Football and love may sound like an unlikely combination, but these two YA novels prove otherwise. From a Jane Austen–inspired debut by a well-known vlogger to the latest from a New York Times bestselling author, the following works will make sports fans of all teens craving a bit of romance.

Glines, Abbi. Until Friday Night. 336p. (Field Party: Bk. 1). ebook available. S. & S./Simon Pulse. Aug. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781481438858.

Gr 9 Up –Two years ago, Maggie Carleton witnessed a horrific event. She saw her father murder her mother. Since that moment, she has not spoken a word. Even when forced to move in with her aunt, uncle, and cousin, she remains silent. West Ashbly is a super hot, popular, football-playing jock that everyone wants to be friends with or date. No one knows the pain he endures every day having to watch his dad die from cancer. West does not feel comfortable telling anyone about his father’s illness. However, when he meets a girl who cannot speak, he finally bears his soul. Maggie is just as shocked as West when she responds, sharing her story with him. Having someone who can understand their pain and help them heal is a blessing for both of them. Glines believably shows readers that love, trust, and friendship can result from so much tragedy. The narrative illustrates that there is more to high school than the big game. VERDICT Romance fans will love the relationship between the protagonists and be sucked into the story line of the circumstances that bring them together. –Jessica Strefling, US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit Library

Mills, Emma. First & Then. 272p. ebook available. Holt. Oct. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781627792356.

Gr 8 Up –Devon Tennyson has always attended Friday night football games to watch Cas, her best friend and object of her affection. The only other thing Devon takes seriously is her love of Jane Austen’s novels. She understands the world through Austen and happily aspires to Jane’s biting wit. Devon’s happy to avoid thinking about the future, but then her cousin Foster moves in. He’s an oddball freshman and despite being a senior, Devon has to endure him in her gym class, in addition to having him in her home. The only other senior in the class is the school’s Darcy-like All-American football star, Ezra Lynley. When a fluke reveals Foster’s talent as a kicker, Devon finds herself spending more time than she’d like with both boys. The dynamic between Devon and Ezra isn’t quite as prickly as Lizzie and Darcy’s, but they have the requisite spats and misunderstandings that all opposites-attract couples must have. The frequent references to Austen may not resonate with some teens, but they will please budding Janeites, who will also find the familiar plot beats satisfying. As in the classics, Mills’s debut gives equal attention to the heroine’s familial and romantic relationships. However, Devon’s growth isn’t only relative to the males in her life; her development is related to but ultimately independent of Ezra, Foster, and Cas. VERDICT Readers looking for an innocent romance with a relatable protagonist will enjoy this Austen-inspired work.–Joy Piedmont, LREI, New York City