I absolutely loved this book!! Dahlia Adler is one of my favorite writers and her newest book does not disappoint!

Ready, steady, go to your nearest bookstore or library and check out the newest addition to Dahlia Adler’s novels, Home Field Advantage!

Amber McCloud’s ultimate goal is to be named captain of her cheer team at the end of the year. However, after the quarterback of the football team, Robbie, is killed in a car accident, it feels exceedingly difficult to remain in high spirits, especially when it is announced that Robbie will be replaced by newcomer Jack Walsh. When Jack Walsh is revealed to be ‘Jaclyn’ Walsh, all hope of unity among the football players and cheerleaders becomes borderline impossible.

The football players and cheerleaders begin to ice out Jack, despite the fact that the new quarterback is significantly a better player than Robbie ever was, leading the Atherton Alligators to victory more than once. Amber tries to prove her leadership skills and unite the teams, but it quickly becomes apparent that her dream of being the cheerleading captain is tied to whether she helps take Jack down.

The problem? Amber and Jack are falling for one another. Amber must make a decision: stand up for Jack and their blossoming relationship, or sacrifice her happiness with Jack for her dream.

Home Field Advantage is a cute sapphic take on the quarterback/cheerleader high school romance trope, and it has quickly become one of my favorite renditions!

Jack and Amber do fall for each other pretty quickly, but considering that teenagers tend to fall hard and fast in their young love, it wasn’t that big of a stretch. Their romance was incredibly sweet and wholesome to watch unfold.

Additionally, Amber and Jack help each other through a lot of turmoil throughout the book, which only solidified their devotion to each other.

The book alternates between Amber and Jack’s perspectives, and I think that was important so that we could know their own respective journeys; Jack and Amber were each facing their own inner struggles and external oppositions, and their characters felt more developed and their stories were all the better for it.

There are definitely moments in the book where Amber and Jack showcase their flaws, which can make them disagreeable (but by no means irredeemable).

For example, it sometimes felt as though Jack was pushing Amber to come out a little bit, so that Jack would not be alone in publicly dealing with the backlash coming from their peers. Likewise, Amber would constantly be hesitant to stand up for Jack when the cheerleaders were being exceptionally cruel, and she would use her friends and Jack as crutches to avoid self-confrontation.

In light of these flaws, Amber and Jack shine as protagonists of the story, and you can’t help but root for them every step of the way.

I will warn that Home Field Advantage does touch on heavy subjects that may be triggering to some, such as misogyny, homophobia, indications of abortion, and bullying. Yet, Dahlia Adler does a great job at introducing these elements in a real way, without sugar-coating but also not heaping it needlessly on her readers.

Adler’s new novel Home Field Advantage is a lovely sapphic take on the high school cheerleader-quarterback romance, and it is a swoon-worthy read that also captures the power of fighting for what is right and staying true to yourself.

After falling in love with Cool for the Summer last year, I was unsurprised at just how much Home Field Advantage had me in a chokehold. Dahlia Adler has now been added to the insta-read author list. Amber and Jack's romance was so incredibly realistic and sweet. I'll definitely be recommending this one!

This was super cute and fun and queer and I really enjoyed it. It took me a few tries to really get into it because of my own stuff and I’m really glad I kept going and finished it. Lots of lovely queer but in a Christian community conflict and handled wonderfully.

This was super good!! I really love queer YA books that take place in a high school. This was a sweet little rom-com of a football star and a head cheerleader. Take all your heteronormative high-school love stories, and make them gay. I totally recommend this!!!

I liked Home Field Advantage by Dahlia Adler overall, but there were some things that made me a little bit annoyed. I liked how the concept of the female quarterback was approached and how interesting Jack’s experiences and pov were to read about, especially since I played all the sports I could growing up and could understand, to an extent, some of what she was feeling. I also really liked the dynamic between Miguel and Amber, and how Amber grew throughout the story. What I wasn’t a fan of was how the tension between Amber and Jack seemed unfounded and a bit uncalled for (due to reasons given) when they had their falling out. And the lengths to which everyone went to make Jack’s life horrible at the new school seemed a bit too extreme, but I do know that in small towns like the one where the novel was set can hold grudges for a record amount of time. I did really like the characters in this book, and the journey that they all went on together.

AHHHH
THIS WAS SO GOOD

Home Field Advantage is about cheerleader Amber and Jack the new quarterback. The previous quarterback Robbie was murdered so when Jack comes to replace him she is met with resistance and everyone on the team basically ostracizing her from the team. Amber is the only one that shows any kind of sympathy. That's where their relationship begins.

I loved this.
Alot.
It was everything I needed in a queer cheerleader x quarterback romance. I really loved the relationship and this book had me squealing at their interactions.

IT WAS SO FLIPPIN CUTE

I recommend this book so much.

I enjoy books that are set around high school sports and so, I thought I'd enjoy this one. I love how the author tackled homophobia in a small town but unfortunately, this was way heavier than I thought it would be (I think that may be just a marketing error on the publishers end) and the characters were just a little too standard for me to really connect or root for any of them.

Really disappoint I didn't love this one but there's definitely an audience for it out there somewhere.

I really, really enjoyed this one. I'm sad I didn't get to it sooner, but at least I'm reading it now!

While some parts were cheesy and I felt like the plot got a little messy toward the end, it's a really cute, sweet romance with stakes that didn't feel unreasonably high like they can in YA books. I'm also SO grateful this one wasn't centered around prom, because I'm really tired of that as a trope in books.

I don't have a ton to say to be honest. This was just really cute and felt really nuanced about coming out, being closeted, and standing up for yourself (and others) when it threatens your reputation/image. I really resonated with so much of this and I just really love how Adler handled some of the more complicated parts.

The one thing I didn't love (and I don't know if it's in the final edition because I read an ARC, so take this with a grain of salt) was Amber saying she's attracted to trans guys and not cis guys...and I didn't love the distinction there...it felt like she was saying trans guys are less male than cis guys, and I don't think that comes off well.

Anyway, overall, though, I really loved this. And I want it to be a Netflix original romcom movie right now.

So sweet, the main characters were really lovable and the story hit super close to home because I'm also a lesbian from a small town in the south. I laughed and cried (and cried some more) but it was so worth it.

I received a copy of this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the Publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What would you give up chasing your dream? Would you break your family apart? Would you leave everything including your best friends behind? Would you chase a pipe dream that in all reality, has very little chance of going anywhere? Would you travel to a high school, suffering the loss their beloved quarterback to replace him? Only to find out he was not as much of a saint as everyone played him out to be? To be ridiculed and mocked, no matter how good your throwing arm is, all because you are a girl in a male dominated sport?

Home Field Advantage is a good story about two young queer girls named Amber and Jack. Jack has a natural born affinity for football and a hell of a throwing arm. When the coach from a nearby school recruits her to take over after they lost their quarterback the following season due to a car accident, Jack knew that it would be tough not only fitting in at school but also fitting in on the team. Who is going to let a girl come in and take over the quarterback's spot, let alone someone that is going to show up the deceased one? What Jack was not expecting was the beautiful Cheer Girl coming in and turning her life upside down, making her question every decision and future decision.

Cheer Girl, or Amber, is a shoo in for captain next season. She has worked hard ever since freshman year to prove she is a team player and a great leader to the team. But goodness, is she ever in the closet and has no plans on coming out any time soon. So much so she has developed a fake romance with Miguel, another queer student at Atherton and a member of the football team. It is not until Jack walks into her life that she begins to question everything she ever thought she needed and wanted. Will she follow the status quo and make Jack's life at Atherton worse than it already is or will she realize that she doesn't need these fake people in her life? Will she realize that she has more to offer than just a cheerleader vying for captain.

This was a decent book. Honestly, what really pushed me off the book was Amber. I hated her annoying "me, myself and I" thought process. She caused so much hurt and damage because she couldn't get past what she wanted. She didn't even realize that she was cutting people off from what they wanted or were in their way. Things could have went so much smoother if Amber had a different attitude. I just did not like her "I'm the victim" mindset all the time. She was such a whiner in my opinion and it was such a turnoff.

The LGBTQ+ rep was beautiful in this book. I really appreciated the way that Dahla talked about how hard it is coming out of the closet. As an ally and a bi-curious female, I can only imagine the difficulties one must face when coming out. Whether it be to your family, school or friends. Thankfully, Atherton was a bit more accepting of LGBTQ+ but I can only imagine what it is like for those that do not have that support. You will always have support here. You are seen. You are heard. And you are loved.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Amber wants to become cheer captain at the end of the year, but it's difficult to be a joyful cheerleader when the quaterback of your teams has been killed in a car accident. It's already complicated seeing him being replaced, but when the squad and the team discover that the replacement is the newcomer Jaclyn, everything changes. The players don't want to be lead by a girl, the cheerleaders are upset by the change in the tradition. Even though Jaclyn, called Jack, is amazing in the sport, there's tension and Amber, after trying for some resemblance of unity, decided to ally with the others to bring Jack down. The only problem? Amber and Jack are falling in love and Amber has to choose between her heart and her dream.

Home field advantage is the brilliant love story between a player and a cheerleader, but make it sapphic! It has everything you could dream of! Amazing and complex characters, a lovely and swoony romance, tensions and doubts, dreams and hopes and the courage of following one's heart.
It's a story about the importance of fighting to get what or who you want, to follow your heart and be true to oneself. I truly enjoyed reading this book! Jack and Amber are absolutely fantastic, I loved their bond so much and even though I'm not such a fan of sports, I loved this book with all my heart. Dahlia Adler is always amazing in the writing style, plot and characterization and this book was right away one of my favourites!

After Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler last year, I was looking forward to Home Field Advantage! Adler once again delivers a heartwarming, funny, at times challenging, very gay story that I had such a great time reading.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for a review!

THIS BOOK.

ok, so I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Dahlia Adler's last book Cool For The Summer and was pretty immediately obsessed with it. I love the Bi rep and how lovable the characters were.

this book blew me away! there were so many amazing and important conversations that were had in this book and the dual POV worked out perfectly for the story.

I will definitely be raving about this book for a long time and recommending it to pretty much everyone I know who reads YA.

I loved this queer rom-com that turns the whole cheerleader/quarterback romance trope on its head.

In Atherton TX, football is life. So when their late quarterback Robbie is replaced by a girl (who knew Jack Walsh was really Jaclyn Walsh?!!), the team and the cheerleaders are ready to revolt. Even worse, Jack is actually better than Robbie--Atherton is poised to finally win! But the players don't want to listen to a girl, and the cheerleaders despise "wasting" their traditions on one. This makes it hard for Amber McCloud, whose dreams (and college scholarships) are tied up in being cheer captain next year. How can Amber rally the cheer team--and the football players--when everyone hates the new QB? Especially when it seems like she may be falling in love with her?

I absolutely adored this book! I am a total sucker for sports books and movies, and this had it all! Sports drama, references, and romance--I couldn't have asked for anything more. But even if you don't love football, don't shy away from FIELD--it's such a fun and sweet read while still covering serious topics such as coming out and homophobia. Amber is struggling with staying closeted in her tiny Texas town (it doesn't help that her best friend is quite religious) and Jack, while sort of out by default, must deal with how hated she is by her new school when all she wants to do is play football. There's a wonderful supporting cast, including Amber's boyfriend (go with it) and mom.

Honestly, most of this book just made me smile. It's wonderful. I loved how it introduced and dealt with important subjects and gave us an incredible queer romance. I highly recommend this one!

CW: misogyny, blackmail, homophobia, mentions of abortion, car accident

I'm struggling with how to rate this. I was ready for a light, f/f romcom but that's not what was delivered. There were a number of heavy topics woven in, which ultimately forced the romance into the backseat.

Is it a me problem? Or was the pitch misleading?

It took me longer to read this than I would have liked because nothing good~ was happening to the characters. Jack deserved to be rooted for and Amber deserved a best friend she could be honest with.

Overall, I just feel "meh" and slightly frustrated with how the story turned out. I didn't hate it but I certainly won't remember much about it.

CW: misogyny, homophobia and discussion of outing, mentions of abortion/miscarriage

Home Field Advantage is a super cute f/f ya sports romance following a cheerleader and a football player!

Although the tone is more serious and deals with some characters not being publicly out, this is still one of those books where you can't help but feel joy for the characters. And the serious moments are so important and I love seeing them being the topic in books, specifically overcoming misogyny and learning how to navigate the world as a queer person while being surrounded by homophobic people.

I loved the sports aspect of this book and how much the main characters cared about it! I also loved how supportive their parents were about them pursuing their chosen sport!

I do wish that some things at the end had gotten resolved more, or were at least talked about some more, but overall I had a great time with this story and I'd highly recommend it if you're looking for an adorable but still hard-hitting ya contemporary romance!

Home Field Advantage by Dahlia Adler; Wednesday Books, 299 pages ($19.99) Age 13 and up.

A cheerleader falls for the new female quarterback amid the homophobia of a small town Florida high school in this charming romance from Dahlia Adler, a perfect summer read.

Amber McCloud has her heart set on being cheer captain and won't let anything derail her plans, faking a romance with football player Miguel Santiago to deflect any would-be suitors. The team quarterback – who was blackmailing Miguel and threatening to out him – was recently killed in a drunk driving crash. So the coach informally recruits Jaclyn "Jack" Walsh, a standout at football camp, to join the Atherton Alligators. Jack arrives to encounter hostility and sabotage both from her male teammates and the cheer squad who are loyal to the dead quarterback.

Adler alternates the narrative voice between Amber and Jack, offering a poignant exploration of what it's like to feel like you have to hide who you really are. There's plenty of humor ("August is like living in a sweaty gym sock," "the girl has the patience of a mosquito"), football action, a slow-burn romance and the sweet and surprising revelation that unlikely allies may emerge when you need them most.

Dahlia Adler has written a beautiful book about a cheerleader and football player. I loved that it wasn't the traditional take on a coming out story. The character diversity and development made me enthralled from the beginning. I will happily recommend this book to students and will be purchasing a physical copy for my classroom library.

COME ON, another fantastic sapphic novel by the incredible Dahlia Adler, author of COOL FOR THE SUMMER? Proprietor of THE book blog, LGBTQReads.com? EDITOR OF A BUNCH OF FANTASTIC SHORT STORY ANTHOLOGIES?Look, pal, I don’t know what to tell you. I loved this book more than I loved COOL FOR THE SUMMER, and I wrote a whole paper on that book. The characters are complex but solid in their own identities, it’s enemies to lovers in the cutest high-school based way, lots of Angst. Content warnings do include a lot of homophobia, which I think is dealt with although there isn’t any on-page condemnation of it. Anyhow I’d die for Dahlia Adler. Five stars. Pick it up.