This is going to be criminally underrated, I can already tell.

Inspired by a viral photo, Dahlia Adler, queen of queer book recs, delivers a sapphic romance between a female high school quarterback and hopeful future cheer captain set in northern Florida. Unlike most YA romance novels, this book features excellent communication between the leads, believable third act grand gestures, and flawed, realistic characters all around. And unlike most YA LGBTQ books, the main focus of the story isn't just on homophobia, but internalized misogyny.

TW: misogyny, bullying, homophobia, previous blackmail of forced outing, discussion of abortion/miscarriage, mention of past fatal car accident due to drunk driving

MORE BOOKS UNPACKING MISOGYNY PLEASE!!!!!

I loved the characters the most, which is a good thing for a character-driven story. I loved both POVs immediately, although I preferred Jack's voice a bit more and understood and related to her motivations more than Amber. However, I think Amber was a fantastic character and well-developed, particularly with her friendships with the cheer squad and Miguel. There's a touch of fake dating that's really more bearding (is that a word? "being each other's beards" is long). There's a cute bowling alley date, complex side characters, a cool as hell openly bi mom, sneaking into rooms via windows, sex positivity, and a really fun climax that centers around football that even non-football fans (like myself) can get sucked into and enjoy.

I wouldn't say this is a new favorite, so I'm probably going to give it 4.5 stars, but this book was SO good from start to finish and I would recommend to anyone and everyone! Bonus points for the word lesbian on-page and Amber's questioning and possible polysexual label.

Recommended to me by my best friend Victoria!

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the e-arc! All opinions are my own.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Home Field Advantage by Dahlia Adler follows Amber McCloud, a cheerleader hoping to be captain next year, and Jack Walsh, a new female quarterback at Amber's school. It's your classic cheerleader/football player romance, but sapphic. :) Of course, this means the two have to contend with homophobic teammates, coming out, and making a little queer found family of their own.

This is my second book by Dahlia Adler, and she always has really fun concepts and characters. While I liked this book, it felt a bit surface level. I would've liked a little more time, or maybe the dual perspective just made everything feel a bit quick. I'm not sure. I will definitely keep an eye out for more of Adler's work.

TW/CW: Misogyny, homophobia, discussion of a fatal car accident, discussion of an abortion/miscarriage, highly religious side character
Rep: Lesbian MC, questioning/thinking she might be polysexual MC, 2 gay BIPOC side characters, bisexual mother character

This book was everything. I’ve been struggling to read anything quickly. But I read half of this book in a weekend, and the other half the next weekend. And every moment in between I was thinking about it and wanting so desperately to read it.

I think part of what made me read so fast is because I was so angry at the actions and words of the side characters, and even our main characters. This book makes it very obvious that even if you are not being hateful, if you are just being impartial or silent, it is just as damaging as being the one saying/doing the harmful things.

I enjoyed both of the POVs. I did enjoy Jack’s just a smidge more because I felt like Amber was too obsessed with what everyone else thought of her actions? However, I completely get where she was coming from, and wonder if part of my issues with Amber’s chapters is because I felt called out by them. I love her growth by the end of the book. Amber’s chapters are more fun, though – she’s not dealing with blatant misogyny and homophobia all the time like Jack is, ya know?

The only side characters I really remember are Miguel, Malcolm, and Cara because I was able to label them as more than “football player” or “member of the cheerleading squad.”

If you know me, you know I’m not someone who particularly enjoys or understands sports. The only reason I know anything about football is my coworker, and during football season it gave us something to talk about. I understood exactly 0% of the football terminology in this, but Dahlia Adler makes you feel so invested that I didn’t even care! Like, heck yeah Jack! Go for that Open Sesame! That Statue of Liberty! Woo!

This is the second book I’ve read this month where the two main characters actively discuss how one of them knows how she defines herself, while the other is still trying different terms on for size and seeing how they feel. It’s been extremely refreshing to read!

All in all? I love this book. It’s been a few days since I finished it, and I’m still thinking about it. I want a sequel, or a short story set a year later that gives us an update. Anybody else itching to reread this already?

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC of this!

Clam jamming. Obsessed. Could not put this down.

From the beginning this already gave me all the high school drama feels in the best way. I truly wish a book like this existed when I was in high school because it captures that magic while also reflecting our society more, the good and the bad, and offers hope for a better world.

I loved that this featured alternating POVs to give us insights into both Amber and Jack. Each has their own struggles personally, whether it’s their sexuality and friendships, or their family dynamics, guilt, and loneliness. Add to this the specter that is the recently deceased, but total asshole, QB Robbie, and this isn’t all light and fluffy.

“What would it feel like to just…tell the truth? To live the truth?”

I absolutely loved this start to finish and I’m sad it’s over. There’s a lot of really deep emotion and introspection here as Amber considers her sexuality and coming out, while also looking at how she’s molded herself to cheerleading and her friends and why. While I wanted Amber to make specific choices sooner, Adler completely pulls off showing us just how and why Amber struggles — and it felt so authentic. So much of our high school experience and identity is wrapped up in what we do with our time, like a sport or club, and with who, that it’s scary feeling like all of that’s on the line.

Jack’s struggles, while different from Amber, were also really heart wrenching as she’s constantly ostracized and made to feel like she’s not truly worth taking a risk on, at least not openly. The rage and hurt she feels, and how it’s finally expressed, was incredibly cathartic.

Their romance is cute but also feels very meaningful in a way that you can definitely see how it captures a defining moment in someone’s life and experience. It was so great to see, I need more stories like these.

When I tell you that that homecoming game gave me chills, I am not exaggerating. It was as engaging as any NFL game and damn I wish I could watch Jack on my screen today. READ THIS NOW.

My only complaint? WHERE IS THE EPILOGUE? THE BONUS EPILOGUE? THE BONUS BONUS EPILOGUE? I need all of it. Right now.

Ok fiiiiine, this was cute or whatever

A little too much football talk at the end there, but most all’s forgiven.

Obviously the favorite here is Jack and I loved so much getting to follow her, even it was a little tough to read at times. To see her get her happy ending was absolutely everything and I loved the way the author went about it.

Amber on the other hand…ok, I warmed up to her a bit at the end there, but in defending Jack, I was totally ready to throw hands!

Overall, this was quite the enjoyable read, which I totally expected it would be given how much I loved Dahlia’s previous book! Also, the audio for this one?? MUAH, I loved


*3.5 stars!

4.5/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy!

This was such a cute queer romance. As a teenager I always wanted something like this to read, where the cheerleader falls in love with another girl, so I’m eternally grateful that books like these are being published for younger generations.

Before I get into my review, just as a note—there is rampant misogyny and homophobic themes in this book. It’s part of the story, but it might be upsetting to some readers (I found it hard at times to read)—so just be aware of that!

I think my favourite part about this book are how dynamic and three dimensional the characters are—they don’t just feel like archetypes to me. Every main character and a few side characters went through a pretty big character arc in this novel, and it was so nice to see. It wasn’t just your typical YA romance, either—the storyline focused a lot on friendships and trust and how friendships can grow and change (and sometimes end) in high school. Kids are just starting to figure out and stick with their morals at that age and I thought this book touched on these subjects nicely.

Overall it was cute and at some points hard-hitting, and I will definitely be purchasing a copy for our library’s shelves!

Dahlia Adler can do no wrong in my book! She writes the most interesting funny and believable characters that make my queer Jewish heart feel seen and represented. I am obsessed with Home Field Advantage!

I was enjoying this book for the most part, but in the end I couldn't get over the fact that a kid died and the book quite literally said that he deserved it. Even though he was homophobic and a douchebag, no one deserves that. It felt insensitive and a little unrealistic to me since a death like that normally impacts a small community immensely. That's why, after it just became too much for me at 1/3 throughout the book, I decided to DNF.

Okay, so this was a goodish book. Like, I love the premise and I love how realistically homophobia has been portrayed and so have misogynistic views, but the romance wasn't very well portrayed. Let's get into more detail!

Plot:
The plot was awesome. A girl playing football among boys who do not accept her? Um that's the realism I want! I enjoyed the plot a lot, as I mentioned- the portrayal of homophobia and misogyny was amazing. Like, the author kept romance as the main focus of the book, but I feel that had that been the main focus of the book, the book would have been better.
Also, the book felt a little like instalove. That irked me off, honestly- like I just couldn't feel the chemistry between Jack and Amber developing all that well.

Characters:
I loved all the characters individually, but as I said, Amber and Jack's romance was a little jerky. I did enjoy Miguel and Malcolm together, and I also loved Miguel and Amber's platonic chemistry!
Also, I am so happy to see a polysexual MC! Most people make both the main characters gay in a gay romance, but I was happy to see a polysexual MC!

Writing Style:
This was really good as well, and it was fun to read. I loved most of the scenes- not all of them were very smooth, but they were not all bad.

I would recommend the book to those looking for a fun, quick romance read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved Adler’s Cool for the Summer, so I was excited to read another one of her books.
Home Field Advantage follows Jack and Amber, who both get their own chapters. Amber is a cheerleader in a small town. She has hopes to become captain next year when she’s a senior. Enter Jack, and she transfers in to be the school's new quarterback. Now as if the fact that she’s a girl isn’t going to make things hard enough, the last quarterback died and their fellow students practically worship his memory.
So, obviously, the cheerleader and the quarterback get romantically involved. But Amber’s not out, so there are lots of complications. I liked the characters because they were real. They made mistakes and didn’t always consider possible consequences, but they make amends and they do their best to be better in the future. The friendships were easy to root for. I love small queer friend groups that turn into found family.
I’m not super into sports, so that was lost on me. Though I do want to mention that Jack’s love for the game really showed through. She uprooted half her family and changed everything for this thing that she loves. Adler did a great job showing the reader that passion.
If you like sports romance, this book is for you. If you like sapphic books, this book is for you. If you like both of those things, then you should definitely add this one to your list.

Home Field Advantage follows cheerleader Amber, who along with the rest of the school is surprised when the new quarterback Jack is actually a girl. The school is not queer friendly and they definitely aren’t for a girl joining the team. Amber has to decide whether to stay in the closet or be open about her feelings for Jack and risk her spot on the squad. This was a quick read with high school love and drama throughout and does include misogyny and homophobia.

awesome book!! im glad i received the opportunity to read this! the writing style was wonderful and easy to get through, and it was interesting, i literally couldn’t put down my phone once i’d started! thank you to books forward for giving me the opportunity to read this :)

In my quest to read as many queer books as possible over the month of June, Home Field Advantage was one of the first ones I picked up, and not just because it came out before I had a chance to read it. (My NetGalley shelf is ... not doing well.) I kind of figured, going into it, that any book based on that iconic image of a cheerleader putting up a quarterback's hair would be a good one.

Adler is a phenomenal writer for teens. With a lot of YA novels these days, I feel like the way the kids talk is artificial and forced, but this was absolutely not the case here. Jack and Amber's personalities bleed through the page, and they just feel so real to me!

For anyone looking for a small town sapphic romance, Home Field Advantage is a fantastic option! I'm positively enamored.

4 stars

Wow, I enjoyed this more than I expected. Jack was my favorite POV. She deserved a happy ending more than anyone. Amber did piss me off she made some decisions. I understood but she also had people in her corner to help her. The ending was super cute.

Home Field Advantage is a story about staying true to yourself in the face of societal expectations. In spite of being one of their best quarterbacks ever, Jack is not greeted with a warm welcome by the team once they realize Jack is short for Jaclyn.

Amber, cheer captain hopeful, plans to do her part to encourage both the football team and cheer squad to accept Jack in an attempt to gain the favor she needs to become captain. As the two begin working together to help themselves reach their respective dreams, they also find themselves falling for one another. Unfortunately for Amber, it seems she must chose between her dream and her heart.

This is a great YA romance for anyone, particularly young adults, trying to navigate a world that doesn't accept them. Covering difficult topics like sexuality, gender norms, bullying, and grief, Home Field Advantage is exactly the type of story we need more of.

Dahlia Adler scores a remarkable, heartfelt, and complicated touchdown with Home Field Advantage. I found it compulsory, addictive, and required reading as the conversation continues around who is and is not allowed to compete in sports—specifically in Southern states such as my own. I found the banter, character growth, and chemistry between the characters combustible and refreshing. 10/10

This was the perfect YA romance that was loving and inclusive while also showcasing real life issues that so many lgbt youth consider and struggle with in their everyday life. The sweet relationship between Amber and Jack keeps you wanting more and more with each page. This was the sweetest standalone you could ask for

*3.5 stars*

this was a really fun and sweet read! it definitely reminded me of a. rom-com and seeing this on screen would make it x10 better. The late-night breakfast dinners, bowling nights and double dates (mlm and wlw solidarity !) were honestly just perfect.

(full rtc on goodreads, @cozy-chai-corner / ash)

A quarterback-and-cheerleader sapphic story containing the right amount of romance and sports challenging world-views and making you love messy, complicated queer teenagers all the same.

Dahlia Adler can do no wrong. (this may be a slight exaggeration, but you know what I mean!) I really enjoyed this book, especially the delightful sapphic twist on the quarterback-cheerleader trope! Highly recommended!