Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner was indeed cute! I'm not much into sports but I like the sapphic friends-to-lovers story line. Soccer isn't the main focus as it has plenty of inner dialog, neurodivergent characters and representation, and of course, it gets a bit spicy too! This is the first book I have read by Ms. Wilsner but I will definitely be seeking out more STAT!

Meryl Wilsner does it again! And this time they got me to care about sports!

This book has a really sweet progression of the two main characters relationship and their banter was a joy to read.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this fun little book!

Clear Cute is a spicy story of two pro soccer players (a vet and a rookie) who become involved with one another. The story is sweet and the characters develop well. Plus you can’t go wrong with queer soccer players.
Possible Spoiler: I loved the way this story dealt with themes of mental and physical health including ADHD and possible ASD. As a person who is literally about to get testers for both I love this was handled.

The writing itself was a little lacking for me in places and slightly repetitive but it didn’t take away from the story too much overall. I’d give it 3.5 out of 5 but will round up to 4 for goodreads.

I have to say that I was a little disappointed in this one. After LOVING this author’s previous book I was expecting to also love this one and it just fell flat for me.

In the beginning I was invested and liked the moments between the two main characters, but as the story progresses I just felt like too many things were going on and several of the subplots were not well fleshed out.

I still enjoyed enough moments that I would recommend this to romance fans and I will continue to check out this author’s future work. But this will not likely be one I highly recommend.

This was a lot of fun, but with characters who each had their own personal disadvantages to overcome before being able to see what was right in front of them. Not as much of a fav as Mistakes Were Made, but definitely an enjoyable romance.

This is the Sapphic sports romance of my dreams.

I don't know if Meryl Wilsner was a soccer player or follows women's soccer closely, but it's very clear to someone who follows it casually they understand not just the sport itself but the dynamic of the USWNST in a way that makes Cleat Cute so real in a beautiful way. That being said, you don't have to be a soccer fan to understand what's happening in those scenes; every step or play is explained enough to not bog down fans while making it clear for casual readers.

The main characters, Phoebe and Grace, as well as all of their teammates felt like real people I would have in my friends' group if I happened to be friends with professional athletes. The dialogue was organic and the relationships true to the demographic, which was so refreshing. There was a particular conversation between Phoebe and Grace towards the end that reminded me of a conversation my wife and I had when we first started dating, actually, which was unbelievable to see in published fiction.

The only hang up I could come across was the frequent mention of TikTok, and that's just a personal preference - it definitely makes sense in the context of now when it's published, but down the line may make it feel dated.

This was an easy, weirdly emotional five stars for me, and I hope everyone reads it. Even if you don't go for sports romance, or Sapphic romance, read it for the fun setting, the quick dialogue, the realistic sex scenes.. It's just a really good book.

I read Mistakes Were Made last year and absolutely loved it so I knew I was going to love this one too. I don’t read a whole lot of sports romance *unless* it’s queer. This one did not disappoint!! Who doesn’t love lesbian soccer players who are rivals turned lovers?? Phoebe was probably one of the most relatable characters I’ve read about in a while… I was sitting there being like “damn she’s just like me” and then 50 pages later she gets an ADHD diagnosis lol. But I really loved Phoebe and Grace’s relationship and their dynamic. They had a lot of chemistry on and off the field. I liked that this was pretty light on the sports and heavy on the romance because let’s be honest, I don’t understand sports. The one thing I didn’t love was the use of the miscommunication trope towards the latter half of the book. Im not a huge fan of that trope anyways unless it’s done well and this felt pretty unnecessary, but that’s a small complaint. There was also one line where a character is described as having “terracotta skin” and I’m not really sure if that’s meant to show she has brown skin, but I think that it should just say she has brown skin. Overall, such a fun and spicy read. Can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy!!!

**thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoyed this book. The important topics on ADHD, trans rights, the national anthem in American sports and learning how to advocate for yourself were handled so well. There’s just something about women playing sports that I just love!

I have just finished the new Cleat Cute from Meryl Wilsner. (Thanks NetGalley for the ARC), where I barely put it down and tried to finish it within the day, but when you see that you're only at 80% at 12am on a 'school night', sometimes, you have to accept the temporary defeat.

You can't go wrong with this setting, right? Women professional soccer backdrop without any perhaps, problematic age-gap situation... is everybody's dream scenario.
I don't know how I have only just 'picked up' watching women's professional soccer. I mean, sure, Abby Wambach surely did it for me back in the day, but wow, women's soccer is SO HOT right now and Cleat Cute is on point, I wish it would actually be a many-many book series and not just a one off.

I don't want to put any spoilers here because that's no fun, but here are my few observations (mostly related to the book):

1. I should not be reading this while I am in a group meeting with video on during 'working hours' - my smirk is a dead giveaway that I'm DEFINITELY not listening/paying attention to 'work'. (Note to self, work on poker face in general, not just for work)

2. My excitement for this book was well warranted. Mistakes were Made was so good, I randomly re-read it over and over as my solid go-to when I just need to sit down and read something but don't want to worry about being 'in the mood' for a new book, and like which one on the TBR?

3. Meryl Wilsner really can 'change things up', she's no one trick pony. The cadence for this storyline is completely different than Mistakes were Made or Something to Talk about. I look forward to read more of her books in the future (What is it going to be next? I am excited to find out)

4. Is there a trope category for 'I didn't know I am in a committed relationship with someone'? Too bad the real life version of 'are we? aren't we?' is not as amusing as when we read it in books.

all the soccer stuff flew over my head bc im not a sports person but i really loved the team dynamic. also the way that the miscommunication plays out in this book is so funny to see from either sides perspective. i really enjoued phoebe and graces relationship especially how grace let herself open up to phoebe after having a bad experience. i loved meryl wilsners mistakes were made and i love cleat cute just as much.

This book was great just as I expected from Meryl Wilsner. It was VERY spicy in the best way and the relationship between the two main characters was cute. The characters are very relatable in an awkward way. The only thing I didn’t really love was the monologues of the characters inner most thoughts. It could have been dialed back a little. It didn’t ruin the book for me, but I think it may have been better without some of them. Overall this book was amazing just as all of Meryl Wilsner’s books have been so far.

If there’s one thing I’m sure of, i’d that WLW books hold a very special place in my heart and i’ll always make room for it. Although U’ve heard great things about Meryl Wilsner’s previous books: Mistakes Were Made, Cleat Cute is the first work i’ve read of hers. Her writing style really stood out for me and make it a very simple read i can DEVOUR though.
Highly recommend.

I absolutely adored this book! I feel like Meryl Wilsner only gets better and better with each book! It was a sweet romance with a happy ending and two very likable but still flawed characters. It was so entertaining and enjoyable to see the characters grow both separately and together and to get to watch their journey. It made the end even more satisfying. Absolutely would recommend to anyone!

This was a fun easy read. I I loved the cute story. Great amount of steam and overall enjoyable read. The writing was easy to follow and make me connect to the characters. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for an ARC of this book.

I love Meryl Wilsner writing!! OMG this was a perfect balance of humor, plot, romance, and spice! I love a fun sports romance like this! Such a great story!

Grace Henderson has been a stalwart on the U.S. Women's soccer team for years. When she is injured, in comes young Phoebe Matthews to take her spot. The two women's personalities couldn't be more different. Phoebe is playful and personality personified, while Grace is more subdued and introspective. After a lost bet results in a lip lock both women have a hard time forgetting, the two begin a friends with benefits arrangement that grows into something more.

This was a cute read. I found both characters to be likable and I enjoyed their banter and as a fan of women's soccer, I enjoyed that aspect of the book. I found the lack of communication and the internal monologues a bit off putting, but overall, a good read that I recommend.

An ARC was received from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC!
Do you know what I love? When a adhd golden retriever adopts her Autistic black cat; because there is no greater couple, prove me wrong.
Phoebe and Grace are so cute and so talented and just a little infuriating. Grace trusts no one, is strict in her routine and goals…and Phoebe is so happy and free and driven too but in a way that really throws Grace off center. Their chemistry is undeniable and I really really was doubtful someone could pull off “one thinks they’re dating and the other is oblivious” but AHHHH it was hilarious and well done. I definitely think this is the perfect lesbian sport romance 🥺

“…so what is this supposed to be? She has no idea, but she is letting herself have it. It feels too good not to.”

Wilsner has wooed me once again with CLEAT CUTE, a tender, sexy sapphic romance between two soccer lesbians. Grace is the star veteran, stoic, private, and rule-following; she’s perfectly balanced by the Phoebe, the ambitious rookie whose chaotic, bubbly charm sneaks through all of Grace’s defenses. While this story takes place in the context of high-stakes women’s soccer on a national and global scale, the focus of the novel is on Grace and Phoebe’s interiority and development and their powerful, simmering connection. This novel makes use of the miscommunication trope in a way that’s frustrating and delightful; when the two finally get on the same page by the end of the novel, I was smiling and satisfied. This works so well in part because of Grace and Phoebe’s emerging awareness of their neurodiversity (autism and ADHD, respectively). I loved how this was represented, for them as individuals learning more about how they tick and for the two as a couple figuring out how to love each other well. Wilsner has an incredible knack for incorporating delicious external power dynamics into relationships that feel internally balanced and equal, and CLEAT CUTE is no different: Phoebe has looked up to Grace for years and has a poster of her on her childhood bedroom year, they’re in some ways competing for roster spots, Grace is her captain - and yet Phoebe undoubtedly pursues Grace and steers their dynamic. There’s so many small elements that I adored: the hair braiding, the shared love of soccer, the joy in playing the game together, the lovable trans and enby side characters, the sheer amount of queer energy across the teams, and more. Whole-heartedly recommend this one! Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC; this book is out 9/19.

Content warnings: toxic relationship, injury, panic attack

Our first review of a repeat author! Last summer, I reviewed Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner, and now we’re back with another work by the queen of sapphic novels. In her newest romance novel (thanks again to Netgalley!), Wilsner manages to make even the most bookish of queer nerds interested in – gasp – a sports book. Two members of a professional soccer team – one the captain, established in her career but not out to her fans, and the other an excitable new recruit, sort out their feelings for each other and the game.
Interestingly, there is some vague mental health representation in this book, alluding to autism and ADHD. It is not nearly as clear or celebratory as, for example, the works of Helen Hoang – there is a level of outrage at being “accused” of having a diagnosis that doesn’t jive with the destigmatized world I thought we had reached on these things. It was only a minor plot point, but worth mentioning.
When I reviewed her last book, I applauded Wilsner for writing characters who were already out of the closet and had love lives complicated by other, more interesting drama. In Cleat Cute, Wilsner veers dangerously close to losing that praise. One of the main characters is out to her family but not her fans and considers this when making relationship decisions. Usually, I hate reading coming out of the closet narratives, because they don’t match my experience (shout out to my super inclusive family) and seem to make the entire queer experience about coming out. This is not that other people don’t have more fraught coming outs, just that it isn’t the singular experience that defines queer identities. Many of us have a lot of living and loving to do after the coming out process is well over. Wilsner gets a bit of a pass, however, for complicating the issue by questioning how a minor celebrity may feel about coming out to her fans.
I had assumed this was an easy choice in 2023 – lots of young people identify as queer and support their queer favs, and the stigma and hate against queer people had abated. Why wouldn’t a celebrity come out to her public? However, in the time between reading this book and actually sitting down to write the review, things have changed. At the time of this writing, there have been 533 bills anti-trans bills introduced into legislation in 2023, in 49 states (thank god for Delaware). So far, 54 have passed and 382 are still active (stats from https://translegislation.com/). These bills range from banning transgender athletes from playing for the teams they identify with, to policing bathroom access, to limiting what teachers can say and how much dignity they can provide their trans students, to removing access to life-saving medical care. It is quickly becoming very scary to be out as queer in this country.

This is my first Meryl Wilsner book. I went in blind just going off the description. I thought no harm in trying. I honestly struggled to read this and I fought to finish it.

Grace and Phoebe are the grump/sunshine. I'll start with I typically love this troupe. In this story Phoebe was too much sunshine and it honestly turned me off big time. She was scattered brain which was from her ADHD, but still it was way too much. She was focused on 3 things: soccer, Grace, and sex. I don't mind sex un books at all. I love reading spice, but I feel like it was used as a distraction when it was not needed.

There was a lot of miscommunication as well which I struggled with. With all that miscommunication I feel like sex was used in that equation of "just have sex and don't think about it."

I did love all the LGBTQ+ representations. That is a positive I wish there was more in depth of.