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First and Forever
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26A football star and a diehard fan entangled in a PR stunt—that only one side knows is fake—might be the right play in this new romantic comedy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter.
Duffy Distefano loves three things: her dad, the family cat, and Minneapolis Coyotes football. So when she gets booed out of a game and becomes the internet’s villain, she is distraught—and disgruntled. All she did was shove Coyote Carl away when he made a move on her, but everyone else just saw a woman attacking their team’s beloved mascot. Eager to clear the air, Duffy agrees to an interview on a hit morning show. She doesn’t expect a co-guest to join her—especially not the Coyotes’ star tight end.
When MVP Connor Cunningham gets tasked with damage control to help his team out of their PR nightmare, he thought that meant saying a few words on the team’s behalf. Instead, he finds himself in a highly amusing verbal sparring match with a recently wronged fan on live TV. Duffy pelts him with fiery jabs but is also clearly diehard about the Coyotes—color him intrigued…and attracted.
The interview instantly goes viral, and the public is obsessed with them. A strong push from the Coyotes’ PR team to ride the wave results in Connor asking Duffy out. Despite his distaste for PR stunts, he’s surprised to discover being with Duffy is much easier than he thought, and somehow it doesn’t feel fake to him. Harboring this secret can only blow up, but all he knows is that if he messes things up with Duffy, it’ll be the greatest fumble of his life.
Duffy Distefano loves three things: her dad, the family cat, and Minneapolis Coyotes football. So when she gets booed out of a game and becomes the internet’s villain, she is distraught—and disgruntled. All she did was shove Coyote Carl away when he made a move on her, but everyone else just saw a woman attacking their team’s beloved mascot. Eager to clear the air, Duffy agrees to an interview on a hit morning show. She doesn’t expect a co-guest to join her—especially not the Coyotes’ star tight end.
When MVP Connor Cunningham gets tasked with damage control to help his team out of their PR nightmare, he thought that meant saying a few words on the team’s behalf. Instead, he finds himself in a highly amusing verbal sparring match with a recently wronged fan on live TV. Duffy pelts him with fiery jabs but is also clearly diehard about the Coyotes—color him intrigued…and attracted.
The interview instantly goes viral, and the public is obsessed with them. A strong push from the Coyotes’ PR team to ride the wave results in Connor asking Duffy out. Despite his distaste for PR stunts, he’s surprised to discover being with Duffy is much easier than he thought, and somehow it doesn’t feel fake to him. Harboring this secret can only blow up, but all he knows is that if he messes things up with Duffy, it’ll be the greatest fumble of his life.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 12, 2026
100 people are currently reading
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March 14, 2026
Advanced digital copy provided via NetGalley and Berkley Publishing. All thoughts are my own.
After an embarrassing run-in with her favorite football team’s mascot turns her into an internet villain, Duffy ends up in a viral TV showdown with the Coyotes’ star tight end, Connor. The public eats it up, the PR team pushes a fake-dating angle (that only one of them knows is technically fake), and what follows is supposed to be a sweet, banter-heavy sports romcom.
On paper, it hits all the tropes: fake dating, viral fame, football golden boy, found family, oblivious heroine. But that’s all it does — tick the boxes. Each trope is lined up neatly, then knocked down without depth, or any real emotional weight. And not all of them successfully land.
The side characters barely exist. The three brothers are shadows with forgettable lines. Which is a smidge disappointing bc I’m sure Lynn will have books for all of them to spend our money on.
I didn’t love the dad — his expectations felt like a pile on, on Duffy while we never see him hold anyone else to the same standard. (Probably bc there’s not enough development lol)
She’s got a bff that we literally hear zip about, other than she is good with fashion? 🙄
The “foundish family element” , which should have been heartwarming, reads flat instead of warm. Which is disappointing , I love a found family element- the feels and the warmth of them coming together and hanging out. But nothing here.
And about Duffy… Connor is upfront, direct, clear about his feelings. She understands, but the story insists she act oblivious because the plot can’t move without it. That’s not tension, it’s lazy storytelling.
Cute in moments, yes. Banter and butterflies are there. But the emotional core is missing. This book has all the romcom boxes checked, but none of the heart. Hollow, underdeveloped, and disappointing.
Many thanks to Berkley Pub. 143333 😘
Expected pub date 5/12/26
🏈 Sports romance
❤️ Insta love
🏈 "Fake' dating
❤️ Banter
🏈 Tight ends
❤️ Medical representation
🏈 He takes care of her and her family
❤️ Dual POV
🐈⬛ Cat Lover MMC/FMC
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Many thanks to Berkley Pub 14333 😘
Expected pub date 5/12/26
‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
After an embarrassing run-in with her favorite football team’s mascot turns her into an internet villain, Duffy ends up in a viral TV showdown with the Coyotes’ star tight end, Connor. The public eats it up, the PR team pushes a fake-dating angle (that only one of them knows is technically fake), and what follows is supposed to be a sweet, banter-heavy sports romcom.
On paper, it hits all the tropes: fake dating, viral fame, football golden boy, found family, oblivious heroine. But that’s all it does — tick the boxes. Each trope is lined up neatly, then knocked down without depth, or any real emotional weight. And not all of them successfully land.
The side characters barely exist. The three brothers are shadows with forgettable lines. Which is a smidge disappointing bc I’m sure Lynn will have books for all of them to spend our money on.
I didn’t love the dad — his expectations felt like a pile on, on Duffy while we never see him hold anyone else to the same standard. (Probably bc there’s not enough development lol)
She’s got a bff that we literally hear zip about, other than she is good with fashion? 🙄
The “foundish family element” , which should have been heartwarming, reads flat instead of warm. Which is disappointing , I love a found family element- the feels and the warmth of them coming together and hanging out. But nothing here.
And about Duffy… Connor is upfront, direct, clear about his feelings. She understands, but the story insists she act oblivious because the plot can’t move without it. That’s not tension, it’s lazy storytelling.
Cute in moments, yes. Banter and butterflies are there. But the emotional core is missing. This book has all the romcom boxes checked, but none of the heart. Hollow, underdeveloped, and disappointing.
Many thanks to Berkley Pub. 143333 😘
Expected pub date 5/12/26
🏈 Sports romance
❤️ Insta love
🏈 "Fake' dating
❤️ Banter
🏈 Tight ends
❤️ Medical representation
🏈 He takes care of her and her family
❤️ Dual POV
🐈⬛ Cat Lover MMC/FMC
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Many thanks to Berkley Pub 14333 😘
Expected pub date 5/12/26
‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Want to read
March 15, 2026I got the arc again ayayayayyayayayayayayyaysyayaysysysysyaysysys
March 13, 2026
This was one of the cutest books I have ever read, I really enjoyed it!!
It was lighthearted and funny, with some great banter and many adorable moments.
Duffy has been a long-time football fan, but after a moment when she pushed the overly handsy Coyote Carl goes viral, she lands herself and the team in hot waters.. She agrees to appear on a hit morning show to tell her side of the story, but she doesn't expect the Coyotes star tight-end to arrive too. Connor is there on behalf of the team to apologise and smooth the PR disaster that occurred. Their flirty banter captures the publics attention and the Coyotes PR team is determined to keep the momentum going, which prompts Connor to ask Duffy out. Their chemistry is real though and Connor is determined to win her over.. Now they're spending time together, he's getting close to her family and nothing is fake anymore.
Duffy was sarcastic, direct and so uniquely her, but she had to shoulder far too much.. Her strong bond with her dad and brothers was delightful and the grief and everything that was happening with her dad gave her more emotional depth, which I appreciated.
Connor was such a kind and attentive man, I absolutely adored him. The way he listened and remembered all the little things, how he made an effort to plan dates that were fun for Duffy and genuinely cared about her and her family, it was so special.
Tony was absolutely hilarious, the way he would always insert himself in certain situations made me laugh so much.
Duffy and Connor were really good for each other and had the same sense of humour. Their banter was perfect and there was so much chemistry and tension between them. I loved the dive bar, Dale, the game, the balcony, the zombies and the picnic, how he was there for her and her coming to California.. Their progression was fast and predictable, but I did like it, I liked it very much. The full circle moment at the end was incredibly heartwarming.
The pace and the length of the story was ideal and I had so much fun reading it. It flowed amazingly and while I didn't particularly liked the conflict, it was expected. That is the only reason I'm lowering my rating, this kind of a conflict isn't something I really enjoy... It was still an amazing read though, I needed something easy and adorable and this absolutely delivered!!
The way Lynn Painter writes is beautiful and I'll read anything she writes honestly. I would also love if we got more stories in this world, just saying..
*Thank you to Netgalley and to Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC.*
.·:*¨ ¨*:·.
Ahhhhh I got the ARC!!!
I'm soooo excited for this!!
It was lighthearted and funny, with some great banter and many adorable moments.
Duffy has been a long-time football fan, but after a moment when she pushed the overly handsy Coyote Carl goes viral, she lands herself and the team in hot waters.. She agrees to appear on a hit morning show to tell her side of the story, but she doesn't expect the Coyotes star tight-end to arrive too. Connor is there on behalf of the team to apologise and smooth the PR disaster that occurred. Their flirty banter captures the publics attention and the Coyotes PR team is determined to keep the momentum going, which prompts Connor to ask Duffy out. Their chemistry is real though and Connor is determined to win her over.. Now they're spending time together, he's getting close to her family and nothing is fake anymore.
Duffy was sarcastic, direct and so uniquely her, but she had to shoulder far too much.. Her strong bond with her dad and brothers was delightful and the grief and everything that was happening with her dad gave her more emotional depth, which I appreciated.
Connor was such a kind and attentive man, I absolutely adored him. The way he listened and remembered all the little things, how he made an effort to plan dates that were fun for Duffy and genuinely cared about her and her family, it was so special.
Tony was absolutely hilarious, the way he would always insert himself in certain situations made me laugh so much.
Duffy and Connor were really good for each other and had the same sense of humour. Their banter was perfect and there was so much chemistry and tension between them. I loved the dive bar, Dale, the game, the balcony, the zombies and the picnic, how he was there for her and her coming to California.. Their progression was fast and predictable, but I did like it, I liked it very much. The full circle moment at the end was incredibly heartwarming.
The pace and the length of the story was ideal and I had so much fun reading it. It flowed amazingly and while I didn't particularly liked the conflict, it was expected. That is the only reason I'm lowering my rating, this kind of a conflict isn't something I really enjoy... It was still an amazing read though, I needed something easy and adorable and this absolutely delivered!!
The way Lynn Painter writes is beautiful and I'll read anything she writes honestly. I would also love if we got more stories in this world, just saying..
*Thank you to Netgalley and to Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC.*
.·:*¨ ¨*:·.
Ahhhhh I got the ARC!!!
I'm soooo excited for this!!
anticipated-books
December 27, 2025LYNN PAINTER NEVER MISS 👑
CONNOR must be another version of WES
CONNOR must be another version of WES
Want to read
August 18, 2025A Push, a Player, and One PR Stunt- Ready to Make Headlines! ⚡
➷ RUNDOWN:
🏈 THE STAR PLAYER:
Connor Cunningham — MVP tight end for the Minneapolis Coyotes. Media darling. heartthrob, and apparently the team’s secret weapon for crisis control. Smiles for the cameras like he was born in a sports drink commercial. Abs you could grate cheese on. Never loses… until he meets the fan who literally shoved the team mascot.
⛹🏻♀️ THE DIEHARD FAN:
Duffy Distefano — Football is her thing. The kind of fan who can name every player, every stat, every play since the ‘09 season. She loves her dad, her cat, and her Coyotes with her whole soul. She did not sign up to be the internet’s punching bag after one very justified mascot shove.
📣 Lynn Painter is about to drop a romcom that’s half sports romance, half viral chaos, and all heart.
This isn’t just game day—it’s game on. 🏆
- A mascot shove!!
🎤 A live-TV roast.
- And a PR stunt that might just turn real!?
⚽ The Setup:
She shoved the mascot.
He defended the team.
One morning show interview later, their banter goes viral — and the Coyotes’ PR team ships them harder than the fans do.
Fake dates. Stadium PDA. Post-game hugs. The problem? Only one of them knows it’s fake.And somewhere between staged PDA and sideline smiles, he’s catching feelings faster than a wide receiver on game day.
➷ 📝 VIBE CHECK:
📍 Welcome to Minneapolis Coyotes -where the stadium’s packed, the fans are loud, and one unlucky shove at a mascot turns into the viral moment of the season.
💌 Banter so quick you’ll need an instant replay!!
🏟️ Diehard fan vs. star tight end = NFL-level enemies-to-lovers energy
📺 One morning show interview → one viral clip → one fake date
✋🏻From Sidelines to Headlines 📰🏈
☑️ He’s a walking highlight reel with a jawline made for the Jumbotron
☑️ She’s a loyal fan who bleeds Coyotes colors (and isn’t afraid to tell him when he’s trash)
-Him: golden retriever energy in public, black cat in private
-Her: “I hate you” at 3PM, googling “Connor Cunningham stats” at 3:15PM
-And Fans obv. making compilation videos of their ‘fake’ couple moments set to Taylor Swift songs...
~PR Guy: “Connor, just be nice to her until this blows over.”
Connor: “No problem.”
(Duffy walks in)
Connor, internally: I am so very, very screwed. 😮💨💥
😏 Cleats, Cameras & Complicated Feelings—it’s all fair in love and football…Ok👉🏻👈🏻
👀 Fake dating? Check.
🔥 "Wait… why does this not feel fake anymore?" Check.
💥 Locker room-level tension that belongs in overtime
📍 As a diehard football fan-girl . Cleat-clad chaos captain — I am LOSING IT. Going feral.
This book is going to be for the football fangirlies in the same way the Super Bowl is for halftime show stans — mandatory viewing. The stadium banter, the away game hotel tension, the jersey numbers, the locker room side-eyes… I am NOT going to survive this. This isn’t just a romance — this is my fantasy football team in book form. And Connor? Sir, you are about to join my fictional quarterback crush lineup immediately🤺And yes, I’m manifesting a chapter where she watches a game from the sideline in his jersey🤭💘
LOOK AT.THE.COVER! Championship energy already. 🏆
The bright red background? Instant adrenaline, like stadium lights and heart-racing touchdowns. ❤️🔥
Connor in his jersey lifting Duffy? it’s got stadium lights, jersey numbers, that “just for the photo” Iconic PR stunt vibes, but also… I’m screaming internally because he’s smiling and she’s clearly thriving in the chaos. 😏
The stadium and confetti in the background? Victory lap energy, perfectly capturing that viral-moment hype. 🎉 The font: bold, playful, and totally fun—it screams romcom energy with a side of sports drama. 🏟️
Honestly? This cover alone is a full-blown “I need this now” moment. I’m already imagining the locker room banter, sideline smirks, and viral morning show chaos. And yes… I want that jersey scene so badly. 💘
Dear Lynn Painter,
If there isn’t at least one locker room scene with aggressive “stay still for the cameras” tension, we will be writing a strongly worded letter and possibly tailgating outside your house..
Final Score Prediction:
Either the game-winning kiss… or the biggest fumble of his career.
And yes, we’ll be in the stands. Nachos in hand. Ready for the slow-mo replay. 🏟️🍿
🚨 LET’S F*CKING GOOOO 🚨
Lynn Painter, you had me at tight end and fake dating.
I want the banter. I want the slow-burn. I want Connor Cunningham looking at Duffy like she’s his last play of the season...
Baby, put me in — I’m ready to suffer. 🏈💋
➷ RUNDOWN:
🏈 THE STAR PLAYER:
Connor Cunningham — MVP tight end for the Minneapolis Coyotes. Media darling. heartthrob, and apparently the team’s secret weapon for crisis control. Smiles for the cameras like he was born in a sports drink commercial. Abs you could grate cheese on. Never loses… until he meets the fan who literally shoved the team mascot.
⛹🏻♀️ THE DIEHARD FAN:
Duffy Distefano — Football is her thing. The kind of fan who can name every player, every stat, every play since the ‘09 season. She loves her dad, her cat, and her Coyotes with her whole soul. She did not sign up to be the internet’s punching bag after one very justified mascot shove.
📣 Lynn Painter is about to drop a romcom that’s half sports romance, half viral chaos, and all heart.
This isn’t just game day—it’s game on. 🏆
- A mascot shove!!
🎤 A live-TV roast.
- And a PR stunt that might just turn real!?
⚽ The Setup:
She shoved the mascot.
He defended the team.
One morning show interview later, their banter goes viral — and the Coyotes’ PR team ships them harder than the fans do.
Fake dates. Stadium PDA. Post-game hugs. The problem? Only one of them knows it’s fake.And somewhere between staged PDA and sideline smiles, he’s catching feelings faster than a wide receiver on game day.
➷ 📝 VIBE CHECK:
📍 Welcome to Minneapolis Coyotes -where the stadium’s packed, the fans are loud, and one unlucky shove at a mascot turns into the viral moment of the season.
💌 Banter so quick you’ll need an instant replay!!
🏟️ Diehard fan vs. star tight end = NFL-level enemies-to-lovers energy
📺 One morning show interview → one viral clip → one fake date
✋🏻From Sidelines to Headlines 📰🏈
☑️ He’s a walking highlight reel with a jawline made for the Jumbotron
☑️ She’s a loyal fan who bleeds Coyotes colors (and isn’t afraid to tell him when he’s trash)
-Him: golden retriever energy in public, black cat in private
-Her: “I hate you” at 3PM, googling “Connor Cunningham stats” at 3:15PM
-And Fans obv. making compilation videos of their ‘fake’ couple moments set to Taylor Swift songs...
~PR Guy: “Connor, just be nice to her until this blows over.”
Connor: “No problem.”
(Duffy walks in)
Connor, internally: I am so very, very screwed. 😮💨💥
😏 Cleats, Cameras & Complicated Feelings—it’s all fair in love and football…Ok👉🏻👈🏻
👀 Fake dating? Check.
🔥 "Wait… why does this not feel fake anymore?" Check.
💥 Locker room-level tension that belongs in overtime
📍 As a diehard football fan-girl . Cleat-clad chaos captain — I am LOSING IT. Going feral.
This book is going to be for the football fangirlies in the same way the Super Bowl is for halftime show stans — mandatory viewing. The stadium banter, the away game hotel tension, the jersey numbers, the locker room side-eyes… I am NOT going to survive this. This isn’t just a romance — this is my fantasy football team in book form. And Connor? Sir, you are about to join my fictional quarterback crush lineup immediately🤺And yes, I’m manifesting a chapter where she watches a game from the sideline in his jersey🤭💘
LOOK AT.THE.COVER! Championship energy already. 🏆
The bright red background? Instant adrenaline, like stadium lights and heart-racing touchdowns. ❤️🔥
Connor in his jersey lifting Duffy? it’s got stadium lights, jersey numbers, that “just for the photo” Iconic PR stunt vibes, but also… I’m screaming internally because he’s smiling and she’s clearly thriving in the chaos. 😏
The stadium and confetti in the background? Victory lap energy, perfectly capturing that viral-moment hype. 🎉 The font: bold, playful, and totally fun—it screams romcom energy with a side of sports drama. 🏟️
Honestly? This cover alone is a full-blown “I need this now” moment. I’m already imagining the locker room banter, sideline smirks, and viral morning show chaos. And yes… I want that jersey scene so badly. 💘
Dear Lynn Painter,
If there isn’t at least one locker room scene with aggressive “stay still for the cameras” tension, we will be writing a strongly worded letter and possibly tailgating outside your house..
Final Score Prediction:
Either the game-winning kiss… or the biggest fumble of his career.
And yes, we’ll be in the stands. Nachos in hand. Ready for the slow-mo replay. 🏟️🍿
🚨 LET’S F*CKING GOOOO 🚨
Lynn Painter, you had me at tight end and fake dating.
I want the banter. I want the slow-burn. I want Connor Cunningham looking at Duffy like she’s his last play of the season...
Baby, put me in — I’m ready to suffer. 🏈💋
Currently reading
March 11, 2026pre-read:
got the arc for this one 🥹❤️ one of my most anticipated releases for this year! i’m actually really excited to read this one because i’ve seen so many of my friends’ reviews, and it’s all been positive ones. now, that’s one way to definitely get me pick up a book 🤭🫶🏼🧸
got the arc for this one 🥹❤️ one of my most anticipated releases for this year! i’m actually really excited to read this one because i’ve seen so many of my friends’ reviews, and it’s all been positive ones. now, that’s one way to definitely get me pick up a book 🤭🫶🏼🧸
February 19, 2026
─── ୨ৎ 4.25 stars
⤿ .ᐟ spoiler-free review
⤿ ⋮ ⟢ started: february 4th, finished: february 8th
"I was on fire as he held me against him, but at the same time I was drowning, a captive between states of matter as electricity shot through every one of my veins"
゛ ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆ tropes ⋆
.ᐟ fake dating
.ᐟ he falls first & HARDER
.ᐟ football romance
.ᐟ closed-door romance
゛ ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆ thoughts ⋆
okay this was absolutely adorable from the beginning to the end. this book has such a charming little feel to it and when Connor wasn't stealing my heart, Tony (Duffy's father) was. everyone was just so loveable, funny and entertaining.
the length of this book was actually perfect! I didn't get that feeling of the book dragging on for no reason other than to just make it longer which I appreciate SO MUCH. while the plot line was definitely predictable, I still thoroughly enjoyed this and I felt constantly giddy. this book is sure to put you in the best mood.
🥞 ⋆ duffy distefano ⋆
I mean how can you not just love Duffy?! she is hilarious, has the kindest heart and is unapollagetically herself.
Duffy is in her early 20s and chose to move back home after her mother passed away in order to give her father company and make sure he's okay. I can't even express how much I loved seeing their strong father/daughter bond; I truly fell in love with their witty selves and banter. I also just loved the way that duffy was able to still show up for herself and push through any struggles she was facing.
🏈 ⋆ connor cunningham ⋆
omg the things this man was saying had me smiling like the damn grinch. I'm OBSESSED, he is perfect.
what stands out the most about Connor to me is not only how quickly he clicked with Duffy's father and brothers, but how much he genuinely respected their opinion and wanted their approval. nothing that he did was just for show and you can tell that he would do anything for Duffy and the people she loves.
such a gorgeous human being. he's a new favourite book boyfriend for sure.
❤️🔥 ⋆ duffy + connor ⋆
yeah no these two are top 3 Lynn Painter couples for me for sure. the dates they went on in this were so much fun. I can't really do it justice with my words but I promise, just read this book if you're in the mood to giggle nonstop.
they matched each other so well. I have been deprived of good banter in a book for a little too long and these two just filled that cup to the brim and left me satisfied. I have nothing else to say, they're just perfect.
゛ ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆ quotes ⋆
"the rest of the world fucking disappeared as I got lost in every move, every sound, every sweat-inducing touch of Duffy's fingers. she became my center, the only thing in the world to exist for me, and by the time she fell asleep on me in my room, flights already changed to the next morning, I was worried I'd fallen head over heels in love with her."
"saying I was comfortable with her was too much of an understatement. it was more like she gave me comfort just by existing. I felt better when I was in her presence. more grounded, like I was at home"
"I had it bad, because as I watched her shove five fries in her mouth before balling up her wrapper and tossing it toward the trash can and sinking it (nothing but net), I realized that I was--without a doubt--head over heels in love with her."
"but--but it's your grandma's"
"I know, without a doubt, that he'd want you to have it, his cookie girl."
"I will never, ever change my mind about Duffy." he gazed at me so lovingly, it felt like we were the only ones in the room. "with you, it's forever."
゛ ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆ overall ⋆
I feel like I don't have much to say because I'll just be repeating the fact that I love this book and the characters. I highly recommend this to all romance lovers. I can say with confidence you will fall in love with Duffy and Connor.
.ᐟ thank you to netgalley and berkley publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review
⤿publishing date: may 12th 2026!
⤿ .ᐟ spoiler-free review
⤿ ⋮ ⟢ started: february 4th, finished: february 8th
"I was on fire as he held me against him, but at the same time I was drowning, a captive between states of matter as electricity shot through every one of my veins"
゛ ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆ tropes ⋆
.ᐟ fake dating
.ᐟ he falls first & HARDER
.ᐟ football romance
.ᐟ closed-door romance
゛ ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆ thoughts ⋆
okay this was absolutely adorable from the beginning to the end. this book has such a charming little feel to it and when Connor wasn't stealing my heart, Tony (Duffy's father) was. everyone was just so loveable, funny and entertaining.
the length of this book was actually perfect! I didn't get that feeling of the book dragging on for no reason other than to just make it longer which I appreciate SO MUCH. while the plot line was definitely predictable, I still thoroughly enjoyed this and I felt constantly giddy. this book is sure to put you in the best mood.
🥞 ⋆ duffy distefano ⋆
I mean how can you not just love Duffy?! she is hilarious, has the kindest heart and is unapollagetically herself.
Duffy is in her early 20s and chose to move back home after her mother passed away in order to give her father company and make sure he's okay. I can't even express how much I loved seeing their strong father/daughter bond; I truly fell in love with their witty selves and banter. I also just loved the way that duffy was able to still show up for herself and push through any struggles she was facing.
🏈 ⋆ connor cunningham ⋆
omg the things this man was saying had me smiling like the damn grinch. I'm OBSESSED, he is perfect.
what stands out the most about Connor to me is not only how quickly he clicked with Duffy's father and brothers, but how much he genuinely respected their opinion and wanted their approval. nothing that he did was just for show and you can tell that he would do anything for Duffy and the people she loves.
such a gorgeous human being. he's a new favourite book boyfriend for sure.
❤️🔥 ⋆ duffy + connor ⋆
yeah no these two are top 3 Lynn Painter couples for me for sure. the dates they went on in this were so much fun. I can't really do it justice with my words but I promise, just read this book if you're in the mood to giggle nonstop.
they matched each other so well. I have been deprived of good banter in a book for a little too long and these two just filled that cup to the brim and left me satisfied. I have nothing else to say, they're just perfect.
゛ ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆ quotes ⋆
"the rest of the world fucking disappeared as I got lost in every move, every sound, every sweat-inducing touch of Duffy's fingers. she became my center, the only thing in the world to exist for me, and by the time she fell asleep on me in my room, flights already changed to the next morning, I was worried I'd fallen head over heels in love with her."
"saying I was comfortable with her was too much of an understatement. it was more like she gave me comfort just by existing. I felt better when I was in her presence. more grounded, like I was at home"
"I had it bad, because as I watched her shove five fries in her mouth before balling up her wrapper and tossing it toward the trash can and sinking it (nothing but net), I realized that I was--without a doubt--head over heels in love with her."
"but--but it's your grandma's"
"I know, without a doubt, that he'd want you to have it, his cookie girl."
"I will never, ever change my mind about Duffy." he gazed at me so lovingly, it felt like we were the only ones in the room. "with you, it's forever."
゛ ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆ overall ⋆
I feel like I don't have much to say because I'll just be repeating the fact that I love this book and the characters. I highly recommend this to all romance lovers. I can say with confidence you will fall in love with Duffy and Connor.
.ᐟ thank you to netgalley and berkley publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review
⤿publishing date: may 12th 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⤷ 𝘵𝘺𝘴𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 <3
ˋ°•*⁀➷ 5 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 .˚💋𓍢˖˚🏈𓍢˖˚💌˚.
Why was this literally one of the most cute fun books I’ve ever read??? Lynn painter never misses, I feel like she literally can’t write a bad book
» [The alchemy- taylor swift ] «
0:00 ─〇───── 4:00
⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 🪩
౨ৎ Fake dating
౨ৎ Romance
౨ৎ New adult
౨ৎ Football romance
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
ೃ⁀➷ 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯
Ages 15+
𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 💋
౨ৎ Language- f*ck used semi frequently, sh*t, d*ck and other minor swears used frequently
౨ৎ Romance- 2 kinda fade to black scenes, semi descriptive kissing, innuendo
౨ৎ Violence- people get tackled playing football
౨ৎ Other- grief, death of a parent, dementia, a side character has lung disease, drinking
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 🏈
⤷ Duffy- help her name is lwk funny to me idk why 😭 but anyways I loved her and she was a great fmc!
⤷ Conner- ok so he couldn’t be further from my type… buuuut he might be the one exception to that 🤭 like oml he’s so hotttt and him and Duffy just had so much chemistry
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅 💌
First of all, it as incredibly entertaining and addictive. I forgot I was reading multiple times while reading it, couldn’t put it down, and finished it in just over a day. The chapters were the perfect length, and the pacing was also absolutely amazing.
The romance was also sososo perfect! There was so much chemistry and so much tension, and the banter was amazing. I loveddd the kissing scenes, they were described in the best way possible and it all just worked so well. I was literally giggling so much 🤭
Ofc, the writing style was also so good since it’s Lynn painter lol. It was fun and easy to read, extremely cute, and fluffy but with just enough emotional weight! I also surprisingly didn’t mind the football parts despite typically despising football lmao
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 🪞
I honestly can’t really think of any! The romance was as much of a slow burn as some books I’ve read,but it still worked really well
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
|💋| 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕~𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 |🏈|
AHHH THIS WAS SO GOOD
|🏈| 𝒑𝒓𝒆~𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 |💋|
I GOT THE ARC YAYAYAY!! I LITERALLY CANT WAIT TO READ THIS IK IM GONNA LOVE IT 🤭
ˋ°•*⁀➷ 5 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 .˚💋𓍢˖˚🏈𓍢˖˚💌˚.
Why was this literally one of the most cute fun books I’ve ever read??? Lynn painter never misses, I feel like she literally can’t write a bad book
» [The alchemy- taylor swift ] «
0:00 ─〇───── 4:00
⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 🪩
౨ৎ Fake dating
౨ৎ Romance
౨ৎ New adult
౨ৎ Football romance
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
ೃ⁀➷ 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯
Ages 15+
𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 💋
౨ৎ Language- f*ck used semi frequently, sh*t, d*ck and other minor swears used frequently
౨ৎ Romance- 2 kinda fade to black scenes, semi descriptive kissing, innuendo
౨ৎ Violence- people get tackled playing football
౨ৎ Other- grief, death of a parent, dementia, a side character has lung disease, drinking
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 🏈
⤷ Duffy- help her name is lwk funny to me idk why 😭 but anyways I loved her and she was a great fmc!
⤷ Conner- ok so he couldn’t be further from my type… buuuut he might be the one exception to that 🤭 like oml he’s so hotttt and him and Duffy just had so much chemistry
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅 💌
First of all, it as incredibly entertaining and addictive. I forgot I was reading multiple times while reading it, couldn’t put it down, and finished it in just over a day. The chapters were the perfect length, and the pacing was also absolutely amazing.
The romance was also sososo perfect! There was so much chemistry and so much tension, and the banter was amazing. I loveddd the kissing scenes, they were described in the best way possible and it all just worked so well. I was literally giggling so much 🤭
Ofc, the writing style was also so good since it’s Lynn painter lol. It was fun and easy to read, extremely cute, and fluffy but with just enough emotional weight! I also surprisingly didn’t mind the football parts despite typically despising football lmao
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 🪞
I honestly can’t really think of any! The romance was as much of a slow burn as some books I’ve read,but it still worked really well
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
|💋| 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕~𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 |🏈|
AHHH THIS WAS SO GOOD
|🏈| 𝒑𝒓𝒆~𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 |💋|
I GOT THE ARC YAYAYAY!! I LITERALLY CANT WAIT TO READ THIS IK IM GONNA LOVE IT 🤭
Want to read
August 15, 2025pre release:
guys how do we feel about the cover
i know i said i'll stop adding her adult romance books to my tbr cause i end up hating them every time, but what if this time is different
guys how do we feel about the cover
i know i said i'll stop adding her adult romance books to my tbr cause i end up hating them every time, but what if this time is different
March 15, 2026
── .✦ 4 stars 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
┆ ⤿ 🏈 ⌗ started: january 29, finished: february 7
⤿ review with no spoilers
‧₊˚ ┊ tropes:
.ᐟ fake dating
.ᐟ friends to lovers
.ᐟ pr relationship
.ᐟ (mini) sports romance
‧₊˚ ┊read this with my best friend mads! 💌 i love you forever my fave girl 💋⭐️
thank you to netgalley, berkley publishing and lynn painter for the arc in exchange for an honest review. OUT ON MAY 12, 2026!
‧₊˚ ┊summary and thoughts ⋆˚࿔
a devoted football fan becomes the internet’s villain after a viral misunderstanding with her favorite team’s mascot. hoping to fix her reputation, she agrees to a televised interview, only to end up sparring live on air with the team’s star tight end, who’s been pulled in for pr damage control. their sharp banter and unexpected chemistry instantly capture public attention, prompting the team to lean into the buzz by pushing a fake-dating narrative. what starts as a publicity move slowly turns into something more real, forcing both of them to navigate media pressure, hidden truths, and growing feelings that could either change everything, or blow up spectacularly.
this was honestly such a cute romance and an easy, fun read. i really enjoyed connor cunningham being the biggest green flag ever and absolutely down bad from day one, their banter was adorable, and i loved how naturally and effortlessly they fit into each other’s lives. overall, it was a feel-good sports romance that was easy to get through and left me smiling.
── .✦ characters 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
‧₊˚ ┊duffy distefano ⋆˚࿔
duffy was such an adorable character with a quick wit and a lot of heart. she carried so much on her shoulders, especially when it came to her dad, and that added emotional depth to the story without making it heavy. her warmth and humor made her easy to root for, and she really grounded the romance in a way that felt genuine and sweet. i loved reading about her!!
‧₊˚ ┊connor cunningham ⋆˚࿔
my green flag! connor was so sweet from the beginning and clearly all in from day one. i loved how patient and supportive he was with duffy, and how easily he showed up for her without hesitation. his calm presence balanced her so well, and their dynamic just worked in a really natural, comforting way.
── .✦ quotes 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
If this was Connor pretending to be my boyfriend, I couldn’t imagine what he was like for real.
It was kind of a scary revelation, because there was no way it was a good idea to need someone so much so early, but I didn’t want to think about it right now.
She was so fucking beautiful I could look at her for hours without my attention wavering in the slightest. The way her eyes crinkled when she smiled, the freckles on her nose, the wispy baby hairs she constantly blew from her face, the intriguing way that she nibbled on her gorgeous lower lip while thinking; I got tripped up in her details whenever I allowed myself to stare.
“I want you so fucking badly I’m about to pass out, that’s where I’m at,” I admitted, my knees weak from the feel of her body pressed against me. “I don’t give a shit about dates or official statuses or anything other than you and me, alone together in a room, with hours to burn.”
┆ ⤿ 🏈 ⌗ started: january 29, finished: february 7
⤿ review with no spoilers
i just gazed at her for a second like an absolute buffoon, no words at the ready because i got tripped up in her sparkling brown eyes squinted in joy. what were words when eyes smiled that way?
‧₊˚ ┊ tropes:
.ᐟ fake dating
.ᐟ friends to lovers
.ᐟ pr relationship
.ᐟ (mini) sports romance
⤿spice: 0.5/5
‧₊˚ ┊read this with my best friend mads! 💌 i love you forever my fave girl 💋⭐️
thank you to netgalley, berkley publishing and lynn painter for the arc in exchange for an honest review. OUT ON MAY 12, 2026!
‧₊˚ ┊summary and thoughts ⋆˚࿔
a devoted football fan becomes the internet’s villain after a viral misunderstanding with her favorite team’s mascot. hoping to fix her reputation, she agrees to a televised interview, only to end up sparring live on air with the team’s star tight end, who’s been pulled in for pr damage control. their sharp banter and unexpected chemistry instantly capture public attention, prompting the team to lean into the buzz by pushing a fake-dating narrative. what starts as a publicity move slowly turns into something more real, forcing both of them to navigate media pressure, hidden truths, and growing feelings that could either change everything, or blow up spectacularly.
this was honestly such a cute romance and an easy, fun read. i really enjoyed connor cunningham being the biggest green flag ever and absolutely down bad from day one, their banter was adorable, and i loved how naturally and effortlessly they fit into each other’s lives. overall, it was a feel-good sports romance that was easy to get through and left me smiling.
── .✦ characters 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
‧₊˚ ┊duffy distefano ⋆˚࿔
duffy was such an adorable character with a quick wit and a lot of heart. she carried so much on her shoulders, especially when it came to her dad, and that added emotional depth to the story without making it heavy. her warmth and humor made her easy to root for, and she really grounded the romance in a way that felt genuine and sweet. i loved reading about her!!
‧₊˚ ┊connor cunningham ⋆˚࿔
my green flag! connor was so sweet from the beginning and clearly all in from day one. i loved how patient and supportive he was with duffy, and how easily he showed up for her without hesitation. his calm presence balanced her so well, and their dynamic just worked in a really natural, comforting way.
── .✦ quotes 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
If this was Connor pretending to be my boyfriend, I couldn’t imagine what he was like for real.
It was kind of a scary revelation, because there was no way it was a good idea to need someone so much so early, but I didn’t want to think about it right now.
She was so fucking beautiful I could look at her for hours without my attention wavering in the slightest. The way her eyes crinkled when she smiled, the freckles on her nose, the wispy baby hairs she constantly blew from her face, the intriguing way that she nibbled on her gorgeous lower lip while thinking; I got tripped up in her details whenever I allowed myself to stare.
“I want you so fucking badly I’m about to pass out, that’s where I’m at,” I admitted, my knees weak from the feel of her body pressed against me. “I don’t give a shit about dates or official statuses or anything other than you and me, alone together in a room, with hours to burn.”
March 2, 2026
4.5💫
I absolutely adored this one! Connor and Duffy were instantly adorable and had me kicking my feet and giggling. Their banter and chemistry was chef's kiss! This book was exactly what I needed right now, and I was not disappointed. I love the fake dating trope so that was a nice addition to the story. It was insta-love, but it was done in a way that I actually did not mind!!
Duffy was 100% herself and didn't back away from being her true self even when there was pushback from people. I loved how headstrong she was, but also had a soft side to her when it came to her father and brothers. This family stuck by each other through thick and thin, and always made things work so that they could be there for each other when someone needed it.
Connor is going to be a new book boyfriend! 🤩 He was so loveable and took care of Duffy and her family without a second thought. He wasn't even her official boyfriend, but yet he took on the role to be a provider and caretaker for them. It was so so sweet! I also love a good football player so that was a great addition to his character- imagine him as Travis Kelce. 🤩
Overall, I highly recommend this super cute football romance! It's a closed door, fake dating romance with the most adorable couple. It's a bit cheesy and predictable, yet it was so fun and cute- which sometimes you need that in your life! 🤭
Read if you love:
🏈 fake dating
🏈 football romance
🏈 great banter
🏈 strong family relationships
🏈 closed door romance
Expected release date: May 12, 2026!
A big thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and Lynn Painter for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
˚˖𓍢ִ໋❀ — preread 🏈
omg my first ever arc !! 🥹🥹 one of my favorite authors as well, so i’m super excited 🤭💫 fake dating & football- sign me up!! 🤩 i can’t wait to read this one soon!!
starting this one finally!! so excited!! i’ve been in the mood for a football romance 🤭
I absolutely adored this one! Connor and Duffy were instantly adorable and had me kicking my feet and giggling. Their banter and chemistry was chef's kiss! This book was exactly what I needed right now, and I was not disappointed. I love the fake dating trope so that was a nice addition to the story. It was insta-love, but it was done in a way that I actually did not mind!!
Duffy was 100% herself and didn't back away from being her true self even when there was pushback from people. I loved how headstrong she was, but also had a soft side to her when it came to her father and brothers. This family stuck by each other through thick and thin, and always made things work so that they could be there for each other when someone needed it.
Connor is going to be a new book boyfriend! 🤩 He was so loveable and took care of Duffy and her family without a second thought. He wasn't even her official boyfriend, but yet he took on the role to be a provider and caretaker for them. It was so so sweet! I also love a good football player so that was a great addition to his character- imagine him as Travis Kelce. 🤩
Overall, I highly recommend this super cute football romance! It's a closed door, fake dating romance with the most adorable couple. It's a bit cheesy and predictable, yet it was so fun and cute- which sometimes you need that in your life! 🤭
Read if you love:
🏈 fake dating
🏈 football romance
🏈 great banter
🏈 strong family relationships
🏈 closed door romance
Expected release date: May 12, 2026!
A big thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and Lynn Painter for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
˚˖𓍢ִ໋❀ — preread 🏈
omg my first ever arc !! 🥹🥹 one of my favorite authors as well, so i’m super excited 🤭💫 fake dating & football- sign me up!! 🤩 i can’t wait to read this one soon!!
starting this one finally!! so excited!! i’ve been in the mood for a football romance 🤭
February 21, 2026
4.5⭐️
╰► 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!
.ıllı.ılılıılıı.lllııılı.
𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨:
» [𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖻𝖾 (𝖺𝗇 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗅𝖺𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾)] «
0:26 ———♡——— 4:53
◁◁▐▐ ▷▷
⋆˚꩜｡ 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 💭
╰┈➤ lynn painter never fails to amaze me 😩 this book was so so so good. the banter, the humor, and the easiness in which these characters and words flowed is what really made this book so fun and cute!
i missed lynn’s writing so much because in every single book i’ve read of hers, i’ve always felt something and it was always something good. she just has a way of evoking a certain kind of emotion out of me and i fucking love it 😭
i’m not even going to lie, this book takes the #2 spot as my favorite lynn painter book (nothing beats bttm)
˙⋆✮ 𝙙𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚����𝙖𝙣𝙤 🍯
✶࿐”𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑫𝒖𝒇𝒇.”✶࿐
╰┈➤ if i was laughing at any point in this book, it was most likely because of duffy. i loved her personality and the way she was blunt about everything. i literally can’t describe how much i loved her as a character. lynn painter really did her big one with duffy.
she was impenitently herself and her effortless humor really is what made me love her more and more throughout the story. to describe duffy, i would say she’s sort of free-spirited and i feel like she really lives in the moment. i threw around the word “love” so much, but it’s just the perfect word to reflect how i felt about duffy distefano.
˙⋆✮ 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙝𝙖𝙢 🏈
✶࿐“𝑺𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒐𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒊𝒛𝒛𝒚.”✶࿐
╰┈➤ how can you describe someone who is the epitome of perfect? his attentiveness and interest towards duffy literally made me fall in love with him. he’s the definition of “it’s the little things.” he learned what duffy liked and executed his ideas and dates to make things enjoyable for them both.
oh and i loved how he built a relationship not just with duffy, but her dad and brothers as well. he was such a genuine and caring person that i’m speechless and don’t know what else to say about him 😭
⋆˚꩜｡ 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣🔒
╰┈➤ duffy and connor together as a couple makes so much sense to me. with their personalities clashing, it feels like they’re one and they share the same humor. they were honestly just so refreshing and i’m so sad that there isn’t more for me to read 😔 i will be buying the physical copy when it’s released 😝
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀.ೃ࿔°
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ 𝙦𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙞 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 ᯓ★ˎˊ˗
“𝑾𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 ... 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒆𝒕, 𝒔𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈?”
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚
“𝑴𝒚 𝑫𝒖𝒇𝒇.”
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚
"𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝑰'𝒎 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑰'𝒎 𝒂𝒕,"
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚
“𝑰 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝑫𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒚.”
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚
“𝑺𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕. 𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈.”
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚
"𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑫𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒚." 𝑯𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒛𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒚, 𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎. "𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓."
ೃ༄* ೃ༄* ೃ༄* ೃ
❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･pre-read ʚɞ
guys when i tell you that when i saw i got approved for this arc in november, i was jumping off the walls 🤭 i love lynn’s books so much, they’ve all been 4 or 5 stars for me! especially bttm 😝 i can’t wait to dive back into her writing and i’m hoping this is fantastic!
⤿ ⋮ ⌗ ┆ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: 𝘧𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺 17𝘵𝘩 | 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: 𝘧𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺 20𝘵𝘩
ᝰ.ᐟ ˖᯽ ݁˖· ─ 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸
⟢ 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚: 𝙢𝙖𝙮 12𝙩𝙝 2026
╰► 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!
.ıllı.ılılıılıı.lllııılı.
𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨:
» [𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖻𝖾 (𝖺𝗇 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗅𝖺𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾)] «
0:26 ———♡——— 4:53
◁◁▐▐ ▷▷
"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒌, 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝑪𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒎."
"𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒍, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝒎𝒆, 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒇𝒂𝒏𝒐."
⋆˚꩜｡ 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 💭
╰┈➤ lynn painter never fails to amaze me 😩 this book was so so so good. the banter, the humor, and the easiness in which these characters and words flowed is what really made this book so fun and cute!
i missed lynn’s writing so much because in every single book i’ve read of hers, i’ve always felt something and it was always something good. she just has a way of evoking a certain kind of emotion out of me and i fucking love it 😭
i’m not even going to lie, this book takes the #2 spot as my favorite lynn painter book (nothing beats bttm)
˙⋆✮ 𝙙𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚����𝙖𝙣𝙤 🍯
✶࿐”𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑫𝒖𝒇𝒇.”✶࿐
╰┈➤ if i was laughing at any point in this book, it was most likely because of duffy. i loved her personality and the way she was blunt about everything. i literally can’t describe how much i loved her as a character. lynn painter really did her big one with duffy.
she was impenitently herself and her effortless humor really is what made me love her more and more throughout the story. to describe duffy, i would say she’s sort of free-spirited and i feel like she really lives in the moment. i threw around the word “love” so much, but it’s just the perfect word to reflect how i felt about duffy distefano.
˙⋆✮ 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙝𝙖𝙢 🏈
✶࿐“𝑺𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒐𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒊𝒛𝒛𝒚.”✶࿐
╰┈➤ how can you describe someone who is the epitome of perfect? his attentiveness and interest towards duffy literally made me fall in love with him. he’s the definition of “it’s the little things.” he learned what duffy liked and executed his ideas and dates to make things enjoyable for them both.
oh and i loved how he built a relationship not just with duffy, but her dad and brothers as well. he was such a genuine and caring person that i’m speechless and don’t know what else to say about him 😭
⋆˚꩜｡ 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣🔒
╰┈➤ duffy and connor together as a couple makes so much sense to me. with their personalities clashing, it feels like they’re one and they share the same humor. they were honestly just so refreshing and i’m so sad that there isn’t more for me to read 😔 i will be buying the physical copy when it’s released 😝
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀.ೃ࿔°
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ 𝙦𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙞 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 ᯓ★ˎˊ˗
“𝑾𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 ... 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒆𝒕, 𝒔𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈?”
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚
“𝑴𝒚 𝑫𝒖𝒇𝒇.”
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚
"𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝑰'𝒎 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑰'𝒎 𝒂𝒕,"
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚
“𝑰 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝑫𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒚.”
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚
“𝑺𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕. 𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈.”
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚
"𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑫𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒚." 𝑯𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒛𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒚, 𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎. "𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓."
ೃ༄* ೃ༄* ೃ༄* ೃ
❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･pre-read ʚɞ
guys when i tell you that when i saw i got approved for this arc in november, i was jumping off the walls 🤭 i love lynn’s books so much, they’ve all been 4 or 5 stars for me! especially bttm 😝 i can’t wait to dive back into her writing and i’m hoping this is fantastic!
⤿ ⋮ ⌗ ┆ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: 𝘧𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺 17𝘵𝘩 | 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: 𝘧𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺 20𝘵𝘩
ᝰ.ᐟ ˖᯽ ݁˖· ─ 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸
⟢ 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚: 𝙢𝙖𝙮 12𝙩𝙝 2026
Want to read
August 13, 20252026 is the year that I will go broke because of how many books that are releasing
December 31, 2025
This is a wildly entertaining fake-dating, sports-celebrity-meets-ordinary-girl romcom with a deliciously gender-reversed Notting Hill vibe—and I loved every minute of it. Even better, some of the supporting characters completely steal the spotlight, especially Tony, Duffy’s dad, and her three brothers, who had me laughing out loud more times than I can count.
Our main character, Duffy Distefano, is an accountant who has recently moved back into her childhood home to support her father after the loss of her mother. She’s sharp-tongued, deeply sarcastic, impulsive, brutally honest, and endearingly messy in the best way. Duffy has absolutely no luck in love—every guy she dates ends up treating her like “one of the bros.” A die-hard Minneapolis Coyotes fan, she lives for NFL Sundays with her family. So when she finally decides to watch a game at the stadium, she never expects her life to explode in front of thousands of fans.
After getting aggressively grabbed by the team’s mascot, Duffy does what she does best: she defends herself without holding back. Unfortunately, that confrontation sends the mascot tumbling down the stairs, crashing into a few rows of seats. Add in the fact that the Coyotes lose the game, and suddenly Duffy becomes public enemy number one—branded a “Football Karen,” pelted with food, and relentlessly cyber-shamed online.
Things escalate when she’s invited onto a morning show to tell her side of the story—thanks mostly to her dad’s loving push. What she doesn’t know is that the Coyotes’ star athlete and MVP, Connor Cunningham, will be there too, trying to help his team survive the PR nightmare caused by the overly handsy mascot, Coyote Carl. With more victims coming forward, the situation snowballs into a #MeToo-style scandal, and Duffy unexpectedly becomes the face of the movement.
When Duffy and Connor meet on air, sparks fly instantly—not the sweet kind at first, but the sarcastic, flirty, verbal sparring kind. Somehow, that clash ends with Connor asking her out. One moment later, paparazzi photos pop up of him standing on Duffy’s porch, surrounded by her entire loud, opinionated family like it’s prom night. What starts as a PR-driven “good look” quickly turns into something real. A formal dinner morphs into a dive-bar karaoke date, one date leads to another, and suddenly neither of them is pretending anymore.
Connor is fighting to secure his place on the team while trying not to screw things up with the one woman who feels like his soulmate. Duffy, burned by years of disappointment, has to decide whether she’s brave enough to trust her heart again and let someone truly see her. Their chemistry is electric, their banter is hilarious, and the emotional beats hit just as hard as the laughs.
Overall, I’m rounding my 3.5 up to a solid 4 stars for this hilarious, heartfelt NFL fake-dating romcom. Lynn Painter is officially one of my auto-approved romance authors—I’ll read anything she writes, because she always delivers the perfect blend of humor, heart, and swoon.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this entertaining romcom’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Our main character, Duffy Distefano, is an accountant who has recently moved back into her childhood home to support her father after the loss of her mother. She’s sharp-tongued, deeply sarcastic, impulsive, brutally honest, and endearingly messy in the best way. Duffy has absolutely no luck in love—every guy she dates ends up treating her like “one of the bros.” A die-hard Minneapolis Coyotes fan, she lives for NFL Sundays with her family. So when she finally decides to watch a game at the stadium, she never expects her life to explode in front of thousands of fans.
After getting aggressively grabbed by the team’s mascot, Duffy does what she does best: she defends herself without holding back. Unfortunately, that confrontation sends the mascot tumbling down the stairs, crashing into a few rows of seats. Add in the fact that the Coyotes lose the game, and suddenly Duffy becomes public enemy number one—branded a “Football Karen,” pelted with food, and relentlessly cyber-shamed online.
Things escalate when she’s invited onto a morning show to tell her side of the story—thanks mostly to her dad’s loving push. What she doesn’t know is that the Coyotes’ star athlete and MVP, Connor Cunningham, will be there too, trying to help his team survive the PR nightmare caused by the overly handsy mascot, Coyote Carl. With more victims coming forward, the situation snowballs into a #MeToo-style scandal, and Duffy unexpectedly becomes the face of the movement.
When Duffy and Connor meet on air, sparks fly instantly—not the sweet kind at first, but the sarcastic, flirty, verbal sparring kind. Somehow, that clash ends with Connor asking her out. One moment later, paparazzi photos pop up of him standing on Duffy’s porch, surrounded by her entire loud, opinionated family like it’s prom night. What starts as a PR-driven “good look” quickly turns into something real. A formal dinner morphs into a dive-bar karaoke date, one date leads to another, and suddenly neither of them is pretending anymore.
Connor is fighting to secure his place on the team while trying not to screw things up with the one woman who feels like his soulmate. Duffy, burned by years of disappointment, has to decide whether she’s brave enough to trust her heart again and let someone truly see her. Their chemistry is electric, their banter is hilarious, and the emotional beats hit just as hard as the laughs.
Overall, I’m rounding my 3.5 up to a solid 4 stars for this hilarious, heartfelt NFL fake-dating romcom. Lynn Painter is officially one of my auto-approved romance authors—I’ll read anything she writes, because she always delivers the perfect blend of humor, heart, and swoon.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this entertaining romcom’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
1.5 stars
ﾟ.
i could tell pretty early on that i wasn’t going to enjoy this book. i’m not a fan of insta attraction, and duffy and connor were basically acting like a couple the entire time but without the label 😵💫
connor, in particular, was unrealistically flawless. it felt like i was being hit over the head with how perfect he is every five seconds. we also don’t really get to know our main characters outside of their romance. it seemed like their only purpose in the story—heck, in life—was to be together, making their relationship feel forced rather than natural.
ⓘ thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc!
i could tell pretty early on that i wasn’t going to enjoy this book. i’m not a fan of insta attraction, and duffy and connor were basically acting like a couple the entire time but without the label 😵💫
connor, in particular, was unrealistically flawless. it felt like i was being hit over the head with how perfect he is every five seconds. we also don’t really get to know our main characters outside of their romance. it seemed like their only purpose in the story—heck, in life—was to be together, making their relationship feel forced rather than natural.
ⓘ thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⋆˙⟡ — 3.5 stars??
⤷⊹ started: january 29th, finished: january 31st
i finished this a few days ago but forgot to mark it 😭 rtc!!
— ⋆˙⟡ pre-read 𓂃˖
i got the arc!! 🤭 i’m soooo excited but also a little scared because i haven’t been enjoying lynn painter’s new adult romance… hopefully this one is different 😌 and obviously i have to read it with my bsf har!! i love being able to br so many books with you, i love you sm!! 🥹💗
thank you sm Berkeley publishing, netgalley, and lynn painter for the e-arc in exchange for a honest review!!
⤷⊹ started: january 29th, finished: january 31st
i finished this a few days ago but forgot to mark it 😭 rtc!!
— ⋆˙⟡ pre-read 𓂃˖
i got the arc!! 🤭 i’m soooo excited but also a little scared because i haven’t been enjoying lynn painter’s new adult romance… hopefully this one is different 😌 and obviously i have to read it with my bsf har!! i love being able to br so many books with you, i love you sm!! 🥹💗
thank you sm Berkeley publishing, netgalley, and lynn painter for the e-arc in exchange for a honest review!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
𐙚⋆.˚ “I should only see you ?” “Seems fair when you are all i can fucking see, all the time, even when I’m alone.” 𐙚⋆.˚
First off, thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC !
MOTHER HAS DONE IT AGAIN. I haven’t read a Lynn Painter book that I haven’t loved. This was such a light-hearted, laugh-out-loud read, and even though it felt a little bit like an insta-love book, it was still enjoyable. AND THE BANTER ? The banter was so good.
˙⋆✮ Connor Cunningham ˙⋆✮
ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : Exile by Taylor Swift
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ 1:35 ───ㅇ───── 3:47
ᴠᴏʟᴜᴍᴇ : ▮▮▮▮▮▮▯▯▯
In a world of boys…he’s a ✨gentleman✨. Andddd that pretty much sums him up. I love Connor so much, he’s such a golden retriever guy and he matches Duffy’s personality super well. They are soulllmates i’m telling you, literally meant to be 😭.
˙⋆✮ Duffy Distefano ˙⋆✮
She reminds me of a mix of Bailey from Betting on you and Dani from Fake skating, a little clumsy and nerdy. I love her dedication to the Coyotes team, even if her dad pisses me off sometimes…
ੈ✩‧₊˚ Tropes ੈ✩‧₊˚
🏈 Fake dating…but with a twist
🏈 He falls first
🏈 Forced Proximity
🏈 Banter
🏈 Sports Rom-com
𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚Preread 𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚
I GOT THE ARC YIPEEEEEEEEEEE ! Another book from my QUEEN of rom coms Lynn painter, so as usual, i have high expectations 🤭
First off, thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC !
MOTHER HAS DONE IT AGAIN. I haven’t read a Lynn Painter book that I haven’t loved. This was such a light-hearted, laugh-out-loud read, and even though it felt a little bit like an insta-love book, it was still enjoyable. AND THE BANTER ? The banter was so good.
˙⋆✮ Connor Cunningham ˙⋆✮
ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : Exile by Taylor Swift
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ 1:35 ───ㅇ───── 3:47
ᴠᴏʟᴜᴍᴇ : ▮▮▮▮▮▮▯▯▯
In a world of boys…he’s a ✨gentleman✨. Andddd that pretty much sums him up. I love Connor so much, he’s such a golden retriever guy and he matches Duffy’s personality super well. They are soulllmates i’m telling you, literally meant to be 😭.
˙⋆✮ Duffy Distefano ˙⋆✮
She reminds me of a mix of Bailey from Betting on you and Dani from Fake skating, a little clumsy and nerdy. I love her dedication to the Coyotes team, even if her dad pisses me off sometimes…
ੈ✩‧₊˚ Tropes ੈ✩‧₊˚
🏈 Fake dating…but with a twist
🏈 He falls first
🏈 Forced Proximity
🏈 Banter
🏈 Sports Rom-com
𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚Preread 𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚
I GOT THE ARC YIPEEEEEEEEEEE ! Another book from my QUEEN of rom coms Lynn painter, so as usual, i have high expectations 🤭
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
➳ 4 ☆! ❤️⭐ spoiler free + mini review
⤷ tooo cute! def buying once its released 💌
arc! @netgalley
⋆˚࿔ 20th review of the year
₊‧꒰my thoughts꒱ ‧₊
⤷ wow this was adorable, fun, and definitely a book i want to be recommending!! its been a while since we've gotten a sports romance from lynn, so seeing this made me so excited because i know she'd get it right 🤭 i love our two mcs, duffy was quirky, fun, and i loved her love for the sport. connor was sweet, kind, charismatic, and just really chill which i loved 💌 my main qualms with this book was that i feel like we didn't get more cute/iconic scene of them together. normally theres a scene in a certain book thats like MEMORABLE and everyone always talks abt it. with this it was more of just cute dates and nothing super epic!
⤷ i can appreciate this book for being fast + quick paced, and it was also funny. i also liked that her bff's name was ellie 🫡 i cant wait to get into more of LP's adult books and see what she cooks up next 👀👀 i wish we got a playlist for this (but maybe that's in the printed version!) this was lowk gonna be a 3 star because it started getting a bit too predictable by the end, but i overall really enjoyed the book and had a smile, so def a 4 star!
⤷ ALSO IF CONNOR WANTED TO.. HE WOULD.
tropes!
⋆ football romance
⋆ fake dating
⋆ golden retriever mmc
⋆ closed door
⋆ cat ppl
₊‧꒰info!꒱ ‧₊
⤷ find my book review on goodreads @elliexreads
⤷ is ecommend for adults (keep in mind it is closed door)
⤷ contemporary sports romance
publish date: may 12, 2026
₊‧ all ratings and opinions are my own ₊‧
⤷ thank you @netgalley and berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review !🫂
--------------
₊‧꒰2.20.26꒱ ‧₊
⤷ wow 2 lynn painter books in the same month?! thank you so much to netgalley for this arc!! first lynn painter arc after many other tries haha 😭🫂💌 cant wait to see what i think of this one. i NEED a romance
⤷ tooo cute! def buying once its released 💌
arc! @netgalley
⋆˚࿔ 20th review of the year
"he gazed at me so lovingly, it felt like we were the only ones in the room. "with you, its forever.""
₊‧꒰my thoughts꒱ ‧₊
⤷ wow this was adorable, fun, and definitely a book i want to be recommending!! its been a while since we've gotten a sports romance from lynn, so seeing this made me so excited because i know she'd get it right 🤭 i love our two mcs, duffy was quirky, fun, and i loved her love for the sport. connor was sweet, kind, charismatic, and just really chill which i loved 💌 my main qualms with this book was that i feel like we didn't get more cute/iconic scene of them together. normally theres a scene in a certain book thats like MEMORABLE and everyone always talks abt it. with this it was more of just cute dates and nothing super epic!
⤷ i can appreciate this book for being fast + quick paced, and it was also funny. i also liked that her bff's name was ellie 🫡 i cant wait to get into more of LP's adult books and see what she cooks up next 👀👀 i wish we got a playlist for this (but maybe that's in the printed version!) this was lowk gonna be a 3 star because it started getting a bit too predictable by the end, but i overall really enjoyed the book and had a smile, so def a 4 star!
⤷ ALSO IF CONNOR WANTED TO.. HE WOULD.
tropes!
⋆ football romance
⋆ fake dating
⋆ golden retriever mmc
⋆ closed door
⋆ cat ppl
₊‧꒰info!꒱ ‧₊
⤷ find my book review on goodreads @elliexreads
⤷ is ecommend for adults (keep in mind it is closed door)
⤷ contemporary sports romance
publish date: may 12, 2026
₊‧ all ratings and opinions are my own ₊‧
⤷ thank you @netgalley and berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review !🫂
--------------
₊‧꒰preview ᝰ.ᐟ꒱ ‧₊ 🏈❤️
₊‧꒰2.20.26꒱ ‧₊
⤷ wow 2 lynn painter books in the same month?! thank you so much to netgalley for this arc!! first lynn painter arc after many other tries haha 😭🫂💌 cant wait to see what i think of this one. i NEED a romance
Want to read
January 29, 2026it's a birthday miracle!!!!
I GOT THE ARC!!!! <3
I GOT THE ARC!!!! <3
November 29, 2025
4 ⭐️ Review to come. ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
❀ i'm honestly amazed by how cute this book is! it got me giggling and kicking my feet 99.9% of the time. it was so addictive, i simply could not put it down. the tension, how connor is OBSESSED with duffy is so frickin cute. let's take a moment and think how connor is literally the perfect ideal man.
❀ duffy has the right amount of sassiness. you could just simply not love her! her family is so hilarious. they had all me cackling!
❀ fake dating & football romance? ugh yes, please give us more lynn!
❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ pre-read
i've only read 1 lynn painter's books and it was fake skating. i loooved it! i'm so excited to read this cute football romance! not to mention, the cover is so CUTE.
Thank you to Berkeley Publishing, NetGalley, and Lynn Painter for the e-arc in exchange for a honest review!
❀ i'm honestly amazed by how cute this book is! it got me giggling and kicking my feet 99.9% of the time. it was so addictive, i simply could not put it down. the tension, how connor is OBSESSED with duffy is so frickin cute. let's take a moment and think how connor is literally the perfect ideal man.
❀ duffy has the right amount of sassiness. you could just simply not love her! her family is so hilarious. they had all me cackling!
❀ fake dating & football romance? ugh yes, please give us more lynn!
❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ pre-read
i've only read 1 lynn painter's books and it was fake skating. i loooved it! i'm so excited to read this cute football romance! not to mention, the cover is so CUTE.
Thank you to Berkeley Publishing, NetGalley, and Lynn Painter for the e-arc in exchange for a honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
this book was... pure ragebait. rtc... 🍟
✴︎ thank you author and netgalley for an arc! 🎸
✴︎ thank you author and netgalley for an arc! 🎸
Want to read
August 17, 2025₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞:
miss lynn painter is really just popping out books left and right and i am HERE for it!! ❤️♥️
this plot seems so interesting 👀!! i do prefer her YA books more than her adult ones but maybe this one will be different?!
miss lynn painter is really just popping out books left and right and i am HERE for it!! ❤️♥️
this plot seems so interesting 👀!! i do prefer her YA books more than her adult ones but maybe this one will be different?!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
❥・FIRST AND FOREVER
⌗┆thoughts
⤿ round of applause for this masterpiece of a book that raised my standards to impossible heights. this is officially one of my favourite reads of this year and it's neck to neck with better than the movies for my top lynn painter book. what can i say? no one writes a sports romance quite like her.
⤿ the plot was predictable, yes, but so is every good rom-com. the chemistry was so there and i absolutely adored the characters. the banter was perfect especially since they both had such rich vocabulary. i was indeed giggling and kicking my feet all 320 pages. also, the references were just peak as someone who loves movies and music.
⤿ this was a very light and fun read. it was like i was in my own little bubble and time didn't exist. i blink and there's only a chapter left. lynn painter's writing style is just flawless, very movie-like and has the ability to make you believe in love. there was just the right ratio of romance and comedy. it was fast-paced but not rushed. overall 10/10 experience (yes, it wasn't just a book, it was an experience).
⤿ one of my absolute favourite scenes is when they dueted exile. that was a very "screaming, crying, perfect storms" moment for me.
⤿ i wish i had some criticism and tips to make the next book better but i genuinely can't think of any so back to my first point of this book being perfect, i guess.
· · ─ · ⊱⋆⊰ · ─ · ·
⌗┆characters
꒰ duffy ꒱ — dare i say my favourite lynn painter fmc? this is the type of book that i not only want the man but the woman also (and i'm not even bi). she's me if i had more wits, i can't lie.
꒰ connor ꒱ — holy husband material. one word: "perfect".
· · ─ · ⊱⋆⊰ · ─ · ·
now playing. . .
so high school - taylor swift
「 6 stars ⟡ 02/14/26 - 02/15/26 」
· · ─ · ⊱⋆⊰ · ─ · ·
꒰ ❦ ꒱ pre-read
prediction :: 5 ⚝
⤿ i'm so ready for another lynn painter rom-com ౨ৎ
- huge thank yous to berkley, lynn painter and netgalley for the arc -· · ─ · ⊱⋆⊰ · ─ · ·
⌗┆thoughts
⤿ round of applause for this masterpiece of a book that raised my standards to impossible heights. this is officially one of my favourite reads of this year and it's neck to neck with better than the movies for my top lynn painter book. what can i say? no one writes a sports romance quite like her.
⤿ the plot was predictable, yes, but so is every good rom-com. the chemistry was so there and i absolutely adored the characters. the banter was perfect especially since they both had such rich vocabulary. i was indeed giggling and kicking my feet all 320 pages. also, the references were just peak as someone who loves movies and music.
⤿ this was a very light and fun read. it was like i was in my own little bubble and time didn't exist. i blink and there's only a chapter left. lynn painter's writing style is just flawless, very movie-like and has the ability to make you believe in love. there was just the right ratio of romance and comedy. it was fast-paced but not rushed. overall 10/10 experience (yes, it wasn't just a book, it was an experience).
⤿ one of my absolute favourite scenes is when they dueted exile. that was a very "screaming, crying, perfect storms" moment for me.
⤿ i wish i had some criticism and tips to make the next book better but i genuinely can't think of any so back to my first point of this book being perfect, i guess.
· · ─ · ⊱⋆⊰ · ─ · ·
⌗┆characters
꒰ duffy ꒱ — dare i say my favourite lynn painter fmc? this is the type of book that i not only want the man but the woman also (and i'm not even bi). she's me if i had more wits, i can't lie.
꒰ connor ꒱ — holy husband material. one word: "perfect".
· · ─ · ⊱⋆⊰ · ─ · ·
now playing. . .
so high school - taylor swift
「 6 stars ⟡ 02/14/26 - 02/15/26 」
· · ─ · ⊱⋆⊰ · ─ · ·
꒰ ❦ ꒱ pre-read
prediction :: 5 ⚝
⤿ i'm so ready for another lynn painter rom-com ౨ৎ
![Profile Image for dawn ౨ৎ [semi-hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1765873366i%2F196260296._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
Want to read
January 29, 2026⋆˚꩜｡ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞:
the plot and characters seem interesting! i much much prefer her YA books to her adult ones, but why not give it a try?!
i think lynn painter needs a holiday, she just keeps on releasing more and more books!
please release a betting on you sequel
*cough cough* who said that?
ONLY ALL THE LYNN PAINTER FANS
[ok that's exaggeration, but I REALLY REALLY WANT ONE 😭😭]
the plot and characters seem interesting! i much much prefer her YA books to her adult ones, but why not give it a try?!
i think lynn painter needs a holiday, she just keeps on releasing more and more books!
please release a betting on you sequel
*cough cough* who said that?
ONLY ALL THE LYNN PAINTER FANS
[ok that's exaggeration, but I REALLY REALLY WANT ONE 😭😭]
March 6, 2026
I went into this one expecting something light and charming, and it delivered exactly that. It’s an easy, engaging read that keeps you interested without trying too hard or overcomplicating things. ❤️❤️❤️
At its core, this is a fake-dating, PR-mess, opposites-colliding romance. A die-hard football fan who refuses to tone herself down gets thrown into the spotlight in the worst way, and somehow ends up verbally sparring with one of the team’s biggest stars on live TV (which was so entertaining to read). What starts as public damage control quickly snowballs into something the internet can’t get enough of.
Duffy was such a win for me. She’s unapologetically herself, loud about what she loves, and completely unconcerned with being palatable to strangers (honestly refreshing 👏🏼). Her love for her family—especially her dad—and the way they’re woven into the story made everything feel warmer and more grounded. Those moments added so much charm and emotional weight. 🫶🏼🫶🏼
Connor, on the other hand, surprised me in the best way. Yes, there’s the football-star exterior, but what really stood out was how intentional he was once he decided Duffy mattered. Even when everything was “fake,” his effort wasn’t . The way he showed up for her, listened to her, and genuinely tried to be someone she could trust made their connection feel real. I loved that their relationship grew from an actual friendship first. The chemistry builds steadily, with just enough tension to keep things interesting. Knowing there’s a secret hanging over everything adds that extra pull too. 😝😝
I will say, though, that the ending didn’t fully work for me. The final chapters before the epilogue felt rushed, and the emotional payoff wasn’t as strong as I wanted it to be. 😔 I needed more groveling, more accountability, and more time spent addressing what went wrong. 🙂↔️🤚🏼 Because of that, this ended up being a four-star read instead of five.
Overall, this was a really cute, enjoyable story with lovable characters and a fun premise. Even with my disappointment in the execution of the ending, I still had a good time reading it, and I’d absolutely recommend it if you’re in the mood for a charming, low-stress romance with heart.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”The way her eyes crinkled when she smiled, the freckles on her nose, the wispy baby hairs she constantly blew from her face, the intriguing way that she nibbled on her gorgeous lower lip while thinking; I got tripped up in her details whenever I allowed myself to stare.”
"Stop looking at the room, you're making me jealous.”
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🏈 fake dating
🏈 friends→lovers
🏈 closed door
🏈 dual POV
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Lynn Painter for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
spice rating:【🌶️】
swearing: yes
⸻⸻⸻
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
second Lynn Painter book!! Hoping it delivers!! Looks and sounds cute ❤️❤️
At its core, this is a fake-dating, PR-mess, opposites-colliding romance. A die-hard football fan who refuses to tone herself down gets thrown into the spotlight in the worst way, and somehow ends up verbally sparring with one of the team’s biggest stars on live TV (which was so entertaining to read). What starts as public damage control quickly snowballs into something the internet can’t get enough of.
Duffy was such a win for me. She’s unapologetically herself, loud about what she loves, and completely unconcerned with being palatable to strangers (honestly refreshing 👏🏼). Her love for her family—especially her dad—and the way they’re woven into the story made everything feel warmer and more grounded. Those moments added so much charm and emotional weight. 🫶🏼🫶🏼
Connor, on the other hand, surprised me in the best way. Yes, there’s the football-star exterior, but what really stood out was how intentional he was once he decided Duffy mattered. Even when everything was “fake,” his effort wasn’t . The way he showed up for her, listened to her, and genuinely tried to be someone she could trust made their connection feel real. I loved that their relationship grew from an actual friendship first. The chemistry builds steadily, with just enough tension to keep things interesting. Knowing there’s a secret hanging over everything adds that extra pull too. 😝😝
I will say, though, that the ending didn’t fully work for me. The final chapters before the epilogue felt rushed, and the emotional payoff wasn’t as strong as I wanted it to be. 😔 I needed more groveling, more accountability, and more time spent addressing what went wrong. 🙂↔️🤚🏼 Because of that, this ended up being a four-star read instead of five.
Overall, this was a really cute, enjoyable story with lovable characters and a fun premise. Even with my disappointment in the execution of the ending, I still had a good time reading it, and I’d absolutely recommend it if you’re in the mood for a charming, low-stress romance with heart.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”The way her eyes crinkled when she smiled, the freckles on her nose, the wispy baby hairs she constantly blew from her face, the intriguing way that she nibbled on her gorgeous lower lip while thinking; I got tripped up in her details whenever I allowed myself to stare.”
"Stop looking at the room, you're making me jealous.”
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things to know about the book ↓
🏈 fake dating
🏈 friends→lovers
🏈 closed door
🏈 dual POV
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Lynn Painter for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
spice rating:【🌶️】
swearing: yes
⸻⸻⸻
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
second Lynn Painter book!! Hoping it delivers!! Looks and sounds cute ❤️❤️
Want to read
August 14, 2025yes lynn keep feeding us
February 9, 2026
[arc review] I really struggled to get through this, and while it is a quick read, not a lot happened.
I’ll start off by saying that ‘first and forever’ is marketed as a NA sports romance, but there’s no sport in it—and it reads like YA. there was references to tiktok, terminologies like ‘clout’, and taylor swift.
I should’ve DNF’d the book when the mmc suggested singing exile or coney island by taylor swift on karaoke, but here we are.
I will add that while I’m not disputing men knowing or liking songs by taylor swift, it doesn’t seem realistic for anyone to suggest deep cuts like that when her radio hits seem more realistic as a karaoke song.
there wasn’t really much plot or character development either—I also finished the book not really knowing who the characters were beyond a surface level.
the story starts abruptly after duffy is caught up in a PR scandal with the minneapolis football team and their mascot, which to me felt like it started on the wrong foot. it would’ve been great for a prologue or just a chapter of the incident happening, so there’s stakes from the off—but we’re just told it happened and that was that.
connor cunningham is a football star but we don’t see anything of what entails of someone to be playing for something like the NFL.
we see glimpses of it when connor and duffy meet (the PR side of it, and the fans / paparazzi) but that’s it. we’re told he’s popular and an integral part of the team, but we see little to no ‘football’, despite it being marketed as a sports romance.
in fact there’s zero sports in it—and along with the plot, character development, and story in general, it felt like an afterthought.
the book is dual first pov and if I’m honest, it didn’t need to be, because I didn’t really get much from connor when I was in his thoughts.
the basis of the relationship connor and duffy starts on is a lie, which felt like a car crash waiting to happen because why wouldn’t he just be upfront from the start? he’s being advised by his PR to orchestrate fake dating but doesn’t bother to tell duffy?
admittedly there was parts I enjoyed—I liked the family dynamics, and banter duffy and connor had, but there was so much potential for this that felt squandered. it was very insta love but no substance to back it up.
overall the book fell flat, and the plot was nonexistent and ultimately felt like an afterthought to popular booktok tropes.
at times it feels like lynn painter wanted to try something new and popular, but there was little to no effort to create a solid book.
where was the research? some world building around the football? the character development? quiet yearning for each other? absolutely any stakes to the story at all?
it’s a shame because I really loved her last NA book, maid for each other, but this wasn’t for me.
thank you michael joseph / penguin random house for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
I’ll start off by saying that ‘first and forever’ is marketed as a NA sports romance, but there’s no sport in it—and it reads like YA. there was references to tiktok, terminologies like ‘clout’, and taylor swift.
I should’ve DNF’d the book when the mmc suggested singing exile or coney island by taylor swift on karaoke, but here we are.
I will add that while I’m not disputing men knowing or liking songs by taylor swift, it doesn’t seem realistic for anyone to suggest deep cuts like that when her radio hits seem more realistic as a karaoke song.
there wasn’t really much plot or character development either—I also finished the book not really knowing who the characters were beyond a surface level.
the story starts abruptly after duffy is caught up in a PR scandal with the minneapolis football team and their mascot, which to me felt like it started on the wrong foot. it would’ve been great for a prologue or just a chapter of the incident happening, so there’s stakes from the off—but we’re just told it happened and that was that.
connor cunningham is a football star but we don’t see anything of what entails of someone to be playing for something like the NFL.
we see glimpses of it when connor and duffy meet (the PR side of it, and the fans / paparazzi) but that’s it. we’re told he’s popular and an integral part of the team, but we see little to no ‘football’, despite it being marketed as a sports romance.
in fact there’s zero sports in it—and along with the plot, character development, and story in general, it felt like an afterthought.
the book is dual first pov and if I’m honest, it didn’t need to be, because I didn’t really get much from connor when I was in his thoughts.
the basis of the relationship connor and duffy starts on is a lie, which felt like a car crash waiting to happen because why wouldn’t he just be upfront from the start? he’s being advised by his PR to orchestrate fake dating but doesn’t bother to tell duffy?
admittedly there was parts I enjoyed—I liked the family dynamics, and banter duffy and connor had, but there was so much potential for this that felt squandered. it was very insta love but no substance to back it up.
overall the book fell flat, and the plot was nonexistent and ultimately felt like an afterthought to popular booktok tropes.
at times it feels like lynn painter wanted to try something new and popular, but there was little to no effort to create a solid book.
where was the research? some world building around the football? the character development? quiet yearning for each other? absolutely any stakes to the story at all?
it’s a shame because I really loved her last NA book, maid for each other, but this wasn’t for me.
thank you michael joseph / penguin random house for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Want to read
October 23, 2025🍒❤️⚾️ pre release
EXCUSE ME?! A sports romance Lynn Painter book? Sign. Me. Up. This cover is so cutesy and I just want to have this book in my hands rn 😭 this girl has been putting out books left and right and I am here for it 🤭 hopefully this one is good!!!
EXCUSE ME?! A sports romance Lynn Painter book? Sign. Me. Up. This cover is so cutesy and I just want to have this book in my hands rn 😭 this girl has been putting out books left and right and I am here for it 🤭 hopefully this one is good!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5⭐
I adore Lynn Painter’s YA novels, and I’ve been wanting to read her adult romances for a long time—and I finally got the chance!
Duffy loves football, and she and her dad are devoted Minneapolis Coyotes fans. During one of the games, she accidentally bumps into the team mascot, Coyote Carl, and ends up becoming the internet’s villain. To fix the situation—and help improve the team’s reputation—Duffy agrees to go on a date with their star tight end, Connor.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, especially the first half; the dialogue was funny and genuinely made me smile. I also liked that there’s a more serious storyline involving the FMC’s mother’s death and her father’s illness.
The characters are very sweet. Connor, despite his popularity, is sincere and kind. He also develops a friendly relationship with the FMC’s father. And her dad is such a wonderful character—it was hilarious to watch his conversations with Duffy and Connor.
This book put me in a great mood, and I had a lovely evening reading it, but I didn’t feel enough depth in the relationship between the main characters, unlike in her YA novels.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓sports rom-com
✓fake dating
✓forced proximity
✓he falls first
✓banter
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I adore Lynn Painter’s YA novels, and I’ve been wanting to read her adult romances for a long time—and I finally got the chance!
Duffy loves football, and she and her dad are devoted Minneapolis Coyotes fans. During one of the games, she accidentally bumps into the team mascot, Coyote Carl, and ends up becoming the internet’s villain. To fix the situation—and help improve the team’s reputation—Duffy agrees to go on a date with their star tight end, Connor.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, especially the first half; the dialogue was funny and genuinely made me smile. I also liked that there’s a more serious storyline involving the FMC’s mother’s death and her father’s illness.
The characters are very sweet. Connor, despite his popularity, is sincere and kind. He also develops a friendly relationship with the FMC’s father. And her dad is such a wonderful character—it was hilarious to watch his conversations with Duffy and Connor.
This book put me in a great mood, and I had a lovely evening reading it, but I didn’t feel enough depth in the relationship between the main characters, unlike in her YA novels.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓sports rom-com
✓fake dating
✓forced proximity
✓he falls first
✓banter
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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