*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an e-arc of this book!*

Well this was a fun little romance. It follows Phoebe Matthews, a college soccer player who gets a call that she has the opportunity to play for the US National team, alongside her favorite player, and celebrity crush, Grace Henderson. Naturally, Phoebe is ecstatic. And she struggles to hide her infatuation with Grace from the beginning.

When they meet, Grace is immediately put off by Phoebe's eccentricities. Grace is a laid back shy woman, and Phoebe is the complete opposite. But Phoebe will not go down without a fight, and is determined to make Grace her friend. Or more....
The two women become friends, and then more, and then feelings begin to develop from there.

This book was cute, and I enjoyed my time reading it. I need to say though, I feel I would have enjoyed this more if I liked soccer, or at least knew things about it. Because I had 0 clue what they were doing or talking about the majority of the book - and it took me out of it. I think the book is geared towards people who already know and enjoy the sport, which is fine, they just don't explain any of the terms or positions they talk about, and it becomes confusing and hard to read for people who are like me and don't enjoy the sport already. But the romance itself made up for it for sure. I loved reading about the differences in the 2 women's personalities and how they somehow still fit together like puzzle pieces. The side characters were also fun, and I feel like I would have enjoyed seeing more from them.

This book is a delightfully queer sporty romance with relatable and entertaining characters that will surely delight any readers.

A charming sapphic romance that blends soccer, miscommunication, and neurodivergent representation. A feel good story, no third act break up.

Absolutely loved it!

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.

oh my god. please. This book was so good. I got an arc for Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner last year (it was also amazing, def go check it out) so I was SOOOO happy when I got an arc for this book, too. This was amazing. A sapphic romance between rookie and veteran teammates? Sign me upppp! Phoebe Matthews is the new rookie on the team with veteran Grace Henderson. Phoebe has idolized Grace for yearssss and finally got the chance to play with Grace on a field. However, Grace immediately dislikes Phoebe for being late to practice, being loud and too talkative, but soon sees that Phoebe is really talented on the field. Yada yada yada, there's a bet and then a not-kiss, then a while later a hookup (a few hookups lol), some problems along the way, and then there is honestly probably my favorite case of miscommunication a book has ever had. It was cute, and hilarious, and made me laugh (rather than scream "JUST COMMUNICATE!!") when it was finally revealed at the end. I mean, it was amazing, what more do I need to say?? Oh, maybe that Phoebe gets protective of Grace when Grace reveals that someone totally screwed her over and hurt her. I think I've said everything I need to, but I will once again reiterate, this book was so frickin good. Please please please check this out if you liked Mistakes Were Made, or if you just want a hot, sapphic, soccer teammate romance with a "friends with benefits because I don't date... i don't.." trope!!

With a cover like this, how could we not root for Meryl Wilsner's newest sapphic romance about a veteran soccer player and the spunky new rookie?

I really did want to love this one and very much enjoyed the set up and the particularly steamy bits early on in this book. But then it sort of tuckered out for me. There's not a ton of plot here -- the injury that sidelines Grace per the synopsis only happens around the 40% mark. And not a lot happens after that. There's a conflict as a result of miscommunication <spoiler> and then there's a subplot about a mental health diagnosis for both characters that honestly felt a bit tokenistic and out of nowhere. </spoiler> I did enjoy the writing but found I was forcing myself to keep picking this one up. After Mistakes Were Made, this isn't my favorite from Wilsner.

I voluntarily read a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book, plain and simple. I loved the way Grace and Phoebe were portrayed, especially when it comes to their neurodivergence, and their distinct personalities. I loved watching the two of them grow together, plus the education the reader gets about the world of professional women's soccer. It was a fun read, I found myself getting sucked in especially with the angstier parts. It was refreshing to see the misunderstanding trope take a different turn and for the characters to mostly communicate very clearly and understand where the other is coming from, rather than making them purposefully obtuse just for the sake of drama.

[SPOILERS]
I will say, though it turned out well and is a genuinely sweet moment at the end, I did have to stop reading for a while because of the anxiety I got from the idea that one of them thought they were in a relationship and one thought they were just friends with benefits. I was STRESSED. But it all turned out well so I'm not complaining too much.
[END SPOILERS]

The voices are distinct, the erotic scenes are engaging and very spicy, and even though I am not into sports at all, seeing soccer through the eyes of these women who do it professionally is so exciting. Wilsner does it again, definitely getting this when it comes out!!

The writing style wasn't my favorite. Overall, it was very OKAY! Maybe my expectations were too high, but I wanted so much more. This wasn't the soccer romance I was expecting :(

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffith for this advanced copy! You can pick up Cleat Cute on September 19, 2023.

Y'all, don't let the cartoon cover deceive you. This book is STEAMY for a rom-com, and I ate up every second of it. Phoebe and Grace's banter/flirting was making me literally blush, and the spicy scenes were some of the best I've read this year. The romance throughout the whole story truly delivered, as we watched Phoebe and Grace go from reluctant teammates to friends to girlfriends.

The soccer aspect of it was so fun to read, as a former player. I loved the dynamic of the teams, the messiness of competing for the same spot on a roster, the pressure of it leading up to the World Cup. Honestly, my one complaint is that the story ended too soon. I could've read another 50 pages about what happens post-a-very-specific-conversation.

All in all, the perfect summer/fall romance. RUN don't walk to pick up this book in September!

Sapphic sports romance on the pitch?! Yes, please.

I'm a sucker for a sports romance and when I had the opportunity to read a new to me author about 2 members of the US Women's National soccer (football) team, DURING the World Cup, I couldn't have thought of a better time to dive in.
Phoebe and Grace are new teammates on the Krewe team. They are the epitome of grumpy-sunshine characters. Where Phoebe loves soccer and is happy to be in her new town with new teammates, Grace is the opposite. She's been a part of this world for so long that she kind of forgot her joy of the sport and of the game. It takes Phoebe, a talented player that exudes happiness, to push Grace out of her comfort zone and make her be friends with the rookie.

Cleat Cute was filled with so many good characters, their soccer world and LOTS of spice! The diverse characters were represented well and I couldn't help but fall for Phoebe right away. You just couldn't help but like this woman. She was out and proud and knew what she wanted. Meanwhile, Grace was a little slower for me to warm up to. She's the type of character that holds back and gives very little until she knows it's safe to give more. But Phoebe is all about pushing the boundaries. And their first love scene in the locker room is FIRE!!

Cleat Cute is the best mix of sports romance in the workplace with grumpy/sunshine characters. I wasn't sure how being a couple on the same team would work, but Meryl Wilsner made me a believer. These two were friends first and their chemistry traveled from the pitch and off. Even if they didn't label what they were, it was obvious where it was going.

I think the author did a great job of not only having queer characters, but also incorporating neurodiversity into the storyline as well. It seemed kind of obvious, but I liked the way the author handled it. I just wish it weren't talked about earlier on. There were also some sweet and cute moments between the players that I think really stood out (like the hair braiding) and dialogue between teammates that pushed the story forward. I did have an issue with a "pet name", but I think it was a me thing. It just felt off.
Overall, this was a great read and I enjoyed the whole crew of characters, but especially Phoebe. If you're an American soccer fan, have enjoyed Ted Lasso, like your stories filled with queer characters with a nice dose of spice....give this one a try. I'm very excited to read more by this author.

Cleat Cute is a really great sapphic romance book. Grace is a veteran soccer player. She is big into following rules and notoriously private about her life. Phoebe is one of the team rookies. She is full of life and determined to make the most of her new life playing soccer with one of her heroes in New Orleans. Grace reluctantly takes Phoebe under her wing to introduce her to the city and to professional soccer. The friendship quickly turns to a very steamy friends with benefits situation.

I have had so much fun reading Meryl Wilsner's books. The spice levels are always nice and they have plenty of sweet moments between the couples. This was no exception. I look forward to reading everything they write in the future.

Thank you St Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for an ARC of Cleat Cute, all opinions are my own

As someone who has grown up playing soccer, I absolutely adore storylines that have to do with the game. It makes me enjoy the book so much more simply because it’s so nostalgic for me to read about. Even if I didn’t know the game though, Cleat Cute would be something I would love. It balances the game and the romance i’m such a way that neither is overwhelming. Grace and Phoebe’s relationship with the game is something I loved to read about. I enjoyed their different personalities and seeing how each of them react to what is going on around them. I loved Grace so much and I just felt like I related to her so much. While a lot of their relationships deals with miscommunication which usually makes me so irritated since it is such as easy fix, I never found myself too upset by the issues the miscommunication created. It felt very realistic. Nothing too impulsive or dramatic as a result, no third act break up. I really just enjoyed everything about it. Phoebe was a little fireball and she was so much fun and Grace was very quiet and reserved. I really liked the balance that they brought to each other. They brought out the best in each other and inspired each other to not only be better for each other but to be the best player they can be in the game.

Anyways I loved this book so much and completely recommend.

I give this book a solid 3.5 stars (round for rating purpose to 4). It's on my amazon wishlist to add to my physical book collection in the future.

There were so many things to love about this book, but other things that drove me nuts. The beginning was quite slow and I struggled hard to get into it. I know it was more of a "slow burn" approach, but let's be serious, as queer women I've never had a relationship with a female that wasn't followed by your stereotypical u-haul way too soon.

This book had a wonder balance of spice! Some really great sex scenes, with excellent detail. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

All in all, I would recommend this book, but I'm not shouting it from the rooftops. It was a good read and I'll definitely read books by this author in the future.

Thank you to Meryl and St. Martin's for this ARC!

🚨Spoiler Alert 🚨

Phoebe's character reminded me so much of women I've dated in the past, which made this book very relatable, which is what inevitably sucked me in. The signification lack of communication between Grace and Phoebe was really annoying. The abrupt neurodivergence being introduced toward the end felt misplaced, it would have been better near the beginning.

I loved the soccer journey, as a soccer fan. It was fun to read, especially being so invested in the current Women's World Cup. But, I felt that their soccer wrap up fell a bit flat for me. Like, I know the story was about Phoebe and Grace's growth as individuals and as a couple, but they LOVED soccer. I would have just loved to seen a bit more with that journey toward the end. I just felt the ending was really rushed, that was didn't get anything super satisfying after they became a couple. I guess I just wanted a little bit more.

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner was a cute Sapphic romance and I truly enjoyed my time reading it. Was it memorable? Not really. The writing was good, the story was cute and the characters were okay. I was really excited when I read the description of this and was really looking forward to it. It delivered but it wasn't memorable.

I think Wilsner nailed the penalty shot!

Cleat Cute is a wonderful grumpy/sunshine romance novel set on the soccer pitch. If you love women's soccer you will love the way Wilsner brings you right into the action pre world cup year. If you are not sure about soccer they easily integrate you into the mix.

Phoebe and Grace are a opposites attract and the chemistry is fire. Cleat Cute is spicy, flirty and funny. Wilsner did a great job with handling sensitive topics like ADHD and neurodivergent characters. Tie all of the elements together and you have a book that delivers.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC; this book is out 9/19.

Funny, charming, original yet relatable, this is the meet-cute for soccer queers (and really, everyone), we've been waiting for. Wilsner is an instant-read at this point for a much-needed balance of warmth, depth, and spice.

A fun, sporty sapphic romance from Meryl Wilsner! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC, and I was super excited to read this book in advance of the Women's World Cup this summer.

Cleat Cute follows protagonist Phoebe, who has just joined a professional soccer team coming out of college and is looking to potentially make the national team for that summer's World Cup as an underdog rookie. At her New Orleans team, she meets Grace, the veteran team captain, who has just suffered an injury and is worried about her chances of making the roster as a result.

I'm a sucker for sports romances so found this cute, but I did find it too steamy for my liking and I found myself wishing for more character and relationship development instead. The romance did feel realistic, however, and I did fly through the book.

Overall, 3.5/5 stars.

This book was adorably sweet from start to finish. I really loved all of the queer and neurodivergent representation and how these topics were handled in such an incredibly well and nuanced way. The details surrounding these identities were clearly well researched and these small details made the characters seem real and intriguing. These small details also carried through to the way soccer was described throughout the book. At times, as someone who didn't play soccer, it was a bit difficult to keep up with the terms but I was able to catch on to the lingo.

The stars of this book though were the two protagonists. I absolutely adored Phoebe. She was everything I needed in a female main character. I loved how bold and unapologetically herself she was. How she was simultaneously ambitious and kind and protective without being overbearing. I also really liked Grace and found her to be so relatable. I could see myself in her and how she puts so much pressure on herself to be perfect.

I loved how their romance unfolded. The miscommunication leading to the confusion around their relationship was really funny. It added a bit of a twist to the miscommunication trope that made it unique. That said, sometimes the pacing in their relationship dynamics was a bit off for me.

However, my absolute favorite thing about this book were the spicy scenes. Queer spicy scenes are hit or miss for me because they can be so stereotyped and unrealistic but these were such a big hit. I liked the tenderness mixed in with the spice. I love how there was discussion about protection between the two women, as this often gets overlooked in FxF relationship portrayals. I could read some of those spicy scenes again because they were truly addicting and so hot!

Disclaimer: This book is HOT 🔥 There are not enough words in the English language to describe how much I liked this book. I was hooked from the first four pages.

The chemistry and tension between Grace and Phoebe is off the charts. I love their interactions with each other and how they are always there to support one another. I also have to shout out Meryl Wilsner for their amazing portrayal of different identities.

I know next to nothing about soccer but I was enraptured in their world simply because of how much THEY loved soccer.

Grace and Phoebe’s struggles were raw and real. Being inside their heads made them feel like real people and I enjoyed watching them grow together.

If you’re looking for a sexy, sapphic novel: PLEASE read this. A 4.5 stars from me

My Review posted on Goodreads on July 30, 2023
From a NetGalley Kindle Edition
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4594995884

'For transparency, I received a Kindle version of 'Cleat Cute' by Mel Wilsner from NetGalley (thank you!) to review.

I adored both Wilsner's "Something to Talk About' and ‘Mistakes Were Made’ and was hoping for the same magic with the author's new sapphic romance, 'Cleat Cute'. Sadly, I was disappointed. It's not that the story was bad, just not compelling as written and there wasn't much of an actual 'romance' between the main characters. This book was a chore to get through for me and not memorable.

I couldn't relate to either of the main characters, neither ever seemed like real people, and their relationship wasn't very interesting or connected. I couldn't put 'Mistakes Were Made' down, while I found myself struggling to make it through 'Cleat Cute'. Sadly, I learned more about women's soccer than either Phoebe or Grace.'

I’m so sad, I loved Mistakes Were Made SO much and this literally feels like it wasn’t even written by the same person. Where’s the witty banter? Where’s the pacing of the plot? Where’s the action? The inner monologues of these MCs were completely insufferable—I want to be shown, not told. Living inside their minds instead of living in a world they inhabit was so frustrating and I was bored. The sex scenes were good, but the plot was seriously lacking. And I wasn’t reading this for the soccer facts, but maybe at least call it a pitch accurately or call it a field the whole time? Such a letdown, unfortunately.

This was a super-fun enemies-to-lovers set in the world of women’s soccer. Phoebe and Grace were insanely hot together and the neurodivergent rep was well done. There was just some major internal dialogue that dragged at times, especially in the beginning, but once it picked up, I flew threw the book and loved it.