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  • Published: 13 January 2026
  • ISBN: 9780593695425
  • Imprint: Viking
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 320
  • RRP: $30.00

Most Valuable Player

  • A. M. Woody



Sometimes it takes a few fumbles to score the right guy . . .
A sports romance with humor and heart from the author of They Hate Each Other

The cocky star QB and the team's sarcastic water boy. What could go wrong? A sports romance with humor and heart from the author of They Hate Each Other

Cameron Morelli is hot sh*t. Worse, he knows it. With a godlike physique and a position as his varsity football team’s star quarterback, there’s nobody he can’t charm. So one might imagine his mortification when he’s rejected by Mason Gray, the team’s snarky water boy. To make matters worse, this disgrace is followed by Cam’s coach benching him until he can get his grades up. Luckily, a reliable tutor steps forward to help Cam reclaim his dignity—the boy who just humiliated him.

For Mason, tutoring an airheaded jock is nothing but a distraction from a past he can’t escape. What he doesn’t expect is to find something worthwhile in their conversations—something softening in the ice between them. Nor does Cam expect that Mason’s calm smile hides a harrowing story. As they slowly nudge through each other’s steel gates, the dangerous realities beyond high school threaten their deepening bond.

But really, it’s about football.

  • Published: 13 January 2026
  • ISBN: 9780593695425
  • Imprint: Viking
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 320
  • RRP: $30.00

Praise for Most Valuable Player


Praise for Exes & Foes:

"[A] sharply rendered rom-com . . . Overflows with amusing teenage antics and awkwardness . . .  The complexity and subtextual layers with which Woody imbues Emma and Caleb’s relationship keeps a steady and engaging pace throughout."--Publishers Weekly

"Caleb’s sensitivity and Emma’s irascibility are a refreshing reversal of the gender roles common in YA literature. Glimpses into their past are interspersed throughout their alternating POVs, illustrating their complexities. An excellent choice for readers seeking a romance with a wider LGBTQ+ cast."--Booklist


"Caleb and Emma are vividly drawn, each with believable quirks, strengths, and weaknesses. The secondary characters, such as Juliet and Caleb’s mom, are also endearing . . .  The dialogue, which includes a healthy dose of swear words and snark, rings true. While Caleb and Emma’s evolving relationship is the star of the show, friendships and familial relationships also play key roles. A funny, heartfelt ride with two lovable leads."--Kirkus Reviews


Praise for They Hate Each Other:

"The boys’ banter sizzles and delights, but Woody’s true power shows through in the intricately realized characters’ tender depictions of support, kindness, and capacity for change." --Publishers Weekly