This was ADORABLE! I loved the soccer emphasis, as a former soccer player. I loved the slow burn, and the touch on ADHD and mental health. So well written and also a fun read.

Meryl Wilsner literally never missed with her sapphic romances. I felt immediately attached to Phoebe, Grace, and the rest of the teams.

God I loved this so much! It had me blushing from the sex scenes and giggling in the scenes where they were hanging out because of how much I loved them together. This book would have been perfect if it was just a bit longer to flesh out the plot points that started to happen at the end of the book. It felt kind of rushed and it took me out of the romance a bit. I didn’t mind the communication in this story because it was something that I felt was believable. It was just a misunderstanding with how some stuff was said and I do that all the time so I can relate to that so much 😂 Phoebe and Grace are one of my new favorite couples ever and I can’t wait to read the other books this author has put out!

I absolutely adored this book! Whenever I see that Wilsner has a new book out, I immediately add it to my TBR and this one was no different. I loved the soccer team setting, including the discussions of the challenges of being a professional female athlete. Both Grace and Phoebe were utterly delightful to read and Wilsner did a great job getting inside their heads. There are plenty of moments to make you laugh, but also a ton of heart, including discussions of being queer in the public eye and dealing with neurodivergence. Wilsner delivers once again!

This was so cute and filled that queer romance void in the my heart I so desperately needed!

Phoebe just got drafted to a national soccer team which is her literal dream come true. She’s all chaos and doesn’t do things by the book. Grace has been on professional teams since she was 15. She likes order and doesn’t date teammates. But then, Grace needs Phoebe and slowly, that goes out the window. Phoebe in the hurricane that Grace didn’t know she needed in her life. They agree to be friends with benefits as neither are looking for a full fledged relationship. As Grace heals from an injury, she and Phoebe grow closer and can’t deny their true feelings any longer. Can they be together or is soccer more important?

This story follows Grace and Phoebe as they work through their feelings, navigating a new non relationship as well as their own personal struggles. I enjoyed watching their love unfold. Parts of this did drag on, but Phoebe’s undeniable sass and Grace’s poise kept drawing me back. The spicy scenes were great, although some of the dialogue during was cringey, but I honestly didn’t care as their chemistry was everything. This book was heated and if Phoebe and Grace are ever looking for a third, let ya girl know! 🔥

An honest review thanks to NetGalley. I am a huge fan of Meryl Wilsner's previous books and a soccer book, come on! I was so excited to be able to read this as soon as possible. I loved how well Wilsner wrote about soccer and taking us on Phoebe's journey as she entered as a professional. What really made me connect with this book was having neurodivergent characters. I have personal experience with this and being able to see it in the pages was amazing. I saw a few reviews how the characters are always in their heads and that was a negative thing, but I took it a different way. When I read this book I saw how Grace was always in her head as a part of her neurodivergence, as well as being introverted. I felt highly connected to both characters, if you love soccer and romance this is the book for you, you will not be disappointed!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Meryl Wilsner for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This is a cute book and the cover is gorgeous, but sadly I didn’t really connect to it or the characters and didn’t finish it… however, I can see why some readers would love it! I hope to pick it up again in the future

First of all, I want to thank the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner is coming out on September 19, 2023.

This really sounded like it was going to be a curd book but unfortunately it disappointed me a bit. The characters were hard to connect with and fell flat for me.

#CleatCute #NetGalley

Fun book that sounded like my cup of tea. Unfortunately couldn't connect with the characters and story enough to finish. I still recommend to fans of sport romances featuring LGBTQ representation.

Soccer is my sport so when I saw that Meryl Wilsner penned a soccer LGBTQ+ romance with major Ted Lasso vibes??! Yes, please!

When Phoebe Matthew’s joins the Krewe (NOLA’s soccer team), captain Grace Henderson finds herself captured by the red heads non stop talking and love for the game. (Football is life!) Before either of them know what’s happening, their acquaintance turns into friends with benefits….all the benefits. But when an injury sidelines Grace and her position on the national team is threatened, the fear of Phoebe taking her spot sends Grace into a tailspin. Can their somewhat friendship/relationship ruin their chances of making it to the World Cup? Or can they tear down the boundaries and embrace their true selves and each other?


What I liked:
-Spice Level 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
-Built around my fav sport but easy enough for non soccer fans to follow
- Grumpy/Sunshine trope
-Neurodivergent rep

What I wasn’t so fond of:
-Look I’m all for monologuing but I felt there was way more than necessary in this book. It really slowed down the pacing
-A certain word which starts with a ‘c’ being used way too much in the spice scenes (just my personal preference but it’s one of my least favorite words and it was there constantly)
- I just felt like the characters weren’t there all the way. I can’t really explain it.

Overall, solid 3.5 stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc.
This was a great sapphic romance from a wonderful author! I read her last book, Mistakes Were Made, last year and it was one of my top romances for the year.
Her new novel, Cleat Cute follows two female soccer players trying to make it to the World Cup. The story is described as rivals to lovers but I don’t thing that’s the strongest underlying theme. Most definitely a Grumpy Sunshine representation, and found family. Both of our characters are focused on their sport and giving it there all. But Grace is no nonsense, quiet, determined and hiding. While phoebe is loud, passionate, and proudly out!
If you love a strong female presence, team spirit, and a great plot check out this book!

"Cleat Cute" is my favorite Wilsner book to date. The book involves two protagonists, Phoebe and Grace, who are soccer players on the Krewe, the NOLA Women's Soccer Team. The story thus involves soccer (which Wilsner executes flawlessly; I was reminded of Taylor Jenkins Reid's "Carrie Soto Is Back" and her research on tennis) and a queer (sapphic) romance between the two women. The best part of the story, however, was the character creation and development. Personally, I have never felt so seen nor have I related so much to a character in Grace. Her autism-coded description was well done, thorough and clearly researched. Her thought processes correlated with her actions and behaviors. Similarly, Phoebe and the ADHD representation was also accomplished well. I think many readers, regardless of whether they are queer or not, will be able to connect to these characters. I am so thankful for them and this story.

Meryl Wilsner does not disappoint at all with Cleat Cute! This was such a fun sapphic rom com, and I loved it so much

Cleat Cute is a sapphic sports romance between the captain and newest player of a professional soccer team. It's marketed as rivals to lovers but I would say it's much more grumpy x sunshine (with my small familiarity of tropes.) This was just as fun and fast-paced as Mistakes Were Made, but I wasn't always convinced about Phoebe & Grace's relationship. I did love the neurodivergent rep in both of them, & would definitely recommend!

Thank you for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a DNF book for me, I wanted so much to like it... but Phoebe felt very aggressive in her pursuit of Grace and it didn't feel like she actually knew or liked Grace, but saw her as a challenge and someone to idolize. It made me feel uncomfortable considering this is pitched as a cute romance.
I did appreciate how being gay was just a casual thing for people on the team, it didn't feel like the major conflict (at least not as far as I got) but was more just how it was.

This was such a fun, cute read! Loved this soccer inspired romance!

Grace has been the star of the US Women’s National Team for her entire professional career. She is a serious, private star veteran. Phoebe is a rising star rookie that is just as chaotic as she is charming. Phoebe has idolized Grace since she was younger and wants nothing more than to learn from her. Begrudgingly, Grace decides to help Phoebe out. As Grace shows Phoebe around New Orleans and helps her train, sparks fly and their chemistry is undeniable. They learn how to communicate with each other and work through their insecurities/issues.



I really adored the two main characters and could not help but root for them. In particular, I found Grace’s character thoughtfully sincere. Their romance - and spice - felt so real. I so loved the portrayal of the queer community and authentic love with two neurodiverse main characters. My biggest complaint is that the end felt a bit rushed and I just wanted more.



Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this book!

• ARC REVIEW •

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Cleat Cute
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Meryl Wilsner
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5
Spice :🌶️ 🌶️🌶️
Tropes: Rivals to lovers, sapphic sports romance,

Everything I’ve read of Meryl Wilsner’s has been a delight and Cleat Cute was no different.

Phobe and Grace’s chemistry and spice was done so well. I loved the ending!!
Nothing is better than a sports rom com but adding in sapphic? We love!! I don’t understand soccer but the author did a good job with it.

I’d recommend anyone this book and I look forward to more from the author in the future.

I’ve seen a lot about Mistakes were made by this author around the internet but I never actually read it. I definitely will now that I’ve read Cleat Cute!

Full disclosure, I know absolutely zero about soccer and quite frankly don’t enjoy the sport. However this book may have just changed my mind! Cleat Cute is a sapphic rivals to lovers romance. Grace is unfortunately injured and her spot is taken by a younger rising star. The two eventually become friends with benefits with mixed expectations about their romance.

Overall, I loved this. Rivals adds such a level to their story that made me root for them as a couple that much more! Not to mention they were so incredibly hot as a couple. I absolutely loved the way Meryl Wilsner wrote their relationship.

Guess I need to watch some women’s soccer now.

I really liked the first half and thought the tension and steam were excellent (that locker room scene 🔥), but the second half lost some momentum and felt stagnant. I didn’t love the multiple points of conflict, but appreciated how they were resolved quickly and that Phoebe and Grace were willing to communicate. We needed more from the plot and far less internal monologue.

My favorite moments were the games and getting to see the physical and mental fortitude of these professional athletes, who have been fighting, for decades, for the opportunity to play and make it to the World Cup. It was a good reminder that while we as spectators enjoy the sport and feel deeply over wins and losses, these players are pushing themselves to the limit, physically and mentally, and feel the outcomes acutely.

This was a fun, quick, steamy read that I flew through in less than 24 hours!

3.5 stars rounded up!

Cleat Cute is a sports sapphic rom com. I thought the idea was cute but found the story to be undeveloped. I've seen a lot of reviews that people have really enjoyed the characters, but I sadly feel like I did not get to know them at all. I love a steamy rom com as much as the next person, but felt the steamy content got in the way of the plot. When I wanted more context as to what was happening in their world, we just read a lot about smoochin'.

I enjoyed the plethora of powerful female characters and loved the dynamic of all of the teammates, I just wish the story had a bit more oomph.