I had such high hopes for this book. It was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, so it is completely possible that my high hopes thwarted my experience.

I have talked to people who have enjoyed this book, and they all either did not read or did not like Mistakes Were Made. As such a huge fan of Wilsner’s last book, I expected this book to be on par, but was so disappointed.

There were so many long paragraphs of descriptions or setting the scene or internal monologues and they made me want to scream. Like, get on with it!! Get to the story! And when we did get to the story, I couldn’t even enjoy it because it was all broken up by long blocks of text. The pacing and writing style made this book just not an enjoyable reading experience for me.

My takeaway— if you loved Mistakes Were Made, skip this one.

I am so thankful to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

Cleat Cute was a refreshingly cute sapphic romance. The main characters are on the soccer team together, and the friends-with-benefits to lovers trope ensues. However, the main issue was miscommunication, and they really just needed to have one real conversation for everything to have been solved. It also felt as though some of the character discoveries came way too late in the book, and I would have liked to see them dealing with those subjects much earlier.

Cleat Cute is a sapphic romance that follows Phoebe and Grace, two woman soccer players who are vying for the same position on the national team after Grace get injured. While they start off as rivals, they quickly realize that they are attracted to each other and feelings escalate from there.

This book is a mixed bag for me. I was so excited to read it because the idea of a sapphic story around soccer while following the Women’s World Cup seemed like a blast. And while I did enjoy the overall story for the most part, there were a few things that I just did not enjoy.

Starting with the good, I absolutely loved Phoebe. She was pure golden retriever energy and just a delight. She had a trans sibling and I enjoyed how subtly that was brought into the story. The “Ted Lasso but make is lesbians” vibe was strong. The two characters has such Jamie Tartt/Roy Kent vibes. The steamy scenes were aplenty and very fun. And the overall message of the story was a nice one to read.

Things I didn’t love include just the overall writing style. This is my first book by this author and I’m not sure if I will read another one. This is written in third person present tense which is always hard for me to read in a romance because it makes it hard for me to root for the relationship. There is also so much internal dialogue that really made the story drag at times. So the internal dialogue and the third person pov combined made for a really awkward feeling of both knowing a lot about a character but not truly connecting to them. The miscommunication on here was also weird. I am not someone who hates miscommunication but it felt very forced in this book.

I would say, if you are looking for a steamy romance between two lady soccer players, this is fun enough. Just be prepared for loads of time spent in the players’ heads and a heavy helping of miscommunication.

I think I have to admit to myself that this author's writing style just doesn't work for me. I love seeing the diverse characters, and the soccer aspect was more interesting than I was expecting (I'm not much of a sports person), but something just didn't click for me.

This book is exactly as advertised, a funny and cute sapphic romance that takes place on the soccer field! I didn’t want to put this book down as I read it. Grace and Phoebe are such wonderfully written characters, and I fell in love with both of them. Phoebe definitely has that golden retriever puppy energy, where she is always bubbly and happy and energetic. I wouldn’t say Grace is grumpy, but she is definitely more reserved and has a strong personality. The two of them together was adorable. They have witty banter and so many of their moments are just so freaking cute. The spice level is higher than I expected but I didn’t find it overly ridiculous or cheesy. Representation is so well done in this book and that’s always very refreshing. I loved the soccer angle and at first it was a little confusing to follow all the names, especially with nicknames thrown in, but I think I understood most of the characters by the end. The plot was really well done and the ending was just so perfect, being a combination of sweet and funny. This book is really worth the read and is so enjoyable! 4.5⭐️, 3.5🌶

Thank you to netgalley and St. Martin's Press, for providing a digital ARC of Cleat Cute in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, and spicy read! I didn't really like the relationship between Grace and Phoebe at first, but I did love how they try to take care of each other so they can be at their best. I didn't like the miscommunication between them that could have been cleared up quickly. It had a sweet ending.

Thank you to netgalley and St. Martin's Press, for providing a digital copy of Cleat Cute in exchange for an honest review.

I am always a fan of sapphic rom/com books and have a soft spot for the sport of soccer so I was so excited to get my hands on this copy and read it. And I really enjoyed Cleat Cute!

There's a ton of queer representation—done in a way where it's just natural instead of forced—and I loved the differences between our two main characters. It was chaotic and fun and full of delicious misunderstandings.

I do agree with a few other reviews that I saw that the description is a little off in terms of the plot line. I do also think that the ending could have been a little more extended, in my opinion.

That being said, I still really enjoyed it. Definitely a great summer read, some steamy sex scenes, and an interesting plot.

3.5/5 ⭐️!

Okay I am obsessed with the hyperactive ADHD sexy golden retriever and anxious introverted low key ice queen dynamic! The way they didn’t judge each other’s little quirks made me happy and obviously the spice was much appreciated as per usual with Wilsner’s work!

I will say, the miscommunication trope usually bugs me but this took it to another level 😩. They drew out their misunderstandings in their heads for forever and then spoke two incredibly vague sentences to each other to clear them up? Over and over again?? Some of the miscommunications were quite a stretch and unrealistic, but suspension of disbelief and all that! It drove me insane, but I was still rooting for them!

EDIT: I finished this book a week ago and I'm still thinking about it and I'm realizing I liked this way more than I thought, especially in the world cup era. Bumping this up to 5 stars!!

I wanted to start off by saying that the concept and plot of this book is 100% right up my alley. I'm a huge fan of women's soccer, the NWSL, and the USWNT. I think my expectations were set quite high from the beginning because I had also previously read "Mistakes Were Made" by Meryl Wilsner as well. I'd rate this a solid 3.5/5 stars (rounded up to 4 here).

*Light Spoilers Ahead*
I'll start with the things that I loved about this book. All of the characters were extremely fun and likable. I did find myself comparing them to current USWNT members or soccer players in general (in my mind Grace was 100% Sam Kerr for some reason). The spice was really well written (I'm looking at you chapter 12), and I genuinely enjoyed watching Grace and Phoebe's relationship grow. The trans, NB, and mental illness rep was fantastic. Each struggle felt true to the individual and made sense with the plot I wanted to note here that I called Grace being potentially autistic very early on in the story as I related to her struggles on a deep level.

All of that being said, I do have some qualms about it that may not bother everyone, but it was in my mind for a lot of the book. I really didn't enjoy the 3rd person POV that this was written in. I think it led the story to be incredibly surface level, and I really would have wished we could have dove deeper into their minds with a dual POV (just link in Mistakes Were Made". It felt a bit repetitive at times and I wish we'd gotten to see more of these characters at the world cup or more of their season at home. I also would have love to have had more in depth with some of the other players. Wasn't Phoebe besties with Gabby when she got there? Did Gabby not care that her supposed new BFF was suddenly gone 80% of the time? I'm being nit picky here, but I feel it deep in my bones.

I would definitely recommend this to someone who likes a good sapphic read that doesn't want to read anything to heavy. It was cute, fluffy, and had a good amount of spice with really low steaks. I finished this in about 2.5 days. I'll also probably still buy this once it comes out because the cover is cute and I love supporting anything LGBTQIA+ and sapphic.

I loved this book! The chemistry between the character created a swoon-worthy romance. The conflict felt purposeful and contributed to the overall arc and themes of the story.

Meryl Wilsner writes the best sapphic romance. The romance, the angst and the spice are all top tier! Every character in this book is well developed and lovable each in their own way. The main couples chemistry shines but you’ll fall in love with more than a few side characters as well!

honestly, the only thing i really enjoyed about this book is learning about soccer. i don't really like third person pov, but i can deal with it when it comes to some books. however, it didn't work for this one. the dialogue was kinda obnoxious... like no one actually speaks like that in real life. and the inner monologues were so descriptive over the tiniest things, it was a complete overkill. lastly, i couldn't really feel any solid chemistry between grace and phoebe, and i find it hard to believe that they fell in love with each other that quick.

I have no words for how much this book touched my heart and soul. Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this before publication - I just finished it and I still have happy tears running down my face.

Meryl Wilsner has created diverse characters who are as real as your friends, neighbors, and coworkers, flaws and all, and placed them all in a story that - despite being about professional soccer - at its core, is something to which everyone can relate. Soccer is the thing that keeps the story going, but the personal hardships, struggles, and victories are what bring it all together.

As a person with ADHD and anxiety, Phoebe's twist at the three-quarter mark of the book hit home really hard and really accurately. (Granted, I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of four, but the struggles remain the same.) Watching Grace learn to navigate the unfamiliar in so many ways, to learn and adapt in a way that is positive and helpful - Ms. Wilsner, I cannot thank you enough. I felt like you were telling MY story as part of Grace's and Phoebe's.

This book is about so much more than romance. It's friendship, learning to trust again, opening yourself up to new experiences, love in many forms, and a reminder that there are always people in your life who will forever have your back. Cleat Cute is a phenomenal story that I cannot wait to pester my friends to purchase once it's released (after I get a copy for myself, of course!), and it's one you'll want to read again and again. It's finding your place and coming home.

Omg. Meryl Wilsner you did the thing! The lesbian sports romance we deserve! Had so much fun reading this one.

Cleat Cute was an absolute burst of cuteness and wholesomeness that left me completely in awe!! Grace and Phoebe stole my heart – their characters are just so incredibly lovely and endearing. This book is an instant addition to my stack of comfort reads; I adored every second of it.

I mean, seriously, what more could you ask for?? Wholesome, lovesick, and sappy lesbian soccer players. It struck the perfect balance between romance, drama, and spice!! The autism and ADHD representation holds such significance to me. Wilsner did such a great job portraying queer neurodivergent characters. Seeing this representation is an absolute treasure, and it's hard to put into words just how much it means to me to be able to read it. And in books like this, I can practically step into the characters' emotions. From tears to laughter, giggles to blushes, I was right there with them every step of the way. It's an indescribable feeling that this book managed to capture so perfectly.

ALSO CAN WE TALK ABT HOW THE SECONDARY CHARACTERS?? THEY ARE SO INTERESTING!! I just wanted to keep reading about them. I just didn’t want this story to end! I WANT MOREEE The complexity and depth of the cast left me wishing for extended narratives, and I couldn't bear the thought of this story ever coming to an end!

I'm completely in awe of how Wilsner crafted these characters – their richness and complexity were simply amazing. The way they intertwined and developed throughout the story left me craving for more of their journey, especially when Grace and Phoebe were together in a relationship. I genuinely didn't want the story to conclude; it felt like these characters had become friends I didn't want to say goodbye to.

Trust me, I had the biggest grin plastered on my face the entire time. Those butterflies in my stomach?? They were definitely fluttering too. The giddiness I felt while reading this was simply unparalleled.

I usually let my thoughts about a book "marinate" before writing a book review, but I suppose this book is an exception. This book is such a lighthearted and sweet read. If you're on the hunt for a heartwarming and feel-good sapphic romance, Cleat Cute is an absolute must-read. It's like a warm hug on a chilly day. 💗

Overall, I wanted to love this book but found it needed some substantial edits. It was hard to find either character likeable and although the steamy scenes were steamy... it didn't save the issues with the plot.

This is a fun one! Grace is a veteran professional woman’s soccer player who went pro in her teens and is feeling burned out by the jobs she doesn’t love in a sport she does. Phoebe is the team rookie who has had a poster of Grace on her wall for years. They’re very opposite but balance each other out - if they can get their act together to admit their feelings.

A delightful read. I loved learning a little about soccer while watching these two work through their stuff!

This was a great Sapphic soccer romance! I'm a casual soccer fan, so I loved that our setting was two professional soccer players, who were both really competent and loved the sport.

I loved both of our main characters, and how they were completely different, but both totally believable as people. Phoebe's POVs were a joy to read, and she was confident without being arrogant/awful. Grace was also a great perspective to have, and it was so fun to read as Phoebe pulled her out of her shell. All of the teammates were great, and I loved how family like they all felt.

I think the spice was really well written and good, but I do think that we borderline might've had TOO much spice (at least for me). Phoebe was so confident and sexy, and I loved how she treated Grace. I loved how the author let the characters have realistic conversations about sex and then also included a person who could get too in their head to climax. Those situations were handled really gently and well and I love how caring both of our main characters were for eachother.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it's characters!

Grace Henderson has been the star of the IS Women’s National Soccer team for the last 10 years. She has everything going for her - until her new teammate, Phoebe Mathews shows up. Grace is sidelined with an injury and Phoebe takes her spot on the team. The two couldn’t be more different from one another - Phoebe is a jokester where Grace is focused and determined. The last thing Grace expects is to befriend Phoebe. But when the two start to hit it off, the unexpected happens. Quickly Phoebe finds herself looking at Grace as more than friends. Will these two figure things out or put themselves at odds?

I related so much to Grace and loved her determination and drive. Phoebe drove me nuts to begin with but I soon fell in love with her and was rooting for her and Grace. This is a fantastic book, especially if you’ve been following the World Cup and Ted Lasso.

I LOVE soccer, which is the main reason I wanted to read this book. There is definitely soccer included here, but it's more of an "on the side" part of the main story. That's totally fine for how the book was written and if that's how the author wanted the story to play out, just a fair warning of what to expect.

The things I liked:

I loved the author's ability to present neurodivergent characters and really delve into how those traits affect their everyday lives.

Overall, I thought the relationship between the to MC's was cute. I loved the friendships between teammates even more and found them to be very realistic.

Things I didn't like:

Although I love neurodivergent representation in a book, I hated the way that the author brought about self-diagnoses via the characters looking at tik tok. Of course people can use tik tok to realize things about themselves, but over-generalizing mental illnesses can be very problematic and I wish she would have had a professional viewpoint for this part of the storyline.

The dialogue was super annoying at times. The amount of inner monologuing got to be way too much. Show me what's happening between the characters, don't just give me "she said this", give me actions.

On a personal "me" note, some of the dialogue and language used was pretty cringe.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and had fun with it. I found I was annoyed at times and cringed more than I would like to admit, but it was still a good time. I could have used more soccer, but the connections the author made between personal actions and how they stem from deeper things I found to be very insightful and well done.