A review by tkhz
Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner

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

4.75

Phoebe is a newbie in pro women's soccer who falls for her idol and teammate, Grace. Phoebe is bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and a professional yapper, while Grace is the polar opposite. When a dare forces them into close proximity, they have to face their individual quirks and challenges to understand their feelings for each other.

Despite the title and cover, this book is spicy. Lol. I thought the intimacy was a little gratuitous in the first third of the book, hence the 4.75 star rating, but that's personal preference.

I thought this book was perfect for me as a queer women's soccer fan, but even if you know nothing about the sport it's pretty easy to follow along with the terminology. The two main characters were lovable and I enjoyed reading the story from both of their perspectives, even though they were both a bit frustrating at times (classic romance miscommunication tropes are always gonna be there I guess). I can also appreciate a WLW romance novel where both love interests identify as lesbians!