4.25/5. Releases 4/15/25.

The Vibes:

—bi awakening

—nerd/jock, college-style

—coming out vs. staying safe

Heat Index: 7/10

The Basics:

Destined to be a star goalkeeper someday, Gabriel knows he can't be anything but straight. That doesn't stop him from longing for his new friend and tutor, Vale. Being publicly bisexual could ruin Gabi's future, but the closer he and Vale become, the harder it is to resist the pull.

The Review:

Aaaah, this is so very good. It's very easy for this kind of story to hit beats you'd call cliche, right? When I tell you, "This is about a kid in college dealing with the homophobia in soccer and directed at queer Mexican players in particular", you might think you know what's coming.

And it's not that there are any crazy twists and turns or deuxes of the machinas. There shouldn't be. This is a character piece romance, through and through. But it's doing the delicate work of tackling real issues—that are, if anything, more relevant than ever—while also completely selling you on the heady swoon of falling in love really hard as an emerging adult.

Gabi is conflicted about who he is and what he wants... but he's also funny, horny, obsessed with soccer, obsessed with being the best. Did I mention horny? That is very much true. He could very easily be this kind of sad, tragic figure. But here, his problems don't go away with the snap of a finger. He has to dig deep. It's not easy. However, he does consistently find joy.

And some of that joy is in Vale. While, as a this is a single POV book, we don't get quite as much insight into Vale's character, he's still full of depth and emotion. He's also super charming; it's easy to see why Gabi is head over heels.

Yet for all that they're romantically and physically drawn to each other, this is the rare novel that manages to build a realistic, believable friendship before they take it to the next level. I don't know if I'd truly call this "friends to lovers" because like.. there's always something going on between Gabi and Vale. The chemistry is electric. But you feel something true between them.

Yes; this book does deal with homophobia up close and personal. It offers an optimistic perspective, but a realistic one as well. Not everything resolves itself perfectly. There are a couple of deeply hurtful moments. But it's a romance, and it's a book we need for this moment. It's hopeful.

(And obviously, there is a full HEA.)

As a sidebar, I really appreciated the attention paid to supporting characters, including Gabi's parents and this really dimensional cast of friends. It adds not only to the world, but the stakes. Even when I know that Gabi may be overthinking things—not that I don't get why he does—I still believe his feelings.

The Sex:

This is a college romance, and both characters are over eighteen. There's a mixture of like... fumbling adorable sweetness and just full "rip each other's clothes off" desire. While it's explicit, it's more on the side of "passionate" than "anatomical". Appropriate for where the characters are in their lives, while still aligning with that "obsessive young love and awakening" vibe.

Futbolista is a super strong book, and you truly don't have to be this massive soccer fan to get it (I say as someone who really only watches during the World Cup). It blends confusion and love and desire and vulnerability so well. Would recommend to anyone in the mood for a character-heavy, well-written, happy-making romance.

Thanks to Levine Querido and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.