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Taking the Field: A YA Marching Arts Novel
New school. New rivals. One chance to prove herself.
Jessica Welling has spent her life playing by the rules—until one reckless decision shatters everything. Forced to leave her old life behind, Jessica transfers across the state to Arcana High, home to one of the best marching bands in the state. Determined to rebuild her future, she’s ready to prove herself to the only team that matters—if they’ll let her.
Christian Gutierrez has spent years building his legacy as Arcana’s drum major. With his title to defend and his family falling apart, he doesn’t have time for distractions—especially not Jessica Welling, the fiery new girl with secrets she’s determined to keep. From the moment she steps onto his field, their rivalry ignites—and so does something neither of them expected.
As competition season heats up, Jessica and Christian are forced to confront their assumptions about each other—and themselves. But when Jessica’s past comes back to haunt her, the choices she’s made threaten to unravel everything Arcana has worked for. Their connection deepens despite the odds, but one devastating betrayal could turn their story from triumphant to tragic.
Taking the Field is an electrifying tale of love, rivalry, and redemption set against the high-stakes world of competitive marching band. This book delivers heart-pounding twists, witty banter, and unforgettable characters in a compelling rivals-to-lovers romance.
Will Jessica and Christian rise to the challenge—or will the pressure of the season tear them apart?
Jessica Welling has spent her life playing by the rules—until one reckless decision shatters everything. Forced to leave her old life behind, Jessica transfers across the state to Arcana High, home to one of the best marching bands in the state. Determined to rebuild her future, she’s ready to prove herself to the only team that matters—if they’ll let her.
Christian Gutierrez has spent years building his legacy as Arcana’s drum major. With his title to defend and his family falling apart, he doesn’t have time for distractions—especially not Jessica Welling, the fiery new girl with secrets she’s determined to keep. From the moment she steps onto his field, their rivalry ignites—and so does something neither of them expected.
As competition season heats up, Jessica and Christian are forced to confront their assumptions about each other—and themselves. But when Jessica’s past comes back to haunt her, the choices she’s made threaten to unravel everything Arcana has worked for. Their connection deepens despite the odds, but one devastating betrayal could turn their story from triumphant to tragic.
Taking the Field is an electrifying tale of love, rivalry, and redemption set against the high-stakes world of competitive marching band. This book delivers heart-pounding twists, witty banter, and unforgettable characters in a compelling rivals-to-lovers romance.
Will Jessica and Christian rise to the challenge—or will the pressure of the season tear them apart?
393 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 2, 2025
3 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 25, 2025
Taking the Field was kind of unexpected for me. I knew nothing about marching band or band culture so I was kind of scared I wouldn't get the book due to not coming from a band background. I signed up for ARC anyways because I heard Gemma talk so passionately about her book and knew that I wanted to read it to see that passion shine through. This being my first official review since I started my bookstagram account feels fitting.
**past here contains light spoilers, proceed with caution**
How did this book make me feel? ★★★★★ (5/5)
Intrigued, enraged, sad, curious, humorous. All the feels. I had to set the book down sometimes because I literally could not stand the characters actions. It has me wondering what'd happen next and how Gemma was possibly gonna fix this mess Jessica had gotten into. The book was so incredibly tense with the stakes for Jessica and Christian, it kept thinking to myself, 'why is MARCHING BAND feeling like the Vietnam war?' I will say some plot points are predictable and I saw coming a mile away but it's a classic YA with a Marching Band twist, some things are gonna be predictable. But overall, this book was a beautiful and gut-wrenching journey.
How engaged was I in the plot? ★★★★☆ (4/5)
It was classic YA in my opinion. The pacing was great, and almost nothing felt too rushed or too slow. My biggest gripe with this was the Jessica having a secret, at least at first it was. I thought this was gonna be one of those classic secrets that have absolutely nothing to do with the plot and was just used to give the main character a quirky edge but the revelation of the secret itself being so early on proved that wasn't the case. Her secret was truly heart wrenching and shed light on scene that I originally thought were funny and turned them devastating. The story felt a bit rushed near the end though, probably because the pacing and revelations were like BAM, BAM, BAM. I can usually prediction plots and such but the revelation that Claire was not her mom did evade me. I did not catch on to that till Jessica directly said it.
Did I enjoy the writing style? ★★★★★ (5/5)
This writing style was rich in detail and feeling which I loved. At times it did get too wordy, but it was needed to completely understand the characters. Honestly? It helped me realize gaps in my own writing. As an upcoming author myself, reading this made me better in my opinion.
How real did the characters feel? ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Some of the dialogue felt like it was written by someone who was wise beyond teen years. I couldn't help but think 'this isn't how teens speak' at times. They felt a bit too mature sometimes in dialogue and then would go and do something that was not mature whatsoever. The banter in chapter 32 was so immaculate, peak honestly. They felt like teenagers. I think the realest character in here was in fact Courtney. I felt her anger; Hell, I felt angry for her. Her bitterness and casual distaste was done perfectly. I think for me, the most unrealistic character was Alex. It felt like he was trying to be the class clown guy, but it just fell short to me, which is perfectly okay because he's a side character, he doesn't need to have insane depth honestly. I very much enjoyed that Mr. Trust understood that Jessica is just a kid and she was manipulated and at the end of the day, the betrayal was as important as her being okay was.
How likely am I to reread the book? ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
While I would absolutely reread this again in the future, the plot is too classic for me to reread now. Nothing wrong with that, I'll probably reread it in a year or when I forget the plot like I do with most movies I watch.
Overall ★★★★☆ (4/5)
While this book didn't rewire my brain chemistry, I definitely will be making my personality bantery like Christians and determined like Jessica. I really enjoyed it's unique ending too, it sets it apart from other YA romance books. I recommend this book if you're looking for a high stakes YA with an interesting niche. Gemma originally marketed this specifically for band kids, but I know anyone can enjoy it and should.
**past here contains light spoilers, proceed with caution**
How did this book make me feel? ★★★★★ (5/5)
Intrigued, enraged, sad, curious, humorous. All the feels. I had to set the book down sometimes because I literally could not stand the characters actions. It has me wondering what'd happen next and how Gemma was possibly gonna fix this mess Jessica had gotten into. The book was so incredibly tense with the stakes for Jessica and Christian, it kept thinking to myself, 'why is MARCHING BAND feeling like the Vietnam war?' I will say some plot points are predictable and I saw coming a mile away but it's a classic YA with a Marching Band twist, some things are gonna be predictable. But overall, this book was a beautiful and gut-wrenching journey.
How engaged was I in the plot? ★★★★☆ (4/5)
It was classic YA in my opinion. The pacing was great, and almost nothing felt too rushed or too slow. My biggest gripe with this was the Jessica having a secret, at least at first it was. I thought this was gonna be one of those classic secrets that have absolutely nothing to do with the plot and was just used to give the main character a quirky edge but the revelation of the secret itself being so early on proved that wasn't the case. Her secret was truly heart wrenching and shed light on scene that I originally thought were funny and turned them devastating. The story felt a bit rushed near the end though, probably because the pacing and revelations were like BAM, BAM, BAM. I can usually prediction plots and such but the revelation that Claire was not her mom did evade me. I did not catch on to that till Jessica directly said it.
Did I enjoy the writing style? ★★★★★ (5/5)
This writing style was rich in detail and feeling which I loved. At times it did get too wordy, but it was needed to completely understand the characters. Honestly? It helped me realize gaps in my own writing. As an upcoming author myself, reading this made me better in my opinion.
How real did the characters feel? ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Some of the dialogue felt like it was written by someone who was wise beyond teen years. I couldn't help but think 'this isn't how teens speak' at times. They felt a bit too mature sometimes in dialogue and then would go and do something that was not mature whatsoever. The banter in chapter 32 was so immaculate, peak honestly. They felt like teenagers. I think the realest character in here was in fact Courtney. I felt her anger; Hell, I felt angry for her. Her bitterness and casual distaste was done perfectly. I think for me, the most unrealistic character was Alex. It felt like he was trying to be the class clown guy, but it just fell short to me, which is perfectly okay because he's a side character, he doesn't need to have insane depth honestly. I very much enjoyed that Mr. Trust understood that Jessica is just a kid and she was manipulated and at the end of the day, the betrayal was as important as her being okay was.
How likely am I to reread the book? ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
While I would absolutely reread this again in the future, the plot is too classic for me to reread now. Nothing wrong with that, I'll probably reread it in a year or when I forget the plot like I do with most movies I watch.
Overall ★★★★☆ (4/5)
While this book didn't rewire my brain chemistry, I definitely will be making my personality bantery like Christians and determined like Jessica. I really enjoyed it's unique ending too, it sets it apart from other YA romance books. I recommend this book if you're looking for a high stakes YA with an interesting niche. Gemma originally marketed this specifically for band kids, but I know anyone can enjoy it and should.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2025
As someone who was never part of band, I was worried this book might confuse me. However, I found myself zooming through paragraphs with ease, each band-related term explained clearly, drills and formations described so smoothly it was as if I was there on the bleachers watching the kids play.
The whole book swallowed me, and I couldn't stop reading. Even when I finished it, I found myself constantly thinking about it, going back to how beautiful the plot was, and how the ending made me want more, that I ended up rereading it (and, I'll do it again).
The characters were realistic and relatable. In one way or another, every single one of us felt and experienced similar emotions or been in similar situations. The characters felt mature, yet still did wrong, and that's the reality of being a teen... One moment you are aware of everything, thinking reasonably about things, the next it's like the whole world is against you... The book portrayed that perfectly.
The little adventures they went on were sweet, they felt light-hearted despite the heavy topics mentioned. Each scene was so beautifully written, it was like watching a movie, especially the first chapters with the different P.O.V.s and that says a lot about how amazing this book is.
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*** Spoilers Ahead***
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I am all for happy and cheesy endings, but this one shook me. I felt a hurricane of emotions and had to take a break to gather my thoughts, but that's life. It doesn't always end the way movies do, and that just adds even more depth to the book, and makes it even more unique. Sometimes growth requires walking away and recollecting... AND. I. LIVE. FOR. THAT.
The book is honestly one of a kind. The writer is brilliant in every possible way.
I can't wait for the next books in the series ♡
The whole book swallowed me, and I couldn't stop reading. Even when I finished it, I found myself constantly thinking about it, going back to how beautiful the plot was, and how the ending made me want more, that I ended up rereading it (and, I'll do it again).
The characters were realistic and relatable. In one way or another, every single one of us felt and experienced similar emotions or been in similar situations. The characters felt mature, yet still did wrong, and that's the reality of being a teen... One moment you are aware of everything, thinking reasonably about things, the next it's like the whole world is against you... The book portrayed that perfectly.
The little adventures they went on were sweet, they felt light-hearted despite the heavy topics mentioned. Each scene was so beautifully written, it was like watching a movie, especially the first chapters with the different P.O.V.s and that says a lot about how amazing this book is.
-
*** Spoilers Ahead***
-
I am all for happy and cheesy endings, but this one shook me. I felt a hurricane of emotions and had to take a break to gather my thoughts, but that's life. It doesn't always end the way movies do, and that just adds even more depth to the book, and makes it even more unique. Sometimes growth requires walking away and recollecting... AND. I. LIVE. FOR. THAT.
The book is honestly one of a kind. The writer is brilliant in every possible way.
I can't wait for the next books in the series ♡
August 3, 2025
"Taking the Field" is an incredible YA romance that pulled me headfirst into a world I knew nothing about, which is competitive marching band, and it completely blew me away.
The author opens the door to a whole new universe, and I was in awe with every chapter. The vivid descriptions of the discipline, intensity, and rivalries in this sport made me realize it’s so much more than just music...it's war with rhythm.
To top it off, there's a Shakespearean twist, two characters caught in a heated rivalry, completely unaware of just how alike they truly are. The tension, the slow-burning connection, the unspoken emotions. It had me hooked from the very beginning.
Reading this book was a wild ride. I couldn’t put it down, and when I finally hit the last page at 4 a.m., I screamed internally. I needed more. I still need more.
Emotions? Check. Thrill? Check. Laughter, tears, anger, heart-squeezing romance? Check, check, check. This book made me feel, and that’s how you know it was written with heart, talent, and undeniable passion.
I won’t spoil anything, but let me just say: you need to read this. Whether it’s online or from your local bookstore—grab a copy and dive in. Jessica and Christian have officially earned a spot on my list of all-time favorite YA characters. This book is going straight to the top of my YA romance shelf.
Just… wow.
The author opens the door to a whole new universe, and I was in awe with every chapter. The vivid descriptions of the discipline, intensity, and rivalries in this sport made me realize it’s so much more than just music...it's war with rhythm.
To top it off, there's a Shakespearean twist, two characters caught in a heated rivalry, completely unaware of just how alike they truly are. The tension, the slow-burning connection, the unspoken emotions. It had me hooked from the very beginning.
Reading this book was a wild ride. I couldn’t put it down, and when I finally hit the last page at 4 a.m., I screamed internally. I needed more. I still need more.
Emotions? Check. Thrill? Check. Laughter, tears, anger, heart-squeezing romance? Check, check, check. This book made me feel, and that’s how you know it was written with heart, talent, and undeniable passion.
I won’t spoil anything, but let me just say: you need to read this. Whether it’s online or from your local bookstore—grab a copy and dive in. Jessica and Christian have officially earned a spot on my list of all-time favorite YA characters. This book is going straight to the top of my YA romance shelf.
Just… wow.
August 1, 2025
This book was a great read. I was homeschooled after elementary so I had no idea of what to picture band was like when I read this. But after reading it, memories of my friend who did go to band were falling into place. And then I asked my mom and she told me her experience and it seemed to be accurate to what this book portrayed, minus the romance.
Moving on from that, this book is written well with easy to follow prose and fun dialogue between characters. This book does a good job at placing you right there in the middle of the summer heat, sweat soaking through your clothes as you repeat your drills again and again.
The romance itself takes its time and is believable. I felt like I wasn't going to like some characters and the author really changed my mind on all of them.
If you are looking for a romance with an interesting and unique setting, then this book is the one for you!
Moving on from that, this book is written well with easy to follow prose and fun dialogue between characters. This book does a good job at placing you right there in the middle of the summer heat, sweat soaking through your clothes as you repeat your drills again and again.
The romance itself takes its time and is believable. I felt like I wasn't going to like some characters and the author really changed my mind on all of them.
If you are looking for a romance with an interesting and unique setting, then this book is the one for you!
June 12, 2025
Taking the Field is a mix of ALL the things I love in one book: marching band, witty banter, and a compelling, swoon-worthy romance between two people who only love one thing more than they love each other: BAND.
Fun, fast-paced, and full of OH MY GOD WHY DID THEY DO THAT moments that keep you flipping pages. Not to mention moments that hit close to home for those who have experienced broken families and EXCELLENT for fans of hurt/comfort in relationships.
And WHO COULD FORGET the BAND?! There are enough rehearsals and band kids being band kids to keep you craving marching season in the fall (I'll probably read this again in the winter as I dream of being on the field the next season).
Great read you don't want to miss! Can't wait to read more from Gemma Lane!
Fun, fast-paced, and full of OH MY GOD WHY DID THEY DO THAT moments that keep you flipping pages. Not to mention moments that hit close to home for those who have experienced broken families and EXCELLENT for fans of hurt/comfort in relationships.
And WHO COULD FORGET the BAND?! There are enough rehearsals and band kids being band kids to keep you craving marching season in the fall (I'll probably read this again in the winter as I dream of being on the field the next season).
Great read you don't want to miss! Can't wait to read more from Gemma Lane!
July 17, 2025
Self discovery, banter, competition, shocking twists, real and raw emotions and a few tears. What else could you want from a book?
While not a band kid myself, I found myself cheering them on through the biggest rivalry I've found in a book. The camaraderie between the characters plucked on my heart strings and made me feel a part of "band camp" and I loved every minute of it. Jessica has been through so much, and to see everything come full circle (need the next book STAT), and to watch her blossom into something else, just for her. I can't even put my feelings into coherent words. Christian was the perfect counterpart to Jessica, the witty banter, the competition, and the raw emotion they coaxed from each other steals your breath away. I cannot recommend this book enough and think we should all give the author some extra love. (You are killing it, Gemma)
While not a band kid myself, I found myself cheering them on through the biggest rivalry I've found in a book. The camaraderie between the characters plucked on my heart strings and made me feel a part of "band camp" and I loved every minute of it. Jessica has been through so much, and to see everything come full circle (need the next book STAT), and to watch her blossom into something else, just for her. I can't even put my feelings into coherent words. Christian was the perfect counterpart to Jessica, the witty banter, the competition, and the raw emotion they coaxed from each other steals your breath away. I cannot recommend this book enough and think we should all give the author some extra love. (You are killing it, Gemma)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2025
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
If you’re looking for a book that’s easy to read and binge, while pulling you out of a reading slump, this is the one!
•••
I knew nothing about marching band before picking up this novel, so i was worried i’d get a little lost, but that wasn’t the case. I feel like everything related to band was explained perfectly and I feel like the author did an amazing job with the character descriptions. I was rooting for Jessica and Christian and had such a hard time putting this book down. i’m excited to see their story continue in the second book:)
If you’re looking for a book that’s easy to read and binge, while pulling you out of a reading slump, this is the one!
•••
I knew nothing about marching band before picking up this novel, so i was worried i’d get a little lost, but that wasn’t the case. I feel like everything related to band was explained perfectly and I feel like the author did an amazing job with the character descriptions. I was rooting for Jessica and Christian and had such a hard time putting this book down. i’m excited to see their story continue in the second book:)
August 4, 2025
This is a realistic depiction of marching band in a high school setting. It’s very refreshing to have people write about this unique experience, when it often gets overshadowed. It is very respectful, the only thing that made me not give it a 5 stars was that the dramatization of drum majors was too dramatic for my taste. Although it was meant to be a drama, and therefore have to make it way more dramatic than real life. Overall it’s very well written, and a great debut book for Gemma!
September 22, 2025
Taking the Field was just a delight to read. I was a little nervous coming into the story as I didn't have a background in Marching Band. At every turn though, I was drawn into the struggle and competition of the characters.
Gemma did such a wonderful job creating a cast with the kind of depth and flaws that feel incredibly realistic and keeps pulling you in closer. I couldn't put this down and I can't wait for the next one!
Gemma did such a wonderful job creating a cast with the kind of depth and flaws that feel incredibly realistic and keeps pulling you in closer. I couldn't put this down and I can't wait for the next one!
June 29, 2025
KICKING MY FEET!
As a band person, I felt very seen when reading this book. I don’t have a ton of marching band experience, but you don’t need to be a band person to enjoy it. The characters, relationships, plot, and imagery really made me want to keep turning pages! It’s YA, but I still loved it as an adult ❤️
As a band person, I felt very seen when reading this book. I don’t have a ton of marching band experience, but you don’t need to be a band person to enjoy it. The characters, relationships, plot, and imagery really made me want to keep turning pages! It’s YA, but I still loved it as an adult ❤️
August 29, 2025
This book healed a little part of me—the part that I left behind in high school. That little band kid who turned to music when nothing else was quite as comforting. The writing style is so vivid and just captures the teenage angst I’m sure we can all remember. It’s beautiful, and will always remain one of my favorite reads.
June 26, 2025
The author not only establishes a realistic band and relationship setting, but goes further and has very believable backgrounds for the characters. This novel is not only perfect for people in marching band, but others as well.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews