Product guide

The Defender (Deluxe Edition) by Ana Huang

The Defender (Deluxe Edition) by Ana Huang is a sports romance centred on football captain Vincent DuBois and sports nutritionist Brooklyn Armstrong, his coach’s daughter. Its setup combines forced proximity, a shared flat and a best friend’s brother dynamic, while the deluxe edition is described as having foil and spot gloss.

At a glance

Football-club captain Vincent is forced to share a flat with Brooklyn, a sports nutritionist and the coach’s daughter.
The listing identifies sports romance, roommates, forced proximity and best friend’s brother as central tropes.
The limited deluxe edition is described as including foil and spot gloss.

Price

$22.80Save 24%

Reference price: ~~$29.99~~

Price checked: Nov 13, 2026

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Often bought together

The Striker (Deluxe Edition)

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The Keeper (Deluxe Edition)

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Pros and cons

Pros

A clear sports-romance premise with forced proximity and a captain-and-coach’s-daughter pairing.
The deluxe edition’s listed foil and spot gloss offer a distinct finish for readers choosing a gift or display copy.

Technical specifications

9 specifications

Book details
Publisher	Sourcebooks
Edition	Deluxe
Language	English
Publication date	Oct. 28 2025
Print length	464 pages
ISBN-10	1464223335
ISBN-13	978-1464223334

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	431 g
Dimensions	13.97 x 2.95 x 21.59 cm

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers looking for an emotional sports romance with roommates, forced proximity and a best friend’s brother dynamic.
Readers interested in Vincent and Brooklyn’s relationship alongside football-club and sports-nutrition settings.
Buyers who want a deluxe print edition with listed foil and spot gloss.

Less suited to

Readers seeking a story without steamy romance or relationship-focused themes.
Readers who prefer a book shorter than the listed 464 pages.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.1 / 5 · 11,905 ratings

5 stars37%37%
4 stars40%40%
3 stars20%20%
2 stars3%3%
1 star0%0%

Customer feedback highlights an emotional, engaging sports romance, with readers praising the chemistry and believable characters, a well-plotted story and smooth pacing. That reception aligns with the listing’s relationship-centred, forced-proximity premise, though reader enjoyment is subjective. Aggregate ratings are generally positive but include a substantial middle-rating share, so they do not suggest universal approval.

Positive themes

Customer feedback describes the story as emotional and engaging, with strong character chemistry.
Readers praise the sports-romance element, plot and smooth pacing.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Defender about?

The listing describes football captain Vincent DuBois sharing a flat with Brooklyn Armstrong, a sports nutritionist and his coach’s daughter. Their living arrangement and attraction drive the romance.

What romance tropes are listed?

The listing names sports romance, best friend’s brother, roommates, forced proximity and captain with coach’s daughter.

What is special about the deluxe edition?

The listing says the limited deluxe edition includes foil and spot gloss.

How long is the book?

The listed print length is 464 pages.