Thank you St Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for an ARC of Cleat Cute, all opinions are my own

As someone who has grown up playing soccer, I absolutely adore storylines that have to do with the game. It makes me enjoy the book so much more simply because it’s so nostalgic for me to read about. Even if I didn’t know the game though, Cleat Cute would be something I would love. It balances the game and the romance i’m such a way that neither is overwhelming. Grace and Phoebe’s relationship with the game is something I loved to read about. I enjoyed their different personalities and seeing how each of them react to what is going on around them. I loved Grace so much and I just felt like I related to her so much. While a lot of their relationships deals with miscommunication which usually makes me so irritated since it is such as easy fix, I never found myself too upset by the issues the miscommunication created. It felt very realistic. Nothing too impulsive or dramatic as a result, no third act break up. I really just enjoyed everything about it. Phoebe was a little fireball and she was so much fun and Grace was very quiet and reserved. I really liked the balance that they brought to each other. They brought out the best in each other and inspired each other to not only be better for each other but to be the best player they can be in the game.

Anyways I loved this book so much and completely recommend.

I give this book a solid 3.5 stars (round for rating purpose to 4). It's on my amazon wishlist to add to my physical book collection in the future.

There were so many things to love about this book, but other things that drove me nuts. The beginning was quite slow and I struggled hard to get into it. I know it was more of a "slow burn" approach, but let's be serious, as queer women I've never had a relationship with a female that wasn't followed by your stereotypical u-haul way too soon.

This book had a wonder balance of spice! Some really great sex scenes, with excellent detail. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

All in all, I would recommend this book, but I'm not shouting it from the rooftops. It was a good read and I'll definitely read books by this author in the future.

Thank you to Meryl and St. Martin's for this ARC!

🚨Spoiler Alert 🚨

Phoebe's character reminded me so much of women I've dated in the past, which made this book very relatable, which is what inevitably sucked me in. The signification lack of communication between Grace and Phoebe was really annoying. The abrupt neurodivergence being introduced toward the end felt misplaced, it would have been better near the beginning.

I loved the soccer journey, as a soccer fan. It was fun to read, especially being so invested in the current Women's World Cup. But, I felt that their soccer wrap up fell a bit flat for me. Like, I know the story was about Phoebe and Grace's growth as individuals and as a couple, but they LOVED soccer. I would have just loved to seen a bit more with that journey toward the end. I just felt the ending was really rushed, that was didn't get anything super satisfying after they became a couple. I guess I just wanted a little bit more.

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner was a cute Sapphic romance and I truly enjoyed my time reading it. Was it memorable? Not really. The writing was good, the story was cute and the characters were okay. I was really excited when I read the description of this and was really looking forward to it. It delivered but it wasn't memorable.

I think Wilsner nailed the penalty shot!

Cleat Cute is a wonderful grumpy/sunshine romance novel set on the soccer pitch. If you love women's soccer you will love the way Wilsner brings you right into the action pre world cup year. If you are not sure about soccer they easily integrate you into the mix.

Phoebe and Grace are a opposites attract and the chemistry is fire. Cleat Cute is spicy, flirty and funny. Wilsner did a great job with handling sensitive topics like ADHD and neurodivergent characters. Tie all of the elements together and you have a book that delivers.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC; this book is out 9/19.

Funny, charming, original yet relatable, this is the meet-cute for soccer queers (and really, everyone), we've been waiting for. Wilsner is an instant-read at this point for a much-needed balance of warmth, depth, and spice.

A fun, sporty sapphic romance from Meryl Wilsner! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC, and I was super excited to read this book in advance of the Women's World Cup this summer.

Cleat Cute follows protagonist Phoebe, who has just joined a professional soccer team coming out of college and is looking to potentially make the national team for that summer's World Cup as an underdog rookie. At her New Orleans team, she meets Grace, the veteran team captain, who has just suffered an injury and is worried about her chances of making the roster as a result.

I'm a sucker for sports romances so found this cute, but I did find it too steamy for my liking and I found myself wishing for more character and relationship development instead. The romance did feel realistic, however, and I did fly through the book.

Overall, 3.5/5 stars.

This book was adorably sweet from start to finish. I really loved all of the queer and neurodivergent representation and how these topics were handled in such an incredibly well and nuanced way. The details surrounding these identities were clearly well researched and these small details made the characters seem real and intriguing. These small details also carried through to the way soccer was described throughout the book. At times, as someone who didn't play soccer, it was a bit difficult to keep up with the terms but I was able to catch on to the lingo.

The stars of this book though were the two protagonists. I absolutely adored Phoebe. She was everything I needed in a female main character. I loved how bold and unapologetically herself she was. How she was simultaneously ambitious and kind and protective without being overbearing. I also really liked Grace and found her to be so relatable. I could see myself in her and how she puts so much pressure on herself to be perfect.

I loved how their romance unfolded. The miscommunication leading to the confusion around their relationship was really funny. It added a bit of a twist to the miscommunication trope that made it unique. That said, sometimes the pacing in their relationship dynamics was a bit off for me.

However, my absolute favorite thing about this book were the spicy scenes. Queer spicy scenes are hit or miss for me because they can be so stereotyped and unrealistic but these were such a big hit. I liked the tenderness mixed in with the spice. I love how there was discussion about protection between the two women, as this often gets overlooked in FxF relationship portrayals. I could read some of those spicy scenes again because they were truly addicting and so hot!

Disclaimer: This book is HOT 🔥 There are not enough words in the English language to describe how much I liked this book. I was hooked from the first four pages.

The chemistry and tension between Grace and Phoebe is off the charts. I love their interactions with each other and how they are always there to support one another. I also have to shout out Meryl Wilsner for their amazing portrayal of different identities.

I know next to nothing about soccer but I was enraptured in their world simply because of how much THEY loved soccer.

Grace and Phoebe’s struggles were raw and real. Being inside their heads made them feel like real people and I enjoyed watching them grow together.

If you’re looking for a sexy, sapphic novel: PLEASE read this. A 4.5 stars from me

My Review posted on Goodreads on July 30, 2023
From a NetGalley Kindle Edition
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4594995884

'For transparency, I received a Kindle version of 'Cleat Cute' by Mel Wilsner from NetGalley (thank you!) to review.

I adored both Wilsner's "Something to Talk About' and ‘Mistakes Were Made’ and was hoping for the same magic with the author's new sapphic romance, 'Cleat Cute'. Sadly, I was disappointed. It's not that the story was bad, just not compelling as written and there wasn't much of an actual 'romance' between the main characters. This book was a chore to get through for me and not memorable.

I couldn't relate to either of the main characters, neither ever seemed like real people, and their relationship wasn't very interesting or connected. I couldn't put 'Mistakes Were Made' down, while I found myself struggling to make it through 'Cleat Cute'. Sadly, I learned more about women's soccer than either Phoebe or Grace.'

I’m so sad, I loved Mistakes Were Made SO much and this literally feels like it wasn’t even written by the same person. Where’s the witty banter? Where’s the pacing of the plot? Where’s the action? The inner monologues of these MCs were completely insufferable—I want to be shown, not told. Living inside their minds instead of living in a world they inhabit was so frustrating and I was bored. The sex scenes were good, but the plot was seriously lacking. And I wasn’t reading this for the soccer facts, but maybe at least call it a pitch accurately or call it a field the whole time? Such a letdown, unfortunately.

This was a super-fun enemies-to-lovers set in the world of women’s soccer. Phoebe and Grace were insanely hot together and the neurodivergent rep was well done. There was just some major internal dialogue that dragged at times, especially in the beginning, but once it picked up, I flew threw the book and loved it.

I enjoy the way Meryl seems to make every one of their characters feel relatable. These characters may be professional athletes, but at the heart of the story they are just like the rest of us...unsure, insecure, messy or maybe just trying to find the happiness they crave. This book is another example of the perfect balance between spice and swoon, making it an easy story to love.

Did I only pick up this book to because the World Cup is happening right now? No, but it sure helped to get me in the mood to read a book about soccer. Normally, I don't go for sports romances, but this was a delightful, queer, opposites attract story.

Grace Henderson is a veteran soccer player who has played on the National team for years. Phoebe Matthews is a rookie player who has just been drafted by the New Orleans team to take Grace's place when she heads off to the World Cup. They are about as opposite as it comes in terms of personality (real grumpy/sunshine dynamic here) but somehow, Grace finds herself playing tour guide as Phoebe gets settled in New Orleans. And the more time they spend together, the more they realize they enjoy each other's company, and both of them start to wonder whether there might be something more important on the line than soccer.

This book is pretty steamy, but the sex was well[-handled, with great communication between the characters. The supporting cast is fairly diverse (gay, trans, nonbinary characters, although I believe most characters are white). This isn't my favorite book I've read by this author, but it's definitely worth reading if you've enjoyed their previous books and/or are looking for a steamy-yet-somehow-still-wholesome queer romance. (Soccer knowledge not required.)

This captivating sports romance introduces readers to the talented author Meryl Wilsner, leaving a lasting impression and ensuring I'll be seeking out more of their work in the future. The seamless blend of love and soccer serves as an engaging backdrop, neither element overshadowing the other. The story revolves around Grace, an experienced player grappling with an injury, and Phoebe, a newcomer to the field. With only one spot available on the national team, the tension between the two players is palpable. However, the complexities of their relationship add depth to the narrative, making it a far more intricate tale than a simple rivalry. The book masterfully intertwines the world of soccer with the blossoming romance between Grace and Phoebe, skillfully depicting their emotional journey, unexpected connection, and genuine care for each other. Alongside well-crafted location descriptions and events, the book's cover is also noteworthy. In essence, this sports romance not only satisfies but excels in delivering an enthralling read.

It's the start of a new season and women's soccer star, Grace Henderson, is dealing with an injury and trying to hide it. Newbie Phoebe Matthews has been drafted to Grace's team with the understanding that she's Grace's replacement when Grace leaves for the world cup. Grace isn't interested in getting close to anyone on the team, let alone a rookie. Somehow Grace finds herself offering to shoe Phoebe around New Orleans when they both arrive early. Though she's not looking for a relationship, Grace can't help but to make a move on Phoebe and they start a friends with benefits arrangement. They both want to focus on soccer, not a relationship...at least at first.

I really liked this! I thought both Grace and Phoebe were very distinct characters and I love that this book was dual POV so we got to see both of their inner thoughts. The spice was top notch, which is my experience with all of Meryl's books I've read. I loved the ending - I thought there was going to be this huge 3rd act breakup but there wasn't and honestly thank goodness! I also loved their friend groups/other teammates.

Read this for:
- Opposites Attract
- Sports Romance
- Sapphic
- Friends with Benefits
- Workplace Romance
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Hair braiding as foreplay

This reads a little as New Adult to me - particularly during the fights Grace and Phoebe had - it's realistic in a sense that these two very different people would need to learn how to communicate with each other but the fights just felt a *touch* dramatic. I also (like Grace) spent the entire book assuming Phoebe knew she had ADHD. I had to suspend my disbelief just a bit that a 22 year old on Tiktok hadn't already figured this out given the clear struggles she had throughout her life and in the book.

The third person present POV was initially quite jarring to me and I had a hard time getting into the book because of it. I think there's a reason most books are not written in this tense but I will say that I ended up getting used to it by about 20% and was no longer noticing it the longer I read.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you Net Galley for giving me the ARC!

3.15 Stars!

If there is one thing I have been loving this year, it's sports romances. This one is one of the best ones I've read this year. I don't usually love third POV, but I actually liked it in this book. It just worked for me! The queer rep was beyond perfect, I thought it was so good and I was really happy that it was written the way that it was. Not a ton of them are in my opinion. The only thing I don't like, even in this book, is a miscommunication trope. They're not my favorite. But it was such a cute read! Would definitely buy from this author again.

There were a lot of things I really enjoyed about this book. As a college athlete I related to it a lot more than I expected and it was a great example of positive queer rep. The only few issues I had were the extensive miscommunication trope which left most of the fights and make up conversations feeling really incomplete. I also found the description of the book to be a little too on the nose and could have left a little more to be found out later. But over a fun and cute sports romcom in the very lacking area of queer sport romcoms.

Premise:
-contemporary fictional romcom set in New Orleans, Louisiana (but begins in Indiana)
-dual third-person limited perspectives of main characters
-22-year-old Phoebe Matthews is about to join the New Orleans women's soccer team & it's her first season as a professional soccer player!
-26-year-old US Women's National Team legend Grace Henderson loses a bet during a drills session and has to kiss Phoebe (a penalty thought of by her teammate and secret ex, Kelsey)
-Phoebe struggles to make it on time to practice, while Grace navigates panic attacks and tries to hide her hip injury and brushes it off as "her body getting older"
-tropes: friends-with-benefits, miscommunication, workplace romance, forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine
-steam: 3.5/5 - Meryl just *knows* how to write delectable steamy scenes
-cw: mental health struggles, ableism, injury, bullying, toxic relationship, panic attacks, classism

Thoughts:
Thoughts:
I am absolutely in my sports romance era and this hit the spot!!! Meryl Wilsner strikes AGAIN! They can do no wrong, I said what I said!

Meryl wrote Grace's character and arc so perfectly. I know SO MANY people like Grace, who do not prioritize themselves, and constantly brush off their pain or deem their situations as easy to work around, when all it's doing is inadvertently causing them harm. The worst part is that they don't even recognize that they're not being kind to themselves? It's sad and it's exhausting to watch someone treat themselves this way.

I loved that Grace had to re-examine what prioritizing her emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing meant. So many millennials experience occupational existential angst, because many of us tied our self-worth to our career trajectories, and once the curtain dropped, we were left with having to re-learn who we were WITHOUT that job/career/degree. Grace has to rediscover what she actually enjoys about her job, and then how to enforce boundaries around that. GO OFF BABYYY!

Another piece of this book that was handled with so much care was Phoebe's journey with her undiagnosed neurodivergence! From the very beginning, Meryl gives us subtle hints and glimpses, and I think it worked really well! I also just adored the general spunkiness and initiative that Phoebe had with exploring a brand new city. Sure, she was perceived by her teammates as a wide-eyed ingenue, but her curiosity and enthusiasm was genuine and refreshing to see. She wasn't too cool for anything, and since she hadn't traveled much before, she was framing living somewhere new as an opportunity to explore and learn.

Overall, this has become another favorite by Meryl for me and I simply adore the way they flesh out characters' motivations, backstories, and fears. And omgoodness do they know how to write swoon-worthy romance!!!

First iff I want to say thank you for the opportunity to read this arc!

I just want to start by saying Mistakes Were Made is one of my favorite books! That being said I understand this is the uncompleted version… there are pacing and grammar issues that made this some what difficult for me to read. Also, I’m not exactly sure what tense we’re in.

That bit being said… I enjoyed the concept of this story. A solid 3.7 stars.

I don't really know what to say other than this was fun and cute and I read it in two days.

I love Phoebe as a character, and both she and Grace are fleshed out well, both as athletes and neurodivergent adults. <spoiler>Though Grace only starting to wonder, hm, am I autistic? after watching tiktoks where a few chapters earlier she was briefly nonverbal and hand-flap stimming was a bit much imo.</spoiler>

Good sports romance, good sapphic romance, both POV characters were distinguishable from each other (which is a low bar, but still, enough books miss it that it's worth mentioning). I'm in a sports romance phase and likely wouldn't have been interested in this if it wasn't a queer sports romance, but it definitely scratches the itch if you're also in that phase.

Also, I want Grace to braid my hair, please.