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A review by savvyrosereads
Home Field Advantage by Dahlia Adler
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
Out June 7, 2022 [Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!]
Rating: 4/5 stars
When the star quarterback of Atherton High dies in a drunk driving accident, no one expects his replacement to be Jack—short for Jaclyn—Walsh. Aspiring cheer captain Amber McCloud is as surprised as the rest of the student body—and her quickly developing feelings for Jack only complicate matters thanks to increasing pressure to choose between her squad and the person she wants to be with—as well as the person she wants to be.
This has been one of my most-anticipated reads for ages, and it was the absolutely perfect way to kick off Pride Month. The romance was adorable and the plot was perfectly mixed amounts of high school drama and feel-good sports story. I was initially pretty annoyed with Amber—though I also felt for the complexity of her situation and her very valid fears—but in the end she deeply impressed me as a tough and clever character, as did Jack, who can only reasonably be described as a badass. I was glued to my seat for the final few chapters, and my only real complaint is that the book was too short—and I mean this in both a figurative “I didn’t want to stop reading” way (because I didn’t) and a literal “I wish there was an epilogue or another short chapter” way (because I do).
I desperately hope there is a sequel or spin-off or bonus content or all of the above in our future, because I really want to revisit this world and these characters. But for now, do yourself a favor and go grab this one as soon as it releases next week.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: YA LGBTQ romance; sports romances; small town high school drama.
CW: Homophobia; lesbophobia; misogyny; outing; car accident;pregnancy loss .
Rating: 4/5 stars
When the star quarterback of Atherton High dies in a drunk driving accident, no one expects his replacement to be Jack—short for Jaclyn—Walsh. Aspiring cheer captain Amber McCloud is as surprised as the rest of the student body—and her quickly developing feelings for Jack only complicate matters thanks to increasing pressure to choose between her squad and the person she wants to be with—as well as the person she wants to be.
This has been one of my most-anticipated reads for ages, and it was the absolutely perfect way to kick off Pride Month. The romance was adorable and the plot was perfectly mixed amounts of high school drama and feel-good sports story. I was initially pretty annoyed with Amber—though I also felt for the complexity of her situation and her very valid fears—but in the end she deeply impressed me as a tough and clever character, as did Jack, who can only reasonably be described as a badass. I was glued to my seat for the final few chapters, and my only real complaint is that the book was too short—and I mean this in both a figurative “I didn’t want to stop reading” way (because I didn’t) and a literal “I wish there was an epilogue or another short chapter” way (because I do).
I desperately hope there is a sequel or spin-off or bonus content or all of the above in our future, because I really want to revisit this world and these characters. But for now, do yourself a favor and go grab this one as soon as it releases next week.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: YA LGBTQ romance; sports romances; small town high school drama.
CW: Homophobia; lesbophobia; misogyny; outing; car accident;
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Outing, Homophobia, and Misogyny
Moderate: Car accident, Alcohol, and Miscarriage