However, I really enjoyed that it was backed with such care and respect for each other as they began to understand each other better. The last place on earth that Kulti wanted to be? Coaching a women’s professional soccer team! I loved that Sal couldn’t resist calling him out on his rude and pompous behavior, and true to their nature, ‘Bratwurst’ and ‘Taco’ bickered and fought to stand their ground with each other relentlessly. Although this worked while gaining his success, once Kulti retired, it left him a bit lost and alone. He was arrogant with a rude and gruff demeanor and genuinely did not care at all what anyone else thought. Like Sal, Kulti shared similar determination and temperament with his sport, but he reached his stardom by relying only on himself. I also loved that through all of Sal’s success, she still remained humble and true to herself in being selfless, supportive, and loyal. She was feisty and hot-headed at times, but she also wasn’t afraid to admit her imperfections and worked even harder to overcome them. Salomé and Reiner Kulti’s complex characters felt so realistic and relatable! I couldn’t help but admire Sal’s dedication to soccer and loved her competitive spirit.
Also combined with its funny, sweet, and heartfelt moments to boot, this was a really inspiring story, and I can totally see how so many people love to re-read her books time and time again! However, with Zapata’s detailed descriptions along with the characters’ love and passion for the game, she brought me right onto the soccer field. 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.ĭiving into the world of professional women’s soccer, Kulti features a sport that I’m not that familiar with. Sal had long ago gotten over the worst non-break-up in the history of imaginary relationships with a man who hadn’t known she’d existed. It didn’t take a week for 27-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 having super-playing soccer babies. When the man you worshipped as a kid becomes your coach, it’s supposed to be the greatest thing in the world.
“Trust me, I’ve wanted to punch you in the face a time or five.”
Aw, Mariana Zapata can just do no wrong, and her books are definitely one of my best finds of the year!
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