Swing and a Kiss

Cassidy Calloway never expected to go viral for grieving, but in the face of loss, little makes sense, especially when faced with a hit-it-out-of-the-park, over-the-fence, World Series kind of love.

This tropetastic fake dating sports romance is perfect for fans of Alicia Thompson and Tessa Bailey.

When her boyfriend dumps her at her father’s funeral, Cassidy Calloway does what she does best—turns her heartbreak into content. To honor her baseball-loving father—and if she’s being honest, to piss off her ex—she launches a season-long social media experiment to attend nine games with nine dates in honor of her father’s favorite player, number nine, Nate O’Brien.

The Gila Monsters' star pitcher is on the verge of his biggest season yet, and he’s not about to let some influencer-turned-ballpark-spectacle throw him off his game. But when the team starts losing and fans start blaming Cassidy, Nate has bigger problems than his ERA—because the front office wants them to fix the narrative by pretending to date.

With his career on the line and her reputation at stake, Cassidy and Nate must turn their luck around. But the more time they spend together, the harder it gets to pretend they aren’t falling for each other.

And that’s the problem with fake dating. At some point, it starts to feel real.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs