⚽️ Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa ⚽️

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gabi is in his freshman year of college, is living with his best friends, is the star goalkeeper on his football (soccer) team, and just met a girl he’s super into. Everything is going great - until she says she doesn’t want a relationship yet… and he realizes he has feelings for her best friend, Vale. His feelings for Vale grow alongside his fear of coming out to his team amidst homophobic news within the sport, and he Gabi has to make decisions about what is most important to him.

Ugh. I loved this book! Jonny Garza Villa is a great writer - this book was hilarious, emotional, relatable, and beautiful. I adored the characters. Kat was so funny, Perez was absolutely the overbearing ally friend we all need who was absolutely hilarious, and I adored Gabi’s parents. Vale and Gabi were both so sweet and I adored their relationship.
The theme of disappointing yourself so you don’t have to disappoint others was so prevalent and real.
This made me think of Sex Lives of College Girls, when Leighton says she doesn’t want to be out as queer because she doesn’t want it to be the one thing that defines her when she’s so many other things. Gabi had his moments of this and it’s such a common feeling. If this WAS SLOCG, Gabi would be Whitney AND Leighton, and Perez would absolutely be Kimberly. 😂

I liked that this felt like a Happily For Now, making this a realistic college romance with a lot of heart. I can’t wait to see what comes next from this author!

Read this if you like:
- being super gay
- coming of age stories
- smashing the heteronormative hegemony
- sports
- bisexual MM romances
- queer awakenings
- college romances

Vibes: ⚽️🌮🩳🍍🥅🍆🌶️🥦

Full review including content warnings on my StoryGraph.

🌸Futbolista is out April 15, 2025! Thank you NetGalley and Levine Querido for the eARC.🌸

Romantic and spicy, this LGBTQ+ book is heartfelt, and authentic. The voices of the soccer players were so authentic, and you could feel the heat when Gabi flirts! This is 4 1/2 stars, rounded up to 5 for me. Such a great friends to lovers trope, with the elements of Mexican culture and soccer culture that must be overcome before they can find true acceptance.

I recommend this for New Adults, and am sure it will be a bestseller!

I don’t even know where to start!? Hmm well this is my FIRST yes you heard me right, first book ever to read from Jonny and it served!


I had so many emotions through out this book being in awe, sad, wanting to punch someone (one of the characters if ykyk,) and just having hope. I felt for Gabi trying to figure out his sexuality when he meets vale, which then later turns to be a big problem thanks to barrera trying to put down Gabi.

But as well Gabi thinking of the ways this can go bad, being a person of color and how much popularity he’s been getting for his goal keeping skills.

Not to forget the smut in here was off the charts, I also adored Kat who’s non binary and lovable as heck no drama with them whatsoever 🤍 I loved how they supported and helped Gabi through this all with Vale.

Joyful and full of heart. I loved the bisexual awakening happening here. Gabo is a horny 18 year old who wants to get in *everyone's* pants, but he is also extremely big hearted and falls fast. I know some people might have issues with the fact that there is a second female love interest in the first half of this book, but to me it just felt so authentically bisexual.

This book is full of pining and long looks and teasing - everything I love in a romance novel. I loved how unabashed Gabo is in how he loves people, he really just puts his entire self out there. Even with all of his machismo and ego, he's an extremely likeable main character.

The philosophy allegories added depth without making it too hard to follow. This book strongly reminded me of And They Lived... mixed with a big hearted sports romance like The Prospects.

Futbolista follows Gabi through his first semester of college as he figures out who he is, who he’s allowed to be, and who he wants to be, and it’s done with so much heart. Jonny Garza Villa continues to blow me away with their ability to write stories that are both impactful and entertaining, diving into the real, messy, and beautiful experiences of queer Latine identity.

This book made me literally laugh out loud (Perez’s one-liners! Iconic), crushed my heart a few times, and then pieced it back together with so much love. It’s a powerful, emotional story about a young Latino fútbol player learning to stand in his truth, and I adored every second of it.

Jonny's books are always an emotional rollercoaster, and this was no exception. It was so nice to revisit Gabi's character; it had been so long since I read Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun that I'd forgotten about the guy from school Jules kisses that one time. Glad he found himself! To be quite honest, after reading a book about soccer and philosophy, I now have to say I still don't know anything about soccer or philosophy.

FUTBOLISTA is Jonny Garza Villa's Adult Romance debut about college freshman & rising football (soccer) star, Gabriel Piña and his philosophy classmate, Vale.
Thank you Levine Querido for the eARC.

I adored ANDER & SANTI WERE HERE so I was super excited to receive the eARC for this one and it did not disappoint!
While I know absolutely nothing about soccer, this was written so well that I could understand and feel Gabi's love for the sport and had no difficulty moving through the story. Gabi's just a great guy that THINKS he's got himself and his future all figured out. He's got a good heart, loves his family, loves his friends, shout out to Pérez and Kat!!! And boy does he fall fast and hard lol. I loved watching Gabi & Vale's relationship develop, they are so precious!! The patience! The flirting!! and those boys are spicy!!! 🥵
Gabi's got a great friend group, all super supportive, some maybe even a bit too much (Pérez 😂), and the BEST parents!!
Watching Gabi discover new parts of himself and struggle to accept and try to keep those parts hidden because he thinks he has to was so heart breaking and inspiring once he gets there! His inner dialogue was great and using philosophy to help him make sense of things was really well done. I can relate very much to this part of Gabi's story and i'm so grateful this book exists. There are some really important conversations between characters that I think would help a lot of people out there. While this book is a queer sports romance it's also about self-discovery and culture and I think it's so important with everything that is going on in the world right now.

Thank you to the publisher Levine Querido for an e-arc in exchange for a review. This has not impacted my rating.

Jonny Garza Villa is the real MVP here, Gooooooaaaaaal⚽️🏟 with this wonderful New Adult romance. It was as wholesome as I wanted it to be. The main character Gabriel (Gabi for short) has got a promising career in professional soccer if he can keep his head in the game. His confidence as a ladies man is unwavering because as much of a cliche set up as this may sound, he is oblivious and I love him for it. lol. He is flawed. We all are when we are 18. But Gabi is a humble himbo who needs to go through some emotional tumbles to realize that there is more to his personality than soccer and girls; if girls.

This is a beautiful bi awakening surrounded by friends that everyone deserves. Someone to gently remind you when it's safe or be there when it's not. His family is also dealing with complexities that many Latine readers will relate to. Machisimo, sacrifice, unknown territory of college and togetherness.

To top it off with the drama, homophobia runs rampant in sports communities.The last thing Gabi wants to deal with inbetween studies. It's rough to hear this truth sometimes but I am so thankful to Garza Villa for making this a focus in this book. It's so true. One's personal life off the field has nothing to do with being on the field, many fans need to remember that.

This one was 🌶! if you've read their other books its a bit different, prepare yourself for lots of spice.

I just wanted a little bit more of a dramatic climax. but it was still beautiful 😍

Book Review: Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa, out April 15th!

A classmates-to-friends-to-lovers adult romance from Villa that centers Gabriel Piña as he starts his freshman year as the goalkeeper on his university’s football (aka soccer) team.

What I love about Villa’s writing is that they write these wonderful characters who are flawed as humans but are capable of learning and growing from their friends and life experiences. I have enjoyed Villa’s other YA romances a lot (ANDER & SANTI WERE HERE and CANTO CONTIGO) and FUBOLISTA was another great romance from them! I loved that there is actually soccer played throughout the book, and we get to experience the game through Gabi’s eyes.

The queer storyline in this is so touching and heartbreaking at the same time. We see how tormenting it is when Gabi tries to hide this part of himself from the world, his teammates, and really himself. I think this book could so helpful for anyone who might be in Gabi’s shoes and feeling like they need to hide themselves from the world. May the book find those who need it most, you are loved ❤️

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC.

It's Gabriel's freshman year of college and all he wants to do is continue his shutout record, play FIFA with his boys, pass his philosophy class, and maybe kick it with the cute girl who lives across the street from his apartment. Gabi is a once-in-a-generation goalkeeping talent. Everyone's told him that since he was young. He knows he's going to graduate, play professional soccer--no--football, and maybe one day, the kids who look like him will be wearing his name on their Mexico kits.

And then he meets Vale. Sweet, funny, sexy Vale who kisses him at a party on a dare. It's fine, it's not like it's the first time he's kissed a boy. But, as they become friends, Gabi can't stop thinking about what it would be like to kiss Vale again. Suddenly, Gabi feels forced to choose between his future and the feelings he can't deny.

This book had me screaming/crying/throwing up the whole way through. Gabi is such a deeply lovable main character, and he felt fully actualized in this world. Some of the philosophy felt a little esoteric or shoe-horned in, but I think Plato's Cave ended up operating as a beautiful metaphor. It also reminded me of what it felt like to be a college freshman and to be suddenly learning things about yourself that you never realized.

The bisexual representation in this book is painfully accurate (feeling like you're the last one to know not everyone fantasizes about their same-gender friend? real). And one of the things I loved about this book is that it didn't pull punches. Gabi's fears around coming out as bisexual are by no mean unfounded. I'm a soccer fan; I've stood in the stands hearing slurs shouted at goalkeepers in Spanish and in English. It is a deeply ugly side of the beautiful game. I identified so much with the way Gabi struggled with the idea that the game he loves so much may not love him back.

This book is romantic, sexy, and brutal. I loved every minute of reading it, and I can't wait to buy it for my college students. Also, not gonna like, at the end, I was like Come to RSL, Gabi!!! We could use a good keeper.

Thank you to NetGalley and Levine Querido for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My first book by Johnny Garza Villa, and, boy, it did not disappoint. Beautiful, intense writing, complex, well-developed characters, rich background of the story - I feel as if I have really lived in Corpus Christi, Texas. Gabi, the main character of the story, is definitely my favorite: an aspiring athlete, a first year student and, most importantly - a goalkeeper! I loved the changes he went through, his inner struggles, as well as his cocky, vivid, endearingly messy self.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book.

I requested and received an eARC of Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa via NetGalley. I'm a big fan of JGV's books, so I was over the moon when I saw this! Gabriel Piña is a freshman soccer star with a bright future ahead of him. He's determined that nothing will knock him off his path to realizing his dreams. When he agrees to kiss a boy at a party, however, he begins to doubt things he once considered to be true about himself. When the boy, Vale, agrees to help tutor him in their philosophy class and a friendship blossoms between them Gabriel can no longer ignore the intense attraction he feels for him. Gabriel has seen the way his teammates and community react to queerness in the sport that is so dear to his heart. Can he really be bisexual and the futbolista he has worked so hard to become?

There were so many wonderful things about Futbolista, but something I definitely want to recognize is the pacing! Stories like these can often feel rushed, as if they’re afraid to dive into the complications and nuance, but not JGV. The story, and Gabriel’s understanding of his feelings, all seemed to develop very naturally on the the page. Bisexual representation is important and I think it is something that is handled particularly well in this book. I’m not crazy about sports, and in general I’m over the queer-sports story, but Futbolista interrogates each intersection of Gabriel’s identity in relation to his athletic aspirations and I think that’s why this book hits the mark. There’s also brief, but important, discussion of the experiences of non-binary folk in the sporting world which I was happy to see.

Now, I must admit, I am crazy about romance and that is also very well done in this book. Something I’ve noticed in JGV’s other books that is certainly true about Futbolista is the tenderness with which he crafts relationships between his characters. The relationship that forms between Gabriel and Vale is brimming with sweetness, but never in a manufactured or cheesy way. Between them you can find patience and understanding, but also the rashness and intensity that comes with young love. I went on an emotional ride with Gabriel and Vale and loved every moment of it. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this book, it has further cemented me as a fan of Jonny Garza Villa.

Big thanks for Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC! Futbolista is exactly the kind of YA I wish I read growing up - messy, joyful, and full of heart. Ander is a charmer, complicated, and reads like someone you'd actually know (or want to). The story doesn't shy away from big emotions or the heat of ambition, and I loved how it naturally it weaved culture, family, and futbol together.

"And I'm tired of waiting for the world to change. I'm going to help change it myself. I'm going to be a presence that people can't ignore. I'm going to be too good for you to ignore."

This was such an inspiring story of personal identity exploration, love and how one sees themselves fitting into the world. If I was not reading Gabi and Vale's story I was thinking about the next time I can pick up their book. The growth that Gabi experiences throughout this book had me in awe of the depth a character can be written. And counterparting him with the sweetheart that is Vale made their duo so perfect in my eyes. The friend group was so fun, that I adored Peréz and Kat's inclusion in Gabi's exploration of his identity. The addition of philosophy that this author put in to go alongside Gabi's journey was very telling of how Gabi viewed himself and I loved that it helped him grow when all he thought of it was a class he needed to pass and would gain nothing from. There were a lot of tears on my end watching the outside forces be horrible people but from the past books I have read from this author they write in such an emotionally evoking way that it was hard NOT to feel so deeply for these characters and this world. Jonny Garza Villa continues to wow me with their work, they have an insta-buy fan in me!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

||4.25||

FUTBOLISTA isn’t just a romance or a sports story—it’s a powerful, layered exploration of identity, love, and what it means to truly see yourself. Jonny Garza Villa crafts a narrative that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant, especially for anyone navigating life in brown skin while discovering (or defending) their queerness.

At its core, this is a college sports romance with all the heart you could ask for: found family, emotional intimacy, and that slow-burn yearning that makes you ache for the characters to just get on the same page already. The romantic tension is off the charts—not because of graphic scenes, but because of how tender and emotionally raw the connection is. It’s not about spice; it’s about depth (tho I cannot lie, the spice is hot without being overly descriptive too which I fear is an underrated talent) it’s about needing each other in a way that’s honest, vulnerable, and beautifully real.

What really struck me, though, were the philosophical undercurrents. The book asks big questions—about identity, change, authenticity—and it does so without ever feeling preachy. It reminds us that even when we think we know who we are, change is still possible. Necessary, even. And that sometimes, the hardest thing to do is look in the mirror and see the parts of ourselves we've buried to make other people comfortable.

One line that absolutely punched me in the chest was:

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦?”

That moment, like so many others in the book, hits at the cost of hiding parts of yourself to meet society’s expectations. It’s a call to be seen—not just by others, but by yourself.

The pacing is tight and immersive; even though the book is relatively long, I was captivated the entire time. Every scene felt intentional, every moment earned.

In short: FUTBOLISTA is a gem. A must-read. Romantic, reflective, and rooted in truths that are often left unsaid. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants more from a love story—something real, something that lingers.

_________

Imma have to check out this Authors backlist now.
Thank you Netgalley and Levine Querido publishing for the ARC.

This was such a roller coaster of emotions, it was slow building, but I think it was nice to see how he really liked this girl at the beginning and then when that didn’t work out how he really liked this boy, and how sweet they were with each other and how supportive Vale was, he definitely deserved better for a good portion, to be honest, but it was completely understandable how scared Gabi was of coming out and risking all he had worked for.

Another stunning story by this author. They create the most dynamic characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. It’s always a pleasure to read their work and become immersed in the character’s world. This book in particular did a brilliant job of exploring homo/bi-phobia in sports, but still giving you hope. Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

I absolutely adored this book and need to read Jonny Garza Villa's other work!

Although I have never been into sports romance, this queer fútbol book was so perfect for me. It is the one sport I am familiar with and getting a more intimate look into it through this book put me in contact with my latinidad. Every reference to Latin media and culture made me laugh and feel seen (the Blue Beetle one was great!). I also really enjoyed the lack of machismo in so many of the characters, since that is unfortunately a concept that plagues many latinos. Pérez and Gabi's dad were surprisingly in touch with their emotions and I appreciated it.

I don't usually read from the perspective of a teenage boy/young man so that aspect was also enlightening. I feel like I was let into a secret club and learned a different view point. Despite the crudeness of some of the jokes between the characters, I still found this book heart wrenching and lovely. A perfect balance of rom, com, and drama.

Thank you so so much to NetGalley for letting me read this gorgeous book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

Jonny is one of my favorite authors so I knew an adult book by them was a must read. I fell in love with Gabi and Vale and his teammates (minus one). This story was so full of love and I was screaming with happiness one minute and then wanting to cry the next minute. The dynamic between Vale and Gabi was so well done. Everyone one their team was so great. Perez was my fave. He was a real ride or die friend.

I liked how this touched on how hard it is to be weird in professional sports. What it feels like to have all eyes on you. Especially if you are brown. It also showed a lot of growth and strength. Gabi is a character you love from the beginning. Full of heart and just wanting to find someone he can be himself with. Gabi’s growth was amazing. I really loved this book and as always I’ll read what Jonny writes.

jonny did their big one with this… an emotional, romantic roller coaster of a book perfect for anyone craving queer sports romance that’s just the perfect amount of spicy and warm-hearted. lovedddd this!!