First and Forever by 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 just 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 gets 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 being with Duffy is much easier than he thought, and somehow it doesn’t feel fake to him. Harboring 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.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a great meet cute between two young adults who are trying to find their footing now that they are “grown ups”. Duffy and Conner soon find themselves falling for each other even though their relationship starts out as a PR stunt unknown to her. Even though this is an adult title, the story is very appropriate for high school students who love Lynn Painter's previous books.

Visit Lynn Painter’s website. 

Twelfth Night by Alexene Farol Follmuth

 

“Viola Reyes is annoyed.

Her painstakingly crafted tabletop game campaign was shot down, her best friend is suggesting she try being more “likable,” and school running back Jack Orsino is the most lackadaisical Student Body President she’s ever seen, which makes her job as VP that much harder. Vi’s favorite escape from the world is the MMORPG Twelfth Knight, but online spaces aren’t exactly kind to girls like her―girls who are extremely competent and have the swagger to prove it. So Vi creates a masculine alter ego, choosing to play as a knight named Cesario to create a safe haven for herself.

But when a football injury leads Jack Orsino to the world of Twelfth Knight, Vi is alarmed to discover their online alter egos―Cesario and Duke Orsino―are surprisingly well-matched.

As the long nights of game-play turn into discussions about life and love, Vi and Jack soon realize they’ve become more than just weapon-wielding characters in an online game. But Vi has been concealing her true identity from Jack, and Jack might just be falling for her offline…” - taken from Goodreads.

Inspired by the Shakespeare play of the same name. Viola plays an online game where she poses as a boy to keep the harassment at bay. When Duke Orsino, the star quarterback, is sidelined with an injury, he spends his newfound time playing the same game as Viola. As the two grow closer online and in real life, what happens when Duke realizes that he's been duped by Viola?

Visit Alexene Farol Follmuth’s website.

first & then by Emma Mills

"Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy watching Friday night games from the bleachers, silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent for football, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive star running back, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.

Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights in this contemporary novel about falling in love with the unexpected boy, with a new brother, and with yourself."  - Goodreads.com

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

“There’s no playbook for love.”“Who ever knew throwing a perfect spiral would be simple compared to dealing with guys.”

It is Jordan Woods’ senior year at Hundred Oaks High School in Franklin, Tennessee. Jordan is the captain and starting quarterback of the eight-time state champion Red Raiders’ football team. Even though the team lost the state championship game in the final seconds last year, the University of Alabama is sending a recruiter to watch every practice and game. Jordan’s mom comes to every practice and game. Jordan’s father, Tennessee Titans’ starting quarterback Donovan Woods, doesn’t. Jordan’s older brother Mike is a junior at the University of Tennessee and led his team to a Sugar Bowl win last year. Donovan Woods doesn’t come to Jordan’s games because he doesn’t want his daughter to play football.

 Jordan’s never had a boyfriend. At over six feet tall and unwilling to date a team member, she doesn’t have time for boys, especially now that she wants to be seriously considered to play Division I football. During practice, the coach asks her to run a new play. When he doesn’t talk to her through her helmet mike, she glances over to see what the problem could be. Jordan sees the principal walking towards the coach with an incredibly hot guy. For the first time in her life, Jordan’s knees turn to jelly and she finds herself being knocked to the ground during the play. Jordan, embarrassed, looks the new guy over and is instantly attracted. The principal tells the coach that Tyler Green has just moved to the area. He knows that it is late but hopes that Coach Miller can find a place on the team for him. He did lead his team to the Texas state football championship the previous year. Ty doesn’t want to give any reason about leaving Texas before finishing his senior year. He looks shy and uncomfortable when the coach finally asks him what position he plays. Quarterback as the team laughs. Coach Miller lets him know the position is already taken by an All State player but he could use a back up. He calls Jordan over to discuss running some plays with Ty when he asks her to take off her helmet so that he can see if she might have a concussion. Ty is shocked to learn that Jordan is a girl.
A few practice runs and Ty is as good as Jordan. Coach Miller allows Ty to join the team. Jordan is shocked by his lack of attitude and cockiness. She is determined to keep her heart and mind on football and a college scholarship, despite her attraction to the new guy. Will Jordan be able to find success on the gridiron or will she loose her heart over a boy?

Visit Miranda Kenneally's website.