Rooted Book Club: CLEAT CUTE by Meryl Wilsner

Our October 2024 Book Club Selection

I first met Meryl Wilsner over a decade ago at a roller derby open-skate practice in Jackson. My friend Claire had convinced me to try derby with her. I had never even seen a roller derby game; it had been years since I’d even worn a pair of roller skates. But we were both new to Mississippi and embracing every new opportunity that came our way, so this new (to me), fringe sport seemed like the perfect way to stay active and meet friends. Meryl was there, too, with their then girlfriend—now wife—Brooke who provided emotional support in the bleachers. Meryl, Claire, and I laced up our borrowed skates and skated slow, wobbly laps around the school gymnasium. We stumbled, fell, got up again. We laughed and joked. We looked ridiculous, while the veteran skaters of the Magnolia Roller Vixens glided effortlessly across the polished wood floor before popping each other with deadly hip checks. Us newbies—or “fresh meat” in derby-speak—were officially hooked.

It turned out that Meryl and Brooke lived just a few blocks from away from Claire and me in Fondren. We began carpooling to derby practice twice a week. Our friendship grew as we weathered the literal and figurative bumps and bruises of derby and life. And we stayed friends, even when we stopped playing derby, even when Claire moved to Washington and Meryl and Brooke moved to Michigan. And I’ve watched with awe as my brilliant and hilarious friend has grown from a writer who dreamed one day of publishing a book into a bestselling, professional romance author whose third novel was optioned for a TV show.

It feels fitting, that our October pick, Cleat Cute, centers a women’s sports team based in the South. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the book! Meryl will be joining us for the discussion on Wednesday, October 30 at 7 p.m. Register now to join.

Here’s the official book description:

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. 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 friends with benefits with this class clown she sees as her rival.

Phoebe Matthews has always admired Grace’s skill and was star struck to be training alongside her idol. But she quickly finds herself looking at Grace as more than a mere teammate. After one daring kiss, she’s hooked. Grace is everything she has been waiting to find.

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. Except, when they are off the field, Grace is worried she’s catching feelings while Phoebe thinks they are dating. As the tension between them grows, will both players realize they care more about their relationship than 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.

Meryl Wilsner writes happily ever afters for queer folks who love women. Their books include Something to Talk About, Mistakes Were Made, and Cleat Cute. Born in Michigan, Meryl lived in Portland, Oregon, and Jackson, Mississippi, before returning to settle in the Mitten State. Some of Meryl’s favorite things include: all four seasons, button down shirts, the way giraffes run, and their wife.

Are you a longtime romance reader? A women’s soccer fan? What are you looking forward to about reading Cleat Cute and/or talking with author Meryl Wilsner? Let me know in the comments.