I really enjoyed this book! The banter was witty and laugh out loud funny. The spice started out very hot, but then the author implemented a fade to black once the relationship was established which I didn't love - give me more spice! I did like that this book had ADHD and Autism representation, though not having either of those, I cannot speak to how accurate the depictions were.

One thing about me is I love sports gays.
I also love New Orleans, so that's two points in Cleat Cute's favor. I know nothing about soccer, but this book made me want to join a rec league. The energy was fun and spicy for the first half of the book. Cleat Cute was well written, and the interpersonal conflict was easy to follow, even for those of us not involved in soccer. I liked the dynamic between Phoebe and Grace, especially earlier in the novel. The more XR scenes were well done, even from the audiobook point of view. The /very/ talented voice actors made their dialogue hot instead of cringey (thank god). The representation was mostly easy (sometimes felt forced), and I loved the supportive family and team dynamic.
While the novel is fun overall, the last half was bogged down with miscommunication and Grace's internal monologue. I also think many of their fights were resolved far too quickly (primarily with sex) for any sake of realism. There were long, pessimistic internal monologues, but when it came to vocalizing those concerns (specifically thinking of the medication/ADHD argument), it was far too quickly resolved. I'm also not a fan of miscommunication as a source of conflict, which rife in the latter half of this novel.
I liked how the split POV had dual narrators. However, I wish the voice actors would do their own lines during dialogue instead of the POV voice actor narrating all the dialogue. Regarding the audio-book-ness of it all, a single voice actor made it difficult to differentiate between dialogue and internal monologue (especially in Grace's chapters).
Aside: As someone with ADHD, I took issue with Grace going to TikTok for information on ADHD. While I appreciate her doing additional research, TikTok is the only preliminary source mentioned by name, and the app is rife with misinformation.

This book was such a great listen. Listening to the two point of views of the two main characters who are soccer lovers, going through big life choices, and finding themself. Oh, and don’t forget that it’s spicy. I will read more from this author.

thank you, st. martin’s press and netgalley, for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review :)

meryl wilsner has done it again folks... they wrote the book of my heart!!! i've been looking forward to reading cleat cute since before the cover reveal because a. if meryl wilsner writes it i'm gonna be obsessed and b. soccer sapphics (need i say more).

phoebe my sunshiney, talkative, flirty girl is the love of my life hands down!!! reading her dreams coming true was so heartwarming, and you can bet if she was real i'd be at every game cheering her on until i lost my voice. also, when the audiobook comes out and i can hear her saying baby girl it will alter my brain chemistry completely *swoons*

i need grace to be my baby girl so i can just hug her and love her and tell her how special she is everyday <3 reading as she fell in love and set healthy boundaries was so powerful and inspiring. also that 4-peat scene is you know, you know ;)

obviously the characters felt so real to me and their romance so heartwarming especially bc friends with benefits is just such a fun trope to read. but, also, they were constantly trying their best to communicate what they were thinking and experiencing which felt so fresh in romance!!

the audiobook was such a fun way to reread one of my favorites of the year!

begging everyone on my hands and knees to read this and fall in love with these characters too <3

Thank you MacMillan audio for the review copy of Cleat Cute. This was a fun spicy sapphic audiobook, loved the grumpy/sunshine vibes and the increasingly popular sports/soccer setting. I also really love a book that celebrates women athletes and their strength, their physical abilities, and their sports confidence/leadership... throw in the New Orleans setting, examination of neurodivergence in thoughtful ways (though I thought this came late in the story as it felt very clear to me what struggles were present early on) and huzzah! (the spicy stuff too will bring smiles to many readers' faces). Nicely voice acted, the audiobook was the perfect cure to some long works days and traffic this past week.

Cleat Cute has everything you could possibly want from a lesbian sports romcom. Phoebe and Grace have a brilliant dynamic, great energy, and each of their narrations providing something different to the story, while still being equally enjoyable.
Even though Grace was able to remove parts of her career that weren’t beneficial to her mental health, so she could continue to play soccer, I was very happy the book emphasized that you are absolutely allowed to quit your dreams, if they are not your dream anymore! So many people fall back on the “oh you’ve done too much to get here, you can’t quit now!” but you can! You absolutely can! And it made me so happy to hear that affirmed to Grace by her dad.
The audiobook narrators did a lovely job voicing these two characters, especially in showing their ADHD / Autistic traits in their speaking and thought patterns. They made the story an immersive experience, and I enjoyed it very much.
Meryl Wilsner with yet another hit, can’t wait to read more of their work.

I love a good Sapphic romance, but a SOCCER sapphic romance. Sign me up. I fell in love instantly with Phoebe Matthews and her personality. When she finds herself in the big leagues for women's soccer, she is met with her Idol Grace Henderson. These two could not be more different, and the way Grace pushed Phoebe in the beginning was so heartwarming. I loved their dynamic, and this was not a slow burn at all. The spice was spicy and it came on quick. If you're a fan of spice, this one is for you. I did enjoy that the spice was not the entire plot even though they were "teammates with benefits" for a time. There were strong conversations about relationships, ADHD and neurodivergence, and taking your life into your own hands. I loved this book and I highly recommend to all my sapphic and romance lovers out there!

I loved the dual narrators, it really brought Phoebe and Grace to life and I felt all the emotions and personality traits steaming through the speakers of my headphones. Such a great listen!

Soccer is my favorite sport, so I couldn't resist reading Meryl Wilsner's latest novel, Cleat Cute. It's a sapphic rom com featuring two pro soccer teammates, a rookie & a veteran, and it’s everything I hoped it would be and more!

Phoebe Matthews has always wanted to play pro soccer. Her life is chaotic in many ways but soccer is her happy place. When she finally gets called up to play for a pro team, Phoebe feels like she is home & immediately fits in as the lively jokester of the team. Grace Henderson has been the star of the team for ten years. She works hard and isn't overly impressed with Phoebe's class clown-style personality, although she can't deny that Phoebe works just as hard as she plays. She also can't deny that she finds herself drawn to Phoebe every time she sees her...

I loved the dynamic and the chemistry between Grace and Phoebe as they try to navigate their growing feelings for one another as well as whether or not it would even be appropriate for them to date as teammates. I also really enjoyed that more in depth topics were covered including the fact that while Phoebe was "out" as queer, Grace had not yet come out publicly. I loved that Phoebe respected Grace's decision and knew that Grace had to decide that for herself. Another big topic that was covered was undiagnosed ADHD, which it turns out, has been impacting much of Phoebe's life. It's not all serious though as there is plenty of banter and lots of sexy, steamy moments to balance out those more serious topics.

I also loved all of the soccer talk, although I don't think you need to be a huge soccer fan to enjoy this book. I'd recommend Cleat Cute to anyone who enjoys grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract romances.

Thanks to @macmillanaudio for the gifted audio copy. Dana Varden & Zim Avaltrades did a fabulous job of bringing Grace and Phoebe to life!

This book was fun and flirty and full of all things soccer. Grace is the star of the US Women's Soccer Team. She's been one for years....long enough for Phoebe to have a picture of Grace on her bedroom wall. Phoebe has always thought Grace was an amazing player and cute to boot. Now Phoebe has the chance to prove herself and land a spot on the World Cup team. The only problem is that she and Grace have serious chemistry while also trying to remain professional teammates.

I enjoyed Phoebe and Grace. Grace reminded me so much of Roy Kent. She's getting older and is the grump to Phoebe's sunshine. I liked that these were two women with real aspirational goals that both were willing to work hard for. It was refreshing to see two working women in a book where they were unapologetic about it and matter of fact about how much work they were willing to do to achieve their dreams. They both oozed confidence and yet balanced one another out. Phoebe is young, energetic and all over the place. Grace is more reserved and level-headed. They complemented one another well.

This is definitely an open-book romance that is well-written. The audio is done really well. I appreciated that the narrator was able to distinctly give Phoebe and Grace their own voice and personality. I had fun losing myself in the world of women's soccer. I would say if you are looking for a fun, sapphic romance this would be a great one to pick up!

This book was such a fast and easy read! I enjoyed the dual perspective, and I really liked that it was an "enemies to lovers" vibe without the two FMC being unkind to one another for half of the book. The representation of both the main characters and supporting characters was fantastic as well. PLUS the spicy scenes were 10/10, just like the author always does!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this story. I will DEFINITELY be recommending to all my queer friends! :)

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner
Narrated by Dana Varden and Zim Avaltrades
I did not really like this book as much as I expected I would from the synopsis and other reviews. It did not bother me but some readers might be put off by a lot of four letter words. For me, both main characters were extremely annoying. I understand they both have mental health issues but that did not make it more enjoyable. I usually like sports related romances but this one just did not work for me. I liked some of the secondary characters better than the main characters.
Some other reader/reviewers mentioned that they liked this author’s other books better so I might try another one.
Narrators were just okay, did not add or detract from the storyline much although one had a somewhat nasal tone of voice.

Thank you St. Martin's Press & Netgalley for this eARC!

Meryl Wilsner has knocked it out of the park...excuse me, kicked it in the net...yet again! Actually, between this, Mistakes Were Made & Something to Talk About, I think Meryl officially has a Hat Trick of great sapphic fiction (I may have googled 'soccer lingo' for that Hat Trick bit...).

As always, Meryl features great representation in their work (albeit with the caveat that the racial diversity is again in the supporting cast). This story probably has their largest supporting cast so far, what with teammates, and family, and while I loved them, some of them do blend together a bit, as can happen with a book with a large cast, yet only 2 protagonists. Still, even though the characters got a little blurry at times, they still each seemed to have a little touchstone moment, so none were ever actually forgettable, definitely an impressive feat! This one also wasn't as packed to the brim with sex like Mistakes was, which is not a plus or a minus in my book, but for people who found the sheer amount of sex in Meryl's last book a bit much, this may be more your speed. But much like last time, when Meryl brings the heat, they bring the heat!

And with this book, Meryl really leans in to examining neurodiversity, without necessarily having to hit you over the head. They're a little more blatant with Phoebe's situation than Grace, but in doing so, gave a great examination on the misinformation that still is out there.

Speaking of our leads, I love this pair! Grace and Phoebe are just...so phenomenal, so fantastic, engaging and distinct. The way they play off one another is so fun. When arguments arise, they never feel tropey, or like they happen because 'it's time in this book to argue'. They feel organic and earned. And once again, Meryl avoids my most hated of tropes, the forced third act break-up! Plus, the misunderstanding the two DO get into near the end of the book had me cackling with laughter, as well as cringing with second hand embarrassment. I loved it.

As far as narrators go, they did a fantastic job. I believe Dana Varden & Zim Avaltrades were the same people who narrated Meryl's last book. If not, they sound remarkably similar. Either way, they do an incredible job!

No other notes, 5 enthusiastic stars!

This book is HOT! Like five chili pepper emoji hot. If you are into steamy sex scenes between two soccer jocks who are super into each other, you will love this book! The romance plot is well paced, though I definitely wanted to shake both Grace and Phoebe as they continued to miscommunicate and try to hide their growing feelings. I enjoyed getting their different points of view. Grace is a young but weary pro soccer player who struggles with living up to her high standards and pleasing everyone. Phoebe has confidence, skills, and high energy, but has difficulty finding balance as she juggles her career, a second job, and her new thing with Grace. There's also neurodivergence rep with both main characters having undiagnosed disorders - Phoebe with ADHD and Grace with autism. These characters shine a light on the different experiences of pro athletes, especially queer athletes. I love that they each have a solid network of friends, family, and allies who support them.

Overall, a fun and spicy story that's sure to delight fans of sports romance!

This play on the term "meet cute" was truly an adorable love story. The dual POV of Phoebe and Grace was a treat and the narration on the audiobook really helped envision the personalities of each character. I'm excited to add Meryl Wilsner to my future "must read" author list!

Thank you NetGalley for letting me listen early. I loved the narration voice work, and everything about this story made me feel things in all the most important places… my head, my heart, and elsewhere. I want Hendy to braid my hair now.

Brava. Beautiful story.

This was so freaking adorable (and just the right amount spicy)! I loved getting to experience Phoebe who is such a golden retriever interact with Grace and all her seriousness. I also loved the Ted Lasso-type feeling I got from watching two athletes and their love for soccer.

4.5 STARS. DO RECOMMEND!

This is an opposites attract, grumpy sunshine sapphic sports romance--all tropes that worked so well together!

Phoebe and Grace were both great MCs, and I'd be hard-pressed to pick a favorite. They had great chemistry, and I loved how Pheobe pushed Grace's buttons. I loved how they both approached their relationships in different ways and (sort of) balanced each other out.

This book is STEAMY and I adored it! Wilsner's sex scenes are always so well-written. Other than "baby girl" as a pet name, everything else worked for me--especially the first scene in the locker room.

There's also some well-handled neurodivergent rep in this book, on the pre-diagnosis side. I enjoyed seeing how the diagnosis came to be, and would have liked to see it explored a little earlier.

Cleat Cute will have you smiling the whole time. It's definitely one I recommend! I listened nearly straight through and couldn't bring myself to pause the audiobook. I can't wait to read more from Meryl!

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilser
Contemporary sapphic (F-F) sports romance. New adult.
Phoebe Matthews gets her greatest wish and is drafted to play soccer on the U.S. Women’s National Team. She develops a crush on the Captain of the team, Grace Henderson, and the two start a relationship as they manage life, career and outside pressures.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook version of this story narrated by Dana Varden and Zim Avaltrades. Each did the chapters from their character POV. The voices are close in tone and rhythm while different enough in pitch that you can hear when the POV changes. Both did a great job portraying a twenty-something female with changing emotions and career concerns.

New adult romance is not a regular genre for me as I don’t appreciate the angst or roller coaster confidence issues. I was pleasantly surprised by the two women and their specific personalities as they kept their professional lives separate from their personal issues. Phoebe kept her joy of playing front and center even while other parts of her life were chaotic.
I would recommend this for any romance reader that likes a bit of sports and teamwork in a story. And passion, because that’s included as well as an hea.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher.

I was really excited about this book. I honestly am with anything sapphic. My review is being generous giving that I don’t like soccer(which might have made me like the book more). I’m rounding up to a 3 but my true feeling are a 2.5. This was the most foolish miscommunication troupe I’ve ever seen. It was really frustrating. I think I would have like both characters more if their disabilities were disclosed and made part of their personality versus something they discover more than halfway through the book. The way it’s written I couldn’t even imagine them hooking up let alone dating. The sex scenes were kinda of weird to me but maybe that was the narrator more than the actual scene.

This book just makes me want to scream with happiness. It is so, so cute. It also made me want to immediately research women’s soccer to find my closest professional team buy tickets to a game. The romance between Grace and Phoebe is the perfect grumpy sunshine mashup. The sex scenes were so freaking spicy. And detailed. The depiction of queer love and identity was so nuanced and diverse. I also loved the neuro divergent rep. I wish these were real people because I want them to be my friends.