First and Forever

by Lynn Painter

A 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.

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Adult, Sports, Contemporary, Rom Com, Contemporary Romance

320 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 12, 2026

Reviews

[Maddy ✨ ~The Verse Vixen {AFK brb}]

A 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. 🏈💋

[ଘRory]

LYNN PAINTER NEVER MISS 👑
CONNOR must be another version of WES

[Ashley (back!)]

pre 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

[maelyn !]

2026 is the year that I will go broke because of how many books that are releasing

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ Review to come. ❤️

[manas (suffering)]

she’s in completion with ali and frieda 🌚

[Lyla]

yes lynn keep feeding us

[emelie 𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚]

₊˚⊹ 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?!

[rosie (jason todd's version)]

★彡 pre-release:

oh ms painter. duffy?? fr?? 😭 that’s the name of a creepy teacher at my school.

also slow down!!! please!!!

but lowkey it sounds kinda good… 😳

[vanessa ⋆.☕︎]

༉‧₊˚🕯️🖤❀༉‧₊˚. I really miss giggling so much while reading Lynn’s books, and I’m hoping this one gives off those Nothing Like the Movies vibes again! If that’s the case, I’m going to absolutely eat it up! I’m so excited and eager to dive into this story, I just know it’s going to be such a fun, feel-good read! xx

[Aya ☕︎]

It's only fair for this book to make me come back to book reviewing, thank you so much Berkley and Netgalley for the amazing opportunity ❤️💛

[cat]

・❥・⁀➷ pre-read

second Lynn Painter book!! Hoping it delivers!! Looks and sounds cute ❤️❤️

[evie ᝰ ia]

lynn painter, how do you write like you're running out of time?

[May (previously Violet)]

pre-release
Yes girl yessssssss

…but erm why is her name Duffy ☝️🤓

[asra⭑.ᐟ (exam ⋆ ia)]

mother is keeping us fed 😍

[Angie Miale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fake dating, mid 20’s couple, sports romance. He’s a famous football player and she’s the team’s biggest fan. This book is everything I love about Lynn Painter- an upper midwest setting, extremely funny banter and all the chemistry. This is my favorite adult romcom from Lynn Painter yet! I love the meet cute, the misophonia representation, and a fantastic dad character. I loved the roller coaster of Connor and Duffy’s relationship. Duffy was very likable but funny. I just love the way she writes dialogue.

*a best romance of 2026* you heard it here first!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC. Book to be published 5/12/2026.

[lion ♡]

imagine it’s connor the kid liz tried to marry when they were kids 😭 (if his name was connor)

[Amanda Blanche · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Read - Releases May 2026 - thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc copy.

I don’t know if it’s the timing on top of everything, but this book hit me at the perfect time. I loved this story. And I loved the two main characters - specifically Duffy. I mean any quirky, strong, klutzy character I am down for, but her wit, tenacity and loyalty are top level. This book just made me smile the whole way through.

Duffy and her family are extreme football fans - so when Duffy accidentally takes down a handsy mascot and the team ends up losing the game - she gets booed out of the stadium and dubbed the “football Karen”. When a local news show goes on to invite her to tell her side of the story, she begrudgingly goes - only to find out there is a surprise guest - one of the top players Connor. Connor was also volun-told to appear to do some damage control for the reputation of the team. After Connor and Duffy verbally spar on air and show off some serious chemistry - the football teams PR department approaches Connor and pitches to him that he could help the team and date Duffy as the city now loves her. Connor had liked Duffy but hadn’t planned on asking her out, but once they start dating and hanging out, he realizes how wrong he was to not see all that Duffy is. But with their relationship starting on a lie that only Connor knows, can everything they built off of that be enough to keep them together?

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I'd give this book 4 stars. The banter between Duffy and Connor was great, and the whole incident with the mascot made me chuckle. Duffy's relationship with her family, especially her dad, was the highlight of this book. I had a smile on my face almost the whole time I was reading this story. I really liked reading from Connor's POV, he had some insightful things to say about adulting, making friends, and his relationship with his family. This was a nice break from the typical sports romance where the MMC is a total playboy. If you are looking for a feel-good story, look no further! This book was sweet and funny with a sprinkle of seriousness.

*Dual POV, 1st POV
*Fake dating
*Accountant/Football player

Format: ebook

Thank you so much NetGalley, Lynn Painter, and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

[⋆⭒˚.⋆ Eloise⋆⭒˚.⋆]

Pre-release:

OH WE ARE SO BACK

[~ scarlett ~ 🎄☃️]

STOP IM SO EXCITED
ITS BASEBALL THEMED AHHH
🍒⚾️♥️

[autumn❄️🎄]

Pre-release: I AM SO HERE FOR THISSSSSS

[jordan εїз · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars 🌟 sports romance with a fake dating twist? yes please 🏈🐈🏟️ duffyconnor had the best banter and i love how easily they got along in the beginning 😇

connor was such a sweetheart and i loved how duffys “thing” was constantly giving him a hard time, it was so cute ❤️‍🔥 i will say knowing the 3rd act breakup from the beginning was a bit annoying because it was like waiting for the other pin to drop 😅 when it finally did come around i think it was handled weirdly, especially because they just kissed and made up in the last chapter ??

otherwise, i liked this a lot! lynn painter is one of my favorite authors so i really enjoyed this 🫶

a special thank you to netgalley and berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Ash K · Rating 5 out of 5]

—• 5.0 •—

Arc Review: one issue i have with straight romances, especially sports romances is that they rely too heavily on it being a guy and a girl so of course they’ll end up together. too often the characters are bland and they’re chemistry is about as exciting as wet cardboard.

this is not one of those.

the main characters have SO MUCH chemistry!!! they’re both wildly entertaining on they’re own and when they come together they are funny and witty and flirty in all the best ways. I also love that the MMC is down bad for her from day ONE and only falls harder every second. truly a “he falls first AND harder” type book.

special shout out to the most creative date i have ever heard of. it sounds like so much fun i will now be frantically googling if that’s a real thing i can go do

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish with all my heart that I loved this more!

The stakes didn’t feel high enough, and the rationale behind things felt weak. Duffy is afraid of being “friend zoned” but this man is kissing her a lot! I didn’t buy that she was still worried about him feeling more for her than a friend.

I thought the challenges to be together weren’t especially big or fraught which lead to the third act reconciliation falling flat.

I love Lynn and will check out her upcoming books regardless!

[Liv {Matching with Jen! ⋅˚୨୧}]

🍒❤️⚾️ 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!!!

[ayesha]

I just love Lynn painter so much.

[Abby Carico · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute but i got bored

[hannah!]

cannot take a name like 'duffy' seriously tbh

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 is Lynn Painter's newest contemporary romance full of banter and heart.

As a die-hard football fan myself, the premise caught my eye and I couldn't wait to explore a sports romance with a PR-encouraged relationship that only he knows is fake.

I was hooked by Duffy and Connor's instant chemistry - both characters are charming, witty, and full of life despite each of their personal struggles. I was eager for the football atmosphere, and I continued to flip the pages as I awaited the conflict and resolution.

It's important to note the characters are recently post grad, twenty-four and still searching for themselves. As this was marketed as an adult novel, I didn't expect the juvenile tone, and I struggled with the writing style leaning so heavily into telling a character's every thought. There are many missed opportunities; in telling rather than showing, the story skips over scene opportunities that would have been immersive, opting instead for immature and repetitive dialogue. It also includes unnecessary scenes that don't advance the relationship or the plot and if removed wouldn't impact the story. The exploration of grief was unexpected and while I enjoyed the idea of its inclusion, it lacked emotional impact.

Most disappointing of all - I didn't feel the love for football. There's numerous references, and Duffy attends several games, but I never felt as if I was there. It was so bland and absent, and I was expecting the excitement of football games to take center stage.

Unfortunately, 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 falls short of expectations, failing to deliver on the football atmosphere and mature relationship development. It's not bad, but it's not a touchdown either.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance reading copy!