{Thank you to @berkleypub for my gifted review copy}

⁣I was first introduced to author Kathleen West's writing style when I read her 2020 novel Minor Dramas and Catastrophes. One of the sub-genres of contemporary fiction I have come to so enjoy is parenting fiction!
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Maybe it is because I am smack dab in this stage, but I love books that take on the intricacies to a season of life. The worries, the relationships and the daily struggles that we all can relate to, even if our stories look really different from the outside. And this book takes on competitive youth sports, in particular, hockey! ⁣

⁣"Told with Kathleen West’s trademark wit and compassion, Home or Away is a story about overcoming our pasts, confronting our futures, and the sustaining bonds of female friendship."
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West shines at character building and sharing the gray areas of life..which also means this book would make for a great book club read. This book packs a punch and also kept me turning the pages until the very end. I am excited to talk more about it when it is released in March! 4.5/5 stars.

While the story was well written, it highlighted everything that is wrong with competitive youth sports today. Parents pushing their kids. The politics involved in the sports organization. Doing anything to get ahead. Only being satisfied with winning. It’s all here.
Leigh Mackenzie was a star hockey player. She played on her college team. She played in world championships. She was on her way to the Olympics. But she made a bad choice at the Olympic trials and didn’t make the team. She hung up her hockey skates and quit the game.
I found myself despising Leigh. She was self-centered and immature. Although the main story takes place when she is an adult with a 9 year old son, Leigh doesn’t learn anything from her past mistake. She keeps trusting the wrong person. You would think that realizing he was a sleaze ball when she was in college, she wouldn’t give the guy the time of day. But no. She believes him when he says he will make sure her son makes the highest level team if she does him a favor. Even when allegations come to light about his behavior with others, she still counts on him to deliver on his promises.
Th story is told in multiple points of view. In addition to Leigh we hear from her husband, Charlie, her son, Gus, and Suzy, her best friend from hockey playing days. Each of these supporting characters are well drawn and likable. They carried the story and made it an enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for giving me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Loved all of the well-developed character relationships in the story. I felt like I was a part of the story the entire way through. Will highly be recommending Kathleen's newest book in my store when it comes out this Spring!

I don't read many books with sports, but my husband is a huge hockey fan, so that caught my interest. Characters are complex and well drawn. I've never read anything by West in the past, but I'm likely to check out future books. Key themes are family, friends, and following one's dreams.

I have never really been big on books with sports in them but this book was very well written! I was surprised by how much I actually did enjoy reading it! The character building was wonderful! The individual relationships and with the depth that was add to each character makes it impossible to not invest yourself in them! This was my first book by this author but I will definitely be changing that!

I’m not a big hockey fan but after reading this book, I found myself getting new tickets to see more LA Kings games!

Kathleen West is definitely aspiring, unique author! I read her previous works and I had to admit I loved this book a little more! Normally I always have hesitations when I start to a slow burn mystery. For getting into this kind of story, I have to get invested into characters and mystery part should be intriguing enough to make my precious arse keep glued to my seat and occupy my mind!

This book achieved those two goals: I enjoyed the character building: both Leigh and Susy’s love- hate kind of unbalanced relationship dynamics were depicted well.

Leigh returns back her hometown with her new family: a writer-supportive-caring husband Charlie and a hockey prodigy, lovely son Gus. In two decades she has started from fresh to build a successful career at investment banking. Her son is a superstar in his Tampa Junior League.

But a new job opportunity for Leigh and more opportunities for her son’s developing athletic career, she returns back to place where her own her athletic career had been miserable. We may sense that something terrible happened related to her coach Jeff and her once upon a time best friend Susy.

Susy’s own life at hometown is also complicated with the contribution of her ex who cheated her with half of Swedish National hockey team. Her talented hockey player daughter Georgie is about to be relegated to the B team. Because she is just a girl! And as a coach of the hockey team, her own decisions are always ignored or undermined by her male colleagues.
Susy wants to burn the hatches and work with Leigh, rekindling her enthusiasm by pushing her pacing up her skates! Leigh unluckily has to deal with Jeff- the man who ruined her dreams- and his favor requests to guarantee her son’s place at hockey team.

When the allegations against Jeff arises, she has to confront her past and save her family from the scandal that may rock their world. She needs an ally which means her old friend/ nemesis Susy will be the only one who can support her!

Well, rivalry between friends, family of three’s dynamics, mansplaining at workplace, high tension, bottled up anger, high emotions definitely capture your interest!

It’s well written, well developed, MUST READ novel I highly recommend from a brilliant author who never disappoints me!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.