’ve put off writing this review as I have been quite back and forth on how I feel about it. I finally ended up going with 3 star rating on Goodreads, but upping it to 3.5 overall.

I really enjoyed the relationship between the two characters. I liked seeing how it progressed, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the miscommunication that happened; it was a bit too much for me.

Another thing in the book that was too much for me was the writing style. Everything seemed quite redundant and a little too simplistic.

I don’t watch soccer religiously, but I know a bit about the rules and I think that helped me while reading. The soccer aspect was super enjoyable for me due to the knowledge I already had.

I think the representation was done well throughout the book. I think there was some minor things I didn’t agree with necessarily, but overall was solid.

This was an overall okay book for me, but I think other’s could overwhelmingly enjoy this quick read!

Cleat Cute didn't really do anything for me. If I wasn't reading an advance copy I probably wouldn't have finished it. I love Meryl Wilsner but it feels like their books are progressively going down hill.

This story is about rookie soccer player Phoebe, who is so upbeat and social that it hurt me even through he text, and soccer prodigy Grace, who is very serious and closed off. I'll give you three guesses about how that goes. I felt like it was a story I'd read so many times before, and there was nothing about Phoebe or Grace that really grabbed my heart and made them feel special. Their progression was cute, and there were definitely many lovely moments (like the first night on the field!) but it didn't add up to enough for me.

i haven’t read a meryl wilsner book before & i’ve always wanted to, so i was really excited when i got approved for this! although it wasn’t my favorite book i’ve ever read, i did enjoy most of it

i’m not a huge fan of miscommunication, so i didn’t love how that played a big part in phoebe and grace’s relationship

i did really enjoy all of the representation throughout the story! whether it was through gender identity, sexuality, or neurodiversity. it was great getting to see that through all of the different characters - not just grace & phoebe but the side ones too!

3.5 ⭐️s

Cleat Cute is a sapphic sports romance featuring two women’s soccer stars - a veteran and a rookie. It was a good read but, for someone who isn’t a big soccer fan, this was a LOT of soccer and maybe even more internal monologuing from both women.

Grace Henderson and Phoebe Matthews are billed as rivals, both competing for the same position on both their AWSA team and the women’s national team but that doesn’t last for long. When Phoebe moves to New Orleans, she and Grace start to spend a lot of time together exploring the city and getting closer. They’re opposites in so many ways but it kept things interesting between them - made Grace step out of her comfort zone and Phoebe focus on something other than soccer. I enjoyed that Phoebe called Grace out on her privilege time and time again; it was refreshing and seeing Grace adjust accordingly was unexpected but sweet. They had a lot of ups and downs together, mostly related to soccer, and grew in ways they didn’t expect.

I didn’t find either Grace or Phoebe especially endearing and their lack of communication really started to drive me crazy. They both had their own reasons for it (mostly explained in the last quarter of the book - and WAY too late if you ask me) but they frequently used sex and intimacy as a way to avoid talking and it got old pretty quick. Things really dragged between them in the middle of the book and made me question whether I’d finish or not - too much avoidance via sex and not enough talking in any way.

While Grace and Phoebe weren’t my favorites, their soccer teammates both on the Krewe and the National Team were a blast to read - the found family vibes, their diversity and their supportiveness made me enjoy this book more than I anticipated.

Opposites attract sports romance but make it sapphic? Need I say more?
Then only issue I have with it, and it's totally personal preference, I'm really not a fan of miscommunication. Other than that this book is perfect for me.

Grace Henderson has already been in the big leagues for 10 years when Phoebe Matthews bounds onto the scene with her earnestness and golden retriever energy. Grace’s life has been dedicated to soccer—she’s been playing at the national level since she was 16—but she is now suffering from a hip injury that she has been hiding from the coaching staff and her fellow players. New teammate Phoebe is good, really good. Phoebe’s an excellent addition to the New Orleans team that they both play for, but if Grace’s injury is discovered, is it possible that Phoebe could take her spot on the U.S. Women’s National Team at the World Cup?

I adored this opposites-attract, grumpy-sunshine, friends-with-benefits, sports, Sapphic, secret romance.

I loved the portrayal of neurodivergent characters in the story. Wilsner organically weaves details, aspects, and nuances of the characters’ ADHD and ASD into the story, and these different ways that Phoebe and Grace view their experiences lead to believable miscommunication.

Wilsner captures class differences and money struggles, questions of identity after dedicating so much of your life to one thing, taking care of oneself and making the right choices for oneself, what it means to be a team, and aspects of a relationship where one person is out and the other’s orientation has been kept quiet. I liked the supportive friendships and seeing how different family dynamics impact both main characters.

Overall, the book feels authentic, and while there were moments when my heart hurt for both main characters, most of my time with this book was spent grinning.

I highly recommend picking this one up.

I received an advance copy of the ebook from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

This book was so cute (yea I know what I did there).

Phoebe and Grace are just two neurodivergent women trying to play a game they love while trying not to catch feelings for a teammate. And fun things ensue.

Other than the story, I really liked the neurodivergent rep. While a specific diagnosis isn’t discussed until late in the story, it is clear that both women think about things differently. And I really appreciated it.

Meryl Wilsner continues to put out addicting stories that focus on sapphic romance and sapphic relationships. I was not sure I would be into this one as sporty romances aren't usually something I would read but I very quickly fell in love with Grace and found her very relatable. Highly recommend this title for any fan of Meryl Wilsner and anyone looking for a sapphic romance that is not in the young adult category.

I'm probably biased (but still honest) after reading Meryl Milsner's last release "Mistakes Were Made" because I still think about the quality of that book all the time. I also just realized that Wilsner's debut was "Something to Talk About" which I have on my shelves and just moved up in the priority list. Anyways - its safe to say I'm predisposed to LOVE a new book by Meryl Wilsner and this was no exception. A queer sports romance that does not shy away from the spice?? Put me on the roster, coach! With a ton of heart this book is able to tackle professional relationships vs. romantic ones, reckoning with one's purpose in life, mental health issues we may or may not be aware of, the good of showing up for the people in your life when you might have a greater capacity than they do for a task, and some really great spicy scenes including one in a locker room. Anyone else as a young sprout obsessed with movies such as Bend it Like Beckham? or even She's the Man? Ohhhh my friends you will devour this novel. I started reading the eARC then switched to the audiobook once my request was approved and I can firmly say there is no bad way to read this book - though I'm partial to the audiobook since we get two distinct narrators for each main character - Dana Varden & Zim Avaltrades- and they are both fabulous with their characterization. Overall? I loved this book and Meryl Wilsner is really creating a lovely space for herself (and her readers!) in the romance genre right now!

Cleat Cute is out next week on Sept. 19th so now is the time to RUN and secure a copy whether it is a preorder or a library hold. Maybe pick up "Mistakes Were Made" while you wait...

Everything Meryl Wilsner does is delightful. End of story. No notes. I admit: I am not a soccer girlie, and about 3/4ths of the time I had no idea exactly what people were talking about because sports. But even with my deplorable lack of soccer knowledge, I still really enjoyed Cleat Cute. Grace and Phoebe and their sort-of-by-accident relationship are just so sweet and appealing that it didn't matter that I still don't know that a midfielder is. Or if that's even the right word. (Where oh where is the sweet, funny soccer gay who will sweep me off my feet and teach me about The Game?) Also, nothing but love and respect for the mental health representation in this book. Pheobe is the soulmate of my constantly-talking/talking-over-people/overexcited heart. Honestly just 10/10 will definitely be reading again when my copy gets here.

2.25 ⭑

This was my first ever sapphic romance, and I really did enjoy that aspect of this book. However, so many other things did not work for me. Most importantly, I feel like the third person POV really did this book a disservice. The copious amount of internal monologues that aggressively cut dialogue and intimate scenes was not the vibe. It almost took me out of every scene, so it was hard to be in the moment for this book.

I also don’t really think there was enough relationship building in this book. I mean, Grace didn’t even know that Phoebe considered them to be girlfriends before the last chapter. There was so much disconnect between Phoebe and Grace.

Also, this was NOT rivals to lovers as the blurb classifies it. This was friends to lovers with one of the characters being extraordinarily rude multiple times! This book just really did not give me what I wanted.

Thank you to Netgalley and St.Martin’s Press (St. Martin’s Griffin) for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was really looking forward to reading "Cleat Cute" and had high hopes for it. While there were a few moments I enjoyed, it ended up being somewhat disappointing.

In the beginning, the story captured my interest, but I lost it pretty quickly. One issue I noticed was that the book tended to tell instead of show. It relied a lot on the character's inner thoughts, which made it a bit dull. Trimming down these inner dialogues could have made the story move along better. The ending of the book was confusing. It left me feeling like some things weren't resolved, and important events should have happened earlier in the story. The ending didn't fit well with the rest of the book, and it felt incomplete.

I didn't connect with Grace's character. She seemed to have trouble understanding Phoebe, and she made a big deal out of small things. Also, relying so much on TikTok for information felt unrealistic and hurt the story's credibility. On a positive note, Phoebe's character was a highlight. She was relatable and likable, which was a nice change from some of the frustrations in the story.

In conclusion, "Cleat Cute" had its promising moments but also tested my patience. It had potential, but it struggled with pacing, character development and an unsatisfying ending. Despite my initial excitement, I ended up feeling somewhat let down by the overall reading experience.

SO FUN.

I found the pacing a little unsettling and the conflict resolution a little unsatisfying, but overall, this was really sweet and joyful and full of heart.

Thanks to St. Martins and NetGalley for this ARC!

I was so excited when I saw that I had the chance to read Cleat Cute because I have enjoyed all of Wilsner's previous work. This one was no different. The story of the rookie player Phoebe and the star of the team Grace was such a cute and fun (also spicy) read. I appreciated all the tropes that brought angst and miscommunications that come with new romances.

While I really liked the book, I do think that in some parts of the book dialogue was off for my taste and that some of the inner monologues that were throughout the book were lacking and seemed somewhat repetitive or long. I think this is a very good book for what it is, but I don't think that it has a special spark that would make me reach for this one over and over again

Cleat Cute is a sports romance featuring well developed, likable characters. Wilsner is no stranger to developing well written stories, she is a common name among sapphic readers.
Her talent is well used for a story like Cleat Cute, featuring younger characters. I did struggle with portions of this book but overall I really, really enjoyed it the writing is fantastic, the smut is perfect and the book flows beautifully. A full 5/5 stars for Cleat Cute.

OBSESSED!!! I think this is my favorite book of the year??? I am not a crier. I don't cry when I read. But this book made me bawl like a little girl. There is undiagnosed ADHD rep, there is anxiety rep, the girls both have complicated relationships with their families, and oh yeah... soccer gays.

I don't think this is a direct Ted Lasso inspired book. I don't think that Phoebe really fits into any character that is in Ted Lasso, but this book stands on its own.

I just... I have no words. This was perfection.

Trigger Warnings: cursing, drinking, sex, coming out

Representation: Grace: Lesbian, Autistic; Phoebe: Lesbian, ADHD; side characters: Nonbinary, bisexual, pansexual

Cleat Cute is a sapphic rivals to lovers rom com where two soccer teammates are at odds before falling in love as their team gears up for the World Cup.

Grace Henderson has been a star of the US Women’s National Team for ten years, even though she’s only 26. But when she’s sidelined with an injury, a bold new upstart, Phoebe Matthews, takes her spot. Phoebe is everything Grace isn’t—a gregarious jokester who plays with a joy that Grace lost somewhere along the way. The last thing Grace expects is to become friends with benefits with this class clown she sees as her rival.

Phoebe Matthews has always admired Grace’s skill and was star struck to be training alongside her idol. But she quickly finds herself looking at Grace as more than a mere teammate. After one daring kiss, she’s hooked. Grace is everything she has been waiting to find.

As the World Cup approaches, and Grace works her way back from injury, the women decide to find a way they can play together instead of vying for the same position. Except, when they are off the field, Grace is worried she’s catching feelings while Phoebe thinks they are dating. As the tension between them grows, will both players realize they care more about their relationship than making the roster?

Is there such a thing as a perfect book!!?!? I absolutely adored everything about this book! I honestly don’t have any criticism! And the fact that this book published after the 2023 World Cup is just *chef’s kiss*!! The timing of publishing this right after the very tournament that occurs in the end of the book is perfect. I loved getting the chance to continue celebrating women’s soccer despite the tournament coming to an end.

This author has become an auto read for me! They have an amazing style and write stories for messy adult queers. The realistic discussion of sex and c*ming is so refreshing! I love seeing these two queer women be imperfect and have sex and play soccer and all the things! They are incredibly realistic and human. The author has such a skill for making relatable characters and making these characters the ones we all need to see represented. This book is an absolute must for everyone and especially anyone looking for themselves and their loved ones in a story outside their everyday routine.

I don't really have the words for how much I love this book. It is definitely one one of my favorite books of the year - maybe of all time.

I adore both of the characters, the relationship, the personal growth, the neurodiversity, New Orleans. This book has everything I could have asked for. The ADHD and autistic coded love is so well done, and seeing (undiagnosed) adult women learn about neurodivergence was so well done and just added to what is already a beautiful story. And a small note, but I also really appreciated how Pheobe immediately backed off flirting when she thought Grace wasn't interested - none of the "no means try harder" or "friendzone" angst or "its all in good fun" just respect for a boundary. I didn't realize how different (and appropriate) this reaction was until I read this and was surprised. There is a great cast of supporting characters and setting it in New Orleans pushed this book into another level.

If you love queer romance, especially sports romance, or are looks for more neurodivergence in romance, I highly recommend this book.

Super sweet romance from Meryl Wilsner. I'm not a huge sports romance fan but this one hit all the right notes with the sports elements and the romantic entanglements!

This is my second Meryl Wilsner book. This time around, I liked the characters, and I enjoyed it more than ‘Something to Talk About’ in terms of pacing. Phoebe is a sunshine character bordering on manic pixie dreamgirl territory, but her ADHD tendencies are actually DISCUSSED rather than just treated as quirks. Hooray! Grace is the grumpy childhood hero turned lover whose autistic coding gets acknowledged directly toward the end. Double hooray! The third person present-tense narration choice felt a little odd in places, but for the most part it worked.

Except.

The last third or so of this book hinges on a miscommunication (or lack of communication) trope, which drove me crazy. Especially because the narration style means that we as readers can see the whole thing clearly, and the plot required that the characters say and do odd things in order to maintain the miscommunication for entirely too long. For me, it unraveled after that. Reading almost a hundred pages of forced miscommunication didn’t make me want them together; it made me want them both to work on themselves. As a neurospicy person, I can see what Wilsner was getting at with the original miscommunication (Grace is bad at social cues; GIRL, SAME) but the way it dragged on and escalated reduced my enjoyment of the book significantly. That said, if you like miscommunication tropes, go for it.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.