Title: Cleat Cute
Author: Meryl Wilsner
Source: Netgalley. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Genre: Romance, Contemporary.
Trigger Warnings: None that I could think of but if you find any let me know.
Explicit? Oh boy is it.
Expected Release Date: September 19, 2023
Summary: 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. 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 friends with benefits with this class clown she sees as her rival.
Phoebe Matthews has always admired Grace’s skill and was star struck to be training alongside her idol. But she quickly finds herself looking at Grace as more than a mere teammate. After one daring kiss, she’s hooked. Grace is everything she has been waiting to find.
As the World Cup approaches, and Grace works her way back from injury, the women decide to find a way they can play together instead of vying for the same position. Except, when they are off the field, Grace is worried she’s catching feelings while Phoebe thinks they are dating. As the tension between them grows, will both players realize they care more about their relationship than making the roster?
My Thoughts:
I don’t know which of the two characters I fell in love with first, Grace or Phoebe. Maybe Phoebe, but I do love competence so maybe Grace. Or maybe Phoebe who is so determined to make it that she’ll do anything, but has a moral compass enough to not really do anything to get there.
This book had me sinking into it very quickly, pretty much right from the first chapter because I was very interested in who Phoebe was as a person, and as a soccer player especially one who comes from humble beginnings.
The whole book felt good to read, it was not the quickest burn so if you’re looking for that you’re not going to get it.
You will get a lovely story about two very different women getting to know each other, learning how to navigate love, as well as being involved in sport at the same time.
There is discussions of celebrity, discussions of being out or not being out and mental health in sport.
The only thing I didn’t like in this book is one plot point that got explored but never fully resolved. However the book does give the impression at the end that it will be.
The alternating point of views, which I thought would bother me did not, actually, and gave such good insight into the characters that I found myself enjoying it immensely.
The setting of New Orleans felt like a character in itself.
I will be buying this book, happily in September.
Oh and the spicy parts? You’ll love them.
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