this is not a bad book but it's supposed to be a gay romance so why was the MC pining after a girl for half the book

Thank you Levine Querido and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. All I can say is oh my! Gabriel Piña is just starting his Freshman year of college. His friends all ended up at different schools but he’s got his three roommates and they get along well. Football is going great he’s managed to become Texas A&M Corpus Christi’s starting goalkeeper, something not many freshman can boast about. He’s also managing a shut out season so far. He even becomes number 3 on the Freshman to Watch list. The captain, Barrera, has become a mentor and the girl next door has become something more. If he keeps going he’ll be on track to becoming a professional maybe even playing for El Tri. Then at a party a boy asks for a kiss. That’s fine he’s secure in who he is to kiss a boy, after all he’s done it before. However this kiss is the best kiss he’s ever had. And later when he pictures this boy while spending some time with himself that’s ok to, all guys do it, right? It doesn’t mean anything. But when the boy, Vale, becomes his tutor/study buddy his attraction grows. Soon it’s obvious that Vale has feelings and Gabi can’t deny it either. He’s bi. But queerphobia is still prevalent in football, even more so within the Mexican football community. He can’t loose his dream, football comes first. But the more time he spends with Vale the harder that is. Can he overcome his fears and allow himself to be with Vale? Can he have both? One thing I can say with a Jonny Garza Villa novel is that I am going to feel and feel deeply! They will break my heart and put it back together! Sweet, charming, romantic, funny, and full of sexual tension! I found myself completely frustrated with Gabi but also completely understanding where he was coming from in a way only Jonny Garza Villa can accomplish! I loved Gabi’s parents but also his found family in his 3 roommates and Kat! And sweet, wonderful, understanding Vale. Absolutely loved Futbolista and it should be on everyone’s TBR lists!

Jonny Garza Villa does it again! The way he writes characters is so stunning. Gabriel is such a relatable character for me. He might be my favorite character that Villa has ever written. His journey is so raw and also well written. I really can’t praise this book enough. A beautiful story of coming into oneself and love internally and externally.

This might be my favorite Jonny Garza Villa novel to date (and I've read all of their books!). It follows Gabriel "Gabi" through his first semester of college. He starts out thinking he has no room left for growth and he already knows everything there is to know about himself (said with all the overconfidence only an eighteen-year-old could have, LOL). We then watch Gabi eat his words and change A LOT.

This is JGV's first New Adult book, but it's a good mix of his YA (the biggest difference is the open door sex scenes). Gabi is a great MC; he knows he's good at football (soccer), but he's not obnoxious about it in the same way that Rafie is about mariachi in Canto Contigo. I'd say it's most similar to Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun, not only because of the football/soccer focus, but also because Gabi goes through a queer awakening/coming out journey. There's a ton of homophobia (coming from one person in particular who wields a lot of power over him), so be prepared for that.

I liked that this didn't feel like insta-love. Def insta-connection, but Gabi had a lot of self-discovery to do before he could fall in love with Vale. It was slow burn, friends to lovers yumminess. I loved them together! Gabi's friend group was also incredible.

Just FYI, Gabi is hooking up with Vale's best friend, Leana, in the beginning. Nothing graphic, all closed door, and they're never in a relationship (though Gabi had planned to ask her to be his girlfriend the same night she broke things off).

I'm so glad JGV is with Levine Querido after basically getting screwed over by Saint Martins Press. Thank you to Levine Querido for the advanced copy!

PS Jonny if you're reading this please write a book for Pérez!!!

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!!