Meryl Wilsner's latest book is a sweet love story between teammates Phoebe and Grace. Phoebe's a newcomer to professional soccer and has admired Grace since she was a teenager. This is really a love story with soccer as a backdrop, so no knowledge of soccer is necessary to enjoy the book. It's a book about coming-out, being open to love, and taking risks. A great read!

As someone who grew up playing soccer I wanted to like this book so bad. I saw a tiktok of 2 girls with tension on the field and I imagine that that is what this book was going to be like. I was sadly very disappointed.

Why is Phoebe always horny. And we’re always told this. The same effect can be made if we were shown how horny Phoebe is through her body’s responses. The way it was done was more tell than show and it was jarring to read. Then initial attraction was also rushed. Though I’m reading what the characters are feeling or want to do to each other I don’t feel that. I feel no sparks that warrant instant attraction. And Grace mentions how much she dislikes Phoebe yet she’s insanely attracted to her. It just doesn’t make sense. This book gave off the vibes it should’ve been enemies to lovers. Or rivals to lovers. They get together before the 30% mark which makes this rather insta love-y.

The jump from the camp to the national team was really abrupt. There was no indication of a passage of time. I actually had to go back and reread to figure out what was going on.

I did like the dynamic that Grace is the boss on the field and Phoebe is the boss in the bedroom. Unfortunately that seems to be the only part I did like.

In an attempt to not confuse the reads on what’s happening to who I notice a lack of using pronouns. Instead there were short sentences with the characters names. Grace did this. Phoebe did that. There was an attempt to break it up by Grace calling Phoebe by her last name, Matthews, which I found added to the confusion since Matthew is easily a first name. The writing overall just seemed sloppy. The only thing this book had going for it was the premise. I was so excited to read a sapphic soccer romance. And the execution of it was just subpar.

The first time a game of soccer is played is at the 60% mark and it was a one off sentence basically saying “a game of soccer was played”. If you are going to write a sports book at least have the players play the sport competitively. Going to practise and locker room dynamics just doesn’t cut it. I wanted the tension on the field and I didn’t want to wait until the end to finally get it. Almost every game is a fade to black. Does Meryl Wilsner even know how to play soccer? This book makes me think that they don’t.

Overall this book is a skip for me. Even if you are really into soccer there isn’t enough of it in the book to keep you entertained. I’ve DNF’d at 84%. I might go back and finish but it’ll be no time soon.

I was able to download the audiobook and that actually helped me immensely when it came to focusing on the story and on our main characters, Grace and Phoebe.

The connection between Grace and Phoebe is definitely more grumpy/sunshine and opposites attract rather than rivals to lovers like it was advertised, but I still enjoyed it. And as someone who grew up with other girls braiding and playing with my hair, I should've known I was a little bit gay back then. It all makes sense now...

Anyway, I really enjoyed the dynamics between our two FMCs and the team members, but found myself not paying too close attention during some parts, but still understood what was going on. Each of the FMCs both irked me in their own ways, especially with the miscommunication and misleading of their relationship. The ending also felt a little anti-climatic and wished there was more developing of Grace and Phoebe's relationship throughout the book.

I thought this was a cute book, but don't let that cute cover fool you cause this had some GREAT spice. I blushed multiple times on the drive to and from work. Overall, this was a good book but I think it could have been a bit better.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending an e-arc for my honest opinions and review!

I absolutely love the growing genre of sports lesbian romances and really enjoyed this book. I always love a grumpy sunshine trope and thought it was really well done in this book. The characters were endearing and the soccer terminology/knowledge was well done. Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

Such a cute queer/lesbian sports romance story. I enjoyed this from the beginning to the end. My first read by this author.

-You had the kind of grumpy captain. To her self but also i under the reason for that wall. Grace acting like she’s a million years old lol.
-Then the rookie, phoebe, is so bubbly, hyper, & making friends.
-Phoebe helping their brother with money to get top surgery was so heart warming.
-The talk between Grace and her father was innocent and touching.
-The magazine issue with Grace was so beautiful. She did it her way and told her truth.
-It’s nothing wrong with taking a step back. You have to enjoy what you do.
-I loved all the people on the soccer team. Definitely like a second family.
-The spice was hot.
-ADHD representation. Grace noticing that and waiting to help. 10s across the board.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This review is being left on my own.

There is a major amount of sports romance out there but what attracted me to this book was that it was (1) sapphic and (2) soccer. We don’t see a lot of female sports romance OR soccer romances so I was looking forward to this. Phoebe and Grace were great together. The spice was yummy.

But I had issues with the long spans of internal monologues, and the third person point of view. The internal monologuing would go on to the point you’d forget what was actually happening in the story. I prefer stories with more dialogue and communication. Descriptions of what’s going on.

If you don’t have an issue with the 3rd person POV or the monologuing, then you shouldn’t have a problem with this book! Otherwise, it just wasn’t for me.

4.5 Stars
This was such a fun sports romance! It has the perfect amount of romance, drama and spice! I really liked both main characters (even though both frustrated me at different points). This book has some great neurodivergent representation, specifically ADHD. As someone who has ADHD I really appreciate the discussion of ADHD in this book especially how it presents differently in women. This book has great diversity and representation overall. I would have loved more of Phoebe and Grace in a relationship and wanted a little more at the end. This book is funny and tender and the whole package wrapped in a sports romance. Both narrators in the audiobook were great!

Meryl Wilsner is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine, with two out of three slam dunk novels (Cleat Cute included). As a lesbian from Louisiana, having a story set in New Orleans was exactly my speed, and I genuinely appreciated the care with which she treated the setting. I don't know if she's just good with her research, or if she's lived there, but either way, she did splendidly. The romance was sweet, if lacking a lot of communication for most of the book, and I loved both characters almost instantly. Having them competing for similar positions added an extra layer of drama, and I enjoyed learning more about the world of soccer through their eyes.

Five out of five, would read again.

Meryl Wilsner writes such complex storylines with real characters and I loved both of them.
This book was so cute and Phoebe and Grace's chemistry was intense. The book was pretty spicy with so much emotional depth to it. Highly recommend. Grace was so relatable for me and Phoebe was a joy to follow along.
I love queer sports romances and this one was so good. Grumpy and sunshine vibes for the win.
I loved the setting of New Orleans and it sounds amazing and makes me want to visit so much.

*Thank you St Martin's Press and netgalley for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Meryl Wilsner is quickly becoming well-known in the world of sapphic romance. Highly recommended for collections where romance, particularly queer romance, circulates.

thank you to netgalley for the ARC! took me a little longer than i meant to to get to it, but hey. can't win 'em all <3

in this adorable sapphic soccer romance, "Phenomenal" Phoebe Matthews, a killer midfielder, has just been drafted straight out of college to play soccer with the New Orleans Krewe. which is kind of amazing, considering she'll be playing next to her childhood idol, Grace Henderson. but don't get it twisted — Phoebe isn't there to be some crazy fangirl over Grace. she's there to play soccer — and maybe, hopefully, to gain the attention US Women’s National Team coach for this year's World Cup. that being said... Grace <i>is</i> pretty cute.

at only 26 years old, Grace Henderson is practically a veteran of US women's soccer. and she knows all about the dark sides of being a soccer celebrity — like how the media wants to know every last detail about her personal life, and what a threat to her career it would be to tell her trainers about the twinge she's been feeling in her hip lately. as she gears up for the World Cup, she has enough to focus on without getting distracted by the (cute) (loud) (confident) new rookie on her team, who's wildly competitive and (unfortunately) has the skill to back it up. but after losing a bet against Matthews, she is forced to reckon with her growing attraction for the newbie.

when Grace is inevitably benched for the foreseeable future (seriously girl, tell your coach when you're injured??), Phoebe takes her place on the national team for the time being. at the same time, they've struck up a FWB situation that can only end up one of two ways... in romance, or in a trainwreck, and with their clashing personalities, it's honestly a toss-up which way it could go.

I really went back and forth on what to rate this, and I think I'm just bad at rating books that are by all means good, but not 100% for me. I feel so bad giving it 4 stars when I still had a good time and I think the writing is really good!! so I'm giving it five stars, especially because the parts that weren't "for me" are like, staples of the genre, lmao. (I just didn't realize from the description there would be really explicit sex scenes! that's on me!) so my personal enjoyment was more like four stars whereas my "objective" rating is five (although who the hell knows what objective even means).

so! reasons for five stars!

- very sweet love story! I was honestly really struck by how much respect they had for each other, even when they spend half the book fighting over one thing or another

- playing with each other's hair. braiding it. staring at it. basically, #women. - the adhd x autism rep we all want, need, and deserve

- grumpy x sunshine AND experienced player x rookie (respectively), which is a delight

- all characters were definitely well-developed, engaging, and most importantly: both the protagonists were interesting! that is NOT a guarantee although you'd think it would be!! but Wilsner deliversss

- I don't know anything about professional soccer, and you definitely don't have to to understand the book. it's pretty much laid out for you, but the author also doesn't beat you over the head with explanations. (I am currently seeing one review where someone says they're confused, and I am a) wildly surprised, since Phoebe's chapters pretty much spell it out for you, and b) begging people to realize they do not have to understand every last thing going on... make your peace with uncertainty. xoxo.)

- the sex scenes (though incredibly jarring to me as an unprepared asexual, lmao) were believable. despite being my own personal jumpscare, they revealed so much about the two women — they weren't gratuitous or just there to be sexy (not that there's anything wrong with that) (also, not that they WEREN'T sexy. they were.)

- I'm kind of glad I didn't read the Goodreads description too quickly, because it kind of gives everything away?? and I'd hardly call them rivals... they're teammates!! of course, I assume if you're reading this, you've already read the description — but if not, don't! just go read the book instead! godspeed!

Thank you to the publishing company for the ark! Unfortunately, this book was not for me at all. I thought the characters were under developed, the plot was rushed, and the romance was subpar. There was literally no chemistry between the main love interest, and it was really disappointing.

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner

Published: September 19, 2023
St. Martin’s Griffin
Genre: Sports Romance
Pages: 332
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Meryl Wilsner writes happily ever afters for queer folks who love women. They are the author of SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT and MISTAKES WERE MADE. Born in Michigan, Meryl lived in Portland, Oregon and Jackson, Mississippi before returning to settle in the Mitten State. Some of Meryl’s favorite things include: all four seasons, button down shirts, the way giraffes run, and their wife.

“Different people have different experiences.”

This was such a sweet story. I enjoyed the characters, their development, and the build-up. The relationship building felt authentic and had a genuine quality that’s often hard to bring to life. Meryl nailed it.

I loved how different Phoebe and Grace were, yet how well they meshed. I saw a lot of myself in Grace, minus being athletic, and that was a fun experience.

The emotions throughout this book were handled beautifully, and I appreciated that heavy topics were discussed respectfully and openly.

I had never read a book by Meryl before this one, but I am putting her on the approved list moving forward.

Thank you to NetGalley and SMP Romance for both the ALC and eARC of this book.

Let me start by saying: I WANTED TO LOVE THIS BOOK.

I did not.

It's pitched as a Sapphic rom-com along the lines of A League of Their Own and Ted Lasso.

A League of Their Own - lady sports. That's the only similarity.

Ted Lasso - soccer. That's it.

In my heart, I was about to read a witty, banter-filled lady love version of Bend It Like Beckham - except teammates fall in love while winning the big game and over coming all odds.

Instead I sat inside the heads of two ladies that over-think and under-communicate. I read the words dental dam no less than four times. The best dialogue scene was with a cook about DB Cooper.

Conflict popped out of nowhere and was resolved in a cloud of chaos.

I just - could not.

I had to stop listening to the audiobook at about 40% because the narrator for Phoebe sounded a bit like my midwestern mom friends. Listening to that voice narrate a steamy scene was -- not good.

I really, really wanted to love this book. I love most books SMP Romance puts out. I've read several f/f romance lately that I loved. This one just didn't do it for me.

I switched between audio and ebook and enjoyed both.

This was a fun sapphic romance. I loved the enemies to lovers and forced proximity aspects.

We meet Pheobe, a rookie soccer player to the New Orleans Krewe, and Grace, a veteran and captain of the team. Grace struck me as a bit grumpy and standoffish at first. But when Phoebes asks if Grace can show her around NOLA, I feel like we get a better feel for Grace.

They become friends-ish, which eventually develops into more.

I also loved the soccer aspect!

Many thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for an ALC and ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you St, Martin’s Press (St. Martin’s Griffith) for my advanced copy! All thoughts are my own!

Meryl Wilsner’s books have always been favorites of the book-ternet when they come out so I was so excited to read Cleat Cute. I also am a sports lover and I am particularly fascinated when it comes to things like national teams, so I was pumped for this premise. And on a vain note, I rarely see my name in books! So that was a cool element for sure.

In a shocking twist, I loved everything about this book except the romance. Something felt off for me in the chemistry, which is usually what shines for me in a WIlsner novel. I still really enjoyed it, but it’s not a new favorite.

Synopsis:

“Grace Henderson has been a star of the US Women’s National Team for ten years, even though she’s only 26. But when she’s sidelined with an injury, a bold new upstart, Phoebe Matthews, takes her spot. 22-year-old Phoebe is everything Grace isn’t—a gregarious jokester who plays with a joy that Grace lost somewhere along the way. The last thing Grace expects is to become teammates with benefits with this class clown she sees as her rival.Phoebe Matthews is too focused on her first season as a professional soccer player to think about seducing her longtime idol. But when Grace ends up making the first move, they can’t keep their hands off of each other.As the World Cup approaches and Grace works her way back from injury, a miscommunication leaves the women with hilariously different perspectives on their relationship. But they’re on the same page on the field, realizing they can play together instead of vying for the same position. With every tackle the tension between them grows, and both players soon have to decide what's more important—being together or making the roster.” —StoryGraph

What I Liked:

The Soccer Premise—I am a huge fan of sports and have always had a fascination with the World Cup/Olympic process so I was really into the soccer parts of the book! I loved the team dynamics and the stakes of the relationship.

The ADHD Representation—I’m always happy to see mental health discussed in such a raw, healthy way. I thought the reactions all made sense and were something I could relate to.

Setting—I haven’t read a lot of books set in New Orleans! I really liked seeing it through Phoebe’s eyes as a fresh transplant to the area and Grace’s seasoned years there.

What Didn’t Work:

Audio Narrators Miscast—This is very specific, but I really thought the narrators for each character should have been switched. Sadly, the performances took away from the story for me!

Lack of Chemistry—I didn’t really feel like there was a lot of chemistry between the characters and there wasn’t enough build up in my opinion, so when they got together for the first time it didn’t feel like we were anticipating it enough.

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 3/5 Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Content Warnings:

athletic injury, mental illness, ableism

Thank you to Meryl Wilsner and Netgalley for an ARC of Cleat Cute to provide an early, honest review.

Cleat Cute follows two Lesbian soccer players, Phoebe and Grace, first as they arrive to camp for the National Woman's Soccer Team and eventually as they both arrive to their team in New Orleans. Phoebe is new to the league, having just graduated from college, but is a shining star to watch. Sure, she's often late to practice, loses track of ideas and whatnot, and is undoubtedly loud, but she knows soccer; she's really really good at it. Grace is the captain of Phoebe's new team in New Orleans and is also a member of the National Woman's Team. Also, she's kind of Phoebe's idol (she had a poster of her over her bed). Despite her fame, Grace prefers to keep a quieter, low profile, appreciates structure and organization, and sometimes struggles with social cues. From Phoebe being an annoyance to Grace, to becoming Friends with Benefits, to realizing they have feelings for each other, I appreciated their early journey.

Things I liked about Cleat Cute:

* The Soccer Team(s)! - as a former soccer player, I appreciated the dynamics of the different teams. The characters we met on the Krewe, for example, brought some color to Phoebe and Grace's story, and I wouldn't have minded even more of them.

* Casual Queer Representation - Obviously, I know women's soccer is very queer, but I appreciated the inclusion of non-cis characters like Ash and Teddy. Especially Teddy-- his relationship with Phoebe brings a lot more dimension to her character.

* Grace's personal growth in choosing what parts of her life make her happy vs. don't. I like that her implied autism is left for post-book as it makes me believe that once she's feeling more regulated in her personal life she'll be able to chase down more answers for herself at her own pace (what I wish for Phoebe, see below)

* The book is quite spicy

Things I didn't like (as much) about Cleat Cute:

*Grace's approach to Phoebe's ADHD. Besides her disastrous first mentioning of Phoebe's ""disordered"" ways, she then immediately suggests that Phoebe get medicated, and ultimately makes an appointment on Phoebe's behalf (which for whatever reason isn't seen as overstepping, but as romantic?). I think more care should have been taken in the exploration of Phoebe's ADHD if it was going to be as large of a plot point as it was; otherwise, I expected some sort of consequential conversation between Grace and Phoebe on how pushy Grace was, but it became just ""oh, she cares"" and ""oh, how romantic"" and it didn't sit well with me personally.

* This is nitpicky, but the soccer terminology was sometimes European, despite the book taking place in New Orleans. A word choice that kept throwing me off: like ""pitch"" instead of ""field""

Despite these small issues with Cleat Cute, I'm very excited to read whatever Meryl Wilsner puts out next, as I loved their 2022 book.

So much fun banter in this one! I could not care less about sports, but I genuinely enjoyed the relationships between Grace, Phoebe, and their soccer teammates. This book has some great conversations about self care and asking for help when you need it. It does have some of THE WORST miscommunication I’ve ever read in a romance — but some of the communication is actually quite healthy.

It's Phoebe's world and we're all just living in it, but in the best way. She had such an infectious energy, the golden retriever to Grace's black cat. I loved that Phoebe didn't really change throughout the book because that's what Grace needed, someone consistent who just saw her the person and not just the soccer star. I didn't love some of the choices made post-conflict in the latter half of the book, but I enjoyed their relationship and banter so much that it didn't really deter me from the rest of the story.

It is now officially 3 for 3 with Meryl Wilsner writing absolutely five star books for me. While all three books are absolutely five star reads for me I think that they are getting better as they go.

Cleat Cute was a delightful romance where every thing is dramatic and gay but nothing hurts. I loved both of our MC's I loved the setting and the reality of life in underpaid professional sports. Additionally I loved how full and queer the setting of this book was and how fully flushed out all of the side characters are. Also the sex scenes are so spicy and wonderful. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

I was provided a free E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.