3.5 stars

Grace Henderson has been on the American women’s national soccer team for 10 years, since she was 16. Phoebe Matthews is drafted to Grace’s NWSL team with the expectation that she will fill in while Grace is at the national team games, but when Grace ends up injured, Phoebe ends up taking her place on the national team, too. Grace and Phoebe are complete opposites when it comes to personality and rivals on the field, yet they can’t find the attraction between them. Will they be able to make it work both on and off the pitch?

I liked watching the relationship between Grace and Phoebe progress; they were good for each other! The blurb says this book is for fans of Ted Lasso, but other than soccer/football, I don’t think the two have that much in common. If you like a lot of steam in your romances, you will enjoy this book! Phoebe calling Grace “baby girl” did make me feel a little icky. Knowing a little about soccer will probably help with reading this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book.

Another good title from Meryl Wilsner.
Phoebe and Grace start out as adorable rookie and seasoned veteran soccer players who quickly fall into a friends with benefits arrangement before finding out they're meant to be.
This story is everything I've come to expect from Ms. Wilsner-well rounded and complex characters who instantly make you fall for them in the opening pages. I shipped these two so hard that I found myself frustrated that neither could see that the other had strong feelings that matched their own. It ultimately makes for a great HEA that has you forgiving their behavior.
As always I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for this ARC copy of this novel. I give this honest review voluntarily.

This is now my second book by this author. Her writing has improved since her last novel. I liked 'Mistakes were Made' but I do like this story even more. This novel takes us into the world of Women's Professional Soccer. I'm not a big soccer fan but I don't hate the sport either. I learned some things about the sport that I previously did not know and Ms. Wilsner wrote some exciting scenes taking place in the middle of a few matches. Grace Henderson, one of the main characters has been playing professional soccer for ten years. She began at the early age of 16. She's has gained accolades, fame, and some wealth. She's also been weighed down by responsibility on the field as captain and off the field as the face of women's soccer. With all that some of the joy of the game has lost it's shine. Enter rookie Phoebe Matthews who is pretty much the opposite of Grace. Grace is introverted and serious. Phoebe is an extrovert. She's loud, friendly and loves playing soccer. She plays with a joy that Grace hasn't felt in a few years. These are great characters who would seem to not fit together but their differences complement each other and they really do shine together. This novel was a delight to read. I definitely recommend. **This is a pet peeve of mine and the reason I'm giving this book a 4 star rating instead of 4 ½ . The author uses the word c*nt in both of her novels and even though it's not used in a derogatory way it is still an offensive word to me. Also, and I don't know why but when a character calls their partner “baby” I find it sexy, but the author has Phoebe calling Grace “baby girl” and that just is a turn off for me.

I received this ARC from Netgalley. This review is my own thoughts and honest opinions about the story and authors writing.

This is a sapphic romcom with rivals to lovers. It follows two professional soccer players who are competitive rivals. Grace has been playing for 10 years, when a injury sidelines her. Which introduces a new soccer player, phoebe, who takes her spot. With miscommunication, it confuses what their relationship is.

I really enjoyed this story. I liked the author giving us the internal dialog which Showa the internal struggles of phoebe trying to focus on her career, while having the intrusive thoughts about her liking her teammate. I really think the characters where well written and they pulled you into wanting to cheer them on within their relationship. I also had so much fun laughing at all the humorous moments within the book.

It was Extremely enjoyable to read. What I also like is that Grace and phoebe may have been rivals at first, but with their relationship blooming, they found out that they are a better team playing together on the field as well as off. I liked how the author made them more than just rivals and the personal struggle to find this out only strengthens the characters relationship.

Thank you to the publisher. I really appreciate receiving this arc.

However, I have decided to dnf this book. It is really not the book's issue but my own. I do not like characters; who hide certain things from their love interest. Especially if they know that their partner would have an issue, anyway, I may pick up this book in the future.

Women's soccer version of Check Please with the banter and sexiness of an Ali Hazelwood workplace romance with neurodivergent and queer rep! So I mean, everything you could want, right? If you grew up loving Mia Hamm or are currently shipping Tobin Heath and Christen Press, this is a must read. The novel was fast-paced and excelled at covering a large supporting cast focused on both National Team and US League play (two different teams and rosters could be real confusing, but is easy to follow.). I loved the detail of New Orleans in addition to soccer play. I appreciated the small details that further the author's knowledge women's soccer (a male couch who's an asshole and not as knowledgeable as the players, ahem Portland Thorns ahem). And as always, love seeing healthy communication and boundaries in a romance!

This book was just an utter delight! Meryl Wilsner has found the perfect recipe for a fantastic romance. They're writing is just devourable ( yes, that's a real word) and keeps you glued to the page. I love the phenomenal characters that Wilsner writes that are so relatable and people you would hang out with. I have zero sports experience so my frame of reference could be off - but the team they wrote was just so engaging and fun. The steam factor was definitely there (the locker room was *chefs kiss*) and the chemistry between these characters was fantastic! I just adored Phoebe and Grace. The miscommunication in this was frustrating at times but that shows my emotional attachment to the characters and my love for them soooo... I can't hate it. Such a great read! Highly recommend.

This sapphic, rivals to lovers, romcom is a lovely fall treat for any soccer lover. Meryl Wilsner's writing has a charm and ease that quickly brings the reader into her story and keeps them engaged. Wilsner weaves together comedy and sportsmanship competition perfectly to bring to life this love story between a new teammate and seasoned player. This novel has humor, heart and heat. Cleat Cute is a charming romance between teammates and a lovely fall read.

I adored the dynamic between Phoebe and Grace. The tension between someone who has history with the game, but is sidelined due to injury and the young new player who idolizes her taking her place is so fun. Wilsner deliciously builds this tension into the perfect chemistry. I also found a nice layer of humor as their relationship grows and both of them are on slightly different pages when it comes to the "label" of their relationship. This novel is sexy and sensual, the characters definitely grow their trust and understanding with each other through the exploration of their physical relationship. Wilsner easily balances the chemistry and emotions to give this relationship a nice layer of depth as they fall in love.

I would highly recommend this read. If you love Meryl Wilsner's writing you will delight in this. If the plot and characters intrigue you, then you are sure to be romanced.

I really enjoyed Meryl Wilsner’s Mistakes Were Made, so when I Cleat Cute I knew I needed to request it immediately. Unfortunately, there were little and big things throughout the first half that happened and I just couldn’t push through to the end.

The bones of the book had me excited to read. I mean, who doesn’t love a budding teammate romance, age gap, and solid female main characters? I know those are some of my favorite themes to read! The characters themselves were amazing, I love the way they were built, they had so many layers, and the portrayal of what was going on internally and externally was fantastic. If there were to be a book with these characters in a different write-up, I’d read it immediately.

Where this book lost me were the trivial additions that were there, kind of added detail, but were unnecessary to the storyline. I found the events and conversation to be monotonous - it felt like in showing her New Orleans we were just getting similar actions and events, whilst in a new place. It didn’t feel like it was driving the plot forward. The last thing that was bothersome, and really drove me to DNF, was the continued joking around about one main character being obsessed (and stalker-esque) with the other. That just rubbed me the wrong way because I don’t think that was the intention but it made it creepy instead of something that should have been an honor.

Whoa! This novel was definitely a SPICY STEAMY sapphic romance. I love a good sports romance but the internal monologue took a few things away from the overall book. I would recommend to anyone that likes Delilah Green Doesn't Care.

I really enjoyed Cleat Cute! This was a steamy sapphic romance that I flew through. I loved how Phoebe and Grace's relationship progressed as they were soooo different. They had some great banter that made me smile while reading. I also loved how this centered around them both being pro women's soccer players. We don't often get romances where the girls are the pro athletes! I did feel like Phoebe's backstory could have been explored a bit more, but overall I found this to be engaging. I will definitely read more by Meryl Wilsner in the future.

I have been all over sports romances and this one was so cute! I loved the characters and how the story built as I read more!

"Cleat Cute" by Meryl Wilsner is a delightful blend of sports, romance, and humor that hits all the right notes. Set against the backdrop of New Orleans, women's soccer, and the World Cup, Grace Henderson, a ten-year veteran of the US Women’s National Team at just 26, finds herself sidelined by injury. In her place steps Phoebe Matthews, a 22-year-old with an infectious enthusiasm about making the pro team. The playful banter and electric connection from teammates to lovers are a joy to read. What sets this book apart is its perfect balance of heartwarming moments and steamy encounters as well as the realization that they are both neurodivergent A must-read for fans of romantic comedies, sports enthusiasts, and those seeking neurodivergent representation in literature.

opposites attract, yes please. steam and full of heart, Meryl Wilsner books are becoming my favorites, the writting is just as satisfying as the story.

A very cute lgbtq+ soccer player romance. I like our main characters a lot and that we got duel prospective in the book from both of them. I like that both our characters also had their faults, like anxiety and ADHD. It makes them feel more real to .e when I am reading. The setting was also cool being a world cup year and also in New Orleans. There was also some pretty good spice in this book 👀 like so good I was not expecting it.

If you like lgbtq romance books with some spice, or sports romance books I think you will like this.

Grace Henderson fears that her soccer playing career is coming to an end even though she's just in her mid twenties. Phoebe Matthews is new on the scene after emerging from a lower tier college to be a top draft pick. When the two players are thrown together on the soccer field, sparks are evident. Are these the kind of sparks that lead to romance or despair? Of course, much of the misunderstandings in this romance would be avoided if the participants were just honest with each other instead of speaking in jokes and innuendos. But what fun would that be? The attraction and tension between Grace and Phoebe permeates the story and author Meryl Wilsner weaves that tension so cleverly. Wilsner writes queer romance that is fun and sexy. I look forward to being a Wilsner completist.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advanced copy of Meryl Wilsner's Cleat Cute.

I've come to expect and Meryl Wilsner delivers a high-heat sapphic romance. I really enjoyed the developing relationship between Phoebe Matthews and Grace Henderson in this sports-centered rivals-t0-lovers journey through women's soccer. It perfectly delivered on its promised Ted Lasso vibes and was the perfect book to get lost in for a weekend.

This book is the perfect example as to why I like 3rd person POV, when it’s done well. And let me tell you, Meryl Wilsner did it WELL. 👏
Rating: ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
Smut: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Grace and Phoebe are soccer teammates with undeniable chemistry from the instant they meet. This book tells us a beautiful sapphic love story between two neurodivergent characters trying to take up space in the (soccer) world in a way that feels authentic, all while battling feelings of self-worth because who doesn’t battle with that?!
Being in these characters’ heads often felt like being in my own. 🥹
The beauty of sports romances in my opinion is being able to look beyond the sports aspect (which we all know brings such a nice touch), and seeing a character’s journey & growth both on and off the field

Overall, I adored the people, and the cat, in this story
I adored the banter and the character arcs and I especially loved seeing how love can make even the parts we hate about ourselves seem not so bad.

The only reason I gave this a 4 star rating instead of a 5 star one was because of the way the internal dialogue at times felt repetitive and the characters miscommunicated. I typically give 3 star ratings when miscommunication annoys me but it was actually agreeable, understandable and not drawn out in this novel at all.

Thank you so much to Meryl Wilsner for trusting me with their e-arc and to Net Galley for helping readers like me connect with authors.

Make sure to get your hands on this book when it releases on September 19th, especially if you love:
🦋Rivals to lovers
🦋Grumpy x Sunshine
🦋Locker room (and shower) smut
🦋Banter & incredible friendship vibes
🦋Neurodiversity representation

In Meryl Wilsner’s sapphic rivals-to-lovers rom-com, Cleat Cute, a veteran star soccer player on the US Women’s National Team stumbles into a friends-with-benefits relationship with a rookie teammate who drives her crazy and takes her spot when she’s sidelined with an injury—never expecting to fall in love. I loved every minute of this beautifully written opposites-attract novel with a perfectly developed relationship/romance. Cleat Cute may be one of the best and most fun romances I’ve read this year and in a while. It’s steamy, sweet, sexy, hilarious—a legit rom-com with the perfect balance of steam, humor, angst, sexiness, pining, and sports. Wilsner’s lively and colorful dialogue, vibrant description, worldbuilding that takes advantage of her New Orleans setting, and entertaining interactions between her complex, fallible, and likable characters make this fast-paced, multi-layered romance a captivating page-turner. Wilsner deftly develops the relationships between her diverse characters, including cis heterosexual, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, African American, Latina, Welsh, and European.

At only 26, Grace Henderson is in her tenth year as a US Women’s National Soccer Team star player. Feeling her age because of a nagging injury, the last thing she can deal with right now is an upstart, bold rival coming along to try and take her spot. But when her hip injury finally does sideline her, and she’s taken off the schedule, Phoebe Matthews, who’s everything she isn’t, takes her spot. And to her surprise, Grace becomes friends-with-benefits with her frustrating teammate, who confuses Grace and makes her feel excited and alive. Friendly and unable to take anything seriously, Phoebe plays with the excitement and joy that Grace doesn’t remember losing somewhere along the way. How can she be so drawn to this girl, her rival?

Phoebe Matthews can’t believe she gets to train—and possibly play—with her idol whose skill she’s admired for as long as she’s loved soccer. She can barely hide how starstruck she is at all. In no time, Phoebe begins to see Grace as more than her teammate, especially after they kiss. Everything about Grace is what Phoebe’s been wanting and waiting for in her life, even if she didn’t know it.

Grace takes advantage of being sidelined to heal and work her way back from injury while the team prepares for the World Cup. Most importantly, she and Phoebe discover how to play with each other on the team instead of competing for the same spot. Things are going great with their friends-with-benefits relationship, but Grace and Phoebe aren’t on the same page. Phoebe thinks they’re dating while Grace increasingly grows concerned that she’s catching feelings, and she doesn’t know how to feel about it, believing Phoebe isn’t serious about her—about them. This divide increases the tension between them. Will Grace and Phoebe discover that their feelings for each other have become more important than making the World Cup Team?

I love Wilsner’s development of Grace and Phoebe’s relationship. They share an immediate connection and heat, even if Grace wants to deny it. Wilsner excellently captures all that fire and passion in their first kiss, which sparks from chemistry. Reading each of their interactions filled me with anticipation and excitement. The author smoothly transitions their relationship from rivals to friends with benefits to two people falling in love who don’t understand how they got there. Grace and Phoebe’s sweet, intimate, sexy, passionate, funny, emotional, and steamy make-outs and love scenes—featuring unexpectedly sweet dirty talk—and snarky, entertaining interactions vibrantly shimmering with chemistry, fiery heat, and tenderness reveal Grace and Phoebe’s characters and connection and evolve their relationship, moving the story forward with fantastic pacing.

Grace and Phoebe are complete opposites, but they balance each other perfectly, helping each other grow. A playful, talkative jokester with endless energy and no self-doubt, Phoebe is extroverted, loud, and loves to win people over and make them laugh. However, she has time management issues, quits when things get hard, and lacks focus—except in soccer. Disciplined, patient, and responsible, Grace, on the other hand, is an intense introvert who loves her privacy and quiet. She’s driven, used to always being in control, wary, doesn’t like showing weakness, isn’t good with feelings or relationships, and plays with grit and perseverance. Grace has been going on about her life for so long, not fully living it to the fullest, not doing what she wants, not making herself happy, and never taking the time to slow down and take care of herself while taking care of her players and everyone else. Phoebe blows into Grace’s life—a talented whirlwind of nonstop talking, constant action, pushing, not taking no for an answer—challenging Grace, forcing her to take care of herself and think about her pleasure. She opens up a whole different world to Grace. Being sidelined forces Grace to use that time to evaluate her life, offers her body a chance to heal and rest, and her mind and heart a break from the stress of being Krewe Captain and being in the spotlight all the time. Grace sees behind Phoebe’s façade to who she really is inside. When she falls for Phoebe, she loves all the parts of her without judgment or ridicule. They both show their love for each other by putting the other’s well-being first.

Cleat Cute is a sexy, sweet, funny, steamy, emotional, sapphic rom-com I highly recommend for fans of rivals-to-lovers, friends-with-benefits stumbling into love, and falling for your teammates tropes. Wilsner explores themes of self-discovery, identity, falling in love, doing what you love, following your dream, finding happiness, soulmates, friendship, ADHD, sexual exploration, being loved for who you are, and first love.

Advanced review copy provided by St. Martin’s Griffin via Netgalley for review.

I am a really big women’s soccer fan so I was really excited about this book and it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023, but unfortunately it was super disappointing.

A trope I really hate is miscommunication and a really big theme in this book was miscommunication, and it got really old really fast.

I was also annoyed that whenever there was some kind of issue or fight, Phoebe always solved it with distracting Grace with sex. So they never actually talked about their problems.

I absolutely hated the “baby girl” thing.

This book had the kind of epilogue I dislike, because it was basically pointless. It gave us zero information. For me as a reader, I look at an epilogue as a way to see how the characters are doing down the line. I also think it’s important to to help take care of any unresolved issues at the end of the book.

I like that it was mentioned that phoebe is now taking ADHD medication. However, I am annoyed that Grace talked about looking into an autism diagnosis, and that was never addressed past that one comment towards the end of the book.

This ended up feeling much more like a NA romance instead of an adult romance because of the ages of the main characters and Phoebe was incredibly immature.