This book is a stunning, artful ode to soccer and an honest, heartbreaking rendering of the loss that comes with the end of a career. We are long overdue for exceptional writing about women’s sports and here it is. I loved that this wasn’t a “how I became a champion” narrative. Cloepfil writes about her experience as an athlete trying to extend her playing career beyond the glitzy spotlights of the USWNT or the NWLS, cobbling together a professional career overseas, playing thru injury and pain and uncertainty all for the love of the game. The writing is spectacular and deeply felt even if sports isn’t your thing, but if it is, wow, you’re going to love this.

As a book lover and huge women's soccer fan, I'm pretty sure this book was written specifically for me. But it's also beautifully crafted and carries so much meaning beyond the sport! At its heart, it's about dedicating your life to something you love, even when it doesn't go the way you planned or forces you to make big sacrifices. Georgia Cloepfil is a really talented writer, and I love how she structured this memoir around the 90 minutes of a soccer match. A perfect read ahead of watching the US women's national team compete at the Summer Olympics!