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Rush
A dark romance about desire and obsession, set in the world of Formula 1, for fans of Sylvia Day, Ana Huang, Penelope Douglas and The Idea of You.
His desire will consume her. And all she can do is surrender.
Lena Aden came to Los Angeles to make it big as a writer. Five years later, she’s still chasing the dream and wondering if it’s time to start over.
Nico Laurent is the Formula 1 World Champion – and the most desirable bachelor in the world. He’s used to getting any woman he wants, and he’s decided he wants Lena.
After their first night together, Lena can’t get Nico out of her head. She engineers a second meeting and suddenly Lena is pulled into a heady world of fast cars, parties, and money. Lena has never been so reckless – and she likes it.
It’s clear that Lena and Nico’s passion can’t be denied. But with a heat like this, someone is going to get burned...
His desire will consume her. And all she can do is surrender.
Lena Aden came to Los Angeles to make it big as a writer. Five years later, she’s still chasing the dream and wondering if it’s time to start over.
Nico Laurent is the Formula 1 World Champion – and the most desirable bachelor in the world. He’s used to getting any woman he wants, and he’s decided he wants Lena.
After their first night together, Lena can’t get Nico out of her head. She engineers a second meeting and suddenly Lena is pulled into a heady world of fast cars, parties, and money. Lena has never been so reckless – and she likes it.
It’s clear that Lena and Nico’s passion can’t be denied. But with a heat like this, someone is going to get burned...
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2024
16 people are currently reading
450 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
April 13, 2024
i finished this book a week ago and have spent some time sitting with myself and my thoughts, and what it means that i was addicted to this book yet would not endorse it. here's what i've come up with:
historically i've very much taken the angle of boy needs to be obsessed with girl and if he is anything but sweet to her, it needs to be in good fun and he needs to have made her feel secure enough to do so. lately, i've been straying rather far from those core romantic reader traits i once had into the "darker" world of romance. some books and authors do that well, some not so well, which is true of any genre. however, there is some risk attached to it here, as while reading it doesn't mean you want it, i do worry about a younger generation who are reading those "darker" stories and either meaningfully or without realising, are using them as a model for their real life expectations and desires.
the first half of rush had me experiencing the highs of those "darker" elements - i was gripped by the hope that his behaviour was all in service of a love for her so strong that he first had to deny it. the choices made by the author in the second half of the book became increasingly concerning until, for me, they eventually soured the text as whole. to discuss this further would become spoilery so i'll just finish by saying that sure, there is some fun to be had initially (hence the three stars), but it's not worth the strange taste i have left in my mouth, even a week later.
thank you to the beautful Harper Collins Aotearoa NZ team for sending me this book - love y'all xo
historically i've very much taken the angle of boy needs to be obsessed with girl and if he is anything but sweet to her, it needs to be in good fun and he needs to have made her feel secure enough to do so. lately, i've been straying rather far from those core romantic reader traits i once had into the "darker" world of romance. some books and authors do that well, some not so well, which is true of any genre. however, there is some risk attached to it here, as while reading it doesn't mean you want it, i do worry about a younger generation who are reading those "darker" stories and either meaningfully or without realising, are using them as a model for their real life expectations and desires.
the first half of rush had me experiencing the highs of those "darker" elements - i was gripped by the hope that his behaviour was all in service of a love for her so strong that he first had to deny it. the choices made by the author in the second half of the book became increasingly concerning until, for me, they eventually soured the text as whole. to discuss this further would become spoilery so i'll just finish by saying that sure, there is some fun to be had initially (hence the three stars), but it's not worth the strange taste i have left in my mouth, even a week later.
thank you to the beautful Harper Collins Aotearoa NZ team for sending me this book - love y'all xo
February 23, 2024
**contains spoilers**
Where do I start with this one.
I was so excited when this was announced as it’s about time us F1 fans got some more decent romance fic.
However, from the first 18 pages we are provided with a sex scene where there is no discussion at all, let alone a conversation around contraception or the concept of a safe word. Lena tells Nico to wait twice and he ignores her, as someone with no concept of BDSM this to me gives the foreshadowing of rape.
Then we have the use of ‘metoo’d’ like it’s a joke. It’s not.
Lena then stalks Nico to Miami and when he accuses her of stalking him, rightly so, she gets upset? At this point I have little sympathy for either MC. They are both as narcissistic as one another.
The random additions of non-consensual but sort of consensual third parties just didn’t gel with me. All of this could’ve been resolved by a few genuine conversations between Lena and Nico to give them real depth but this was lacking. Please, I want the mundane conversations. Then we can get back to the dirty bits.
The driver names really concern me as well as they are so close to reality, Vossen = Verstappen, Nico (Rosberg), Christian Lecourt = Charles Leclerc, Samuel Peraza = Sergio Perez and Greg Richards = George Russell. It doesn’t take much to replace them with the living and breathing drivers.
Coming to the end we get a romanticised crash where Nico infers he intentionally puts himself in hospital to win back Lena. A crash that could’ve killed both him and other road users.
Lastly, he rapes her. She finally uses the safe word of Red (still not properly explained) and she waits as he continues to have sex with her. There is an odd contentment portrayed within her that’s she’s trapped him into it. Yet, consent can be withdrawn at any time, she clearly utilises that and he rapes her.
The only character I genuinely thought was a good egg was Eliot who stepped into the father role.
I received this as a gift and am thankful for the opportunity to read this novel. I would advise readers read up on any triggers and proceed with caution. This was a wild ride.
Where do I start with this one.
I was so excited when this was announced as it’s about time us F1 fans got some more decent romance fic.
However, from the first 18 pages we are provided with a sex scene where there is no discussion at all, let alone a conversation around contraception or the concept of a safe word. Lena tells Nico to wait twice and he ignores her, as someone with no concept of BDSM this to me gives the foreshadowing of rape.
Then we have the use of ‘metoo’d’ like it’s a joke. It’s not.
Lena then stalks Nico to Miami and when he accuses her of stalking him, rightly so, she gets upset? At this point I have little sympathy for either MC. They are both as narcissistic as one another.
The random additions of non-consensual but sort of consensual third parties just didn’t gel with me. All of this could’ve been resolved by a few genuine conversations between Lena and Nico to give them real depth but this was lacking. Please, I want the mundane conversations. Then we can get back to the dirty bits.
The driver names really concern me as well as they are so close to reality, Vossen = Verstappen, Nico (Rosberg), Christian Lecourt = Charles Leclerc, Samuel Peraza = Sergio Perez and Greg Richards = George Russell. It doesn’t take much to replace them with the living and breathing drivers.
Coming to the end we get a romanticised crash where Nico infers he intentionally puts himself in hospital to win back Lena. A crash that could’ve killed both him and other road users.
Lastly, he rapes her. She finally uses the safe word of Red (still not properly explained) and she waits as he continues to have sex with her. There is an odd contentment portrayed within her that’s she’s trapped him into it. Yet, consent can be withdrawn at any time, she clearly utilises that and he rapes her.
The only character I genuinely thought was a good egg was Eliot who stepped into the father role.
I received this as a gift and am thankful for the opportunity to read this novel. I would advise readers read up on any triggers and proceed with caution. This was a wild ride.
July 5, 2024
This was an unbelievably awful, misogynistic, and down right disgusting book.
I will from now on read reviews on any and all ARCs before requesting from netgalley. Shame on all who allowed this book to be published.
I will from now on read reviews on any and all ARCs before requesting from netgalley. Shame on all who allowed this book to be published.
February 1, 2024
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!
Where to begin… I had super high hopes for this from its description ‘His desire will consume her. And all she can do is surrender’ plus I am a big formula one fan and have never read a romance set in this world before so I was super excited to dive in.
However what I read is not what I was expecting at all…I think jarring is the word I would use to describe this book. I love a spicy book… this was spicy from chapter one and every scene just didn’t actually feel believable so took me right out of it.
There was the intention of some interesting plot points but they were and never really fleshed out. I finished this book just to see where it was going and it got more unrealistic as it went alone. I have read some dark/morally grey characters before and was on board… Nico was extremely unlikeable from the beginning but because there was so little explanation regarding Nico’s behaviour he just came across as petty and mean, with Lena seeming in love and giving him chance after chance for no reason?
I didn’t see the twist at the end coming however as I could not stand Nico in the slightest so I don’t think it had the effect it was aiming for. Unfortunately a disappointing read.
Where to begin… I had super high hopes for this from its description ‘His desire will consume her. And all she can do is surrender’ plus I am a big formula one fan and have never read a romance set in this world before so I was super excited to dive in.
However what I read is not what I was expecting at all…I think jarring is the word I would use to describe this book. I love a spicy book… this was spicy from chapter one and every scene just didn’t actually feel believable so took me right out of it.
There was the intention of some interesting plot points but they were and never really fleshed out. I finished this book just to see where it was going and it got more unrealistic as it went alone. I have read some dark/morally grey characters before and was on board… Nico was extremely unlikeable from the beginning but because there was so little explanation regarding Nico’s behaviour he just came across as petty and mean, with Lena seeming in love and giving him chance after chance for no reason?
I didn’t see the twist at the end coming however as I could not stand Nico in the slightest so I don’t think it had the effect it was aiming for. Unfortunately a disappointing read.
June 20, 2024
if i could give 0 stars i would.
i had to dnf but i will be classifying it as finished because i was 70% in.
as soon as i read the first chapter, i knew this book was done for. THEY FUCKED ON THE FIRST CHAPTER?! WHAT?!
where was the consent?! why didn’t he explain the term ‘red’ to her more?!
he forced her into doing things she didn’t want to, forced her to have sex with 2 other guys. HE ALSO KEPT ‘CHEATING’ ON HER WITH EITHER SABINE OR OTHER GIRLS.
he was the biggest red flag i have ever read and i’m not even exaggerating. I am a massive Formula One fan and was so excited to read yet another F1 romance but i was severely disappointed.
she also stalked him and when he got angry about the stalking, she got upset?! HUH?!
whatever you do. DO. NOT. READ. THIS.
don’t waste your money or time.
i had to dnf but i will be classifying it as finished because i was 70% in.
as soon as i read the first chapter, i knew this book was done for. THEY FUCKED ON THE FIRST CHAPTER?! WHAT?!
where was the consent?! why didn’t he explain the term ‘red’ to her more?!
he forced her into doing things she didn’t want to, forced her to have sex with 2 other guys. HE ALSO KEPT ‘CHEATING’ ON HER WITH EITHER SABINE OR OTHER GIRLS.
he was the biggest red flag i have ever read and i’m not even exaggerating. I am a massive Formula One fan and was so excited to read yet another F1 romance but i was severely disappointed.
she also stalked him and when he got angry about the stalking, she got upset?! HUH?!
whatever you do. DO. NOT. READ. THIS.
don’t waste your money or time.
May 3, 2024
0.25 - this book taught me to read reviews and the synopsis first 🫠
July 2, 2024
This book suckeddddd.
The plot? Awful…
The MMC literally ruined her life and she still pines after him and forgives all? Ew.
The plot? Awful…
The MMC literally ruined her life and she still pines after him and forgives all? Ew.
May 9, 2024
Don't both, the only reference to racing should be all the red flags for both MCs. Toxic, abusive, poorly constructed, no plot, no background on the MCs. Just don't!
April 9, 2024
I genuinely don't know where to start with this one. It's so incredibly terrible. It could have been 294 pages shorter.
I hope I never have to read the phrase "rabid with want" ever again. Nico Laurent is the reddest of flags and Lena is honestly the dumbest woman I've ever had the (dis)pleasure of reading about. I could write an essay about how awful this book is. Please please save yourself and don't read this book.
I actually feel bad for being so horrible but I can't think of one redeeming feature. I guess I did manage to finish it but by the end I genuinely felt disgusted with myself and wished I'd DNFed on Page 2. For a while it was bad but kinda fun in a trashy way and then it just became the worst thing I've ever read. #sorrynotsorry
(Also HOW did this get past edits? HOW did someone think this was a good idea to publish?! I just don't get it when there's so many unpublished talented people out there and shit like this makes it through. Smh)
I hope I never have to read the phrase "rabid with want" ever again. Nico Laurent is the reddest of flags and Lena is honestly the dumbest woman I've ever had the (dis)pleasure of reading about. I could write an essay about how awful this book is. Please please save yourself and don't read this book.
I actually feel bad for being so horrible but I can't think of one redeeming feature. I guess I did manage to finish it but by the end I genuinely felt disgusted with myself and wished I'd DNFed on Page 2. For a while it was bad but kinda fun in a trashy way and then it just became the worst thing I've ever read. #sorrynotsorry
(Also HOW did this get past edits? HOW did someone think this was a good idea to publish?! I just don't get it when there's so many unpublished talented people out there and shit like this makes it through. Smh)
March 14, 2024
Thanks HQ for sending this book. I had really high hopes going into this book - F1 driver and spicy romance! Say no more… however…
Unfortunately it was not for me. I felt like the scenes changed so fast and without much explanation (kinda felt like there was so much missing in between).
I did not like the MMC at all, and felt like their relationship was not believable, also the sexual side of their relationship WTF! So much I was just like no thank you! 🫣 (Sabine 🤷🏻♀️)
Weirdly enough, this book kept my attention for the majority of the time, however there was so much I didn’t like.
2.5⭐️
Unfortunately it was not for me. I felt like the scenes changed so fast and without much explanation (kinda felt like there was so much missing in between).
I did not like the MMC at all, and felt like their relationship was not believable, also the sexual side of their relationship WTF! So much I was just like no thank you! 🫣 (Sabine 🤷🏻♀️)
Weirdly enough, this book kept my attention for the majority of the time, however there was so much I didn’t like.
2.5⭐️
July 8, 2024
…
Dnf 30ish pages in…
I was so exited to read this book as I love Formula One sooo much but now here I am... The writing was so bad, it was if she was trying her hardest to be so descriptive but the words she would use were so odd and it just didn’t flow. There was literally a spicy scene between Nico and Lena in the FIRST CHAPTER!! Was there consent? If I can’t tell then I’m going to take it as a no. This was 100% dancing along the lines of SA and I am not here for that at all… After I read that trauma on paper, I read some reviews which essentially said that is doesn’t change at all. I then flipped onto some random pages and it honestly looks like Nico had no respect for Lena at all when she would repeatedly tell him to wait or stop and he would insist on her using the word “red”. It also looked like Lena was essentially trying to convince herself that she liked it and wanted more, but in the moment that didn’t look the case. Also it looked like she essentially used real like f1 drivers and slightly changed the names (except for when she out of the blue references Lewis Hamilton) which I am not a fan of at all.
Don’t waste your time, this book…
Dnf 30ish pages in…
I was so exited to read this book as I love Formula One sooo much but now here I am... The writing was so bad, it was if she was trying her hardest to be so descriptive but the words she would use were so odd and it just didn’t flow. There was literally a spicy scene between Nico and Lena in the FIRST CHAPTER!! Was there consent? If I can’t tell then I’m going to take it as a no. This was 100% dancing along the lines of SA and I am not here for that at all… After I read that trauma on paper, I read some reviews which essentially said that is doesn’t change at all. I then flipped onto some random pages and it honestly looks like Nico had no respect for Lena at all when she would repeatedly tell him to wait or stop and he would insist on her using the word “red”. It also looked like Lena was essentially trying to convince herself that she liked it and wanted more, but in the moment that didn’t look the case. Also it looked like she essentially used real like f1 drivers and slightly changed the names (except for when she out of the blue references Lewis Hamilton) which I am not a fan of at all.
Don’t waste your time, this book…
February 11, 2024
Thanks NetGallery for the ARC.
This book was self-explanatory... Rush(ed). It was also a very quick read for me which is a nice change of pace. Unfortunately, it wasn't good. It's definitely more erotica than it is romance - there's no HEA which automatically disqualifies it as a romance. Erotica is fine, but market it as purely that. Morally grey or even dark characters are also fine, but we have to be able to understand what makes the FMC like them... I didn't get that with Nico at all. Also, and idk if this is a personal grip... PLEASE DON'T PUT REAL PEOPLE IN YOUR STORIES WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT. What did Noah Baumbach ever do to be mentioned in a shitty F1 themed erotic book? Thoroughly underwhelming. 2/5 stars purely because we need more F1 romances out there, but my god please make them better than this.
This book was self-explanatory... Rush(ed). It was also a very quick read for me which is a nice change of pace. Unfortunately, it wasn't good. It's definitely more erotica than it is romance - there's no HEA which automatically disqualifies it as a romance. Erotica is fine, but market it as purely that. Morally grey or even dark characters are also fine, but we have to be able to understand what makes the FMC like them... I didn't get that with Nico at all. Also, and idk if this is a personal grip... PLEASE DON'T PUT REAL PEOPLE IN YOUR STORIES WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT. What did Noah Baumbach ever do to be mentioned in a shitty F1 themed erotic book? Thoroughly underwhelming. 2/5 stars purely because we need more F1 romances out there, but my god please make them better than this.
March 6, 2024
Toxic af
Hes a twat. Like a full blown terrible person. Yes he has childhood trauma but that does not excuse his behaviour at all.
Not a fan of how the drivers have the same initials as real current F1 drivers. Like make up new characters.
Yeah just not at all for ne
Hes a twat. Like a full blown terrible person. Yes he has childhood trauma but that does not excuse his behaviour at all.
Not a fan of how the drivers have the same initials as real current F1 drivers. Like make up new characters.
Yeah just not at all for ne
May 18, 2024
WTF did I just read!!!
June 10, 2024
This was 50 shades of grey but more unhinged and set in the world of F1. I’m glad it stopped being marketed as a romance, because this is far from it.
This is toxic and chaotic and for the most part, just not very nice. It was a very unpleasant man taking advantage of a lonely woman and everyone enabling his behaviour.
All of the characters have zero substance and about 3 personality traits. No depth or warmth or humour. This was just 300 pages of people being miserable. Where was the light relief? Even in the moments where I think you’re SUPPOSED to feel light and happier, shit always hits the fan in the most monumental fashion.
There was sex from the first chapter, a lot of it tiptoeing on the line of consent which made me wildly uncomfortable.
The ending was unsatisfactory and boring, and the idea I had in my head (her just actually bludgeoning him to death) was a way more attractive conclusion to this mess.
Thank you HQ for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is toxic and chaotic and for the most part, just not very nice. It was a very unpleasant man taking advantage of a lonely woman and everyone enabling his behaviour.
All of the characters have zero substance and about 3 personality traits. No depth or warmth or humour. This was just 300 pages of people being miserable. Where was the light relief? Even in the moments where I think you’re SUPPOSED to feel light and happier, shit always hits the fan in the most monumental fashion.
There was sex from the first chapter, a lot of it tiptoeing on the line of consent which made me wildly uncomfortable.
The ending was unsatisfactory and boring, and the idea I had in my head (her just actually bludgeoning him to death) was a way more attractive conclusion to this mess.
Thank you HQ for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2024
When I first saw this F1 romance, I was so keen to pick it up. However, and I hate saying this, but, this was just not it. I feel like there was actually very little to do with F1 other than the fact that the MMC is an F1 driver. He is such an ass, and he just does not change. So many red flags.
If you don’t mind a toxic, emotionally abusive and manipulative MMC that can’t respect a woman or himself, you might enjoy this. But otherwise, it’s not worth it. I spent the entire book so angry with the MMC and even the FMC who kept going back… like why?
If you don’t mind a toxic, emotionally abusive and manipulative MMC that can’t respect a woman or himself, you might enjoy this. But otherwise, it’s not worth it. I spent the entire book so angry with the MMC and even the FMC who kept going back… like why?
February 22, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this novel.
This story is quite captivating and holds your interest as there is something always happening. I felt as if some of the scenes were a little rushed and cut to another really quickly.
Some may require a trigger warning to read this as there are some SA/no consent themes.
Overall, a really quick spicy read. If you like F1 and spice this is definitely for you.
This story is quite captivating and holds your interest as there is something always happening. I felt as if some of the scenes were a little rushed and cut to another really quickly.
Some may require a trigger warning to read this as there are some SA/no consent themes.
Overall, a really quick spicy read. If you like F1 and spice this is definitely for you.
March 24, 2024
imagine Edward Cullen with daddy issues, a female mc who get’s blindsided by money… oh and fake F1 drivers that have the same initials as real ones.
I get what the author was trying to do with this book - there are times in your life that you have to just say no and more on, but I just felt like this didn’t hit the mark for me.
I get what the author was trying to do with this book - there are times in your life that you have to just say no and more on, but I just felt like this didn’t hit the mark for me.
March 17, 2024
Received as ARC via netgalley
Erm, no.
I did finish reading it, however I wouldn't recommend it.
I've seen other reviews where the spice was the problem, or the lack of consent, or the fact that she safeworded and he didn't stop were the problem, and while it's problematic to have in media for a ton of reasons, this is a dark romance so that's not my exact problem.
My problem is I can't find a list of trigger warnings anywhere, now some things you can cover with it being a dark romance, this book needs a TW list at the front where everyone can assess if it's for them.
The other problem I have is the rest of the plot, it feels like its all there to get to the next spice scene, you could easily skip past it all and not miss it.
Erm, no.
I did finish reading it, however I wouldn't recommend it.
I've seen other reviews where the spice was the problem, or the lack of consent, or the fact that she safeworded and he didn't stop were the problem, and while it's problematic to have in media for a ton of reasons, this is a dark romance so that's not my exact problem.
My problem is I can't find a list of trigger warnings anywhere, now some things you can cover with it being a dark romance, this book needs a TW list at the front where everyone can assess if it's for them.
The other problem I have is the rest of the plot, it feels like its all there to get to the next spice scene, you could easily skip past it all and not miss it.
February 27, 2024
I couldn't wait to read a Formula 1 romance, but this book sadly disappointed me. I loved the idea, but sadly it just wasn't written well.
April 2, 2024
Wow, sitting here having read this I’m not altogether sure where my thought process is at, so I’ll try to make this as simple as possible.
I was excited to read a book about F1, particularly a romance. Definitely a point of difference amongst the hockeys and footballs. Secondly, I’m usually ok with morally grey as a colour. Erotica can be ok as well. And as an ode to Jackie Collins, I could see glimpses of what the aim was here -
BUT
I think this was a long way off! For mind with Jackie Collins books there was something always tragic but likeable, redeeming but also a pivot point for her characters. The characters in this book were just toxic and offensive. The FMC wants to explore, be famous, whatever - get it girl! But in the quest for this she effectively ruins her primary female friendship, craps all over the people she’s worked hard with, and gone against her core values. She accepts so much less then what she wanted, and thinks she’s in love? With whom, a shitty human being masking all his arseholeness as trauma … so spoiled, entitled, and misogynistic.
This is not a romance, it’s not safe, and I believe there needs to be some trigger warnings. I’m not sure if it’s a series but there’s only one character I’d probably be interested reading about. There’s no responsibility for sexual safety and the issues of consent is a really fine line trodden here.
It’s not that I wanted fluffy romance - I wanted racey, glitz and glamour. It’s definitely there to a small degree but it’s deeply hidden and I wonder if I was just trying to find something, anything to be positive about with this book …. Because in the end I just felt yuk.
Thanks to the publisher for my copy. Sadly this wasn’t one for me.
I was excited to read a book about F1, particularly a romance. Definitely a point of difference amongst the hockeys and footballs. Secondly, I’m usually ok with morally grey as a colour. Erotica can be ok as well. And as an ode to Jackie Collins, I could see glimpses of what the aim was here -
BUT
I think this was a long way off! For mind with Jackie Collins books there was something always tragic but likeable, redeeming but also a pivot point for her characters. The characters in this book were just toxic and offensive. The FMC wants to explore, be famous, whatever - get it girl! But in the quest for this she effectively ruins her primary female friendship, craps all over the people she’s worked hard with, and gone against her core values. She accepts so much less then what she wanted, and thinks she’s in love? With whom, a shitty human being masking all his arseholeness as trauma … so spoiled, entitled, and misogynistic.
This is not a romance, it’s not safe, and I believe there needs to be some trigger warnings. I’m not sure if it’s a series but there’s only one character I’d probably be interested reading about. There’s no responsibility for sexual safety and the issues of consent is a really fine line trodden here.
It’s not that I wanted fluffy romance - I wanted racey, glitz and glamour. It’s definitely there to a small degree but it’s deeply hidden and I wonder if I was just trying to find something, anything to be positive about with this book …. Because in the end I just felt yuk.
Thanks to the publisher for my copy. Sadly this wasn’t one for me.
January 21, 2024
Rush by Saskia Roy really was a book I had such high hopes for. I was really hoping that it would be comparable to the Dirty Air series by Lauren Asher given Saskia’s background within the media and Motorsport industry.
However, I was hugely let down. Our protagonist, Lena, is a British writer based in LA who moved to do the typical “make it big” type thing.
I am a huge Formula One fan, so seeing certain terms like DRS and the talking through of pit stops and some of the more technical areas made me rather happy. But what follows was honestly underwhelming.
Usually I’d expect at least some originality when it comes to the likes of team names and driver names, even down to the team principle names, but this book lacked that.
As for the romance aspect, I’d be tempted to dance around with the idea that it was romantic. Our male main character Nico, is a huge misogynist who was just extremely unlikeable. The fact that Lena kept coming back to him and kept giving him chances was quite frankly rancid to me. The things this character put her through were unspeakable.
This book needs to have trigger warnings with it. It’s not a dark romance, it is simply more of an obsessive and cautionary story of how success can overtake a person meddled with trauma of the male main character too.
Reader discretion needs to be advised because the cheating tropes and all the rest within this story would have put me off immediately.
Thank you to NetGalley & HQ Books for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
However, I was hugely let down. Our protagonist, Lena, is a British writer based in LA who moved to do the typical “make it big” type thing.
I am a huge Formula One fan, so seeing certain terms like DRS and the talking through of pit stops and some of the more technical areas made me rather happy. But what follows was honestly underwhelming.
Usually I’d expect at least some originality when it comes to the likes of team names and driver names, even down to the team principle names, but this book lacked that.
As for the romance aspect, I’d be tempted to dance around with the idea that it was romantic. Our male main character Nico, is a huge misogynist who was just extremely unlikeable. The fact that Lena kept coming back to him and kept giving him chances was quite frankly rancid to me. The things this character put her through were unspeakable.
This book needs to have trigger warnings with it. It’s not a dark romance, it is simply more of an obsessive and cautionary story of how success can overtake a person meddled with trauma of the male main character too.
Reader discretion needs to be advised because the cheating tropes and all the rest within this story would have put me off immediately.
Thank you to NetGalley & HQ Books for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 19, 2024
think i need to sit on this review for a bit before posting
May 10, 2024
I’ve read my fair share of books but I just don’t think this is what the author wanted as it is marketed as this romance novel with the tag line “his desires will consume her. And all she can do is surrender” yet I didn’t read a romance
it shows toxic relationships, abuse, SA of many different sorts often dubious consent in which the main FMC tries to convince herself she wanted it when in fact she didn’t and it was still SA and it mentions a woman who grew up with a deep shame about her sexuality get abused and at the end still has no control over her sexuality, is alone, and has lost her friends. but now has the job she wanted so I guess it’s a ending ?
It’s at the end of the day a book marketed as spicy romance/ erotica but it’s more like a tale glorified abuse and a rather sad and uninspiring story
it shows toxic relationships, abuse, SA of many different sorts often dubious consent in which the main FMC tries to convince herself she wanted it when in fact she didn’t and it was still SA and it mentions a woman who grew up with a deep shame about her sexuality get abused and at the end still has no control over her sexuality, is alone, and has lost her friends. but now has the job she wanted so I guess it’s a ending ?
It’s at the end of the day a book marketed as spicy romance/ erotica but it’s more like a tale glorified abuse and a rather sad and uninspiring story
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2025
BURN IT.
April 30, 2024
would like to preface this review by saying that there are some very dark themes in this book. Please check the trigger warnings and I would not recommend this for a younger audience🫶
Rush is a Formula One sports romance which intrigued me as I had never read a Formula One book.
This is definitely a very 🌶️🌶️ book with little plot but for the first 150 pages this didn’t actually bother me! I was enjoying learning more about the sport and seeing the relationship between the two main characters grow.
This book was also super easy to read, the writing flowed and it was a great palette cleanser for in between fantasy books. The author clearly knows her stuff about Formula One as well.
Unfortunately the second half took a little bit of a turn and the MMC made some questionable decisions. I don’t agree with his actions and some of it actually left me feeling a little uncomfortable at times.
Rush is a Formula One sports romance which intrigued me as I had never read a Formula One book.
This is definitely a very 🌶️🌶️ book with little plot but for the first 150 pages this didn’t actually bother me! I was enjoying learning more about the sport and seeing the relationship between the two main characters grow.
This book was also super easy to read, the writing flowed and it was a great palette cleanser for in between fantasy books. The author clearly knows her stuff about Formula One as well.
Unfortunately the second half took a little bit of a turn and the MMC made some questionable decisions. I don’t agree with his actions and some of it actually left me feeling a little uncomfortable at times.
July 26, 2024
This one is really hard to review, I have seen others review it and note all their comments, but I must say that it certainly kept me captivated throughout, despite the less than ideal scenes portrayed.
Lena is a complex character, she is blinded by lust, by the famous man who shows her some attention and by passion, what starts off as slightly toxic takes a bigger turn and I spent the whole book shouting at her to change her feelings/mind.
I enjoyed the F1 aspect, but my gosh Nico was a horrible human!
Lena is a complex character, she is blinded by lust, by the famous man who shows her some attention and by passion, what starts off as slightly toxic takes a bigger turn and I spent the whole book shouting at her to change her feelings/mind.
I enjoyed the F1 aspect, but my gosh Nico was a horrible human!
June 10, 2025
Just eww. The book could definitely benefit from some actual plot. 🌶️ seems written by a guy - who watched F1 for three days, and this is what he came up with. It reads like bad fanfiction, with thinly veiled references to real drivers. It should have just stayed on the Internet, and not wasted actual trees by being published.
I had high hopes for an F1 romance; however, this thing, basically finished P 20.
I had high hopes for an F1 romance; however, this thing, basically finished P 20.
April 27, 2025
⭐️: 2.5/5
🌶️: 4/5
This book was an incredibly dark, spicy, and rollercoaster of emotions. The read was not bad although the characters names were too similar to the original drivers making it hard and unwanted to picture some of the situations the main character Lena was on. The book was quite repetitive.
It was an okay read, but I would not need to read again.
🌶️: 4/5
This book was an incredibly dark, spicy, and rollercoaster of emotions. The read was not bad although the characters names were too similar to the original drivers making it hard and unwanted to picture some of the situations the main character Lena was on. The book was quite repetitive.
It was an okay read, but I would not need to read again.
September 25, 2024
I hated the mmc with a vengeance, that at times I just wanted to throw the book against a wall.
The actions of both Nico and Lena were very questionable throughout this book, and will have you hating both the mmc and the fmc majority of the time.
The actions of both Nico and Lena were very questionable throughout this book, and will have you hating both the mmc and the fmc majority of the time.
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