Meryl Wilsner's Cleat Cute is a fun enemies to lovers F/F romance.

The traditional trope of the veteran player and the rookie, Phoebe and Grace have tons of chemistry. I could have done with more soccer scenes, though the interactions between the team members is nicely done.

Both of the characters are complex, and the story is nicely written. The audio is performed by Dana Varden and Zim Avaltrades.

Where do I even begin? First of all the romance? Fantastic! The spice? Perfection! Respresenting Adult Woman ADHD spot on! I feel seen and heard. Meryl Wilsner brought us a book of real talk, love, and hope that we all can have HEA even as imperfect selves.

Cleat Cute
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Meryl Wilsner

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Grace Henderson has been a star of the US Women’s National Team for ten years, even though she’s only 26. But when she’s sidelined with an injury, a bold new upstart, Phoebe Matthews, takes her spot. Phoebe is everything Grace isn’t—a gregarious jokester who plays with a joy that Grace lost somewhere along the way. The last thing Grace expects is to become friends with benefits with this class clown she sees as her rival.

Phoebe Matthews has always admired Grace’s skill and was star struck to be training alongside her idol. But she quickly finds herself looking at Grace as more than a mere teammate. After one daring kiss, she’s hooked. Grace is everything she has been waiting to find.

As the World Cup approaches, and Grace works her way back from injury, the women decide to find a way they can play together instead of vying for the same position. Except, when they are off the field, Grace is worried she’s catching feelings while Phoebe thinks they are dating. As the tension between them grows, will both players realize they care more about their relationship than making the roster?

My Thoughts: This was a very cute story. Phoebe Matthews has idolized Grace Henderson since she was young. Phoebe makes it into the women’s soccer league with her eye on National League. Phoebe is starstruck with Grace, then an injury takes Grace out for a few games and Phoebe steps in. What Grace did not expect was Phoebe, they are complete opposites but a friendship sparks with benefits. Can they play together or will Phoebe replace Grace? This follows the tropes of enemies to lovers, women’s professional sports, opposites attract, and forced proximity.

The story is narrated in a dual narration by both Phoebe and Grace, in their respective perspectives. The narration was in third person, however, there was a lot of internal monologue going on, which I really appreciated as it gives you an inside to the characters. Phoebe and Grace could not be more opposite of each other but have this immediate attraction towards one another. Phoebe is outgoing, loud, loves to joke, especially to break the ice, chaotic, and just starting her professional athletic career. Grace is an introvert, reserved, serious, follows the rules, and loves soccer, it has encompassed her life for the last decade. Together their opposites work to fit the whole picture. The characters were well fleshed out with depth, witty banter, mad chemistry, creatively built up, and were intriguing. The supporting characters really enhanced the storyline, especially Fish. The author’s writing style was complex, humorous, spicy, steamy, and beautiful. I loved the author’s representation of mental health and believe it was done with grace and integrity. I admit that I do not know much about soccer and some of the terms went over my head, that would be my con for the book. When encompassing sports in a book, a little background is helpful.

This romance read has all of the feels between two professional athletes, and really is a beautiful love story. While soccer is not a sport I watch, I have a lot of admiration for the sport. Any sport is hard and being a woman makes it even harder to achieve success in a man’s world. I had both the digital and audio versions of the ARC and leaned towards more of the audio. The narrators were amazing in this story, they did a great job with voice variation across the different characters, and really brought the characters from the page to my heart. I loved Wilsner’s prior work, Mistakes Were Made, and this one was just as good. I absolutely loved this book. I highly recommend picking up this book.

Overall, I quite enjoyed Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner but do have some critiques (personal preferences I suppose). If you do not enjoy third-person present tense, this may not be the read for you. I listened to this as an audio book and while the narrators did a good job, I didn't connect with the voices/characters and therefore the third-person present tense was also a bit weird. I really enjoyed the overall story and would absolutely try another from this author! If you're looking for a steamy sports romcom this one should be added to your tbr!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC!

I really enjoyed Meryl Wilsner’s Mistakes Were Made, so when I Cleat Cute I knew I needed to request it immediately. Unfortunately, there were little and big things throughout the first half that happened and I just couldn’t push through to the end.

The bones of the book had me excited to read. I mean, who doesn’t love a budding teammate romance, age gap, and solid female main characters? I know those are some of my favorite themes to read! The characters themselves were amazing, I love the way they were built, they had so many layers, and the portrayal of what was going on internally and externally was fantastic. If there were to be a book with these characters in a different write-up, I’d read it immediately.

Where this book lost me were the trivial additions that were there, kind of added detail, but were unnecessary to the storyline. I found the events and conversation to be monotonous - it felt like in showing her New Orleans we were just getting similar actions and events, whilst in a new place. It didn’t feel like it was driving the plot forward. The last thing that was bothersome, and really drove me to DNF, was the continued joking around about one main character being obsessed (and stalker-esque) with the other. That just rubbed me the wrong way because I don’t think that was the intention but it made it creepy instead of something that should have been an honor.

I will say I did enjoy the dial point of view narrators. I appreciated the energy they brought to the table and they really made the audio fun to listen to. It definitely added another layer to the book and is likely why I was able to make it so far in.

I have to say that I was a little disappointed in this one. After LOVING this author’s previous book I was expecting to also love this one and it just fell flat for me. In the beginning I was invested and liked the moments between the two main characters, but as the story progresses I just felt like too many things were going on and several of the subplots were not well fleshed out. I still enjoyed enough moments that I would recommend this to romance fans and I will continue to check out this author’s future work. But this will not likely be one I highly recommend.

I loved Meryl Wilsner's MISTAKES WERE MADE so I was really looking forward to this one. It was enjoyable but didn't quite draw me in as much as I'd hoped. I liked the characters and was invested in their romance, Grace and Phoebe, but the storyline felt a little slow at times. I'm not into soccer at all which I thought may be an issue, but it was interesting to learn what goes into playing professionally. I loved the NOLA setting and it made me miss the city so much! Overall, a fun read that I'd recommend to sapphic romance fans and I appreciate the neurodivergent rep. Great narrators too!

This was a fun read! I think I am being swayed into being a sports romance reader through and through! At first, I thought it would have been nice to explore more into Grace and Phoebe's mental health and diagnoses earlier in the book. We obviously have their symptoms throughout, but having a more detailed discussion about going to therapy and receiving diagnoses also makes so much sense for adult women who are often missed for diagnoses for ADHD and autism in their youth.
An enjoyable romance with great representation all around! Excited to read more from Wilsner!
I also enjoyed the narrators and that their styles were distinct. It made it so easy for me to remember whose perspective I was listening to without having to think too hard about the characterization (which was also clear).

This cover is just so cute. I have never read a soccer romance before but I loved this one. It was just so good. I loved Grace and Phoebe. They are so awesome. They way they care for each other was great. This book was so spicy and the romance was sweet. I liked how real the characters were. One with ADHD and the other so confused about dating. I cannot wait to read more by this author. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

A cute Sapphic love story. Can you image the chance to play on your idol's soccer team!!?!! A dare with a kiss on the line is just the beginning. Both need to discover what is respectful and right while not missing out on life and happiness.
Note- a few scenes are very steamy- for adult libraries.

I picked up this book because I'm a sucker for a good Sapphic romance, and while I wasn't totally in love with Wilsner's last book Mistake We're Made, I really enjoyed Cleat cute and for me it was an improvement overall.

In the book we follow Phoebe who is recently out of college living her dream of playing pro soccer, and working her hardest to get on to the national women's soccer team, and Grace veteran soccer player trying to navigate the part of her career she isn't happy with, celebrity being among this as one of the most successful women's soccer players currently in the game. When Phoebe gets called into training with the rest of the national team and meets Grace, who is her future pro teammate and long time idol and crush, sparks fly. After a bit of a rocky start Phoebe and Grace end up bonding and starting a Friends with Benefits.

Over all I had a great time with this book, the spice scenes where on point, the neurodivergence rep was awesome, and of course the LGBTQ+ rep was amazing! my major issue overall was the amount of internal monologue going on throughout the whole book, while it didn't ruin the book for me it did cause the book to drag at points.

Who wouldn't jump at the chance to play professional soccer with their childhood crush? This is exactly what happened to Phoebe, a soccer phenom with an outgoing personality. Her dream has come true as she finds herself playing alongside her idol, Grace. The two have contrasting personalities, but will they be the perfect match for each other?

The book is narrated in the third person from the perspectives of both characters. Personally, I found that this style of writing disrupted my reading experience. Thankfully the narrators did a good job of articulating when each woman was the focus.

Miscommunication is a recurring theme in the book. It appeared that the author intended to highlight the neurodiversity of both characters by doing so. However, the portrayal of this aspect of the characters' personalities did not sit well with me in the way it was written.

I didn't feel the tension or chemistry between the characters. Overall Cleat Cute fell a bit flat for me. I was really looking forward to a sapphic soccer romance. Thank you to Griffin for the advanced listening copy.

There are sooooo many things I enjoy about this book!
- This is a DREAM book for any soccer lover. The captain/rookie dynamic.... SWOON!
- The NOLA setting... absolutely incredible! As someone who has lived in New Orleans, it was an absolute treat to read about
- representation in general - obviously this is a sapphic love story, but there are also side characters that are trans, nonbinary, and BIPOC. There is also representation of different mental health conditions such as ADHD, which is so valuable in a book!

UNFORTUNATELY,
I really (!!!) struggled with the spice in this book. This is 100% a personal problem and not at all the overall consensus from other readers. But for someone who struggles with germs and such... the post-training locker room sex scene was just an immediate no for me. Again, this is a personal problem and is based on not understanding that this book is spicy!

This is my dream romance! With parallels to the U.S. Womens National Team, every soccer lover and USWNT fan is sure to delight.

Grace has been a soccer phenom for years, having been around the block and cast in the spotlight for far too long she enjoys her private life. So when loud and passionate Pheobe Matthews is suddenly called up to the team she isn't sure what to think of here.

Phoebe's outgoing personality slowly begins to wear teammates down and the grind of practice and league play are on full display. My collegiate athlete self was HERE.FOR.THIS read!

Review is written but will not be posted till St martins press addresses the actions of the the employee spreading harmful messages and misinformation.

Phoebe is beyond excited to be invited to the national women’s soccer team’s camp where she meets her hero, Grace, who after the camp will be her captain on a pro team in New Orleans. The two do not get off on the right foot, but Phoebe leaves her impression on Grace and once they are in New Orleans their attraction can’t be denied and they begin seeing each other. When Grace is injured and Phoebe takes her spot on the national team’s roster, it puts their new relationship to the test.

I played soccer for 9 years and have of course followed the U.S. national team for ages so I was excited for this soccer romance. I liked Grace and Phoebe but they were harder for me to fully get as characters. I can’t tell if this was due to the present tense third person writing or the fact that there was a lot of telling in the form of internal monologues when things should have been shown. I did appreciate that Phoebe’s undiagnosed ADHD and her misconceptions of neurodivergency were handled with care. Also, the steamy scenes were very steamy. I loved that the pair were able to communicate and fight for their relationship, but I found the conflict resolution at the end of the book to be lackluster. Overall I liked Wilsner’s previous books more, but I still enjoyed this one.

I did listen to the audiobook for a lot of the story. I liked that we had dual narration and both readers did a very good job. However, there were numerous moments where I could tell when a different word or phrase from one recording session was spliced into another recording, which is not something I typically find in professionally recorded audiobooks. It didn’t change my impression of the story, but did make me notice the production.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and MacMillan Audio for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was mid for me, so many things I loved and plenty that didn't stand out.

Phoebe and Grace share a beautiful dynamic, and their conversations felt surreal considering their individual personalities. The relationship is definitely opposites attract, executed in a magical way. With an age gap, very different life experiences and completely different takes on life, these characters stood out to me. They both bring so much to their relationship and they're definitely NOT incomplete individuals completed by the other. Their compassion for each other, mutual understanding, and pure love were the highlights of their chemistry for me.

What I absolutely hated-
The third person present tense POV. Maybe that was to make it feel like sports commentary but didn't work out at all. the narration felt dull, long, and clunky, especially with the internal monologues. I can't count how many times I lost the plot because I couldn't follow the story. An example of telling not showing? This is it.

Also, the plot wasn't all that good. This is a completely character driven novel which is great, but the story in itself isn't very happening. The external events keep dragging while the reader is forced to go over and over the characters' thoughts and it's exhausting.

Comparison to Mistakes Were Made-
Cleat Cute is my second book by Meryl Wilsner, and they both are almost opposites in a way. In Cleat Cute, the characters really stand out in their individuality and chemistry, both inside and out of the relationship. Mistakes Were Made didn't stand out in its characterization to me, but the story was faster paced, keeping me hooked on the edge of my seat, with a generous amount of suspense. The narration was dual first POV with two narrators for the audiobook which I enjoyed.

So, if you're diving into this book expecting anything like Mistakes Were Made, think again. And because I loved the characters, I'm giving 3 stars! It's not unbearably horrible but isn't perfect either.

This book was not for me. I loved Mistakes Were Made but this book did not live up to that standard. I found the characters to be a bit annoying. The steam factor was great but it lacked in substance

"Cleat Cute" is fun and spirited. This sapphic sports romance has everything light and fluffy that is required in the perfect beach read. This book stars two professional soccer players navigating big career changes and meeting the perfect ying to their yang. Where Phoebe is the spunky, confident rookie, Grace is her more reserved veteran counterpart. Phoebe is scatterbrained whereas Grace is methodical. Phoebe is tall and bright and loud, whereas Phoebe is short and introverted. It's basically love at first sight!! Except it totally not.

This book includes:
- dual POVs with a unique narrator for each character
- cute af banter
- LGBT love
- Trans and nonbinary supporting characters
- soccer
- neurodivergent protagonists
- miscommunication trope in a fun and cute way
- grumpy-sunshine
- no third-act break up

I really enjoyed "Cleat Cute." It was fun and quick, and I can see is becoming a huge hit. There were a few points where I felt like the internal monologues, particularly from Grace's POV were too much, but I thought listening to it on audiobook at 1.75x speed helped to keep those from dragging on too much. However, the third-person present narration style was a bit unpleasant and I do forsee that annoying people.

All in all, great read. I highly recommend this one to fans of "Summer Girl" and uncomplicated romcoms in general.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

rep: autistic lesbian mc, lesbian mc wit ADHD, trans sc, non binary aspec sc, bi and pan scs, BIPOC scs

Rating: 4.25

This is a cute sapphicgrumpy/sunshinesports romance. It has steam, rivals with benefits,(one sided) enemies to lovers and diversity. There’s even found family with their team. It has everything you could ask for.

Grace has a lot she was going through. She’s been something of a celebrity in the soccer realm. People recognize her on the streets and look up to her. Dealing with that fame alone, and at a young age is hard enough. Then add on the fact she's a lesbian, and having to somewhat hide it from people and not really able to be her true self. Next she has her injury. Being a professional athlete with an injury would be devastating. Though its not shown much, she’s also discovering she’s Autistic.

Phoebe is the ball of sunshine. Fresh on a new professional team with her idol who doesn’t like her. She’s ready to make friends and play the sport she loves in the big league. We see her struggle with certain tasks through the book, which she eventually learns are signs of her undiagnosed ADHD. She’s also a proud lesbian and explains why the label is important to her.

The characters felt like real people. They had flaws and weren’t perfect. The way they went from rivals to friends to lovers was well done. The intimacy was very realistic. The author showed that it’s not all about both of them finishing. It’s about the experience together. That they both don’t always need to finish and that’s ok. This is something I’ve rarely seen in books. Normally all the characters finish by the end of the scene. This was a nice and realistic change.

I loved all the representation in this book. From queer identities to POC to neurodivergent. It had it all.By the end, we saw both main characters slowly discovered they’re neurodivergent, which I loved. Grace did come on a bit strong assuming Phoebe is medicated and then making doctor appointments for her without her consent. You could tell she didn’t mean any harm by it though. Still a bit iffy.

The cover is very cute and the narrator did a good job.

Overall, a good steamy sapphic romance book!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this book