Such an important and heartfelt book! A college coming-of-age story about struggling between your dreams and your identity, with a charming romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Levine Querido for the e-ARC of this title to read and review. I own all of Jonny Garza Villa's other books, yet have not read any of them, so that needs to be immediately remedied! I knew I was going to be into the story, but JGV has such a beautiful writing style that is truly an honor to read. I definitely don't care enough about <s> soccer</s> football to have captured every wonderful part of the way the game is described (nor could I know how game-accurate it is,) and to really see how our lead character Gabi is a star within a competitive and unforgiving college sports world.

I really appreciated this as a new adult title too -- I know the genre is tough to market, but it really allows stories to spotlight characters still in the middle of their growing and changing while bringing in adult problems, themes (and here, quite literally,) philosophies. I do wish the characters were sliiiightly older - maybe 20 or so, rather than 18 year old freshmen - so that 1) Gabi's potential pro career felt more possible and right on the horizon and 2) we didn't have to see Gabi pining over and sleeping with a girl for a good portion of the book's beginning, almost to "prove" he likes girls too! It could have just been shown that Gabi and Vale have had other relationships and casual situations by that point! But I guess it's not helpful to think about wishings in a plot.

Something I loved in a character didn't love in my actual reading: Vale was such an absolute sweetheart that I wanted him to have every wonderful thing in life. He deserved the world, but he also was absolutely fine being a doormat every single time Gabi wasn't sure. At first, I thought it was really supportive, and part of waiting for someone to be ready/on the same page when you are already there (especially when it involves coming out), but by the end of the book I was really upset that Vale was fine with Gabi hiding, lying, running -- whatever he needed to do throughout the whole story, just to not be uncomfortable.

I loved that this went further than the average sports romance - digging deep into identity and growing up and figuring it out. The friendship between Gabi and Vale, then romance, was really well developed and the world felt really well-rounded. If you liked The Long Run's emotional punch, this could definitely be for you!

I mean, Vale is the sweetest and I WILL protect him at all costs.

This is my second read of anything written by Jonny Garza and AGAIN I am endeared by his words and his prose. He has the ability to create characters that you just wished you could meet and hang out with them.

Amazing!

Perfect new-adult romance. Garza perfectly captures the essence of what it feels like to be 18 and discovering who you are, while also exploring love. I truly felt all the feels and there is so much character growth.

This was my first book by Jonny Garza Villa, and I am officially hooked. I devoured this book in one sitting. From the very first chapter, I fell in love with Gabi's effortless charm. Gabi projected a cocky, sports-bro persona to his teammates and the public, but you could see his heart from the very beginning when it came to his family. That being said, watching his growth throughout this story literally brought tears to my eyes at points. I don't feel like we got to know Vale as well throughout this story, but the relationship between the two of them was sweet and steamy and stuck with me. I loved this book so much. I cried, I laughed, I swooned, I smiled. This was exactly what I wanted out of a story like this. Can't wait to read more from Villa.

I absolutely loved this book!
I found myself rooting for the protagonist, Gabi Piña, the whole time. At the beginning he has everything going for him and I was anxiously awaiting the resolution to see what he would have to give up or if he got to keep it all. It was also great to read about Gabi's journey of self discovery as he realizes he is bisexual. The representation in this novel was done really well and explored the hardships and anxiety that comes with being Mexican and Queer.
My favorite part of this book was the characters. Right away we were introduced to Gabi's friends/roommates who genuinely felt like a real friend group who care and support each other. Gabi's relationship with Vale, the love interest, also feels so real and based on a genuine friendship. It was nice to see the development in their relationship and not have another instalove story.
I highly recommend this book to romance readers!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free digital Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for a review.

This is now the second book I've read from JGV-- the first being Ander & Santi Were Here and now I need to read their backlog. This book was SO good and the narrator was the perfect fit for Gabi. I found myself physically reacting to things in this story whether it was good or bad. Gabi has the best of friends in his corner and I loved getting to watch him find and love himself. Gabi's dad telling him that his mom is buying a bisexual flag to hand from their house almost made me cry.

Vale, Kat and friends have a special place in my heart, as well as Gabi's parents. JGV has done it again!!!

Fútbolista is a really beautiful book- heartfelt, honest, and deeply resonant. I’ve loved all of Jonny Garza Villa’s work, and I was so excited when I saw this new release. What makes this story especially powerful is the way it captures the shift from the self-assuredness of arriving at college to the disorienting realization of just how vast and complicated the world, and your place in it, can be.

Gabriel's journey is rendered with such care and nuance. You really feel the world responding to him, not only in relation to his queerness, but also in terms of how he understands his future and what he believes is possible for himself. The novel delicately explores how identity, desire, ambition, and uncertainty collide in moments of transition. Garza Villa writes with a tenderness that lingers long after the final page.

DNF @ 15% - Thank you to Levine Querido for the review copy!

I picked this one up because I was interested in reading an Own Voices Queer, Latine romance. Unfortunately, the characters were a little too young for me. While I will sometimes read college romances, Gabriel read as particularly young. Which, he is! He’s just starting his freshman year of college. I just feel like I’m a little old to be reading spicy books about such young people, if that makes sense.

I tend to like my romances to focus on the central relationship a little earlier in the book. Before we meet the love interest, we see an important football game, and Gabriel hooks up with a neighbor, so we get to see multiple interactions between them. Villa absolutely captures the feeling of early college life, where it feels like your whole life is ahead of you - both exciting and terrifying!

I would recommend this one for fans of college romances and sports romances that really focus on the sport!

(For me, a 3 star DNF is a book that is well written with a lot of promise, but I'm the problem because I don't like an element.)

One sure way to make me read sports romances is to make them gay. But hey, this was the first one where I actually knew anything about the sport. Bonus points for Gabi being a keeper, because that was my position in school. I think my favourite part of this is how much I could relate to Gabi, from not realising he´s bi (because everyone thinks people of the same gender are cute, right???) to the struggle of people accepting you just as long as you are in a straight-passing relationship.
I also loved the addition of philosophy, the writing was really beautiful, and I loved the parallels Gabi could draw between his life and his lessons.
One issue I have with this story and it´s the third act break-up; it was not necessary, but not even that could stop me from giving this book 5 stars.
This was also a case of a side character stealing the show. I am sorry, but Pérez, that beautiful himbo, will forever be my favourite.

5 stars

This story was thought-provoking and an emotional journey that I think will resonate with many. It combines romance, philosophy, and coming-of-age across the back drop of football (soccer). What Jonny Garza Villa does so well is writing from the heart and from their experience. Our MC, Gabi, is first generation from a Mexican family. This intersectionality of identities colors his experiences in how he comes to terms with his sexuality and how he navigates his life of football and the people around him. Gabi's story is emotional, philosophical, and has such a sweet romance. I fell in love with this story and its characters so easily. I have enjoyed every book by this author I have read so far, and this one did not disappoint. This one is a meaningful one, and I think it's going to stick around in my mind for a good long while. I definitely recommend checking this one out.

Gabriel Piña (or - Gabi, Gabo, or Pineapple, as he's sometimes called) is coming to terms with his bisexuality as a Mexican-American goalie on his futbol (soccer) team in college, and his first real relationship with a boy. Not only that, he's navigating everything in life that comes with it. This heartfelt, passionate and raunchy new-adult romance is very swoon-worthy, and I couldn't put it down!

Jonny Garza Villa never disappoints! I have enjoyed all of their books I've read and their latest, Futbolista, is no different.
In my opinion, this book is ultimately about Gabi's journey to self discovery and acceptance. The reader is inside his head the entire time and knows exactly what he's thinking and feeling. It was sometimes frustrating but I think that's the point, he is 18 after all and trying to figure things out the best he can.
I really enjoyed his group of friends that luckily provided a safe and supportive space for Gabi to discover that being fearless off the pitch can also lead to some pretty great wins.
If you've ever read Jonny's YA books you can expect the same great and heartwarming story telling, but this is their New Adult novel debut and there are some pretty steamy scenes.

This was incredible from start to finish. Jonny keeps getting better and better, I’m so thankful that their books exist. I thought I didn’t like soccer, but I can’t say that anymore!! Delightful book!

I love queer stories with a different cultural identity then my own. I also like when football is called football. A win-win.

gabriel piña knows exactly who he is: one of the best college goalkeepers in the country, a future professional footballer, and definitely straight. he’s starting college confident in these facts, and nothing will stray him from his path to greatness…that is, until he meets vale, the guy gabi briefly kissed at a party, who just so happens to be his new philosophy tutor. as he slowly begins to realize he just might have feelings for vale, he begins to wonder what being bisexual would mean for him, as a brown, mexican futbolista.

i adored jonny garza villa’s ander & santi were here and canto contigo, so i was very excited to read this book! i snatched it up as soon as i saw it in netgalley’s “read now” section. i loved this exploration of queerness in a college student. as i stated earlier, gabi started the book very sure of himself, but the rest of this book is, more or less, his identity crisis. it’s very hard for him to accept this part of himself considering the way his team, whom he considers his brothers, reacted to another team’s player being outed, as well as his parents’ and culture’s beliefs. all this emotional turmoil while he has playoffs to win. needless to say, this was not an easy journey for him, but luckily, vale supported him and was patient with him throughout it.

with all that said, this book was not all heavy. there were some lighter moments, and i found myself laughing and smiling at some points. overall, this was a wonderful young adult romance. i highly recommend this, and i can’t wait for more from jonny garza villa!

A college sports romance overflowing with all the qualities we love in the genre! Found family, yearning and heart are three of my favorite elements featured in this story. The pacing is dynamic especially when you have characters exploring their identity and navigating a new life experience. Highly recommend checking this one out!

Huge thank you to Netgalley & Publisher for providing the earc!

I wanted to give this author one last shot after seeing so many glowing reviews. To be honest, I really didn’t like their first two novels. Like, at all. I can definitely say this was more enjoyable. New adult was a great choice and felt a *little* less cringey than the previous books. More bro-y, though…

I found this story to be very cute. I loved seeing Gabi’s bi-awakening and coming to terms with himself. We need more bi-representation in the YA & NA communities. The futbol aspect was also fun to follow, and I enjoyed reading through all of Gabi’s adventures.

Some flaws that keep me from rating this higher:
-Pacing issues: it’s a long book and some aspects feel way too long and others way too short
-Character development: many secondary characters felt like they were used as plot tools. Very little development of any of them. By the end, I don’t really “know” any of them
-The writing quality still isn’t there for me

In short, I’m seeing improvement in the writing. This is a cute story, and I did enjoy reading it! On the fence if I will still keep reading this author.

3⭐️

4.75

Jonny Garza Villa can do no wrong in my mind, and they certainly knocked this new adult sports romance out of the park (please forgive the mixed sports metaphor). Set as a companion to Fifteen Hundred Miles to the Sun, here we follow Gabriel Piña, the keeper from Jules's football team as he navigates his first year of university. I love the way JGV writes about teens discovering themselves. We see Gabi start university thinking he knows himself and what he wants from his future and we watch as he learns that maybe he didn't have it all figured out at 18 and maybe that's okay. I adore Gabi and the boys. Seriously, if Jonny wants to keep expanding on this universe and give us romances that follow any of Gabi's roommates or Kat I wouldn't be mad. I also really loved Vale and their relationship. While there was part of me that had a hard time buying into Vale's emotional maturity in regard to their relationship because seriously when has an 18 year old by ever been that understanding, I was still swept up in the rest of the story enough that it didn't bother me too much. I don't think this overpasses Ander & Santi as my favorite JGV, but it is a close second.