The Homecoming War

by Addie Woolridge

When plunging enrollment forces two rival high schools to merge, two class presidents must work together to make the schools unite. But when a mutual crush emerges, they'll both have to figure out what they want and where their loyalties lie before they become the most hated people at school.

Meg Williams is on the way to making her dreams come true. As the incoming Junior class president for Hirono High School, all she needs are a few more As and an excellent college recommendation letter, then she can leave Huntersville, California, and her ghosts behind.

Or, at least she was on track until the school district decided to combine Hirono with their rival, Davies High School. Now, Meg is wandering the pristine hallways of Davies High, her life plan threatened by Hirono’s queen mean girl, Freya Allenson, and the maddeningly perfect Chris Chaves, Davies High School’s class president.

When it turns out Huntersville’s Golden Boy won't just step down, Meg begrudgingly accepts that they’ll have to work together for the year. Worse still, escalating pranks between the rival classmates and a developing crush threaten to throw Meg even further off course. As homecoming draws near, both Meg and Chris will have to decide where their loyalties lie.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Young Adult Romance, High School, Audiobook, Realistic Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2023

About the author

Born and raised outside Seattle, Washington, Addie Woolridge is a classically trained opera singer with a degree in music from the University of Southern California, and she holds a master's degree in public administration from Indiana University. Woolridge's well-developed characters are a result of her love for diverse people, cultures, and experiences.

Woolridge currently lives in Northern California. When she isn't writing or singing, Woolridge can be found baking; training for her sixth race in the Seven Continents Marathon Challenge; or taking advantage of the region's signature beverage, wine.

Reviews

[sama ୨୧ (slumping.) · Rating 4 out of 5]

★ 3.75 stars ★

WHY WAS THIS BOOK SO DELECTABLE LIKE?!?! 🙈🙈🙈
I did NOT expect it to be this good lowkey 😭

second buddy read with bestie skye <3. skye is literally the best person to do a br with its just so fun and amazing and we just end up spamming esch other about random things I LOVE YOU SM GIRL 🤧💓

🌷 plot 🌷
this book follows meg and chris, two class presidents from rivaling high schools (love me some rivals to lovers 🫡) and basically they pull pranks on one another’s school but slowly become friends and SURPRISE SURPRISE THEY FALL IN LOVE 🙈🙈 and I ate it UP 😝

first and foremost this type of rivalry is the best ever:

“see you then chavez”
“looking forward to it, williams”

it gave me major irisroman vibes whenever they did this🥹I love when they refer to eachother by the last name >>>>> UGHHH ITS SUPERIOR 💘

🌷 thoughts 🌷
this is one of those reads where I loved and enjoyed it but nothing really happened so there’s no massive quotes or anything I could showcase but I still had so much fun 🤧

OH AND WHEN HE OPENED THE CAR DOOR FOR HER ‼️‼️ everyone in the comments saying that’s the bare minimum but in this day and age is it really!? 😪

but it’s ok bc we have CHRIS. THE KING OF BARE MINIMUM 👑❤️‍🔥 stop that sounds bad I meant it in a nice way

also he was supposed to be this really cool popular boy but whenever meg so much as gave him a compliment, his cheeks turned bright red 🤭 it was so adorable to see ✋🏼

I LOVE THEM SO MUCH I ACTUALLY CANT 😭 february is off to a great start

*me frantically typing out this review omw to school ignore how rushed it is 💀*

hope you enjoyed~~
———
🌷preread🌷

yes that’s right im reading six books rn don’t judge me😀

NO BUT LOOK AT THE CUTENESS OVERLOAD of this cover im in loveee 😌

buddy reading this with my pookie skye 🙈🫶🏼 she picked this one out and I honestly think it’s one of the most adorable books ive ever seen~

happy reading everyone !! 💘

[skye (cardan’s ver.) ꩜ .ᐟ [hiatus] · Rating 3 out of 5]

— ⌗ ”i’m here for a hug whenever you need me, meg.” ᝰ.ᐟ


⋆˚✿˖° the homecoming war by addie woolridge


➜ ┊: (3 stars) ᵎ ✰


— ⌗ ”silence with him didn’t feel uncomfortable. it felt like there were no expectations. like me being in the car with him was enough.” ᝰ.ᐟ


⌗ !! ꒰ 🎧 ꒱ playlist…
⊹ ࣪ paper rings — taylor swift
⊹ ࣪ midnight memories — one direction
⊹ ࣪ electric love — børns
⊹ ࣪ king of my heart — taylor swift
⊹ ࣪ in my mind — lyn lapid

⌗ !! ꒰ 📚 ꒱ tropes…
╰ supposed to be rivals to lovers
╰ forbidden romance (well… technically?)
╰ most adorable queer characters (not a trope, but still)


— ⌗ ”I was never your enemy.” ᝰ.ᐟ


𖦹ׂ SLIGHT SPOILERS BELOW!


— ⌗ ”this place is a shrine, but the only thing preserved is your grief.” ᝰ.ᐟ


₊˚꒰🚗꒱‧ plot…
considering this is a ya contemporary romance novel, there’s not much content to put under a ‘plot’ per se, but the setting and essence of the entire story is that two rival-ish schools have a merger, and there’s a series of pranks that turns into a ‘prank war’ between both schools. the mcs—meg and chris—are the presidents of both schools, and co-presidents of the new merged school. the entire story is about how they go from not liking each other (for like, 10 pages) to becoming friends, and then get together <3 it’s honestly so so so cute, YOU ALL MUST READ THIS!!

₊˚꒰🏖️꒱‧ thoughts…
meg and chris had the most wholesome relationship by the end! it would’ve been much better if it wasn’t so much of a slow burn-type book, considering it’s a standalone and it’s only 200-something pages on my kindle ): BUT still, this was such a cute and quick read, and it was so fun to buddy read it <3 there was sm fluff, which I hardly read (being a fantasy reader lmao), so it was so adorable for a change. I originally rated this book 4 stars, but changed it to 3 right now because after marinating in the story, I realise there wasn’t anything exceptional about it that called out to me. it was a cute high school romance (that i’ll never have 3) and that was it (:


— ⌗ ”you were always holding my heart, whether or not you wanted it, and that scares me.” ᝰ.ᐟ


₊˚꒰🫂꒱‧ favourite scenes…
you can’t expect me to pick out a single favourite scene but I will, anyway because I already have it in mind, but if I had to, it’d be the confession + meg and chris’ entry into the homecoming scene with their matching grandparentscore outfits (💗).

₊˚꒰🤍꒱‧ ending…
the ending was the best part about this! the love they have for each other was bleeding through my kindle, and their love story was just beautiful. the fact that he wore avocado-shade clothes to homecoming for her is the cutest thing ever. along with him supporting her sunglasses addiction, so the way he wore a pair for her, to one of the most memorable events of their school life? PERFECT!


— ⌗ ”i’ll like you as long as she does and not a second more.” ᝰ.ᐟ


₊˚꒰🕶️꒱‧ megan williams…
⤹ ⊹ meg | williams | your local sunglasses collector ₊˚๑
I could 100% not relate to meg freaking out about not planning something or not knowing the absolute outcome of anything. i’m the most impulsive and reckless person irl lmao, but the fact that despite all that, I still loved meg’s character? addie, hats off to you <3

₊˚꒰📻꒱‧ chris chavez…
⤹ ⊹ chavez | the romantic | mister green flag ₊˚๑
this guy is literally a green flag personified <3 people our age (aka 14-17) hardly find guys like chris irl and it’s so heartbreaking, ugh. you mean to tell me sweet, kind, compassionate, and gorgeous people only exist in books?? and please, the way he jokes around but is also there when meg needed to have a deep conversation? perfection. he held doors open for her, for gods’ sake, it doesn’t get any better~ and when he said “I think they [his parents] might love our winning more than they love us”? I broke.

₊˚꒰🥑꒱‧ meg x chris…
when he wears sunglasses to homecoming for her, you know he’s a keeper. are they one of the cutest couples i’ve read this year? yes. the way he understands her thing with vintage stuff and sunglasses collection is so sweet, because be real: if girls irl were like meg, then guys irl would probably just laugh and make fun of them- CHRIS IS THE NEW STANDARD FR <3
edit: the fact that I just realised two of my friends have the exact same dynamic as meg and chris, I’M GONNA CRY-


— ⌗ ”with my head against chris’s chest, our bodies swaying slowly to the music, I couldn’t imagine a place I wanted to be more than here, with him.” ᝰ.ᐟ


₊˚꒰💝꒱‧ pre-read…
— ୨୧₊˚ br with ml sama (:
super excited to pick up our second br together (: I have high hopes for this one; hope it doesn’t disappoint <33

₊˚꒰❤️‍🩹꒱‧ pre-review…
excuse me?? what gave this book to be so mf cute? I thought this’d just be a cute passing romcom or something, but apparently the author had other plans~ I was screaming, crying and shaking by the end of it because the loneliness caught up w me fr- honestly, I want a chris. and if I don’t ever find a chris, guess i’m just gonna stay single forever.


— ⌗ ”if a kiss could make promises, this kiss promised big dreams, a few questionable ideas, and vast adventures. it was scary and reassuring all at the same time. most important, this kiss was a promise that no matter what, wherever he went, i’d be there, too.” ᝰ.ᐟ

[Shawnaci Schroeder · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️
- The cutest rivals to lovers story! If you liked better than the movies by Lynn painter, you’ll really love this one! There isn’t any spice in this but you can definitely feel the tension between the two main characters!! Felt so giddy reading about them as their feelings grew.
- Really loved all of the pranks in this book and found myself smiling throughout this story! So so cute! Almost didn’t pick up this book because I thought it would be too middle grade, but it was the perfect YA story!
- Fluffy, fun, and had a great message in the end. The perfect summer read!!

[Bill Wood]

cayoot

[Hannah B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a classic rival school prank war YA book! It was cute and a bit melodramatic—which happens whenever school spirit enters the chat. It reminded me a bit of Troy High, which is one of my favorites of the trope. I wasn’t a huge fan of the abrupt third act, but it fit the character. I really enjoyed the narrator!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thanks so much to PRHaudio for an ALC. All opinions are honest and my own.

[Romysaa]

DNF 50%

I really like it, but it's so fluffy for my own taste.. and the MC'S are just so young. I have a personal problem with the YA genre honestly.

I listen to it as an audio, it was my first audiobook ever, and I discovered that I'm also not an audiobook person, at all.

So yeah I'm the reason of the DNF, the book was cute.

[swiftie &#x1f497;&#x1f497;&#x1f92d;&#x1f485; jinu wife!!:) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a basic ya romance nothing out of the box it was a slow burn enemies to lovers trope lots a tension that made me want to literally scream😭😫 and the guy said one time you where always holding my heart even if you didn’t want it like how cutee🥺😭🤭
But beside that it was rlly nothing special:/
Well any way byeee besties💗🎀👸🫶🏻💋

[car · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.41 stars cute ya romcom. started liking it after the first 1/3 of the book, did not like the conflict before the ending it annoyed me

[Jessica (jessdonareads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Homecoming War by Addie Woolridge was a sweet, high-school YA story about co-class presidents coming together as their schools combine into one large school. Meg and Chris started out as rivals but became friends as they guided their friends and classmates through the transition of combining schools. I loved the supporting characters/friends that were there for both Meg and Chris. The story itself was relatively light-hearted, but there was some deeper emotions both of them were dealing with, that the author handled very well and in tune with how teenagers would handle them. I truly enjoyed this story! It was a perfect break into what I've been reading lately, and I am grateful to Netgalley, Author Addie Woolridge and Random House for the ARC! *slight spoiler ahead*.....my only wish would have been to see if Chris' issue had any resolution.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this YA novel not only for its fun high school pranks and sweet love story, but also for the other themes of growing self-awareness, friendship, grieving, and family dynamics. The main protagonist, Meg, is a well-developed character that readers will love. She has a great sense of humor and a growing awareness of her own coping mechanisms as she grieves her father's sudden passing. She comes to realize that many of her strengths can also be weaknesses as she uses them to avoid painful situations. It has a fun cast of other characters as well. As one reviewer mentioned, this would be a good book for a parent to read along with their teen.

[er · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Brittany]

Disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews because I don’t like leaving them. Most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book.I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all.

Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial

Ahhh, this was absolutely adorable. It was such a fluffy, sweet, slow-burn high school romance, but at the same time, touched upon the duality that many high school students live in experiencing grief and uncertainty as well. I loved our main character, junior-year-student Meg Williams, and her love for her home high school Hirono. She is so clearly passionate about making sure her fellow classmates have a great student experience, and she tries pretty hard to ensure there is no erasure of their school spirit happening!

However, I also adored the golden retriever energy from Chris, the Davies High School class president, whom she works with to prevent destructive pranks and try to be rivals in a more productive way. I appreciated the diversity of the school, which reflects the diversity you would probably see in a high school in California. I will absolutely read more from Addie, and thank you for the arc!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up.

This was a fun enemies to lovers YA romance that sees two teens forced to work with one another to help bring their two recently merged schools together peacefully and put a stop to pranks. Equally moving and humorous with a great balance of romance and grief. I really enjoyed this on audio and would read more by this new to me author. Recommended for fans of authors like Talia Hibbert. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t really feeling these teenagers at the beginning of the book. These pranks just were not making sense. But the love story at the heart was cute and drew me in-even drew a few tears at the end. Good vacation read.

[CoCo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg and Chris are the absolute cutest, and the cast of side characters were all fantastic. The plot managed to light-hearted while still allowing for so much depth. I was rooting for the MCs, the school community, and Warm Fuzzy!!

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, cute but very forgettable

[Lena Hooker · Rating 4 out of 5]

i didn’t want this to end, it was so wonderful

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. It has such a cute and unique premise, but the storytelling bogged it down. It's a slow start of a story, which isn't inherently a bad thing, except that I don't want a slow start story to feel slow. Given the reviews of the author's previously published stuff, I'd say this is just her writing style. It just didn't work for me as a reader this time.

The storytelling is more reminiscent of mid-2000s YA Contemporary, which was a little like Early 2000s Chick Lit trying to tell a teenage story. Almost reminded me of Emma Lord's Begin Again. So if you like that, I have great news for you!

Because it took me a while to get into, I found this book very easy to put down and come back to later. The only reason this is a problem is because the author did a wonderful job crafting complex characters with intricate backstories. Putting it down and coming back made it more difficult for me to keep up, but the characters and plot weren't enough to keep me drawn in. I found myself skimming and skipping ahead to get into the story, find the action.

The cast of characters is large, diverse, and unique. I felt like some of the characters were added in just to check off the LGBTQ+ diversity box because nothing was really done with the characteristics of diverse sexuality and pronouns.

Despite the cover making me think I was getting a YA Contemporary Romance, I'd say this squarely falls into the category of YA Contemporary with a Romance Plot like Emily Wibberly's stuff. Not bad, by any means. Not good, either, just is. I thought the school rivalry taking center stage of the plot with the romance developing because of that, around that, was really sweet and realistic. And fun! from a plot perspective.

I really enjoyed the arc and growth that a lot of the characters took--I loved Freya being more than just a mean girl, and her explanation of her background to Meg at the end actually impacting Meg and making her stop and think. I loved that Nadiya handled Meg keeping Chris a secret in a realistic way, being happy for her friend but sad that her friend hid something from her. I even loved how Meg learned a lesson from that and compared herself to Freya and had some empathy there--but I took issue with the third act conflict.

Meg suddenly breaking up with Chris because it wasn't "part of the plan" seemed very plot-device-ish and out of nowhere. She dated before. Was she not worried about Trevor not being "part of the plan" to get out of town? Chris was also clear that he, too, wants to get out of town, so, like, I really wasn't sure what the big issue there was. It's then explored in a really teenage and yet really mature way (that I loved!) that Meg is scared and a lot of characters help her talk and walk through that. Which was very realistic. And on the one hand, I completely understand and empathize with a teen who has A Plan and can't deviate from it, but I also felt like Meg, of all characters, should have understood earlier that Plans change.

I liked how the third act conflict was resolved with her friends, family, and Chris. I just wish the conflict hadn't happened to begin with. Or had happened differently; I don't know.

Even though this book didn't resonate with me, I love love love that it's harkening back to traditional YA roots compared to some of the recent YA releases I've read lately. I would still 100% recommend this to anyone looking for a YA with a fun plot. If the writing had been a little snappier, this would've been a 4 star read for me because the plot and the characters really were fun.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"The Homecoming War" by Addie Woolridge presents readers with a charming and engaging story that delves into themes of rivalry, friendship, and finding love in unexpected places.

Meg Williams, the incoming Junior class president at Hirono High School, has a clear plan for her future, and she's determined to achieve her dreams. However, when the school district merges Hirono with their rival, Davies High School, Meg's carefully constructed life is thrown into disarray. The sudden rivalry with Freya Allenson, Hirono's queen mean girl, and the presence of Chris Chaves, Davies High School's class president, challenge her plans.

Woolridge does an excellent job of capturing the essence of high school dynamics and teenage emotions. The story offers a thoughtful exploration of Meg's character as she navigates the challenges of the merger, the rivalry with Freya, and her unexpected feelings for Chris. Meg's journey is relatable and allows readers to connect with her on a personal level.

The relationship between Meg and Chris is a central focus of the story, and while it may not follow the traditional rivals-to-lovers trope, it offers a fresh and nuanced take on teenage romance. The development of their relationship feels genuine, and their interactions are both sweet and realistic.

One of the strengths of the book is its diverse and well-drawn cast of characters. Each character has their own unique background and backstory, contributing to the richness of the narrative. While the large ensemble cast may feel a bit overwhelming at times, it adds depth and authenticity to the high school setting.

The novel also addresses themes of grief and healing, which are handled with sensitivity and depth. Meg's personal journey of coming to terms with her grief adds emotional depth to the story and makes her character more relatable and multidimensional.

Overall, "The Homecoming War" is a heartwarming and entertaining read that captures the complexities of high school life, rivalries, and unexpected romance. Addie Woolridge's storytelling is engaging, and her characters are well-developed and relatable. This book will resonate with readers who enjoy contemporary YA fiction with a focus on personal growth and relationships.

3.9 rounded up to 4/5

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Homecoming War" by Addie Woolridge presents readers with a charming and engaging story that delves into themes of rivalry, friendship, and finding love in unexpected places. Meg Williams, the incoming Junior class president at Hirono High School, has a clear plan for her future, and she's determined to achieve her dreams. However, when the school district merges Hirono with their rival, Davies High School, Meg's carefully constructed life is thrown into disarray. The sudden rivalry with Freya Allenson, Hirono's queen mean girl, and the presence of Chris Chaves, Davies High School's class president, challenge her plans. Woolridge does an excellent job of capturing the essence of high school dynamics and teenage emotions. The story offers a thoughtful exploration of Meg's character as she navigates the challenges of the merger, the rivalry with Freya, and her unexpected feelings for Chris. Meg's journey is relatable and allows readers to connect with her on a personal level. The relationship between Meg and Chris is a central focus of the story, and while it may not follow the traditional rivals-to-lovers trope, it offers a fresh and nuanced take on teenage romance. The development of their relationship feels genuine, and their interactions are both sweet and realistic. One of the strengths of the book is its diverse and well-drawn cast of characters. Each character has their own unique background and backstory, contributing to the richness of the narrative. While the large ensemble cast may feel a bit overwhelming at times, it adds depth and authenticity to the high school setting. The novel also addresses themes of grief and healing, which are handled with sensitivity and depth. Meg's personal journey of coming to terms with her grief adds emotional depth to the story and makes her character more relatable and multidimensional. Overall, "The Homecoming War" is a heartwarming and entertaining read that captures the complexities of high school life, rivalries, and unexpected romance. Addie Woolridge's storytelling is engaging, and her characters are well-developed and relatable. This book will resonate with readers who enjoy contemporary YA fiction with a focus on personal growth and relationships.

[sel · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Meg Williams has been elected the junior class president, she has great grades, and she has a plan: make it out of this town as soon as she graduates. But when her school, Hirono High, and their rival school, Davies High, combine, tensions rise between students. And suddenly, she is a co-president and has to get along with her fellow co-president, Chris Chavez. On top of that, she has to deal with her classmates thinking she isn’t doing enough to show support for Hirono students. She ends up having to work with Chris to try to keep the rivalry under control, which isn’t easy with the elaborate pranks Hirono students and Davies students are playing. It becomes more difficult as she starts developing feelings for Chris, who she should not be falling for out of loyalty to her school.

This book was very cute overall! The transition period of two rival schools becoming one was definitely not going to be easy, and it was interesting to see the pranks they thought of.

I liked the depiction of grief and how different it is for everyone. I wasn’t expecting it, thinking that this was going to be focused solely on the romance, but we learn why Meg wants to leave town as soon as she can. We saw how Meg’s mom handled the grief of losing her husband, but also how that impacted how Meg grieved for her father.

The romance was very cute! Despite the rivalry between schools, it didn’t feel like rivals to lovers. While it took longer for Meg to admit what she was feeling towards him, it didn't take long for them to strike up an alliance. I also really liked the side characters, Nadiya, Riley, and Russ!

One thing that I think could’ve been handled better was the third-act breakup. It just felt like with how far they had come that Meg suddenly wanting to break things off with Chris was thrown in so they could break up before getting back together in the end.

Overall, I give it 3.8 stars rounded up to 4!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I have never read anything by Addie Woolridge before, but I was charmed by the cover and premise of The Homecoming War, especially the concept of two schools merging, something I had never heard of happening before. The book itself is lighthearted fun, and exactly what I needed, following a somewhat lackluster read.
Meg is a solid, fairly relatable protagonist. She’s class president, and desires to leave town upon graduation. While it could have been easy for her to be the typical overachiever character, I liked how her reasons for wanting to leave stem from grief from the loss of a parent, and while the book never loses its overall light, fun nature, this is a nice dose of heart that grounded it for me, and added a little something extra to complement the fluffiness. And while she has her own motivations, I do like that she has good intentions, and wants to do what’s best for the students of her school.
The romance itself was quite cute as well. While there is an initial rivalry, she and Chris do have common goals in their desires as the class presidents, and once they get out of their own heads, I like how they’re able to not only put the other students first, but bond over what they do have in common.
And while there are a lot of people in the supporting cast, and it can bog down the story a little, I liked that the cast was colorful and diverse, making the story feel authentic to the California setting, as well as giving names and faces to the people that Meg and Chris are meant to advocate for.
The one thing I didn’t care for was the pacing. It started off quite slow, and I did feel like there were quite a few moving parts, from the prank war to the rivalry to the romance, that often left the story feeling a little scattered. But once the story found its rhythm, I was invested.
This is a cute book, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for a fun, lighthearted YA contemporary romance.

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🦅 were ever class President
🏫 are currently in high school
🪩 loved the homecoming dances
🩷 want love but put work first

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Meg Williams is on the way to making her dreams come true. As the incoming Junior class president for Hirono High School, all she needs are a few more As and an excellent college recommendation letter, then she can leave Huntersville, California, and her ghosts behind.

Or, at least she was on track until the school district decided to combine Hirono with their rival, Davies High School. Now, Meg is wandering the pristine hallways of Davies High, her life plan threatened by Hirono’s queen mean girl, Freya Allenson, and the maddeningly perfect Chris Chaves, Davies High School’s class president.

When it turns out Huntersville’s Golden Boy won't just step down, Meg begrudgingly accepts that they’ll have to work together for the year. Worse still, escalating pranks between the rival classmates and a developing crush threaten to throw Meg even further off course. As homecoming draws near, both Meg and Chris will have to decide where their loyalties lie.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was a cute read that will really resonate with younger readers, especially those currently in high school. I really liked Meg’s character and wish this book was around when I was in high school because she was someone I would have looked up to. Rather than chasing boys, she put her head down and worked for her excellent grades and class Presidency. I wish that I had done what she did. But I also enjoyed the fact that she did let her heart lead with Chris, and how she opened up to her family and friends when she needed to. Overall, this is a good one for high school students to read!

[Cee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ready to dig into a young adult novel that’s equal parts heartwarming and complicated? Then let me introduce you to “HOMECOMING WAR” by Addie Woolridge. Imagine having a life plan all laid out: Meg Williams, the star Junior class president of Hirono High, has her sights set on acing her way out of Huntersville, California. But plot twist! Her school merges with rival Davies High, and now she’s navigating not just new hallways but a whole new set of challenges.

Picture this: a heart-fluttering, slow-burn high school romance mixed with the very real ups and downs that define the tumultuous teen years. Yep, we’re going there, and it’s fantastic.

At the heart of it all is Chris Chaves, the almost infuriatingly ideal Davies High class president. Initially, Meg isn’t thrilled about working with Mr. Perfect, but soon realizes they have no choice but to unite their divided student bodies. It’s like a high-stakes teen drama, complete with escalating pranks and—wait for it—a budding crush that could either unite them or make them public enemy number one and two.

What’s super refreshing? The diversity in this book mirrors what you’d expect in a California high school. It’s not just a backdrop; it’s integral to the narrative, making the story feel authentic and relatable. Woolridge paints a vivid landscape that honors the multifaceted identities that make up today’s youth, and that’s pretty darn commendable.

To sum it all up, “HOMECOMING WAR” is your ticket to a sweet, soulful, and slightly chaotic journey through the love and life of high school. This book doesn’t just tug at your heartstrings; it plays a full-on love symphony. Add it to your reading list, and prepare for an all-nighter—you won’t want to miss a single page!

[Ashley Dang · Rating 4 out of 5]

When two rival high schools are merged into one, two class presidents must work together to make sure that their schools can unite... and maybe a mutual crush might happen as they try to navigate prank works, baking together, and going to homecoming. Meg Williams is still dealing with the grief of her father's death, she's had her life planned out and enjoys being class president as well as collecting vintage sunglasses. She loves Hirono High School and is determined to get good grades so she an finally leave California and her ghosts behind. Chris Chaves is the class president of Davies High School, he's charming, handsome, and great at baseball. When Chris and Meg meet and are made co presidents, they have to find a way to stop all the prank wars and rivalries going on between their schools because their schools are now merged as one. Yet the more time they spend together the more they are beginning to fall for each other, yet with both their schools pulling them in their own directions, where will their loyalties lie and what will happen to their feelings. This was a sweet high school romance with cute pranks and it definitely felt like a 2000's high school romance movie. Meg is dealing with grief and trying to find herself as things in her control are beginning to change, but it was great seeing her grow and open herself up. Overall, it was a cute read!

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's, Underlined for sending me an ac in exchange for an honest review*

[A.A.B · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*s. This book was easy to read, but only if I could manage to turn off thinking about anything that was happening on page. As soon as my brain was given the tiniest freedom to think, it was resembling the famous ad meme from a decade or so ago: "That's not how this works! That's not how any of this works!"

Separately from each other some of the scenes were even believable, but the events that caused those scenes to occur or the consequences of them didn't make any sense for the most part. To the point that I constantly expected that the people around the main character were all constantly lying to her or hiding their true motivations and intentions and she was just being very gullible and intensely hormonal — because puberty. But, apparently, not — it was all presumably in good faith and should have been taken at face value.

Unbelievable shenanigans aside, I was most interested in (and I can't believe I am saying this) the school politics and the whole unification conflict. But then the resolution of it happened and I was left gaping at it in complete disbelief, because surely that was not how things really got resolved. Given the proliferation of pranks, I honestly expected that the main character's friends were pranking her.

I finished the book having been entertained, but also somewhat disoriented by it. But then, maybe I am just out of touch with today's realities, teenage behavioral patterns, and people in general.

[Kilby Blades · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great tandem read for me (an adult who loves YA) and my thirteen-year-old son! I loved the unique setup and the sweet love story. Note: I listened to the audiobook and the narration was amazing.

The Plot: When two neighboring high schools combine into one, warring factions emerge. The kids from Hirono High and from Davis High to NOT get along. The heroine, Meg, is especially bitter about the turn of events, especially after discovering that her hard-earned status as Junior Class president is now a shared position. She wants to hate Chris, her co-president, but he turns out to be annoyingly swoony. And the school needs their leadership to put an end to the rivalry and bring their two schools together...

I loved a ton about this story: Meg's friend, Riley was a major prankster who thought up some pretty dastardly ways for the Hirono kids to punk the kids from Davis. The overall spirit of back-and-forth competition was really fun. Chris's family was really cute and Meg (who struggles in her relationship with her mother, and who grapples with grief related to her late father) has some good breakthroughs that signify a real coming of age.

Five stars!

[Jojo✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first Addie Woolridge book and I really enjoyed it. The cover and the book description intrigued me especially it being about two schools merging together, something I haven't read in a book before. This was a light-hearted read and definitely can be seen as what some might call, a palate cleanser, after reading heavier or boring books.
Meg can be someone really relatable, as she's class president and is a stem major, but also someone who is grieving the loss of a parent. Even with this in mind, it never gets too emotional when someone stops reading it from being too heavy. I loved seeing Meg and Chris' relationship blossom and see how they come together for the same ultimate goal.
Overall I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a YA read that is lighthearted romance!

[DOMINIQUE Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story follows Megan and Chris ( so thought of the family guy when I started reading this). They are name co class president after their schools are merged together. Their goal is to squash the beef/ prank war going on between the two combined schools. Sparks fly as the pair spend more time together and their mutual crush turns into more. This was my first read from this author and it did not disappoint. It was super cute and I definitely can see myself reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you Random House Children's, Underlined and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a YA read for a palette cleanser. After super triggering books or extra spicy books, this sweet high school romance was perfect. The story still touched on challenging topics like grief and family expectations but was still absolutely adorable. The two main characters had opposite plans for the relationship but I loved the slow burn which eventually led to the couple finding love in an unexpected place.

This isn’t my first Addie Woolridge book. I love her writing. She does an excellent job of writing characters. You can feel their essence and familiarity jumping off the bag. This story was no different.

I received this book as an ARC for review and I truly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a lighthearted contemporary romance or who like romance YA.