Play Mates

by Leona Bolt

Marlon is a professional football player, a millionaire at 21, and a virgin - and he would love for his older sister to stop teasing him about that last bit.

Freddie is Marlon's teammate, bisexual, and more than willing to show Marlon a good time. It's just the one night - what could possibly go wrong?

Play Mates is book one in the Heart of Goal interconnected standalone series about queer men in football (soccer) discovering the soft core underneath their often hard shells.

158 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 22, 2026

About the author

Leona Bolt hat ein Faible für ebenso dramatische wie humorvolle queere Romance und lebt in ihren Geschichten aus, wie sie die echte Welt gerne sehen würde: mit Höhen und Tiefen, aber einem garantierten Happy End.

Außer dem Schreiben liebt sie grünen Tee, Babykatzen und den Ausblick von ihrer Terrasse.

Reviews

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the ARC.

Marlon and Freddie are teammates who spend one night together… but that night stays with them long after the sun comes up. What starts as something fleeting slowly turns into something much deeper, and I loved reading it unfold.

This story felt like such a relatable queer awakening. That feeling of not quite fitting anywhere, of carrying something inside you that you don’t fully understand yet, until one day, you finally do. It was emotional, honest, and handled with so much care.

Freddie’s conversation with Julian truly left me in tears. It was raw and vulnerable in a way that really stayed with me.

“That’s why I wanted to talk to you, yeah? To tell you. Make you understand how terrible it feels when you fail. I just—I want you kids to make it work.” He looks straight into my eyes and I’m horrified to find tears in his. “Because it sure as fuck was the best thing I’ve ever had, when we did have it.”

I truly hope Julian can one day be genuinely happy.

I also felt so much for Paolo. Loving someone who is in love with someone else is such a painful and complicated place to be.

The ending felt absolutely wonderful, the perfect culmination of Marlon and Freddie’s journey, but it also feels like a beginning, full of anticipation and hope for their future together.

Play Mates is a slow burn about two idiots in love who have to fight for a life together, even if that life can’t be shared openly with the rest of the world. Tender, heartfelt, and deeply moving.

I really enjoyed this author’s work, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for her future projects.

[Berksun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello,

I received the ARC so I wanted to thank Leona for that.

4.5 ⭐️

My first ARC review so bear with me.

Play Mates is a friends to lovers story, virgin gay awakening, yearning, spicy feel good novella.

I actually really enjoyed the story. It was pretty great, so much yearning and it made me crazy 😅 I learned from this book I don’t enjoy yearning that much it makes me stir crazy. When 2 people clearly want to be together but can’t for the time being and not honest with themselves and each other makes me want to punch them.

The spice in the book is on the low side , there are good scenes but made me want more. I know it’s a novella but I found it short because I wanted to read more… I guess it’s a good thing? I mean good for the book but not for me 😭 (because I want more)

The characters are great, could have given more about them , maybe more about Marlon’s adventures with him moaning Freddie but again novella.

I guess that’s the only thing that bothered me that it’s short so it’s missing some pieces to connect the whole thing and I also would have loved to see them as a couple and how they manage their relationship together. Hey maybe we can get another novella to continue :)

Thank you

[Michael Raasch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting an early review on this book was fun! The story between Marlon and Freddie was a fun time. Dealing with falling in love with one of your best friends, but with the sport life surrounding them, makes it a very difficult challenge.

Marlon always thought he was straight, but all it takes was his sister to meddle in his life to see that he was not straight at all. Freddie walks in and that was the tipping point of his sexuality. Freddie being comfortable with his sexuality is a good thing for Marlon to look on and also have the support from.

But, when things get heated, the both agree to just have one night together, but Freddie is catching feelings. Due to the fact that he has had a crush on Marlon for years. And he does not know what to do with them. So, he pushes Marlon away and only hurts himself in the process. Marlon tries and moves one with another person but even Marlon is not into that person either.

Thankfully, in the end, they both come to terms with their feelings and make things work out. Freddie and Marlon are perfect for each other.

[Han. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love me some British, mm premier league football romance. So when I saw this novella arc sign-up, I could not resist! It was kinda angsty, and slow burn with two 21 year old pro footballers are forced to hide their sexuality.

I thought it was interesting how the 2 MCs kinda swap how they navigate their lives, Marlon goes from shy vir-gin to sleeping around, and Freddie does the opposite after his night with Marlon. I'd definitely class this as insta-love, but closeted because of their careers.

It was sad to read about their feelings and navigating around them with other factors in this mix.

It was a good read, I like a little angst and the touch of grovelling.

"There’s a levity in his gaze, a freedom in his expression, that I haven’t seen before. I did that."

[Jordan Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly thank you to the author for sending me an advanced ARC copy! Where to even start, I love Marlon and Freddie so much! I was in love with them within the first couple of chapters, they’re adorable and so sweet together, however at times I did want to smash both their heads together because of how stupid they’re! I flew through this book in a day, I genuinely couldn’t put it down! Their love story is beautiful with and guaranteed HEA! I can’t wait for the next book in the series, I need more of Marlon & Freddie.

[Ailish Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

arc copy received by author

4 ⭐️ - lovely little novella where the main characters have good banter and the right amount of angst and happy!! i’m usually sceptical about sport romances about sports i’m actually a fan of but this one seems well researched and accurate. it sometimes felt a bit rushed but i guess that’s how novella’s roll, excited to see where this can be taken going forward!

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super cute novella about two young men falling in love. But like most young men, sex has to be involved. They don’t know how to think or express themselves in any other way. No shade lol. I get it, sometimes the body knows what the heart doesn’t...yet.

With all the hype of forbidden sports love, this novella fits perfectly in the trope. If you’re looking for a cute and quick read abuot two men who probably shouldn’t date, dating, this is it.

[Sandie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited for the premise of the book and really wanted to like it but it was just not for me. Even though it is a longer novella, they just don't spend much of it together. I really liked Freddie but didn't end up liking Marlon much at all after he became the casual hook up guy. I also don't really like stories where the MMC's other hook ups happen on page. They got their happy ending but could have had it a lot sooner if they just communicated.

I received an ARC for my honest review.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful M/M sports UK football ⚽️romance
Leona Bolt’s writing was filled with angst and forbidden love. The main characters were young and off and on as they continued their careers in footie. It’s a touching history of their times together and the love that they have is sweet & spicy.

I recommend this author’s book and I’m looking forward to a new book in her series 🏳️‍🌈🤩💞

[Charlie Urquhart-Rothwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book, It was really sweet and the characters were really easy to like thrpughout the story. It also can be emotinal at times as well making you feel happy, sad, and pity for some of the characters throughout, it was an absolute pleasure to read this story. :)

[Micky Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5
The book went from 0 to 100 within the first two chapters
The storyline itself was predictable and brief
The characters were good but lacked depth

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Read- Gay Awakening, team mates, instant yearning, quite an easy read

[Ashley Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arc review- quick and easy read, mm sports romance. A bit heavy on the homophobia without a real resolution other than a closeted hea. I like the characters but overall it felt flat.