Cleat Cute: A Novel

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 1,463 ratings

Price: 17.71

Last update: 10-22-2024


About this item

A sapphic rivals to lovers rom com for fans of Ted Lasso and A League of Their Own, where two soccer teammates are at odds before falling in love as their team gears up for the World Cup.

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.

Phoebe Matthews is too focused on her first season as a professional soccer player to think about seducing her longtime idol. But when Grace ends up making the first move, they can’t keep their hands off of each other.

As the World Cup approaches and Grace works her way back from injury, a miscommunication leaves the women with hilariously different perspectives on their relationship. But they’re on the same page on the field, realizing they can play together instead of vying for the same position. With every tackle the tension between them grows, and both players soon have to decide what's more important—being together or making the roster.

The perfect blend of funny and steamy, Meryl Wilsner’s Cleat Cute is about being brave enough to win on and off the field.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.


Top reviews from the United States

M. H.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very cute and fun
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2024
I originally borrowed this from the library. But I loved it so much I bought it to reread only after a month after listening to the audible version! Great writing. Some fun spicy bits. Unique characters. And an interesting twist to have ADHD and autism associated in the plot. Very enjoyable!
Kristin H.
4.0 out of 5 stars a cute sapphic story!
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2024
This book was so cute and wholesome! The characters being lesbian just was an added bonus!

I gave it a 4 star only for one personal preference that I kept noticing and honestly I’m sure it’s not a big deal to some but it was such a pattern that I couldn’t help but notice this detail and it just made knock off a star:
The spicy scenes were always with Phoebe giving and would go into detail… but the spicy parts with Grace giving were basically nonexistent…and if we’re “suggested” there would be zero details. Why? As someone who thoroughly enjoyed Graces POV so much more than Phoebe’s (she just TALKS SOO DAMN MUCH ????) it was definitely disappointing to not have her the one in control for once.

Besides that, it was cute and a fun read!
Cara Ramsey
5.0 out of 5 stars Oh Gosh, I Loved This!
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2024
Grace is a ten year soccer veteran at age 26, and slightly paranoid because of how other women have treated her in the past. She’s also a proverbial ice queen. Phoebe is full of life, happy go lucky, an amazing soccer player, who’s just been drafted by Grace’s team at the age of 22. And did I mention that Grace has been Phoebe’s soccer idol for years?

Grace wants to be angry at Phoebe for storming right into her life but more and more she can’t be. Instead, Phoebe is wearing her down.

And then Grace is benched for an injury. Will these two figure out that they’re right for each other?

Read and see! This is one of the best soccer romances I’ve read! I recommend this book!
Jen's Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars 3 Stars
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2023
✔️ Dual POVs (Phoebe x Grace)
✔️ Set in present day New Orleans
✔️ Open-door, F/F romance (4/5 ????️)
✔️ Tropes: Workplace romance, grumpy/sunshine

Phoebe is a newcomer to the women’s soccer league, and Grace is the seasoned veteran. This is not an age gap romance though! There’s only a four-year difference. They try for a friends-with-benefits situation, but end up catching feelings.

There is a LOT Of repetition in this book. Grace’s responsibilities as captain of her team weigh heavily on her. Phoebe’s inability to be tidy or on time are rehashed endlessly. The couple has at least three mini-breakups, which makes the reading a little tedious after the 50% mark.

There is a ton of representation in this book, but it felt forced. The author tried to fit in the whole LGBTQIA+ rainbow, but pausing to explain the identity of every third-tier character tended to bog this already bloated novel down.

Also: There’s not actually a true “meet cute” (they meet at work) the book title is a little misleading.
Kam
5.0 out of 5 stars Adorbs, Hot AF, Entertaining - Someone w/ no Knowledge or Interest in Sports
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2024
10/5 stars, a book I would read again and I never do that. Had me grinning like a dork reading it, read it at super fast pace (3 days- I usually take 2-3 weeks to finish a book). Am I obsessed with this book? Maybe. Did I reread the steamy parts already? Well, yes. Did I already order another Wilsner novel? Obviously. Buy it.
Michelle
4.0 out of 5 stars Cleat Cute
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2024
This was a cute soccer romance. I enjoyed the premise. It was full of well developed characters. The chemistry was outstanding. I liked the back and forth, the accepting of who each was. The secondary characters were well done, added to the story.
It was angsty without the third act break-up. It always was resolute timely. I wish the story would have continued a little more after declaring their relationship.
This was my first book by Meryl Wilsner. I will continue to follow her and any books in the future.
Brandy
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Soccer Romance Ever
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2024
If you liked Kulti you are going to LOVE this book. Lots of angst and tension but its not a slow burn by a long shot. You get to the hot and heavy screens around the 25% mark. The lusty feeling are built on and as are the friendship vibe until romance and love blooms. There is one mid-level miscommunication in this book but it never hinders or breaks up our main couple. So even if you hate the miscommunication trope, I doubt this one will make you mad.

Spice rating I'm giving 3.5 ????
Overall stars 4.8 ⭐ rounding up from official ratings to 5 ⭐
Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars yasss ????????
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2024
i really liked this!! this was my first wlw read and i’m glad it was! the only reason why i gave it 4 stars and not 5 is because i wish that the world building was more descriptive, also i didn’t love how the redhead wore a flat snapback hat, i hate flat snapback hats. other than that i loved the characters. i do wish that they had been introduced a little bit slower in the beginning because it was a tiny bit difficult to remember all of them straight off the bat.

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