Cleat Cute

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Cleat Cute had a difficult start with me. I had just finished a book that had such wonderful writing and the ending had been so intense ( Red Sister) that starting this book felt like rom-com light. The writing was OK and the characters were OK (though neither carried weapons or had martial arts training) and……then at some point I realized this was a super sweet story and I was enjoying it and wanted to see what would happen. It was believable and I could recognize personalities I knew, mirrored in these characters. Initially Grace definitely had a “You kids get off my grass” type of vibe but Phoebe never gave up and as Grace changed so did I the reader. I saw how beautifully complimenting Despite (still) not knowing anything about soccer, this is a fun, spicy, and lightly angsty sapphic rom com! They continue on in this fashion of willful ignorance because they never talk about anything until after a game when Grace makes a comment about Phoebe struggling with meds or something assuming that Phoebe has ADHD and that Phoebe knows about said ADHD. This results into what they consider their first fight and then somehow winds up with Grace making a doctor's appointment for Phoebe like her damn mother and Phoebe taking it as a sign of affection. This was a super weird thing for me because had they talked about it more maybe I can see that as someone who hates making appointments but to do that out of the blue for a friend with benefits who you have no defined serious relationship with, platonic or romantic, was insane to me. The fact that this was talked about with a secondary character and they were like yeah sure go ahead they're just going to know how much you care about them. Making a doctor's appointment for someone that you are not in some sort of serious relationship with seems like such a boundary crossing thing to me. I don't know. All in all, the cards really were dealt against me here—what with “baby girl,” third present, and soccer—so I’m definitely impressed that I had an overall enjoyable time. It’s not my favorite book ever, but if you don’t have my same hangups, it definitely has great potential! all in all at the end of the day there doesnt seem to be an actual plot to this book, its more bad fan fiction than anything?

It was strange. It was like the conflict needed to be there and we were going to make it happen no matter how out of place it seemed. I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. ** Grace Henderson made her first appearance for the US national team when she was 16. At 18 she was playing for Leon in France one of the top women’s soccer (football) teams in the world. Now at 26 she is the face of the US national team, captain of her club team in New Orleans and one of the most famous soccer players in the world. She is also starting to get a little tired of all of the uproar, and when not playing prefers to spend her time on the front porch of her house, alone, except for her cat. She likes things quiet, peaceful and steady. She hasn’t dated regularly in 4 years. I enjoyed the found family vibes and the team dynamics. It’s one of my favorite parts about reading sports romances. While the friends with benefits is pretty fast, the actual relationship development is pretty slow burn. Additionally, the relationship between the two MCs is cute. I enjoyed the friends-to-lovers-to-FWB-to-more-but-not-quite progression. It was sweet and they both did nice things for each other because they got each other in a really significant way. The misunderstandings were a not altogether annoying plot device as they were caused by their respective neurodivergencies, so no complaints there.

Meryl Wilsner

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.

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.Which leads us to Cleat Cute! The novel stars Grace Henderson a 10 year veteran of the US National Women’s soccer team and captain of the New Orleans pro team who is suddenly challenged by a fresh face out of college - Pheobe Matthews who is drafted by New Orleans. I am probably going to get some of the terms around the soccer stuff wrong because it isn’t my jam but I assume the research is accurate. Interestingly considering that their last novel was an age gap, Wilsner does often remind us that Grace and Pheobe only have a 4 year age gap and their dynamic is more due to experience than age.

For anyone in need of more sapphic soccer content post-World Cup, Meryl Wilsner's latest romantic venture, Cleat Cute, is sure to fulfill your craving." - PopSugar, "Best New Romance Novels That'll Make You Swoon" i wanted to love this one because i have been dying to find a sapphic romance to gush over but this was a total miss for me. Cleat Cute is the latest release from Romance author, Meryl Wilsner. I have read all three of Wilsner's releases thus far and this one falls direct middle of the road for me. Sadly, that overarching style of storytelling was detrimental to the point of losing an entire star, possibly more. It's hard to say for sure because the near-singular focus on character development (with an uneventful soccer story arc for ambiance) really precluded there being much actually happening in the story. Don't get me wrong, I like a character-centric story as much as the next gal, but not when the author dictates it to me through direct character thoughts.Phoebe is no stranger to friends-with-benefits arrangements, but Grace is more reluctant, at least at first. Although she has come out to her family as a lesbian, Grace is not publicly out, preferring to keep some elements of her identity out of the extremely bright spotlight that’s always shining on her. In addition, her last entanglement with another player left her pretty disillusioned about romantic relationships. Phoebe, on the other hand, is very publicly out, and although things are turning pretty steamy in private, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to navigate their relationship in public. What happens when one --- or both --- of them want this friendship to become something more? Cleat Cute’s Sapphic Soccer Romance Will Fill the World Cup-Shaped Hole in Your Heart." - Autostraddle Phoebe hurls herself into the plastic chair beside her brother and looks at her phone. It’s a Chicago number. Grace Henderson has played on the National team since she was sixteen years old. Everything she does is to stay in shape and be focused for soccer. Meeting the rookie for her pro team sends Grace into a tailspin. No one has ever treated her like a normal person before this. Phoebe’s youthful enthusiasm, work ethic and easy manner pulls Grace toward her like no one else has in her life. In Meryl Wilsner’s new sapphic romance, Cleat Cute, tropes abound. Set in the world of professional women’s soccer, the book follows two players who couldn’t be more different. Though only 26, Grace is a veteran player and the team’s captain. She’s reserved, stalwart in her dedication to the sport, and content with her solitude. Phoebe is a rookie player bursting with energy, enthusiasm, and jokes for days. Despite Grace’s best efforts to keep distance between them, Phoebe breaks down all of her walls and they embark on a passionate – albeit undefined – affair.