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Offtrack #2
Overdrive
Racing starts. Rapid hearts. Revved engines.
Shantal knows one thing in life: that success means everything. So when she gets the call to move from London to Brazil, to test out her racing simulator on high performance Formula One racing drivers, she leaves her life behind, and goes. Because she’ll do anything to succeed.
Darien knows one thing in life: passion is everything. It’s his passion for driving that has led him to the heights of motorsport, a coveted seat as a Formula One driver. When his team insists he moves to Brazil to trial a new racing simulator and racetrack, he goes. Because the one thing he is more passionate about than cars, is Brazil, his home.
When Shantal and Darien meet, sparks aren’t just flying from the gearbox. Darien knows from the moment he meets Shantal that she sends his heart into overdrive, and Shantal can’t keep her eyes off of the gorgeous driver. But in the high stakes world of Formula One, there’s no room for error, and there’s definitely no room for romance on the racetrack…
Shantal knows one thing in life: that success means everything. So when she gets the call to move from London to Brazil, to test out her racing simulator on high performance Formula One racing drivers, she leaves her life behind, and goes. Because she’ll do anything to succeed.
Darien knows one thing in life: passion is everything. It’s his passion for driving that has led him to the heights of motorsport, a coveted seat as a Formula One driver. When his team insists he moves to Brazil to trial a new racing simulator and racetrack, he goes. Because the one thing he is more passionate about than cars, is Brazil, his home.
When Shantal and Darien meet, sparks aren’t just flying from the gearbox. Darien knows from the moment he meets Shantal that she sends his heart into overdrive, and Shantal can’t keep her eyes off of the gorgeous driver. But in the high stakes world of Formula One, there’s no room for error, and there’s definitely no room for romance on the racetrack…
353 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 21, 2024
44 people are currently reading
1604 people want to read
About the author
Esha Patel
10 books120 followersEsha Patel is a contemporary romance author with a love for diverse romances and empowering stories. She is a full-time college student in the Midwest, and loves spending time with family and friends, dancing, watching sports (Ferrari and Real Madrid are her favorites), and baking lots and lots of stuff that can probably feed multiple eleven-man soccer teams.
Feel free to follow Esha on Instagram and TikTok @eshapatelauthor!
To contact: email at authoreshapatel@gmail.com with any inquiries.
Feel free to follow Esha on Instagram and TikTok @eshapatelauthor!
To contact: email at authoreshapatel@gmail.com with any inquiries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
March 31, 2025
there are some epilogues that truly I’m so sorry just do not do it for me but the F1 of it all slayed
September 23, 2025
felt like two different books. The themes changed a LOT about halfway through idk
June 25, 2025
Books like this trick me into thinking I understand a sport 😂 I loved the F1, the characters, the setting, the inclusion of a woman in a male-dominated field… it was just really fun!
March 9, 2025
3 🌟
The book at a glance:
🏁 F1 Romance
🏎️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🏁 Found Family
🏎️ Dual POV
🏁 Multicultural backgrounds
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the advance reader’s copy.
While I could identify with Shantal’s pain and grief, I found it incredibly difficult to care about the main characters. Something about them just didn’t click for me, they felt very superficial despite the heavy backgrounds of both characters. Some of the side characters’ actions and descriptions also felt incomplete (ex: Raya). I was expecting a smaller arc with the way things were described but nothing ever came up.
I appreciated that the author went into detail about Formula 1 racing, which a lot of sports romances lack. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to make up for the montage-like nature of the book. The characters seemed like they were in lust and never quite in love. That transition seemed to happen with the snap of a finger and felt very abrupt and left me confused and unconvinced.
There were sweet, funny, and moving moments throughout the book, but the pacing felt off. The third act breakup felt very forced and unnecessary, not all romances need to follow the same formula (pardon the pun). The epilogue was very hasty and I hope the final copy offers more detail.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read but I had to force myself to finish the book.
The book at a glance:
🏁 F1 Romance
🏎️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🏁 Found Family
🏎️ Dual POV
🏁 Multicultural backgrounds
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the advance reader’s copy.
While I could identify with Shantal’s pain and grief, I found it incredibly difficult to care about the main characters. Something about them just didn’t click for me, they felt very superficial despite the heavy backgrounds of both characters. Some of the side characters’ actions and descriptions also felt incomplete (ex: Raya). I was expecting a smaller arc with the way things were described but nothing ever came up.
I appreciated that the author went into detail about Formula 1 racing, which a lot of sports romances lack. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to make up for the montage-like nature of the book. The characters seemed like they were in lust and never quite in love. That transition seemed to happen with the snap of a finger and felt very abrupt and left me confused and unconvinced.
There were sweet, funny, and moving moments throughout the book, but the pacing felt off. The third act breakup felt very forced and unnecessary, not all romances need to follow the same formula (pardon the pun). The epilogue was very hasty and I hope the final copy offers more detail.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read but I had to force myself to finish the book.
April 22, 2025
Deze was funnnnn yes me happy now
October 31, 2024
ARC REVIEW
Darien is an F1 driver, with a lot riding on his driving this upcoming season. Shantal works for a company that uses data analysis and brand new tech to improve their performance.
The pacing was all off for the book. At some point it was moving fast other it was incredibly slow, and overall, the slow burn was just so slow. They only really had any chemistry at the end of the book, by which point any chemistry was just unbelievable because any trace of attraction was missing through the beginning of the book. Although there can be an appreciation for a different type of Formula 1 romance with the grief storyline, it was focused to much on the grief instead of any character development in Shantal learning to overcome it with the new opportunity presented in front of her. In terms of Formula 1 its ample scene which can be appreciated however terminology/ logistics could do with being checked because the description of some of the sim work wasn’t accurate at all. The way in which Shantal character is written is just to follow the it girl, stereotypical clueless girl in a world in which she works in is infuriating to read, how can someone work within a world and be so clueless about it. The 3rd act breakup was completely unnecessary and forced. It was done to comply with the stereotypical formula for a romance book, but it was not necessary and made the book just a bit more infuriating.
Darien is an F1 driver, with a lot riding on his driving this upcoming season. Shantal works for a company that uses data analysis and brand new tech to improve their performance.
The pacing was all off for the book. At some point it was moving fast other it was incredibly slow, and overall, the slow burn was just so slow. They only really had any chemistry at the end of the book, by which point any chemistry was just unbelievable because any trace of attraction was missing through the beginning of the book. Although there can be an appreciation for a different type of Formula 1 romance with the grief storyline, it was focused to much on the grief instead of any character development in Shantal learning to overcome it with the new opportunity presented in front of her. In terms of Formula 1 its ample scene which can be appreciated however terminology/ logistics could do with being checked because the description of some of the sim work wasn’t accurate at all. The way in which Shantal character is written is just to follow the it girl, stereotypical clueless girl in a world in which she works in is infuriating to read, how can someone work within a world and be so clueless about it. The 3rd act breakup was completely unnecessary and forced. It was done to comply with the stereotypical formula for a romance book, but it was not necessary and made the book just a bit more infuriating.
May 26, 2025
4⭐️
I really enjoyed my read of this one but it’s been two weeks since I read it and I barely remember it 😅 probably just a me problem but this one did not stick with me
I really enjoyed my read of this one but it’s been two weeks since I read it and I barely remember it 😅 probably just a me problem but this one did not stick with me
February 15, 2025
Can’t believe I finished it. 1st book of the year !
1 mois ce n’est finalement pas si long même si ce n’est pas mon rythme habituel. J’ai bien aimé ce livre mais je n’ai pas forcément été transcendée.
« Don’t waste your time in making everyone else happy. »
1 mois ce n’est finalement pas si long même si ce n’est pas mon rythme habituel. J’ai bien aimé ce livre mais je n’ai pas forcément été transcendée.
« Don’t waste your time in making everyone else happy. »
November 19, 2024
4.5 stars!!
Thank you Avon Books for the early copy!!
Darien and Shantal’s story is emotional, exciting and heart-wrenching. Their connection truly is other-worldly and I’m in awe!!
I loved being back in the Offtrack world, seeing the characters and getting right into the exciting world of racing. I do wish we spent a tiny bit more time on track but I believe the things that happened off the track really solidified the characters’ connection and made me believe in them.
It’s a delicious slow burn - agonising at points! but the end result is so so so worth it.
As usual, the writing was absolutely beautiful, captivating and stunning - I’ll never get over Esha’s writing. It truly is like a movie playing in my head and I can visualise every last detail.
I truly want to be friends with these characters and am devastated they aren’t real. This is talent!!! I will read anything this woman writes.
The last 20% especially was jaw-dropping. Some of the quotes will stick with me for a long time, and I was sobbing at the end. Incredible!!!
Thank you Avon Books for the early copy!!
Darien and Shantal’s story is emotional, exciting and heart-wrenching. Their connection truly is other-worldly and I’m in awe!!
I loved being back in the Offtrack world, seeing the characters and getting right into the exciting world of racing. I do wish we spent a tiny bit more time on track but I believe the things that happened off the track really solidified the characters’ connection and made me believe in them.
It’s a delicious slow burn - agonising at points! but the end result is so so so worth it.
As usual, the writing was absolutely beautiful, captivating and stunning - I’ll never get over Esha’s writing. It truly is like a movie playing in my head and I can visualise every last detail.
I truly want to be friends with these characters and am devastated they aren’t real. This is talent!!! I will read anything this woman writes.
The last 20% especially was jaw-dropping. Some of the quotes will stick with me for a long time, and I was sobbing at the end. Incredible!!!
September 2, 2024
4.5🌟
In my era of F1 sports romances at the moment hehe. I don't know what it was about this one but I really enjoyed it and whizzed through it in a day. I wouldn't necessarily say it's grumpy x sunshine as such, but there's more of a dislike to love vibe going on between the 2 of them.
Darien is an F1 driver, with a lot riding on his driving this upcoming season. Shantal works for a company that uses data analysis and brand new tech to improve their performance. Close proximity, having to work together and dealing with the stresses of the f1 season - what could possibly go wrong?
Add in the fact that this book has a really strong narrative in relation to grief, for both characters. 1 with some more recent grief and 1 from a long time ago, but it showcases how grief has a profound impact and how it can be different for each and every person but also how time can change some things.
Their romance was just the right level of slow burn and cute for me, and it didn't feel too smutty at all, which some other books have gone overboard with at times!
Overall, I enjoyed reading it a lot and thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for providing me with an eARC.
In my era of F1 sports romances at the moment hehe. I don't know what it was about this one but I really enjoyed it and whizzed through it in a day. I wouldn't necessarily say it's grumpy x sunshine as such, but there's more of a dislike to love vibe going on between the 2 of them.
Darien is an F1 driver, with a lot riding on his driving this upcoming season. Shantal works for a company that uses data analysis and brand new tech to improve their performance. Close proximity, having to work together and dealing with the stresses of the f1 season - what could possibly go wrong?
Add in the fact that this book has a really strong narrative in relation to grief, for both characters. 1 with some more recent grief and 1 from a long time ago, but it showcases how grief has a profound impact and how it can be different for each and every person but also how time can change some things.
Their romance was just the right level of slow burn and cute for me, and it didn't feel too smutty at all, which some other books have gone overboard with at times!
Overall, I enjoyed reading it a lot and thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for providing me with an eARC.
September 6, 2025
Man I love Darien🥹🥹 and i love shantal🥹. darien is THE golden retriever man. and i love that so much. so does Shantal. darien is also THE man for Shantal. she needed darien just as much darien needed shantal. shantal sees him as him. the both SEE each other. and it was beautiful to read about it. how deep and full their love for each other was. i also love the aspects of grief in this book. it was so well done. and it also made me cry. it was just such a beautiful story. darien is the air and the freedom shantal needs and shantal is the calm and the support darien needed. it fit all so well. besides that to see the f1 family come true made my heart very happy🥹 i just love this family. andnim sad its over💛😭
December 4, 2024
1.5/5⭐️
Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me ☹️, I really hoped this book would be more enjoyable than it was for me. I liked the plot, and Darien’s backstory was engaging with his journey through grief and the stages of healing, but as for his and Shantal’s relationship, I just couldn’t get into it, or connect with their characters individually. Overall I thought the plot was great, but the lack of connection with the characters or their “chemistry” put me off a bit.
Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me ☹️, I really hoped this book would be more enjoyable than it was for me. I liked the plot, and Darien’s backstory was engaging with his journey through grief and the stages of healing, but as for his and Shantal’s relationship, I just couldn’t get into it, or connect with their characters individually. Overall I thought the plot was great, but the lack of connection with the characters or their “chemistry” put me off a bit.
November 3, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ Although this book had a different approach to F1 with the FMC being into the analytics and sim-racing side which I enjoyed, the whole storyline was quite predictable and unrealistic. The book does touch on grief and the loss of family members which was done in a beautiful way. The romance, however, with random spice scenes thrown in at like the worst of times when he has an injury didn't make sense!? It just wasn't for me.
October 12, 2024
the funniest, flirtiest f1 romance ive read. shanni and darien are absolutely made for eachother, and their relationship is so honest, raw and open. this was perfectly spicy, sweet and emotional. esha handled grief with such care, it was heartbreaking to read about sonias story. the plot was intriguing and im interested to see what’s next
November 13, 2024
I read an ARC of 'Overdrive' by Esha Patel, and I found it to be okay. I got a little enjoyment out of it, but overall, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I can see how others might really enjoy this book, as it has its merits, but for me, it didn't quite hit the mark. If you're curious, I'd still recommend giving it a try!
November 18, 2024
one thing about me is that i am going to eat a Formula One romance up every single time. the slow burn, woman in stem, found family, acts of service perfect storm. had fun reading this over the weekend & can't wait to keep up to date with the offtrack series & Esha Patel's releases in the future! thank you, Netgalley, Esha Patel and Avon Books UK, for this ARC of Overdrive that releases on November 21st 2024!
August 18, 2025
cute…my dream date
this book made me want to be a WAG and a F1 racer at the same time. Darien is soo amazing and he gives such adorable golden retriever vibes. i love when Shantal clocks him and the other F1 racers. she’s such a girl boss #womeninstem
this book made me want to be a WAG and a F1 racer at the same time. Darien is soo amazing and he gives such adorable golden retriever vibes. i love when Shantal clocks him and the other F1 racers. she’s such a girl boss #womeninstem
April 21, 2025
For a book written about fast things.. This book is a snore fest full of ghosts, F1 buzzwords and unrealistic happenings between races.
April 30, 2025
Loved the general concept of this story, but I just couldn’t seem to gel with the characters and found myself skim reading quite a lot to get to the end.
August 31, 2024
Overdrive is serving: the flare of Brazil in Fast Five, an explosion culture, and of course all the hallmarks of Formula One realness.
I will always say this: REPRESENTATION IN ROMANCE MATTERS. The audience of the publishing world is so vast. However, when an author takes the time to step back, listen, and say “Yes, I see you and this book is for you”. I salute them and stick with them. Esha puts in the research and WORK. This isn’t superfluous, it’s an author with a commitment of doing everything at level 100. Standing on BUSINESS.
Yes, I love the analysis of Formula One and in this novel especially the technology of a simulator. But lemme tell you: CHAPTER 28. Essays can be written about it. A moment of sincerity, it’s the quiet intimate moments that I appreciate as a reader. Shantal and Darien visit a mandir. The scene is all about taking the time to wish for someone’s wellbeing. It’s selfless, accepting, and just overall a golden moment.
Darien and Shantal are ambitious, healing, and are dealing with PTSD from two heartbreaking experiences. Overdrive explores that fully. The romance for me is a slow burn and when it gets started, whew celebrate.
Esha Patel girlie you’ve got me as a reader for life and I’m ready for more!
Thank you so much Avon Books UK for providing an ARC!
I will always say this: REPRESENTATION IN ROMANCE MATTERS. The audience of the publishing world is so vast. However, when an author takes the time to step back, listen, and say “Yes, I see you and this book is for you”. I salute them and stick with them. Esha puts in the research and WORK. This isn’t superfluous, it’s an author with a commitment of doing everything at level 100. Standing on BUSINESS.
Yes, I love the analysis of Formula One and in this novel especially the technology of a simulator. But lemme tell you: CHAPTER 28. Essays can be written about it. A moment of sincerity, it’s the quiet intimate moments that I appreciate as a reader. Shantal and Darien visit a mandir. The scene is all about taking the time to wish for someone’s wellbeing. It’s selfless, accepting, and just overall a golden moment.
Darien and Shantal are ambitious, healing, and are dealing with PTSD from two heartbreaking experiences. Overdrive explores that fully. The romance for me is a slow burn and when it gets started, whew celebrate.
Esha Patel girlie you’ve got me as a reader for life and I’m ready for more!
Thank you so much Avon Books UK for providing an ARC!
September 20, 2024
"But it's always gonna be your right to love, as much as it is anyone else's"
Everything about this book is just so good.
Overdrive by Esha Patel is a dual POV romance that focuses on Darien and Shantal. There is one thing that Darien is sure about in life, and that is racing is his life. It's his reason for living and breathing. The one thing that he loves more than racing? Brazil, his home. When he's given the opportunity to test out a new racing sim and track there, he knows failure is not an option. Enter Shantal, she knows that success is everything, and having her racing sim being in a new training facility in Brazil is something she knows has to go right. Leaving her life behind in London is the only option. When they meet, Shantal is guarded, and Darien want to do anything to bring those walls down, but is he ready to discover why Shantal guards her heart so closely? And more importantly, can he let it get in the way of winning the World Drivers Championship?
I want tot start this by saying that this may be the most highlighted book I've ever had on my kindle. I loved Offtrack, but wow, this book is something else.
Shantal is simply one of my favourite female characters. There's such strength in her grief and the decision to leave her life behind to travel into the unknown whilst she's struggling with that grief is something that I could only dream of doing. Having her have such a big heart, but keeping it very guarded is so interesting, because you really get to see when she lets her guard down the kind of person she is. I loved seeing her through Darien's eyes, because it feels like he saw her differently than the way she saw herself. I love the gradual change in her from feeling as though she is undeserving of the chance to go to Brazil, to being there and only caring about getting the job done, and then to caring for the job, the sport and the people. It was so gradual that I didn't fully understand it until she was back with her family, and honestly it was so interesting and fun to read. Her grief felt so raw, and it was somehting that felt so personal and so relatable at the same time, the complicated feelings that come with grief being explained in a way that had tears in my eyes just made me feel so represented and seen. My only issue with Shantal is the football team she supports, (as a Tottenham Hotspurs fan), just daggers to my chest.
Darien though. I love the way he's able to be cheeky and immature, whilst still understanding the weight of the position he holds as a Formula 1 driver. It's one of those things you don't really think about until something big happens on the track, but its a sport where the drivers have to be hyper aware and locked in, and personally I loved the difference between Darien on the track and Darien off the track. It really highlighted the dangers of Formula 1 to me. Him being so gone for Shantal as well had me absolutely melting. Even before anything happened between them, him being so persistent with her being appreciated and getting her flowers was just the sweetest thing.
I loved that it really was a slow burn book. Shantal being able to recognise her guard coming down then knowing she isn't ready and putting it back up again is so relatable, and I found it interesting that it was never a case of oh we've shared this moment know everything has changed and they both had to work to get to the stage where they were bale to let their guards down and let the other in. Him being very, 'I'm pulling out all the stops in prayer that she'll say yes.' and her being 'What would it feel like to be touched by such strong, beautiful hands' was just such a interesting dynamic to see them fall so slowly and then be so for each other that it made me feel giddy.
One thing I couldn't get over in this book was how dreamy the writing was. The descriptions of Brazil and the way they were feeling about each other was just so enchanting. It made it so much more immersive and it just made the whole experience of reading more enjoyable. I kept getting caught up in the descriptions, and whilst sometimes I'm not a fan of pages of description, in this I would have loved more, I genuinely can't describe how perfect it was, but it really made me want to visit Brazil and see it through this perspective. The care in writing about Shantal's culture as well was something that was so fascinating to me. To see the dynamic between her family and when she brings Darien to the temple with her, and the description of it was simply beautiful.
The high stakes aspects in this book as well, were done so well that there times where I could forget what was on the line, then when reminded made all the races more interesting to read. I loved the balance between the racing and the time between races, just everything about it. I could continue gushing about this book, but everything about it was a firm favourite to me. Such an easy 5 stars for me.
ARC provided by Avon Books UK through NetGalley, thank you for the opportunity to read this early copy, all thoughts are my own.
Everything about this book is just so good.
Overdrive by Esha Patel is a dual POV romance that focuses on Darien and Shantal. There is one thing that Darien is sure about in life, and that is racing is his life. It's his reason for living and breathing. The one thing that he loves more than racing? Brazil, his home. When he's given the opportunity to test out a new racing sim and track there, he knows failure is not an option. Enter Shantal, she knows that success is everything, and having her racing sim being in a new training facility in Brazil is something she knows has to go right. Leaving her life behind in London is the only option. When they meet, Shantal is guarded, and Darien want to do anything to bring those walls down, but is he ready to discover why Shantal guards her heart so closely? And more importantly, can he let it get in the way of winning the World Drivers Championship?
I want tot start this by saying that this may be the most highlighted book I've ever had on my kindle. I loved Offtrack, but wow, this book is something else.
Shantal is simply one of my favourite female characters. There's such strength in her grief and the decision to leave her life behind to travel into the unknown whilst she's struggling with that grief is something that I could only dream of doing. Having her have such a big heart, but keeping it very guarded is so interesting, because you really get to see when she lets her guard down the kind of person she is. I loved seeing her through Darien's eyes, because it feels like he saw her differently than the way she saw herself. I love the gradual change in her from feeling as though she is undeserving of the chance to go to Brazil, to being there and only caring about getting the job done, and then to caring for the job, the sport and the people. It was so gradual that I didn't fully understand it until she was back with her family, and honestly it was so interesting and fun to read. Her grief felt so raw, and it was somehting that felt so personal and so relatable at the same time, the complicated feelings that come with grief being explained in a way that had tears in my eyes just made me feel so represented and seen. My only issue with Shantal is the football team she supports, (as a Tottenham Hotspurs fan), just daggers to my chest.
Darien though. I love the way he's able to be cheeky and immature, whilst still understanding the weight of the position he holds as a Formula 1 driver. It's one of those things you don't really think about until something big happens on the track, but its a sport where the drivers have to be hyper aware and locked in, and personally I loved the difference between Darien on the track and Darien off the track. It really highlighted the dangers of Formula 1 to me. Him being so gone for Shantal as well had me absolutely melting. Even before anything happened between them, him being so persistent with her being appreciated and getting her flowers was just the sweetest thing.
I loved that it really was a slow burn book. Shantal being able to recognise her guard coming down then knowing she isn't ready and putting it back up again is so relatable, and I found it interesting that it was never a case of oh we've shared this moment know everything has changed and they both had to work to get to the stage where they were bale to let their guards down and let the other in. Him being very, 'I'm pulling out all the stops in prayer that she'll say yes.' and her being 'What would it feel like to be touched by such strong, beautiful hands' was just such a interesting dynamic to see them fall so slowly and then be so for each other that it made me feel giddy.
One thing I couldn't get over in this book was how dreamy the writing was. The descriptions of Brazil and the way they were feeling about each other was just so enchanting. It made it so much more immersive and it just made the whole experience of reading more enjoyable. I kept getting caught up in the descriptions, and whilst sometimes I'm not a fan of pages of description, in this I would have loved more, I genuinely can't describe how perfect it was, but it really made me want to visit Brazil and see it through this perspective. The care in writing about Shantal's culture as well was something that was so fascinating to me. To see the dynamic between her family and when she brings Darien to the temple with her, and the description of it was simply beautiful.
The high stakes aspects in this book as well, were done so well that there times where I could forget what was on the line, then when reminded made all the races more interesting to read. I loved the balance between the racing and the time between races, just everything about it. I could continue gushing about this book, but everything about it was a firm favourite to me. Such an easy 5 stars for me.
ARC provided by Avon Books UK through NetGalley, thank you for the opportunity to read this early copy, all thoughts are my own.
November 20, 2024
Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I will start by saying I didn't realize this was the second book in a series. That being said, this one can definitely be read on its own but it seems it will spoil some stuff from the first book. It's more like an interconnected stand alone with cross over characters and relationships. I see that the MMC, Darien, from this book appears in the first book and perhaps if I had read that, I would have understood and liked his character a bit more.
I know F1 is the hot thing right now and I've been craving those books because I really enjoy the races. This is my third book in this type of world and I was hoping it would be the one to hit the spot. I have high expectations of what will happen in these books, of how things will play out, of what the authors will present when it comes to racing. I think Patel did a fairly good job of this overall. This sport is tough and highly competitive. Plus, very technical. I will say there were some areas that confused me, even being an F1 fan. Some technical stuff that didn't necessarily need to be included as I'm not sure the regular reader would really get it without more of an explanation.
Overall I liked Shantel and Darien enough to want to know where things went. I did struggle at times with their personalities. I definitely liked Darien more than Shante. I can see Darien is kind of the golden retriever type, though there wasn't as much joy coming from him as I would have liked. I didn't necessarily feel the chemistry between them, either. It felt a bit like insta-love with no growth. It felt like the author was forcing the characters to have a connection and become romantically involved. I wanted to slow build burn the author was trying to establish but it just felt flat. And nothing truly happened until about 3/4 of the way through the book. Normally, I'm good with this if the author shows how the characters are becoming connected and forming a relationship, but that wasn't the case with this book. Also, I didn't necessarily feel the characters' growth as I'm sure the author intended. Both are going through a grief process, which should help them connect, but it didn't. This theme was very heavy but it felt superficial in this book. The author continuously told us how sad the characters were but didn't really show that to us in a meaningful way. And I didn't see them developing and learning from what they were at the beginning of the story.
I feel like the author included a lot of the F1 information to try and move the story along. But it just made it boring, to be honest. It felted forced on the reader than than a way to show them the sport.
I will say the author describes the settings well. I liked that she took us from race to race and showed us some parts of where those races take place. And she did make me want to perhaps visit Brazil, it sounds like an interesting place.
Lastly, this author does a lot of telling rather than showing. Every little detail of what the characters are doing is told to the reader rather than making the reader feel like they are in the scene and experiencing what the characters are going through. It killed the pacing for me and I often times felt like I needed to skim the scene, rather than immerse myself in it to find out what was going on. It took me out of the story and didn't make me want to pick it back up. Often the author added information to the story which did nothing to move the plot forward. There were a lot of things that were mundane and unnecessary. At times it was even confusing when the characters were speaking or when the author was trying to show a scene but it was all described to us in minute detail.
I don't think I will be continuing with this series. This one was truly a struggle for me. The author has some potential but needs to hone things better to make the story more cohesive and enjoyable. The execution was poor and just didn't work for me. I do think that F1 fans may enjoy the depth the author goes into regarding the sport but if they are looking for a great romance with amazing character growth to go along with that, I think they will be disappointed.
I will start by saying I didn't realize this was the second book in a series. That being said, this one can definitely be read on its own but it seems it will spoil some stuff from the first book. It's more like an interconnected stand alone with cross over characters and relationships. I see that the MMC, Darien, from this book appears in the first book and perhaps if I had read that, I would have understood and liked his character a bit more.
I know F1 is the hot thing right now and I've been craving those books because I really enjoy the races. This is my third book in this type of world and I was hoping it would be the one to hit the spot. I have high expectations of what will happen in these books, of how things will play out, of what the authors will present when it comes to racing. I think Patel did a fairly good job of this overall. This sport is tough and highly competitive. Plus, very technical. I will say there were some areas that confused me, even being an F1 fan. Some technical stuff that didn't necessarily need to be included as I'm not sure the regular reader would really get it without more of an explanation.
Overall I liked Shantel and Darien enough to want to know where things went. I did struggle at times with their personalities. I definitely liked Darien more than Shante. I can see Darien is kind of the golden retriever type, though there wasn't as much joy coming from him as I would have liked. I didn't necessarily feel the chemistry between them, either. It felt a bit like insta-love with no growth. It felt like the author was forcing the characters to have a connection and become romantically involved. I wanted to slow build burn the author was trying to establish but it just felt flat. And nothing truly happened until about 3/4 of the way through the book. Normally, I'm good with this if the author shows how the characters are becoming connected and forming a relationship, but that wasn't the case with this book. Also, I didn't necessarily feel the characters' growth as I'm sure the author intended. Both are going through a grief process, which should help them connect, but it didn't. This theme was very heavy but it felt superficial in this book. The author continuously told us how sad the characters were but didn't really show that to us in a meaningful way. And I didn't see them developing and learning from what they were at the beginning of the story.
I feel like the author included a lot of the F1 information to try and move the story along. But it just made it boring, to be honest. It felted forced on the reader than than a way to show them the sport.
I will say the author describes the settings well. I liked that she took us from race to race and showed us some parts of where those races take place. And she did make me want to perhaps visit Brazil, it sounds like an interesting place.
Lastly, this author does a lot of telling rather than showing. Every little detail of what the characters are doing is told to the reader rather than making the reader feel like they are in the scene and experiencing what the characters are going through. It killed the pacing for me and I often times felt like I needed to skim the scene, rather than immerse myself in it to find out what was going on. It took me out of the story and didn't make me want to pick it back up. Often the author added information to the story which did nothing to move the plot forward. There were a lot of things that were mundane and unnecessary. At times it was even confusing when the characters were speaking or when the author was trying to show a scene but it was all described to us in minute detail.
I don't think I will be continuing with this series. This one was truly a struggle for me. The author has some potential but needs to hone things better to make the story more cohesive and enjoyable. The execution was poor and just didn't work for me. I do think that F1 fans may enjoy the depth the author goes into regarding the sport but if they are looking for a great romance with amazing character growth to go along with that, I think they will be disappointed.
May 8, 2025
I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
My F1 team is coming to my home, and my entire country will be watching.
Second in the Offtrack series, Overdrive stars an F1 driver named Darien who was originally from Brazil but moved to California with his mother after his father died in a car accident and Shantal, an Indo-Guyanese woman living in London who works on a racing simulator project for a company but is still fighting through the grief of losing her sister. You could jump into the series, like I did, as I never felt lost but readers of the first book will enjoy an emotional connection to those previous main character leads as they feature frequently. Told in alternating povs from Shantal and Darien, you'll get two characters who still hold grief over the loved ones they lost, which in Shantal's case, causes her to not want to open her heart fully to Darien.
Shantal, a head and half shorter than me with a voice like a Disney princess's, has me off my game.
Darien was pretty much all in for Shantal from the beginning but the author spends a good portion of the first half giving a base for the Formula 1 racing world. I personally am not a follower of the sport, so at times my eyes wanted to glaze over a bit as the story gave more to those aspects than the romance. I thought it felt a little off that Shantal was sent to Brazil by the company to lead the simulator project when she didn't seem to know anything about the sport. How would she have made a fantastic simulator without knowing at least technical aspects of the sport, giving at least a decent look-in to it? It felt a little shaky but works to have her have to ask questions which leads to the reader getting the answers; so you'll learn some about the sport. The middle starts the race season and I did really enjoy the description of the first race, it provided those special aspects and scenes with tense emotion and excitement that you want when you pick up a sports romance like this.
I tell her how much I cannot stand him.
And then that turns into something else.
The romance ended up not having enough to it for me, Darien likes/loves Shantal from the start with Shantal being physically attracted to Darien right away but having to work through her grief over her sister before, at the end, she gets help from a family member to help her come to the decision to accept her love for him. I missed Shantal and Darien working through emotional issues/conflicts together, instead of Shantal just having her own thing. Darien does have some father issues, pressure of feeling like he's representing not only is family but also country, and has singular dark moment alone to overcome (which felt gotten over kind of quickly and easily that any emotional upheaval and fight triumph from it just wasn't felt by me), but it wasn't as heavy as Shantal's. They talk and share but the working together to come together didn't feel as strong as I would have liked.
What do I do if Shantal is my centre? What do I do if I can't hold without her?
I felt like the story had a tendency to jump from highlighted emotional scene to highlighted emotional scene without threading them with the foundational glue needed between characters. I need those seemingly innocuous building depth blocks to make those quotable scenes hit me with the feels, otherwise they end up feeling empty flash to me. The ending and epilogue more than delivered on giving the characters HEAs. If you're a reader of the series or are a fan of Formula 1, you'd have a good chance of enjoying this more than I did, in which case, enjoy vrooming around in those race scenes.
My F1 team is coming to my home, and my entire country will be watching.
Second in the Offtrack series, Overdrive stars an F1 driver named Darien who was originally from Brazil but moved to California with his mother after his father died in a car accident and Shantal, an Indo-Guyanese woman living in London who works on a racing simulator project for a company but is still fighting through the grief of losing her sister. You could jump into the series, like I did, as I never felt lost but readers of the first book will enjoy an emotional connection to those previous main character leads as they feature frequently. Told in alternating povs from Shantal and Darien, you'll get two characters who still hold grief over the loved ones they lost, which in Shantal's case, causes her to not want to open her heart fully to Darien.
Shantal, a head and half shorter than me with a voice like a Disney princess's, has me off my game.
Darien was pretty much all in for Shantal from the beginning but the author spends a good portion of the first half giving a base for the Formula 1 racing world. I personally am not a follower of the sport, so at times my eyes wanted to glaze over a bit as the story gave more to those aspects than the romance. I thought it felt a little off that Shantal was sent to Brazil by the company to lead the simulator project when she didn't seem to know anything about the sport. How would she have made a fantastic simulator without knowing at least technical aspects of the sport, giving at least a decent look-in to it? It felt a little shaky but works to have her have to ask questions which leads to the reader getting the answers; so you'll learn some about the sport. The middle starts the race season and I did really enjoy the description of the first race, it provided those special aspects and scenes with tense emotion and excitement that you want when you pick up a sports romance like this.
I tell her how much I cannot stand him.
And then that turns into something else.
The romance ended up not having enough to it for me, Darien likes/loves Shantal from the start with Shantal being physically attracted to Darien right away but having to work through her grief over her sister before, at the end, she gets help from a family member to help her come to the decision to accept her love for him. I missed Shantal and Darien working through emotional issues/conflicts together, instead of Shantal just having her own thing. Darien does have some father issues, pressure of feeling like he's representing not only is family but also country, and has singular dark moment alone to overcome (which felt gotten over kind of quickly and easily that any emotional upheaval and fight triumph from it just wasn't felt by me), but it wasn't as heavy as Shantal's. They talk and share but the working together to come together didn't feel as strong as I would have liked.
What do I do if Shantal is my centre? What do I do if I can't hold without her?
I felt like the story had a tendency to jump from highlighted emotional scene to highlighted emotional scene without threading them with the foundational glue needed between characters. I need those seemingly innocuous building depth blocks to make those quotable scenes hit me with the feels, otherwise they end up feeling empty flash to me. The ending and epilogue more than delivered on giving the characters HEAs. If you're a reader of the series or are a fan of Formula 1, you'd have a good chance of enjoying this more than I did, in which case, enjoy vrooming around in those race scenes.
October 15, 2024
This is the first F1 romance I've ever read, and although I do generally love a good sports romance, I didn't expect the stakes to feel so high!
Shantal is a sports-simulation programmer, and while still grieving the loss of her sister, she is given an important role at work: go to Brazil and test her racing simulation on an up and coming F1 team. It's a big deal, there's a lot of money on the line, and she is determined to succeed. Darien is an F1 driver at the top of his game, and he's been given the opportunity to move back to his home city in Brazil to trial a new racing simulator. Despite the pressure from sponsors to rank on the podium in every race, he mainly just wants to race in a way that honours the father he lost too young. Despite initially getting off on the wrong foot, Shantal and Darien quickly realise that they understand each other in a way that no-one else ever has, but they cannot afford distractions. And there's the small matter of a promise Shantal made to her parents...
Patel spent a really nice amount of time at the start letting us get to know the characters individually before they meet each other. This meant that as the story progressed I really understood and believed their reactions to what was going on, particularly Shantal's. After a slower start, following the F1 season gave the book a really fast pace that just didn't stop until the final pages. Some of the races had me feeling sick because the stakes in a race are so high, and while I didn't love the way Shantal and Darien met or the conflict between them following it, this did not pan out in the way that I feared it would and seeing both characters battle their fears had me all in my feelings. I will happily admit the epilogue had me shedding a few tears.
I loved Shantal most of all. She is basically clueless about F1 which is great because it means you don't need to know anything as a reader either. She is fantastic at her job, at football (soccer for my American friends) and really, really smart. She doesn't compromise on this & when faced with male characters who look down on her, she shows them up, which I thought was super classy & hot. I saw the author describe her as 'silent rebellion' on Instagram and I love and agree with this description 100%. Shantal is Indo-Guyanese and I really loved getting to see some of her Hindu culture, something I have not read before in this genre. Her journey really warmed my heart.
Darien is a golden retriever with a good heart, a great driver, and an all round good time, but he is also fighting his own battles and seeing his journey warmed my heart too.
There is a small amount of spice in this book that for me was intimate & balanced well with the plot.
If you're a fan of F1 romance, I'm confident you'll love this addition to the genre, and if (like me) you've never read one before I highly recommend Overdrive as a great starting place.
Thank you Netgalley & Avon Books UK for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Shantal is a sports-simulation programmer, and while still grieving the loss of her sister, she is given an important role at work: go to Brazil and test her racing simulation on an up and coming F1 team. It's a big deal, there's a lot of money on the line, and she is determined to succeed. Darien is an F1 driver at the top of his game, and he's been given the opportunity to move back to his home city in Brazil to trial a new racing simulator. Despite the pressure from sponsors to rank on the podium in every race, he mainly just wants to race in a way that honours the father he lost too young. Despite initially getting off on the wrong foot, Shantal and Darien quickly realise that they understand each other in a way that no-one else ever has, but they cannot afford distractions. And there's the small matter of a promise Shantal made to her parents...
Patel spent a really nice amount of time at the start letting us get to know the characters individually before they meet each other. This meant that as the story progressed I really understood and believed their reactions to what was going on, particularly Shantal's. After a slower start, following the F1 season gave the book a really fast pace that just didn't stop until the final pages. Some of the races had me feeling sick because the stakes in a race are so high, and while I didn't love the way Shantal and Darien met or the conflict between them following it, this did not pan out in the way that I feared it would and seeing both characters battle their fears had me all in my feelings. I will happily admit the epilogue had me shedding a few tears.
I loved Shantal most of all. She is basically clueless about F1 which is great because it means you don't need to know anything as a reader either. She is fantastic at her job, at football (soccer for my American friends) and really, really smart. She doesn't compromise on this & when faced with male characters who look down on her, she shows them up, which I thought was super classy & hot. I saw the author describe her as 'silent rebellion' on Instagram and I love and agree with this description 100%. Shantal is Indo-Guyanese and I really loved getting to see some of her Hindu culture, something I have not read before in this genre. Her journey really warmed my heart.
Darien is a golden retriever with a good heart, a great driver, and an all round good time, but he is also fighting his own battles and seeing his journey warmed my heart too.
There is a small amount of spice in this book that for me was intimate & balanced well with the plot.
If you're a fan of F1 romance, I'm confident you'll love this addition to the genre, and if (like me) you've never read one before I highly recommend Overdrive as a great starting place.
Thank you Netgalley & Avon Books UK for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 9, 2025
2.75 stars ⊹₊⋆
“they say you van hear a heart when it breaks, but i realise today that it’s the same for one that’s being put back together”
⋆ ˚｡⋆౨ৎ˚
shantal joins the formula one world to test out her racing simulator on the high performance drivers to help analyse and improve the skillset of the driving team - where we meet darien a very passionate formula one driver who is feeling the pressure of this years championship.
i did enjoy this book more than the first in this interconnected stand alone series.. but it still was just okay? nothing really blew me away nor did i have a connection with either main character. this storyline played a lot on grief and i did feel that it overpowered the characters meaning we didn’t get to see much of them or their growth. it kinda gave slight insta-love vibes { he was smitten for her and she like the look of him } or lust over love? because nothing happened again until 70% through the book! and again there was no tension or build up between characters? it kinda felt a little like two good friends helping each other through their grief?
౨ৎ˚ main characters
again, like the first book i’m going to do the characters together rather than separately cause there isn’t much to say.
i liked darien’s character, i liked him in offtrack and i had a lot more hope for this book cause of how much i enjoyed him in the first. again his accident with the grief of his father just seemed to overpower him and we didn’t get to enjoy his happy self we met in book one. shantal was a new character introduced through this book, again i enjoyed her more then diana but she also fell short for me. I kinda understood her job but also didn’t all at the same time. i wished in both books we got to really connect and understand the characters a lot more to help us appreciate the characters.
overall I fell like the stories are getting better as the series carries on, but i still am waiting for more. more connection to the characters, more development and more tension and love between our main characters to really help get us gripped. I feel like Esha has the formula one knowledge done so well but the romance portion is just lacking.
a massive thank you to netgallery for sending me an arc copy of this book to devour before the launch date!
“they say you van hear a heart when it breaks, but i realise today that it’s the same for one that’s being put back together”
⋆ ˚｡⋆౨ৎ˚
shantal joins the formula one world to test out her racing simulator on the high performance drivers to help analyse and improve the skillset of the driving team - where we meet darien a very passionate formula one driver who is feeling the pressure of this years championship.
i did enjoy this book more than the first in this interconnected stand alone series.. but it still was just okay? nothing really blew me away nor did i have a connection with either main character. this storyline played a lot on grief and i did feel that it overpowered the characters meaning we didn’t get to see much of them or their growth. it kinda gave slight insta-love vibes { he was smitten for her and she like the look of him } or lust over love? because nothing happened again until 70% through the book! and again there was no tension or build up between characters? it kinda felt a little like two good friends helping each other through their grief?
౨ৎ˚ main characters
again, like the first book i’m going to do the characters together rather than separately cause there isn’t much to say.
i liked darien’s character, i liked him in offtrack and i had a lot more hope for this book cause of how much i enjoyed him in the first. again his accident with the grief of his father just seemed to overpower him and we didn’t get to enjoy his happy self we met in book one. shantal was a new character introduced through this book, again i enjoyed her more then diana but she also fell short for me. I kinda understood her job but also didn’t all at the same time. i wished in both books we got to really connect and understand the characters a lot more to help us appreciate the characters.
overall I fell like the stories are getting better as the series carries on, but i still am waiting for more. more connection to the characters, more development and more tension and love between our main characters to really help get us gripped. I feel like Esha has the formula one knowledge done so well but the romance portion is just lacking.
a massive thank you to netgallery for sending me an arc copy of this book to devour before the launch date!
October 26, 2024
Right now is the moment for Formula 1 romances and I am not mad about it. I'm a huge F1 fan, so I knew right away that I would love this book. Darien is an F1 driver, with a lot riding on his driving this upcoming season. Shantal works for a company that uses data analysis and brand new tech to improve their performance. Close proximity, having to work together, and dealing with the stresses of the F1 season make for a wild ride between these two. The sparks are flying immediately, but these two are also dealing with grief and trying to navigate life after loss. I particularly love the way that the author develops each character individually before having them meet each other and begin their journey together. Shantal is such an amazing character to root for; she's so smart and confident. Darien is a great guy with a good heart, a seriously talented driver, and someone that others want to be around, but he is fighting his own battles and has to find a way to overcome them and balance it all. They were a perfect match for each other! The setting of the book is Brazil, and I really loved how the author took the time to research and develop all aspects of this book, including the representation. If you are a Formula 1 fan, or just are curious about it and want a book to get started with the sport, then this is the book for you!
Thank you to NetGalley, Esha Patel, and Avon Books for the eARC of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Esha Patel, and Avon Books for the eARC of this book.
September 13, 2024
If you are looking for a slow burn with deeper emotions, this is perfect.
The romance was lovely, not to spicy and slow burn. It felt real, with each other’s lives affecting their relationship and their future. I really enjoyed the end and felt all warm after finishing the Epilogue.
The representation was also really well done, from having the MMC be a Rio local and able to share his culture with the FMC. As well as the FMC’s culture. The representation of grief was wonderful. I think being able to show different sides of grief with two characters, from recent to long-term.
I think the formula 1 aspects were maybe not that realistic, especially with the sims work. As well as the timing, I don’t personally think it’s realistic how well the MMC performed (you can’t just come back after a few weeks of being in a bad accident (completely broken arm) and then win the championship). I don’t think this took away to much from the enjoyment.
I felt the pacing was slightly off, I’m not sure why, I think maybe it’s because of the slow burn (new for me) but I still was able to enjoying the journey. The writing style showed both POVs, which was nice, as we were following each life. I had a hard time feeling the uniqueness of both voices without the dialogue.
[ARC Netgally - Avon Books UK - Nov 21 2024]
The romance was lovely, not to spicy and slow burn. It felt real, with each other’s lives affecting their relationship and their future. I really enjoyed the end and felt all warm after finishing the Epilogue.
The representation was also really well done, from having the MMC be a Rio local and able to share his culture with the FMC. As well as the FMC’s culture. The representation of grief was wonderful. I think being able to show different sides of grief with two characters, from recent to long-term.
I think the formula 1 aspects were maybe not that realistic, especially with the sims work. As well as the timing, I don’t personally think it’s realistic how well the MMC performed (you can’t just come back after a few weeks of being in a bad accident (completely broken arm) and then win the championship). I don’t think this took away to much from the enjoyment.
I felt the pacing was slightly off, I’m not sure why, I think maybe it’s because of the slow burn (new for me) but I still was able to enjoying the journey. The writing style showed both POVs, which was nice, as we were following each life. I had a hard time feeling the uniqueness of both voices without the dialogue.
[ARC Netgally - Avon Books UK - Nov 21 2024]
August 17, 2025
Overdrive by Esha Patel
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Avon and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Racing starts. Rapid hearts. Revved engines.
Shantal knows one thing in life: that success means everything. So when she gets the call to move from London to Brazil, to test out her racing simulator on high performance Formula One racing drivers, she leaves her life behind, and goes. Because she’ll do anything to succeed.
Darien knows one thing in life: passion is everything. It’s his passion for driving that has led him to the heights of motorsport, a coveted seat as a Formula One driver. When his team insists he moves to Brazil to trial a new racing simulator and racetrack, he goes. Because the one thing he is more passionate about than cars, is Brazil, his home.
When Shantal and Darien meet, sparks aren’t just flying from the gearbox. Darien knows from the moment he meets Shantal that she sends his heart into overdrive, and Shantal can’t keep her eyes off of the gorgeous driver. But in the high stakes world of Formula One, there’s no room for error, and there’s definitely no room for romance on the racetrack…
My Opinion
Overdrive is a slow-burn romance. In places this was an emotional read. An interesting F1 sports romance.
Rating 4/5
October 16, 2024
This was a refreshing read. 3.5⭐️
Tropes: F1 Romance, Grumpy-sunshine, close proximity, slow burn, found family, he falls first, women in STEM
Shantal, a brilliant engineer and data analyst who gets the opportunity to test her racing simulator on high-performance Formula 1 drivers.
Darien, a famous and charismatic Formula 1 driver, who initially is skeptical of the simulator but soon finds himself drawn to both the technology and Shantal's infectious enthusiasm.
One particular scene I loved is praying for well being of the other in a temple. That right there is just pure. I really admire Shanni’s strength and her grief broke my heart. Darien has that charming character to him and his determination towards the game which makes him really loveable. I loved the supporting characters, mainly Shantal's best friend and Darien's team members.
I love F1 romance books, but this one felt different somehow. Darien & Shantel’s relationship went from lust to love within a snap. I love slow burn books when done right but this fast transition ain’t for me. I also didn’t feel connected to them particularly.
Thank you Netgalley & Avon book for the ARC in exchange for an Honest review.
Tropes: F1 Romance, Grumpy-sunshine, close proximity, slow burn, found family, he falls first, women in STEM
Shantal, a brilliant engineer and data analyst who gets the opportunity to test her racing simulator on high-performance Formula 1 drivers.
Darien, a famous and charismatic Formula 1 driver, who initially is skeptical of the simulator but soon finds himself drawn to both the technology and Shantal's infectious enthusiasm.
One particular scene I loved is praying for well being of the other in a temple. That right there is just pure. I really admire Shanni’s strength and her grief broke my heart. Darien has that charming character to him and his determination towards the game which makes him really loveable. I loved the supporting characters, mainly Shantal's best friend and Darien's team members.
I love F1 romance books, but this one felt different somehow. Darien & Shantel’s relationship went from lust to love within a snap. I love slow burn books when done right but this fast transition ain’t for me. I also didn’t feel connected to them particularly.
Thank you Netgalley & Avon book for the ARC in exchange for an Honest review.
November 18, 2024
What a beautiful, heartbreaking book that was also so full of joy and featured a love for the ages. This contemporary F1 romance gripped me and didn’t let me go until the HEA.
THOUGHTS 💭
🏎️ I love that this book takes us to new countries and introduces us to diverse characters from all over the world! There are also strong female characters that I loved.
🏎️ The author does an incredible job of weaving a story around a sport (F1) that I know little about, making it understandable and exciting.
🏎️ Our main characters are amazing in their own right and work so well together; they try their hardest to not take things out of the friend zone. This book features a slow burn to end all slow burns.
🏎️ Darien is a laid back, cinnamon roll F1 driver; Shantal is a determined, smart woman in STEM. Both are dealing with familial trauma and tragedy.
🏎️ There’s so much pressure on Darien and Shantel to succeed in this new tech endeavor and it was amazing to watch it play out. Your heart is pounding in the intense moments alongside these characters.
🏎️ The author pulls you into the story with her beautiful writing; you can’t help but wonder “what will happen next?!”
Thanks so much to Esha Patel, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
THOUGHTS 💭
🏎️ I love that this book takes us to new countries and introduces us to diverse characters from all over the world! There are also strong female characters that I loved.
🏎️ The author does an incredible job of weaving a story around a sport (F1) that I know little about, making it understandable and exciting.
🏎️ Our main characters are amazing in their own right and work so well together; they try their hardest to not take things out of the friend zone. This book features a slow burn to end all slow burns.
🏎️ Darien is a laid back, cinnamon roll F1 driver; Shantal is a determined, smart woman in STEM. Both are dealing with familial trauma and tragedy.
🏎️ There’s so much pressure on Darien and Shantel to succeed in this new tech endeavor and it was amazing to watch it play out. Your heart is pounding in the intense moments alongside these characters.
🏎️ The author pulls you into the story with her beautiful writing; you can’t help but wonder “what will happen next?!”
Thanks so much to Esha Patel, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
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