this is for the girlies with paternal issues and yes, i'm one of the girlies

rival soccer prodigies accidentally paired to co-captain a U18 summer camp team and lead them to victory that will decide their future in soccer

this is my second time reading a Racquel Marie book and I'm loving it because she writes an amazing FOUND FAMILY angle, I cried a lot in Ophelia After All and I'll admit that I got a bit teary-eyed while reading the last few chapters of this book of Valentina Castillo-Green and Leticia Ortiz

sapphic romance from rivals who hate? each other on and off the court paired with a realistic discussion about paternal baggage - as someone who grew up in a household with a father who is lacking in terms of showing affection and pride, I found myself relating to how Vale navigates her relationship with her father

there's also a paragraph that talks about the trauma from Vale's father and how Vale is somehow aware and frightful to have it adapted, but nonetheless it became part of her projection unknowingly - i share the same fear and i rarely see it being discussed in books

overall, there's a lot of good things to be said about this book but this is officially another Racquel Marie banger.

check content warnings as well, 4stars!