Futbolista

A classmates-to-friends-to-lovers romance that's equal parts raunchy, heartfelt, queer, and Mexican-American, perfect for fans of The Prospects and Red, White, and Royal Blue!

Gabriel Piña knows who he is: a college goalkeeper, a future Liga MX or MLS star, and definitely straight. He's starting his freshman year with a lot of eyes on him and even more potential, but he's got this. Nothing will have him straying off the path to greatness.

That is, until his philosophy classmate Vale volunteers to tutor him. Vale, the same guy who Gabi, in a moment of history repeating itself, might've kissed very briefly--and only once--just to help him out at a party. Vale, the smart, supportive, compassionate new friend with beautiful brown eyes and a smile that keeps Gabi, for completely inexplicable reasons, constantly in a daydream.

As a friendship blooms and the two spend more and more time together, Gabi finally begins to recognize something about himself: maybe he's not as straight as he thought he was. But a larger and darker realization lingers. Someone like Gabi--a brown, Mexican futbolista with dreams of playing for El Tri--can't also be bisexual. He's seen the way his teammates and community react to queerness in their sport. It would be the exact type of straying off path that destroys his future.

Or, maybe Gabi could be brave enough to embrace all those parts of himself and forge his own path, one that includes a boyfriend and the beautiful game.

A sports romance for those who keep rewatching Bend It Like Beckham and rereading Red, White & Royal Blue and the incredible collection of queer soc--football romances out there, Futbolista follows the first semester of one guy's freshman year of college, navigating who he is, who he's allowed to be, and who he wants to be.

P R A I S E

★ "Irresistable... Garza Villa makes Gabi's coming-out/coming-of-age both moving and inspiring as he finds the courage to buck expectations and live life on his own terms. There's plenty of heartfelt wisdom--and thrilling soccer matches--along the way, but it's the sweetly sexy romance between Gabi and Vale that really makes this shine. It's a winner." --Publishers Weekly (starred)

"A heavy story about the challenges a young Mexican guy (and an athlete, no less) faces in coming out, but also a story bursting with joy and love, endearing family and male friendships and the expected but no less gratifying happy ending. Such a treat of a book, how could you not indulge?" -- Jacob Orlando, Porter Square Books

"In their first foray into adult fiction, Jonny Garza Villa tells a classmates to friends to lovers romance between college soccer (Futbol) star Gabi and his classmate Vale. If you loved Red White and Royal Blue, this is a great new book for you!" -- Cathy Berner, Blue Willow Bookshop

Author: Jonny Garza Villa
Publisher: Levine Querido
Published: 04/15/2025
Pages: 400
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 8.10h x 5.50w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9781646145096


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 03/24/2025

About the Author

Jonny Garza Villa is a product of the Great State of Texas, born and raised near and along the Gulf Coast, and currently living in San Antonio. They are a Sagittarius sun, Capricorn everything else, a former very bad baseball player, and a former pretty good drag queen. Jonny is an author of contemporary young adult novels inspired by their own Tejane & Chicane and queer identities including their debut novel and Pura Belpré Honor Book Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun, the Stonewall Honor Book Ander & Santi Were Here, and Canto Contigo, publishing in 2024. Futbolista is their first New Adult contemporary romance.

Author residence: San Antonio, TX