# First and Forever

By Lynn Painter

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/first-and-forever-a9f9e0dd/

Football fan Duffy Distefano becomes the subject of public outrage after a bad encounter with a mascot. A television appearance puts her opposite star tight end Connor Cunningham, and their sparring attracts attention. The team sees a publicity opportunity in sending them on a date, a plan Connor knows about before Duffy does.

## What makes it funny?

Duffy’s father prepares her for television by suggesting that she avoid being herself. She thanks him sarcastically for such reassuring parenting. For a tax accountant already dreading the stage, family advice gives her one more thing to answer back to.

### The comedy at work

Duffy is expected to present a polished version of herself while private irritation and nerves keep breaking through. Her exchanges with Connor are useful to the publicity team, but the same teasing makes their actual interest harder to separate from the performance.

### Try this if…

Professional-football romance with a heroine willing to answer back. Readers who enjoy publicity dating can follow a setup in which the two people on the date begin with very different knowledge of why it is happening.

### Good to know

Public shaming and an unwanted mascot encounter start the story. Connor initially knows the date is a publicity arrangement; Duffy does not.

## What to expect

- Genre: Romance
- On the shelf: Contemporary romance · Romantic comedy
- Kind of humor: Banter
- Format: Novel
- Length: 320 pages
- Audiobook: 7 hr 19 min
- Published: 2026

## A few distinguishing details

- A football fan’s mascot encounter becomes a public scandal
- Televised sparring leads to a publicity date
- A heroine unaware of the team’s dating plan

## Sources & further reading

- Book information: [Apple Books lists First and Forever (Unabridged) by Lynn Painter, length 7 hours 19 minutes, narrated by Aidan Bissett, published by Penguin Audio.](https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/first-and-forever-unabridged/id1832885014?l=ko)
- Publisher: [Penguin Random House lists First and Forever by Lynn Painter as a paperback with 320 pages, ISBN 9780593817445.](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752276/first-and-forever-by-lynn-painter/9780593817445)
- Reading sample: [Author interview and opening excerpt](https://theeverygirl.com/first-look-first-and-forever-lynn-painter)
- Publisher: [Publisher](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752276/first-and-forever-by-lynn-painter/9780593817445)