First and Forever

Brought to you by Penguin.

An American football star and a die-hard fan make an unforgettable match in this new laugh-out-loud rom-com from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter.

Will this fake date become their first—and forever—win?

Duffy loves three things: her dad, her cat, and Minneapolis Coyotes football. So she’s devastated to become public enemy number one after shoving the team’s mascot away for getting too flirty.

To clear her name, Duffy agrees to a live interview – only to discover she is sharing the screen with star player, Connor Cunningham. . .

Connor thought he was coming on TV to read a statement, not argue with a fan. But when their fiery banter leaves viewers obsessed, Connor’s PR team spots an opportunity, and encourages Conor to ask Duffy out. The catch? She can’t know it’s not the real deal.

Different kinds of sparks soon fly between them. But Connor can’t keep his secret forever. And if he drops the ball this time, he’ll have lost more than just a game. . .

‘Lynn Painter at her funniest!’ Haley Pham

'I dare you not to fall in love with Lynn Painter's writing' Ali Hazelwood

© Lynn Painter 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026