As soon as I found out that Wilsner was publishing another book, it was an automatic yes from me. And THEN to find out that it was a sapphic soccer romance, I knew that I needed to get my eyes on an ARC.

My favorite quote that showcases the level of swoon worthy romance in this book was, “And when we went out to the bar after, she barely did anything but stare at Grace like she hung the damn moon.” The chemistry between the two MCs, Grace and Phoebe, is palpable! This was a fun and spicy read for lovers of sport romance books.

Have you seen the show Hot Ones? Where celebrities eat a series of successively hotter chicken wings? That’s what reading Meryl Wilsner’s books is like. Their romance gets steamier and steamier with each book, and before you know it your nose is running and your eyes are filled with tears. This book was so fun to read in the run up to the Women’s World Cup and will definitely help fans fill the soccer-shaped hole in their heart when it is published in September after the conclusion of the Cup.

Everything Wilsner does is fun, sexy, and brilliant. This is no different. I was hooked from the first page and completely devoured it. I appreciate how different the dynamic was of this couple as compared to her last two books, which were absolute BANGERS. This one is no exception.

Cleat Cute
Written By: Meryl Wilsner
Published By: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: Sept 19 2023
Nips Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley- all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Phoebe Matthews has poured her heart into soccer- along with blood, sweat and the occasional tear. From the moment she hung Grace Henderson’s US Women’s National team poster on her bedroom wall, Phoebe was focused on carving out a spot for herself in professional soccer.

When her wildest dreams come true, Phoebe finds herself sharing a locker room with none other than Grace Henderson. As the grumpy Grace spends more time with ‘Phenom Phoebe’ on and off the field, feelings blossom and the two teammates struggle to find a way forward- both are hesitant to have a relationship and neither of them wants to put anything before the main love of their life- soccer.

Cleat Cute is a sapphic romance great for soccer fans- the setting almost entirely takes place in the soccer world- on the field or within the boundaries of a team dynamic. There are practices, games and tournament and lots of play-by-play details. Phoebe and Grace portray the ‘gurmpy-sunshine’ trope along with a ‘captain-teammate’ dynamic that adds additional flair to this love story. While Phoebe was often over-the-top and impulsive, I found Grace to be a bit too reluctant and held back; but the characters complimented one another well.

For me, the best part of this book was the spicy scenes- Meryl Wilsner did not shy away and definitely rose to the challenge of open-door, spicy scenes. While the third-person POV writing style bothered me a bit during some parts of the story, the spicy scenes were well written and seemed to use the character’s names a lot less, with longer sentences and more description. Not just from a ‘spicy’ standpoint, but it improved the flow while reading!

I would recommend this to any reader who enjoys sapphic romance and/or the sports trope!

Fire emojis for days. I love love love this story. Grace and Phoebe are phenomenal characters who contrast each other in the most perfect ways. Their story is unexpected, surprising, and so heartwarming. The sapphic and neurodivergent representations are so well done. I couldn't put this book down; binged it in a day. Meryl Wilsner has done it again.

Cleat Cute is a sapphic sports romance book that features two players on the same soccer team. Grace is a veteran soccer player while Phoebe is a rookie. They start off as reluctant friends (reluctant on Grace’s side), but that soon turns into something much more than friendship.

I think this is the first sapphic sports romance that I’ve read so I definitely liked that part of it! I grew up playing soccer year-round so having a book that included queer representation with soccer was really great! It was also set in New Orleans which was really fun to read about, having been there a few times myself!

While I enjoyed some aspects of this book, I also had issues with a few things. First of all, there is so much miscommunication between the two main characters. It was super frustrating throughout the entire book and honestly, it’s kind of surprising that they ended up together at all because they seemed on totally different pages half the time.

Another big issue I had with the book is how one of the main characters deals with someone’s mental health. The first conversation between Phoebe and Grace about Phoebe having ADHD was poorly handled. Grace brings it casually up to Phoebe, just assuming that Phoebe already had a diagnosis. Phoebe has never mentioned to Grace about having ADHD so it was wrong of Grace to presume that in the first place.

But the real issue to me is the fact that Phoebe asked Grace to drop it and Grace completely ignores her and even goes on to set up a doctors appointment to get her a diagnosis. This just felt off to me. While I appreciate the mental health representation and like that ADHD rep was included, I did not like this aspect of it and thought it could have been handled differently.

Overall I did like the book, but there are just a few too many things I didn’t like that prevented me from really loving it.

While the sports romance trends of late really haven't been my thing, this book made me realize that it's just because the ones I've read previously were straight. Turns out I eat up queer sports romance. I am so gay for both Phoebe and Grace, my god. I think I'd perish if they even looked my way. As hot as they are, these characters are also so incredibly real and raw right from the bat. We as the readers can see their flaws and struggles very quickly in, and it had me really invested fairly quickly. The portrayal of ADHD in femme folks was excellent, I really appreciate how the difference in presentation can be different for different genders, and also how it can impact even moods and sensitivity which is so often glossed over. And Grace being super supportive and nonjudgemental melted my heart. There were also some interesting conversations about being a professional athlete, and what the fame that comes along with it can mean for different individuals. It was really interesting seeing the contrast in Phoebe's experience as an up-and-coming athlete in contrast to Grace's veteran experience, as well as how her introverted nature complicated things.

Grace and Phoebe are wonderful characters on their own, but their dynamic together is something wonderful. They are so different and yet they mesh together so seamlessly. This difference also made the miscommunications that came up seem almost inevitable in a way. Like of course, they're going to misunderstand each other, their brains work so differently. And yet these miscommunications were always cleared up quickly so it never felt frustrating as miscommunication often can. As expected, the spice was fantastic, and their pet names for each other had me swooning. Usually, gendered pet names irk me, but something about Phoebe using them really worked in this case. The writing style was also just really fun. It's got a very unique rhythm and humor to it and I find myself sinking into it so quickly. It's safe to say I'll definitely be reading Meryl Wilsner's next release

I really liked Cleat Cute for a while, but I found that it dragged/was oddly paced by the end. We all know the plot expectations for a romance, but there’s also normally a basic plot outside the romance driving us forward. I felt like that was a big absent here. I’m glad this book exists, but I thought it was only fine.

LOVED this. Meryl Wilsner just keeps getting better and better, and I loved how CLEAT CUTE focused on PERCEIVED age difference (from a veteran player who went pro young to a rookie player who went pro after college) which is a fun twist on Wilsner's penchant for age gap romances.

I really enjoyed this one.

I am not a soccer fan, but this book had me wanting to watch a soccer game. I did struggle with the writing style at the beginning of reading this (I almost DNF'd a couple times), but I am so happy I pressed on because I got used to the writing style, and there was so much I loved about this book:
1. The characters are wonderful. I love Phoebe and Grace so much and I love them together. They are the definition of opposites attract in the best way possible. I love how they balance each other out and make the other person better while still being authentically themselves.
2. The way miscommunication is handled!!! Like in every relationship, miscommunications happen. These characters have a miscommunication, and then go out of their way to talk to each other to figure things out before jumping to conclusions. It was so nice and refreshing.
3. The spice in this book is fantastic! It is some of my favorite spice I've ever read.

There were a couple things I didn't love, but they were very minor:
1. The writing style wasn't my favorite, but I eventually got over it.
2. The pacing also wasn't my favorite. I really enjoyed this story, but there was nothing about it that had me dying to keep reading. I was able to put this book down and com back to it days later without any problem. There was nothing that made me feel like I had to keep reading.

At the heart of the book are two well-developed and endearing protagonists who find themselves drawn to each other despite their initial differences. Their journey towards self-discovery, both individually and as a couple, is portrayed with sensitivity and depth. The characters' personal growth and the challenges they face add layers of complexity to the narrative, making their story all the more compelling.

Cleat Cute explores themes of identity, self-acceptance, and the courage it takes to embrace one's true self. The novel presents a heartfelt portrayal of LGBTQ+ experiences, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of navigating relationships and societal expectations. Wilsner's nuanced exploration of these themes adds depth to the story and invites readers to reflect on their own journeys of self-discovery.

The romance in the book is beautifully depicted, filled with tender moments and genuine chemistry. The slow-burn aspect of the relationship allows for a satisfying and believable connection to develop between the characters. The author's skillful portrayal of the emotional complexities and vulnerabilities of falling in love adds depth and authenticity to the narrative, making it a joy to read.

I loved Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner last year, so I was excited to dive into this one! I've been on a huge sapphic romance kick lately and this one was sooo good. And I'm one of the romance readers that only likes sports when they're in my books, so I loved that this one was a rivals to lovers soccer romance!

First I have to make sure everyone knows that it's HOLY STEAMY SCENES. As the author showed me last year, they are great at writing them and that continued on in this book. Besides the sexy times, I really enjoyed both Grace and Phoebe - I related to both at times and it turns out they neurodivergent so it makes a lot of sense! It was really interesting watching the two of them figure out how to be together and what that looks like for them - they were both quirky in their own ways, but I personally felt it was realistic. I also learned so much about soccer and the USWNT, which I only really know what makes the headlines (unfortunately).

I definitely recommend this book - it's a fun read with some bits of seriousness included in ways that make sense and it's SAPPHIC! If the age gap in Mistakes Were Made wasn't for you, then definitely give this one a chance since you get all things Meryl Wilsner does well without the age gap!

Note (slight spoilers):

I'll be honest that the book has a lot of internal monologuing with both characters, but knowing they are ND it really makes a lot of sense because of how their brains work. The one thing that disappointed me is how late in the book it was revealed that the two characters might be ND. I know some people DNFd because they found the characters "annoying", but I do wonder if that could have been addressed earlier on to maybe generate some empathy. I could see it from a mile away, but I'm like them. I know people may still find them annoying even with that knowledge but it might convince some more readers to stick around!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy. All opinions are my own.

eARC received for review from NetGalley

2.5/5⭐️

I was so excited to read Cleat Cute which is why it is so disappointing that I disliked it so much. I found it so easy to put the book down and not return for days because it (the plot, the characters, etc.) we’re easily forgettable. Other that the representation, I find it hard to find something I really even liked about the book.

Besides the lack of interest I felt, my main contention was how much I truly hate 3rd person POV. Sometimes I can ignore it but I think if Cleat Cute had been written in almost any other POV it would’ve been so much better. The story seemed to just fall flat like there was no depth the any of the characters or plot points. While yes, there are multiple “turning point” events in the book, it was almost like every page was just a bullet point list of occurrences.

I can see this book being a huge success but it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Meryl Wilsner, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 Stars!

I really really enjoyed this book. It was the first book i've read in a long time where I just wanted to savour the story. I only read a few chapters every night, as I didn't want to fly through the book and have to say goodbye to the characters.

I've never been into sports, much less soccer, but I am a Ted Lasso fan, so I could keep up with some of the soccer references.

I loved the neurodivergent representation, Phoebe with ADHD and Grace possibly being on the autism spectrum. I was able to relate to some of what they were going through.

The progression of their love and relationship was very wholesome.

I did have a bit of a hard time to adjust to the writing style at first, but once I did, I started to enjoy it. I will definitely be checking out Meryl's other books and I can't wait!

This is definitely one of my favourite reads of the year and I can tell it'll be one that i'll be thinking back on for awhile.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

Yo I friggin loved this!

I was thinking maybe Meryl Wilsner wasn't for me- I liked their debut ok but I just couldn't get into Mistakes Were Made. But I decided to give them another try because this just ticks so many boxes for me and I'm so glad I did!

This book was fun and sweet and funny and hot as hell. I loved all the soccer talk (idk why because I have never watched a game outside of when my best friend played in high school but I love soccer books) and the different dynamics between the different players on the teams. The progression of Grace and Phoebe's relationship was perfect and I really loved them both.

By god Meryl YOUVE DONE IT AGAIN. This book is everything i've wanted in the wlw romance genre MY WHOLE LIFE. i will read anything you write seriously. the grumpy sunshine aspect *chefs kiss* we all know a type a woman like Grace, how could you not fall for her??? anyway kudos you're exactly what we needed

4/5 Stars

Overall this was such a fun read! I've been in a soccer mood since the last season of Ted Lasso aired, so this was perfect for me!

I thought that at times the story dragged a bit and it tended to repeat itself at times; however, the relationship with Phoebe and Grace thoroughly made up for it. They were the cutest and I loved the juxtaposition of their relationship with the sport of soccer. It was interesting to read the perspective of someone who is just starting out in the professional sports world vs someone who has been in that world since she was 16.

I loved the representation throughout this story with queerness as well as ADHD and Autism, along with the stigma around diagnosis of neurodivergence. It was beautiful to see Grace's care for Pheobe in wanting to get her help with her ADHD symptoms.

I felt that there was entirely too much miscommunication for me, but the conversations had between the lovers were extremely mature and felt very lifelike.

Overall, a blast and I can't wait for it to come out in September!

Thank you St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Meryl Wilsner for this EARC in exchange for my honest review!

Calling all Ted Lasso fans!

"Cleat Cute' was exactly the dose of soccer love I needed following the end of season 3 of Ted Lasso. Picture if Roy Kent and Jamie Tartt were lovers without the rest of the team knowing about it. This book was quirky, sporty, and definitely very steamy in several moments.

I enjoyed the back and forth POVs of the two main characters, but I did feel as though it occasionally made the story just feel...disjointed. One character would be feeling something and the chapter would end and immediately switch to the other main character, so it felt like lots of thoughts and feelings were just being mentioned for the sake of acknowledging them with no resolution. There was also A LOT of internal monologuing. A looooot. I struggle with that more often than not, but the subject matter and characters kept me invested in the story. This was a good pride month read for me. Three stars.

A big thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the digital ARC of Cleat Cute in exchange for my honest review!

Not many authors could get me to read a book about soccer, but Meryl Wilsner is one of them. I’m always a sucker for a good sapphic contemporary romance, and while this wasn’t my favorite by this author, I still enjoyed it because was unapologetically queer and had really well done neurodivergent representation.
My only dislike of this book was that there was so much internal monologue that the story felt clunky in places and kind of dragged the pacing. Besides that, Phoebe and Grace were a really cute couple and I enjoyed getting to read about two people who just genuinely get each other.

This was a fun grumpy/sunshine, dual POV, Sapphic sports romance between the veteren and the rookie on a professional women's soccer team. Set in New Orleans, I really enjoyed all the stops around the city and getting immersed in the world of soccer (PSA there is a lot of technical soccer talk sprinkled throughout the book but I didn't mind it personally).

While this book had some good open door spice, I felt like the characters often chose to ignore important conversations by having sex instead. Also, on the one hand it's amazing that both the MCs seem to be neurodiverse. Phoebe is undiagnosed with ADHD and this doesn't come up until near the very end of the book and Grace is CLEARY autistic and this isn't specifically stated at all in the book, which really bothered me.

Otherwise, I liked the story and would recommend for fans of books like Everything for you by Chloe Liese or The long game by Elena Armas. Many thanks to NetGalley and SMPRomance for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!