4.5 stars

A sapphic twist on the classic story of the cheerleader falling for the quarterback, Home Field Advantage is a poignant YA contemporary that does not shy away from presenting its teenage characters in all of their messy, imperfect glory. Adler tackles a number of issues in this novel (homophobia, misogyny in sports, religious bigotry, and the pressures of deciding when and how to come out, just to name a few) in a way that I found to be both sensitive and thought-provoking.

What I appreciated most about this romance, however, is how it struck a balance between what I often see as the extremes of YA contemporary. I have recently found myself getting turned off by the genre after reading books that were either so soft and overly romanticized or so hardcore and dark to the point of feeling completely disingenuous to the experience of adolescence. This book does such a wonderful job of finding that happy medium and I am so thankful for this book for getting over my YA contemporary hump.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I keep saying that romance isn't my preferred genre, but then landing on amazing books like this one... I might have to change up my usual stance on the genre as a whole at this rate.

I absolutely loved this book with my whole heart. I now want a football player girlfriend and I will be making it my main life goal until further notice. There was something about the story, the characters, and their flirting and teasing that had me all giddy, blushing, giggling... My friends even told me it was a little out of character to see me like this since I'm usually much more serious when reading. I finished it in two days because I didn't want to put it down, and even when I wasn't actively reading it, it was always at the back of my mind.

The main plot itself—closeted queer cheerleader and lesbian football player against the world—is so good and Adler does a great job of executing it. The relationship really tugs on your heart strings, during both the good and the bad. You understand the complicated situation they're in and how difficult it is to navigate. I found the characters to be extremely realistic which I always appreciate because it made it that much easier to relate to them and to get lost into the story.

I strongly recommend this book and I'll definitely be putting it at the top of my romance list!

Source: NetGalley

This was a cute contemporary romance and a brilliant extremely sapphic twist to the quarterback-cheerleader romance. I'm not one to love that trope - first of all because it does sound extremely heterosexual and cliché for my liking. But this queer twist to a very heterosexual and cis trope is something that I can definitely get behind.

I loved this book and it was so fun I was able to finish it in one sitting. Plot-wise, it was simple. We have our two main characters - Amber is our bright cheerful cheerleader who is working for that captain title next year and is trying to hide the fact that she's queer with the help of her jock best friend/fake-boyfriend Miguel. And then we also have Jack Walsh - the new quarterback who is replacing the school's beloved QB (who has done nothing for the team, but then again popularity in American high school - from what I can gather from plenty YA books - is sometimes weird and I have no idea how it works even now) and turns out to be a girl. And surprise, it turns out that the majority of the team and the cheerleader team are some of the most sexist and misogynistic people ever. You know the rest.

Reading this from both of their perspectives, I really liked that even with the romance brewing between them, these two characters had something else going on for themselves for their character arc. They both have something they want to achieve - Amber wanting to be captain and Jack wanting to get an athlete scholarship for college and not wanting to let down her parents who have been nothing but supportive of her decision - and they're both headstrong to achieve their goal. Love how the characters are written so well in here from the backstory of their different situations to their personal growth.

I loved Amber's storyline the most and as much as this was a lighthearted story this book definitely raises important questions and discussions that I feel like would be relatable for a lot of its readers. Amber struggled so much in terms of her identity here - how do you deal with the fact that the team you've always feel like you belonged in turns out have beliefs and actions that are hurtful to you and the people you love? how are you supposed to react and stand your belief but at the same time not let go of something you truly worked hard on and not to make people that have been nice to you upset? - and even though I can't relate to her in this specific situation, I think the same question is applicable to a lot of other ones readers may face in their own lives. And not just from Amber - but from Miguel too who is also dealing with this from his own football team who has been nothing but rude towards the new quarterback. Also love how the message of this is clear: that being neutral and passive to a situation like this is still the same as picking a side.

Aside from that, the romance was also achingly sweet and I'm not one to love sport romance but this one was just really cute (more sapphic sports romance please). I also love the queer rep and solidarity between some of the characters and even though the high school is so conservative it makes me want to rip my hair out, I'm glad that there are people who are very validating for our MCs. I also just really love Amber's mom, who is bi and is probably the most supportive for Amber. Love that for her!

This book although is very light and easy to read, it definitely deals with A LOT of homophobic and misogynistic remarks and comments so please keep this in mind before reading if you're not up for that.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Having enjoyed Dahlia Adele’s prior book, I was excited to try another from her with Home Field Advantage. And while sports is very much not my thing, it’s definitely one of those books that you can enjoy even if you aren’t into football or cheerleading. That said, I do like how the book flips the traditional football player-and-cheerleader dynamic on its head by making it sapphic, and interrogating the misogyny of sports like football in the process. These and other tough topics, like teen pregnancy, abortion, and miscarriage, the death in a DUI-related car accident that serves as an inciting incident, and queerphobia are among the issues either tackled or touched on in the book. However, it never loses its generally lighthearted feel, and Adler demonstrates the care and sensitivity and has for her readers in handling these issues.
Jack is incredibly easy to root for, being the new kid and a girl recruited to fill a void left by the passing of the school’s star player. She’s a terrible double bind as a result as everyone seems to be against her, but I’m glad she didn’t let it get to her.
Amber is also incredibly sympathetic, in that she too deals airy pressure upon Jack’s arrival. She wants to be welcoming, but she also has aspirations to be cheerleading captain, a position that’s unattainable if she doesn’t play along with the rest in their campaign to oust Jack from the team.
I really liked the development of their relationship. Given the odds they’re up against, it’s nice to see them be so open and supportive of each other for the most part. There’s also a lot of room for growth, as they (especially Amber) make mistakes, which get called out and are worked out without a ton of drama.
This book is super sweet and cute, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys sapphic contemporaries.

Content warning: homophobia, misogyny

This was a fun one! It definitely wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I still really enjoyed it. It's a dual first-person POV focused on the two main characters; Amber, the cheerleader, and Jack, the school's new quarterback. I really enjoyed that the narration was from both characters, they were both developed really well and it was easy to understand their motivations, even though the decisions they made were sometimes frustrating. The focus of the plot is on Jack attempting to succeed at her new school and on her new team, and on Amber vying to be next year's cheer captain while attempting to strike a balance between her relationship with Jack and still staying in everyone else's good graces.

While I did really enjoy this book, it was extremely frustrating to read at times. This was mainly because of the sheer amount of misogyny and homophobia featured. I was expecting some degree of it, but I guess I've been coddled by the LGBTQ+ books I've been reading lately because I wasn't expecting the vast majority of the supporting characters to be absolutely AWFUL. That doesn't mean there isn't character development for some of them, but if you're looking for a book where the characters are out and accepted from the get go, this probably isn't the one for you unfortunately. However, even with this frustrating aspect, there were some satisfying moments and good character development that came out of it.

I would definitely recommend this book, but keep in mind the content warnings if you decide to pick it up!

Home Field Advantage is a quarterback/cheerleader romance with a twist. It is a wonderful coming of age story that touches on many heavy topics. The overall message is positive and focuses on being true to yourself.
I love how the MC have wonderful support systems within their own families. While the world inside the walls of high school is cruel enough for straight teens, it is even more difficult for LGBT teens. I was happy to see a few teammates finally stick up for Amber, Jack, Miguel, and Malcom.
I paired the eBook with the audio, and I am glad I did. The narrators did a wonderful job with the voices. I especially enjoyed being able to hear the emotions during Jack’s chapters.
Thank you to Net Galley, St. Martin’s Publishing Group and OrangeSky Audio for my eArc and audiobook copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this! Dahlia Adler has proven to be a reliable pick for fun wlw romances with well developed characters, and this one did not disappoint. I love that it takes an old hetero trope of the quarterback and cheerleader falling in love and makes it feel completely new. Heads up that a good deal of the angst in it does have to do with coming out (even though it's not coming out to family) which does feel a bit tired, but I still enjoyed the rest.

I thought this book was so sweet. I loved the lgbt representation as well as showing that females can play football also; that was a huge debate at my high school!

CONTENT WARNING: homophobia, bullying

After reading Cool for the Summer and falling in love with Adler’s writing, there was absolutely no questions about wanting to read this book. And despite the fact that sports romance is most certainly not my jam, turns out when it’s a sapphic sports romance, it is absolutely my jam! Especially in the talented hands (or keyboard) of Dahlia Adler.

I adore the way that this book combines the difficult topics of homophobia, bullying, grief, the pressures of high school, and how religion influences people, with lighter topics such as friendship and romance. Amber is in a tough place—she’s queer and in the closet, and is focusing all of her efforts on becoming cheer captain so that she can snag a scholarship and escape her small-minded Florida Panhandle town, and finally be free to express who she really is. But everything gets thrown off track when the recently deceased quarterback is replaced by a new player, who happens to be a girl. There’s so much going on in Amber’s head, and I honestly liked her so much, even if I didn’t like all of her actions. But then again, she’s in high school, and all of us did some stupid things back in those days, right?

Jack is in a completely different place from Amber. She’s comfortable with her sexuality, although she doesn’t flaunt it in a place that isn’t very welcoming to LGBTQ people. She and her mom have uprooted their lives to come and play football at Atherton, leaving all of her friends and most of her family behind for this opportunity. But when things don’t work out as she had hoped, she’s in for a rough, lonely road. Her teammates have completely rejected her, and she’s the subject of some hurtful bullying. The only bright spot in her new life is Amber, the only person at the school who has been marginally nice to her.

I loved the way that these two interact with each other and the others in their lives, and there are definitely some funny moments in this story. It prevents it from getting too heavy, and I became quickly engrossed in these two girls and their lives. It isn’t heavy on the sports talk, although it definitely made me appreciate all the work that goes into cheerleading, and why it’s viewed as a sport. And the one chapter involving the big game was amazing. I was so amped up for it, in a way that I never am for actual football. Maybe if more women played I’d be more interested. By the end, I was tearing up at how beautifully this story was told, and Dahlia Adler has cemented her place in my personal list of favorites.

I’m really digging the diversity in romance and YA books this year so far. Home Field Advantage is the story of in-the-closet cheerleader Amber and the new female quarterback, Jack. I thought the story really showcased the misogyny and homophobia that can come from a small, southern town.

Jack moved specifically for the first (and likely only) chance to be a quarterback for a school-based team and she shows up to learn that the previous quarterback passed away that summer and everyone has a massive grudge against her for taking “his place.” Amber is working towards being cheer captain next year and struggles with her attraction and affection for Jack versus her need to be one of the herd.

Amber was a character that really disappoints you at times, but that honestly felt like the point of Home Field Advantage. She’s still just a kid and is learning and trying to navigate her sexuality while living in a small, close-minded town. I love her interactions with Jack—everything felt realistic.

Great characterizations, surprisingly darker plot points, and sweet romance, Home Field Advantage is a great summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC copy.

I loved this one a lot. I think it was such a cute sapphic romance where I actually loved both characters and thought it was very cool how it addressed specific issues that the LGBTQ+ community faces. Overall I had a very good time reading this one.

A closeted bisexual cheerleader falls for the new girl quarterback in this charming queer YA love story set in small town Florida. I loved this book on audio narrated by Natalie Naudus and Lori Prince. The narrators did SUCH a great job bringing these characters to life. If you enjoy fake dating, coming of age stories and seeing characters find the courage to stand up for what's right against hatred and homophobia, this book is for you. Perfect for fans of I kissed Shara Wheeler, She gets the girl or Throw like a girl. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copies.

I loved how sweet this was! Sapphic books for teenagers are so necessary and this healed my inner queer little teenager. I loved how lighthearted yet grounded in emotion and struggle this story was. It made the book so much more real and full of feeling. I can't wait to have a classroom of students read through this!

4 stars

This is a cute, quick, charming YA romance with some solid LGBTQ+ rep: a great read!

Amber and Jack share perspectives in this novel, and as a cheerleader and QB at their high school, they might seem like a cliche pair. What's distinct about them is that Jack is the only feminine presence on the football team, and Amber is NOT out; neither is her boyfriend, who is also queer and has a fella of his own. Both central characters experience different kinds of bullying because of their identities, and this is more pronounced because they are in Florida and surrounded by some extremely conservative/religious individuals. They also have the benefit of Amber's mom being openly bi and several other members of her circle being part of the community. In other words, there are folks who support and folks who don't, but as always, the expected hypocrisy of those who don't is one of the greatest rewards here.

The ongoing trend of mega YA novels gets exhausting, and it's so refreshing to encounter a well-devised plot, layered characters, and palatable but difficult social issues in such an appealing and succinct package. I'll be recommending this one to students for the long haul.

While this was one of my most anticipated reads of this year I have sadly not been able to get into it as much as I thought I would.

However, I know several of my students who I'd recommend this to as it is exactly their cup of tea!

This book was a quick read and it kind of irked me a bit. There was just SO MUCH misogyny and homophobia and very little romance. All the homophobia just became too over the top. I also thought Amber was super selfish at times and I thought the ending was a little rushed. I wanted more character growth from Cara, but it was very lukewarm at best.

The insta lust was annoying. Amber and Jack liked each other from the beginning, but there were so few interactions of them together that I couldn't really root for them as a couple. Also, how is it that the ENTIRE football team hated Jack, even after she started winning games and that she couldn't find one person in the entire school who would stand by her in public. It was over the top and unrealistic.

I will say there was one line that irked me. Amber said that she was attracted to trans guys, but not cs guys. First of all, how would she know? Second of all, that was just unnecessary and I didn't understand that at all.

This book was so pure, well-written, incredible story line, and just an all around enjoyable read. Amber and Jack’s banter throughout the book was so realistic. As were the relationships and situations that each character went through. I was honestly tearing up at the end. Really wonderful LGBTQIA+ YA read that I’ll recommend to all.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

i am *obsessed* with this book. first of all, a sports romance. second of all, a high school cliché romance of quarterback and cheerleader. third of all, subverting that trope by making it sapphic?? *and* there’s some enemies-to-lovers tones to it?? sign me the f—— up. jack and amber are both such great, compelling characters, and the drama in this book is just believable enough without leaning into depressing territory. you empathize with the characters struggles but never feel like it’s too bleak. the characters all feel like real teenagers, too, which is a great bonus. to summarize, i would die for this book.

taylor swift vibe: end game

recommended for: sapphic loving sports bitches/sports queers in general (👋🏻 it’s me)

Lovely, heart-warming, but mildly infuriating (homophobia sucks) YA tale! Perfect for sports fans who want that queer twist--gorgeous cover!

Very cute YA romance between a high school cheerleader and football quarterback - both girls! I thought the dual POV was great, and helped to provide more clarity as to each character’s motives.