As someone who loves soccer and romance books, I loved Cleat Cute. The characters were great and I would love sequels for the side characters who are very interesting in their own right. The only thing I wished was fleshed out more is touching on Grace's possible medical issues because the lead-up hints were so well done but we don't know if she explored it more. And of course, we all want to see if they won their next star. Other than a few characters' names being wrong (changes in the ARC for the coach) it was a solid rom-com and I will definitely be reading more from the author.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. glad because I discovered a new author that wasn't on my radar.

I received an advanced copy of Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner from the publisher St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Phoebe Matthews has just been drafted to a professional women’s soccer team and to make things even crazier she was invited to practice with the US Women’s National Team, maybe she has a chance for the World Cup after all. So when she meets Grace Henderson who is a bit closed off but also her longtime celebrity crush on the team, she pushes to be friends. However, the chemistry is off the charts and they pursue a friends with benefits situations. But as the World Cup approaches and Grace deals with an injury, can their connection last?

What I Loved: Do I like soccer? Not particularly, I don’t even watch it during the Olympics or World Cup? But was I ready for a romance about two soccer teammates amidst the challenges of making the team, uh YES! I loved this one. I really liked both characters and their chemistry was very hot. These two characters just match well and I loved it. Grace is one of my favorite characters, I found her relatable and I loved that Phoebe still pushed to be her friend. I loved the team vibes and just thought this was good fun!

What I Didn’t Like: I don’t love miscommunication tropes but this one was done in a really unique way so it wasn’t the worst, but still frustrating The third person present tense can be a lot. Also ‘baby girl’ wasn’t my favorite but alas it is not up to me.

Who Should Read It: People who love books centralized on a team. People who wish Bend it like Beckham was sapphic.

Summary: Two teammates find connection with each other in the midst of World Cup.

The characters, especially the main two, seemed very two-dimensional in this book. We could have learned so much about them away from the pitch and apart from each other. Instead, though, we got a lot about who they were together (when they were together) and not much else. It's a quick read, but it just fell flat for me and it's why I'm only rating it 3 stars out of 5. Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy through NetGalley.

“Cleat Cute” is the sapphic professional soccer romance you didn't know you were waiting for. I am 3/3 for highly enjoying each of her last releases. As a major USWNT/WSL fan I have had this book on my TBR ever since the title was released and was super excited when I was approved to read an advanced copy! There’s just something about women playing sports, especially soccer that I just love and Wilsner captures the love and passion for the game wonderfully in this rom com. This is more than just a romance book, it has funny parts and tackles real issues like financial struggles and neurodivergence.

Wilsner did an amazing job describing each action when soccer was actually being played in the book well enough to engage readers who might not have as heavy of a soccer background. I loved how this book leaned into the friends part of the friends with benefits. I loved how Phoebe saw Grace taking care of everyone else, and insisted on taking care of Grace and letting Grace remember all the things she loved about soccer and her life. This was a happy medium spice level wise between “Something to Talk About” and “Mistakes Were Made”. I do like their relationship and the plot line after the spicy scene. The spice is well written and very spicy, if dirty talk is not your thing I would look for something else. The character were relatable and the sports aspect really appealed to me. The representation is also fantastic! There are trans, non-binary, and bi side characters. Phoebe very clearly has undiagnosed ADHD from the beginning. And as we learn more about Grace, it becomes apparent she is likely on the autism spectrum. Having both MCs as neurodivergent adds so much to the story. I also just wanted more of Phoebe and Grace after they officially started dating. When I turned the page and saw epilogue, I had to go back and make sure I didn't miss anything. Obviously, it is hard to include everything in a book because you can't make it too long, but I would have just liked to see more of them together as an official couple. Thanks to Meryl Wilsner, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts. I Can’t wait to see what Wilsner has in store for us next and I hope that Wilsner continues to write more sports based books.

DNF. I think I finally have to give in and admit that Meryl Wilsner books are not for me. Their writing style is easy to read and plenty fun, but their characters are always where it goes wrong for me. I liked their first novel, despite having an age gap and power imbalance (2 tropes I don’t particularly enjoy), but Mistakes Were Made was simply too much of an age gap for me. I was looking forward to this one since the age gap was much smaller, but I really disliked Phoebe as a character. Her behavior when it came to Grace was really odd to me and it made me uncomfortable how she seemed to view her as a challenge to seduce rather than an actual person with feelings.

Thank you NetGalley and Saint Martin's Press for such a cute arc!
I absolutely love sapphic romances, especially some rival celebrities. This really checked off a bunch of boxes for me: a bit of conflict, some good friends, and steaminess. I'm not usually the biggest sports book reader but this was really cute and it worked out really well. This book has a fantastic representation of queer characters POC characters and neurodivergent characters. I really loved her passbook and I think she really hit it out of the park with this as well.

Grace is a veteran on the US Women's National Team and on the NO Krewe. Phoebe is a rookie in both places. They have a lot of spicy and steamy sex, then, they don't talk to each other properly, for... well, quite awhile, and it drags on the story unfortunately.

Oh, and, they each are oh so very and super specifically 'unique' and special people. (And, I'm sorry, if you are not some minor's guardian you do NOT get to make Drs. appointments for them, ever, ever Period. I don't care what the situation was.)

Here's the good part? I honestly would have read a book about basically almost any of the other teammates of the two main characters. But, Grace and Phoebe, not my cup of tea.

I do wish I'd liked the book more. And, if I found the right person at the library I'd recommend it to them, but, I'd have to be very very particular about who I did recommend this to.

I love lesfic, love and have played soccer (go Goalkeepers!), but, even those two things couldn't save it.

This was such a cute and heartwarming queer sports romcom! I loved the neurodivergent rep. included as well! Meryl Wilsner writes incredible steamy scenes and this book did not disappoint in that area!

I loved this book! It was so nice to see the characters develop throughout the course of it, both together and individually to be a better version of themselves (and loving themselves more). I thought their chemistry was great and even as someone who doesn't know much about soccer, it was easy to follow along with the setting and challenges the rosters and teams set.

I was both excited and apprehensive when beginning to read this book, as I have zero soccer knowledge and I was worried this would lean too heavily on "sport" romance...but I was pleasantly surprised on how well done this aspect was! It felt very natural and I felt like I got a good enough understanding of the structure of how teams worked, the different levels, etc without getting bogged down in the details. The stars here are really Phoebe and Grace. What I really loved, is how well Wilsner portrays neurodiversity for the first 90% of the book, without really addressing it. It just - is. I mean this as a compliment. These are fully fleshed out, well rounded characters that are not just rubber-stamped with stereotypical traits. But if you are neurodiverse or know someone closely that is, you will recognize many traits and behaviors. But Wilsner just weaves this is like a natural part of the characters, it is not a focus or the focus of the book really at all, but the representation is done so well. The spiciness level of this book is HIGH, but I loved how Phoebe and Grace used respect and consent in these moments. This is a true romance through and through, but there is also plenty of personal growth. A really great read, highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

I’m suing!!!
Someone pulled this out of my sapphic teen athlete fantasies and I deserve compensation. Fortunately, I’m willing to accept compensation in the flavor of this story.
Phoebe and Grace are competitive af and their push and pull is sexual tension at its best!

I never thought I’d be pulled into a sports romance, but here we are. I didn’t follow all the game play, but uh… I wasn’t reading it for that.
The first name/last name switching confused me a little bit it was also kinda spicy? Idk am I into that? (Yes, apparently I’m into that)
The hair braiding caught me off guard and damn… it was cute and hot all at once.

Sweet and fast paced read packed with creative conflict

When this book was announced and hit my kindle, I was super excited to start it. “Cleat Cute” is a sweet, steamy and heartfelt sapphic romance that was a cute read.

Phoebe Matthews has been training for this moment and is finally on the Women’s National Soccer team. Grace Henderson has been the superstar for the last 10 years but is sidelined with an injury. Phoebe is extroverted, funny and outgoing. Grace is kind, introverted and likes her routines. Phoebe has always admired Grace and quickly realizes she’s looking at her more than just a teammate. Grace is focused on getting back on the pitch but even she can’t resist the sunshine that Phoebe is.

I loved these two and enjoyed reading their story. Both are relatable on the struggles they both faced throughout this book. Grace, working through her injury and coming to terms that she is ready to be in a relationship. Phoebe, with finding her way on the team and trying to stand out to make it fully on the team. Opposites attract and I loved how different they were. An extrovert sunshine with an introverted baby grump. The steamy scenes were so good and well written. They were hot for sure and not sleezy at all, which some WLW books can be. The teammates were great and I hope this world gets expanded on and we get more books.

If you follow me, you will know that sports books are very hit and miss for me. This one was okay, I have definitely read other sports books where it overtakes the plot or is so technical I get bored quickly.

I loved the tension and chemistry between Grace and Phoebe as they navigate their personal struggles, the competition on the field, and their relationship.

The blurb says rivals to lovers and that is a great description of the relationship. Enemies to lovers doesn’t fit the dynamic of the couple.

This is a great Sapphic September read!

Cleat Cute" by Meryl Wilsner is a heartwarming journey of self-discovery and love unfolding on the soccer field!

First impressions matter, and Phoebe and Grace's initial encounter was far from perfect. This book beautifully explores the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, with both Grace and Phoebe embracing their true selves.

The undeniable chemistry between Phoebe and Grace adds an electrifying spark to the story, making it a captivating read. I’ll just say locker room scene. Spicy!

Grace's personal growth and quest for identity are utterly captivating. Witnessing her journey of self-discovery and growth was my absolute favorite aspect of this book.

"Cleat Cute" is a heartwarming tale of love, growth, and the power of embracing one's authentic self. A must-read, especially for fans of sports-themed romance novels!

Thank you to Meryl Wilsner, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

My first encounter with this author was Mistakes Were Made. Thinking about that book still makes me blush.

This book didn’t hit as much of a punch for me as MWM, but I still ate up every word! This was a really sweet and endearing romcom featuring two neurodivergent FMCs. I usually hate miscommunication in books, but this author did such a good job filling out these characters which gave reason and deeper meaning to the miscommunication. This was also one of my first romances in the soccer world! Which I really loved! Not to mention I loved reading about a flirty fmc. Just so unabashedly flirtatious. There are not enough characters as flirty as Phoebe Matthews out there!

This book hit every single right note for me! I grew super attached to the main characters, and related to Phoebe a lot. I loved her voice, it was funny and entertaining and endearing. The pacing was great, and it balanced the soccer stuff with the sincere, sweet, and steamy very well. And the steamy scenes were SO GOOD, oohh I was living!! The tension of a sports romance just can not be beat for me. Reading this during the women's world cup, and having the characters remind me of my favorite ship from Ted Lasso, was just the icing on the cake.

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner is a pleasant romance set in the world of Women's soccer. Phoebe and Grace appear to be opposites in every way and yet their attraction is real. I enjoyed the setting and the romance but was most drawn to Grace figuring out who she wanted to be and how she wanted to live her life. Grace's character added a level of depth to the story that I've come to expect from Meryl Wilsner.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Cleat Cute in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t think this is a great example of rivals to lovers. They barely had any competition and were friends, even if reluctantly, almost immediately.

When we first meet Phoebe, she’s betting with her brother using M&Ms. Their friendship is really sweet while still being realistic for a brother and sister relationship. The rest of her family didn't really sit right with me. They believed they were just teasing her, but it felt a little closer to bullying to me.

Grace and Phoebe’s relationship also starts off with a lot of betting, teasing, and banter. Those elements continued to play a role in the bedroom as well. The spicy scenes were well written and included wonderful consent. There was a lot of dirty talk and sweet nicknames between the two of them that kept me thoroughly entertained.

I love sports romances, but honestly, I don’t understand most sports. Cleat Cute is not too heavy on the sports, but it's still a sports romance without being overwhelming. I was hesitant in the beginning because of power dynamics and a possible power imbalance. Grace is Phoebe's captain. It is easy to look past, but I believe it’s something people should be aware of.

The beginning of the book was a city tour with plenty of inner monologues. You learn about Phoebe quickly through her thoughts instead of the people around her. I relate a lot to Phoebe, so I loved it, but I understand how that may not be for everyone. Once you meet the team, you see her more through their eyes as well as Grace's.

I would rather not be one of those people who say, Just wait until it gets better, but I'm going to be one of those people. It got so much better when we met the team. The team is made up of a diverse cast. There are neurodivergent, POC, and multiple queer characters. My favorite team member is Ash. Ash is an outgoing, shameless trans character who brings amazing energy to the team.

One last thing that doesn’t bother me, and I think it's for a good reason, but I know it’s a deal breaker for a few people, is that it mentions TikTok many times.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who are looking for a cute sports romance with good banter and a diverse group.

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5
🌶/5

Soccer romance? Yes please. This was super cute and had me interested from the romance to the background details. A rookie soccer player makes a professional women’s team and gets her first call up to the USA team the same year of the World Cup. She is confident, herself and falls for the veteran of her team, the same veteran she grew up admiring as her soccer idol. Cute spicy scenes. The soccer descriptions didn’t make me cringe like some sports based rom coms do. The author clearly knows women’s soccer. Overall, a quick, cute read. If you like soccer and romcoms, pick this up to see what happens as Grace and Phoebe take on the World Cup and some spicy fun.

Mode: 📱thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for allowing me to review and advanced copy e book in exchange for this review.

Obsessed with this book, obsessed with the characters, and I’m so sad that I flew through this book in one sitting - I want more!!

This book was literally perfect, no notes - there was nothing I wanted that it didn’t have. Queer rep, neurodiversity, enemies to friends to lovers, forbidden romance, slow burn but with a lot of spice, basically every single thing I love in a book all wrapped up into one adorable package!

Cleat cute was my personal most anticipated book of the year, and this did NOT disappoint. I loved the way the book handled a lot of serious topics - from neurodiversity to miscommunication to family drama - but in a way that felt more real-life than most books I read. While turning to TikTok to learn more about a ADHD may not be a recommended method, we’ve all been there. You can’t help falling in love with Phoebe and Grace while following their journey of self and together exploration, and I found myself rooting for this couple more than many other recent books I’ve read.

For any fans of Chloe Liese’s Everything for You, or for anyone who couldn’t get enough of the interrelationships of the World Cup, this book is a great next read.