This book immediately jumps in to the action, and the MCs meet almost right away. The tension is immediate and so is the plot. I absolutely adore how the MCs interact, though sometimes they seem a little younger than they are. I do wish there was a little more backstory and a little more time spent with each character before they meet, so I could have had a repertoire with them individually first. Otherwise, no complaints. Meryl does it again.

I received an e-arc of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, despite knowing nothing about soccer. Phoebe and Grace have a fun dynamic, and I really appreciated how this book explored both queerness and neurodivergence.

In particular, I liked the conversations where the characters talked about what different aspects of queerness meant to them, as well as the commentary on how coming out is a very personal decision that is never owed to anyone. That this book is diverse in its queerness is also wonderful, featuring lesbians, bisexuality, pansexuality, and asexuality, as well as a trans man and a couple enbies.

The neurodivergent rep also felt really nuanced and respectful. While Grace's sister and Phoebe are officially diagnosed with ADHD, Grace is only implied to have autism, but I still consider it pretty unambiguous. It's very clear throughout that she stims, doesn't always catch the meaning underlying people's actual words, needs routine, and experiences sensory overload and shutdown. In one scene, she specifically goes nonverbal. I just thought this rep was handled really thoughtfully and the author did an excellent job of showing nerodivegence in these characters before either condition was ever named on page.

I will say that there were elements of this book that I simply did understand due to my complete ignorance about soccer, but I still understood the characters and the core of the story well enough to enjoy it.

As much as I liked this book, however, I did have a few criticisms, hence why it's a 4-star and not a 5-star.

To be brief:
-miscommunication was a central element of the story, and while it made perfect sense in light of Phoebe having ADHD and Grace having autism, it did end up a bit repetitive. It also resulted in a story that didn't feel like it had a climax, since each misunderstanding was resolved after a few chapters.
-this book had 3 or 4 sex scenes. The writing in these scenes was fine, but each scene was also kind of same-y - things like strap-ons, face sitting, and bondage are referenced in narration, but never actually occur in the book. Every on-page scene only involves going down and/or fingering. Also, be aware that the c-word is used repeatedly in sex scenes. It didn't bother me, but I know others might be sensitive to this word choice.
-the minor characters didn't stand out much. I could remember one or two identifying traits of each, but otherwise they kinda blurred together. The POV characters were strong enough that this wasn't a huge detriment to my reading experience, but I still thought it was notable.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Definitely recommend checking it out if you're interested in Sapphic romance, sports romance, and/or neurodivergent rep.

Thank you St. Martin’s for this e-arc! I will read anything by Meryl Wilsner! Loved this cute, soft, contemporary romance set around soccer. As I read every chapter I could see it play out in my head like a tv show, and I hope one day it can be!

Description: 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. 22-year-old 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 teammates with benefits with this class clown she sees as her rival.

Phoebe Matthews is too focused on her first season as a professional soccer player to think about seducing her longtime idol. But when Grace ends up making the first move, they can’t keep their hands off of each other.

As the World Cup approaches and Grace works her way back from injury, a miscommunication leaves the women with hilariously different perspectives on their relationship. But they’re on the same page on the field, realizing they can play together instead of vying for the same position. With every tackle the tension between them grows, and both players soon have to decide what's more important—being together or making the roster.

The perfect blend of funny and steamy, Meryl Wilsner’s Cleat Cute is about being brave enough to win on and off the field.

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for a review.
I am always looking for a GOOD sapphic read and this is exactly that! So cute but also very steamy. The perfect blend of spice and plot.
I would definitely read more from this author.

THIS WAS DELIGHTFUL! Sexy, sweet, and emotional. Two world class soccer stars meet and work through their issues together. A bit of miscommunication but there’s a reason for both of them misunderstanding! Also 100000/10 for the name of this book. NO NOTES, A++++.

Cleat Cute is what my queer, soccer loving heart wishes Bend It Like Beckham would've been. This opposites attract story set in the world of soccer is aptly name -- cute beyond belief.

Grace Henderson and Phoebe Matthews are complete opposites. Grace is an introvert, who has slowly become resigned with her role on the team. Phoebe is a talented and talkative rookie who's vying for a position on the national team. Together, they begin a relationship that challenges and changes both their lives.

Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. I loved and became so invested in both Grace and Phoebe' stories. Plus, the amazing cast of supporting characters adds to the camaraderie that is so true of sports team. I absolutely loved it.

If you love soccer and romance, then this is the book for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I know that every time I read a Meryl Wilsner book I end up saying it's my favorite, but this one is actually my favorite. I didn't think I need a sapphic soccer romance but oh boy was I wrong. This book was truly everything to me. Grace and Phoebe were both exceptional characters, and I love how Wilsner explores both of their flaws. Plus, the dynamic between all the other members of the team really added to the story. The ratio of sweet to spicy was perfect, and really made me fall in love with the friends with benefits to more than friends trope! This book has yet again proven that I will read absolutely anything Meryl Wilsner writes.

Y'ALL!

Okay, first of all, pre-order this book IMMEDIATELY. If you:
- already love Meryl Wilsner, OR
- want a rom-com with substance and themes (think Emily Henry), OR
- have been wanting to get into lesbian fiction but don't know of any adult romances
This book needs to be on your tbr!!

I was honestly pleasantly surprised by this book. Of course, I should know by now not to underestimate Wilsner, but I'd recently read Mistakes were Made, and this seemed so different. I wasn't sure what to expect.

And one thing you should know about me: I don't care much for sports. Like, I'll let myself get dragged to a college football game every once in awhile, and since the SEC energy is so contagious I may enjoy myself. I signed my cat up for March Madness this year because my friend group had a competition for it (he made his bracket based off me setting two treats in front of him for each round and letting him choose. He ended up winning). Those are, like, my only two experiences with sports ever. I definitely have never watched a soccer game, of all things.

Let me tell you - this is an EXCELLENT sports romance. I was actually invested in the games?? I may start watching women's soccer, honestly. So if you're debating picking this up because you're not in sports, I understand, but Wilsner makes it WORK.

And, of course, the romance. I rooted for this couple so hard. I loved Phoebe, and I saw myself in Grace. She hated spooning and was anxious when someone spent the night, especially because it raises relatable questions such as: how long do I have to cuddle after sex? Can I take a shower yet? Would she be offended if I got up and took a shower?

Finally, if you've read Wilsner, you know she writes great sex scenes. I was thrown off a little by the talking - Phoebe is so talkative, and I got kind of annoyed on Grace's behalf LOL. But I was used to it at the end. Speaking of, the end is SO CUTE!! You aren't ready.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Since I read Mistakes Were Made, I've been waiting for this one... and I needed some time to process this book... I mean I loved the characters and I loved the two of them playing soccer and loving it.. it was sweet the way they connected, but I have a trouble with books having miscommunication problems so it was the only thing i didnt enjoy.

I was so excited to get this book, and it did not disappoint! As a former soccer kid myself, it hit me so hard in the feelings to see these two women and their love for the game. The romance was absolutely delightful, dual POV, though sometimes that made it extra stressful if there was a miscommunication because the dramatic irony had me drowning in stress in the best way. The spice? Immaculate. The characters? Enrapturing. The nod to mental health and neurodivergence? Perfection. I adored this book, and will definitely be rereading it in the future as a comfort read.

I only have one issue and this is a me problem...not a spoiler really, since Grace's injury is in the synopsis, but I'm a physical therapist and an injured pro athlete would be in the clinic a few days a week. Again, a me problem, not a book problem lol. I will continue to read and enjoy everything this author puts out.

Tropes for Cleat Cute include: WLW romance, idiots to lovers, friends with benefits, athletic rivals, sleeping with your childhood hero, and sports romance

Phoebe Matthews was unbelievably excited, to say the least, when she was drafted into her first professional soccer team. Soccer had been her whole life, well, that and the soccer star she'd spent her whole life looking up to, Grace Henderson. Not only would she get to play the game that she loved, for money!, but she'd get to do it on the same team as Grace. Grace is faced with the fact that the game, the prestige, and the responsibility of being captain of her home team and a star player on the women's national team, may not be all she wants out of life. But meeting Phoebe not only reinvigorates her love of soccer, but for the life she could have when soccer no longer became her whole world. Of course, they need to figure that out along the way in a typical Meryl Wilsner idiots to lovers 'I refuse to admit I have feelings for the woman I'm sleeping with constantly' story. But they'll come to realize that it's more fun to be at each other on the field if they can be with each other in bed.

Cleat Cute is a great, spicy, banter filled sports romance from Wilsner. They've really honed the structure and fun of a romance novel with great characters that you want to root for, without the conventional third act break up. There can be conflict without the characters feeling like all is lost in their relationship. Phoebe and Grace have fights, there is conflict, and it's always completed with some deliciously spicy make up sex. I am giving this one a 4.5 out of 5 and rounding up. If this were about any other sport it would probably be a five star rate easily. But this is a personal thing. This book is about soccer and I know next to nothing about soccer. That's not the book's fault and that's why I'm not marking it down in my official rating. Soccer is a big part of the book. It's as much a part of the book as the relationship is because soccer is the main focus for these women's lives.

But over all it was a fun read with the banter and spice that one can expect from a Wilsner novel. They seem to have found the spice middle ground between their first two novels which had one waiting until the final 20 pages to get steamy and the other starting off with a bang on page 5. The spice is sexy and flows really well with the ebb and flow of the story. Wilsner has done it again!

Big thank you to NetGalley for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I enjoyed the story arc, the characters, the exploration of a city I’ve never been, even a call back to a sport I genuinely love.

Maybe it’s just me & being new to this author’s work, but I thought the internal writing style was a little childish. The usage of first names paragraph after paragraph made me feel like if it was worded any differently, the author though the audience wouldn’t be able to follow the train of thought. It was a bit redundant to me.

Additionally, this read & felt a lot like Pride & Prejudice with the warring of the two titular characters. One was always a bit pretentious while the other felt immature & contradictorily naive.

I also wanted to add on that this felt entirely exclusionary to anyone that isn’t queer or falls somewhere in the LGBT+ spectrum. I try to stay unbiased even when I lean more into LGBT+ inclusive stories because I love them so much. & I love sapphic works. But there were times where lines were being drawn where the dialogue really felt cutting to anyone who isn’t within that realm of labels. At the same time, I get it, space must be carved where it can be, but it felt as though being an ally in the audience of this book wouldn’t be enough.

& furthermore, I’d like to point out Chapter 35 specifically. I’m not sure if it’s that it took me thing long to notice it, or what, but at this point in the book, I was really eager for more additional character interaction & I finally got it only for the dialogue to be spoiled by lazy writing. 33 times the word “says” was used following or preceding a line of dialogue. For a huge chunk of dialogue, that’s the only descriptor that was used aside from the usage of “asks” or a point where no descriptor was needed, & that portion of the story could have benefitted much more by using more colorful wording. When my eyes finally caught it, I looked for more examples in the following chapters, hoping that I was wrong or that I was missing something, but it continued on much of the same way. & it really didn’t do the dialogue justice.

Sports romance has been my favorite genre as of late and this did not disappoint.
Grace is a veteran soccer star who is starting to lose the love of the game and Phoebe is a rookie who is full of energy and excited to prove what she got. Neither of them looking for a relationship. But does something that starts out as friends with benefits turn into something more. I really enjoy both main characters as well as the diverse cast of side characters.

4.5 stars

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

As an avid USWNT fan I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. Cleat Cute follows teammates, Grace, a seasoned player who has lost her love for the game, and Phoebe, an upcoming player who talks too much (it’s cute though).

Grace and Phoebe don’t get off on the right foot, since Grace views Phoebe as a potential rival, but that doesn’t stop Grace from kind of unintentionally making the first move on Phoebe. From there, the two enter into a teammates-with-benefits relationship that includes plenty of spice and cute moments as Grace shows Phoebe around New Orleans.

Grace and Phoebe have fantastic chemistry and good communication even though both characters are idiots. The secondary characters really round out the book and you’ll find yourself cheering them on. Cleat Cute is another hit from Meryl that any USWNT fan will love.

I received an ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cleat Cute is fighting for a top of my favorite Meryl Wilsner read.

Phoebe is a rising soccer player who was drafted to play for New Orleans in the first round. With spunk and grit, she's someone who won't take no for an answer. Grace is a soccer player who's been in the game for a bit. Also playing for New Orleans, she's team captain and won't let her team down.

Phoebe and Grace meet at the women's national team practice. What started out as a quick bet, later turns into a friends relationship. With Grace sidelined with an injury, Phoebe has the door wide open for a position with the national team. Turning from rivarly to friends however; both players want to work together. But will everything stay "cleat cute?"

I enjoyed reading Meryl Wilsner's latest novel, Cleat Cute. This latest lgbtqia + romance has all of the spicy scenes but also depth of characters. It was fun to get into spunky Phoebe's point of view and you couldn't help but root for Grace to find her voice with others. The pacing of this story had me turning the pages and not wanting to put the novel down.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this earc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I ate this up on a recent plane ride. I eat up everything Meryl writes. Not that I bought any of these, because I've been lucky enough to win ARCs of each of their three novels, but I couldn't tell you which one I like best. I love them all. Meryl and Casey McQuiston write the best F/F.

I won't lie. I only watch men's soccer. To be fair, my dumbass was introduced to the World Cup in 2010 and things moved from there. I mainly watch for eye candy, but get sucked into the tournament every four years. I sometimes watch the Champions League. If I care. Most of the time I don't.

I know the USWNT is so so so much better than the USMNT. And I don't watch the men. Yes, they suck, but also sorry not sorry, there is not a lot of eye candy. I'm trash. Anyway, what I came here to say is for a person that doesn't watch women's soccer, I was riveted by each and every plot point in this book.

Also, I guess everyone has issues dating? Thought it was just straight women confused about men. Partially happy to be wrong. Mainly sad that we're all so confused.

Real talk, what do I buy and get signed at the LA Times Festival of Books? Obviously, I don't have the physical ARC of this book. And I gave a friend my copy of Something to Talk About. So many problems. So little time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

Thank you so much for the ARC!

-Sapphic romcom
-Sports romance (soccer)
-Grumpy veteran player + rookie sunshine
-Dual POV in 3rd person
-Neurodivergent MCs
-Trans, non-binary, and bi side characters

I love a good sports romance, and all the soccer aspects definitely added to the fun of this book. Loved the veteran/rookie dynamic between Grace and Phoebe. All the teammates made a great cast of side characters, too.

The book starts off with Grace seeing Phoebe as a potential rival. First day of training and these two are already trying to outdo the other. After losing a bet, Grace is dared to kiss Phoebe. One kiss and she's hooked. And so begins their friends with benefits situationship. With lots of spice. And dirty talk. 🔥

I thought Grace and Phoebe had sizzling sexual chemistry. Seriously, so much spice. However, I didn't feel the romantic connection between them. I guess it just would have been nice to see a little bit more of it on page, and not just near the end.

Another thing I wanted to note that didn't quite sit well with me was how negatively Phoebe viewed having ADHD. "Is that really how you see me, like some little fucked-up girl? Like my bad qualities are symptoms of some disorder?" I feel like there's a difference between being defensive and being offended. It would have been nice to know how she finally accepted that and how she felt about being diagnosed eventually, since she was very reluctant for many reasons.

Having said that, if you're looking for a light, low angst read with lots of spice and a side of sports, then definitely give this a try!

Wow. I fully admit that I'm a sucker for some hot athletes, but I think even the most unenthusiastic sports fan would dig the chemistry between Phoebe and Grace. Wilsner's prose is catchy and clear and the plot is centered around her two main characters. This is great because both of them defy normal rom-commy stereotypes and slowly build themselves out to be friends you're simultaneously shaking your head at and rooting for. The book has a few slower sections, but you're always drawn along by the hint of something juicy right around the bend.

I read this book as an ARC, and this was my first into to the author but it definitely won't be my last. If you're looking for something to dive into and enjoy, pick Cleat Cute up and take her for a spin!

a very cute fun sweet HOT read, loved the take on miscommunication where it’s not just “TALK TO EACH OTHER” but that they do talk but take different things away from the conversation. another great read from meryl!!

I was very excited when I received the email offering me the Advanced Reader’s Copy. I loved Meryl Wilsner’s, “Mistakes Were Made,” and was SO excited to see she was releasing another book. Not just another book, but a book centered around one of my favorite things: Soccer.

This book has me laughing, groaning, and wincing as the characters stumbled their way through their relationship. The fact of the matter is that Meryl tells a story without it feeling like a story. You feel as if these characters are real, not just words on a page. You feel as if you’re in their world.

Reading the characters learn and grow all while playing soccer to make it to the World Cup was beautifully written. I’ve already recommended the book to several people to read when it’s officially out.

I can’t wait to see what Meryl Wilsner will come out with next!