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Posted 20 hours ago

Cleat Cute

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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. Phoebe and Grace both present as neurodivergent, but when the topics are talked about, Phoebe reacts with anger and a seemingly internalized stigma against neurodivergence/ADHD. While this story takes place in the context of high-stakes women’s soccer on a national and global scale, the focus of the novel is on Grace and Phoebe’s interiority and development and their powerful, simmering connection. Phoebe is the newbie on the national team and a professional team and has idolized (and had a crush on) Grace for years.

But when she’s side-lined with an injury at just 26, a bold new upstart, Phoebe Matthews, takes her spot. In summary if you are looking for a sports romance story between two women in their 20’s, one a “grumpy” veteran and the other a exuberant rookie and you want a simple story that will leave you smiling you have found it here. This one was just not it for me and I don't know if I'm going to continue to read this author's books. honestly, my first mistake was trying to read a book revolving around soccer… i assumed it was going to be like most sports romances where the sport is talked about maybe once or twice, a game here or there but my god was i wrong lol.

I was pleasantly surprised by the two women and their specific personalities as they kept their professional lives separate from their personal issues. The joy you take in playing soccer is infectious, and reminded me that I used to feel like that, too.

The connection between the characters really worked for me more than Mistakes Were Made where I really preferred one to the other but I really like Grace and Pheobe equally and love what they see in each other and the care they have for their partner.By the end though, the characters had won me over and I was fully behind their new-found open communication and expression of tenderness. It was fun seeing Grace and Phoebe going from rivals at their first national team camp together to begrudging friends and then friends with benefits. I wouldn't necessarily say this is outright problematic in terms of any of the representation and if you're someone that likes a lot of sex in books You might be able to get over the lack of communication. Honestly, the reason why this book doesn’t quite get five stars from me was because of all the soccer stuff. As the World Cup approaches, and Grace works her way back from injury, the women decide to find a way they can play together instead of vying for the same position.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Because of the writing, I had a hard time connecting with the characters and struggled to immerse myself in their relationship. And I get that this was a moment of ADHD impulsivity but it was wild to me that there's never an apology.Phoebe Matthews is from a small town in Indiana, where she grew up with a poster of Grace Henderson on the wall above her bed. Even after they start their friends-with-benefits relationship, they both just really like one another and wish for more (if only they would’ve actually talked sooner. Phoebe starts and she is overeager and chaotic and loud and oh yeah, she absolutely idolizes one of her teammates Grace. There’s still conflict, but it’s so nice to not have that definitive “oh god something has to go terribly wrong in the next few chapters” feeling hanging over your head as you approach the 75% mark.

That said, I did appreciate the backstory behind why Grace was so reluctant to be in a relationship with Phoebe. Are you only soccer or can you be both and if you're both why are you mad when someone talks to you about the former? But when she's side-lined with an injury at just 26, a bold new upstart, Phoebe Matthews, takes her spot.As a sports person, I enjoyed that, getting the chance to delve more into detail on Grace's thoughts and emotions regarding her career and responsibility to her team.

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