Achillean Representation (mlm), Contemporary Romance, Sapphic Representation (wlw)

Home Field Advantage Review + Fav Quote

Synopsis:

In this sweet and funny new f/f romance from the author of Cool for the Summer, a cheerleader and the school’s newest quarterback are playing to win, but might lose their hearts in the process.

Amber McCloud’s dream is to become cheer captain at the end of the year, but it’s an extra-tall order to be joyful and spirited when the quarterback of your team has been killed in a car accident. For both the team and the squad, watching Robbie get replaced by newcomer Jack Walsh is brutal. And when it turns out Jack is actually short for Jaclyn, all hell breaks loose.

The players refuse to be led by a girl, the cheerleaders are mad about the changes to their traditions, and the fact that Robbie’s been not only replaced but outshined by a QB who wears a sports bra has more than a few Atherton Alligators in a rage. Amber tries for some semblance of unity, but it quickly becomes clear that she’s only got a future on the squad and with her friends if she helps them take Jack down.

Just one problem: Amber and Jack are falling for each other, and if Amber can’t stand up for Jack and figure out how to get everyone to fall in line, her dream may come at the cost of her heart.

Dahlia Adler’s Home Field Advantage is a sparkling romance about fighting for what–or who–you truly want.

Content warnings: off-page death by car accident, off-page pregnancy loss (including some on-page conversation about abortion), homophobia, misogyny, alcohol use (light), references to racism

Find the rest of the book tour at https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/2022/04/27/tour-schedule-home-field-advantage-by-dahlia-adler/


My Favorite Quote

“This girl who just led a terrible football team to victory, who played her heart out even though no one gave her a second look, who’s probably strong enough to break me in two — she has a weak spot.

And it might be me.

She is definitely mine.

F*ck it.”


My Review

While Home Field Advantage wasn’t for me personally, it was a fun and light read. The book itself is fast-paced with all of the story taking place between the first day of school and the Atherton homecoming dance. The relationship between Jack and Amber felt genuine if a little rushed, their banter was fun and easy, and most importantly they were believable teens. Adler struck a good balance of having them both caring about their families and futures while still being involved in more day to day high scool drama, and drama there is. Cara, Amber’s best friend and the oldest daughter of the local pastor, has it out for Jack from day one and can’t understand why Amber doesn’t immediately hate her too. She continuously stirs the pot with the rest of the cheer squad and makes it harder for Amber to stay neutral. The football team takes out all their grief and frustration on the new girl and make her life in Atherton even more difficult than Jack expected. Trying to support their teammates and squad while staying true to themselves gets even harder as tensions ramp up during homecoming and alumni return to see the team play.

This book does a good job of representing different experiences and perspectives of the queer community. Of course the main couple is sapphic with Jack identifying as a lesbian and Amber identifying as polysexual. Amber talks a bit about figuring out her identitiy and finding a label that fits but is relatively unknown or unused. There is an achillean (mlm) side couple and a nonbinary side character as well.

It was interesting to get Jack’s perspective on football, I’m someone that only watches the Superbowl for the commercials and the snacks so I had a hard time understanding why one would uproot their whole life to play a game they have no future in for two years. After seeing the joy that Jack finds while playing, I can see why someone might make that decision. For anyone concerned with how realistic the school’s reaction is, I grew up in a town somewhat like Atherton. While my school did have a female football player, she was certainly not the quarterback and she had worked her way up to football after being on the wrestling team for years. Had this taken place in my hometown, I could absolutely see the team reacting in a similar way. 

I rated it 3 stars because though I enjoyed most of the book, I felt like certain characters were pushed to come out before they were ready which is a situation that hits very close to home for me and made me a bit uncomfortable.

This book is perfect for people wanting a fun and short romance to escape into this summer.


About the Author

Dahlia Adler (she/her) is an Editor of mathematics by day, a Buzzfeed blogger and LGBTQReadsoverlord by night, and a Young Adult and Romance author at every spare moment in between. Her novels include the Radleigh University trilogy, Kids’ Indie Next pick Cool for the Summer, and Home Field Advantage, and she is the editor of the anthologies His Hideous Heart (a Junior Library Guild selection), That Way Madness Lies, At Midnight, and, with Jennifer Iacopelli, Out of Our League (upcoming from Feiwel & Friends). Dahlia lives in New York with her family and an obscene number of books, and can be found on Twitter and Instagram at @MissDahlELama.

Author Links


Where to Find it

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indigo | Indie Bound

You can also get it from Bookshop.org but this link is not affiliated with the book tour.

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