This book is what Bend It Like Beckham should’ve been!

Phenom rookie Phoebe gets drafted for a New Orleans soccer team and starts a friends-with-benefits situation with veteran star player Grace. Of course, things take some turns when they start to catch feelings. Hilarity and some miscommunications ensue.

Meryl Wilsner does it again! This book is delightful, I absolutely blew through it. Plenty of spice, charming characters that are easy to root for, and a good dose of humor to round it out. Fair warning, May cause intense beignet cravings. Keep it up Meryl, I will happily read whatever you write next!

3.5! Solid but not standout for me and most of the things that drag it down are personal preferences. First of all, I love a good title pun, especially when it's thematically appropriate, and I especially love a good sports romance. This delivers on both, with a solid foundation of soccer underlying a stoic/bouncy romance between Grace, who has been playing professionally since she was 16, and Phoebe, a newcomer to the professional scene with stars in her eyes. Their love for the game was clear, and there are some great plot points about how there's no one way to do what you love or to even be in the same career that I really enjoyed (and that even brought real human tears to my eyes at one point).

The relationship between Grace and Phoebe is definitely instalove, which doesn't bother me most of the time, but here there didn't seem to be enough to get past Grace's "everything she does annoys me" beginnings, nor the "on paper Phoebe should be everything she hates, and yet" (normally a trope I love, but it didn't quite work for me here). Thankfully, once they're together, the things they like about each other come out much more frequently, and the miscommunications between them are either fairly minor or resolved quickly, which is a refreshing change and allows their relationship to shine.

There's some language choices I'm not a huge fan of ("boobs" threw me out of a scene multiple times, to name a specific example), but my biggest unsure ground is the undercurrent of going around people to address their medical issues. It happens with both Grace and Phoebe, and in both cases, it is for their benefit and ends well, but it's also after a lot of "this isn't what I want", which leaves me feeling really unsure about how I view their relationship afterward. The discussion of ADHD and diagnosis also feels kind of shoehorned in at the point it comes up, after a fairly natural inclusion of it up to that point, which threw me. (not to mention that if you're on queer and trans TikTok, how do you not even brush up against ADHD tiktok? I'm genuinely curious).

Overall, it's definitely cute, and I loved how protective and supportive Phoebe and Grace were for each other.

I really enjoyed this book, I was promised Ted Lasso vibes and it hit Ted Lasso in the important ways. I found it to be a quick and fun read, I saw some reviews that stated it was an enemies to lovers story and I couldn't disagree more. It's just an overall cute story of a rookie soccer player trying to make it big and falling for her idol, some drama happens (pretty low key drama) and voila.

I adore Meryl Wilsner so I was delighted to receive this arc! As usual Wilsner's characters are extremely well developed and realistic, and I loved watching their relationship develop amid the setting of New Orleans and the world of women's soccer. Thank you for this great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I wanted to love this book but I just didn’t sadly. There was something about it that just didn’t appeal to me. Grace and Phoebe were cute together at parts which was good, but I think I needed more substance.

I think if you’re looking for something pretty lighthearted with angst between the characters and their relationship you would like this book! It just wasn’t for me.

I liked that Phoebe was comfortable with sex and her sexuality. I don’t fault Grace at all for not being the same way, but it’s refreshing to see that people aren’t always timid. This book had really long and detailed sex scenes multiple times, so if you like that, you’ll really enjoy this! I usually like them to be shorter and not as much detail, but that is just me personally and not a knock against this book. If you like spice, this is the book for you.

I liked a lot of the side characters like Gabby, Kayla and Harmony and wished they were fleshed out a little more or that we could have seen them more often! It would have been fun to build up the team dynamic more than the few scenes we saw of them talking or hanging out together. I enjoyed seeing aspects of Grace and Phoebe’s relationship, but I would have also liked to see their friendships with the other girls because they were all very sweet!

The dialogue seemed clunky and almost forced at times. It seemed like there was too many plot lines going on: Grace and Phoebe getting together, Grace’s injury, Phoebe trying to get on the woman’s team, their coach being terrible, to name a few. I was really glad to see representation in many aspects, like ADHD and Autism, but that was only mentioned in the last 50 pages or less and wasn’t very fleshed out. It just felt like the author wanted to add in a bunch of different conflicts or plot points in one book. It was too much going on.

Too many times there were misunderstandings and miscommunication which I don’t love that trope in general. It was a lot of back and forth between Grace and Phoebe on if they were fighting or not or together or not, and things were resolved too quickly sometimes that I would have maybe cut some fights out. When you make up too quickly there’s really no point in having an argument in my opinion, at least in a novel.

One specific complaint I had was I can’t imagine they would let Grace sit out of practice. Maybe I don’t know how professional teams work (I’ve only done high school sports) but she’s still part of the team and they would want her there to observe what’s going on and let her be at the game in person. That way she is still included in what they are learning at practice. No one who is injured is banned from practice to my knowledge. That part through me off.

I know this seems like a rant review, but there’s a solid foundation here. I enjoy sports romances and I think the synopsis is right up my alley normally! I would just change the things I talked about and then I would have enjoyed it more.

I am a HUGE fan of Wilsner’s work, but I was a little nervous when I saw that this was about soccer (I glaze over when it comes to most sports books, no matter how romantic). And yes, there was more about soccer than I would have liked, but she managed to keep my interest with the super cute, super steamy romance between Phoebe and Grace. This is one of those romances that has such sweet interactions that it makes you feel good about your neuroses, because they are what makes you who you are, and your people love you for them, not in spite of them… and then it moves to a super racy sex scene, then back to soccer. I really loved it and I’m so happy I didn’t skip it on the basis of sports.

I am in love with this book! I love women's sports, I love sapphic romance, and I love neurodivergent characters. I've never read a book where both main characters were neurodivergent but this made me feel so seen as a neurodivergent woman. I could relate to Phoebe so much throughout the story - her everyday challenges and thought processes were so similar to things I manage. The miscommunication trope bordered on just a bit too obnoxious but I'll forgive it for the rest of the book. I haven't read any other books by Meryl Wilsner but now I'll be checking out more by them.

I loved every moment of reading this book. I love a good sports romance and this one is now one of my favorites. I am hoping to get my hands on a copy once it is released!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for the chance at reading this for a free review!

I've been a reader of Meryl Wilson since they wrote [i]Something To Talk About[/i], which has remained one of my top romance books. [i]Cleat Cute[/i] didn't inspire the same magic; the chemistry between Phoebe and Grace feeling shallow and... very little to root for? They were together for the vast majority of the book, shortly following a dare to kiss, with only bits of miscommunication making issues between them. It didn't really feel like there was much of a rivalry between them at all, or a competition for the same position.

I enjoyed the character growth and discussions of ADHD-- the multiple alarms and lateness is definitely a thing for me!-- as well as the discussions of food, and the team relationships. 3.5 stars.

I love Meryl Wilsner. Do I love "Cleat Cute" as much as its predecessor, "Mistakes Were Made"? No, but also "Mistakes" is the pinnacle of sapphic romance excellence. I enjoyed "Cleat Cute," it made me happy and thoroughly sucked me into the story, and further cemented my status as a ride or die Wilsner fan.

I saw it noted by the author that this book has the miscommunication trope, and she was not wrong. To be clear, miscommunication is one of my least favorite fallbacks in romance BUT I didn't hate it this time. It was executed in more of a fun "oh look, they're reading these situations very differently ha ha ha" way and not a "oop, wow, their whole relationship is falling apart because they couldn't make a five minute phone call way." Was it my favorite? No. But, if it's something that you also dislike, this is still likely a good book for you.

And, to be more clear, I'd say this is a good book for you if you enjoy:
1) Romance where personal issues are also a main focus of the story.
2) Smut (though not as much as in "Mistakes").
3) ADHD and Autism rep (handled in a way where it's a side note in the story, not the focus of the plot).
4) Sports (but it's really not a requirement for enjoying this book).
5) People who are falling in love but are generally very bad at relationships.
6) Specific attention paid to the little ways that people show their love for each other.

Anyway, I'm rambling at this point, but the TLDR is that this is a very solid book, I enjoyed reading it, and now I can't wait for the author's next story.

I loved this book, and I love this author. Her characters are witty, interesting, and keep me wondering what they’re going to do next. This book brought up a lot of nostalgia for me, though my time in locker rooms were never quite so fun.

Somehow Wilsner does it again with another fantastic sapphic read. 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.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley I received a
ARC of the e-book and ate it up in less than 2 days.
There is a beautiful balance in the writing of Cleat Cute between soccer, snark, neurodivergence, financial problems, family expectations, smut and romance. I found myself highlighting passages over and over again with how deeply they hit me. Not as many steamy scenes as Mistakes Were Made, but they definitely made up for it in the quality of the scene writing.
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.
Giving Cleat Cute a rounded up 4.75. Will definitely be purchasing a copy to add to my personal collection and keeping it close to reread soon. Would definitly recommend adding it to your TBR list. Can't wait to see what Wilsner has in store for us next!!!

4.25 🌟

as the title says ‘cleat cute’ is a cute and somewhat spicy book about two soccer players who fall in love after a dare.

grace is a veteran who’s been playing on the national team for ten years while phoebe, a rookie, has just been invited to camp for the world cup game.

this was a quick and easy read for me. and i loved the soccer aspect of it since i played the sport for years. the beginning and the end of this book were the best parts for me, the middle of it is where i struggled reading it.

while phoebe thinks they’re dating and grace thinks they’re still only friends with benefits i thought it was frustrating how they didn’t talk about it. so, i guess you can say it has the miscommunication trope!

as with most meryl wilsner books there were very hot and sexy scenes between the two characters, but i would have loved to see grace intiate those moments more! i would have also loved to see more of grace and phoebe and their dynamic when they’re playing on the team at the same time.

‘cleat cute’ is a good book that was sometimes hot and sometimes frustrating, but for the most part i had a good time reading this :)

Meryl Wilsner has been having her moment and I am HERE for it! I adore her other two titles and RAN to grab this one, As someone who played soccer growing up, I was drawn to this story. And the title and cover were SO cute! A great read!

Another exceptional book by Meryl Wilsner! Grace and Phoebe are teammates on the women’s National soccer team. They agree to a friends with benefits arrangement since they’re both not looking for a relationship. The plot was well written and engaging (had to finish the same night I started the book!!). Additionally, the steam level was high! Highly recommend if you’re looking for a romantic, fun, quick read!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

Wow, will this be my favorite romance of the year? It's only March, but I wouldn't be surprised. I've read all of Wilsner's books and they keep getting better. Extremely high steam level, literally perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for letting me read this as an arc!

First off I would like to say that I love the idea of the story. Phoebe and Grace are the perfect Grumpy/Sunshine or Golden retriever/black cat duo. I was a soccer player and loved the sport plot line in this book. The neurodivergent representation was also great.

However, in my opinion, the story fell short in the development of their relationship. I feel as though their “chemistry” surface level and developed too fast for it to be realistic. I’m a total sucker for a fast pace romance but they were already in the talking stage at page 40. I would have liked to see their chemistry develop a bit over the period of the book or after the spicy scene when they realized they had great chemistry. It felt almost like they were already together by page 100 even though there were no labels.

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.

WHEW. This grumpy/sunshine romance isn't being marketed as having strong ADHD / autism rep (as far as I am aware), but as someone with AuDHD, IT SHOULD BE! Matthews (or Phoebe, depending on the moment haha) is textbook early-adulthood-female-ADHD diagnosis and I love the honest portrayal of her struggle to come to terms with that, AND the fact that it doesn't resolve magically - even at the end of the novel she is still grappling with it. I resonated with Grace throughout the entire novel, especially with what I am going to claim as autism rep (even though the only *direct* mention of autism is re: autism Tiktok, but hey, isn't that how we're all figuring ourselves out these days? Lol.). Her personality is consistently perceived as grumpy, rude, or standoffish, but she's none of those things in reality - she just values direct communication and is genuinely baffled by coded language, double entendres, and the like. The romance is classic Wilsner steamy, and the sports setting just made it even more delicious. WELL DONE, Meryl Wilsner. Your writing continues to flourish in my estimation! (Mistakes Were Made was 4⭐️ for me and Cleat Cute obviously topped that.) Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

BEHOLD! A sports romance that has a completely swoon worthy romance AND is full of relevant sporty details AND is queer. It's also set in Louisiana and made me feel like I may die if I don't have a chance to try real King Cake and beignets. Cleat Cute was my most anticipated release this year and it did not disappoint. We've got rivals to lovers between the rookie (who has been crushing since she was a teenager) and the veteran (who of course is immediately annoyed with her), grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, and the best use of "good girl" that I've read in a long time. The steam in this one is kindle melting and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy that I can highlight and tab up and revisit again and again.

This has got to be my favorite book cover of all time. Just look at it. Stunning. The details. Perfection. I could not get enough of all the soccer details. This is like sapphic Kulti from that perspective and I wish all sports romances would take notes. I loved all the time spent with all the members of the team while they bonded over grueling practice drills and travel matches and silly traditions.

Phoebe is a rookie who is a literal golden retriever personified. She's just made the professional team in Louisiana where her childhood idol is the captain, when she gets a call to head to a training camp for the National Team. Phoebe is always late, she never stops talking, and she thinks there is nothing better than playing soccer. Grace is a member of the National Team, and constantly feels the weight of the responsibility of captaining her home team. She could not be more different from Phoebe and is instantly turned off by Phoebe's chaotic energy. But then Phoebe beats Grace at a drill she currently holds an undefeated title for and Grace begins to begrudgingly respect her and realize perhaps her initial assessment was wrong.

The chemistry between these two was off the charts. Wilsner wrote a few scorchingly hot passages between the two of them that seemed to indicate that Phoebe very much wanted to be bossed around by Grace. I genuinely thought this dynamic would play out between them in the bedroom too but was surprised to find it completely swapped when the two hook up for the first time. I absolutely understand why Wilsner made that call and see how it ultimately fits into their characters and the relationship between them, but don't tease a girl and then not follow through.

I also loved the million tiny ways Grace and Phoebe cared for one another. I don't want to spoil any here, but each and every one made me swoon.

Ultimately, this was fantastic and I highly recommend. Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press for both surprising and delighting me with this very early copy,. Cleat Cute comes out in September!