Kulti

— 4.5 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫I have yet to discover a Mariana Zapata book that I haven’t loved.Kulti tells us the story of Sal Casillas, a soccer forward player who finds herself in a bit of a career stagnant. Sal is fiery, loyal and career-driven. Finding herself sticking to commitments for the sake of her career, for a sport she truly loves, is nothing difficult for Sal. However as the story unfolds Sal starts to question her place in her team, and where her value lies.In comes Reiner Kulti, retired international soccer icon and childhood crush of Sal Casillas. When we’re first introduced to Reiner, Sal and her team names are all star-struck. Whoever says you should meet your heroes is wrong. Reiner is surly, dismissive and overall very rude. And whilst this is the version of Reiner throughout this slow burn, we slowly begin to see the cracks Sal creates. Whilst he isn’t a man of the best words until near the end, I love that Reiner is a man of actions. It’s easy for people to say nice and well meaning words just to never back them up. Reiner is angry at the world and at himself, but when it matters most he is always acting on behalf of Sal. He becomes her tied number one supporter (tied with her adorable dad) and proves time and time again that she is worth far more than what she is getting from her team.Mariana Zapata has this knack for giving just the right amount of spotlight to her side characters. Whilst I really didn’t care much for Sal’s youngest sister and most of her teammates, I found myself really looking forward to the appearances of Sal’s dad, and her teammates Harlow and Jenny. Sal’s dad has been her number one supporter since day one. Her best friend. It was such a beautiful relationship to read, and his fan-girling moments over Reiner were hilarious. Harlow, Jenny and Sal had formed such a tight bond amongst the team. And those girls had Sal’s back all throughout the drama that was flung her way.I really did love this book, and I’d now consider this a top three MZ book for me.

I really enjoyed reading this book so much that I couldn't put it down for long without wanting to know what would happen next.I love that the book was a slow burn and the author took her time with the story and progressing the main characters relationship. Really beautiful ending, it wasn't rushed at all and I love how things that happened in the beginning of the story came back around at the end which was a really lovely surprise.The only thing I would have liked to see was Sal's sister Ceci have some kind of redemption, as her relationship with her sister did not evolve, however, as it was a minor aspect of the story it didn't really have an impact on the main story at all.So glad I read this book, it was fantastic and I couldn't recommend it enough 🙌

Football ⚽ is the main character here. Sal is a professional player in the US, she is overworked, under paid and underappreciated too. She meets her new assistant coach and exposure (her childhood hero) and discovers that meeting your hero's isn't a good thing. There is a lot of banter from her side and her friends. Kulti is a superstar explayer, who is as dry and humourless as it can be.The book is quite funny at times, and her habit to constantly think of poop in order to act normal and think of him as a normal person is hilarious. This book is slower than slow burn, at 88% of the book we get the very first kids and around 92% when they get hot and heavy.... For a moment there I thought the book was going to be completely clean. We didn't even get much angst not any explicit tension.Over all it was really good, but a bit too long too.

I've been binging Mariana Zapata's books, and Kulti couldn't miss.Soccer prodigy Sal plays for an American soccer team. Her team starts making the news when legendary German soccer player Kulti becomes one of the coaches. Kulti doesn't speak much and when he does only rude things come out of her mouth. However, Sal is not standing for it. The two butt heads multiple times, but there is more hiding inside Kulti and the true reason on while he's working for the team.I loved it! It was full of angst and emotions.