The Defender

#2 Gods of the Game

Ana Huang

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Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Piatkus
28 October 2025

Adult & contemporary romance; Romance

Series: Gods of the Game

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No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author Ana Huang is back with the next book in the Gods of the Game series ????????????????

He has to play by the rules . . . but for her, he'd break them all.

As the captain of Blackcastle Football Club and one of the highest-paid athletes in the game, Vincent DuBois should be on top of the world.

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But when his fame brings danger to his doorstep, he finds himself in his worst nightmare scenario - secretly sharing a flat with his coach's daughter, knowing full well she's far too big a temptation for him to resist.

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When his new living arrangements escalate into a bet that throws them even closer together, he realizes he's in deeper trouble than he thought.

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He's always played to win - but for her, he might just risk it all.

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As a sports nutritionist and the daughter of a legendary coach, Brooklyn Armstrong is used to dealing with hotshot athletes.

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However, no player gets under her skin like Vincent, her best friend's infuriatingly cocky (and gorgeous) brother. She left California hoping for a fresh start, and he's the kind of distraction she doesn't need.

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Now, he's sleeping in the room next to hers while her career is up in the air and her defenses are crumbling.

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But no matter how many sparks fly between them, a relationship between the captain and the coach's daughter could never work . . . could it?

Tropes to love

? Football romance

?? Best friend's brother

??????????? Forced proximity

?? Captain x coach's daughter

Why readers love Ana Huang

'King of my Heart (Ana Huang's Version)' Lauren Asher

'WE HAVE NO NOTES JUST LOTS OF HORNY FEELINGS' Ali Hazelwood

'Huang's sharp writing and ability to create intense, emotionally charged relationships shine through' Glamour UK

'Ana did not come to play . . . it was giving everything I asked for' @Aymanreads

'Ana Huang never disappoints. This was my most anticipated read of the month and it was EVERYTHING!!' Goodreads Review

'Ana Huang is in a (premier) league of her own when it comes to romance novels' E! News

By: Ana Huang
Imprint: Piatkus
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 196mm, Width: 126mm, Spine: 34mm
Weight: 320g
ISBN: 9780349442273
ISBN 10: 0349442274
Series: Gods of the Game
Pages: 464
Publication Date: 28 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Ana Huang is a No. 1 New York Times, Sunday Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and No. 1 Amazon bestselling author. Best known for her Twisted series, she writes new adult and contemporary romance with deliciously alpha heroes, strong heroines, and plenty of steam, angst, and swoon. Her books have been translated in over two dozen languages and featured in outlets such as NPR, Cosmopolitan, Financial Times, and Glamour UK. A self-professed travel enthusiast, she loves incorporating beautiful destinations into her stories and will never say no to a good chai latte.