it crumble was also heartbreaking but I think right for them in the moment to allow them to grow as individuals. Also, bless Zander for doing his “research” before being intimate with Sienna (swoon). I’m excited for when the continuation of their story comes out to know what made his freshman year fall apart, why he transferred to Nolan, what happened when he went home to find Sienna, and what she’s been up to since then. Overall — super great story!
This was a great prequel. I’ll admit I saw the end “surprise” coming from some intuition on the way the story was written but it was still great. I read this in a few hours and could not stop. I loved the chemistry between Zander and Sienna and seeing their relationship build. Watching it crumble was also heartbreaking but I think right for them in the moment to allow them to grow as individuals. Also, bless Zander for doing his “research” before being intimate with Sienna (swoon). I’m excited for when the continuation of their story comes out to know what made his freshman year fall apart, why he transferred to Nolan, what happened when he went home to find Sienna, and what she’s been up to since then. Overall — super great story!
May 14, 2025
The First Play is the prequel to The Forever Play in the Nolan U Football series. This is a sweet and a tad spicy short story about Zander and Sienna becoming high school sweethearts then losing your first love.
Zander is the star quarterback and an upcoming senior whose looking forward to college and just getting away from his meddling divorced parents. Just before school starts he's at a party, looks across the room and sees the most beautiful girl and has to talk to her.
Sienna is new and has seen Zander around town and has become obsessed with him. She's trying to learn everything about football because of him.
They enjoy getting to know each other and fall pretty hard for each other. But everyone around them is trying to keep them apart. When Zander is being pressured will he stay or will he go?
They
Zander is the star quarterback and an upcoming senior whose looking forward to college and just getting away from his meddling divorced parents. Just before school starts he's at a party, looks across the room and sees the most beautiful girl and has to talk to her.
Sienna is new and has seen Zander around town and has become obsessed with him. She's trying to learn everything about football because of him.
They enjoy getting to know each other and fall pretty hard for each other. But everyone around them is trying to keep them apart. When Zander is being pressured will he stay or will he go?
They
March 7, 2025
I really enjoyed getting to see Zander and Sienna as they met and started their relationship in high school. It is Zander's senior year and Sienna moved to town over the summer and is starting as a junior. They both are drawn to each other something fierce and things get intense between them pretty quickly. Zander's parents are against him dating her at all, especially his father. All his father wants him to focus on is football and school and he puts a ton of pressure on and really not in the best way. I really did enjoy watching Zander and Sienna together though. They love each other and want the best for each other but with all the outside pressure Zander is getting and his focus shifting without knowing how to balance, things start sliding and don't go the way he wanted and planned. It is intense for both of them and being so hard it is a little harder for them to handle. Zander still thinks about Sienna at times even being towards the end of his college years and it is still a sore spot for him as they were mostly supposed to be taking a break and knowing that they both still loved each other and thought that the other one was it for them. He still has some questions that he doesn't really have answers to and I can't wait to see what actually happened and see them get their second chance in their upcoming book, The Forever Play!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
March 10, 2025
4/5 ⭐️
This prequel is the perfect set up for the first book in the series and it leaves you wanting more.
Zander and Sienna have that high school sweetheart kind of love, the kind where it’s your first and you think they’re everything and this is the person you’re meant to be with for life. It’s the ignorant type of love where you haven’t experienced life yet but that person is your everything. This novella showed all stages of that kind of love, the first stage of lovey dovey, then the complete infatuation where they are everything to each other, and the most painful part, where they end up parting ways because life gets in the way and at the end of the day they’re still kids and they need to be able to spread their wings on their own.
I can’t wait for the first book in the series. I loved Nolan Hockey so I just know I’ll love Nolan Football just as much.
~ARC Review
This prequel is the perfect set up for the first book in the series and it leaves you wanting more.
Zander and Sienna have that high school sweetheart kind of love, the kind where it’s your first and you think they’re everything and this is the person you’re meant to be with for life. It’s the ignorant type of love where you haven’t experienced life yet but that person is your everything. This novella showed all stages of that kind of love, the first stage of lovey dovey, then the complete infatuation where they are everything to each other, and the most painful part, where they end up parting ways because life gets in the way and at the end of the day they’re still kids and they need to be able to spread their wings on their own.
I can’t wait for the first book in the series. I loved Nolan Hockey so I just know I’ll love Nolan Football just as much.
~ARC Review
March 5, 2025
Oh my goodness! This book was amazing! I want more of Zander and Sienna and am going to have a hard time waiting. Their character development was spot on and the story line?! Holy first love vibes. Everything from the start (when they first saw each other) to everything that unfolds through the pages screamed REAL to me (I don’t want to give the plot line away)! The pressure Zander feels from his parents to focus on football and not take this “first love” relationship seriously? I feel like a lot of parents feel that way for their own children at this age, and with the sport aspect added in, combine that with the parents’ need for him to focus on college and next steps, and again, Katy hit every detail spot on. The emotions-joy, happiness, sad, anxiety, heartbreak-alllllll the feels-were represented and done so well within the story. It definitely brings back memories of my own high school “first love.” Such a great read. And the twist at the end?!!! Yesssss girl. It is a common fear every young couple has and it was represented and unfolded so gracefully and with such smoothness that the progression to that part in the book was natural and flowed so well. Loved this book so much! May is going to take forever!! Looking forward to reading it!
March 12, 2025
Aww
This was a sweet , realistic, first love story. It will be So Hard waiting for the conclusion!! But all of the books this author has written, has been worth the wait!
This was a sweet , realistic, first love story. It will be So Hard waiting for the conclusion!! But all of the books this author has written, has been worth the wait!
March 21, 2025
Totally enjoyed it but hate cliffhangers! I know. I know. This is leading up to The Forever Play. But I’m impatient!!!
March 7, 2025
OMG!! Finally Nolan U Football guys!! The First Play is a prequel to Zander and Sienna’s story. This is a high school first love and first heartbreak story with angst and spice. I love how the story starts in the present and slowly goes into the past for the rest of the book. It shows how they meet to them falling in love, but also show first time decisions that they both needed to do. I love seeing how they were before, to who they become. That little surprise in the end?!? Perfect way to start the first book in the series!! I can’t wait to read the next one!!
I voluntarily leave an honest review of this Advanced Readers Copy.
I voluntarily leave an honest review of this Advanced Readers Copy.
March 9, 2025
Amazing book. I loved it
March 6, 2025
Zander and Sienna totally stole my heart. The attraction, chemistry and sweetness between these two characters was completely irresistible and I simply could not get enough once I dived in. This prequel gets their story off to an enticing start that had me majorly in my feels and then left my heart bruised but super eager to see what happens when their romance picks up and continues. I'm already firmly hooked on this new series and cannot wait to read every new entry.
March 23, 2025
Young love that gives you all the feels. Their story is so intense and emotional. The way they meet, their first date, his birthday, it was a love that can’t be forgotten. Making tough choices right out of high school turns into a shocking ending. But their feelings never changed.
March 16, 2025
4 stars⭐️
So excited for this story and series!
So excited for this story and series!
February 28, 2025
This prequel novella is a great setup for the first book in the series, featuring Zander and Sienna’s first love in high school - and emotions are running high! I’m definitely looking forward to reading all about their second chance at love.
One of the parts I loved most about this book was getting to know Sienna’s parents - I just adore them and their unconditional love for each other and their daughter. The world would be a better (although slightly more embarassing) place if more role models like them were around.
One of the parts I loved most about this book was getting to know Sienna’s parents - I just adore them and their unconditional love for each other and their daughter. The world would be a better (although slightly more embarassing) place if more role models like them were around.
March 9, 2025
ARC Review 📖
The First Play
Written by Katy Archer
@collegesportsromancebooks
The First Play is the perfect teaser for the next book. I just know it will make the experience so much more but knowing the whole back story for these two. I was addicted to their story but also so scared to finish it because I had an idea of how it would end but at the same time no idea how Katy would go about doing it.
Sienna & Zander are so naturally likeable but also so very relatable which is what I love the most about all of Katy’s characters.
That ending only left me wanting more. I can't wait. I know it's going to be good.
#KatyArcher
#Footballromance
#firstlove
#nolanufootball
#newadultromance
#sportsromance
Edit Canva
The First Play
Written by Katy Archer
@collegesportsromancebooks
The First Play is the perfect teaser for the next book. I just know it will make the experience so much more but knowing the whole back story for these two. I was addicted to their story but also so scared to finish it because I had an idea of how it would end but at the same time no idea how Katy would go about doing it.
Sienna & Zander are so naturally likeable but also so very relatable which is what I love the most about all of Katy’s characters.
That ending only left me wanting more. I can't wait. I know it's going to be good.
#KatyArcher
#Footballromance
#firstlove
#nolanufootball
#newadultromance
#sportsromance
Edit Canva
February 7, 2025
Amazing prequel, I cannot wait for this series! I loved this authors Nolan U Hockey series and I can tell that the Nolan U Football series is going to be just as amazing. This prequel did a great job at capturing the whole essence of young/first love and all the whirlwind that it can entail.
February 6, 2025
This was a great prequel to the Nolan U football series. It definitely had all the feelings of first loves, trials of navigating changes of growing up, and trying to find a sense of self through the changes.
I cannot wait to read this series!
I cannot wait to read this series!
February 5, 2025
The First Play is the start of a new series by Katie Archer. It was so good. This prequel is a great teaser for the series. If you liked her hockey series you are going to like this football series.
February 3, 2025
Young and passionate love. Zander and Sienna has been their first for everything. But he is a senior and facing collega and hopefully football and she is only a junior
. But when college opportunites may send Zander more than four hours again, can they keep fighting for their love or will they break up and spread their wings? If they are meant to be will their paths croos again?
. But when college opportunites may send Zander more than four hours again, can they keep fighting for their love or will they break up and spread their wings? If they are meant to be will their paths croos again?
October 31, 2025
This novella was so good and emotional. Zander and Sienna fell fast and hard in high school. Their first interaction is hilarious and sweet. And I cannot wait for their boo The End Game which is set 4 years in the future while they are in college!
May 23, 2025
4.5⭐️
🌶️.5
This is the prequel in Katy Acher's Nolan U football series.
I really enjoyed the start of this new series.
There is so much backstory between Zander and Sienna that this was a perfect way for us to get to know them.
I loved their meet-cute, I mean come on- who has never needed a little liquid courage to talk to a cute boy? There instant ataction was fun to watch then taking that and having them develop a relationship from that, it is clear that is it more than just lust that is driving them to be together.
Getting to watch their relationship develop was also fun, I like the little interludes provided as section starters as the relationship progresses. The heartbreak was felth off page, but these two are still so young and have so much life to go seek that while emotional to read, I agree with Zander that this was the right move for them.
While I used my powers of foreshadowing, I loved the surprose ending definitely going to need to know how it all turns out and what a seque into the next part.
The only thing i felt was missing in this novel, that I know Katy does well, is the inclusion of friends, They are mentioned but do not really add to the depth of the characters. However, she did a great job at making me dispise Zander's parents, well mostly his dad.
🌶️.5
This is the prequel in Katy Acher's Nolan U football series.
I really enjoyed the start of this new series.
There is so much backstory between Zander and Sienna that this was a perfect way for us to get to know them.
I loved their meet-cute, I mean come on- who has never needed a little liquid courage to talk to a cute boy? There instant ataction was fun to watch then taking that and having them develop a relationship from that, it is clear that is it more than just lust that is driving them to be together.
Getting to watch their relationship develop was also fun, I like the little interludes provided as section starters as the relationship progresses. The heartbreak was felth off page, but these two are still so young and have so much life to go seek that while emotional to read, I agree with Zander that this was the right move for them.
While I used my powers of foreshadowing, I loved the surprose ending definitely going to need to know how it all turns out and what a seque into the next part.
The only thing i felt was missing in this novel, that I know Katy does well, is the inclusion of friends, They are mentioned but do not really add to the depth of the characters. However, she did a great job at making me dispise Zander's parents, well mostly his dad.
March 28, 2025
this book got me out of my reading slump (excluding my ARC).. but the slump of picking up a book to read a book..
my heart broke and im waiting for the forever play to piece it back together...
when I saw its coming out in less than a month I wanted to cry because I want to read it now (ofc im counting down the days now until it comes out - on the day im traveling no less so I know what im going to be doing on the plane!)
zander and Sienna are the most perfect cute couple and their family life is so different, but they still work so well. I love the inexperience they both have with certain aspects of the relationship and the realistic aspect of the pressure and doubts from family... the ending just cut me up and I cannot wait for their happily ever after in the next book!
Katy Archer is easily now one of my favourite authors and cannot wait to read more books by her!
my heart broke and im waiting for the forever play to piece it back together...
when I saw its coming out in less than a month I wanted to cry because I want to read it now (ofc im counting down the days now until it comes out - on the day im traveling no less so I know what im going to be doing on the plane!)
zander and Sienna are the most perfect cute couple and their family life is so different, but they still work so well. I love the inexperience they both have with certain aspects of the relationship and the realistic aspect of the pressure and doubts from family... the ending just cut me up and I cannot wait for their happily ever after in the next book!
Katy Archer is easily now one of my favourite authors and cannot wait to read more books by her!
April 17, 2025
The First Play was so incredibly realistic for a high-school romance, one so all-encompassing that it takes over every breath. I loved this prequel and hope The Forever Play is just a little better and a little better edited. There were quite a few errors that slowed down my enjoyment of the story, but Sienna's emotions - and even Zander's, I suppose - were enough to save it for me.
April 25, 2025
This prequel to the Nolan U Football series is a sweet, touching coming of age story with all the feels. Zander and Sienna are each other's first love. The author deftly takes us through their awakening feelings, fears, elations, and firsts. I loved the characters and can't wait to see them find their happily ever after in The Forever Play.
September 13, 2025
yikes
I get the whole high school love they are young and naive . But sienna was cringe and I got second hand embarrassment for her. Only read this because it was recommended to read as a prequel otherwise high school romance isn’t for me. Hoping siennas character is much more mature and developed in the next book
I get the whole high school love they are young and naive . But sienna was cringe and I got second hand embarrassment for her. Only read this because it was recommended to read as a prequel otherwise high school romance isn’t for me. Hoping siennas character is much more mature and developed in the next book
December 22, 2025
I can't wait!!!
I was already set the read the Nolan U football series, only to find out I own the prequel, yay me, so I read it first and I'm so dang excited to now get into the series with freaking BANG!!! It was a freaking cliffhanger!!! On to the first book and continuation from the prequel. HEA here I come!!!
I was already set the read the Nolan U football series, only to find out I own the prequel, yay me, so I read it first and I'm so dang excited to now get into the series with freaking BANG!!! It was a freaking cliffhanger!!! On to the first book and continuation from the prequel. HEA here I come!!!
August 14, 2025
Wow. Talk about intense! What started as an adorable teen romance quickly became an epic love story! I fell in love with these two and was rooting for them to succeed but still understood why Zander did what he did. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book!!
October 30, 2025
Some parts of this book I rolled my eyes at. Like how hard and how the FMC talked. Not really my vibe. But I did love the setup for the book. Gives us a nice setup for a second chance. Hopefully they talk a little more mature!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews