Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my review. I have loved Garza Villa’s work since Fifteen Hundred Miles From the Sun. Each work gets better and better. Futbolista was no exception. Gabi’s inner turmoil is no stranger to those of us who have ever questioned any part of ourselves. He’s a very likable protagonist, even when you’re frustrated with the choices he was making. Vale was a lovable love interest and has the patience of a saint. I’m really pleased to have had the chance to read this and more excited to have it as part of my collection, as I’ve already preordered a physical copy.

Thank you to Levine Querido for a digital copy to review!

A classmates-to-friends-to-lovers romance that's equal parts raunchy, heartfelt, queer, and Mexican-American, centered on college football (the REAL football)!

^from the publisher!

If you didn’t know, you do now that Jonny Garza Villa is one of my favorite authors. They write such beautiful, heartfelt stories. They always have a deeper meaning and emotion behind them which makes for an incredible reading experience.

Having said that - Futbolista is my favorite yet. It’s full of wit, charm, sexiness, love, self-discovery, growth, and an incredible amount of maturity in young adults.

I LOVED the age group of this. College kids are a tough group to get right and Jonny got it RIGHT. Vale and Gabi are the loves of my life and I will hear zero criticism of them. They are incredibly sexy, flirty, hot, vulnerable, consensual, they communicate well, and they have so much genuine love and respect for each other.

So much of this book is Gabi coming to terms with is bisexuality and how it affects his worldview with regard to football. The emotional journey he goes on is NOT to be missed.

I would risk it all for Gabi and Vale, along with his boys and Kat. I LOVED THEM. I want to be in that friend group. And if Jonny wanted to write a Perez book in the future I wouldn’t be mad…

This book tore at my heart, had me crying in a restaurant, and laughing through tears steaming down my face. I had 402 highlights. I can’t wait to mark up my own physical copy and you should preorder this one right now!!