Jonny's books are always an emotional rollercoaster, and this was no exception. It was so nice to revisit Gabi's character; it had been so long since I read Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun that I'd forgotten about the guy from school Jules kisses that one time. Glad he found himself! To be quite honest, after reading a book about soccer and philosophy, I now have to say I still don't know anything about soccer or philosophy.

FUTBOLISTA is Jonny Garza Villa's Adult Romance debut about college freshman & rising football (soccer) star, Gabriel Piña and his philosophy classmate, Vale.
Thank you Levine Querido for the eARC.

I adored ANDER & SANTI WERE HERE so I was super excited to receive the eARC for this one and it did not disappoint!
While I know absolutely nothing about soccer, this was written so well that I could understand and feel Gabi's love for the sport and had no difficulty moving through the story. Gabi's just a great guy that THINKS he's got himself and his future all figured out. He's got a good heart, loves his family, loves his friends, shout out to Pérez and Kat!!! And boy does he fall fast and hard lol. I loved watching Gabi & Vale's relationship develop, they are so precious!! The patience! The flirting!! and those boys are spicy!!! 🥵
Gabi's got a great friend group, all super supportive, some maybe even a bit too much (Pérez 😂), and the BEST parents!!
Watching Gabi discover new parts of himself and struggle to accept and try to keep those parts hidden because he thinks he has to was so heart breaking and inspiring once he gets there! His inner dialogue was great and using philosophy to help him make sense of things was really well done. I can relate very much to this part of Gabi's story and i'm so grateful this book exists. There are some really important conversations between characters that I think would help a lot of people out there. While this book is a queer sports romance it's also about self-discovery and culture and I think it's so important with everything that is going on in the world right now.

Thank you to the publisher Levine Querido for an e-arc in exchange for a review. This has not impacted my rating.

Jonny Garza Villa is the real MVP here, Gooooooaaaaaal⚽️🏟 with this wonderful New Adult romance. It was as wholesome as I wanted it to be. The main character Gabriel (Gabi for short) has got a promising career in professional soccer if he can keep his head in the game. His confidence as a ladies man is unwavering because as much of a cliche set up as this may sound, he is oblivious and I love him for it. lol. He is flawed. We all are when we are 18. But Gabi is a humble himbo who needs to go through some emotional tumbles to realize that there is more to his personality than soccer and girls; if girls.

This is a beautiful bi awakening surrounded by friends that everyone deserves. Someone to gently remind you when it's safe or be there when it's not. His family is also dealing with complexities that many Latine readers will relate to. Machisimo, sacrifice, unknown territory of college and togetherness.

To top it off with the drama, homophobia runs rampant in sports communities.The last thing Gabi wants to deal with inbetween studies. It's rough to hear this truth sometimes but I am so thankful to Garza Villa for making this a focus in this book. It's so true. One's personal life off the field has nothing to do with being on the field, many fans need to remember that.

This one was 🌶! if you've read their other books its a bit different, prepare yourself for lots of spice.

I just wanted a little bit more of a dramatic climax. but it was still beautiful 😍

Book Review: Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa, out April 15th!

A classmates-to-friends-to-lovers adult romance from Villa that centers Gabriel Piña as he starts his freshman year as the goalkeeper on his university’s football (aka soccer) team.

What I love about Villa’s writing is that they write these wonderful characters who are flawed as humans but are capable of learning and growing from their friends and life experiences. I have enjoyed Villa’s other YA romances a lot (ANDER & SANTI WERE HERE and CANTO CONTIGO) and FUBOLISTA was another great romance from them! I loved that there is actually soccer played throughout the book, and we get to experience the game through Gabi’s eyes.

The queer storyline in this is so touching and heartbreaking at the same time. We see how tormenting it is when Gabi tries to hide this part of himself from the world, his teammates, and really himself. I think this book could so helpful for anyone who might be in Gabi’s shoes and feeling like they need to hide themselves from the world. May the book find those who need it most, you are loved ❤️

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC.

It's Gabriel's freshman year of college and all he wants to do is continue his shutout record, play FIFA with his boys, pass his philosophy class, and maybe kick it with the cute girl who lives across the street from his apartment. Gabi is a once-in-a-generation goalkeeping talent. Everyone's told him that since he was young. He knows he's going to graduate, play professional soccer--no--football, and maybe one day, the kids who look like him will be wearing his name on their Mexico kits.

And then he meets Vale. Sweet, funny, sexy Vale who kisses him at a party on a dare. It's fine, it's not like it's the first time he's kissed a boy. But, as they become friends, Gabi can't stop thinking about what it would be like to kiss Vale again. Suddenly, Gabi feels forced to choose between his future and the feelings he can't deny.

This book had me screaming/crying/throwing up the whole way through. Gabi is such a deeply lovable main character, and he felt fully actualized in this world. Some of the philosophy felt a little esoteric or shoe-horned in, but I think Plato's Cave ended up operating as a beautiful metaphor. It also reminded me of what it felt like to be a college freshman and to be suddenly learning things about yourself that you never realized.

The bisexual representation in this book is painfully accurate (feeling like you're the last one to know not everyone fantasizes about their same-gender friend? real). And one of the things I loved about this book is that it didn't pull punches. Gabi's fears around coming out as bisexual are by no mean unfounded. I'm a soccer fan; I've stood in the stands hearing slurs shouted at goalkeepers in Spanish and in English. It is a deeply ugly side of the beautiful game. I identified so much with the way Gabi struggled with the idea that the game he loves so much may not love him back.

This book is romantic, sexy, and brutal. I loved every minute of reading it, and I can't wait to buy it for my college students. Also, not gonna like, at the end, I was like Come to RSL, Gabi!!! We could use a good keeper.

Thank you to NetGalley and Levine Querido for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My first book by Johnny Garza Villa, and, boy, it did not disappoint. Beautiful, intense writing, complex, well-developed characters, rich background of the story - I feel as if I have really lived in Corpus Christi, Texas. Gabi, the main character of the story, is definitely my favorite: an aspiring athlete, a first year student and, most importantly - a goalkeeper! I loved the changes he went through, his inner struggles, as well as his cocky, vivid, endearingly messy self.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book.

I requested and received an eARC of Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa via NetGalley. I'm a big fan of JGV's books, so I was over the moon when I saw this! Gabriel Piña is a freshman soccer star with a bright future ahead of him. He's determined that nothing will knock him off his path to realizing his dreams. When he agrees to kiss a boy at a party, however, he begins to doubt things he once considered to be true about himself. When the boy, Vale, agrees to help tutor him in their philosophy class and a friendship blossoms between them Gabriel can no longer ignore the intense attraction he feels for him. Gabriel has seen the way his teammates and community react to queerness in the sport that is so dear to his heart. Can he really be bisexual and the futbolista he has worked so hard to become?

There were so many wonderful things about Futbolista, but something I definitely want to recognize is the pacing! Stories like these can often feel rushed, as if they’re afraid to dive into the complications and nuance, but not JGV. The story, and Gabriel’s understanding of his feelings, all seemed to develop very naturally on the the page. Bisexual representation is important and I think it is something that is handled particularly well in this book. I’m not crazy about sports, and in general I’m over the queer-sports story, but Futbolista interrogates each intersection of Gabriel’s identity in relation to his athletic aspirations and I think that’s why this book hits the mark. There’s also brief, but important, discussion of the experiences of non-binary folk in the sporting world which I was happy to see.

Now, I must admit, I am crazy about romance and that is also very well done in this book. Something I’ve noticed in JGV’s other books that is certainly true about Futbolista is the tenderness with which he crafts relationships between his characters. The relationship that forms between Gabriel and Vale is brimming with sweetness, but never in a manufactured or cheesy way. Between them you can find patience and understanding, but also the rashness and intensity that comes with young love. I went on an emotional ride with Gabriel and Vale and loved every moment of it. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this book, it has further cemented me as a fan of Jonny Garza Villa.

Big thanks for Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC! Futbolista is exactly the kind of YA I wish I read growing up - messy, joyful, and full of heart. Ander is a charmer, complicated, and reads like someone you'd actually know (or want to). The story doesn't shy away from big emotions or the heat of ambition, and I loved how it naturally it weaved culture, family, and futbol together.

"And I'm tired of waiting for the world to change. I'm going to help change it myself. I'm going to be a presence that people can't ignore. I'm going to be too good for you to ignore."

This was such an inspiring story of personal identity exploration, love and how one sees themselves fitting into the world. If I was not reading Gabi and Vale's story I was thinking about the next time I can pick up their book. The growth that Gabi experiences throughout this book had me in awe of the depth a character can be written. And counterparting him with the sweetheart that is Vale made their duo so perfect in my eyes. The friend group was so fun, that I adored Peréz and Kat's inclusion in Gabi's exploration of his identity. The addition of philosophy that this author put in to go alongside Gabi's journey was very telling of how Gabi viewed himself and I loved that it helped him grow when all he thought of it was a class he needed to pass and would gain nothing from. There were a lot of tears on my end watching the outside forces be horrible people but from the past books I have read from this author they write in such an emotionally evoking way that it was hard NOT to feel so deeply for these characters and this world. Jonny Garza Villa continues to wow me with their work, they have an insta-buy fan in me!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

||4.25||

FUTBOLISTA isn’t just a romance or a sports story—it’s a powerful, layered exploration of identity, love, and what it means to truly see yourself. Jonny Garza Villa crafts a narrative that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant, especially for anyone navigating life in brown skin while discovering (or defending) their queerness.

At its core, this is a college sports romance with all the heart you could ask for: found family, emotional intimacy, and that slow-burn yearning that makes you ache for the characters to just get on the same page already. The romantic tension is off the charts—not because of graphic scenes, but because of how tender and emotionally raw the connection is. It’s not about spice; it’s about depth (tho I cannot lie, the spice is hot without being overly descriptive too which I fear is an underrated talent) it’s about needing each other in a way that’s honest, vulnerable, and beautifully real.

What really struck me, though, were the philosophical undercurrents. The book asks big questions—about identity, change, authenticity—and it does so without ever feeling preachy. It reminds us that even when we think we know who we are, change is still possible. Necessary, even. And that sometimes, the hardest thing to do is look in the mirror and see the parts of ourselves we've buried to make other people comfortable.

One line that absolutely punched me in the chest was:

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦?”

That moment, like so many others in the book, hits at the cost of hiding parts of yourself to meet society’s expectations. It’s a call to be seen—not just by others, but by yourself.

The pacing is tight and immersive; even though the book is relatively long, I was captivated the entire time. Every scene felt intentional, every moment earned.

In short: FUTBOLISTA is a gem. A must-read. Romantic, reflective, and rooted in truths that are often left unsaid. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants more from a love story—something real, something that lingers.

_________

Imma have to check out this Authors backlist now.
Thank you Netgalley and Levine Querido publishing for the ARC.

This was such a roller coaster of emotions, it was slow building, but I think it was nice to see how he really liked this girl at the beginning and then when that didn’t work out how he really liked this boy, and how sweet they were with each other and how supportive Vale was, he definitely deserved better for a good portion, to be honest, but it was completely understandable how scared Gabi was of coming out and risking all he had worked for.

Another stunning story by this author. They create the most dynamic characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. It’s always a pleasure to read their work and become immersed in the character’s world. This book in particular did a brilliant job of exploring homo/bi-phobia in sports, but still giving you hope. Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

I absolutely adored this book and need to read Jonny Garza Villa's other work!

Although I have never been into sports romance, this queer fútbol book was so perfect for me. It is the one sport I am familiar with and getting a more intimate look into it through this book put me in contact with my latinidad. Every reference to Latin media and culture made me laugh and feel seen (the Blue Beetle one was great!). I also really enjoyed the lack of machismo in so many of the characters, since that is unfortunately a concept that plagues many latinos. Pérez and Gabi's dad were surprisingly in touch with their emotions and I appreciated it.

I don't usually read from the perspective of a teenage boy/young man so that aspect was also enlightening. I feel like I was let into a secret club and learned a different view point. Despite the crudeness of some of the jokes between the characters, I still found this book heart wrenching and lovely. A perfect balance of rom, com, and drama.

Thank you so so much to NetGalley for letting me read this gorgeous book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

Jonny is one of my favorite authors so I knew an adult book by them was a must read. I fell in love with Gabi and Vale and his teammates (minus one). This story was so full of love and I was screaming with happiness one minute and then wanting to cry the next minute. The dynamic between Vale and Gabi was so well done. Everyone one their team was so great. Perez was my fave. He was a real ride or die friend.

I liked how this touched on how hard it is to be weird in professional sports. What it feels like to have all eyes on you. Especially if you are brown. It also showed a lot of growth and strength. Gabi is a character you love from the beginning. Full of heart and just wanting to find someone he can be himself with. Gabi’s growth was amazing. I really loved this book and as always I’ll read what Jonny writes.

jonny did their big one with this… an emotional, romantic roller coaster of a book perfect for anyone craving queer sports romance that’s just the perfect amount of spicy and warm-hearted. lovedddd this!!

I loved this book as a sport romance. I loved this book as a latine romance. I loved this book as a queer romance. I love this book as a whole.

There was no skips. There was just passion and love. This book even touched on a subject I always talk about in futbol and how they probably force people into the closet to make the "perfect" futbolista idol.

I loved this so much.

to be honest, this one is hard to rate after i read the entirety of part iv. but after i saw the reviews, i'm glad that some of them are rated it 5 stars.

i love how the story revolves in football. gabi's friends are so funny (especially pérez). and i appreciate gabi and vale's relationship as a couple. it has lessons about the fear of coming out and gabi's connection with philosophy and real life situations. but as i mentioned at the part iv part, i'm literally <b>bawling</b> my eyes out while reading this up until the last line.

but my complaint is that sometimes, i'm disappointed at gabi's actions <spoiler>especially when he believes barrera, his captain after he said some homophobic comments. and yep, that man has no character development.</spoiler>

all in all, it's a heartwarming story (even though i'm still emotional after it ended 🥲)

I absolutely loved Futbolista. As a Hispanic bisexual person myself, this book touched me deeply and felt like it healed a part of me I didn’t even realize needed healing. Gabi’s journey is a powerful, emotional exploration of self-acceptance, and I can’t even begin to express how much I connected with his story.

Gabi’s relationship with his parents was such a beautiful portrayal of love, support, and understanding. It reminded me that our families can be our strongest allies, even when we fear the worst. The bond he shares with them is unwavering, and it's such a comfort to see that kind of unconditional love depicted in the story. As someone who has struggled with the idea of coming out to my own family out of fear, Gabi’s story gave me a sense of hope and healing that I didn’t even know I needed.

The found family element in this book was another standout. Gabi’s teammates, especially Perez and Kat, were absolutely everything. Their support for Gabi is truly heartwarming. They were there for him through thick and thin, and they never judged him. It was a reminder that sometimes the people who aren't related to us by blood become the ones who make us feel truly seen and accepted.

But of course, the heart of the story is the relationship between Gabi and Vale. Their connection was just *everything*. From the very beginning, there was this vulnerability between them that was so raw and real. It was clear how much they cared for one another, and watching that relationship evolve was one of the most beautiful parts of the book. Vale’s unwavering support for Gabi, especially when things got difficult, made me root for them with everything I had. The way they navigated their feelings for each other—so patient, so understanding—was just gorgeous. I loved how this book didn’t shy away from the complexities of being vulnerable, and the growth both characters experienced, especially Gabi, was remarkable. Watching him evolve from page one to page 400 was a testament to how far he came in accepting himself.

What I also really appreciated about this book was how it tackled the complexity of being both part of the LGBTQ+ community and the Hispanic community, especially as an athlete. It’s a topic that isn’t often addressed, and this book highlighted the struggle of reconciling those identities. The pressure to fit into societal expectations, the fear of rejection from family and culture, and the tension of being an athlete in a world that often doesn't accept you fully were all explored in such an honest, raw way. The book touched on how some in the Hispanic community can be set in their ways, with attitudes that are less accepting of queerness, sometimes to the point of disapproval. It even touched on how certain families would refuse to support a player if they found out they were queer, which was a tough but important thing to witness. These moments made me feel seen in a way I didn’t expect, and it’s why I think this book is so important.

This book made me cry multiple times, and I’m not even mad about it. The emotional depth, the tender moments between Gabi and Vale, and the way it so beautifully illustrated the challenges and joys of embracing your true self—Futbolista resonated with me in such a profound way. I honestly loved every page of it, and I know it will stay with me for a long time.

If you like Heartstopper, I recommend Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa.

It’s about Gabi and Vale, two queer Mexican-American freshmen figuring out how to love each other openly, confronting homophobia in their Latino community and Gabi’s soccer team while attending college in South Texas.

At a party, Gabi meets Vale, who is playing a card game where one of the rules is to either take a shot or kiss a stranger. And once their lips meet, Gabi’s world is rocked. He thought he was straight, although there was that one time in high school he kissed a guy and liked it. Suddenly Vale is all Gabi can think about, and his repressed bisexuality comes back to the surface.

Since Gabi is becoming a high profile goalie in a sport that’s known for being anti-gay, they decide to keep their new relationship a secret. But secrets don’t stay that way for long, and then Gabi has to figure out if he can have Vale and his futbol career or hide this part of himself forever.

Oh, Gabi, you gorgeous idiot. This boy thinks he can’t have it all but I love that his teammates/roommates rally around him and get vibes he’s bisexual before he can fully realize it himself! It’s a New Adult romance and there’s lots of self discovery going on, plus Gabi’s identity journey is paralleled with what he’s learning in Philosphy class, with Vale’s help as his tutor. These two were so cute! And I loved the Corpus Christi setting. I used to live there and it was fun seeing the local places mentioned throughout the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Levine Querido for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fabulous New Adult romance! This was my first introduction to Jonny Garza Villa and I will definitely be browsing earlier works.

I think Gabi as a character was really well done. He is a driven, passionate, sweet, caring, and talented 18 year old just starting college. He has big dreams and bigger talent to back up those dreams. As he begins to understand his queerness, he never meets himself with shame or anger about his bisexuality which I think was really important. Instead he focuses on how queerphobia will impact his life and is angry at that instead of himself. This was a really fresh take on the coming-out storyline (or as mentioned in the book a 'bringing in') as it gave readers a pathway to realize their queerness free of self-loathing which is often a stage we wade through in traditional coming out narratives. What I really loved about this book is how it walks the reader through how intersectionality impacts our main character. Gabi often mentions how him being a Texas-born Mexican and a bi boy feels like a point of conflict for him and the machismo within his culture and potentially family. He speaks on how his race impacts his queerness. This is particularly evident when he discusses other soccer players coming out and how their white privilege offers them a different experience than he anticipates if he were to come out. I am so glad that this point is highlighted throughout the book! So often coming out narratives focus on white gay men where their queerness is the only point of contention from the norm within their identity. While of course these stories are important to hear, they often dominate in our society. To acknowledge the ways that race, class, gender, ethnicity, and sexuality all impact each other is crucial to understanding queer struggle, and I think this book with Gabi's story offers an amazing contribution to the conversation.

My one small point of contention is that I found that the women in the story were sometimes overlooked, especially Gabi's mom. When we only have two women in the whole book and the mom's character is basically all about feeding the men, it felt a bit off for me. I understand that a main point of the book was to break down toxic masculinity and we really see that with the loving relationship between Gabi and his dad, which is of course very valuable. I just wish that Gabi's mom also had time to flourish in the book in a similar way as Gabi's dad did. We did hear of her support outside of food near the end of the book which I appreciated, but I don't know, I wish she had a bit more page time that contributed to her depth as a character.

I also love how we have a non-binary friend and how there is no drama about them or their identity. This was really refreshing to read, especially in our current political climate that demonizes trans and non-binary folks.

I was surprised at how horny this book was! Not only between Gabi and his love interest, but just the roommate friend group in general really encapsulated young-men-first-semester-at-college vibe. There were so many mentions of thighs, friends in underwear, muscles, and just sex in general. I'm not mad at that- in fact I think captures a very realistic friend group- but I was just surprised!

Read this book if you love soccer, shortshorts with muscle thighs, positive male friendship, bi heros who fall fast and hard, and Latino rep in queer stories! If you're a vibes/seasonal reader like me, I recommend to read this book during the fall semester as it takes place throughout the whole term. It would also be great for if you're living / travelling souther US and want a reminder that queer people exist and flourish everywhere.

In all, read this book! Especially if you're a white reader who frequently consumes only white queer stories. This book should be replacing all the 'Love, Simon' esk books on your tbr.