First and Forever

Author Lynn Painter On Tour
Ebook
On sale May 12, 2026 | 320 Pages | 9780593817452

See Additional Formats
This deluxe, first-edition trade paperback of First and Forever will feature gorgeous stenciled edges.

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.
© Heather Hall Photography
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. View titles by Lynn Painter
“Sharp, funny, and impossible not to love. Lynn Painter delivers a rom-com win with crackling banter, swoony chemistry, and a fake-dating setup that feels fresh and irresistible. We were cheering from the sidelines the whole time.”—Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of Love and Other Words

"Laugh-out-loud funny with completely adorable characters and a romance that you’ll be fully invested in—I was obsessed with this book from the start!”—Paige Toon, USA Today bestselling author of What If I Never Get Over You

"Lynn Painter at her FUNNIEST! Not only was the banter laugh-out-loud funny, Duffy’s dad had me slapping my knee. If you need a pick-me-up, this sports romance is like a shot of espresso! (With whipped cream on top.)"—Haley Pham, author of Just Friends

"Painter’s characters feel authentic, and their witty banter leaps off the page. Readers are sure to root for these two."—Publishers Weekly

About

This deluxe, first-edition trade paperback of First and Forever will feature gorgeous stenciled edges.

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.

Author

© Heather Hall Photography
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. View titles by Lynn Painter

Praise

“Sharp, funny, and impossible not to love. Lynn Painter delivers a rom-com win with crackling banter, swoony chemistry, and a fake-dating setup that feels fresh and irresistible. We were cheering from the sidelines the whole time.”—Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of Love and Other Words

"Laugh-out-loud funny with completely adorable characters and a romance that you’ll be fully invested in—I was obsessed with this book from the start!”—Paige Toon, USA Today bestselling author of What If I Never Get Over You

"Lynn Painter at her FUNNIEST! Not only was the banter laugh-out-loud funny, Duffy’s dad had me slapping my knee. If you need a pick-me-up, this sports romance is like a shot of espresso! (With whipped cream on top.)"—Haley Pham, author of Just Friends

"Painter’s characters feel authentic, and their witty banter leaps off the page. Readers are sure to root for these two."—Publishers Weekly

Books for Women’s History Month

In honor of Women’s History Month in March, we are sharing books by women who have shaped history and have fought for their communities. Our list includes books about women who fought for racial justice, abortion rights, equality in the workplace, and ranges in topics from women in politics and prominent women in history to

Read more