You, Me, & A Penalty

by S. Reed

Genres: M M Romance, Sports

382 pages, Paperback

Published May 29, 2026

About the author

Has also published as S.D. Reed

Hello, I'm S. Reed. Reed for short, and S for shorter.

I like to think of myself as the purveyor of literary ice-cream, because who loves just one flavour, right? So, I'll be brining you stories from varying genres such as: Horror, Sci-Fi, Comedy, Romance, Thriller, Fantasy, and so much more!

A cool thing about all my novels is that they will all connect in some way or another - whether that be via a direct reference, a character, or something else. Oh, and I love long term storytelling, so if your beloved character doesn't get what you hoped for - just keep an eye out because they may just show up down the line in a different book - or even a collection of short stories.

When I'm not writing I can be found either gaming, reading, or watching movies/tv shows with my family and pets.

Reviews

[Morally Gray Shae · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Good, we can play my favorite formation--Sixty-Nine"

This was an ARC I received from the author.

Before I Started
I went into this book blind, only knowing it was an MM Football romance.
I was hoping to feel: Cozy MM romance vibes.

While Reading
My gut reaction: I knew right away that I was going to fall in love with the boys!
What pulled me in: Kyle, he was such a complex interesting character, and I enjoyed his family dynamic.

After Finishing
First emotional reaction: This book left me feeling cozy and settled.

The Feeling That Stayed
The one emotion that stuck with me hours later: I would defend these boys, they deserve happiness.
One thing I never thought of that totally make sense, is a coach telling his players to fall even if the barely are touched.

Distance Test
How I feel about it a day later: Still riding the happy high
Did it fade or deepen? Deepen

Verdict
I’d recommend this to someone who wants to feel: A cozy MM read that also makes you laugh out loud

[Marcos “MSMDragon” · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book!! As a fan of soccer/football, I found the story exciting and entertaining. S. Reed’s writing was concise and flowed really well. Kyle and AJ were fantastic characters and I loved their romance. I was super happy to see that their story isn’t over!

[Bookstarreviews_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ 1.5🌶️

A heartwarming MM football romance packed with hope, love and banter! 😍

I’ve never read a football romance before and I thoroughly enjoyed this gay romance. The book commenced in a lovely fashion and really allowed you to see a snippet of AJ and Kyle’s friendship before they became rivals as footballers in different clubs.

This friends to enemies to lovers book was very engaging. I loved the dual POV and found this perfect to read whilst the World Cup was on. I found some of the chapters really lengthy, but the connection between the protagonists really spur you to read on.

While there were some elements of spice with more than one ball that Kyle and AJ liked on the pitch, this wasn’t a major focus in the novel and I loved this. The book explores so many other topics, such as mental health with panic attacks, homophobia and being gay and closeted in sports.

I loved Trish’s character in this read too and thought she was perfect with her sound advice. What I really loved was the sprinkling of funny puns and comments throughout, which really match my humour.

This book was so relatable in many ways and I adored the love and hope it emitted throughout. A huge thanks @s.reed.author for this copy of You, Me, & A Penalty. ☺️

I highly recommend this read!

💬:
-‘Is everything a competition with you?’
-‘I’ll bang in fifty goals a season. So why do they care who I bang in my sheets?’

⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️

[James Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for reaching out and providing me with a pre-publication review copy, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend.

4.25 ⭐️

As someone who barely reads romances, this childhood best friends to football rivals to lovers novel was both very sweet and meaningful but equally funny and a bit spicy too. We’re following Kyle and AJ, starting when they’re 12 playing for an academy in the North (I did want to know where specifically as we get other locations) when Kyle gets transferred to a London team (the later London hate haha love it) and AJ—with the help of his well-off dad—joins their rival club City, losing contact in the process. Fast forward 8 years and both are the rising star strikers for their respective clubs and a slip up leading to a cup winning penalty cements a rivalry, along with the news Kyle is moving back to his childhood team Union.

What follows is the aforementioned rivals-lovers romance but the book also tackles a lot more regarding being gay in elite sports (possibly career ending to come out), the immense pressure placed on players to fit a certain image and the vitriolic nature of journalism and social media. These are addressed phenomenally well and we get attitudes on multiple topics from a range of angles. When one decides to announce his sexuality he champions the idea that representation is vitally needed in male football (the women have it covered amazingly!) to show younger queer kids it’s possible to excel in something you love despite the still-dominant homophobia in many fan bases.

Kyle’s anxiety and dealing with panic attacks were handed so well and showed the real impact of the pressures he’s under. With the help of both AJ returning to his life and his die-trish-ian friend Trish (a lovely side character that was hard but well meaning) he’s able to break down the walls he for so long held up to keep the world out. Feelings of not being able to love/be loved and sabotaging his own happiness for what’s expected. Likewise, AJ suffers from some apprehension to support him given his family’s financial position and trying to prove his place. On the flip side, Kyle comes from a working class upbringing on a council estate and how he feels the need to support his family alongside his dad’s pressure and homophobic attitudes. Following their journey was lovely and you just wanted the best to come and for them to not only follow their dreams of being the best in the world, representing their club and country, but also to be happy.

I did prefer the more heavier topics discussed but also really enjoyed the romance and spice. As a self-proclaimed smut hater, the … scenes were not too excessive and a little bit hot ngl, albeit the use of ‘length’ was maybe a bit much haha. The cheeky innuendoes and flirtatious nature were done well and genuinely I did laugh out loud on a few occasions - the ‘FIFA’ playing together like old times was especially fun 😉. There’s a couple tropes used but also commentary on them (e.g. one bed) and these I did enjoy given the great characters and me really wanting them to get together.

The ending was good, I think it maybe came together a bit too quick but in the author’s note I think there’s going to be a follow up which I’d be very interested to pick up and follow on their journey. Overall i did really enjoy this book, recommend it and would read from the author again.

[Mary Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am well and truly in my Year of Romance, and You, Me, & A Penalty did not disappoint.
I adored this book, I love a story where the balance of yearning, laughter, love and spice are perfectly blended. And this was *chefs kiss* perfection.

But, more importantly was the way the characters developed. The representation of mental health, that was included so seamlessly and flawlessly. The anxiety depicted was believable and perfectly written, it also wasn’t “fixed”, or just used as a plot device.

I am a heterosexual woman, so I can’t speak on behalf of the LBGTQQIA+ community, but I do know that representation in fiction, particularly in traditionally male areas is vitally important.
S Reeds Author’s Note at the end of this book is beautifully written, in it he says he hopes people will use this book as a light and I hope they do too.

You, Me, & A Penalty is a beautifully written book and I cannot recommend it enough.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

AJ and Kyle have been friends since childhood, bonded by their shared love of football (soccer). As talented young players, they're eventually sent to academies at opposite ends of the country, forcing them apart. When they reconnect as adults, they realise their feelings for each other run deeper than friendship. But can their relationship survive when they're playing for rival teams in a sport where being openly gay still isn't seen as an option?

This is an enjoyable rom-com, and it's easy to find yourself rooting for both characters to get their happy ever after. However, I personally felt that the football content (and there's a lot of it!) often overshadowed their story. At times, the detailed blow-by-blow descriptions of yet another football match meant I found myself losing interest and I really had to push through some chapters - but if you're a football fan, this may not be an issue for you..

I also found AJ and Kyle's relationship a bit difficult to follow at times, because their feelings seem to swing from affection to resentment and back again over relatively minor incidents, making the romance feel a bit disjointed. I also think the book could have benefited from more intimacy. The sex scenes are fairly PG-rated, which isn't inherently a problem, but a bit more depth in those moments might have helped strengthen the feeling of emotional connection between AJ and Kyle. As it stands, they occasionally felt, for me, a little underdeveloped and two-dimensional as a couple.

That said, the book is still an enjoyable enough read and passes the time inoffensively. It was definitely refreshing to read an MM romance told from a UK perspective, centred on British football rather than American sports. It's also encouraging to discover an independently published UK author, and for that reason alone, I hope the book finds the audience it deserves.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt EVERY emotion while reading this book. I literally laughed our loud, I cried, I was angry and I was incredibly happy!

To me that is an AMAZING book. The author was so real and didn't shy away from raw emotions and feelings surrounding homophobia in professional sports.

When the writing makes you feel it all as you turn the pages you know the effort that was put into the writing process.

This is one of those reads that stays with you forever, I will most definitely being doing a re-read soon!

[Philippa Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be the best book I have read in a long time, I could not put it down. The characters are relatable and very likeable. This book had me laughing, shouting for the texts to be sent and crying I hope there are more to come from this amazing author

[J Bridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I beta read this one and if Ted Lasso had a rivals to lovers MM romance, it would be this book. 💙

[Dez Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the surface, You, Me and a Penalty looks like another sports romance, but it feels more grounded and emotionally real than many others in the genre while still embracing the fantasy of professional football.

Alongside the humour and romance tropes, the book explores anxiety, online scrutiny, and homophobia in football. The emotional conflict feels genuine, particularly in its exploration of privacy, visibility, and queer identity within elite sport.

I also appreciated that careers, public image, and football culture feel just as important as the romance itself. Despite the heavier themes, the writing stays funny, warm, and entertaining throughout.

Cute, emotional, and more thoughtful than I expected, You, Me and a Penalty combines escapism with themes that feel very real