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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
this was cute! i'd definitely add it to the list of "queer books i wish i could've read when i was in high school" that i would recommend to lgbtq+ teenagers now.
i absolutely love the queer & feminist spin with the f/f quarterback / cheerleader romance and i am absolutely dying to read more like this :') i think this is also the first time i have ever seen "polysexual" used in a fictional book, and i'm especially happy to see more lgbtq+ identities represented in YA books. i kind of hate that the main characters had to have a "what are you" conversation (and especially since it was pretty much worded like that in the book lol) for this term to be briefly mentioned but i'm still happy to see it.
anyway, i flew through the majority of this in one sitting since it was a (mostly) lighthearted and also readable romance that i really enjoyed! it's not particularly a new favorite and i'm not sure if i would reread it in the future, but i would definitely recommend to teens and young adults looking for a new sapphic YA.
i absolutely love the queer & feminist spin with the f/f quarterback / cheerleader romance and i am absolutely dying to read more like this :') i think this is also the first time i have ever seen "polysexual" used in a fictional book, and i'm especially happy to see more lgbtq+ identities represented in YA books. i kind of hate that the main characters had to have a "what are you" conversation (and especially since it was pretty much worded like that in the book lol) for this term to be briefly mentioned but i'm still happy to see it.
anyway, i flew through the majority of this in one sitting since it was a (mostly) lighthearted and also readable romance that i really enjoyed! it's not particularly a new favorite and i'm not sure if i would reread it in the future, but i would definitely recommend to teens and young adults looking for a new sapphic YA.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed how fast paced it was and how it got right to the point. Sure the writing was a little bit corny but they’re supposed to be 16-17 so it makes sense. I was still giggling and kicking my feet at their little romance and gasping at the snarky fights LMAO
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Loved!!!! I am a sucker for queer YA romance and this one was soooo sweet 🥺
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Alcohol
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fun listen! Lots of juicy drama. I did find it a little hard to believe that the ENTIRE school had such tremendous vitriol against Jack (and changed their tune just as quickly), but it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment. Dahlia Adler is fun, and I’ll definitely be listening to more.
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
sometimes a little cheesy, but still very cute and an adorable little gay read!
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for the ARC! It hasn't affected the content of my review.
I was slightly skeptical of this book going in, as I always am with YA these days, but I couldn't resist the premise. I'm really glad I gave in to my impulse on this one, because this book was really cute, and surprisingly emotionally harrowing at the same time. The premise here is that Atherton's star quarterback died in a drunk driving accident over the summer, and the coach has found his replacement in Jack Walsh, who is to everyone's shock, a girl. She's extremely talented, and she just wants the chance to play football and be part of a team. That no one accepts her, and in some cases actively plot against her, is not a great feeling.
The only person who is even somewhat nice to her is Amber, a cheerleader who is gunning hard for Captain next year (they are both juniors) and who is a closeted queer girl in a fake relationship with her also queer friend Miguel, another player on the football team. Amber has spent all of high school trying her hardest not to rock the boat, especially since so many of her classmates are homophobic, including her best friend Cara, whose family is uber-religious but stepped in to be a sort of second family for Amber when her single mom needed the help. Just a soup of conflict up inside Amber. Of course, the two are drawn together and quickly fall for each other, in a very cute way. (Amber calls Jack's glasses cute, and can't resist flirting with her, then straight up telling her she was flirting, promptly and accidentally outing herself.)
I was mostly surprised by how intense the homophobia and misogyny is towards Jack, and surrounding Amber. All the queer characters are out to their families, but none want to take the step to come out to the community as a whole, lest they end up friendless and ostracized like Jack. Haunting the whole thing is the ghost of Robbie, the dead quarterback, who was an asshole (he was blackmailing Miguel about being gay, among other charming behaviors), but who is now being sanctified by his teammates, the cheerleaders, and the other students. They refuse to give Jack credit when they start winning games, and the fact that she's a girl has everything to do with it. And even Amber and Miguel don't feel like they can stand up for her, because of the perceived consequences.
I was a bit worried that the conflict Adler created was too much to be resolved in the book, but she made it work, with only a little bit of handwaving. Most of it was just well-constructed plot, and you end the book knowing that Amber and Jack have their Happily-For-Now.
I hadn't read anything by Dahlia Adler before this, but I would definitely consider reading more from her in the future, even though none of her previously published books are calling to me at the moment.
I was slightly skeptical of this book going in, as I always am with YA these days, but I couldn't resist the premise. I'm really glad I gave in to my impulse on this one, because this book was really cute, and surprisingly emotionally harrowing at the same time. The premise here is that Atherton's star quarterback died in a drunk driving accident over the summer, and the coach has found his replacement in Jack Walsh, who is to everyone's shock, a girl. She's extremely talented, and she just wants the chance to play football and be part of a team. That no one accepts her, and in some cases actively plot against her, is not a great feeling.
The only person who is even somewhat nice to her is Amber, a cheerleader who is gunning hard for Captain next year (they are both juniors) and who is a closeted queer girl in a fake relationship with her also queer friend Miguel, another player on the football team. Amber has spent all of high school trying her hardest not to rock the boat, especially since so many of her classmates are homophobic, including her best friend Cara, whose family is uber-religious but stepped in to be a sort of second family for Amber when her single mom needed the help. Just a soup of conflict up inside Amber. Of course, the two are drawn together and quickly fall for each other, in a very cute way. (Amber calls Jack's glasses cute, and can't resist flirting with her, then straight up telling her she was flirting, promptly and accidentally outing herself.)
I was mostly surprised by how intense the homophobia and misogyny is towards Jack, and surrounding Amber. All the queer characters are out to their families, but none want to take the step to come out to the community as a whole, lest they end up friendless and ostracized like Jack. Haunting the whole thing is the ghost of Robbie, the dead quarterback, who was an asshole (he was blackmailing Miguel about being gay, among other charming behaviors), but who is now being sanctified by his teammates, the cheerleaders, and the other students. They refuse to give Jack credit when they start winning games, and the fact that she's a girl has everything to do with it. And even Amber and Miguel don't feel like they can stand up for her, because of the perceived consequences.
I was a bit worried that the conflict Adler created was too much to be resolved in the book, but she made it work, with only a little bit of handwaving. Most of it was just well-constructed plot, and you end the book knowing that Amber and Jack have their Happily-For-Now.
I hadn't read anything by Dahlia Adler before this, but I would definitely consider reading more from her in the future, even though none of her previously published books are calling to me at the moment.
Pretty cute YA book.
I liked that it broke some things you normally expect in the formula. They felt like real teens with real teen actions, just in a fairly bigoted place.
I loved the cool mom aspect. There were a few surprise moments I appreciated too.
Overall found the concept cute and laugh-groaned my ass off like I was punched in the belly at the comment aboutbeing an “old movie”
FYI for a decent amount homophobia and misogyny.
I liked that it broke some things you normally expect in the formula. They felt like real teens with real teen actions, just in a fairly bigoted place.
I loved the cool mom aspect. There were a few surprise moments I appreciated too.
Overall found the concept cute and laugh-groaned my ass off like I was punched in the belly at the comment about
Spoiler
But I’m a CheerleaderFYI for a decent amount homophobia and misogyny.
After reading Cool For The Summer, I flocked toward the next Dahlia Adler book as quickly as I could! Unfortunately it did not live up to it.
I could spend time going through the plot issues and the inaccuracies in the football plays, but that's not why people are reading this book. This premise has great will they/won't they vibes, but after the initial fun of finding out Jack is a girl and the secret crush and whatnot, it loses itself and is just Jack and Amber both repeating how much they want their dreams and how coming out could ruin it. It just got boring and repetitive and some of the portions just didn't really add to the story.
So I'm sorry to say that the premise is where the fun starts and ends, and this book just isn't really worth the time and energy.
I could spend time going through the plot issues and the inaccuracies in the football plays, but that's not why people are reading this book. This premise has great will they/won't they vibes, but after the initial fun of finding out Jack is a girl and the secret crush and whatnot, it loses itself and is just Jack and Amber both repeating how much they want their dreams and how coming out could ruin it. It just got boring and repetitive and some of the portions just didn't really add to the story.
So I'm sorry to say that the premise is where the fun starts and ends, and this book just isn't really worth the time and energy.