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Home Court Advantage: A Sapphic Rivals to Lovers Sports Romance
Nola Young has worked hard to step outside of her superstar parents spotlight. Yes she may be genetically inclined to be a basketball star, but she’s made sure to prove her talent. She’d enjoy her time at the top more if it weren’t for her rival from college- Brittney Lee. Hot headed and constantly on Nola’s heels, the two can’t help but perpetuate the on court rivalry the media loves to play up.
Brittney Lee is having her best year yet. With her first championship ring on her finger and finally out the closet, and guilt free, she’s ready to change up her life. When she’s a free agent traded to the newly expanded Miami Waves, listening to her gut hasn’t backfired yet. But… why is Nola Young here too?
After unexpected career changes, Nola and Brittney find themselves, once rivals, now teammates. Back in close proximity, their college days and interconnected lives bubble to the surface with a chemistry they’re both in denial over. But are they honest enough to put their animosity to the side for their new team, especially when their feelings threaten to complicate things more?
Brittney Lee is having her best year yet. With her first championship ring on her finger and finally out the closet, and guilt free, she’s ready to change up her life. When she’s a free agent traded to the newly expanded Miami Waves, listening to her gut hasn’t backfired yet. But… why is Nola Young here too?
After unexpected career changes, Nola and Brittney find themselves, once rivals, now teammates. Back in close proximity, their college days and interconnected lives bubble to the surface with a chemistry they’re both in denial over. But are they honest enough to put their animosity to the side for their new team, especially when their feelings threaten to complicate things more?
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 21, 2026
About the author
Kimani Mae
2 books49 followersKimani Mae is a writer from the newly recognized Central New Jersey with deep Southern roots- although she calls Brooklyn home. She is a 2022 WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Quarterfinalist and 2023 Atlanta Film Festival Short Screenplay Competition Quarterfinalist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
July 30, 2026
There’s no way an editor saw this before publishing 😭 spelling and grammatical errors out the wazoo. Also the basketball only really being focused on the last 10% of the book, the drama with Evie being there during the meeting never being addressed, the drama with Olivia that is barely touched on and didn’t serve as a plot device… the list goes on. This story had potential but it was a yikes for me
July 15, 2026
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
This is my first book by Kimani Mae and it won’t be the last! This was such a good and witty sports romance. I loved the MCs dynamics and you could tell they had chemistry, even in their “hating each other” phase. They both have history, so this helps with the chemistry.
Due to their history, I did feel like the pacing was off a little bit. They seemed to go from rivals to lovers really fast. I would’ve like a little more build up and a little more after they get together. There were several scenes I was looking forward to, especially with Bee meeting Nola’s mom, but we fast forward four months instead. I was happy that we get another epilogue four years later though.
Overall, I enjoyed this. I just wanted a little bit more in terms of showing and not telling. I will definitely be reading her other book!
This is my first book by Kimani Mae and it won’t be the last! This was such a good and witty sports romance. I loved the MCs dynamics and you could tell they had chemistry, even in their “hating each other” phase. They both have history, so this helps with the chemistry.
Due to their history, I did feel like the pacing was off a little bit. They seemed to go from rivals to lovers really fast. I would’ve like a little more build up and a little more after they get together. There were several scenes I was looking forward to, especially with Bee meeting Nola’s mom, but we fast forward four months instead. I was happy that we get another epilogue four years later though.
Overall, I enjoyed this. I just wanted a little bit more in terms of showing and not telling. I will definitely be reading her other book!
July 22, 2026
I had previously read Half Court Shot and enjoyed it so as soon as I saw the opportunity to read and review Home Court Advantage, I jumped on it.
I thought the romance was cute. I would have to describe their journey as teammates to crushes to rivals to roommates to friends who are crushing on each other to lovers, but I’m a sucker for second chance and if you add a little tension and slow burn, better yet.
What I enjoyed most from the book, apart from the romance, were the families. Bee being a middle child and Nola being an older sibling with a significant age gap could definitely be seen in their personalities. The support from each of their siblings in their career and personal life, like the A-team being Bee’s management and Olive encouraging Nola to confess to Bee how she felt and loving Bee as soon as she met her. I wish we had the opportunity to read about how the family dinner went in which Bee met Nola’s parents and that we had gotten to see more interaction between Nola and her mom.
Most of the story happens before even the first game of the season for their team and I missed seeing a little more of the games being played rather than being told they won.
Overall, I once again really enjoyed the book and can’t wait to see what Kimani Mae publishes next.
Thank you to Kimani Mae and Love Notes PR for providing me with an eARC.
I thought the romance was cute. I would have to describe their journey as teammates to crushes to rivals to roommates to friends who are crushing on each other to lovers, but I’m a sucker for second chance and if you add a little tension and slow burn, better yet.
What I enjoyed most from the book, apart from the romance, were the families. Bee being a middle child and Nola being an older sibling with a significant age gap could definitely be seen in their personalities. The support from each of their siblings in their career and personal life, like the A-team being Bee’s management and Olive encouraging Nola to confess to Bee how she felt and loving Bee as soon as she met her. I wish we had the opportunity to read about how the family dinner went in which Bee met Nola’s parents and that we had gotten to see more interaction between Nola and her mom.
Most of the story happens before even the first game of the season for their team and I missed seeing a little more of the games being played rather than being told they won.
Overall, I once again really enjoyed the book and can’t wait to see what Kimani Mae publishes next.
Thank you to Kimani Mae and Love Notes PR for providing me with an eARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2026
This has the potential to be a solid read, but for a few problems.
The first problem is deeply annoying and SO easily fixed with a quick editing pass. There are so many instances of typos or the wrong word being used (e.g. apart instead of a part), missing grammar, repeated words "let's season what the season will bring" that really break up the enjoyment of the book. Literally one surface-level editing read would have caught all of these and fixed them, and there are far too many to ignore (which is what I'd usually do).
The second problem is that this is marketed as a romance when it's very heavily leaning towards the technicalities of basketball. Until the last third of this book, the romance or character arcs barely come into play (heh) at all.
Overall, this was a decent romance read but the characters lack definition or depth with their relationships or arcs and the editing is abysmal.
The first problem is deeply annoying and SO easily fixed with a quick editing pass. There are so many instances of typos or the wrong word being used (e.g. apart instead of a part), missing grammar, repeated words "let's season what the season will bring" that really break up the enjoyment of the book. Literally one surface-level editing read would have caught all of these and fixed them, and there are far too many to ignore (which is what I'd usually do).
The second problem is that this is marketed as a romance when it's very heavily leaning towards the technicalities of basketball. Until the last third of this book, the romance or character arcs barely come into play (heh) at all.
Overall, this was a decent romance read but the characters lack definition or depth with their relationships or arcs and the editing is abysmal.
July 25, 2026
3.75⭐️ I found myself giggling and kicking my feet! Nola and Bee were so cute and I love the burn of the romance. I always eat up a good slow burn. Im actually so obsessed with them lmao, like i loveeee their characters. Brittany was fiery and out there especially with her emotions, whereas Nola was more reserved and introverted. Their banter, the lowkey yearning, then the spice? SAT. Now as much as I loved the romance, i do think that there are certain parts where i fell out of the story because it felt like there was just a lot of inner monologue and “telling me” versus actual things happening. Also, i do wish we got more between Nola and her mom. But, other than that, the book was really cute and I was peeping the set up for book 3, so I’ll be back!
July 22, 2026
4.5 Stars - Home Court Advantage was such a fun and refreshing sports romance. I loved getting a romance centered around women’s basketball, and the competitive energy between Nola and Brittney immediately pulled me in.
The rivals-to-lovers setup was everything I wanted. Their chemistry was obvious from the start, and I had so much fun watching them go from trying to outdo each other on the court to figuring out what all that tension really meant. The banter, the competitiveness, and the undeniable attraction made their relationship incredibly entertaining.
I also really enjoyed both of these women individually. Nola’s journey of stepping out of her famous parents’ shadow and proving herself was something I connected with, and Brittney’s confidence and growth after embracing who she truly is added another layer to her character. They both had their own struggles and goals outside of the romance, which made them feel like fully realized characters.
The team dynamic was another highlight. I loved seeing them navigate becoming teammates after years of rivalry and learning how to trust each other both professionally and personally. The basketball elements added a great balance and made the story feel unique.
The only reason this wasn't quite a five-star read for me was that I wanted just a little more time with certain emotional moments and their transition from rivals to something more. Still, I had such a good time with this one.
Overall, Home Court Advantage is a swoony, competitive, and heartfelt sapphic sports romance with great chemistry, strong characters, and plenty of court-side tension. 🏀💕 A must-read for anyone who loves rivals-to-lovers with a little extra heat.
The rivals-to-lovers setup was everything I wanted. Their chemistry was obvious from the start, and I had so much fun watching them go from trying to outdo each other on the court to figuring out what all that tension really meant. The banter, the competitiveness, and the undeniable attraction made their relationship incredibly entertaining.
I also really enjoyed both of these women individually. Nola’s journey of stepping out of her famous parents’ shadow and proving herself was something I connected with, and Brittney’s confidence and growth after embracing who she truly is added another layer to her character. They both had their own struggles and goals outside of the romance, which made them feel like fully realized characters.
The team dynamic was another highlight. I loved seeing them navigate becoming teammates after years of rivalry and learning how to trust each other both professionally and personally. The basketball elements added a great balance and made the story feel unique.
The only reason this wasn't quite a five-star read for me was that I wanted just a little more time with certain emotional moments and their transition from rivals to something more. Still, I had such a good time with this one.
Overall, Home Court Advantage is a swoony, competitive, and heartfelt sapphic sports romance with great chemistry, strong characters, and plenty of court-side tension. 🏀💕 A must-read for anyone who loves rivals-to-lovers with a little extra heat.
July 23, 2026
3.75 stars rounded up
Characters:
This cast of characters is so loveable. I love the subtle found family aspect of the sports teams, and the combining of two large families. I really enjoyed the second chance romance of it all, and the little flashbacks in between chapters did have me giggling. While I loved seeing the emotional aspect of Brittany's character, I felt somewhat emotionally distant from Nola's character, especially in regards to her strained relationship with her mother, due to high expectations and lack of emotional growth. Because it was such a huge part of her emotional side, I was looking forward to some kind of scene with her opening up to her mom, since their conversations had tension or felt stilted, but that never happened. Because of that, I didn't feel completely emotionally connected to Nola's character.
Writing:
I truly think that this book needed a couple more editing sessions before getting sent out for ARC readings. The book was littered with spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and broken sentence structure that was awkward and confusing to read. Those errors really took me out of the story, and I would have had a much better reading experience if there were less obvious mistakes in the writing.
A huge thank you to Love Notes PR and the author Kimani Mae for this ARC!
Characters:
This cast of characters is so loveable. I love the subtle found family aspect of the sports teams, and the combining of two large families. I really enjoyed the second chance romance of it all, and the little flashbacks in between chapters did have me giggling. While I loved seeing the emotional aspect of Brittany's character, I felt somewhat emotionally distant from Nola's character, especially in regards to her strained relationship with her mother, due to high expectations and lack of emotional growth. Because it was such a huge part of her emotional side, I was looking forward to some kind of scene with her opening up to her mom, since their conversations had tension or felt stilted, but that never happened. Because of that, I didn't feel completely emotionally connected to Nola's character.
Writing:
I truly think that this book needed a couple more editing sessions before getting sent out for ARC readings. The book was littered with spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and broken sentence structure that was awkward and confusing to read. Those errors really took me out of the story, and I would have had a much better reading experience if there were less obvious mistakes in the writing.
A huge thank you to Love Notes PR and the author Kimani Mae for this ARC!
August 10, 2026
I liked this book as a little treat. I will not remember it for long time, I will not recommend it, but I am glad there are sapphic books about basketball and we need more happy endings. However, this book is simply not for me and I think this specific iteration of the romance genre is not for me. It's easy, it doesn't really follow story beats, everything is shiny and the characters never grow and never change (hence not really a book to remember). To be honest, the first third of the book I could not remember who's head we were in. The characters had such similar inner voice that I would genuinely stop myself and think: wait, is this Nola or Brittney? The same issues I had with the authors first book I have here: the characters feel flat, they describe themselves (and are described by each other) as different people than what their actions show. There is excessive telling and so little showing it breaks my heart. It misses tension — which might be by design, I don't know.
Also, the story is sweet as a peach. We never learn about the team and their views on the relationship (I really don't believe everyone would be okay). Every conflict is resolved quickly and there's not really a conflict that would need solving. And please, for the love of god, stop with the first two or more chapters being a description of the past and what has happened. 1) I will not remember all the family nuances and oh so many names, when I don't know these people. 2) It takes like 10% of the book before the characters even meet each other for the first time.
There are also some dead-end storylines — the commissioner being at the first meeting and then talked about, but it never has a consequence for the story. The dynamic between Nola and her mum? Unexplored. The sweetheart story from draft night feels overplayed.
Overall, the story leaves much to be desired and could be so much better. But, it definitely has its readers and if you like sports romance that doesn't have a lot of conflict in it and is sweet, go ahead. I will try to find something with a little more nuanced and at least some character arc and character growth. Because both of the main characters have everything figured out already by the time they meet each other.
Also, the story is sweet as a peach. We never learn about the team and their views on the relationship (I really don't believe everyone would be okay). Every conflict is resolved quickly and there's not really a conflict that would need solving. And please, for the love of god, stop with the first two or more chapters being a description of the past and what has happened. 1) I will not remember all the family nuances and oh so many names, when I don't know these people. 2) It takes like 10% of the book before the characters even meet each other for the first time.
There are also some dead-end storylines — the commissioner being at the first meeting and then talked about, but it never has a consequence for the story. The dynamic between Nola and her mum? Unexplored. The sweetheart story from draft night feels overplayed.
Overall, the story leaves much to be desired and could be so much better. But, it definitely has its readers and if you like sports romance that doesn't have a lot of conflict in it and is sweet, go ahead. I will try to find something with a little more nuanced and at least some character arc and character growth. Because both of the main characters have everything figured out already by the time they meet each other.
July 31, 2026
Home Court Advantage
By: Kimani Mae
⭐⭐⭐/5
ACR from @lovenotes.pr
I had mixed emotions reading this book but at the same time I did enjoy it to some level.
I love books with sports, yet this was on a different level for me. The chemistry between the main characters showed real feelings, from off court to on court.
There was good moments of chemistry to tension of slow burn was something that made you want to keep reading.
It's definitely one sapphic book to read if you love
🏀Sport romance
😡 Enemies to lovers
😬Forced proximity
🤣 Banter
Thank you @lovenotes.pr for this lovely ACR copy in exchange for an honest review
@reenes_library
By: Kimani Mae
⭐⭐⭐/5
ACR from @lovenotes.pr
I had mixed emotions reading this book but at the same time I did enjoy it to some level.
I love books with sports, yet this was on a different level for me. The chemistry between the main characters showed real feelings, from off court to on court.
There was good moments of chemistry to tension of slow burn was something that made you want to keep reading.
It's definitely one sapphic book to read if you love
🏀Sport romance
😡 Enemies to lovers
😬Forced proximity
🤣 Banter
Thank you @lovenotes.pr for this lovely ACR copy in exchange for an honest review
@reenes_library
September 5, 2026
As an Aries Sapphic Middle-Child, what wasn't to love about this book?!
Home Court Advantage is a rival to lovers sports romance between Nola and Bee, their chemistry on the court has always been undeniable but what happens when they're forced to change dynamics and play as teammates instead?
Sapphic folks KNOW that experience of seeing a sapphic couple being iconic and asking themselves, "Do I want to be them or kiss them?" This book quite literally is THAT.
There were some technical errors within the writing that I noticed, which didn't impact my entire experience of the book but it definitely is worth taking note for readers.
Seeing Nola and Bee come together and watching them introduce each other to their families was ADORABLE! I absolutely ate those scenes up. I do wish the ending wasn't as abrupt as it was written because I would've wanted to see them come to the decision to share their decision of making their relationship public.
I know for a fact if Nola and Bee were real, I would absolutely love them as they are.
Home Court Advantage is a rival to lovers sports romance between Nola and Bee, their chemistry on the court has always been undeniable but what happens when they're forced to change dynamics and play as teammates instead?
Sapphic folks KNOW that experience of seeing a sapphic couple being iconic and asking themselves, "Do I want to be them or kiss them?" This book quite literally is THAT.
There were some technical errors within the writing that I noticed, which didn't impact my entire experience of the book but it definitely is worth taking note for readers.
Seeing Nola and Bee come together and watching them introduce each other to their families was ADORABLE! I absolutely ate those scenes up. I do wish the ending wasn't as abrupt as it was written because I would've wanted to see them come to the decision to share their decision of making their relationship public.
I know for a fact if Nola and Bee were real, I would absolutely love them as they are.
July 21, 2026
Honestly, went into this expecting a cute, casual sports romance, but this was so much more!
The chemistry and tension of the slow burn was excited perfectly! The banter was sweet, and the character growth felt real and earned.
If you need a book that will make you feel everything all at once, with a great sapphic book- you’ll love this!
Tropes
🏀 Sports romance
🤬 Enemies to lovers
🫣 Forced proximity
📈 Actual character development
🔥 Banter
4.5, rounded up for GR.
The chemistry and tension of the slow burn was excited perfectly! The banter was sweet, and the character growth felt real and earned.
If you need a book that will make you feel everything all at once, with a great sapphic book- you’ll love this!
Tropes
🏀 Sports romance
🤬 Enemies to lovers
🫣 Forced proximity
📈 Actual character development
🔥 Banter
4.5, rounded up for GR.
July 14, 2026
I received an ARC of this book. (I read the first book Half Court Shot just before reading Home Court Advantage). I throughly enjoyed reading about these characters and the way in which their relationship developed. The author did a great job of highlighting the differences in the intimacy of lesbian relationships as well. Definitely worth a read!
August 27, 2026
Enjoyed but……………. I agree w another reviewer, wish there was more showing and less telling
July 24, 2026
Great read and follow-up sequel. Got this book as part of an ARC campaign. Took a lil longer to read than I would have liked but that’s on me. The story between Nola and Bee is a fiery one. They first met in high school as teammates on an U19 team, then went to their prospective colleges, where they both excelled at BBall, then went 1 & 2 in the draft. They became rivals as they continued to play in the league for their first four years. Bee wins a championship against the other, then suddenly gets an itch to do something different with her life. She’s very close with her family, and hates the idea of leaving them, but she knows she has to do this to grow as a person.
Nola, comes from sports royalty. her mom is an Olympian, and college ball player superstar. Her father was a college hoops superstar and was also in the NBA but was known as a hot-head. (Nola is masculine, Bee is feminine) She has been destined to be a ball player since she was young. She has a younger sister, Olive who is about 12 yrs younger than her. Who is pretty much a grown-up in her household. Her mother is a well-known college hoops coach with aspirations of coaching a WNBA team. She has coached her college team to a Natty a few times, and she’s hungry for more. Nola is constantly being compared to her, and she hates it. But that just makes her more determined to be a better player. She takes no shyt on the court or off the court. Her personal life is just that, her personal life. She doesn’t let anyone in.
Nola has her basketball aunties who have retired from the game, and purchased the newly reactivated Miami Waves. She returns to work after the WNBA championship (that she just lost to Bee), and is ready to put in work, and finds out that who of all people is now going to be the new head coach for her team, The Violets, none-other than her mother, Olivia. Now the front office doesn’t want there to be conflict, so they ship Nola off to the Waves.
Bee, wanting a change from her safe life with the Jaguars, as a free agent, tells her agents (brother and sister team Aaliyah and Amir) that she wants to go to Miami. They set it up. Unknown to Bee, and unknown to Nola, neither knows the other is coming to the team, until they arrive at the training facility. Shocked doesn’t even begin to describe the imagined look on their faces. Then the even bigger news comes….they are going to be roommates during the first season!! Like how else could the universe punish them?
They move in and things are a little tense between them. Neither one knows what to do about the other. Things at newcomers’ camp are rough. They attempt to talk things out a few times, but each time leaves them frustrated. But eventually they have a breakthrough by playing a lil one-on-one. This gets them talking finally like normal human beings. Things get less tense at home. Bee is confused about her feelings about Nola, wondering why she is feeling attracted to her. Nola is trying to avoid the feelings she is having for Bee. They spend nights on the couch watching Bee’s reality shows. Nola could really care less, but it gives her something to do. The team pitches the idea to do a mockumentary of them living together to show that they can get along and do not hate each other. So cameras are everywhere (except at home). eventually they start riding into work together (save the planet from smog YA’ll). They eventually do end up growing closer and finally break the ice on what happened on draft night, where they found themselves in the bathroom kissing hot and heavily, then vowing it would never happen again. They went their separate ways (to college) and never spoke of it. Their only communication was through social media apps. Once it was all aired out, they found themselves at ease with each other, and fell into a rhythm together. It just kept happening. But they knew the repercussions. They had to keep it in the closet.
They dropped small crumbs about their budding relationship on IG, appearing in each other’s stories, or photos. People gagged and jumped to conclusions, but they didn’t know anything.
They finally decided to become official, but still hiding it. Bee revealed it first to her family. Needless to say they weren’t happy. Nola was next, her mother was very judgmental, but they were happy and in love.
Eventually they came up to play against the Violets. the first game, Bee had nerves, they lost. then they (a 2nd year franchise) made it to the playoffs, and was against the Violets in the championship. And it was the final game, and coach asked Nola,…what is your mother thinking?” she answered knowing her mother, and then sketched out a play that she knew would help win the game for them. They won.
they book quickly jumps ahead four years later, and they are married, out and thriving.
—————————————————————
I really enjoyed reading this book, it took me back to my high school days of playing ball. i wasn’t recruited, but the feeling of having a crush on one of my teammates was def there and aching to be with her was so heartfelt i dreamed so much about being wit her. now it’s 30 years later, and we’re friends on fb, and i see that she is happy and thriving with a child (which would have been a deal breaker for me), but its good to know that she’s done good things with her life. i did have a rival in high school. i do sometimes wonder where she is now. i hope she is doing well. we’d never get together, but i know she’s not in the W, not even on the support staff of any team. this was a cute read and made me need to finish my own book. enjoy this read. if you haven’t read the first book, you will want to read that one first to understand who some of the characters are that they brought up.
Nola, comes from sports royalty. her mom is an Olympian, and college ball player superstar. Her father was a college hoops superstar and was also in the NBA but was known as a hot-head. (Nola is masculine, Bee is feminine) She has been destined to be a ball player since she was young. She has a younger sister, Olive who is about 12 yrs younger than her. Who is pretty much a grown-up in her household. Her mother is a well-known college hoops coach with aspirations of coaching a WNBA team. She has coached her college team to a Natty a few times, and she’s hungry for more. Nola is constantly being compared to her, and she hates it. But that just makes her more determined to be a better player. She takes no shyt on the court or off the court. Her personal life is just that, her personal life. She doesn’t let anyone in.
Nola has her basketball aunties who have retired from the game, and purchased the newly reactivated Miami Waves. She returns to work after the WNBA championship (that she just lost to Bee), and is ready to put in work, and finds out that who of all people is now going to be the new head coach for her team, The Violets, none-other than her mother, Olivia. Now the front office doesn’t want there to be conflict, so they ship Nola off to the Waves.
Bee, wanting a change from her safe life with the Jaguars, as a free agent, tells her agents (brother and sister team Aaliyah and Amir) that she wants to go to Miami. They set it up. Unknown to Bee, and unknown to Nola, neither knows the other is coming to the team, until they arrive at the training facility. Shocked doesn’t even begin to describe the imagined look on their faces. Then the even bigger news comes….they are going to be roommates during the first season!! Like how else could the universe punish them?
They move in and things are a little tense between them. Neither one knows what to do about the other. Things at newcomers’ camp are rough. They attempt to talk things out a few times, but each time leaves them frustrated. But eventually they have a breakthrough by playing a lil one-on-one. This gets them talking finally like normal human beings. Things get less tense at home. Bee is confused about her feelings about Nola, wondering why she is feeling attracted to her. Nola is trying to avoid the feelings she is having for Bee. They spend nights on the couch watching Bee’s reality shows. Nola could really care less, but it gives her something to do. The team pitches the idea to do a mockumentary of them living together to show that they can get along and do not hate each other. So cameras are everywhere (except at home). eventually they start riding into work together (save the planet from smog YA’ll). They eventually do end up growing closer and finally break the ice on what happened on draft night, where they found themselves in the bathroom kissing hot and heavily, then vowing it would never happen again. They went their separate ways (to college) and never spoke of it. Their only communication was through social media apps. Once it was all aired out, they found themselves at ease with each other, and fell into a rhythm together. It just kept happening. But they knew the repercussions. They had to keep it in the closet.
They dropped small crumbs about their budding relationship on IG, appearing in each other’s stories, or photos. People gagged and jumped to conclusions, but they didn’t know anything.
They finally decided to become official, but still hiding it. Bee revealed it first to her family. Needless to say they weren’t happy. Nola was next, her mother was very judgmental, but they were happy and in love.
Eventually they came up to play against the Violets. the first game, Bee had nerves, they lost. then they (a 2nd year franchise) made it to the playoffs, and was against the Violets in the championship. And it was the final game, and coach asked Nola,…what is your mother thinking?” she answered knowing her mother, and then sketched out a play that she knew would help win the game for them. They won.
they book quickly jumps ahead four years later, and they are married, out and thriving.
—————————————————————
I really enjoyed reading this book, it took me back to my high school days of playing ball. i wasn’t recruited, but the feeling of having a crush on one of my teammates was def there and aching to be with her was so heartfelt i dreamed so much about being wit her. now it’s 30 years later, and we’re friends on fb, and i see that she is happy and thriving with a child (which would have been a deal breaker for me), but its good to know that she’s done good things with her life. i did have a rival in high school. i do sometimes wonder where she is now. i hope she is doing well. we’d never get together, but i know she’s not in the W, not even on the support staff of any team. this was a cute read and made me need to finish my own book. enjoy this read. if you haven’t read the first book, you will want to read that one first to understand who some of the characters are that they brought up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was genuinely excited to pick this one up because it was my first time reading this author, and as someone who absolutely loves sports romances, especially rivals-to-lovers, I couldn't wait to dive in. Sadly, this one just didn't end up working for me the way I'd hoped.
One of the first things I noticed was that there were quite a few moments where I forgot this was supposed to be a sports romance. The sport itself often took a backseat to the relationship, and I found myself wishing the basketball setting had played a much bigger role in creating the atmosphere. It's definitely a minor complaint overall, but I did expect to feel more immersed in that world.
The real heart of this book, for me, was the found family.
Bee's family was such a joy to read about. I loved how close they all were despite the significant age gaps between the siblings. Their interactions felt lively, chaotic, and full of love, and every scene with her younger sisters put a smile on my face.
Nola's family had a quieter dynamic, but I really appreciated them too. Olive completely won me over. I was initially unsure about the ten-year age gap between her and Nola, especially since she's only thirteen, but she turned out to be incredibly funny, mature, and surprisingly self-aware. The bond between the sisters felt genuine and wholesome, and it easily became one of my favorite parts of the novel.
I just wish we'd gotten to spend more time exploring Nola's relationship with her mother. Most of their interactions revolved around basketball and expectations, and I would've loved to see them simply exist as mother and daughter outside of that pressure.
Another thing that held me back was the character development. I never really felt like Bee or Nola had strong individual arcs outside of their romance. Bee's coming-out journey appears through flashbacks, but I wanted the story to spend more time with it. As for Nola, I kept waiting for her complicated relationship with her mother to become a bigger part of her personal growth, but it never quite got there.
Because of that, I struggled to connect with Nola. As the more reserved, guarded one, she spends most of the story keeping her walls firmly in place, and I kept hoping we'd get to see more vulnerability from her. In the end, Bee was the character I found myself connecting with the most.
The romance also felt a little uneven, especially during the first half. The flashbacks often interrupted the present-day timeline at moments that made the story feel fragmented, and I wasn't completely convinced by the weight of Bee and Nola's fallout. The story treats it as this huge emotional divide, but I never felt like they had enough shared history for it to hit as hard as it was supposed to.
Even when they're older and reconnecting, I still struggled to feel the chemistry between them. I usually love romances that take their time, but here I never felt that aching sense of longing I was hoping for. The pacing also felt inconsistent in places, slowing down enough that the book occasionally felt longer than it actually was.
Overall, I don't think this was a bad book. It had a lot of promising ideas and some genuinely lovely moments, especially whenever the families were involved. Unfortunately, the execution just didn't come together in a way that made the story memorable for me. Still, I can absolutely see this finding its audience, so if the premise speaks to you, I'd still encourage you to give it a chance.
Thanks to Love Notes PR and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
One of the first things I noticed was that there were quite a few moments where I forgot this was supposed to be a sports romance. The sport itself often took a backseat to the relationship, and I found myself wishing the basketball setting had played a much bigger role in creating the atmosphere. It's definitely a minor complaint overall, but I did expect to feel more immersed in that world.
The real heart of this book, for me, was the found family.
Bee's family was such a joy to read about. I loved how close they all were despite the significant age gaps between the siblings. Their interactions felt lively, chaotic, and full of love, and every scene with her younger sisters put a smile on my face.
Nola's family had a quieter dynamic, but I really appreciated them too. Olive completely won me over. I was initially unsure about the ten-year age gap between her and Nola, especially since she's only thirteen, but she turned out to be incredibly funny, mature, and surprisingly self-aware. The bond between the sisters felt genuine and wholesome, and it easily became one of my favorite parts of the novel.
I just wish we'd gotten to spend more time exploring Nola's relationship with her mother. Most of their interactions revolved around basketball and expectations, and I would've loved to see them simply exist as mother and daughter outside of that pressure.
Another thing that held me back was the character development. I never really felt like Bee or Nola had strong individual arcs outside of their romance. Bee's coming-out journey appears through flashbacks, but I wanted the story to spend more time with it. As for Nola, I kept waiting for her complicated relationship with her mother to become a bigger part of her personal growth, but it never quite got there.
Because of that, I struggled to connect with Nola. As the more reserved, guarded one, she spends most of the story keeping her walls firmly in place, and I kept hoping we'd get to see more vulnerability from her. In the end, Bee was the character I found myself connecting with the most.
The romance also felt a little uneven, especially during the first half. The flashbacks often interrupted the present-day timeline at moments that made the story feel fragmented, and I wasn't completely convinced by the weight of Bee and Nola's fallout. The story treats it as this huge emotional divide, but I never felt like they had enough shared history for it to hit as hard as it was supposed to.
Even when they're older and reconnecting, I still struggled to feel the chemistry between them. I usually love romances that take their time, but here I never felt that aching sense of longing I was hoping for. The pacing also felt inconsistent in places, slowing down enough that the book occasionally felt longer than it actually was.
Overall, I don't think this was a bad book. It had a lot of promising ideas and some genuinely lovely moments, especially whenever the families were involved. Unfortunately, the execution just didn't come together in a way that made the story memorable for me. Still, I can absolutely see this finding its audience, so if the premise speaks to you, I'd still encourage you to give it a chance.
Thanks to Love Notes PR and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Home Court Advantage 🏀
Firstly,I wanted to thank LoveNotes PR & Kimani Mae for trusting me with this ARC!💙
As a girl living in 2026 who respects herself I am OBSESSED with heated rivarly.
But of course you will wonder reading this,what has to do that with Home Court Advantage,and I will proudly answer you that this is the closest story to heated rivarly that it is out there.
I GOT THE SAME FEELINGS
THE SAME GIGGLES
THE SAME OH MY GODS
& OF COURSE THE SAME R I V A R L Y.❤️🔥
So yes,Mae delivered,cooked and ate in Bree's and Nola's story.
But let's take things from the start,beginning a sapphic basketball romance I really did not know what to actually expect,and Mae's writing and narration style surprised me to the fullest.It was funny,easy to read and follow up,with a heated romance that was expected to reheat at any moment (yes,REheat).
Bree's and Nola's characters were both so unique yet had many common spots.They were both passionate about their sport,and let's say each other too.I love how out of nowhere they had to cooperate and to be from rivals to teammates,literally it gave us so many funny scenes.Yet,what made it stand out from other similar stories is that we had outside comments,internet convos,and reporters' comments about them,leading us to having a full image of the situations and an open door in.
Their romance was at the same time so simple and so complicated.Those girls,yearned for each other but due to other peoples' opinions about the nature of their relationship these two being together was just forbidden,until my girls kissed and from that moments living without each other was just not the case(I AM LITERALLY GIGGLING AS I AM WRITING THIS👀)
Long story short Home Court Advantage is the perfect book to read I you want to giggle so much that your feet is truly gonna hurt or just searching for that rivarly but I F*CKING LOVE YOU feeling that we all enjoy to read about🤏🏻
Out On July,21st💐
4⭐
Firstly,I wanted to thank LoveNotes PR & Kimani Mae for trusting me with this ARC!💙
As a girl living in 2026 who respects herself I am OBSESSED with heated rivarly.
But of course you will wonder reading this,what has to do that with Home Court Advantage,and I will proudly answer you that this is the closest story to heated rivarly that it is out there.
I GOT THE SAME FEELINGS
THE SAME GIGGLES
THE SAME OH MY GODS
& OF COURSE THE SAME R I V A R L Y.❤️🔥
So yes,Mae delivered,cooked and ate in Bree's and Nola's story.
But let's take things from the start,beginning a sapphic basketball romance I really did not know what to actually expect,and Mae's writing and narration style surprised me to the fullest.It was funny,easy to read and follow up,with a heated romance that was expected to reheat at any moment (yes,REheat).
Bree's and Nola's characters were both so unique yet had many common spots.They were both passionate about their sport,and let's say each other too.I love how out of nowhere they had to cooperate and to be from rivals to teammates,literally it gave us so many funny scenes.Yet,what made it stand out from other similar stories is that we had outside comments,internet convos,and reporters' comments about them,leading us to having a full image of the situations and an open door in.
Their romance was at the same time so simple and so complicated.Those girls,yearned for each other but due to other peoples' opinions about the nature of their relationship these two being together was just forbidden,until my girls kissed and from that moments living without each other was just not the case(I AM LITERALLY GIGGLING AS I AM WRITING THIS👀)
Long story short Home Court Advantage is the perfect book to read I you want to giggle so much that your feet is truly gonna hurt or just searching for that rivarly but I F*CKING LOVE YOU feeling that we all enjoy to read about🤏🏻
Out On July,21st💐
4⭐
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rounded up from 3.75 Stars
A sapphic sports romance is absolutely my jam, and I was excited to have the opportunity to read Home Court Advantage. Two top draft picks in a women's professional basketball league with a rivals/enemies to lovers arc, right up my alley.
The sapphic romance was nothing but net, but the basketball portion was a bit of an air ball for my liking. I do like my sports romance heavy on the sport, and although the majority of the characters were connected to the basketball world as players, coaches, agents, and marketing professionals the actual on the court action took a back seat to the romance.
There was a lot of chemistry between the two main characters, Brittany (Bee) and Nola, but any chance of getting together was complicated by continually playing against each other on the courts. Yet, with the business of sport they end up on the same team at the same time. Everyone stands back to watch the implosion when they end up together, but sometimes the sparks don't cause disaster, but beautiful sparkly fireworks.
The siblings of Bee and Nola were a great addition to the story showing how personality changes from the court to at home, and how confidence can change to vulnerability depending on who is present and where you feel free. There was a lot of lead up with family dynamics, especially when it came to Nola's relationship with her mother, but it ended up falling a bit flat. I was all ready for a certain scene where I was hoping Nola would get some closure, but it never ended up on the pages. The epilogue provides some idea of what may have happened, but I would have liked to have actually read it.
Overall, I liked the romance, I liked the characters, but would have like a bit more time on court to make this a true sports romance.
Thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for an advanced digital copy to be able to read and provide an honest review.
A sapphic sports romance is absolutely my jam, and I was excited to have the opportunity to read Home Court Advantage. Two top draft picks in a women's professional basketball league with a rivals/enemies to lovers arc, right up my alley.
The sapphic romance was nothing but net, but the basketball portion was a bit of an air ball for my liking. I do like my sports romance heavy on the sport, and although the majority of the characters were connected to the basketball world as players, coaches, agents, and marketing professionals the actual on the court action took a back seat to the romance.
There was a lot of chemistry between the two main characters, Brittany (Bee) and Nola, but any chance of getting together was complicated by continually playing against each other on the courts. Yet, with the business of sport they end up on the same team at the same time. Everyone stands back to watch the implosion when they end up together, but sometimes the sparks don't cause disaster, but beautiful sparkly fireworks.
The siblings of Bee and Nola were a great addition to the story showing how personality changes from the court to at home, and how confidence can change to vulnerability depending on who is present and where you feel free. There was a lot of lead up with family dynamics, especially when it came to Nola's relationship with her mother, but it ended up falling a bit flat. I was all ready for a certain scene where I was hoping Nola would get some closure, but it never ended up on the pages. The epilogue provides some idea of what may have happened, but I would have liked to have actually read it.
Overall, I liked the romance, I liked the characters, but would have like a bit more time on court to make this a true sports romance.
Thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for an advanced digital copy to be able to read and provide an honest review.
July 22, 2026
ARC Review - Slow, earnest, cute
This was actually my first basketball romance where both parts are a player and I am proud to say it was sapphic. I am always on the lookout for sapphic stories and this one was so heartwarming and cute all at once. A great way to diversify my reading as well, something I am also very concious about as a white reader.
So to start with the storyline, I am always a sucker for a rivals to lovers storyline and by god this one hit all the good spots. The long timeline of them knowing each other, having been teammates before but then having a fall out, being made rivals by the media after the draft, then having to be on the same team! It has everything I wanted and more! I love Nola and Bee's inner voices so much and how different they see the same things. It was so well written I am actually impressed it was done by just one author. Usually such a clear distinctions only happens in books being co written.
I am kind of sad some things didn't happen though: I wanted Nola to have a clear heart to heart with her mom after the phonecall. I know sometimes you don't get that with you parents but I wanted a clear end for that arc. I also wanted to read more of the first season and the two time skips at the end confused me (hence the 4 star review) which was a bit disappointing. Other than that, the plot is amazing!
I fell for Nola almost immediately when I started the book and saw myself in Bee more and more as the story progressed so I guess it is really accurate lol. But both of them are just so well written and they feel so incredible real to me which again points out to how well the writing of this book is. Also all the side characters are amazingly fleshed out and feel like real people as well.
I hope I can stay longer in this universe with the teaser of another couple in the end and will for sure keep Kimani Mae on my radar.
This was actually my first basketball romance where both parts are a player and I am proud to say it was sapphic. I am always on the lookout for sapphic stories and this one was so heartwarming and cute all at once. A great way to diversify my reading as well, something I am also very concious about as a white reader.
So to start with the storyline, I am always a sucker for a rivals to lovers storyline and by god this one hit all the good spots. The long timeline of them knowing each other, having been teammates before but then having a fall out, being made rivals by the media after the draft, then having to be on the same team! It has everything I wanted and more! I love Nola and Bee's inner voices so much and how different they see the same things. It was so well written I am actually impressed it was done by just one author. Usually such a clear distinctions only happens in books being co written.
I am kind of sad some things didn't happen though: I wanted Nola to have a clear heart to heart with her mom after the phonecall. I know sometimes you don't get that with you parents but I wanted a clear end for that arc. I also wanted to read more of the first season and the two time skips at the end confused me (hence the 4 star review) which was a bit disappointing. Other than that, the plot is amazing!
I fell for Nola almost immediately when I started the book and saw myself in Bee more and more as the story progressed so I guess it is really accurate lol. But both of them are just so well written and they feel so incredible real to me which again points out to how well the writing of this book is. Also all the side characters are amazingly fleshed out and feel like real people as well.
I hope I can stay longer in this universe with the teaser of another couple in the end and will for sure keep Kimani Mae on my radar.
July 25, 2026
Home Court Advantage by Kimani Mae - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Thank you so much to Love Notes PR and Kimani Mae for the ARC!!
Home Court Advantage was such a fun and refreshing sports romance! I loved getting a romance centered around women's basketball, and the competitive energy between Nola and Brittney immediately pulled me in. Their chemistry was absolutely EVERYTHING— I had so much fun watching them go from trying to outdo each other on the court to figuring out what all that tension really meant. The banter, the competitiveness, and the undeniable attraction made their relationship incredibly entertaining.
I also love that each of these women had a story outside of the romance: Nola's journey of stepping out of her famous parents' shadow and proving herself, and Brittney's confidence and growth after embracing who she truly is added another layer to her character.
Their families—both blood and chosen—were also a true highlight of this book for me. Bee's family was such a joy to read about. I loved how close they all were despite the significant age gaps between the siblings. Their interactions felt lively, chaotic, and full of love, and every scene with her younger sisters put a smile on my face. Nola's family had a quieter dynamic, but I really appreciated them too. Olive completely won me over. I was initially unsure about the ten-year age gap between her and Nola, especially since she's only thirteen, but she turned out to be incredibly funny, mature, and surprisingly self-aware. The bond between the sisters felt genuine and wholesome, and—being a big sister myself—it easily became one of my favorite parts of the novel.
Overall, Home Court Advantage is a swoony, competitive, and heartfelt sapphic sports romance with great chemistry, strong characters, and plenty of court-side tension. A must-read for anyone who loves
rivals-to-lovers with a little extra heat!
Thank you so much to Love Notes PR and Kimani Mae for the ARC!!
Home Court Advantage was such a fun and refreshing sports romance! I loved getting a romance centered around women's basketball, and the competitive energy between Nola and Brittney immediately pulled me in. Their chemistry was absolutely EVERYTHING— I had so much fun watching them go from trying to outdo each other on the court to figuring out what all that tension really meant. The banter, the competitiveness, and the undeniable attraction made their relationship incredibly entertaining.
I also love that each of these women had a story outside of the romance: Nola's journey of stepping out of her famous parents' shadow and proving herself, and Brittney's confidence and growth after embracing who she truly is added another layer to her character.
Their families—both blood and chosen—were also a true highlight of this book for me. Bee's family was such a joy to read about. I loved how close they all were despite the significant age gaps between the siblings. Their interactions felt lively, chaotic, and full of love, and every scene with her younger sisters put a smile on my face. Nola's family had a quieter dynamic, but I really appreciated them too. Olive completely won me over. I was initially unsure about the ten-year age gap between her and Nola, especially since she's only thirteen, but she turned out to be incredibly funny, mature, and surprisingly self-aware. The bond between the sisters felt genuine and wholesome, and—being a big sister myself—it easily became one of my favorite parts of the novel.
Overall, Home Court Advantage is a swoony, competitive, and heartfelt sapphic sports romance with great chemistry, strong characters, and plenty of court-side tension. A must-read for anyone who loves
rivals-to-lovers with a little extra heat!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This sapphic sports romance follows the dual perspectives of Nola and Brittney as they both reach a crossroads in their basketball careers. Family decisions and the opportunity for a fresh start bring them together as teammates on a new team in Miami 🏀
I really enjoyed following them on this new chapter, both on and off the court! Alongside the basketball, we get an insight into their families, their fears and the rivalry that's always existed between them.
They're not just teammates either – I loved that the author made them roommates as well. It felt like the perfect sapphic twist, with fate quietly nudging them towards an unintentional U-Haul situation 💫
The romance is kind of a slow burn, with the first half of the story placing a focus on basketball and family dynamics. Then, at around the 60% mark, the spark ignites, and it's absolutely 🔥! From there, the relationship really takes more of the page. The close proximity of being both teammates and roommates, the natural chemistry, the secret crush, the denial of feelings and the 🌶 moments all made for a romance that felt sexy and satisfying. Their chemistry is one of the book's strongest points ✨️
I really liked the shifts between the past and present too, as they gave more depth to their history and showed where the attraction and unresolved tension first began. It made their relationship feel all the more earned.
I also appreciated that the story didn't rely on unnecessary angst and, without spoiling anything...
I love a romance that doesn't include a third-act break-up. Finishing with an epilogue that lets us see what Nola and Brittney are up to afterwards was the perfect way to end the story ❤️
I really enjoyed following them on this new chapter, both on and off the court! Alongside the basketball, we get an insight into their families, their fears and the rivalry that's always existed between them.
They're not just teammates either – I loved that the author made them roommates as well. It felt like the perfect sapphic twist, with fate quietly nudging them towards an unintentional U-Haul situation 💫
The romance is kind of a slow burn, with the first half of the story placing a focus on basketball and family dynamics. Then, at around the 60% mark, the spark ignites, and it's absolutely 🔥! From there, the relationship really takes more of the page. The close proximity of being both teammates and roommates, the natural chemistry, the secret crush, the denial of feelings and the 🌶 moments all made for a romance that felt sexy and satisfying. Their chemistry is one of the book's strongest points ✨️
I really liked the shifts between the past and present too, as they gave more depth to their history and showed where the attraction and unresolved tension first began. It made their relationship feel all the more earned.
I also appreciated that the story didn't rely on unnecessary angst and, without spoiling anything...
I love a romance that doesn't include a third-act break-up. Finishing with an epilogue that lets us see what Nola and Brittney are up to afterwards was the perfect way to end the story ❤️
July 28, 2026
4.5/5 stars
1.75/5 spice
Tropes:
Basketball romance
Rivals to lovers
Forced proximity
Second chance
Angst and Tension
Slow burn
Dual timeline
Dual POV
I had so much fun with this book. I was thoroughly entertained by the developing relationship between Nola and Bee... like OMG the tension was up there as rivals but that simmering attraction was the cherry on top. I really enjoyed the dual timeline and getting to see how they went from friends to rivals. Also knowing there was an attraction from the start that never went away added to that tension when they were forced together as teammates.
Another aspect I loved was the family dynamics. That first interaction we see during Thanksgiving gave me a clear view of how both families worked. I loved the siblings from both sides and felt like they were a true part of the story with clear personalities and not just background noise.
As much as I loved this book I'm not a big sports fan... but I was hooked from the start. Even reading about the sport lingo didn't throw me off (I don't know if it's accurate cuz I don't know lol). I could clearly see the players on the court and the games they played... the adrenaline, the plays, the excitement... all of it was present as if I was watching it live on tv. Truly a fun time.
Overall, I had a great time with this book, and watching everything unfold between Nola and Bee had me kicking and giggling. This was my first book from Kimani Mae but it won't be the last.
Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.
1.75/5 spice
Tropes:
Basketball romance
Rivals to lovers
Forced proximity
Second chance
Angst and Tension
Slow burn
Dual timeline
Dual POV
I had so much fun with this book. I was thoroughly entertained by the developing relationship between Nola and Bee... like OMG the tension was up there as rivals but that simmering attraction was the cherry on top. I really enjoyed the dual timeline and getting to see how they went from friends to rivals. Also knowing there was an attraction from the start that never went away added to that tension when they were forced together as teammates.
Another aspect I loved was the family dynamics. That first interaction we see during Thanksgiving gave me a clear view of how both families worked. I loved the siblings from both sides and felt like they were a true part of the story with clear personalities and not just background noise.
As much as I loved this book I'm not a big sports fan... but I was hooked from the start. Even reading about the sport lingo didn't throw me off (I don't know if it's accurate cuz I don't know lol). I could clearly see the players on the court and the games they played... the adrenaline, the plays, the excitement... all of it was present as if I was watching it live on tv. Truly a fun time.
Overall, I had a great time with this book, and watching everything unfold between Nola and Bee had me kicking and giggling. This was my first book from Kimani Mae but it won't be the last.
Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review. 4.5 ⭐️ — I went into this one with such high expectations, because I thoroughly enjoyed Half Court Shot and this one did not disappoint! Kimani Mae writes such amazing sapphic books and this one I absolutely ate up. I love a sports romance, I’m an absolute sucker for one, and I knew I’d enjoy the rivals aspect of this book and boy did I!
Whilst I loved both Bee and Nola, I absolutely ADORED Nola as a character. She was such a compelling character to read about, from her issues with how she’s treated because of who her parents are, to how she handled the situation with Bee. She’s not perfect, and she doesn’t claim to be, but my gosh she has a heart of gold. Her bond with her sister was so sweet as well, and I loved reading about it!
Bee and Nola really do work so, so well together. I really enjoyed that even though they could put their issues aside, neither character changed who they were as a person to make the relationship work. They worked together to make sure that the hurt in the past wasn’t forgotten but forgiven and moved on together in a way that was healthy for both of them. They were so sweet to read about — from the little things Bee did to show she cared to the way Nola never, ever let Bee doubt her or her intentions.
Side characters play a big part in this book as well, and honestly I loved them as well! The found family vibes in this book is so sweet, and I loved the flash back chapters we got to see the start of Nola and Bee’s relationship! All in all, a really solid read that I couldn’t put down!
Whilst I loved both Bee and Nola, I absolutely ADORED Nola as a character. She was such a compelling character to read about, from her issues with how she’s treated because of who her parents are, to how she handled the situation with Bee. She’s not perfect, and she doesn’t claim to be, but my gosh she has a heart of gold. Her bond with her sister was so sweet as well, and I loved reading about it!
Bee and Nola really do work so, so well together. I really enjoyed that even though they could put their issues aside, neither character changed who they were as a person to make the relationship work. They worked together to make sure that the hurt in the past wasn’t forgotten but forgiven and moved on together in a way that was healthy for both of them. They were so sweet to read about — from the little things Bee did to show she cared to the way Nola never, ever let Bee doubt her or her intentions.
Side characters play a big part in this book as well, and honestly I loved them as well! The found family vibes in this book is so sweet, and I loved the flash back chapters we got to see the start of Nola and Bee’s relationship! All in all, a really solid read that I couldn’t put down!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
*I received this eARC for free in exchange for my honest review.*
Thank you to Love Notes and the author for providing me with an ARC of this book!
This is the first book I've read from this author, but I'm already planning on reading her debut novel. That's how much I enjoyed this book! I read this book in like one day, it had me completely hooked from the beginning. I love seeing the representation of women's sports, especially basketball, and the main couple being women of color.
Bee and Nola's relationship started before they were ever in the league playing against each other. Seeing all of the history the characters had with each other made the tension and slow-burn hit so much harder. I loved how their history was hinted at in the chapters that take place in present day and the reader gets to see both of their perspectives from the flashback chapters. I do wish we spent more time in Nola's pov to see her drop her guard and open up a bit more, but I enjoyed seeing how Nola's approached her problems and their relationship. The siblings were definitely the highlight of the story. Bee's A and C teams and Olive from Nola's side were all very well-written and engaging. I wish there was more to read about the siblings, especially after the epilogue.
Overall, I loved this book and had a great time reading it!
Thank you to Love Notes and the author for providing me with an ARC of this book!
This is the first book I've read from this author, but I'm already planning on reading her debut novel. That's how much I enjoyed this book! I read this book in like one day, it had me completely hooked from the beginning. I love seeing the representation of women's sports, especially basketball, and the main couple being women of color.
Bee and Nola's relationship started before they were ever in the league playing against each other. Seeing all of the history the characters had with each other made the tension and slow-burn hit so much harder. I loved how their history was hinted at in the chapters that take place in present day and the reader gets to see both of their perspectives from the flashback chapters. I do wish we spent more time in Nola's pov to see her drop her guard and open up a bit more, but I enjoyed seeing how Nola's approached her problems and their relationship. The siblings were definitely the highlight of the story. Bee's A and C teams and Olive from Nola's side were all very well-written and engaging. I wish there was more to read about the siblings, especially after the epilogue.
Overall, I loved this book and had a great time reading it!
July 23, 2026
3.5 stars
This was a super fun heated rivalry esque sapphic basketball romance. Britney (Bee) and Nola are two of the best players in the WNBA and have been rivals since they were teenagers. When they’re traded to the same team after years of rivalry, the media expects it to be disastrous, but Bee and Nola have some history.
I loved the backstory of Bee and Nola, and getting flashbacks to it. The setup and the forced proximity were excellent and I really enjoyed the side characters, especially the siblings. I know absolutely nothing about basketball, so I was a little confused at times, but it was manageable. I enjoyed their banter, and the spice was good (though got a bit repetitive near the end).
The pacing was a little odd, and not everything introduced got explored fully (Nola’s relationship with her mum, for example). The reason why they disliked each other was discussed, but I think it would’ve worked better as a flashback scene, especially since there already were some. Overall, I think it had potential to be even better, but it was still a fun read.
If you’re looking for a fun sapphic sports romance, I’d pick this up!
Thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a super fun heated rivalry esque sapphic basketball romance. Britney (Bee) and Nola are two of the best players in the WNBA and have been rivals since they were teenagers. When they’re traded to the same team after years of rivalry, the media expects it to be disastrous, but Bee and Nola have some history.
I loved the backstory of Bee and Nola, and getting flashbacks to it. The setup and the forced proximity were excellent and I really enjoyed the side characters, especially the siblings. I know absolutely nothing about basketball, so I was a little confused at times, but it was manageable. I enjoyed their banter, and the spice was good (though got a bit repetitive near the end).
The pacing was a little odd, and not everything introduced got explored fully (Nola’s relationship with her mum, for example). The reason why they disliked each other was discussed, but I think it would’ve worked better as a flashback scene, especially since there already were some. Overall, I think it had potential to be even better, but it was still a fun read.
If you’re looking for a fun sapphic sports romance, I’d pick this up!
Thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2026
#arcreview
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★
𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 - Rivals to Lovers Sapphic Romance, Basketball Romance, Secret Crush, Turned Teammates,Forced Proximity
—
“Nola and long been my person, and had been since Spain. One night she confessed it was the moment I tried to sit next to her on the bus. For me it was that night we stayed up talking on the hotel floor. we had wormed, fought and kissed each other to this moment we were in. To the moments that would continue. And we would keep fighting together for each other. In the only way we knew how.”
This is my first book by Kimani and definitely not going to be my last because I absolutely
devoured this book like it was no I tomorrow. It was good pacing, amazing chemistry, and definitely good banter. They are definitely so good together and you notice it in the past chapter with them first meeting. Nola and Brittney I nas been rivals for a decade after Nola said something out of pocket at the draft pick. These two are so amazing together and seeing them work through there issues plus making them roommates was definitely the right thing to do.
If you love something with good pacing and a short time then you should definitely read this! Especially for Nola and Brittney
“Making Nola flustered was one of my favorite things to do to her. It felt like a secret between us. That the Nola the world saw was nothing like the woman I got. Whether I wore or down or my demeanor had influence, the softer sides of Nola were special to me.”
Thank You So Much for giving me this incredible arc !💐🖤
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★
𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 - Rivals to Lovers Sapphic Romance, Basketball Romance, Secret Crush, Turned Teammates,Forced Proximity
—
“Nola and long been my person, and had been since Spain. One night she confessed it was the moment I tried to sit next to her on the bus. For me it was that night we stayed up talking on the hotel floor. we had wormed, fought and kissed each other to this moment we were in. To the moments that would continue. And we would keep fighting together for each other. In the only way we knew how.”
This is my first book by Kimani and definitely not going to be my last because I absolutely
devoured this book like it was no I tomorrow. It was good pacing, amazing chemistry, and definitely good banter. They are definitely so good together and you notice it in the past chapter with them first meeting. Nola and Brittney I nas been rivals for a decade after Nola said something out of pocket at the draft pick. These two are so amazing together and seeing them work through there issues plus making them roommates was definitely the right thing to do.
If you love something with good pacing and a short time then you should definitely read this! Especially for Nola and Brittney
“Making Nola flustered was one of my favorite things to do to her. It felt like a secret between us. That the Nola the world saw was nothing like the woman I got. Whether I wore or down or my demeanor had influence, the softer sides of Nola were special to me.”
Thank You So Much for giving me this incredible arc !💐🖤
July 21, 2026
This was such a fun read! I really enjoyed the mix of romance, basketball, and character growth. The chemistry between the main characters was one of my favorite parts—it felt sweet and believable, and I found myself rooting for them the whole time. I also liked how the story explored friendship, family, and figuring out who you are, not just the romance.
The only reason this wasn't a full five stars for me is that a few plot points felt a little predictable, and I wish some of the side characters had gotten more development. There were also a couple of moments that wrapped up a bit faster than I expected, for example, I wish we would have explored Nola and her relationship with her mother a bit more.
Overall, Home Court Advantage was a cute, feel-good sports romance that kept me turning the pages. If you're looking for an entertaining sapphic romance with lovable characters, great banter, and basketball, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up!
Thanks to Love Notes PR and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The only reason this wasn't a full five stars for me is that a few plot points felt a little predictable, and I wish some of the side characters had gotten more development. There were also a couple of moments that wrapped up a bit faster than I expected, for example, I wish we would have explored Nola and her relationship with her mother a bit more.
Overall, Home Court Advantage was a cute, feel-good sports romance that kept me turning the pages. If you're looking for an entertaining sapphic romance with lovable characters, great banter, and basketball, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up!
Thanks to Love Notes PR and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2026
As soon as I saw Kimani Mae was writing another book in the Off the Court series I couldn’t wait to read it! Danny and Perry from book 1 left a lasting impression on me long after I finished Half Court Shot. And the same can be said for Bee and Nola. I cannot get enough of them!!!
Their chemistry was delicious as soon as the book started—friends to rivals to lovers anyone!? So many lines had me giggling and kicking my feet. Like they liked each other so much they hated it, and that’s going to do it for me every time. I loved the dynamic of Bee and Nola being equals in every way and how that annoyed them at the beginning of the book, but towards the end…well, let’s just say it all worked out hehehehe
I always enjoy Mae’s writing style and how all of her characters know what they want and speak their mind. It’s so refreshing to see competent baddies who say it like it is. Miscommunication? We do not know her here.
If you’re looking for a sapphic, heartfelt rivals (with a touch of second chance romance) to lovers, then you NEED to read Home Court Advantage.🩵
Their chemistry was delicious as soon as the book started—friends to rivals to lovers anyone!? So many lines had me giggling and kicking my feet. Like they liked each other so much they hated it, and that’s going to do it for me every time. I loved the dynamic of Bee and Nola being equals in every way and how that annoyed them at the beginning of the book, but towards the end…well, let’s just say it all worked out hehehehe
I always enjoy Mae’s writing style and how all of her characters know what they want and speak their mind. It’s so refreshing to see competent baddies who say it like it is. Miscommunication? We do not know her here.
If you’re looking for a sapphic, heartfelt rivals (with a touch of second chance romance) to lovers, then you NEED to read Home Court Advantage.🩵
July 27, 2026
From the blur I knew I was going to ejoy because sports + rivals to lovers, but this books is so much more!! I adored Nola and Bee, the way I could be inside their heads and see their fears and strenghts just made me love them even more, especially when they resolved things and let themselves be engulfed by the shimmering feelings between them.
It's a book that delves into family dynamics, in how you live having a dream while not neglecting other pilars of your life and how life is filled with colors when you forgive the love of your life after her grovelling (hehe) a little. The story is such a character driven filled with ups and downs because life is like that (I was a little triggered by Nola's mom being...herself, I guess? But Nola's little sis is a sweetie and I adored her).
The wiritng is so fluid and the way the author writes description really got me inside their apartment and the beach they go to sometimes.
Also, I'm a sucker for confession scenes like the ones we have in this book.
It's a book that delves into family dynamics, in how you live having a dream while not neglecting other pilars of your life and how life is filled with colors when you forgive the love of your life after her grovelling (hehe) a little. The story is such a character driven filled with ups and downs because life is like that (I was a little triggered by Nola's mom being...herself, I guess? But Nola's little sis is a sweetie and I adored her).
The wiritng is so fluid and the way the author writes description really got me inside their apartment and the beach they go to sometimes.
Also, I'm a sucker for confession scenes like the ones we have in this book.
July 28, 2026
The way I feel about Nola and Bee is biblical!
I am a fiend for sports romances and have taken down my fair share of sapphic & mm sports books (mostly hockey). So I was so excited to get the chance to read a basketball book! And let me tell you it did not disappoint !
This is an absolute slow burn so you really get to know the characters and their family dynamics at first by themselves and get sneak peaks into their rivalry before you ever see them together. That gets me because the slow build up makes their spark so much more intense.
I think it is so satisfying how both of their families and friends are so aware of their dynamic and chemistry and they keep denying it.
I flew through this book because I kept yearning for them to get together and after about half the book when it finally happens I was jumping up and down!!
I absolutely loved getting a little view into their lives in the epilogue and CANNOT wait for the next book!!!
Thank you Love Notes PR and the author for this eARC and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy to add to my collection! 🤲🥰🥹⭐️
I am a fiend for sports romances and have taken down my fair share of sapphic & mm sports books (mostly hockey). So I was so excited to get the chance to read a basketball book! And let me tell you it did not disappoint !
This is an absolute slow burn so you really get to know the characters and their family dynamics at first by themselves and get sneak peaks into their rivalry before you ever see them together. That gets me because the slow build up makes their spark so much more intense.
I think it is so satisfying how both of their families and friends are so aware of their dynamic and chemistry and they keep denying it.
I flew through this book because I kept yearning for them to get together and after about half the book when it finally happens I was jumping up and down!!
I absolutely loved getting a little view into their lives in the epilogue and CANNOT wait for the next book!!!
Thank you Love Notes PR and the author for this eARC and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy to add to my collection! 🤲🥰🥹⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2026
3.5 stars!
I really enjoyed this one for the most part! Really great chemistry, I loved the WNBA angle and I’m a huge fan of flashbacks especially when there’s been a time apart that turns them into rivals. I do wish we got more of those flashbacks, though. Nola & Bee’s backstory was coming together really well for me but I wanted to see even more of it, especially in Spain. I found their attraction and chemistry so well written, and I just wanted to be even more invested in their present day rivalry and attraction.
I will say, one thing that lowered my rating was the voices were a little too similar for me. There were a few times I wasn’t sure who had the POV because they had similar tones and styles. And, I would be remiss not to mention a few typos/edits that were missed - this didn’t take me out of the story by any means, but there were quite a few and I feel to give an honest review I do need to mention them. But I will definitely read this author again - the chemistry, spice and storyline were all there and I think she’s only going to get better!!
I really enjoyed this one for the most part! Really great chemistry, I loved the WNBA angle and I’m a huge fan of flashbacks especially when there’s been a time apart that turns them into rivals. I do wish we got more of those flashbacks, though. Nola & Bee’s backstory was coming together really well for me but I wanted to see even more of it, especially in Spain. I found their attraction and chemistry so well written, and I just wanted to be even more invested in their present day rivalry and attraction.
I will say, one thing that lowered my rating was the voices were a little too similar for me. There were a few times I wasn’t sure who had the POV because they had similar tones and styles. And, I would be remiss not to mention a few typos/edits that were missed - this didn’t take me out of the story by any means, but there were quite a few and I feel to give an honest review I do need to mention them. But I will definitely read this author again - the chemistry, spice and storyline were all there and I think she’s only going to get better!!
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