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A review by mousewitched
Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this ARC!
YOU GUYS. This is the Sapphic sports romance of my dreams.
I don't know if Meryl Wilsner was a soccer player or follows women's soccer closely, but it's very clear to someone who follows it casually they understand not just the sport itself but the dynamic of the USWNST in a way that makes Cleat Cute so real in a beautiful way. That being said, you don't have to be a soccer fan to understand what's happening in those scenes; every step or play is explained enough to not bog down fans while making it clear for casual readers.
The main characters, Phoebe and Grace, as well as all of their teammates felt like real people I would have in my friends' group if I happened to be friends with professional athletes. The dialogue was organic and the relationships true to the demographic, which was so refreshing. There was a particular conversation between Phoebe and Grace towards the end that reminded me of a conversation my wife and I had when we first started dating, actually, which was unbelievable to see in published fiction.
The only hang up I could come across was the frequent mention of TikTok, and that's just a personal preference - it definitely makes sense in the context of now when it's published, but down the line may make it feel dated.
This was an easy, weirdly emotional five stars for me, and I hope everyone reads it. Even if you don't go for sports romance, or Sapphic romance, read it for the fun setting, the quick dialogue, the realistic sex scenes.. It's just a really good book, you guys.
YOU GUYS. This is the Sapphic sports romance of my dreams.
I don't know if Meryl Wilsner was a soccer player or follows women's soccer closely, but it's very clear to someone who follows it casually they understand not just the sport itself but the dynamic of the USWNST in a way that makes Cleat Cute so real in a beautiful way. That being said, you don't have to be a soccer fan to understand what's happening in those scenes; every step or play is explained enough to not bog down fans while making it clear for casual readers.
The main characters, Phoebe and Grace, as well as all of their teammates felt like real people I would have in my friends' group if I happened to be friends with professional athletes. The dialogue was organic and the relationships true to the demographic, which was so refreshing. There was a particular conversation between Phoebe and Grace towards the end that reminded me of a conversation my wife and I had when we first started dating, actually, which was unbelievable to see in published fiction.
The only hang up I could come across was the frequent mention of TikTok, and that's just a personal preference - it definitely makes sense in the context of now when it's published, but down the line may make it feel dated.
This was an easy, weirdly emotional five stars for me, and I hope everyone reads it. Even if you don't go for sports romance, or Sapphic romance, read it for the fun setting, the quick dialogue, the realistic sex scenes.. It's just a really good book, you guys.