Cleat Cute: A Novel

This book captured a vibe that is unmatched. Such a great read! If you are debating go ahead and purchase because it’s worth it!

Really loved the development of Grace and Phoebes relationship! Thought it was an amazing story. The only thing I wished was in the epilogue going more into the future.

This was not a book for me. It could have been less. A little less talk and a lot more action. More comedy, more high jinx, more suspense.

I was expecting more of a slow-burn, but they burned fast and hard for each other. Phoebe and Grace are cutie pies once they finally get on the same page with each other. I loved the exploration of identity outside of sports and the way that they talked about mental health. While the representation may feel forced to some, it felt relatable for me as a reader. My partner and I are neurospicy and have had moments much like ones described in the book. It was cheesy in the best way because I kept wanting to come back to hear more about Grace and Phoebe’s story. It was nice to read about so many queer couples being happy and accepted by their community. It gives me hope.

I was a little nervous to read this book, I won't lie but it ended up being an overall satisfying read so I am going to count this as another win for me with a Meryl Wislner book! I really enjoyed Grace's character and learning about her life as a child soccer star who had to sacrifice a lot in order to get to where she was today. There was something about her that I just found so easy to root for, maybe my love for characters that are have hard exteriors to hide the soft that is beneath the surface. Though in her case, she's literally just so bad at reading people and social cues that she just keeps most of herself hidden so she doesn't embarrass herself. Phoebe on the other hand, I really struggled with. She really rubbed me the wrong way through most of the book and even though she does win me over in the end, I do sadly think that she took away from my enjoyment of the book. I think my inability to like her for most of the book has to do with my own personal preference in stories but there were some things she did that just really irked me (probably more than they were ever intended to do). I do really like how kind she is and how she always wants to help others though! I wish that we explored more of her ADHD diagnosis, but I also understand the reality of these things and how things aren't always so black and white. The spice in this was pretty immaculate and I loved the diversity that was in every inch of this book. I can't wait to read whatever comes next from…