From the publisher:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter comes an utterly irresistible romantic comedy about a football star and his team’s die-hard fan who find themselves entangled in a PR stunt that only one of them knows is fake.
Duffy Distefano loves three things: her dad, the family cat, and Minneapolis Coyote football. So after she gets booed out of a game and becomes the internet’s villain following an awful encounter with the team’s beloved mascot, she is disgruntled, to put it mildly. 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 a PR nightmare, he finds himself in a highly amusing verbal sparring match with a recently wronged fan on live TV. The interview instantly goes viral, and the public is obsessed with them. Despite his distaste for PR stunts, a strong push from the Coyotes’ PR team to ride the wave results in Connor asking Duffy out. But he quickly discovers being with Duffy is much easier than he anticipated, and somehow it doesn’t feel fake to him. 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.
Oozing with chemistry that feels like fireworks and banter that makes you swoon, Lynn Painter delivers her signature blend of heart and humor in this love story that you won’t soon forget.This deluxe, first-edition trade paperback of First and Forever will feature gorgeous stenciled edges!
https://bookshop.org/a/123058/9780593817445
Lynn Painter is always a guaranteed good read, and this book was terrific!
Duffy Distefano has been a devoted Minneapolis Coyotes football fan for years, but after a very public moment in which she shoves the overly handsy team mascot, Coyote Carl, she suddenly finds herself — and the Minneapolis Coyotes — at the center of a PR disaster. Hoping to tell her side of the story, she agrees to appear on a popular morning show, only to be blindsided when the Coyotes’ star tight end, Connor Cunningham, shows up as well. Connor has been sent by the team to smooth things over and apologize on behalf of the organization, but their flirty on-air banter immediately goes viral. The Coyotes’ PR team decides to capitalize on the attention, leading Connor to ask Duffy out as part of the publicity push. The only problem? Their chemistry is completely real. Before long, Connor is spending time with her family, showing up for her in meaningful ways, and what started as fake quickly becomes something much more genuine.
This was such a fun, feel-good sports romance. Connor Cunningham — MVP tight end, media darling, and the team’s go-to guy for damage control — was basically the most perfect boyfriend imaginable. From the start, he was attentive, patient, and completely down for Duffy. I loved how thoughtful he was, always remembering little things about her and planning dates that genuinely fit her personality. He cared not only about Duffy, but also about her family, and it made their relationship feel incredibly warm and sincere.
Duffy was equally lovable. She was sarcastic, direct, funny, and so unapologetically herself, but she also carried a lot on her shoulders. Her relationship with her dad and brothers added so much heart to the story, and the emotional weight surrounding her dad gave the book more depth without making it overly heavy. She was easy to root for, and her humor balanced the more emotional moments perfectly.
The chemistry between Duffy and Connor was excellent. Their banter felt effortless, and they shared the same sense of humor, which made every interaction entertaining. I especially loved the football games, the balcony moment, the zombies, the picnic, and the way Connor consistently showed up for her. Their relationship progression was definitely fast and a little predictable, but honestly, I didn’t mind at all because it was executed so well. The full-circle ending was incredibly sweet and left me smiling.
Tony, Duffy’s dad, absolutely stole every scene he appeared in. The way he constantly inserted himself into situations had me laughing throughout the book.
Overall, this was an easy, charming romance with great pacing, lovable characters, and just enough emotional depth to keep it grounded. Lynn Painter delivered another adorable, bingeable read with a romance that felt comforting, funny, and genuinely heartfelt. I loved it!
5/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
FIRST AND FOREVER by Lynn Painter. Berkley (May 12, 2026). ISBN: 978-0593817445. 320p.
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