“Trust me, I’ve wanted to punch you in the face a time or five.”
When the man you worshipped as a kid becomes your coach, it’s supposed to be the greatest thing in the world. Keywords: supposed to.
It didn’t take a week for twenty-seven-year-old Sal Casillas to wonder what she’d seen in the international soccer icon—why she’d ever had his posters on her wall, or ever envisioned marrying him and … envisioned marrying him and having super-playing soccer babies.
Sal had long ago gotten over the worst non-break-up in the history of imaginary relationships with a man that hadn’t known she’d existed. So she isn’t prepared for this version of Reiner Kulti who shows up to her team’s season: a quiet, reclusive shadow of the explosive, passionate man he’d once been.
Nothing could have prepared her for the man she got to know.
Or the murderous urges he brought out in her.
This was going to be the longest season of her life.
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Sal Casillas has worked hard to get to where she is in soccer. Finding out that the new assistant coach is her former heartthrob crush who unbeknownst to him broke her heart and of course their is the situation he created with her brother who plays soccer still. What she thought she would get from Reiner Kulti goes out the window real quick, he is quiet and rude instead. Of course Sal has always had a problem with her temper and he gets it full force. What happens when they become close and it leads to something more though?
Another fantastic read from Mariana Zapata. I follow the Timbers so this was right up my alley and could visualize everything. I really liked Kulti, he is a mystery and it takes awhile to figure him out. Excellent.
Another gem from Mariana Zapata!
Kulti is beautiful, inspiring, and one of my FAVORITE books by Mariana Zapata.
Omg. Kulti, man. Apparently I read the wrong Zapata book first and didn’t realize the full wonderful amazingness she is. Not gonna lie. Slow burn books aren’t my thing usually. I need entertainment and that is exactly what I got with the banter between them in this book. Taco and Berlin. The bratwurst. I swear, I was laughing out loud so many times at the overuse of the word “poop”. This book hit me in allll the feels. All the feels and I’m obsessed. I have drank the Kulti Kool-aide. This is what an unhurried flame should be. Right here. Fan for life
My family are big soccer enthusiasts so I may have Fangirls over fictional players for my favorite European teams (who cares they were barely mentioned!). At least I can talk, okay- maybe not. I’m not sure I’d be able to talk to my childhood hero. But I have to say Sal’ s method is memorable.
Between sauerkraut and salamander, it’s pretty sweet and all kinds of awesome. They aren’t easy to love- well, some take a bit to enjoy the German dish.
I enjoyed seeing their friendship and struggles. I loved them. My big hopeless romantic heart is just gushing happy thoughts.
5 Big Girl Socks!
I’m not gonna lie, I was very intimidated to read this book. There is so much hype around it and when I first saw how long it was, I wasn’t sure if I had the patience to read it all. I am also not the biggest fan of the “slow burn”, but since the word on the street is to read it. I did.
It was pretty freaking fantastic! It’s totally worth all the hype!
I wasn’t bored, I loved how the story just flowed. I loved the relationship between Sal and Rey. I especially loved Sal’s relationship with her father. There were a lot of parts between those two that make me giggle a lot. I loved when Sal went toe to toe with Kulti, she wasn’t a doormat. I am so glad I decided to read it. It’s truly a great story!
Cheers to Zapata for having a main character with Mexican/Argentinian background!
This is a cute “fantasy” premise of getting to have a relationship with your childhood crush as an adult, and what it might “really” be like to have a “real” romance with an athlete. Both Sal and Kulti have such devotion to soccer that I want to say 90% of the book is the two of them figuring out each other as friends–because anything more could ruin her career.
Zapata uses dialogue & body language to really show relationships between people. Her strength is in showing friendships that grow after anger. I enjoy Zapata’s characters and writing, but if you are looking for super romance this isn’t the book for you.
This was a great example of two really strong personalities who both need to learn to accommodate the other. While the struggles & friendship with Rey & Sal were strong–the romance seemed to just start, but within the confines of the plot it did make sense. It was on the second read that I could pick up on subtle clues Kulti dropped that he was as smitten as Sal was trying not to be.
I like that this was a kind of wish fulfillment of childhood crush-to-adult love fantasy that had three-dimensional characters who had to work for their happy ending.
Sal was trying to succeed on her soccer team, her dream was to be part of the national team.. Sal was a great Team player, she was always helping everybody and trying to put a good face to everything.. but not everybody wants to see her succeed, lies and jealousy can break her apart .. some people wants to bring her down and erase her dreams..
Kulti a very famous professional soccer player, known for his bad temper and great skills to play.. old enough his career has change and he needs to seek another position if he wants to continue living his passion.. he accepts a job in a local team that is growing to be strong and famous.. he really didn’t want to take it, his life was all messed up.. until he sees her.. until she shows her true colors and makes him fall all over… Sal is the greatest player he has ever seen..
She has been in love forever with the handsome professional player.. posters, letters she had it all.. until something bad happened that her love changes forever…
I love Sal, she is a strong heroine, she doesn’t let people step all over her and always gives her opinion or says what she needs to say.. specially for the people she loves and respect.. she is a fighter and a great player.. but she didn’t know her dreams where about to become true.. her posters, her prayers everything she had before is already making its way to reality. now she only needs to believe in this.. in him and his love..
You’re going to love Sal and Kulti, they fight, they joke, they give each other hard time so you’re going to laugh a lot with this two even if they kind of love/hate each others gut.. well at least thats what they want to pretend.. when all they want is to spend time together..
I love Kulti, he is a silent character, he is strong and Dominant with his presence but also he has good things hidden inside of him.. you wont know what is he thinking most of the time.. but even if his acts and behavior are weird.. his heart is always there.. not far beating for her..
Got a love the moment when they finally accept their feelings for each other.. Kulti was and is a great lover.. super mega hot and he didn’t disappoint .. OMG fanning myself..
Other great characters are some of Sal Team players, her Dad is just awesome!! her brother Eric who is another great soccer player.. her sister Cecy who was a pain in the butt.. lol all of them are great!! you’re are going to love this amazing slow burn story..
it was a great story and i love that i finally met Sal and Kulti..