What do you think?
Rate this book
Queerleaders
Two cheerleaders find themselves inconveniently tumbling head over heels for each other in this satirical, sapphic teen rom-com that’s Bring It On meets She Drives Me Crazy.
Oak Haven High doesn’t have cheerleaders—it has queerleaders.
It’s a fun coincidence that every new varsity cheerleader since Davie Cathee took the squad by storm three years ago is—or soon comes out as—queer.
But when a rumor sparks that this season, newly minted captain Davie has been specifically recruiting queer members only, Davie is accused of “discrimination” against straight students. She’s given an ultimatum: recruit a straight athlete for the team or the funding for their competitive cheer season will take a major tumble.
Enter Kendall Hayes, the edgy, mysterious new girl. When Davie sees that Kendall has a boyfriend, she quickly convinces her to join the squad. Problem solved.
Until she finds out that Kendall’s actually bisexual…and newly single.
Now Kendall and Davie are faced with having to keep those details under wraps until nationals, which only gets more complicated when they start falling hard and fast for each other. Can Kendall go back in the closet long enough to save the squad? Or will Davie find the courage to love her new crush out loud, even if it might mean the end of the queerleaders?
Oak Haven High doesn’t have cheerleaders—it has queerleaders.
It’s a fun coincidence that every new varsity cheerleader since Davie Cathee took the squad by storm three years ago is—or soon comes out as—queer.
But when a rumor sparks that this season, newly minted captain Davie has been specifically recruiting queer members only, Davie is accused of “discrimination” against straight students. She’s given an ultimatum: recruit a straight athlete for the team or the funding for their competitive cheer season will take a major tumble.
Enter Kendall Hayes, the edgy, mysterious new girl. When Davie sees that Kendall has a boyfriend, she quickly convinces her to join the squad. Problem solved.
Until she finds out that Kendall’s actually bisexual…and newly single.
Now Kendall and Davie are faced with having to keep those details under wraps until nationals, which only gets more complicated when they start falling hard and fast for each other. Can Kendall go back in the closet long enough to save the squad? Or will Davie find the courage to love her new crush out loud, even if it might mean the end of the queerleaders?
325 pages, Hardcover
Published May 19, 2026
About the author
Olivia A. Cole
16 books456 followersOlivia Cole is an author and blogger from Louisville, Kentucky. She spent eight years in Chicago and two in South Florida before finding her way back home. She is the author of PANTHER IN THE HIVE and its sequel, THE ROOSTER’S GARDEN, as well as her latest young adult series, A CONSPIRACY OF STARS and its sequel AN ANATOMY OF BEASTS. She is on the Creative Writing faculty at the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts and is the founder of the sci-fi art show for young Kentucky women, KINDRED: MAKING SPACE IN SPACE.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 23, 2026
They're here, they're queer, and they're ready to cheer...whether or not the local stick-up-their-bums crowd has anything to say about it.
This is a delightful take on Bring It On—or, I guess I shouldn't say it's a take on Bring It On; it's more accurate to say that there are plenty of sly nods to the classic (fewer, unfortunately, to But I'm a Cheerleader...but I can't have everything). This is a squad that's out and proud and also good at what they do. And we've come a long way in the last quarter-century(!!), which means that they're a team that has the good sense to be supportive of each other, and not food-shame or body-shame, and skip as much of the mean-girl drama as possible. And now they just need to spin that into a good showing at Nationals...
So it's a lot of fun. There's a conservative media personality who tries to make a stink (I'm reminded of the time the college conservatives brought Ann Coulter to my college, ugh), and I would say she's over the top, but...Ann Coulter. Lots of Big Personalities, but for the most part they manage to be Big Personalities who try to bring out the best in each other. There is of course a romance, and while Kendall and Davie manage to make things a little more angsty than strictly necessary (they're teenagers; it's allowed), I genuinely liked both main characters (and the side characters), which made them easy tocheer root for.
One quibble: I found it hard to believe that a team that is regularly a contender at Nationals—which are, let's be honest, a big deal—would struggle so much to find qualified, or even adequate, new cheerleaders. Kendall and her sister swoop in at just the right time...and, to be fair, the way things play out here makes sense in the context of Bring It On. But I honestly think that a team good enough to contend (and to know that they'll contend) at Nationals would have hopefuls moving into the school district, or driving/flying in to try out with a parental pledge that they'll move if they get on the team (because this is a thing in sports), or frankly the team having the ability to recruit from other schools or at least have a middle-school-to-high-school cheer pipeline. And probably a JV squad, for that matter. Have you seen the stuff top competitive cheerleaders do? They are not falling into those athletic feats by chance (or, for that matter, changing things at the last minute). It's not a huge deal (again: Bring It On context), but just something that made me think.
And now if you'll excuse me, I have to go convince my very disinterested partner that it is time to watch Bring It On, and also But I'm a Cheerleader...
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
This is a delightful take on Bring It On—or, I guess I shouldn't say it's a take on Bring It On; it's more accurate to say that there are plenty of sly nods to the classic (fewer, unfortunately, to But I'm a Cheerleader...but I can't have everything). This is a squad that's out and proud and also good at what they do. And we've come a long way in the last quarter-century(!!), which means that they're a team that has the good sense to be supportive of each other, and not food-shame or body-shame, and skip as much of the mean-girl drama as possible. And now they just need to spin that into a good showing at Nationals...
So it's a lot of fun. There's a conservative media personality who tries to make a stink (I'm reminded of the time the college conservatives brought Ann Coulter to my college, ugh), and I would say she's over the top, but...Ann Coulter. Lots of Big Personalities, but for the most part they manage to be Big Personalities who try to bring out the best in each other. There is of course a romance, and while Kendall and Davie manage to make things a little more angsty than strictly necessary (they're teenagers; it's allowed), I genuinely liked both main characters (and the side characters), which made them easy to
One quibble: I found it hard to believe that a team that is regularly a contender at Nationals—which are, let's be honest, a big deal—would struggle so much to find qualified, or even adequate, new cheerleaders. Kendall and her sister swoop in at just the right time...and, to be fair, the way things play out here makes sense in the context of Bring It On. But I honestly think that a team good enough to contend (and to know that they'll contend) at Nationals would have hopefuls moving into the school district, or driving/flying in to try out with a parental pledge that they'll move if they get on the team (because this is a thing in sports), or frankly the team having the ability to recruit from other schools or at least have a middle-school-to-high-school cheer pipeline. And probably a JV squad, for that matter. Have you seen the stuff top competitive cheerleaders do? They are not falling into those athletic feats by chance (or, for that matter, changing things at the last minute). It's not a huge deal (again: Bring It On context), but just something that made me think.
And now if you'll excuse me, I have to go convince my very disinterested partner that it is time to watch Bring It On, and also But I'm a Cheerleader...
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
June 5, 2026
thank you simonteen for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
queerleaders is following davie, the cheer captain for the self-proclaimed squad of queerleaders. a cheer team squad where everyone happens to be queer. after an accident on the team requires them to hold auditions for a new flyer, our “new girls” in town enter. kendall is dragged to cheerleading tryouts as penance for getting her and her younger sister expelled from their private school after protesting against dress codes. after another girl who auditioned starts targeting the cheer team for “discriminating” against straight people, davie convinces kendall to also join the squad as their token straight, attempting to squash the situation quietly. but unfortunately, the bigots of their town continue to push the boundaries and kendall and davie are forced to decide what should they do about their growing attraction to each other.
i read call your boyfriend last year, which was the first joint project between olivia cole and ashley woodfolk. from that, i was really intrigued to see if/what they would do next. to me, queerleaders was a perfect next step for them. overall, i really really enjoyed reading queerleaders. the story of their struggle against local bigots is unfortunately a growing battle we’re seeing in real life. we see the attempts that the “conservative” club continues to make against the cheer team to derail their trip to nationals. beyond the claims being completely unfounded, we see davie struggle to open up to the team to even tell them about what was going on. she places a lot of internal stress to make the team a safe place and to take any burdens or concerns upon only herself. so seeing kendall break those walls down a bit, to let her in onto the issues was really good development to see.
was all of the decisions that davie made really the best? no, definitely not. but later in the book, once they were able to fight back and bring the local queer community together, we do see her acknowledge her faults. she realizes that she was sometimes making it worse by not trusting on the rest of the team to help right away. and once they knew the full scope, they were able to fundraise through the drag show to fund their trip. this book is truly a testament to how strong the queer community is and needs to be. in the face of hatred, we will always band together and come out stronger than before. queerleaders was not afraid to discuss how there are people who will continue to be against queer people, but how they don’t deserve to stop us from crafting out spaces and i really appreciated that explicit message.
the only thing that i wish was handled a little bit better was the conversations surrounding kendall’s bisexuality. davie sees kendall with her (soon to be ex-)boyfriend on the first day of their tryouts and she immediately presumes that kendall is straight. she sees her younger sister with rainbow nails and pride flags and presumes that she is gay. of course, eventually davie realizes that’s very much not true as their mutual feelings grow. however, there is never really an acknowledgment or apology to kendall that she assumed that she was straight just because she was in a straight-passing relationship. we even see kind of the same thing with said ex. during their break-up conversation, he implies that she is really only into girls. i do wish there was better conversation around kendall’s bisexual identity and the impact of still defaulting to straight, even though davie herself is queer. it is truly my biggest gripe of the whole book and continues to perpetuate this idea that bisexual peoplle are only queer if in same-sex relationships (or visually queer ones). for all the discussion this book has around queer identity, it fell short to me there.
queerleaders is following davie, the cheer captain for the self-proclaimed squad of queerleaders. a cheer team squad where everyone happens to be queer. after an accident on the team requires them to hold auditions for a new flyer, our “new girls” in town enter. kendall is dragged to cheerleading tryouts as penance for getting her and her younger sister expelled from their private school after protesting against dress codes. after another girl who auditioned starts targeting the cheer team for “discriminating” against straight people, davie convinces kendall to also join the squad as their token straight, attempting to squash the situation quietly. but unfortunately, the bigots of their town continue to push the boundaries and kendall and davie are forced to decide what should they do about their growing attraction to each other.
i read call your boyfriend last year, which was the first joint project between olivia cole and ashley woodfolk. from that, i was really intrigued to see if/what they would do next. to me, queerleaders was a perfect next step for them. overall, i really really enjoyed reading queerleaders. the story of their struggle against local bigots is unfortunately a growing battle we’re seeing in real life. we see the attempts that the “conservative” club continues to make against the cheer team to derail their trip to nationals. beyond the claims being completely unfounded, we see davie struggle to open up to the team to even tell them about what was going on. she places a lot of internal stress to make the team a safe place and to take any burdens or concerns upon only herself. so seeing kendall break those walls down a bit, to let her in onto the issues was really good development to see.
was all of the decisions that davie made really the best? no, definitely not. but later in the book, once they were able to fight back and bring the local queer community together, we do see her acknowledge her faults. she realizes that she was sometimes making it worse by not trusting on the rest of the team to help right away. and once they knew the full scope, they were able to fundraise through the drag show to fund their trip. this book is truly a testament to how strong the queer community is and needs to be. in the face of hatred, we will always band together and come out stronger than before. queerleaders was not afraid to discuss how there are people who will continue to be against queer people, but how they don’t deserve to stop us from crafting out spaces and i really appreciated that explicit message.
the only thing that i wish was handled a little bit better was the conversations surrounding kendall’s bisexuality. davie sees kendall with her (soon to be ex-)boyfriend on the first day of their tryouts and she immediately presumes that kendall is straight. she sees her younger sister with rainbow nails and pride flags and presumes that she is gay. of course, eventually davie realizes that’s very much not true as their mutual feelings grow. however, there is never really an acknowledgment or apology to kendall that she assumed that she was straight just because she was in a straight-passing relationship. we even see kind of the same thing with said ex. during their break-up conversation, he implies that she is really only into girls. i do wish there was better conversation around kendall’s bisexual identity and the impact of still defaulting to straight, even though davie herself is queer. it is truly my biggest gripe of the whole book and continues to perpetuate this idea that bisexual peoplle are only queer if in same-sex relationships (or visually queer ones). for all the discussion this book has around queer identity, it fell short to me there.
May 18, 2026
Kendall and Nia get kicked out of their private school and start to attend Oak Haven High. They don’t know anyone there, but Nia wants to try out for the cheerleading squad. Kendall is the reason Nia got kicked out of the private school, so she tries out with Nia. Initially, Nia makes the squad, but when a student that is mad that they didn’t make the squad claims that the squad is discriminatory against heterosexuals, they also take Kendall because she’s straight. Kendall is really bisexual and has a thing for the captain, Davie. Can they keep it a secret? Can Kendall stay in the closet so that the squad doesn’t lose funding? Will they make it to nationals?
This was a fun read. This is very much a young adult book. Not only because it takes place in high school, but the characters definitely act like high schoolers. I applaud the authors for writing authentic characters. A lot of time characters in YA books say and do things that make readers think “someone that age would never say/do that.!” None of that happened here.
Queer and bisexual representation was the center of this book, as well as friendships and fitting in. Whatever the sexual identity is, friendships and fitting in are something a lot of people struggle with in high school. Kids are looking for the group that accepts them and welcomes them. Davie and the squad are so welcoming of Kendall and Nia – it’s never easy being the new kids at school. The form bonds that will probably last them a lifetime.
There are quite a few references to Bring It On in here. That movie was definitely an inspiration for this book. Maybe there was one too many references for me. But otherwise, this was a very fun read.
This was a fun read. This is very much a young adult book. Not only because it takes place in high school, but the characters definitely act like high schoolers. I applaud the authors for writing authentic characters. A lot of time characters in YA books say and do things that make readers think “someone that age would never say/do that.!” None of that happened here.
Queer and bisexual representation was the center of this book, as well as friendships and fitting in. Whatever the sexual identity is, friendships and fitting in are something a lot of people struggle with in high school. Kids are looking for the group that accepts them and welcomes them. Davie and the squad are so welcoming of Kendall and Nia – it’s never easy being the new kids at school. The form bonds that will probably last them a lifetime.
There are quite a few references to Bring It On in here. That movie was definitely an inspiration for this book. Maybe there was one too many references for me. But otherwise, this was a very fun read.
June 4, 2026
Okay, when I saw this title you know I had to pick it up. When I saw that Olivia A Cole, who wrote one of my favorite YA books of last year (Medusa) paired up with Ashley Woodfolk, who contributed to some cute YA romance collections (Blackout and White Out) to write it, I was interested. The title and cover are dumb as hell, but I'm here for it. The whole thing kind of read like a Bring It On fanfic. It is kind of silly and very sweet- let us have our goofy ass joy, it's Pride month.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
As a bisexual woman I went in wanting to love this book, but unfortunately, it fell extremely flat for me, for various reasons. Nonetheless, thank you for the Goodreads giveaway, though it doesn't impact the following review.
What I liked:
-Sibling relationship between Kendall and Nia
-Queer ass cheer team!
-Focus on community+grassroots action. <3
What I hated:
-I couldn't stand Davie. She'd start fights and then be upset people were mean after??
-Misrepresentation(s) of bisexuality that aren't re-addressed
-Cishet characters repeatedly clocking the queer characters rather than the bisexual lead doing so
-Davie and Kendall's romance Did Not Work. Kendall my love get some self-respect.
-Insta-lust, which is just a personal preference thing
-Calling the conservatives in the book, who are causing genuine harm to their local queer community, trolls; it's very Millennial to try to use it in this context, would not be used by high schoolers in said context, and only de-legitimizes the harm they do. A troll says wild, hateful things for the sake of causing a stir, for the love of the game. They don't have to believe what they're saying. They exist online, behind anonymous accounts. They are not the local conservative club, conservative school board member, or conservative podcaster doing material harm to minorities.
For long, specific, more spoiler-y criticisms:
My biggest gripe is Kendall's bisexuality, which really sucks because her early internal dialogue about it was so relatable! Bi-invisibility is a very real problem, and I was hoping for this book to address it in a meaningful but light-hearted way.
So, at the end of the day, this book will probably work for a number of people. I just cannot really recommend it due to its treatment of bisexuality.
What I liked:
-Sibling relationship between Kendall and Nia
-Queer ass cheer team!
-Focus on community+grassroots action. <3
What I hated:
-I couldn't stand Davie. She'd start fights and then be upset people were mean after??
-Misrepresentation(s) of bisexuality that aren't re-addressed
-Cishet characters repeatedly clocking the queer characters rather than the bisexual lead doing so
-Davie and Kendall's romance Did Not Work. Kendall my love get some self-respect.
-Insta-lust, which is just a personal preference thing
-Calling the conservatives in the book, who are causing genuine harm to their local queer community, trolls; it's very Millennial to try to use it in this context, would not be used by high schoolers in said context, and only de-legitimizes the harm they do. A troll says wild, hateful things for the sake of causing a stir, for the love of the game. They don't have to believe what they're saying. They exist online, behind anonymous accounts. They are not the local conservative club, conservative school board member, or conservative podcaster doing material harm to minorities.
For long, specific, more spoiler-y criticisms:
My biggest gripe is Kendall's bisexuality, which really sucks because her early internal dialogue about it was so relatable! Bi-invisibility is a very real problem, and I was hoping for this book to address it in a meaningful but light-hearted way.
So, at the end of the day, this book will probably work for a number of people. I just cannot really recommend it due to its treatment of bisexuality.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 ⭐
When I first read the synopsis for this book, I was so ready to love it. A cheerleading squad made up mostly of queer teens? Already a win. Add in a secret relationship and the drama of faking being straight for team funding, and I genuinely thought this had all the ingredients to become one of those messy but addictive queer YA reads. And honestly? I can still see the potential this story had. I just don’t think the execution fully delivered for me.
The book felt chaotic in a way that wasn’t always intentional. There was constantly something happening, but so much of the conflict relied on miscommunication, which became frustrating instead of emotional. Yes, I know they’re teenagers, so I wasn’t expecting perfect decision-making or emotional maturity. Still, I was hoping for meaningful growth by the end. Instead, a lot of the major issues seemed to resolve themselves suddenly, without enough buildup, so the emotional payoff never really landed the way I wanted it to.
Davie especially tested my patience. I completely understood why she felt responsible for carrying the team as captain, and I never doubted that her intentions were good. But it became exhausting watching her refuse to trust the very people who clearly loved and supported her. That’s a shame because the team dynamic itself was one of my favorite parts of the book. The found family vibes were genuinely sweet, and seeing a group of queer teens openly support one another felt really special. As someone who didn’t have that kind of environment while figuring out my own sexuality in high school, those moments hit hard for me.
But Davie’s inability to communicate dragged on for so long. What frustrated me most was how passive she remained about her own happiness. It constantly felt like she was living according to everyone else’s expectations instead of asking herself what she actually wanted. That’s why her character arc felt incomplete to me. She only starts questioning those expectations when the story is practically over. The repeated mentions of her complicated relationship with her dad, without properly addressing it by the end, also left me feeling unsatisfied.
Kendall didn’t fully work for me either, although I did find her more grounded overall. I appreciated that she slowly started seeing beyond herself and understanding the bigger picture, but I still struggled to connect with her emotionally. Her relationship with her mother had so much potential, which is why the sudden change in their dynamic felt rushed rather than earned.
And then there’s the romance, which sadly never clicked for me. It leaned very heavily into insta-love, and because they barely knew each other before developing intense feelings, I struggled to buy into the emotional depth of their connection. The constant cycle of avoiding each other, misunderstanding each other, getting angry, making up, and repeating the same mistakes became tiring after a while. There were entire stretches where they barely interacted, which only made the relationship feel more fragile and underdeveloped. By the end, I honestly wasn’t emotionally invested in whether they stayed together or not.
Something else that bothered me was the way both main characters kept assuming people’s sexualities without actually talking to them first. It became frustrating because so many of the conflicts could have been avoided if they had simply stopped labeling others based on assumptions.
I also think the writing tried a little too hard to sound Gen Z. I am Gen Z, but some of the dialogue felt less natural and more like it was forcing trendy language into every conversation. Instead of sounding authentic, it often came across as overly juvenile.
At the end of the day, this just wasn’t the book for me. By the time I reached the ending, I was honestly more relieved than emotional. I can absolutely understand why some readers connected with it. The foundation had real potential, and not every aspect was bad, but for me the messy execution overshadowed the things that could have made this story truly impactful.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
When I first read the synopsis for this book, I was so ready to love it. A cheerleading squad made up mostly of queer teens? Already a win. Add in a secret relationship and the drama of faking being straight for team funding, and I genuinely thought this had all the ingredients to become one of those messy but addictive queer YA reads. And honestly? I can still see the potential this story had. I just don’t think the execution fully delivered for me.
The book felt chaotic in a way that wasn’t always intentional. There was constantly something happening, but so much of the conflict relied on miscommunication, which became frustrating instead of emotional. Yes, I know they’re teenagers, so I wasn’t expecting perfect decision-making or emotional maturity. Still, I was hoping for meaningful growth by the end. Instead, a lot of the major issues seemed to resolve themselves suddenly, without enough buildup, so the emotional payoff never really landed the way I wanted it to.
Davie especially tested my patience. I completely understood why she felt responsible for carrying the team as captain, and I never doubted that her intentions were good. But it became exhausting watching her refuse to trust the very people who clearly loved and supported her. That’s a shame because the team dynamic itself was one of my favorite parts of the book. The found family vibes were genuinely sweet, and seeing a group of queer teens openly support one another felt really special. As someone who didn’t have that kind of environment while figuring out my own sexuality in high school, those moments hit hard for me.
But Davie’s inability to communicate dragged on for so long. What frustrated me most was how passive she remained about her own happiness. It constantly felt like she was living according to everyone else’s expectations instead of asking herself what she actually wanted. That’s why her character arc felt incomplete to me. She only starts questioning those expectations when the story is practically over. The repeated mentions of her complicated relationship with her dad, without properly addressing it by the end, also left me feeling unsatisfied.
Kendall didn’t fully work for me either, although I did find her more grounded overall. I appreciated that she slowly started seeing beyond herself and understanding the bigger picture, but I still struggled to connect with her emotionally. Her relationship with her mother had so much potential, which is why the sudden change in their dynamic felt rushed rather than earned.
And then there’s the romance, which sadly never clicked for me. It leaned very heavily into insta-love, and because they barely knew each other before developing intense feelings, I struggled to buy into the emotional depth of their connection. The constant cycle of avoiding each other, misunderstanding each other, getting angry, making up, and repeating the same mistakes became tiring after a while. There were entire stretches where they barely interacted, which only made the relationship feel more fragile and underdeveloped. By the end, I honestly wasn’t emotionally invested in whether they stayed together or not.
Something else that bothered me was the way both main characters kept assuming people’s sexualities without actually talking to them first. It became frustrating because so many of the conflicts could have been avoided if they had simply stopped labeling others based on assumptions.
I also think the writing tried a little too hard to sound Gen Z. I am Gen Z, but some of the dialogue felt less natural and more like it was forcing trendy language into every conversation. Instead of sounding authentic, it often came across as overly juvenile.
At the end of the day, this just wasn’t the book for me. By the time I reached the ending, I was honestly more relieved than emotional. I can absolutely understand why some readers connected with it. The foundation had real potential, and not every aspect was bad, but for me the messy execution overshadowed the things that could have made this story truly impactful.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2026
↠ 3.75 stars, rounded up ⭐️
Bring It On but make it gay!!!!
I haven’t read a book in one sitting in ages, but I started this at 2pm yesterday and seriously couldn’t put it down until I was finished.
This was such a fun coming-of-age story full of heart and queer joy. As the title suggests, the representation is top tier—bisexual, lesbian, MTF trans, BIPOC, Asian, gay, nonbinary, drag queens. I loved all the characters, who were very reminiscent of several from Bring It On (imo)—and the cheer squad being a safe space to be their authentic selves was so wholesome. The banter between them all was so fun, and it had me laughing out loud quite a few times. The romance was sweet too, but it personally wasn’t what carried the story for me.
I will say, this is a true YA. Some of the phrases used are a little cringy, and there’s a bit of shade thrown at millennials (as one.. ouch), but all-in-all, I did really enjoy the writing. There’s also quite a bit of political commentary, and I will admit, some of it was pretty heavy-handed—BUT I personally appreciated how straightforward it was. The messaging is important. Plus, seeing the bigoted characters receive the consequences they deserved was refreshing.
As someone whose favorite movie was Bring It On at one point in my life, Queerleaders sticks the landing! It was nostalgic while bringing something fresh to the original story.
And now.. I think I’m due for a rewatch 🤭
Many thanks to NetGalley, the authors, and Simon Teen for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! ♡
₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆. ₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆.₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆. ₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆.
Check out my reviews on bookstagram
Bring It On but make it gay!!!!
I haven’t read a book in one sitting in ages, but I started this at 2pm yesterday and seriously couldn’t put it down until I was finished.
This was such a fun coming-of-age story full of heart and queer joy. As the title suggests, the representation is top tier—bisexual, lesbian, MTF trans, BIPOC, Asian, gay, nonbinary, drag queens. I loved all the characters, who were very reminiscent of several from Bring It On (imo)—and the cheer squad being a safe space to be their authentic selves was so wholesome. The banter between them all was so fun, and it had me laughing out loud quite a few times. The romance was sweet too, but it personally wasn’t what carried the story for me.
I will say, this is a true YA. Some of the phrases used are a little cringy, and there’s a bit of shade thrown at millennials (as one.. ouch), but all-in-all, I did really enjoy the writing. There’s also quite a bit of political commentary, and I will admit, some of it was pretty heavy-handed—BUT I personally appreciated how straightforward it was. The messaging is important. Plus, seeing the bigoted characters receive the consequences they deserved was refreshing.
As someone whose favorite movie was Bring It On at one point in my life, Queerleaders sticks the landing! It was nostalgic while bringing something fresh to the original story.
And now.. I think I’m due for a rewatch 🤭
Many thanks to NetGalley, the authors, and Simon Teen for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! ♡
₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆. ₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆.₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆. ₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆.
Check out my reviews on bookstagram
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the gay cheerleading story of my dreams. Think Bring It On, only gay. Okay, make that gayer (you’ll never convince me that Torrance and Missy weren’t endgame). First of all the voice is fab-u-lous. Secondly, the premise is SO fun (an all queer cheerleading squad catching flack for not having any cishet people in it, that recruits a seemingly straight new girl to solve the issue without realizing she’s actually bi).
The chemistry between Davie and Kendall was outstanding. The supporting cast was fantastic too, and I was especially fond of Davie’s bestie Amber and the not-the-sharpest-tool-in-the-shed member of the squad Troy.
I had the biggest smile on my face the entire time I was reading this. I didn’t want to put the book down!
Though practically perfect, there was one moment that rubbed me the wrong way. Kendall, questioning whether bisexual is the correct label for her, briefly implies that bisexuality doesn’t include attraction to non-binary people, and her misconception is never corrected on the page. Bisexuality has ALWAYS meant attraction to all genders, which includes the femmes, hims, and thems Kendall is into. So it was frustrating to see such a joyously queer book that nailed everything else drop the ball on that.
However, that little hiccup didn’t stop me from reading on and loving absolutely everything else about this book though.
Four and a half stars rounded up to five.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.
The chemistry between Davie and Kendall was outstanding. The supporting cast was fantastic too, and I was especially fond of Davie’s bestie Amber and the not-the-sharpest-tool-in-the-shed member of the squad Troy.
I had the biggest smile on my face the entire time I was reading this. I didn’t want to put the book down!
Though practically perfect, there was one moment that rubbed me the wrong way. Kendall, questioning whether bisexual is the correct label for her, briefly implies that bisexuality doesn’t include attraction to non-binary people, and her misconception is never corrected on the page. Bisexuality has ALWAYS meant attraction to all genders, which includes the femmes, hims, and thems Kendall is into. So it was frustrating to see such a joyously queer book that nailed everything else drop the ball on that.
However, that little hiccup didn’t stop me from reading on and loving absolutely everything else about this book though.
Four and a half stars rounded up to five.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 stars
This book is aptly billed as a _She Drives Me Crazy_ / _Bring It On_ mashup, and as a woman of a certain age, I say sign me up and also, obviously, "Brrrrr. It's cold in here!" IYKYK, you better come correct with the right squad in the next line.
If this intro made you nostalgic, crack this book.
Cole and Woodfolk are back for another fun queer YA romp, this time, of course, with pyramids and Daytona-style memories included. Oh, and there are Karens Karening, which makes for an easy if terrifying set of nemeses.
One of these Karens is upset that her daughter, who is not a skilled cheerleader, did not make the squad. Of course, she determines that this must be a result of her daughter being...heterosexual. According to this woman, only queer kids can join this squad, which is both a wild premise and a great impetus for how Davie and Kendall connect.
While I enjoyed the central characters and their banter, I was more engrossed in (and appropriately grossed out by) the antics happening around them than I was interested in their burgeoning relationship. That wasn't what I expected on the way in, but it also didn't bum me out. This was a fun take on a YA romance; I enjoyed the representation and messaging even more than the cuteness.
This is another great effort from a duo I really hope will keep at it!
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This book is aptly billed as a _She Drives Me Crazy_ / _Bring It On_ mashup, and as a woman of a certain age, I say sign me up and also, obviously, "Brrrrr. It's cold in here!" IYKYK, you better come correct with the right squad in the next line.
If this intro made you nostalgic, crack this book.
Cole and Woodfolk are back for another fun queer YA romp, this time, of course, with pyramids and Daytona-style memories included. Oh, and there are Karens Karening, which makes for an easy if terrifying set of nemeses.
One of these Karens is upset that her daughter, who is not a skilled cheerleader, did not make the squad. Of course, she determines that this must be a result of her daughter being...heterosexual. According to this woman, only queer kids can join this squad, which is both a wild premise and a great impetus for how Davie and Kendall connect.
While I enjoyed the central characters and their banter, I was more engrossed in (and appropriately grossed out by) the antics happening around them than I was interested in their burgeoning relationship. That wasn't what I expected on the way in, but it also didn't bum me out. This was a fun take on a YA romance; I enjoyed the representation and messaging even more than the cuteness.
This is another great effort from a duo I really hope will keep at it!
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
April 18, 2026
Thank you so much to Simon Teen and the authors for sending me an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
One, two, three, four! Who do we adore? Olivia A. Cole and Ashley Woodfolk for writing Queerleaders! This book was so much fun! I enjoyed every single second of it, and I wish that I could live in the Queerleaders world forever.
Think Bring it On but the cheer squad is (almost?) entirely queer! When I heard the premise of this book, I knew it was going to be a blast.
We got a dual point of view for Ken and Davie, which was so needed. I really enjoyed watching them navigate their feelings for each other. There were so many times when things could have been sorted out with a bit more communication, so the dual pov really made you root extra hard for them to figure out the other's feelings.
Something I loved extra about this book is that I adored the side characters as much as the main characters. Every single person was written so well. I found myself so thoroughly invested in each and every character and all of their side storylines. Everyone could have their own book, and I would eat it up!
This book just felt full of joy. Even though our characters faced some hurdles in the shape of homophobic classmates/their moms (boo, tomato!) this book ultimately felt like a celebration. A huge thank you again to both the publisher and authors for sending me an arc copy of this book.
One, two, three, four! Who do we adore? Olivia A. Cole and Ashley Woodfolk for writing Queerleaders! This book was so much fun! I enjoyed every single second of it, and I wish that I could live in the Queerleaders world forever.
Think Bring it On but the cheer squad is (almost?) entirely queer! When I heard the premise of this book, I knew it was going to be a blast.
We got a dual point of view for Ken and Davie, which was so needed. I really enjoyed watching them navigate their feelings for each other. There were so many times when things could have been sorted out with a bit more communication, so the dual pov really made you root extra hard for them to figure out the other's feelings.
Something I loved extra about this book is that I adored the side characters as much as the main characters. Every single person was written so well. I found myself so thoroughly invested in each and every character and all of their side storylines. Everyone could have their own book, and I would eat it up!
This book just felt full of joy. Even though our characters faced some hurdles in the shape of homophobic classmates/their moms (boo, tomato!) this book ultimately felt like a celebration. A huge thank you again to both the publisher and authors for sending me an arc copy of this book.
May 23, 2026
Queer leaders by Olivia Cole is about Davey who gets a message from those that fun cheerleading telling her she needs to get some straight people on the cheerleading squad but mainly she knows it’s to get the daughter of that person Addie, on the squad. Unfortunately she really thought it would be a struggle, because she saw what Haven high had to offer in the beginning of the year. So having a member out with a broken arm doesn’t go well for the upcoming competitions but When new girl Kendall and her little sister Nia tried out for the cheerleading team they were not only wonderful but Davie new Kindle was straight so problem solved. The team needs to focus so it doesn’t help when Avery let’s slip that a scandalous social media personality was coming to their freedom rally and Davies newly found crush on Kindle isn’t helping matters especially when she finds out Kendall is bi and not straight. This is all set up to go bananas can Kendle keep things straight while at the same time keeping away from Davie or will the feeling they feel be way too powerful. OK this is a horrible review but let me just say this was an awesome book it was way better than I thought it was going to be an although it is a team year romance it really is well done and so worth the read. I definitely recommend it find out what happens when a girl has to go back in the closet to stay on the cheerleading team, while at the same time having a crush on the teams coach. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #InTheCloset, #1Love, #LGBTQplus,
June 2, 2026
4.5 out of 5: Very "Bring it On" on coded but make it queer, sapphic, and add a diverse cheer team with in identity and body type. This makes me so happy for teens in this generation to be seen and that it can be safe to be yourself. That you can find people to be your truest self with which was harder to find when I was younger.
Davie's struggle with perfectionism and not wanting to let her team down, but only feeling she has one path due to needing scholarship. Autumn and Davie's friendship was everything as well as the different personalities and what they brought to each other was everything.
I loved Kendall's love of fashion and her anxiety felt very realistic and understandable. The way she stayed friends with her ex Ori and her friendship with her Jules, to have a base, but to also have them encourage her to make new friends at her new school. I also adored her friendship with her sister Nia and their support of each other even in their rocky moments. The way the family got each other to look at each other's perspectives.
I also loved how the community overall came together to support the team letting them know the bigotry of some does not mean that the whole town felt the same. The ending was super sweet.
Davie's struggle with perfectionism and not wanting to let her team down, but only feeling she has one path due to needing scholarship. Autumn and Davie's friendship was everything as well as the different personalities and what they brought to each other was everything.
I loved Kendall's love of fashion and her anxiety felt very realistic and understandable. The way she stayed friends with her ex Ori and her friendship with her Jules, to have a base, but to also have them encourage her to make new friends at her new school. I also adored her friendship with her sister Nia and their support of each other even in their rocky moments. The way the family got each other to look at each other's perspectives.
I also loved how the community overall came together to support the team letting them know the bigotry of some does not mean that the whole town felt the same. The ending was super sweet.
May 21, 2026
Bring It On, but make it queer.
High school cheer squad needs a token straight to keep their funding because they are accused of discriminating against straights. But whoops, we didn’t recruit someone actually straight.
There was so much character development in this book for both of the two main characters, Davie and Kendall, that I just loved. Both of them were able to grow as young adults and learn how to be more open and themselves.
The characters felt very authentic and reflective of their supposed age. miscommunications abound throughout the story that felt very typical of high schoolers - not trusting people who have your back, not just talking to your parents, not just talking to your friend/crush/peer/whatever, etc.
One thing that really took me out of the story was the inaccuracy of the mention of trans discrimination in equestrian sports. That is just not a thing as there is nothing gendered in the sport at all. I wish the author had done more research or chosen a different sport.
Overall this is such a cute YA sports romance! 4.5/5 stars.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
High school cheer squad needs a token straight to keep their funding because they are accused of discriminating against straights. But whoops, we didn’t recruit someone actually straight.
There was so much character development in this book for both of the two main characters, Davie and Kendall, that I just loved. Both of them were able to grow as young adults and learn how to be more open and themselves.
The characters felt very authentic and reflective of their supposed age. miscommunications abound throughout the story that felt very typical of high schoolers - not trusting people who have your back, not just talking to your parents, not just talking to your friend/crush/peer/whatever, etc.
One thing that really took me out of the story was the inaccuracy of the mention of trans discrimination in equestrian sports. That is just not a thing as there is nothing gendered in the sport at all. I wish the author had done more research or chosen a different sport.
Overall this is such a cute YA sports romance! 4.5/5 stars.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
May 20, 2026
Queerleaders was such a fun sapphic romcom. If you loved the movie Bring It On then this book is for you!
The captain of the cheer team is accused of only allowing queer students on the team. Not true, just coincidence. But if she doesn't change that, the team will lose funding. Luckily, she finds a pair of siblings that are perfect for the team and atleast one of them is straight. Great! Except, unknown to them, she's actually bisexual. And the fmc is falling hard for her! Now the team is in jeopardy of losing their funding.
The story was so fun and felt so nostalgic to me. It had a great blend of romance and humor. The romance aspect was so pure and enjoyable. The friendships were so fun and great to read. As I was reading I kept thinking about how authentically real the characters felt. It also showed the reality of the way people who are bisexual are treated in regards to feeling like they belong. The story was just so great from start to finish! I cant wait to read more by the authors!
The captain of the cheer team is accused of only allowing queer students on the team. Not true, just coincidence. But if she doesn't change that, the team will lose funding. Luckily, she finds a pair of siblings that are perfect for the team and atleast one of them is straight. Great! Except, unknown to them, she's actually bisexual. And the fmc is falling hard for her! Now the team is in jeopardy of losing their funding.
The story was so fun and felt so nostalgic to me. It had a great blend of romance and humor. The romance aspect was so pure and enjoyable. The friendships were so fun and great to read. As I was reading I kept thinking about how authentically real the characters felt. It also showed the reality of the way people who are bisexual are treated in regards to feeling like they belong. The story was just so great from start to finish! I cant wait to read more by the authors!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this- it took me a minute to get into it for whatever reason but once things picked up plot-wise I was invested. I liked Kendall and Davie and their chemistry, I enjoyed the found family aspect of the book, I appreciate the talk between Nia and Kendall near the end to clear the air. Also it was nice to see Addie and her shitty mom actually face consequences for their actions.
I also saw someone in their review say they didn't like the political-ness/that it was maybe a bit heavy handed but I personally thought it was refreshing to not only read a book where I could see my own beliefs reflected but also where the villains of the story actually face consequences for their shitty actions (related to their shitty beliefs). (And this isn't to like call out this other reviewer!! I just read the review and it made me think about how I felt on the subject. Everyone is allowed to have their own opinions!)
I also saw someone in their review say they didn't like the political-ness/that it was maybe a bit heavy handed but I personally thought it was refreshing to not only read a book where I could see my own beliefs reflected but also where the villains of the story actually face consequences for their shitty actions (related to their shitty beliefs). (And this isn't to like call out this other reviewer!! I just read the review and it made me think about how I felt on the subject. Everyone is allowed to have their own opinions!)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book follows Davie, the captain of her high school's cheerleading team, who is forced to recruit a straight person for the team, because people think she's made the team exclusively queer to discriminate. She recruits Kendall, who she assumes is straight, but later finds out she isn't as they both start to fall for each other. This is a very cute Dual POV young adult romance book.
I absolutely adored this book! It's very fun and adorable. I love all of the characters, especially Nia. The plot is very creative and unique, and the romance is absolutely swoon-worthy. I especially love the bisexual representation of people automatically assuming you're straight just because you're dating someone of the opposite gender, which is very relatable. Overall, I think this is an amazing book, and I thank NetGalley for the ARC!
I absolutely adored this book! It's very fun and adorable. I love all of the characters, especially Nia. The plot is very creative and unique, and the romance is absolutely swoon-worthy. I especially love the bisexual representation of people automatically assuming you're straight just because you're dating someone of the opposite gender, which is very relatable. Overall, I think this is an amazing book, and I thank NetGalley for the ARC!
May 28, 2026
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Queerleaders is a book I didn't know I needed till I saw it. It's the ultimate mash up of "Bring it On" with dual POVs and cheerleading. I immediately loved the vibes, every side character of the squad, and was invested completely. It was so easy to fall in love, to see the family and their complexities, and their vulnerabilities. Both Davie and Kendall are so open, so raw in their narrative voices that we instantly see Davie's desire to be a leader, but hates to be the bad guy. Or Kendall's attempts to fit in to this new school, to find her place, and fix things with her sister. I ended up reading this in a few days I was so obsessed!
Queerleaders is a book I didn't know I needed till I saw it. It's the ultimate mash up of "Bring it On" with dual POVs and cheerleading. I immediately loved the vibes, every side character of the squad, and was invested completely. It was so easy to fall in love, to see the family and their complexities, and their vulnerabilities. Both Davie and Kendall are so open, so raw in their narrative voices that we instantly see Davie's desire to be a leader, but hates to be the bad guy. Or Kendall's attempts to fit in to this new school, to find her place, and fix things with her sister. I ended up reading this in a few days I was so obsessed!
February 1, 2026
The atmosphere of this book was written well along with diverse characters. There were several really important topics brought up in this book and I really liked how they were dealt with for example the cheerleading team was a safe space for queer students and the captain wasn’t afraid to stand up for them. A straight cis student doesn’t make the team due to her lack of skills so she decides they are discriminating against her (obviously they aren’t). The way the characters stood up for themselves and found others to show up when it mattered was nice to read; especially with how things are in today’s political climate.
I will say the romance felt a little rushed but it was a cute dynamic and the friendships were lovely. Also, Ranch is an amazing name for a ferret.
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to SimonTeen for the opportunity.)
POV: First Person
Spice Level: n/a
Sad Level: 💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Davie and Kendall
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🌈📣🏀
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Moderate: Homophobia, Religious bigotry
I will say the romance felt a little rushed but it was a cute dynamic and the friendships were lovely. Also, Ranch is an amazing name for a ferret.
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to SimonTeen for the opportunity.)
POV: First Person
Spice Level: n/a
Sad Level: 💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Davie and Kendall
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🌈📣🏀
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Moderate: Homophobia, Religious bigotry
May 21, 2026
Cheerleading is definitely a sport! Sisters Kendall and Nia have recently left their private school and enrolled at the local public high school. They unexpectedly find themselves on the Nationally ranked cheer squad. What sets the Oak Haven Hornets apart from other cheer teams is that every member identifies as queer. This becomes a problem when the daughter of a conservative right-wing school board member does not make the squad and is suddenly out to get them. Told in alternating points of view from Kendall and the captain Davie, this is a great found-family, underdog persevering, feel good high school romance. Recommended for grades 8 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Queerleaders by Olivia A. Cole and Ashley Woodfolk is bright, bold, and full of heart with a squad you can’t help but root for. The vibes are immaculate: friendship, identity, and cheer drama all wrapped up in one colorful package. I loved the representation and the way it celebrates queer joy, even if the story didn’t always hit as hard as I wanted emotionally. Some moments felt a little rushed, but the energy and spirit totally carried it through. A fun, feel-good 3.5 stars that still sticks the landing.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Adorable fun read, sorta a gay version of the movie Bring it On with Characters that were interesting. Storyline was clever and had some good twists. Obviously lgbt+ friendly. Great chemistry between the two main characters and honestly it was just a lot of fun and come on - the Title is the best!
May 23, 2026
I liked this novel and thought it was really cute. The only really annoying thing is that a character assumes heteronormativity, who should know better than that. There isn't really a good conversation about how they shouldn't have assumed someone's sexuality. Otherwise I really liked the concept and thought it was a queer utopia for a cheer squad.
May 25, 2026
3.5 stars
Overall, this is a fun story, definitely good for fans of Bring It On. I appreciated the way that the community rallied around the cheerleading team, even if some of the other voices were louder. The chemistry between Davie and Kendall was also great, and I loved the found family vibes of the cheerleading squad. A delightful read to add to your Pride Month TBR!
Overall, this is a fun story, definitely good for fans of Bring It On. I appreciated the way that the community rallied around the cheerleading team, even if some of the other voices were louder. The chemistry between Davie and Kendall was also great, and I loved the found family vibes of the cheerleading squad. A delightful read to add to your Pride Month TBR!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 29, 2026This book is very chaotic and honestly the plot of the story is what drew me in but it felt like Kendall (FMC ) was being dragged a lot and that threw me off.
But it did have a lot of funny bits.
And unfortunately I found some parts to drag.
But overall by the end I did enjoy it
But it did have a lot of funny bits.
And unfortunately I found some parts to drag.
But overall by the end I did enjoy it
May 18, 2026
It’s giving Glee…not sure if that’s a good thing or bad thing.
I liked some of this and didn’t like some of it. I think this is one of those YA books that is just REALLY meant for a teenage audience. Thanks Libro.fm for the ALC.
I liked some of this and didn’t like some of it. I think this is one of those YA books that is just REALLY meant for a teenage audience. Thanks Libro.fm for the ALC.
May 19, 2026
Maybe 3.5 stars. The plot sounded interesting to me, but the actual execution was just not good. There was too much going on and I didn’t get to know our two main characters very well. Although this books is LGBTQ+, the romance felt forced and unnecessary.
May 30, 2026
This YA book follows a group of a cheerleading squad. The unique thing about the squad is that most of them happen to be queer. It is not something that was done on purpose, but just happened as they found each other, their niche and their passion. Two sisters, new to the school, make the squad but one girl, who does everything does not, because her skills are not up to par. Her mother, who happens to be on the school board, causes a big scandal and says they are not allowing straight students on the squad. And now they must fight not for their spot in the national spotlight but also to keep their squad.
Thank you to Simon Teen for a gifted copy!
Thank you to Simon Teen for a gifted copy!
May 28, 2026
This was a cute and nearly queernormative escape into a high school with the anti-mean girl cheerleaders. Like if the drama club got pompons, this cheerleading squad was filled to the brim with loveable weirdos. A very sweet YA book that I would recommend to the teenage reader.
June 3, 2026
Thank you Simon Teen for the ARC!!
This was such a sweet, fun, and funny book! I really enjoyed this a lot and it was a great read to start off June. This book tackles some harder and important topics which I loved, but also is about found family and queer joy.
This was such a sweet, fun, and funny book! I really enjoyed this a lot and it was a great read to start off June. This book tackles some harder and important topics which I loved, but also is about found family and queer joy.
June 3, 2026
There was a lot of casual biphobia in this book.
Also, I didn’t think the main characters should be together, which made it hard to root for them
Also, I didn’t think the main characters should be together, which made it hard to root for them
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews