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Catching Kyle: Football Heartthrobs Book One
Michael Cunningham—Adult Content Creator Extraordinaire
Corporate writer by day, adult content creator by night.
But what I really want is to be a gay romance author. I just don’t have an agent yet. If I can stop pining for unavailable men, maybe I’ll finally be able to write a romance good enough to land one. So that means no more daydreaming about star linebacker Kyle Weaver.
Until fate lands me on Kyle’s doorstep when he’s shirtless and rock-hard.
Kyle Weaver—Best Linebacker of the 21st Century
Sexiest Man Alive, philanthropist, southern heartthrob.
But I’m single, and gossip is only getting worse. Unless I can find a girlfriend by signing day, my team won’t re-sign me. Which means no Super Bowl, and no way to honor my dead dad. Yet there’s only one person that gets me a certain gay adult content creator named Michael.
And he just happens to show up at my door right as I’m pleasuring myself to one of his videos.
Somehow, we keep it civil. And we get to talking. Turns out we’re both in a bind. So, we agree to help each other out.
What could go wrong?
Corporate writer by day, adult content creator by night.
But what I really want is to be a gay romance author. I just don’t have an agent yet. If I can stop pining for unavailable men, maybe I’ll finally be able to write a romance good enough to land one. So that means no more daydreaming about star linebacker Kyle Weaver.
Until fate lands me on Kyle’s doorstep when he’s shirtless and rock-hard.
Kyle Weaver—Best Linebacker of the 21st Century
Sexiest Man Alive, philanthropist, southern heartthrob.
But I’m single, and gossip is only getting worse. Unless I can find a girlfriend by signing day, my team won’t re-sign me. Which means no Super Bowl, and no way to honor my dead dad. Yet there’s only one person that gets me a certain gay adult content creator named Michael.
And he just happens to show up at my door right as I’m pleasuring myself to one of his videos.
Somehow, we keep it civil. And we get to talking. Turns out we’re both in a bind. So, we agree to help each other out.
What could go wrong?
- GenresM M RomanceFootball
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2025
26 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 23, 2025
DNF @ 10%. The concept and blurb sounded fantastic but this book makes no sense at all. Plot holes, preposterous coincidences etc… I wanted to like it but I can’t put myself through reading any more of it.
July 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
Fun, Flirty, and Full of Feeling with a Few Bumps Along the Way (Potential Spoilers)
Catching Kyle by Cliff J. Cavender is a spicy queer romance that blends laugh-out-loud moments with emotional vulnerability, all wrapped up in one of my favorite tropes: fake dating. It’s a story that’s not afraid to be steamy, but it also doesn’t shy away from exploring the complexities of identity, ambition, and the messiness of love.
Michael Cunningham is a corporate writer by day and adult content creator by night, secretly hoping to one day become a successful gay romance author. Kyle Weaver is a closeted NFO superstar whose career and legacy are at risk due to swirling rumors about his sexuality. When fate (and a very awkward first encounter) throws them together, they strike a deal to help each other out. What follows is a whirlwind of forced proximity, public appearances, private longing, and some truly swoon-worthy moments.
The chemistry between Michael and Kyle is electric. The banter is sharp, the tension delicious, and the steam is turned way up. I really appreciated Michael’s voice. He’s funny, self-aware, and deeply relatable. Kyle’s inner struggles felt authentic, especially as someone trying to balance public expectations with private desires.
That said, this wasn’t a perfect read. Kyle’s treatment of Michael at certain points made me cringe. His hot-and-cold behavior was frustrating, even if it made sense for his character arc. I also found that some of the side relationships and plot points wrapped up a little too conveniently, making parts of the resolution feel rushed or emotionally unearned.
Still, Cavender’s writing is engaging, the central romance is compelling, and the book overall delivers a satisfying mix of heat and heart. If you’re into queer romances with sports stars, OnlyFans cameos, and fake dating with real feelings, you’ll want to give this one a shot.
Would definitely read more from this author!
I received an ARC of Catching Kyle from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Fun, Flirty, and Full of Feeling with a Few Bumps Along the Way (Potential Spoilers)
Catching Kyle by Cliff J. Cavender is a spicy queer romance that blends laugh-out-loud moments with emotional vulnerability, all wrapped up in one of my favorite tropes: fake dating. It’s a story that’s not afraid to be steamy, but it also doesn’t shy away from exploring the complexities of identity, ambition, and the messiness of love.
Michael Cunningham is a corporate writer by day and adult content creator by night, secretly hoping to one day become a successful gay romance author. Kyle Weaver is a closeted NFO superstar whose career and legacy are at risk due to swirling rumors about his sexuality. When fate (and a very awkward first encounter) throws them together, they strike a deal to help each other out. What follows is a whirlwind of forced proximity, public appearances, private longing, and some truly swoon-worthy moments.
The chemistry between Michael and Kyle is electric. The banter is sharp, the tension delicious, and the steam is turned way up. I really appreciated Michael’s voice. He’s funny, self-aware, and deeply relatable. Kyle’s inner struggles felt authentic, especially as someone trying to balance public expectations with private desires.
That said, this wasn’t a perfect read. Kyle’s treatment of Michael at certain points made me cringe. His hot-and-cold behavior was frustrating, even if it made sense for his character arc. I also found that some of the side relationships and plot points wrapped up a little too conveniently, making parts of the resolution feel rushed or emotionally unearned.
Still, Cavender’s writing is engaging, the central romance is compelling, and the book overall delivers a satisfying mix of heat and heart. If you’re into queer romances with sports stars, OnlyFans cameos, and fake dating with real feelings, you’ll want to give this one a shot.
Would definitely read more from this author!
I received an ARC of Catching Kyle from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2025
I had the privilege to beta read for Catching Kyle and it is truly a heartfelt, funny and charming read! I found myself laughing out loud at the Michael and Kyle’s internal monologues, and the emotional moments landed just as well. As someone who doesn’t usually read romances, the story’s themes of relationships and love driving personal growth made me change my tune on the genre as a whole. Highly recommend for romance lovers :)
October 5, 2025
It’s a bit too on the nose to have one of the main characters be a writer of M/M romances who can’t seem to write a good book. It’s very much someone writing about what they know.
October 25, 2025
Michael Cunningham is a content creator where under the name Peter Cummins, he films his sex encounters with other men to support himself. He's an aspiring writer of gay romances, but his stories have not been impressing his readers. Two years after a disastrous relationship ended, he's slowly working on putting himself out there despite his toxic ex-boyfriend showing up in town and wanting to fuck around. Also, Michael is in Al-Anon, but it's not clearly stated exactly why, if it was due to his upbringing (his parents were alcoholic?) or if his ex is the alcoholic. Michael also carries a huge crush for Kyle Weaver, the NFO's quarterback of the century (never mind it's only 2025).
Football star Kyle has also been recognized as the sexiest man alive, and both titles are repeated constantly. So it's still a shock to him losing the last championship game, and then finding out that due his relationship status as single, his team is considering dumping him when his contract ends. Apparently he's become more of a story than his team wants. So his agent tells him "you gotta meet a woman, it's a guarantee that your contract will be renewed." So Kyle reluctantly agrees to join a local romance book club to meet women. Kyle is also obsessed with the videos of Peter Cummins, which he's watching one afternoon after he chickens out going to the book club and (incredibly conveniently,) Michael shows up on his front door to deliver the book club's newest book. Recognizing Michael/Peter, Kyle decides to get notes on the club meetings from Michael. (It's never explained where he thinks this is going, or how he's going to meet a woman by cribbing notes.)
I was looking forward to reading this when I first heard about it. Apparently this is the author's first novel and what I read of, I found it... tedious. I had multiple issues with this. I felt it needed editing to correct the grammatical errors I noticed, story plotting, and pacing. As the brief summary I wrote indicates, there's a lot of stuff going on here- and this is just half of the story. It was a lot, too much really. Kyle's internalized homophobia was a bit off putting- can't remember the exact quote that turned me off, but it was something akin "every gay man speaking voice has a gay lilt that only gay men have."
The author's self-insertion as a romance fanboy (as Michael) was a bit self-gratuitous, but also did very little to add to the plot... Having seen his Tiktoks, I'd check out his only fans. ;-)
One last takeaway: I did raise eyebrow when Kyle referred to his penis as his toe during an introspective monologue. "My toe still hard after watching Peter Cummins" or "And then his wet face is pressed into my hard toe." Then I raised it again when Michael did the same, as well. "I just met Kyle Weaver. And now I’m showering in his house. And I touched his toe.". Honestly in my 30+ years as a gay man, I've heard many many many things, but I've never heard of slang for male anatomy as a toe<.I>. I realize that this may be a local for the author, but I find it dubious that two men from different parts of the country would do this.
.5 stars, did not finish, moment of death for me was at 27%.
Football star Kyle has also been recognized as the sexiest man alive, and both titles are repeated constantly. So it's still a shock to him losing the last championship game, and then finding out that due his relationship status as single, his team is considering dumping him when his contract ends. Apparently he's become more of a story than his team wants. So his agent tells him "you gotta meet a woman, it's a guarantee that your contract will be renewed." So Kyle reluctantly agrees to join a local romance book club to meet women. Kyle is also obsessed with the videos of Peter Cummins, which he's watching one afternoon after he chickens out going to the book club and (incredibly conveniently,) Michael shows up on his front door to deliver the book club's newest book. Recognizing Michael/Peter, Kyle decides to get notes on the club meetings from Michael. (It's never explained where he thinks this is going, or how he's going to meet a woman by cribbing notes.)
I was looking forward to reading this when I first heard about it. Apparently this is the author's first novel and what I read of, I found it... tedious. I had multiple issues with this. I felt it needed editing to correct the grammatical errors I noticed, story plotting, and pacing. As the brief summary I wrote indicates, there's a lot of stuff going on here- and this is just half of the story. It was a lot, too much really. Kyle's internalized homophobia was a bit off putting- can't remember the exact quote that turned me off, but it was something akin "every gay man speaking voice has a gay lilt that only gay men have."
The author's self-insertion as a romance fanboy (as Michael) was a bit self-gratuitous, but also did very little to add to the plot... Having seen his Tiktoks, I'd check out his only fans. ;-)
One last takeaway: I did raise eyebrow when Kyle referred to his penis as his toe during an introspective monologue. "My toe still hard after watching Peter Cummins" or "And then his wet face is pressed into my hard toe." Then I raised it again when Michael did the same, as well. "I just met Kyle Weaver. And now I’m showering in his house. And I touched his toe.". Honestly in my 30+ years as a gay man, I've heard many many many things, but I've never heard of slang for male anatomy as a toe<.I>. I realize that this may be a local for the author, but I find it dubious that two men from different parts of the country would do this.
.5 stars, did not finish, moment of death for me was at 27%.
September 4, 2025
4 stars
This was a really nice debut romance: two men who have to face their own personal journeys to make their relationship work.
Kyle is a 34 years old football player. He’s the best linebacker in the League and he’s also known for being one of the sexiest men alive. He’s single, he’s a very nice man and, according to the press, the only thing missing in his life it’s a girlfriend.
Michael is a 31 years old aspiring writer, he just finished the first draft of his romance book and in the meantime he has a daily job and also a side job as an adult content creator.
Kyle and Michael never met before the start of the story but they have been each other’s fan for a long time. A very unusual meet cute will finally give them the opportunity to get to know one another.
The book is quite long, so there are a lot of events that happen and I don’t want to leave spoilers, but I want to highlight two things I loved the most.
First, Kyle’s personal journey through self acceptance that will lead him to embrace his own sexuality. It wasn’t an easy growth and actually, several times, he made me frustrated with his back and forth. But all his emotions and conflicting feelings quite well his internalised homophobia, the lack of support by a person he adores and the loneliness he felt his whole life.
Second, Michael’s recognition to put himself first regardless of whether he has a man at his side or not. For years Michael thought to be unlovable, that everyone, at some point, would betray him or abandon him until he becomes aware that he has to be the one who loves himself, that his own valorisation is not something to seek in a relationship, that he deserve to be happy just the way he is.
That last part is actually both of them have in common: for too many years they sought validation from unavailable men (Michael) and football achievements (Kyle).
What prevented me from giving a higher rate:
The tension around 70% of the book was unavoidable and I believe it was a necessary step in Kyle and Michael's relationship. But I also believe that part of that drama was not very credible, especially Timmy and Jessica's involvement in that
Kyle's dirty talk in bed made me cringe a little.
Lastly, there were a few plot holes I needed to be addressed and also minor inconsistencies in the story.
I liked their group of friends very much and I'm surely going to read Tanner's story.
Definitely recommended.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
This was a really nice debut romance: two men who have to face their own personal journeys to make their relationship work.
Kyle is a 34 years old football player. He’s the best linebacker in the League and he’s also known for being one of the sexiest men alive. He’s single, he’s a very nice man and, according to the press, the only thing missing in his life it’s a girlfriend.
Michael is a 31 years old aspiring writer, he just finished the first draft of his romance book and in the meantime he has a daily job and also a side job as an adult content creator.
Kyle and Michael never met before the start of the story but they have been each other’s fan for a long time. A very unusual meet cute will finally give them the opportunity to get to know one another.
The book is quite long, so there are a lot of events that happen and I don’t want to leave spoilers, but I want to highlight two things I loved the most.
First, Kyle’s personal journey through self acceptance that will lead him to embrace his own sexuality. It wasn’t an easy growth and actually, several times, he made me frustrated with his back and forth. But all his emotions and conflicting feelings quite well his internalised homophobia, the lack of support by a person he adores and the loneliness he felt his whole life.
Second, Michael’s recognition to put himself first regardless of whether he has a man at his side or not. For years Michael thought to be unlovable, that everyone, at some point, would betray him or abandon him until he becomes aware that he has to be the one who loves himself, that his own valorisation is not something to seek in a relationship, that he deserve to be happy just the way he is.
That last part is actually both of them have in common: for too many years they sought validation from unavailable men (Michael) and football achievements (Kyle).
What prevented me from giving a higher rate:
The tension around 70% of the book was unavoidable and I believe it was a necessary step in Kyle and Michael's relationship. But I also believe that part of that drama was not very credible, especially Timmy and Jessica's involvement in that
Kyle's dirty talk in bed made me cringe a little.
Lastly, there were a few plot holes I needed to be addressed and also minor inconsistencies in the story.
I liked their group of friends very much and I'm surely going to read Tanner's story.
Definitely recommended.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
July 22, 2025
I'll be totally honest, I am not much of a romance reader, let alone gay romance. I fall into the straight, stereotypically masculine ideal most of the time, and if I'm reading anything about football, it's fantasy football cheat sheets or autobiographies of old players. On all fronts, Catching Kyle really shouldn't be for me. And that's why I am so happy to report that I enjoyed every single word of it!
My typical problem with romance is that I don't really care for the two people who are getting together. Catching Kyle was a breath of fresh air in that regard. Both Michael and Kyle are fully formed characters, with believable motivations, distinct personalities, and relatable flaws. Kyle especially is someone that I instantly rooted for and wanted to know if he would get his happy ending. The supporting characters are also interesting in and of themselves, but never get in the way of the main story.
I also loved the accurate portrayal of American football and its culture! You can tell that Cliff really knows his stuff when it comes to the game, and wrote this out of a love for it, not any kind of trend-chasing. Kyle's queer identity as told through the lens of a major player coming out in the uber-macho world of professional football is handled with grace, clarity, and a healthy dose of realism. This is not just a gay romance novel dressed up with the trappings of football. It is a gay romance novel that is ALSO about football, and that kept me interested the whole time.
All in all, I cannot recommend Catching Kyle enough. It has enough heart, wit, and emotional vulnerability to enthrall even the least likely of readers. I will definitely be checking out the author's next book whenever it comes out. I can't wait!
My typical problem with romance is that I don't really care for the two people who are getting together. Catching Kyle was a breath of fresh air in that regard. Both Michael and Kyle are fully formed characters, with believable motivations, distinct personalities, and relatable flaws. Kyle especially is someone that I instantly rooted for and wanted to know if he would get his happy ending. The supporting characters are also interesting in and of themselves, but never get in the way of the main story.
I also loved the accurate portrayal of American football and its culture! You can tell that Cliff really knows his stuff when it comes to the game, and wrote this out of a love for it, not any kind of trend-chasing. Kyle's queer identity as told through the lens of a major player coming out in the uber-macho world of professional football is handled with grace, clarity, and a healthy dose of realism. This is not just a gay romance novel dressed up with the trappings of football. It is a gay romance novel that is ALSO about football, and that kept me interested the whole time.
All in all, I cannot recommend Catching Kyle enough. It has enough heart, wit, and emotional vulnerability to enthrall even the least likely of readers. I will definitely be checking out the author's next book whenever it comes out. I can't wait!
July 30, 2025
"Catching Kyle" is an absolutely captivating read that beautifully explores an unexpected romance. This contemporary romance novel introduces us to pro football star and "Sexiest Man Alive" Kyle Weaver, whose world intertwines with OF creator Michael Cunningham, a secret he holds close.
I was particularly drawn to the excellent character development, witnessing how both Kyle and Michael grew individually and together throughout their journey. The supportive network of friends and family surrounding them truly enhanced the story, adding depth and warmth to their evolving relationship.
I definitely recommend "Catching Kyle" for anyone who enjoys a heartwarming and engaging romance with compelling characters. I'm eagerly looking forward to the rest of the "Football Heartthrobs" series from Cliff!
I was particularly drawn to the excellent character development, witnessing how both Kyle and Michael grew individually and together throughout their journey. The supportive network of friends and family surrounding them truly enhanced the story, adding depth and warmth to their evolving relationship.
I definitely recommend "Catching Kyle" for anyone who enjoys a heartwarming and engaging romance with compelling characters. I'm eagerly looking forward to the rest of the "Football Heartthrobs" series from Cliff!
September 4, 2025
Catching Kyle was such a fun and engaging read! From the very first chapter, I was hooked by the banter, sharp dialogue, and the undeniable chemistry between the characters. Kyle is messy, flawed, and lovable in all the right ways, which made following his journey both frustrating at times and completely addictive.
What really stood out to me was the balance of humor, tension, and heartfelt moments. Cliff Cavender’s writing kept me turning the pages and left me fully invested in the outcome.
If you’re a romance reader who enjoys witty banter, imperfect characters you can’t help but root for, and stories that keep you hooked start to finish, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up!
What really stood out to me was the balance of humor, tension, and heartfelt moments. Cliff Cavender’s writing kept me turning the pages and left me fully invested in the outcome.
If you’re a romance reader who enjoys witty banter, imperfect characters you can’t help but root for, and stories that keep you hooked start to finish, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up!
September 9, 2025
✨ I just couldn’t put Catching Kylie by Cliff Cavender down! The emotional angst in this book is unlike ANYTHING I’ve ever experienced. When I hit this page,
“You are so much more to me than a fucking fleshlight. You are everything to me.”
“Then fucking treat me like it,” I say. “Flaunt me around. Don’t just take me to meet your family in private. Take me to a football game. Put your arm around me. Kiss me, for Christ’s sake. In front of anyone and everyone. Don’t just tell me you love me. I’m tired of your words. Show me that you love me. No matter who’s watching.”
all I could hear was Meredith & Derek 😭 If you haven’t read it yet, do yourself a favor and download it ASAP! 💔📖
October 1, 2025
I liked the blurb and this trope. This book needs a few more read throughs by an editor. Wrong names used and plot holes just kept pulling me out of the story. I pushed myself to finish it because I don't like to DNF books but I seriously considered it.
October 29, 2025
Kyle & Michael
DNF - The storyline of the two MMCs ok. the side plot of Kyle and the football organization. NO. Absolutely No. I hated it. had that not been there I would have overlooked all the grammatical and editing errors. But that shyt pissed me off so much. I think I made it to 50%
DNF - The storyline of the two MMCs ok. the side plot of Kyle and the football organization. NO. Absolutely No. I hated it. had that not been there I would have overlooked all the grammatical and editing errors. But that shyt pissed me off so much. I think I made it to 50%
dnf
September 15, 2025DNF. Not feeling it at the moment. May come back to it later.
Read
September 24, 2025DNF 53%
Yeah I kinda knew this would happen but it’s at the midpoint and I honestly have lost interest. Could just be me and maybe others would enjoy it more than I have.
Yeah I kinda knew this would happen but it’s at the midpoint and I honestly have lost interest. Could just be me and maybe others would enjoy it more than I have.
September 11, 2025
I really did try hard to connect with these characters but honestly I was confused a lot of the time, there were so many grammatical errors it was distracting, time of death for me 46%……I tried 🤷♀️
October 5, 2025
First of all, my feelings towards “Catching Kyle” by Cliff J. Cavender are complicated, lol! I don’t think I’ve ever been so enraged while reading a book, only to be swooning and smiling a few pages later. The premise itself is pretty wild and definitely requires some suspension of disbelief, like what are the odds of these two ending up in each other’s lives that way? But once I leaned into it, I found myself hooked. The characters feel so real, even within such an over-the-top setup. Michael is a sweetheart, a content creator who is shown as a full human being rather than a stereotype, with his insecurities and hopes laid bare. Kyle, on the other hand, drove me crazy at times, but in the best way. He is complicated, weighed down by expectations, and terrified of being outed, which made his struggles both frustrating and painfully human.
The chemistry between Kyle and Michael is undeniable, and the spice is everything you want from a steamy sports romance. It is sexy, a little kinky, and very well-written. What really stood out to me though was how they supported each other through their journeys, even when things were not easy. Kyle’s coming out story had me pulling my hair out at times, but I loved how the book itself acknowledged that frustration, making it feel intentional rather than accidental. Their intimacy is peak, their dynamic compelling, and the balance of heart and heat kept me glued to the page. This was definitely a journey, one that left me both exhausted and exhilarated, and I cannot wait to dive into the next installment of the series.
The chemistry between Kyle and Michael is undeniable, and the spice is everything you want from a steamy sports romance. It is sexy, a little kinky, and very well-written. What really stood out to me though was how they supported each other through their journeys, even when things were not easy. Kyle’s coming out story had me pulling my hair out at times, but I loved how the book itself acknowledged that frustration, making it feel intentional rather than accidental. Their intimacy is peak, their dynamic compelling, and the balance of heart and heat kept me glued to the page. This was definitely a journey, one that left me both exhausted and exhilarated, and I cannot wait to dive into the next installment of the series.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews