Book Description
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.
Book Review: First and Forever
Genre: Romance
Hello Book Friends,
Lynn Painter’s First and Forever features a professional football player, Connor Cunningham, and a die-hard fan of the Minneapolis Coyote football, Duffy Distefano. These two get thrown into a PR stunt after Distefano is accused of pushing the Coyote football team’s mascot. For Cunnignham this appearance might save his career and Distefano her reputation.
I loved the premise of this one. You have a huge fan of the local football team, she has an incident during a game that lands her on what amounts to the Today Show, where the MVP player, Connor Cunningham, of Minneapolis Coyote football team shows up to publically defend her after the incident with the football team’s mascot. Even though he may have ulterior motives, sparks fly during their first encounter on live television. This is the perfect opening to the beginning of what could be a great love story.
The thing about this story though is it didn’t have its quirky heroine who is laugh-out-loud loveably adorable. Who will charm you with her wit and hilarious sparring with literally anyone she comes in contact with, including her potential love interest. Painter’s last novel, Maid For Each Other is a perfect embodiment of her romance novels. This one fell short from what I expect from a Painter romance novel.
Even though this one wasn’t for me, fans of fake dating, he falls first, and sports romance will want to check First and Forever out.
Happy Reading ~ Cece
RATING: 
– Satisfyingly Inked
About the Author
Lynn Painter is the New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies and Mr. Wrong Number. She writes romantic comedies for teens and adults, and when she isn’t reading or writing, she can usually be found binge-watching rom-coms or shotgunning energy drinks.
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publication details
| Pub Date | ISBN | Page Count | Publisher | Age Group | Source & Format | Review Posted Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-May-26 | 978-0593817445 | 320 | Berkley | Adult | NetGalley, Digital ARC | March 7, 2026 |
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Check These Out:
Maid for Each Other, Lynn Painter
Happily Never After, Lynn Painter
The Rom-Commers, Katherine Center
OTHER BOOKS YOU MAY ENJOY
Welcome Reader!
I’m Cecelia and I’m so glad you’re here! You’ll find honest reviews, book recommendations, along with other bookish essentials. So happy you stopped by!
– C
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ABOUT THE CREATOR
CECE BECKMAN
Cece holds a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from California State University, Long Beach. She lives in California with her husband and children. When she’s not reading or writing reviews she can be found wandering book aisles at local bookshops, drinking iced cold lattes with cold cream foam, or passing the time with her cats.
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