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Lights Out #1
Cross the Line
Her brother’s best friend sends her heart racing in this sparkling Formula 1 romance.
Formula 1 driver Dev Anderson’s career is on the line. After a social media disaster leaves him with an angry team and sponsors threatening to jump ship, he needs someone to help save his image. At a party in Monaco, he bumps into the woman who can fix it all. There’s just one problem: she’s his best friend’s little sister. And, okay, maybe there’s another problem—he kissed her last year and hasn’t been able to stop thinking about it since.
Recent college grad Willow Williams needs a job. She may have a talent for seeing the bright side of any bad situation, but it’s hard to stay positive when she’s struggling to get hired. So when Dev offers her a temporary solution, she can’t help but say yes. Even if it means ignoring the crush she’s had on him since childhood.
Willow and Dev are determined to keep things strictly professional, regardless of old feelings and the blazing chemistry between them. But in the glittering and high-stakes world of Formula 1, some lines are meant to be crossed…
Formula 1 driver Dev Anderson’s career is on the line. After a social media disaster leaves him with an angry team and sponsors threatening to jump ship, he needs someone to help save his image. At a party in Monaco, he bumps into the woman who can fix it all. There’s just one problem: she’s his best friend’s little sister. And, okay, maybe there’s another problem—he kissed her last year and hasn’t been able to stop thinking about it since.
Recent college grad Willow Williams needs a job. She may have a talent for seeing the bright side of any bad situation, but it’s hard to stay positive when she’s struggling to get hired. So when Dev offers her a temporary solution, she can’t help but say yes. Even if it means ignoring the crush she’s had on him since childhood.
Willow and Dev are determined to keep things strictly professional, regardless of old feelings and the blazing chemistry between them. But in the glittering and high-stakes world of Formula 1, some lines are meant to be crossed…
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2024
1891 people are currently reading
58627 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,443 reviews
June 2, 2024
really cute f1 romance!! would highly recommend if you’re a fan, found it to be really accurate😌
June 13, 2024
4.25 stars ♡
⟶ honestly im such a sucker for a sports romance
☀️ ”Her happiness is blinding, like staring into the sun. I don’t want to look away. I’d let her steal the sight from my eyes, the breath from my lungs. I’d let her do her worst and still be eternally grateful.” ☀️
his love for her is insane. it’s something every delulu girl wishes to experience in her life. i have literally been playing “foolish one” by taylor bc this book got me so giddy checking my mailbox for confessions of love as beautiful as his 🤭🤭 to my displeasure there weren’t any 😞 (I don’t even have a mailbox)
🏁 ᴘʟᴏᴛ 🏁
the book follows dev and willow, our two main characters. dev is a formula 1 driver and willow is his best friend’s little sister. who has had an insane childhood crush on him bc obviously he’s so perfect and amazing !!
it starts in dev’s perspective, and he had just kissed willow and is still freaking about it. then fast forward 7 months later, and they’ve forgotten it’s ever happened (or tried). but willow had just graduated and she is currently jobless so she pays her brother a little visit, where she obviously sees dev, only to discover he has gotten into a huge scandal. who does he hire to fix it?? surprise surprise, it’s willow😌
🩷 ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ 🩷
🏎️ the formula 1 aspect. im not into sports ngl, but why was this actually interesting?? f1 played a big part of the story, it wasn’t just about the romance. and it looked like the author had done so much research and stuff bc everything looked and sounded really thought out. obviously i could be wrong bc i don’t know shit about it, but i found it really intriguing when usually I don’t. so if you are fans of f1, it is a big part of the story and not just swept to the side.
🎀 the romance. dev carried it all I was obsessed with him. he was one of the sweetest boys ever. he had so much respect for willow, and as much as he liked her, he never did anything to make her uncomfortable or awkward since they are coworkers after all. anytime she did anything, he was her #1 supporter and vice versa. they both took care of eachother AND no miscommunication im actually gonna sob i was so happy.
💐 ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ 💐
😬 the beginning. we only got to see the aftermath of their first kiss, and I think I would’ve liked to see at least what led to it or something bc in all honesty, it was a little random. and so when they reunited and they were all awkward bc they kissed, I didn’t feel as much tension because I didn’t witness it yk?? but that’s my only complaint because the rest was absolute perfection!!
🧸 ǫᴜᴏᴛᴇs 🧸
ᯓᡣ𐭩 ”Good luck today.”
“Don’t need it,” I tease, mirroring her grin. “I’ve got you.”
…(and then he fails the race but we don’t talk about that)
ᯓᡣ𐭩 “I may not have won the race today, but having willow in my arms feels better than winning ever could.”
ᯓᡣ𐭩 “She’s beaming up at me now, and I swear my heart doesn’t know what to do at the sight of it. I’m down so fucking bad.”
💌 ᴄᴏɴᴄʟᴜsɪᴏɴ 💌
basically if you can’t tell im obsessed with this book and i think you should read it asap 🥹🥹
it’s the most cutesiest lighthearted romance where sports actually plays a factor if thats your thing AND swoon-worthy mmc. literally what’s not to love!?!? please tell me because all i see is green flags <33
thanks to netgalley and berkley publishing group for an arc copy in exchange for an honest review!!
ᡣ𐭩 pre-read 🎀
brb sobbing bc I got the arc and it was the most anticipated one I requested 🙁 literally look at it, so adorable 🧸🌷
berkley has been rejecting all my requests, it’s about time they gave me a break !! gonna speed-read my current arc so that I can get to this 💌
⟶ honestly im such a sucker for a sports romance
☀️ ”Her happiness is blinding, like staring into the sun. I don’t want to look away. I’d let her steal the sight from my eyes, the breath from my lungs. I’d let her do her worst and still be eternally grateful.” ☀️
his love for her is insane. it’s something every delulu girl wishes to experience in her life. i have literally been playing “foolish one” by taylor bc this book got me so giddy checking my mailbox for confessions of love as beautiful as his 🤭🤭 to my displeasure there weren’t any 😞 (I don’t even have a mailbox)
🏁 ᴘʟᴏᴛ 🏁
the book follows dev and willow, our two main characters. dev is a formula 1 driver and willow is his best friend’s little sister. who has had an insane childhood crush on him bc obviously he’s so perfect and amazing !!
it starts in dev’s perspective, and he had just kissed willow and is still freaking about it. then fast forward 7 months later, and they’ve forgotten it’s ever happened (or tried). but willow had just graduated and she is currently jobless so she pays her brother a little visit, where she obviously sees dev, only to discover he has gotten into a huge scandal. who does he hire to fix it?? surprise surprise, it’s willow😌
🩷 ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ 🩷
🏎️ the formula 1 aspect. im not into sports ngl, but why was this actually interesting?? f1 played a big part of the story, it wasn’t just about the romance. and it looked like the author had done so much research and stuff bc everything looked and sounded really thought out. obviously i could be wrong bc i don’t know shit about it, but i found it really intriguing when usually I don’t. so if you are fans of f1, it is a big part of the story and not just swept to the side.
🎀 the romance. dev carried it all I was obsessed with him. he was one of the sweetest boys ever. he had so much respect for willow, and as much as he liked her, he never did anything to make her uncomfortable or awkward since they are coworkers after all. anytime she did anything, he was her #1 supporter and vice versa. they both took care of eachother AND no miscommunication im actually gonna sob i was so happy.
💐 ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ 💐
😬 the beginning. we only got to see the aftermath of their first kiss, and I think I would’ve liked to see at least what led to it or something bc in all honesty, it was a little random. and so when they reunited and they were all awkward bc they kissed, I didn’t feel as much tension because I didn’t witness it yk?? but that’s my only complaint because the rest was absolute perfection!!
🧸 ǫᴜᴏᴛᴇs 🧸
ᯓᡣ𐭩 ”Good luck today.”
“Don’t need it,” I tease, mirroring her grin. “I’ve got you.”
…(and then he fails the race but we don’t talk about that)
ᯓᡣ𐭩 “I may not have won the race today, but having willow in my arms feels better than winning ever could.”
ᯓᡣ𐭩 “She’s beaming up at me now, and I swear my heart doesn’t know what to do at the sight of it. I’m down so fucking bad.”
💌 ᴄᴏɴᴄʟᴜsɪᴏɴ 💌
basically if you can’t tell im obsessed with this book and i think you should read it asap 🥹🥹
it’s the most cutesiest lighthearted romance where sports actually plays a factor if thats your thing AND swoon-worthy mmc. literally what’s not to love!?!? please tell me because all i see is green flags <33
thanks to netgalley and berkley publishing group for an arc copy in exchange for an honest review!!
ᡣ𐭩 pre-read 🎀
brb sobbing bc I got the arc and it was the most anticipated one I requested 🙁 literally look at it, so adorable 🧸🌷
berkley has been rejecting all my requests, it’s about time they gave me a break !! gonna speed-read my current arc so that I can get to this 💌
dnf
March 7, 2025only reading bc man on cover is gorgeous 🤗
March 27, 2024
”I don’t need to hide a single aspect of myself from him. He’s already seen it all. And yet, he’s still here, looking at me like I’m the center of his universe.”
happy to report back that my first F1 romance was a success! Cross the Line follows Willow and Dev who’ve known eachother since they were kids as Dev is Willow’s brother Oakley’s best friend. after sharing a secret kiss in the past, they haven’t spoken to eachother much since. but once they eventually cross paths again Dev offers Willow a job as his social media manager in order to help revive his image and do some damage control. tropes to expect: brothers best friend, forced proximity, south Asian mmc and Black fmc, chronic illness rep, boy obsessed, dual pov and the obvious one: sports romance! 🏁🤍
”All the bullshit. All the drama. All the worry. It’s gone, and all I know is her. My sunshine. My moon guiding me through the darkness. My Willow.”
i loved the slow burn with Willow and Dev’s relationship progression and how cute they were together overall. Willow is so sweet and supportive of Dev, while Dev is also supportive of Willow and treats her with the most care (and the nickname he gives her is cute too). Dev’s humor shined through in the dialogue and they were just two people who are basically a perfect fit in all the ways that matter. i also felt like, in my opinion, both the portrayal of Willow’s hyper mobility and the F1 aspect were done well and i learned so much about both of these topics. it took me a bit to get invested in the characters at first, but once i did i ended up really enjoying this one for what it was🥰.
“Dev and Willow, class clown and the girl trying not to laugh at all his jokes.”
the side characters were all fun too and i appreciated that there was no third act breakup due to the forbidden aspect of their developing relationship. if anything, Oakley handled it pretty well and was only upset/hurt that they lied and kept things a secret from him, which is understandable tbh. if you’re looking for a sweet romance with a bit of steam, i’d highly recommend this one and i’m down to read whatever Simone Soltani writes next! 🩶.
➺ many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing group for the arc, all opinions are my own.
happy to report back that my first F1 romance was a success! Cross the Line follows Willow and Dev who’ve known eachother since they were kids as Dev is Willow’s brother Oakley’s best friend. after sharing a secret kiss in the past, they haven’t spoken to eachother much since. but once they eventually cross paths again Dev offers Willow a job as his social media manager in order to help revive his image and do some damage control. tropes to expect: brothers best friend, forced proximity, south Asian mmc and Black fmc, chronic illness rep, boy obsessed, dual pov and the obvious one: sports romance! 🏁🤍
”All the bullshit. All the drama. All the worry. It’s gone, and all I know is her. My sunshine. My moon guiding me through the darkness. My Willow.”
i loved the slow burn with Willow and Dev’s relationship progression and how cute they were together overall. Willow is so sweet and supportive of Dev, while Dev is also supportive of Willow and treats her with the most care (and the nickname he gives her is cute too). Dev’s humor shined through in the dialogue and they were just two people who are basically a perfect fit in all the ways that matter. i also felt like, in my opinion, both the portrayal of Willow’s hyper mobility and the F1 aspect were done well and i learned so much about both of these topics. it took me a bit to get invested in the characters at first, but once i did i ended up really enjoying this one for what it was🥰.
“Dev and Willow, class clown and the girl trying not to laugh at all his jokes.”
the side characters were all fun too and i appreciated that there was no third act breakup due to the forbidden aspect of their developing relationship. if anything, Oakley handled it pretty well and was only upset/hurt that they lied and kept things a secret from him, which is understandable tbh. if you’re looking for a sweet romance with a bit of steam, i’d highly recommend this one and i’m down to read whatever Simone Soltani writes next! 🩶.
➺ many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing group for the arc, all opinions are my own.
May 5, 2024
3.75 stars★
“Her happiness is blinding, like staring into the sun. I don’t want to look away. I’d let her steal the sight from my eyes, the breath from my lungs. I’d let her do her worst and still be eternally grateful.”
Cross the Line is all about Willow and Dev, childhood pals connected through Willow's brother, Oakley. They had a secret kiss in the past, but lost touch...until life brings them together again. Dev then offers Willow a gig as his social media guru to boost his image and handle any potential drama.
The only thing holding me back from giving it a solid 4 stars is...During the first 14 chapters, I had a bit of a back-and-forth with Dev. He kept bringing up the need to get some action, which was annoying to read about. But at the same time, he would say something adorable that had me blushing. So I don't quite feel like this deserves a full 4 star rating.
Simone's writing truly captured the essence of representation! I absolutely loved how the book celebrated diverse backgrounds! It was incredible to witness the author's portrayal of different cultures and experiences throughout the story. Additionally, I adored how Willow's disability was depicted. Even though she deals with hypermobility , nobody ever treated as incapable or a source of inconvenience. The support and understanding she received from those around her, especially Dev, who remembered how to assist her from their childhood, was truly heartwarming.
I loved how Willow and Dev's relationship took its time to develop. It was so adorable to see them together, and their connection was just perfect in every way🥰. Willow's unwavering support for Dev and his caring treatment of her made them such a perfect match.
The best part? NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP!!❌ It was such a delightful surprise to see their love story unfold without any unnecessary obstacles tearing them apart. After reading this book, I feel like I've gained so much insight into hypermobility and the world of f1 racing. If you're in the mood for a book that's got that perfect balance of sweetness and a little kick, then this is the one you've been searching for!
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
────────
pre-review: my first f1 romance 🏁🤍 please be good 🙏🏽
“Her happiness is blinding, like staring into the sun. I don’t want to look away. I’d let her steal the sight from my eyes, the breath from my lungs. I’d let her do her worst and still be eternally grateful.”
Cross the Line is all about Willow and Dev, childhood pals connected through Willow's brother, Oakley. They had a secret kiss in the past, but lost touch...until life brings them together again. Dev then offers Willow a gig as his social media guru to boost his image and handle any potential drama.
The only thing holding me back from giving it a solid 4 stars is...During the first 14 chapters, I had a bit of a back-and-forth with Dev. He kept bringing up the need to get some action, which was annoying to read about. But at the same time, he would say something adorable that had me blushing. So I don't quite feel like this deserves a full 4 star rating.
Simone's writing truly captured the essence of representation! I absolutely loved how the book celebrated diverse backgrounds! It was incredible to witness the author's portrayal of different cultures and experiences throughout the story. Additionally, I adored how Willow's disability was depicted. Even though she deals with hypermobility , nobody ever treated as incapable or a source of inconvenience. The support and understanding she received from those around her, especially Dev, who remembered how to assist her from their childhood, was truly heartwarming.
I loved how Willow and Dev's relationship took its time to develop. It was so adorable to see them together, and their connection was just perfect in every way🥰. Willow's unwavering support for Dev and his caring treatment of her made them such a perfect match.
The best part? NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP!!❌ It was such a delightful surprise to see their love story unfold without any unnecessary obstacles tearing them apart. After reading this book, I feel like I've gained so much insight into hypermobility and the world of f1 racing. If you're in the mood for a book that's got that perfect balance of sweetness and a little kick, then this is the one you've been searching for!
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
────────
pre-review: my first f1 romance 🏁🤍 please be good 🙏🏽
June 20, 2024
although i don’t really care for F1 romances i decided to give this one a read because i like the plot idea but unfortunately i was let down.
the scene in the beginning where they talk for the first time i was bored out of my mind like where was the angst? the chemistry? nothing made me yearn for more and in that moment i knew this book was going to be boring as hell.
romance authors need to stop writing 400 page books because the storyline usually wraps up around 50% and then we’re just bored.
the scene in the beginning where they talk for the first time i was bored out of my mind like where was the angst? the chemistry? nothing made me yearn for more and in that moment i knew this book was going to be boring as hell.
romance authors need to stop writing 400 page books because the storyline usually wraps up around 50% and then we’re just bored.
May 29, 2025
This was super cute! Ugh, I’m really starting to get jealous of these book girlies. At first, it felt a little too romance-heavy, and I was starting to get bored, but thankfully, there was just enough of the sports element to keep things fun. Not necessarily big on character development or deep issues, but it was a quick, swoony read that totally hit the spot.
December 6, 2025
The pulse in her neck is fluttering against my wrist, or maybe it's my own racing. Because if she decides that this won't work, I don't know what I'll do. I can't let her go now that I know what it feels like to hold and kiss and touch her. How it feels to love her. To be loved by her.
This was a really good F1 romance, or as my husband calls it, Ride to Survive 😂🤣😂🤣
I had a couple smaller issues with some of the characters and their motivations and whatnot, but this was still really entertaining, especially since I'm a huge F1 fan. Always so cool to read about what goes on behind the scenes at these races and in this sport.
I liked both characters, and Dev was such a softy 😍 It was nice to sort of see them build a relationship first as adults and then take it to the next level (always my preference though I know not for everyone 😌).
I should say it was very reminiscent of Throttled but there were definitely aspects I liked more about Cross the Line. The MMC not starting off as a complete douchebag being one of them.
Would recommend for any sports romance fans, especially those who enjoy F1.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
This was a really good F1 romance, or as my husband calls it, Ride to Survive 😂🤣😂🤣
I had a couple smaller issues with some of the characters and their motivations and whatnot, but this was still really entertaining, especially since I'm a huge F1 fan. Always so cool to read about what goes on behind the scenes at these races and in this sport.
I liked both characters, and Dev was such a softy 😍 It was nice to sort of see them build a relationship first as adults and then take it to the next level (always my preference though I know not for everyone 😌).
I should say it was very reminiscent of Throttled but there were definitely aspects I liked more about Cross the Line. The MMC not starting off as a complete douchebag being one of them.
Would recommend for any sports romance fans, especially those who enjoy F1.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
September 27, 2023
ADORABLE. like im so serious willow and dev’s relationship was the sweetest thing.
i feel like it’s been a while since i’ve read a proper romance book and this was exactly what i needed & i had SO MUCH FUN !!!!! i love LOVE 💞💘💗💕💖💓💝
the epilogue was a bit cheesy and cute for my taste but i generally am not the biggest fan of epilogues in romance books so that might just have been why bc it did fit willowdev perfectly, it was somehow so THEM
and as someone who deals with chronic pain myself i also really appreciated how this was portrayed and handled in the book; how it was never used as a plot point or made to be the only thing that defined the fmc.
ALSO there’s not really much, if anything, to back this up but i’m hoping for a mark and grace one night stand possible accidental pregnancy book next!
the author kindly provided this arc in exchange for an honest review.
i feel like it’s been a while since i’ve read a proper romance book and this was exactly what i needed & i had SO MUCH FUN !!!!! i love LOVE 💞💘💗💕💖💓💝
the epilogue was a bit cheesy and cute for my taste but i generally am not the biggest fan of epilogues in romance books so that might just have been why bc it did fit willowdev perfectly, it was somehow so THEM
and as someone who deals with chronic pain myself i also really appreciated how this was portrayed and handled in the book; how it was never used as a plot point or made to be the only thing that defined the fmc.
ALSO there’s not really much, if anything, to back this up but i’m hoping for a mark and grace one night stand possible accidental pregnancy book next!
the author kindly provided this arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2024
✩ 3 stars ✩
“‘If this is such a bad idea,’ he says, his voice tight, ‘then tell me why I want to kiss you again. Why I can’t get you out of my head. Why, every time I see you anywhere near another man, I want to drag him away from you and make sure he never comes close to you again. Tell me, Willow. Tell me why I feel that way.’”
What to Expect:
➼ Brother’s Best Friend
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Working Relationship
➼ He’s her Childhood Crush
➼ Reformed Playboy
➼ Formula 1 Driver x Social Media Manager
➼ Sunshine x Sunshine
➼ I can’t want you vibes
➼ Chronic Illness Rep
➼ Dual First Person POV
Prior to reading this, the only other F1 racing book I had read was Throttled which was released in 2020. I read it about two months ago so the details are still very fresh in my mind and this book felt a bit too similar in my opinion. Both FMC’s work in social media, both FMC’s are connected to the MMC and the F1 world through their brothers, both relationships were “off limits,” etc. It felt like the author used Throttled as a template and just tweaked the characters and the back stories here and there to make them her own rather than starting from scratch with a fresh idea. I’d love to read an F1 romance with a male AND female F1 driver. Why should the men have all the fun? 😏 Anyone know if a book like that exists?
Despite my feelings of déjà vu, this was a really cute book that I would likely still recommend. It was a little too tooth achingly sweet for my taste, but I have no doubt that same sweetness will cause many girls to swoon. The MMC was the FMC’s childhood crush, so she fell first, but he most definitely fell harder. A large portion of the book is written from his perspective and his thoughts make it crystal clear that he is OBSESSED with her. Apart from them feeling like they shouldn’t or couldn’t be together because of her brother and their working relationship, there really wasn’t much tension to speak of between them. There was some delayed gratification, but not much more than that. I personally preferred the angst in throttled, but the characters in Cross The Line were a little more likable overall. After weighing everything, the two books were pretty equally enjoyable. Three stars isn’t a bad a rating by any means, but neither is making it on my favorites list.
That cover sure is cute though…🥰
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: This will by my second F1 racing romance and I’m curious so see how they will measure up.
I have a really cute special edition copy of this… so if it’s bad, at least it will still look nice on my shelf. 😂
“‘If this is such a bad idea,’ he says, his voice tight, ‘then tell me why I want to kiss you again. Why I can’t get you out of my head. Why, every time I see you anywhere near another man, I want to drag him away from you and make sure he never comes close to you again. Tell me, Willow. Tell me why I feel that way.’”
What to Expect:
➼ Brother’s Best Friend
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Working Relationship
➼ He’s her Childhood Crush
➼ Reformed Playboy
➼ Formula 1 Driver x Social Media Manager
➼ Sunshine x Sunshine
➼ I can’t want you vibes
➼ Chronic Illness Rep
➼ Dual First Person POV
Prior to reading this, the only other F1 racing book I had read was Throttled which was released in 2020. I read it about two months ago so the details are still very fresh in my mind and this book felt a bit too similar in my opinion. Both FMC’s work in social media, both FMC’s are connected to the MMC and the F1 world through their brothers, both relationships were “off limits,” etc. It felt like the author used Throttled as a template and just tweaked the characters and the back stories here and there to make them her own rather than starting from scratch with a fresh idea. I’d love to read an F1 romance with a male AND female F1 driver. Why should the men have all the fun? 😏 Anyone know if a book like that exists?
Despite my feelings of déjà vu, this was a really cute book that I would likely still recommend. It was a little too tooth achingly sweet for my taste, but I have no doubt that same sweetness will cause many girls to swoon. The MMC was the FMC’s childhood crush, so she fell first, but he most definitely fell harder. A large portion of the book is written from his perspective and his thoughts make it crystal clear that he is OBSESSED with her. Apart from them feeling like they shouldn’t or couldn’t be together because of her brother and their working relationship, there really wasn’t much tension to speak of between them. There was some delayed gratification, but not much more than that. I personally preferred the angst in throttled, but the characters in Cross The Line were a little more likable overall. After weighing everything, the two books were pretty equally enjoyable. Three stars isn’t a bad a rating by any means, but neither is making it on my favorites list.
That cover sure is cute though…🥰
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: This will by my second F1 racing romance and I’m curious so see how they will measure up.
I have a really cute special edition copy of this… so if it’s bad, at least it will still look nice on my shelf. 😂
to-sample
March 6, 2024I admit it the only reason this is on my tbr is because the guy on the cover is very attractive and I am a slut 🤪
August 17, 2025
2.75/3💫
this was my first f1 romance and it was meh. i was just really bored. the chapters were long and the words were small which did not help this at all. nothing really happened until like the 60% mark. there were some enjoyable parts and i liked the f1 theme, but i thought our characters were boring and they lacked chemistry.
ive heard the second book is much better tho, so i will be continuing the series!!
this was my first f1 romance and it was meh. i was just really bored. the chapters were long and the words were small which did not help this at all. nothing really happened until like the 60% mark. there were some enjoyable parts and i liked the f1 theme, but i thought our characters were boring and they lacked chemistry.
ive heard the second book is much better tho, so i will be continuing the series!!
May 14, 2024
𝟹.𝟿 ͙͘͡★ !𝘕𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴!
⤷ 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮 𝟭 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲🏎️❤️🔥
“𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘔𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦. 𝘔𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘔𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸.”
ᴛʀᴏᴘᴇꜱ:
⊹ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀꜱ
⊹ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʜᴏᴏᴅ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ
⊹ ꜱᴘᴏʀᴛꜱ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
⊹ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪʟʏ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ
The moment I read about willow-loving macarons, I fell in love.💞The moment I read about Dev watching Bollywood movies as comfort, I fell in love.💞
I literally loved everything about this book—the writing, the fact that it was written in dual POV, the characters!! ESPECIALLY THE MAIN CHARACTERS AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!🥹🫶🏼🫶🏼
💌
“𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘴, 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘴."
"𝘔𝘦?" 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧. "𝘞𝘩𝘺?
"𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘴."”
💌
!!𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 & 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 & 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗰 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!!
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
🫂𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁:
(𝟶𝟻.𝟶𝟺.𝟸𝟺)
Y’all don’t understand how scared I am to read this one!!! I added this book 8 months ago to my TBR, and I literally thought about this book every single day for MONTHS!!! Then the release date got changed to next summer, so I had to wait even longer.🥲So you should have seen my face when I found the book on NetGalley a few months ago, and you won’t believe me when I tell you how many times I checked if they accepted my request. Let’s just say they took their time…Anyway, my arc got approved in April, I think? And I’m still scared to begin this!!! WHAT IF ITS BAD??? ALL THE WAITING AND SUFFERING FOR NOTHINGGGGGG😭🤚🏼
Am I overreacting??? please say no <3
September 10, 2024
My dyslexic mind saw 'Argonaut Racing' on his shirt but understood 'Arrogant Racing' and I'm not mad about it 😂
---------------------------------------
This had some cute moments.
I liked the F1 overall story.
The conflict was stupid though.
The way the romance 'developed' was not great.
I liked the diverse characters.
I liked the hypermobility and its effects representation.
Here are the cute quotes I promised:
"You make people feel better when they mess up. It’s just what you do. Who you are."
"I’ve known I was in trouble … – but now? I’m deeper in it than I ever thought I’d be."
“… trying to make him understand the lightness she brings into my life. The way she chases away the storm clouds hanging over my head with her pure sunshine. ‘She fixed me’
‘That’s a lot of credit to give one person.’
Or maybe it’s not enough. Because she dragged me out of the dark place I could have gone last night, and her presence now is what’s keeping me from dwelling on how stuck I feel.”
"... I just wanted you to see how loved you are by so many people. I wanted to remind you of why you should keep fighting for what you want.”
“… I want to make this work, … I want there to be an us.’
‘I want the same. We don’t have to figure it all out right now... We just need to be honest with each other.’
‘I’m being very honest’
‘I know. But this won’t be easy, and I need you to tell me if it starts to feel like too much’
‘I promise I will’
‘We’ll take it one day at a time, yeah?’
‘Yeah’”
“..I grew up on Bollywood movies with men spinning around in fields of flowers, singing about how the girl they love is more beautiful than every daisy, rose and tulip in the world. How am I not supposed to tell her that she’s brighter than all the stars in the sky? How can I say you look nice, when I want to scream from a snow-covered mountaintop that just the sound of her voice could raise me from my grave?”
“I wouldn’t have to give up my sunshine. My guiding star. My heart and soul…”
---------------------------------------
This had some cute moments.
I liked the F1 overall story.
The conflict was stupid though.
The way the romance 'developed' was not great.
I liked the diverse characters.
I liked the hypermobility and its effects representation.
Here are the cute quotes I promised:
"You make people feel better when they mess up. It’s just what you do. Who you are."
"I’ve known I was in trouble … – but now? I’m deeper in it than I ever thought I’d be."
“… trying to make him understand the lightness she brings into my life. The way she chases away the storm clouds hanging over my head with her pure sunshine. ‘She fixed me’
‘That’s a lot of credit to give one person.’
Or maybe it’s not enough. Because she dragged me out of the dark place I could have gone last night, and her presence now is what’s keeping me from dwelling on how stuck I feel.”
"... I just wanted you to see how loved you are by so many people. I wanted to remind you of why you should keep fighting for what you want.”
“… I want to make this work, … I want there to be an us.’
‘I want the same. We don’t have to figure it all out right now... We just need to be honest with each other.’
‘I’m being very honest’
‘I know. But this won’t be easy, and I need you to tell me if it starts to feel like too much’
‘I promise I will’
‘We’ll take it one day at a time, yeah?’
‘Yeah’”
“..I grew up on Bollywood movies with men spinning around in fields of flowers, singing about how the girl they love is more beautiful than every daisy, rose and tulip in the world. How am I not supposed to tell her that she’s brighter than all the stars in the sky? How can I say you look nice, when I want to scream from a snow-covered mountaintop that just the sound of her voice could raise me from my grave?”
“I wouldn’t have to give up my sunshine. My guiding star. My heart and soul…”
September 17, 2024
Ok so, i could not focus on the romance in this book at all because I was way too caught up in how little the actual F1 elements of this story made sense (and how we spent waaaaaay too much of this book focusing on racing vs romance- the pacing of this book was awful but that’s another thing). I guess normally sports romances don’t bother me too much because other sports leagues are so much larger than F1, so it’s a lot easier to suspend your disbelief about a fake team existing or about the actual sports elements. But F1 is literally only 20 guys, so it’s impossible not to feel like the author is trying to portray real people.
The whole thing made me so uncomfortable- I’m definitely not at all into fanfiction about real people, I think it’s invasive and weird, and nothing about this even pretended not to be blatantly ripping off almost every driver’s likeness, including real rivalries between real drivers and actual team dynamics. The author did not even attempt to make this book a completely different F1 reality- we got the exact same drama and teams as the most recent seasons. The driver portrayals were so absurd it would border on being funny if it weren’t creepy as hell.
when I wasn’t uncomfortable with the way-too-real driver portrayals, I was laughing at how unrealistic any actual racing was in this book. For other fellow f1 fans to laugh at with me, in no order:
* driver is ordered to DNF because of a “technical issue,” but really the team principal just didn’t like him and ordered him to DNF to make him look bad (pretty sure the FIA would have an issue with this)
* driver is ordered to stay behind his teammate in p11 for the entire race despite having better pace than him (0.5 seconds 😭) bc the team principal doesn’t like him, so they finish the race p11 and p12
* Team principal has a dinner with “key drivers” and does not include one of the drivers on his own team to make him look bad
* Midfield driver fights and overtakes Hamilton, I mean “zaid yousef” for p1. Said driver is doing this on slicks despite the fact that it was just pouring rain and maintains this lead for the remaining 68 laps of the race
* Driver is surprised when a 6 car crash leads to a red flag, and also said red flag isn’t called for like, a full minute
* 3 American drivers on the grid, including a team where they only employ Americans by policy (is this legal?)
* Also these fucking driver names had me rolling 😭😭 she did not even a little bit try to make the names sound different; idk how no one stopped this in the editing room: bottas=otto, max=axel, norris=mcmorris. hell the fmc’s last name is williams
The only slightly redeemable thing was me jokingly telling my alonso stan bf that I bet the main guy was going to be based on Alonso, and then he literally was based on alonso if for nothing but the fact that the author made his teammate a nepo baby driver whose dad owns his team 😭
Once I stop laughing/cringing at the racing aspect of this book, I’m reminded it’s supposed to be a romance and then realize I can’t wrap my head around the relationship between hero/heroine at all. We spend so much of this book literally time jumping and starting chapters off with “and then I liked him even more!” There is 0 show, this book is ALL tell, and yet it moved so damn slowly.
I was not rooting for them at all- Alonso, I mean Dev’s manager, who told him not to date Willow (yes fmc’s name is fucking willow williams), was right. I will admit I found myself skipping through the few moments of romantic development we got (interactions between willow/Alonso were unironically few and far between) bc I wanted to laugh at how bad the racing was even more. Honestly there are no stakes, the exact conflicts you think will come in do, and are brought up and resolved within about 5 pages at the 95% mark. Truly bland
Girl this is not drive to survive and you are not crofty, this is wattpad fanfic that should not have left the drafts 😭
Also my favorite driver got no air time in this book. Justice for guanyu not even getting a shitty stand-in at all.
PS: the epilogue is actually fucking insane 😭😭😭😭 I can’t even get into it. Why did she paralyze leclerc for no reason?? The book was over why did she do that??? It has no bearing on the plot I’m in tears 😭😭 what did leclerc do to you
The whole thing made me so uncomfortable- I’m definitely not at all into fanfiction about real people, I think it’s invasive and weird, and nothing about this even pretended not to be blatantly ripping off almost every driver’s likeness, including real rivalries between real drivers and actual team dynamics. The author did not even attempt to make this book a completely different F1 reality- we got the exact same drama and teams as the most recent seasons. The driver portrayals were so absurd it would border on being funny if it weren’t creepy as hell.
when I wasn’t uncomfortable with the way-too-real driver portrayals, I was laughing at how unrealistic any actual racing was in this book. For other fellow f1 fans to laugh at with me, in no order:
* driver is ordered to DNF because of a “technical issue,” but really the team principal just didn’t like him and ordered him to DNF to make him look bad (pretty sure the FIA would have an issue with this)
* driver is ordered to stay behind his teammate in p11 for the entire race despite having better pace than him (0.5 seconds 😭) bc the team principal doesn’t like him, so they finish the race p11 and p12
* Team principal has a dinner with “key drivers” and does not include one of the drivers on his own team to make him look bad
* Midfield driver fights and overtakes Hamilton, I mean “zaid yousef” for p1. Said driver is doing this on slicks despite the fact that it was just pouring rain and maintains this lead for the remaining 68 laps of the race
* Driver is surprised when a 6 car crash leads to a red flag, and also said red flag isn’t called for like, a full minute
* 3 American drivers on the grid, including a team where they only employ Americans by policy (is this legal?)
* Also these fucking driver names had me rolling 😭😭 she did not even a little bit try to make the names sound different; idk how no one stopped this in the editing room: bottas=otto, max=axel, norris=mcmorris. hell the fmc’s last name is williams
The only slightly redeemable thing was me jokingly telling my alonso stan bf that I bet the main guy was going to be based on Alonso, and then he literally was based on alonso if for nothing but the fact that the author made his teammate a nepo baby driver whose dad owns his team 😭
Once I stop laughing/cringing at the racing aspect of this book, I’m reminded it’s supposed to be a romance and then realize I can’t wrap my head around the relationship between hero/heroine at all. We spend so much of this book literally time jumping and starting chapters off with “and then I liked him even more!” There is 0 show, this book is ALL tell, and yet it moved so damn slowly.
I was not rooting for them at all- Alonso, I mean Dev’s manager, who told him not to date Willow (yes fmc’s name is fucking willow williams), was right. I will admit I found myself skipping through the few moments of romantic development we got (interactions between willow/Alonso were unironically few and far between) bc I wanted to laugh at how bad the racing was even more. Honestly there are no stakes, the exact conflicts you think will come in do, and are brought up and resolved within about 5 pages at the 95% mark. Truly bland
Girl this is not drive to survive and you are not crofty, this is wattpad fanfic that should not have left the drafts 😭
Also my favorite driver got no air time in this book. Justice for guanyu not even getting a shitty stand-in at all.
PS: the epilogue is actually fucking insane 😭😭😭😭 I can’t even get into it. Why did she paralyze leclerc for no reason?? The book was over why did she do that??? It has no bearing on the plot I’m in tears 😭😭 what did leclerc do to you
June 3, 2024
This was a cute read.
Loved that it was dual POV, I feel like we definitely got more of Dev than Willow but because he was so down bad for our girl I didn’t mind.
I think my rating is simply because i don’t like friends to lovers , I don’t like when the characters have all this history together that im not privy to.
I liked Dev’s F1 storyline and the message of leaving places/jobs you’re not appreciated at and can’t see potential for growth in.
I would read another book from this author
Loved that it was dual POV, I feel like we definitely got more of Dev than Willow but because he was so down bad for our girl I didn’t mind.
I think my rating is simply because i don’t like friends to lovers , I don’t like when the characters have all this history together that im not privy to.
I liked Dev’s F1 storyline and the message of leaving places/jobs you’re not appreciated at and can’t see potential for growth in.
I would read another book from this author
July 31, 2024
if i ever have to read the words "get my dick wet" again i'm going to punch someone in the throat
August 12, 2024
Insanely protective older brother who doesn’t want you to date his little sister is not compelling enough to warrant a 300+ page book😭
July 17, 2024
thank you netgalley for the chance to read this arc!
ੈ♡˳ rating: three & a half outta five (rounded up for goodreads)
ੈ♡˳ thoughts:
i enjoyed this book. it was cute and it took me a few days to finish it, but it was a decent read.
1. it probably could have been a little bit shorter. i think they were dragging out the story line a little bit with the secret relationship and the brother finding out. i think i would have been fine with it being longer for that reason if there was some type of confrontation that happened with the brother finding out that they were dating, but it was resolved within one page of the book.
2. the ending where they crashed was unnecessary to the story in my opinion. the book was very lighthearted throughout the entire thing and then in the end one of the minor characters may never walk again.
overall, i loved the characters. a book with a black woman as the lead that discusses being a black woman but doesn’t make that the entire story line and background of the character is a book that i will always love.
i would recommend this book and i would read it again.
ੈ♡˳ tropes
ꕥ brothers best friend
ꕥ sports romance
ꕥ friends to lovers
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes
“ೃ⁀➷ no quotes since it’s an arc & all quotes are subject to change. :)
◡̈ ◡̈ ◡̈
ੈ♡˳ rating: three & a half outta five (rounded up for goodreads)
ੈ♡˳ thoughts:
i enjoyed this book. it was cute and it took me a few days to finish it, but it was a decent read.
1. it probably could have been a little bit shorter. i think they were dragging out the story line a little bit with the secret relationship and the brother finding out. i think i would have been fine with it being longer for that reason if there was some type of confrontation that happened with the brother finding out that they were dating, but it was resolved within one page of the book.
2. the ending where they crashed was unnecessary to the story in my opinion. the book was very lighthearted throughout the entire thing and then in the end one of the minor characters may never walk again.
overall, i loved the characters. a book with a black woman as the lead that discusses being a black woman but doesn’t make that the entire story line and background of the character is a book that i will always love.
i would recommend this book and i would read it again.
ੈ♡˳ tropes
ꕥ brothers best friend
ꕥ sports romance
ꕥ friends to lovers
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes
“ೃ⁀➷ no quotes since it’s an arc & all quotes are subject to change. :)
◡̈ ◡̈ ◡̈
October 30, 2025
I’ve had a couple of misses when it comes to finding a great F1-inspired romance, so it was refreshing and fun to read (and part listen to the audiobook) of Cross The Line.
✔️ brother’s best friend
✔️ dual POV (my favourite)
✔️ diverse cast + fun side characters
✔️ a good amount of spice
✔️ sunshine x sunshine
✔️ no third act breakup
I really enjoyed being in this fictional F1 world; it felt like the author knew what she was talking about. I’m a new F1 fan, so I take books like these with a pinch of salt, but it all felt believable and relevant without being too heavy on the sport itself. I also enjoyed discovering their cultures and the Indian wedding the attend. Dev is soooo romantic and falls hard for Willow, and with a dual POV, it was a really fun book.
✔️ brother’s best friend
✔️ dual POV (my favourite)
✔️ diverse cast + fun side characters
✔️ a good amount of spice
✔️ sunshine x sunshine
✔️ no third act breakup
I really enjoyed being in this fictional F1 world; it felt like the author knew what she was talking about. I’m a new F1 fan, so I take books like these with a pinch of salt, but it all felt believable and relevant without being too heavy on the sport itself. I also enjoyed discovering their cultures and the Indian wedding the attend. Dev is soooo romantic and falls hard for Willow, and with a dual POV, it was a really fun book.
July 22, 2024
dev needs to reform his image after getting burned by his last social media manager. so when he runs into willow, his best friend’s little sister who needs a job, the answer is simple. hire her. but after they shared a kiss last year, things aren’t as easy as either of them would like.
dev was down baaad. I really enjoyed his character. he’s a softie. willow was really passionate about what she does and I really liked that too.
however - I really cannot get down with brother’s best friend when it’s the only reason they can’t be together. at one point willow literally goes up to her brother and was like “i wanted to get your permission” MA’AM?? he is not your father!!! anyway yeah I don’t love this trope and I think I’ll stay away from it for now.
thank you berkley romance for an arc!
tropes & things
✨ sports romances
✨ brother’s best friend
✨ childhood friends to lovers
✨ forced proximity
✨ bipoc mcs
✨ chronic illness rep
dev was down baaad. I really enjoyed his character. he’s a softie. willow was really passionate about what she does and I really liked that too.
however - I really cannot get down with brother’s best friend when it’s the only reason they can’t be together. at one point willow literally goes up to her brother and was like “i wanted to get your permission” MA’AM?? he is not your father!!! anyway yeah I don’t love this trope and I think I’ll stay away from it for now.
thank you berkley romance for an arc!
tropes & things
✨ sports romances
✨ brother’s best friend
✨ childhood friends to lovers
✨ forced proximity
✨ bipoc mcs
✨ chronic illness rep
June 18, 2024
Queria muito ter gostado mais do que gostei, mas foi um bocado mais do mesmo que já li. Gostei muito das personagens e do plot da fórmula 1 mas nada me agarrou muito. Irei ler mais da autora se lançar mais algum e recomendo se são super fãs de romance. Acho que também não estava bem no mood para um romance
August 2, 2024
I was about to give this 3 stars but then my dude proposed to her in the cringiest way possible and I simply could not
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2024
3.75 stars 🌟
Plot: Willow and Dev are childhood best friends. Willow's brother is also best friend's with Dev which has always served as a barrier to their connection. Dev is a F1 driver, however, his career is taking a turn for the worse. After receiving some bad press, he's desperate for someone to help repair his image. After a bad stroke of luck, Willow is in need of a job after graduating and gets is offered to be Dev's social media manager and try and ignore the undeniable chemistry they have together.
Tropes
🏎️ F1 x social media manager
🏎️ Brothers best friend
🏎️ Biracial MC's
🏎️ FMC has a chronic illness
🏎️ She falls first, he falls harder
🏎️ Dual POV
🏎️ Open door spice
Not too bad for my first f1 romance! Now I have another sport to obsess over..
I looove the brothers best friend trope because the tension is always INSANE... This did not fail to deliver on that front. They shared a lot of cute moments together and their romance was gradually developed throughout the story.
I favoured Willow the most at the start of this book because I took awhile to warm to Dev's womaniser tendencies. Once I got to know him more, he definitely grew on me and I loved seeing his sensitive side. He treated Willow with so much care and admiration.
The representation in this book was a welcome change - the author did a great job of depicting Dev's culture and Willow's experience with chronic illness without coming across as tokenistic.
This was a win for the romance girlies as it has no third act breakup!! YAY. It's generally the only downfall of brother's best friend trope but I liked that this wasn't dragged out unnecessarily. Her brother was really sweet.
I was fortunate enough to get a copy of this book also in my monthly subscription box from Afterlight and even though the edges look like a kids car play mat the book itself is adorable.
Bring on book 2!!
🏎️ Thank you Pan Macmillan & Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
“If this is such a bad idea, then tell me why I want to kiss you again. Why I can’t get you out of my head. Why, every time I see you anywhere near another man, I want to drag him away from you and make sure he never comes close to you again. Tell me, Willow. Tell me why I feel that way.”
Plot: Willow and Dev are childhood best friends. Willow's brother is also best friend's with Dev which has always served as a barrier to their connection. Dev is a F1 driver, however, his career is taking a turn for the worse. After receiving some bad press, he's desperate for someone to help repair his image. After a bad stroke of luck, Willow is in need of a job after graduating and gets is offered to be Dev's social media manager and try and ignore the undeniable chemistry they have together.
Tropes
🏎️ F1 x social media manager
🏎️ Brothers best friend
🏎️ Biracial MC's
🏎️ FMC has a chronic illness
🏎️ She falls first, he falls harder
🏎️ Dual POV
🏎️ Open door spice
Not too bad for my first f1 romance! Now I have another sport to obsess over..
I looove the brothers best friend trope because the tension is always INSANE... This did not fail to deliver on that front. They shared a lot of cute moments together and their romance was gradually developed throughout the story.
“Her happiness is blinding, like staring into the sun. I don’t want to look away. I’d let her steal the sight from my eyes, the breath from my lungs. I’d let her do her worst and still be eternally grateful.”
I favoured Willow the most at the start of this book because I took awhile to warm to Dev's womaniser tendencies. Once I got to know him more, he definitely grew on me and I loved seeing his sensitive side. He treated Willow with so much care and admiration.
The representation in this book was a welcome change - the author did a great job of depicting Dev's culture and Willow's experience with chronic illness without coming across as tokenistic.
This was a win for the romance girlies as it has no third act breakup!! YAY. It's generally the only downfall of brother's best friend trope but I liked that this wasn't dragged out unnecessarily. Her brother was really sweet.
I was fortunate enough to get a copy of this book also in my monthly subscription box from Afterlight and even though the edges look like a kids car play mat the book itself is adorable.
Bring on book 2!!
🏎️ Thank you Pan Macmillan & Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 22, 2024
4.25⭐️
Tropes:
🏎️ Brothers Best Friend
🏎️ Mutual Pining
🏎️ Forbidden Romance
🏎️ Fix His Image
🏎️ F1 Driver
🏎️ It’s Always Been You
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re going to think I’m crazy,” he says. “But you make me nervous, Willow Williams.”
“Me?” I have to scoff. “Why?”
“Because I’m so in love with you that it hurts.”
My breath catches and my heart stutters at the open honesty on his face. I nearly tear up again, because I know exactly what he’s talking about. I know that deep soul ache. And I feel the same about him.
“Me too,” I whisper back.
“You don’t ever have to thank me for stuff like this, Willow. This is how you deserve to be treated.”
Tropes:
🏎️ Brothers Best Friend
🏎️ Mutual Pining
🏎️ Forbidden Romance
🏎️ Fix His Image
🏎️ F1 Driver
🏎️ It’s Always Been You
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re going to think I’m crazy,” he says. “But you make me nervous, Willow Williams.”
“Me?” I have to scoff. “Why?”
“Because I’m so in love with you that it hurts.”
My breath catches and my heart stutters at the open honesty on his face. I nearly tear up again, because I know exactly what he’s talking about. I know that deep soul ache. And I feel the same about him.
“Me too,” I whisper back.
“You don’t ever have to thank me for stuff like this, Willow. This is how you deserve to be treated.”
February 10, 2026
Okay so I rolled my eyes immediately. Zero hesitation. You’re telling me a highly trained F1 driver gets so distracted by a quick kiss that he crashes? Be serious 😭
Anyway. This book was… fine! But also deeply frustrating! The FMC is likeable, maybe even too likeable. Willow’s endlessly agreeable in a way that absolutely nukes any potential tension. Something bad happens and she’s like, “Hmm… that’s okay!” Girl. Please. Push back even a little. But she’s written with a lot of warmth and empathy, and you can tell the author genuinely loves her.
Dev, though… I wanted to like him. And I did, at first! But then he goes and cancels his colleague’s flight (how was he even able to do that??) and leaves her stranded in a foreign country, thousands of miles from home, all because she was doing her job and he didn’t like it. And nothing really comes of it! No real consequences except some mild embarrassment for him. No serious reckoning. We just move on like that wasn’t an unhinged abuse of power. Willow, please run 🚩🚩🚩
I really, truly, desperately wanted a slow burn instead of instalove. The book literally starts after their first kiss and then jumps ahead SEVEN MONTHS?? HELLO??? THAT’S THE BOOK!!! That’s where the angst lives!!! I wanted emotional weight. I wanted buildup. I wanted yearning, restraint, mess, bad decisions, awkward silences, unresolved looks. Instead it’s just “we’re already in love but we won’t do anything because her brother might be mad.” Which brings me to…
The brother. Oh my god, the brother. This was my first brother’s-best-friend romance and I regret to inform you that I hate it here. The super protective brother who’s way too invested in his sister’s love life is lowkey creepy. This is not cute or protective, this is controlling. Dude. Get a hobby. Get therapy. Get a dog. Learn pottery. Literally anything other than micromanaging your adult sister’s romantic choices. That one Demi Lovato meme was living rent-free in my head the entire time I was reading: GET A JOB. STAY AWAY FROM HER
And I’m sorry, but this "conflict" is NOT compelling enough to stretch across 400+ pages. This book is at least 200 pages too long. I’m an only child, but if a hypothetical sibling acted like this, I’d be done with their shit immediately and the book would’ve ended at page 2.
Why. Why would your friend care? Why is this framed like a moral crisis?? This is a fake hurdle designed to distract from the fact that there are actually zero real stakes.
Dude. She’s your sister. Not your wife. Please unclench.
There's some serious “pick a lane” energy with the backstory - we’re told Dev and Willow weren’t friends and she was just his best friend’s annoying little sister, but suddenly this man knows everything about her and has been secretly in love with her since childhood?? Regardless of how long they've been into each other, there's just not enough relationship or character development to justify how intense we’re told these feelings are. We're barely shown why they feel the way they do and their connection feels assumed rather than built on.
There are so many moments that should deepen their bond but are glossed over or happen off-page, which makes the instalove feel even more hollow.
If you're on the app, there's a spoiler below. The spoiler tags aren't working
I was absolutely starving for conflict, but this book gives you ✨️nothing✨️ No slow-burn angst. No meaningful obstacles. No misunderstandings. Not even a crumb of real friction. The closest thing we get to excitement shows up at 94%(!!!) when and everything suddenly gets very serious… only for it to be resolved almost immediately, on the same page, followed by a neat little happily-ever-after. Blink and you miss it.
There’s a line in the book that honestly sums up the entire experience:
Exactly. That’s the book. No dare. No challenge. No stakes. Just nonsense.
F1-wise: you can tell the author did her homework and I respect the research, but it all feels a tad empty, like reading a Wikipedia summary. It reads less like someone who’s watched races and more like someone who absorbed F1 through osmosis. The racing scenes don’t quite capture the rhythm or intensity of real races, and despite being framed as a highly-skilled midfield driver, Dev comes across as astoundingly ineffective on track. Extremely strong “this came out during peak Drive to Survive hype” vibes.
Now, because I’m not a monster and I feel bad, I think the author has a genuinely lovely writing style. The prose is smooth, accessible, cosy, and easy to sink into, and her way with words does a lot of heavy lifting. It’s a fun, quick comfort read for when you want to just switch off your brain for an hour or two or you're looking for something to fill the void until the season starts
Anyway. This book was… fine! But also deeply frustrating! The FMC is likeable, maybe even too likeable. Willow’s endlessly agreeable in a way that absolutely nukes any potential tension. Something bad happens and she’s like, “Hmm… that’s okay!” Girl. Please. Push back even a little. But she’s written with a lot of warmth and empathy, and you can tell the author genuinely loves her.
Dev, though… I wanted to like him. And I did, at first! But then he goes and cancels his colleague’s flight (how was he even able to do that??) and leaves her stranded in a foreign country, thousands of miles from home, all because she was doing her job and he didn’t like it. And nothing really comes of it! No real consequences except some mild embarrassment for him. No serious reckoning. We just move on like that wasn’t an unhinged abuse of power. Willow, please run 🚩🚩🚩
I really, truly, desperately wanted a slow burn instead of instalove. The book literally starts after their first kiss and then jumps ahead SEVEN MONTHS?? HELLO??? THAT’S THE BOOK!!! That’s where the angst lives!!! I wanted emotional weight. I wanted buildup. I wanted yearning, restraint, mess, bad decisions, awkward silences, unresolved looks. Instead it’s just “we’re already in love but we won’t do anything because her brother might be mad.” Which brings me to…
The brother. Oh my god, the brother. This was my first brother’s-best-friend romance and I regret to inform you that I hate it here. The super protective brother who’s way too invested in his sister’s love life is lowkey creepy. This is not cute or protective, this is controlling. Dude. Get a hobby. Get therapy. Get a dog. Learn pottery. Literally anything other than micromanaging your adult sister’s romantic choices. That one Demi Lovato meme was living rent-free in my head the entire time I was reading: GET A JOB. STAY AWAY FROM HER
And I’m sorry, but this "conflict" is NOT compelling enough to stretch across 400+ pages. This book is at least 200 pages too long. I’m an only child, but if a hypothetical sibling acted like this, I’d be done with their shit immediately and the book would’ve ended at page 2.
Positive: I hired someone to fix my damaged image. Negative: that someone is my best friend's little sister.
Why. Why would your friend care? Why is this framed like a moral crisis?? This is a fake hurdle designed to distract from the fact that there are actually zero real stakes.
If anyone's going to try to convince us not to be together, it's him, and we don't need that kind of influence this early on.
"When are you going to admit you're into her?"
"When I'm sure Oakley won't murder me."
"I don't like the idea of you together. At all. I don't like the idea of another one of my friends dating my sister."
Dude. She’s your sister. Not your wife. Please unclench.
There's some serious “pick a lane” energy with the backstory - we’re told Dev and Willow weren’t friends and she was just his best friend’s annoying little sister, but suddenly this man knows everything about her and has been secretly in love with her since childhood?? Regardless of how long they've been into each other, there's just not enough relationship or character development to justify how intense we’re told these feelings are. We're barely shown why they feel the way they do and their connection feels assumed rather than built on.
There are so many moments that should deepen their bond but are glossed over or happen off-page, which makes the instalove feel even more hollow.
If you're on the app, there's a spoiler below. The spoiler tags aren't working
I was absolutely starving for conflict, but this book gives you ✨️nothing✨️ No slow-burn angst. No meaningful obstacles. No misunderstandings. Not even a crumb of real friction. The closest thing we get to excitement shows up at 94%(!!!) when and everything suddenly gets very serious… only for it to be resolved almost immediately, on the same page, followed by a neat little happily-ever-after. Blink and you miss it.
There’s a line in the book that honestly sums up the entire experience:
"Silence hangs as we consider each other, a dare passing between us. But there's nothing to dare. Nothing to challenge."
Exactly. That’s the book. No dare. No challenge. No stakes. Just nonsense.
F1-wise: you can tell the author did her homework and I respect the research, but it all feels a tad empty, like reading a Wikipedia summary. It reads less like someone who’s watched races and more like someone who absorbed F1 through osmosis. The racing scenes don’t quite capture the rhythm or intensity of real races, and despite being framed as a highly-skilled midfield driver, Dev comes across as astoundingly ineffective on track. Extremely strong “this came out during peak Drive to Survive hype” vibes.
Now, because I’m not a monster and I feel bad, I think the author has a genuinely lovely writing style. The prose is smooth, accessible, cosy, and easy to sink into, and her way with words does a lot of heavy lifting. It’s a fun, quick comfort read for when you want to just switch off your brain for an hour or two or you're looking for something to fill the void until the season starts
September 20, 2024
4/5 ⭐️
Історія непогана, але не можу сказати, що прям вау.
Моя перша історія про Формулу 1, тому для мене перегонової атмосфери було достатньо. Також цікаво почитати про індійські традиції. Головні герої були не погані, їх відносини розвивалась повільно, все було обдумано та обговорено.
Непогана історія
Історія непогана, але не можу сказати, що прям вау.
Моя перша історія про Формулу 1, тому для мене перегонової атмосфери було достатньо. Також цікаво почитати про індійські традиції. Головні герої були не погані, їх відносини розвивалась повільно, все було обдумано та обговорено.
Непогана історія
April 2, 2024
I was hooked immediately with this one! I loved Simone’s writing style too. She created a story with heart, charm, pining and brought these amazing diverse characters to life in a seemingly effortless way. This was so romantic and so fun, I can’t wait to read what she writes next!
4.25/5⭐️
4.25/5⭐️
June 26, 2024
Muito giro, não é inovador mas divertiu-me bastante e gostei da história
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