I tried. I really tried but I just can’t. Cleat Cute isn’t as bad as Mistakes Were Made… but it’s still pretty high up on the cringe scale. It just doesn’t feel like reading an adult novel. This feels like YA with characters in their twenties just so there can be smut.

Third person present tense was an extremely odd choice for POV. The whole time I was reading I just couldn’t connect with any of the characters. There’s no voice, no tension, no passion… nothing,

And I agree with other reviewers about the questionable ADHD rep. I don’t think it’s problematic—I don’t think fiction is ever obligated to portray real life issues 100% accurately, because it’s all subjective, anyway. But it felt forced. Felt like Wilsner was trying to write this empowering message about mental health but it was just cringy.

I expect Cleat Cute to be very successful and make many readers very happy. I’m thrilled to see more sapphic romance achieving mainstream success, and although I think this book is extremely mediocre, I know it will be the perfect read for a lot of people and I do look forward to recommending it.

I think it’s important to know a few things about me before you read this review: 1. A Meryl Wilsner book is an automatic read for me; 2. I LOVE soccer and was an athlete into my college years, but don’t typically enjoy sports romances; 3. I love neurodivergent characters; and finally 4., bring on the steam.

There are many things I liked, especially the depiction of the characters. The neurodivergent characteristics were written so vividly that you could feel the adhd behaviors and panic attack… even though the attack went largely unaddressed.

I really appreciated the focus on communication in the romantic relationship. it was ironic that most of the conflict in the story seemed to come from miscommunication, but the focus on talking through things- especially during the steamy sections- was a great highlight.

The older main character- who had the panic attack- goes through a bit of an existential crisis. I love the support of her family as she figures out what she likes- and doesn’t like- about her job. It seems important to reassert that we can make choices… life isn’t all or nothing.

While the novel was solid- my personal preferences brought down my rating of this one. Things I didn’t love? There is a “telling” style of storytelling… much different than the previous Wilsner narratives that I’ve read. It also took me awhile to feel engaged - partially because of the extended explanation of professional soccer in the beginning, and partially because of the “telling.”

Another challenge for me was the lengthy internal monologues. I recognize that in some spaces it would be more difficult to depict the neurodivergence without the extended introspection, but this took it a little too far. It was disconnecting. Also, the characters seemed so… immature. I almost stopped reading at one point.

There were a few sex scenes and as I said earlier, I appreciated that they checked in with each other regularly. But I did not love some of the cringey aspects of their conversations. It added to the immaturity and I didn’t feel their connection. It was especially difficult to infer the attraction from one of the characters. Did she like orgasms? Of course. Even though they were having sex the same way again? Yep. But did she like the other main character? I honestly wasn’t sure until close to the end.

There are some violations of trust, especially related to medical issues. I was really uncomfortable when a parallel was drawn from a father making an appointment for his daughter without her consent to a friends with benefits partner- who also occupies an employment position of authority- doing the same. It just wasn’t ok.

Finally, there are so many things that are not fully explored. From the ex who is back in the picture and then suddenly disappears to friendships and familial relationships that are just teased. There’s also a socioeconomic class stratification that creates conflict… but in a superficial way. It definitely could’ve been expounded upon.

3.5 stars. Overall there are definitely some cute moments, and if you like sports romance, this would likely be a hit for you! Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and author Meryl Wilsner for the e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

Yet again, Meryl delivers one of the best books! This book is every sapphic persons dream - and it is written perfectly!

Wilsner does it again, bringing us yet another super sexy romcom with delightful queer characters getting in their own way. With a deft hand, Wilsner manages to create two complicated, neurodivergent characters without making the story about their neurodivergence. As they navigate their unexpected romance, both Phoebe and Grace are endearingly chaotic and earnest, leaving the reader cheering them on while also screaming, "Just use your words!" Steamy sex scenes round out this delicious sapphic romance and will keep readers turning the pages until the end.

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner is a really cute rivals to lovers sports romance. As a big fan of the USWNT, I was intrigued by this book and really enjoyed the similarities to the real team weaved throughout. This book feature Phoebe and Grace, Phoebe a rookie on the USWNT, and Grace a veteran star. Initially, Grace is quite annoyed by Phoebe's hyper new kid antics but they slowly forge a bond and become quite important to each other.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author. I highly recommend this book for anyone look for a sports, specifically soccer romance!

Thanks NetGalley for the chance to read this book! It’s a great 5 star book. I love Phoebe and Grace intersections! Their difference makes it work and their chemistry is to die for!!!

Cleat Cute had me laughing, swooning, and cheering for Grace and Phoebe from beginning to end.
Their chemistry is undeniable from the start, and their witty banter and competitive spirit make for a fun and engaging read in the most entertaining way possible, as they constantly try to outdo each other in every drill and practice.
And while I'm not that much into sports, I found myself enjoying it as exciting and dynamic backdrop to their story.
The supporting characters were also great, especially the other members of the soccer team. Each one had their own distinct personality and backstory, and I appreciated how the author gave them all moments to shine throughout the book.
Can we please get Madeeha, H, and baby Khadijah's story next? Thank you!
*Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for an eARC of Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner in exchange for my honest review!

If there is one thing Meryl Wilsner is going to do, it’s write some steamy smut. This book was extremely fast-paced and the characters were entirely endearing! Phoebe and Grace were way different but eventually those differences began to compliment one another. Unfortunately, where the book lost me was all of the excessive internal monologues. There were so many thoughts. Which wouldn’t normally be a bad thing, but it felt really exhausting. The writing felt a touch lazier in this one compared to the author’s other books.

Overall, not my favorite book, but still fun if you enjoy sports romance.

I went into this hoping for a sapphic romance, and that’s what I got. I love a sunshine cinnamon roll with a grumpy love interest. Give me that any day.

This book is funny because these two women are a little clueless about the relationship. What starts as a friends with benefits situationship gets a little muddled. It does have miscommunication but not as a major thing that tears them apart (my least favorite trope). Their relationship is sweet and funny.

HOWEVER, their relationship is also not developed as much as I would like. As it’s friends with benefits to lovers, it makes sense that it would focus on sex in their relationship. I just wanted more of the actual relationship itself. I feel like I would have liked just a little more development of the relationship itself.

This book has ADHD rep while also discussing that the diagnosis rates for women is low. It also shows how a partner could help mitigate some of the more problematic symptoms of ADHD which I thought was really sweet.

This book was a fun read, and I loved having sports and women in professional sports represented in a sapphic book!!

Meryl Wilsner writes great rom-coms that readers of sapphic romance continue to love. I have never been a romance reader, but Meryl Wilsner has made it easier for me to branch out into a genre I don't usually enjoy. This is a fun, enjoyable story that I ate up quickly and will delight both soccer fans and sapphic romance fans (and hopefully even just general romance fans). I'll always be quick to jump on what Meryl Wilsner delivers, even if not every single one is my favorite.

Honestly, it's been weeks since I finished this, and I'm still not sure I have my emotions together enough to write anything resembling a coherent review. Everything about this book is perfect. I am so deeply validated as a queer, neurodivergent person. It's sweet and lovely and sexy and wholesome and filled with care and sapphic yearning. To see 'diagnosed' neurodivergence is one thing, to see two people unaware of their own and muddling through until finding each other is quite another. The miscommunications were absolutely on point for the AuDHD relationship, as was the deep tenderness that came in reconciliation. But more than that, these are two whole characters with such beautiful histories finding themselves. I just... squeeeeeee. Meryl has officially ascended to the ranks of auto-buy author for me.

The chemistry between Phoebe and Grace is unmatched! I found some of the pacing of this book to be off but overall I enjoyed the ride. Phoebes character struggled to find footing for me, once she landed I was all in. Grace is such a dummy I love her. I would’ve loved to see more of the people around grace and phoebe.

Pub date: 9/19/23
Genre: romcom (f/f, grumpy/sunshine, sports romance)
Quick summary: Freshly minted US national team/New Orleans Crewe soccer player Phoebe is eager to prove herself to her idol, team captain Grace. But these teammates will soon become more...

I loved Meryl Wilsner's last book, MISTAKES WERE MADE, so I had to read this one..more than five months before publication. I loved the NOLA setting, the grumpy/sunshine vibes, the teammate dynamics, and the soccer. Phoebe and Grace complemented each other so well, and I loved seeing them bring out the best in each other. Steam fans will find plenty to love here as well, but the steam is balanced by character exploration and personal development, including mental health themes.

I think romcom fans will enjoy this one a lot!!

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Meryl Wilsner does it again!

My favorite thing about Wilsner’s writing is their character development. I KNOW Phoebe and Grace - they are so richly rendered that they are full-on people who will live rent free in my head for a long time.

Grace is a trailblazing soccer player, playing professionally and on the national team since she was a teenager. She’s quiet and closed off, an introvert to the nth degree. Phoebe is a rookie player, with an incredible intuition for the game, drafted to Grace’s team. She is also loud, funny, lacks filters, and has a hard time focusing on tasks that are not soccer (good ADHD rep). This book is very much about soccer - it’s a sports book through and through. I can’t say how accurate any of it is, but I enjoyed entering the world of pro soccer while experiencing Phoebe and Grace falling in love.

In lots of ways this book reminded me of Something to Talk About (with a lot more very hot sex). There are interesting plot points that are important to move the story forward, but the book is really an exploration of human behavior, of human motivation and struggle, about self-realization and actualization, about the ways we know ourselves and interact with each other. Other authors try for this, but very few actually achieve the depth and understanding that Wilsner gets to. It was delightful. You should read it.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Sport romances are not usually my favorite but this adorable book is definitely helping to change my mind. Grace’s and Phoebe’s chemistry worked really well for me from the get go and I loved their rivals-to-friends
-to-lovers journey. There were just enough spicy scenes to make it fun without overshadowing the importance of the growth of their feelings and the character growth more broadly.

I am often wary of and easily frustrated with miscommunication tropes but I will accept it in this case because they had actual conversations when they discovered the misunderstandings and resolved them in a way that made sense (as opposed to having a dramatic break up before getting back together without really talking about it which happens too often).

All in all I was engrossed til the end and would have gladly kept reading about these two and the entire soccer league if it had continued. A sequel focusing on other characters in the universe could also be interesting (especially if we get to see Kelsey and/or Coach Eric humbled a bit more)

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher.

Cute, sporty, gay. In three words that is how I would describe this book. Who doesn't love a good easy-read romance? I certainly do. I thought that the book played out the story line in a really fantastic way, and the perspective shifts between which character was narrating really allowed for you as the reader to be rooting for them, calling them idiots when they were acting like ones, and feel like even though it is a romance book - it is real. Real people perceive the same things differently, and this book displays that so well while taking you through this love story.

This book is a cute quick read that got me out of a reading slump. I enjoyed the characters but did spend most of the book wishing they would talk to each other instead of the constant internal monologue. With that said the story is fun, the spice is good and the topics discussed are important.

I liked this book because it was funny and i could not believe how much miscommunication was going on. Grace has no clue on how to be in a relationship. Her whole life has been about soccer, so she missed all the growing up and dating parts of life. Phoebe is a soccer Phenom and just wants to do well. She kind-of pushes Grace into a friend with more relationship. Phoebe is like a new puppy. Everything is fun and new, and Grace does not know how to relate. They eventually work it out, but it takes a long time, and the journey is great. I like Meryl Wilsner's writing. I got this book because i have read her other books and this one did not disappoint. I did not know anything about soccer, but it did not detract from the story. Well worth the time and effort. Really enjoyed this book.
Received a copy for an unbiased review.

There is so much to love about Meryl Wilsner's Cleat Cute, a sapphic romance between a USWNT veteran and an aspiring professional soccer player from a small college in her hometown. First of all, the premise is fresh and oh so gay. Women's soccer is more popular than ever, and also more openly gay than ever. I loved how much actual soccer was in this book, the shout-outs to lesbian legends of the sport, and how right Wilsner got the stan culture around the USWNT. (The reference to L Chat had me howling.) The chemistry between Grace and Phoebe is off the charts, the sex scenes (which start much earlier than I anticipated!) are hot hot hot, and the alternating POV's really make this a page-turner. I gobbled it up in one day.

The struggle I had with Cleat Cute is that it was trying to do SO much, especially when it came to Grace and Phoebe's differing neurodivergence. Grace is on the autism spectrum, Phoebe has ADHD, and neither of them know it when the book kicks off. (Ha, get it? Kick off?) So there's just so pages and pages of each of them acting out — or internally monologuing — lists of symptoms to drive home the point. Sometimes it feels like lists of symptoms are their characterizations. Grace clocks that Phoebe has ADHD and just assumes she knows and is medicated, and when Phoebe explains why that's not true, Grace just sets her up a doctor's appointment? Kind of a toughie for someone you've been dating a month. Grace also never really gets into her own autism. This wouldn't be as big of a deal if both of their neurodivergent traits weren't constantly causing misunderstandings and conflicts that get resolved without any real conversations or strategies, but because Phoebe is quick to forgive. It's hard to feel like you're sending these two off into the sunset, when it's clear they are going to have MAJOR issues that haven't even been touched on because the sex is so good.

I also wish their misunderstandings weren't the main things driving the plot forward, especially in the third act when they both don't even realize they're dating.

So much to love! A few things that take me out! Definitely excited to visit Wilsner's other books!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the chance to review this book.

This sapphic romance book is really cute with some nice ADHD Rep and possible autistic Rep. it’s a sports romance but the sports has very little to do with the plot. The sex scenes are very hot!

My biggest complaint is that the author wrote too much inner monologue. I wish she showed up their struggles through either dialogue or their actions.