First and Forever by Lynn Painter Book Review

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The publisher kindly provided me with a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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A football star and a die-hard 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 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 was 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 that being with Duffy is much easier than he thought it would be and somehow doesn’t feel fake to him. Harboring this secret can only blow up in his face, but all he knows is that if he messes things up with Duffy, it’ll be the greatest fumble of his life.

First and Forever Book Review

If you’ve been here for a while, you’ll know I never pass up a Lynn Painter release—and First and Forever didn’t disappoint. I was thrilled to receive an advance copy, and it absolutely delivered!

First and Forever follows Duffy, a die-hard football fan who finds herself at the centre of a viral controversy after a mishap involving the team’s mascot, and Connor, the team’s star player tasked with helping to repair the PR fallout. What starts as a way to calm the public quickly becomes more complicated as their chemistry takes over and their connection deepens.

Duffy and Connor are such wonderful characters. Lynn Painter always creates people you can’t help but root for, and that was definitely the case here. Duffy is quirky and appealing from the start, making her highly relatable. Connor is charming and makes for a great love interest.

I especially loved the found-family aspect for Connor—it added so much warmth and depth to the story, especially given how complicated his family life is. Watching those relationships unfold alongside the romance made everything feel even more meaningful and brought so many sweet, endearing moments.

The book strikes such a great balance between humour and emotional moments. The laugh-out-loud moments I’ve come to expect from Lynn Painter are absolutely there, and they make this such a fun reading experience. At the same time, the story has a lot of heart, which keeps it grounded.

One of my favourite parts of Lynn Painter’s books is the romance. She has a real knack for creating swoon-worthy moments that make you root for her characters from the start. As someone who loves rom-coms, I can really see that inspiration in her writing, and she does a great job of crafting sweet, exciting love stories.

The banter is sharp, the pacing is incredibly engaging, and the overall vibe is just so enjoyable. And I have to mention the Taylor and Travis vibes this story gives off—it’s such a fun little bonus, adding an extra layer of enjoyment.

Overall, First and Forever is another win for Lynn Painter. It’s charming, funny, and full of heart—the kind of romance that leaves you smiling long after you finish. If you love banter-filled rom-coms, found-family moments, and stories with both humour and emotional depth, this is definitely one to add to your list!

Rating: ★★★★☆

About Lynn Painter

Lynn Painter writes romantic comedies for both teens and adults. She is the author of Better Than The Movies and Mr. Wrong Number, as well as a regular contributor to the Omaha World-Herald. She lives in Nebraska with her husband and pack of wild children, and when she isn’t reading or writing, odds are good she’s guzzling energy drinks and watching rom-coms.

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