What do you think?
Rate this book
Not So Fast
"A delight from start to finish—I devoured it!" —USA TODAY bestselling author Grace Reilly
When the curves are this dangerous, only a race car driver will do… A sizzling, high-octane Formula One rom-com you can read in one sitting!
Mia Neal is a champion overthinker. Find something, fixate on it and spiral down. Fortunately, she puts that energy to good in a podcast about Formula One, her favorite sport in the world. There’s nothing about racing Mia doesn’t adore. The speed. The drivers. The fierce competition. The single-minded ambition. Ironic for a woman who’s changed careers more times than she can count.
Only now, her salty takes on gorgeous Brit driver Xander Bishop have gone viral, and the podcast feels more and more like what she’s meant to do… Then Xander’s teammate invites her to the Miami Grand Prix to see F1 up close—and get in Xander’s head. He’s not exactly delighted at the shade she’s been throwing his way.
It should be all-out war. Instead, Mia and Xander are stunned by the sudden crackle of…something sexual arcing between them. It’s irresistible, unbelievably hot—and Mia’s warning flags are waving. Because this reckless attraction is coming at Mia all too fast…
Not So Fast is a spicy, fast-paced romance you can read in one sitting.
When the curves are this dangerous, only a race car driver will do… A sizzling, high-octane Formula One rom-com you can read in one sitting!
Mia Neal is a champion overthinker. Find something, fixate on it and spiral down. Fortunately, she puts that energy to good in a podcast about Formula One, her favorite sport in the world. There’s nothing about racing Mia doesn’t adore. The speed. The drivers. The fierce competition. The single-minded ambition. Ironic for a woman who’s changed careers more times than she can count.
Only now, her salty takes on gorgeous Brit driver Xander Bishop have gone viral, and the podcast feels more and more like what she’s meant to do… Then Xander’s teammate invites her to the Miami Grand Prix to see F1 up close—and get in Xander’s head. He’s not exactly delighted at the shade she’s been throwing his way.
It should be all-out war. Instead, Mia and Xander are stunned by the sudden crackle of…something sexual arcing between them. It’s irresistible, unbelievably hot—and Mia’s warning flags are waving. Because this reckless attraction is coming at Mia all too fast…
Not So Fast is a spicy, fast-paced romance you can read in one sitting.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2025
245 people are currently reading
11514 people want to read
About the author
Karen Booth
315 books503 followersKaren Booth is a Midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on 80s music and repeated readings of Forever by Judy Blume. She writes steamy contemporary romance and women's fiction. When she isn't creating fictional hunky men and the women who test them, she's listening to music with her kids, honing her Southern cooking skills or sweet-talking her astoundingly supportive husband into whipping up a batch of cocktails.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 627 reviews
May 29, 2025
Not So Fast is a sweet and simple romance following Mia, an F1 podcaster gaining popularity after her no nonsense commentary, and Xander, her favorite driver, who is struggling with the new racing season. This was such a fun story! While the romance leaned a bit insta-lusty, the fast-paced plot made it work, and Mia and Xander’s relationship unraveled in a way that felt natural with the backdrop of multiple international races and all the traveling. The two were so cute, and I loved how encouraging and supportive they were of each other's careers. Not to mention all the banter and chemistry, the steam was very much forefront throughout the book. If you're looking to get into F1 romances, this flirty and fun story would be a great place to start!
~Many thanks to Harlequin for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
~Many thanks to Harlequin for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
March 29, 2025
This was a really cute read. It’s ur regular romcom and I enjoyed it.
There was definitely some points where I got slightly bored but it would quickly pick up and pull me back in which was nice.
The third act wasn’t as bad as I was dreading which I’m sooo glad about. They were mature and made some good calls.
Mia was a decent fmc. I liked her passion for her career and her thoughts were so cute and relatable.
Xander was rlly sweet but also hot like damnnn. I love the way he never tried coming in between her career and gave her space when she needed it. He had his complexes lol but it still didn’t take away from the romance.
Overall a really cute and fun book <3
⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Mills & Boon | Afterglow Books for the ARC! ♥︎
There was definitely some points where I got slightly bored but it would quickly pick up and pull me back in which was nice.
The third act wasn’t as bad as I was dreading which I’m sooo glad about. They were mature and made some good calls.
Mia was a decent fmc. I liked her passion for her career and her thoughts were so cute and relatable.
Xander was rlly sweet but also hot like damnnn. I love the way he never tried coming in between her career and gave her space when she needed it. He had his complexes lol but it still didn’t take away from the romance.
Overall a really cute and fun book <3
⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Mills & Boon | Afterglow Books for the ARC! ♥︎
June 7, 2025
dnf 50%
unfortunately it’s a dnf for me and i’m honestly kind of sad because the idea of the book was truly incredible. i won’t go into the details but basically there is a girl who started a podcast where she shares her opinion on the sport, teams and drivers. as the season goes she makes it clear that one specific driver is definitely not as great, creating a tension between the two. somehow she gets to the game, gets the pass for behind the scenes and meets the that one driver.
the hit of super fast and they become into each other like by the next chapter of meeting. i definitely think tension would be so much better than the insta love. they hook up also pretty fast and by the 60% i became tired. the story had no hooks or downfalls, it went in a straight line of them seeing each other and talking.
there was no growing of her podcast or his career, the story mainly focused on characters, making them sound boring and weird. the conversation sounded a little fake, because if i understood correctly, she was still pretty young and how old was he? no idea.
overall, the story had so much potential. both characters were unique and had a spark at the beginning. however, with the 50% it became repetitive and predictable.
Thank you Edelweiss and HarperCollins for the copy of the book.
unfortunately it’s a dnf for me and i’m honestly kind of sad because the idea of the book was truly incredible. i won’t go into the details but basically there is a girl who started a podcast where she shares her opinion on the sport, teams and drivers. as the season goes she makes it clear that one specific driver is definitely not as great, creating a tension between the two. somehow she gets to the game, gets the pass for behind the scenes and meets the that one driver.
the hit of super fast and they become into each other like by the next chapter of meeting. i definitely think tension would be so much better than the insta love. they hook up also pretty fast and by the 60% i became tired. the story had no hooks or downfalls, it went in a straight line of them seeing each other and talking.
there was no growing of her podcast or his career, the story mainly focused on characters, making them sound boring and weird. the conversation sounded a little fake, because if i understood correctly, she was still pretty young and how old was he? no idea.
overall, the story had so much potential. both characters were unique and had a spark at the beginning. however, with the 50% it became repetitive and predictable.
Thank you Edelweiss and HarperCollins for the copy of the book.
October 10, 2025
3.5⭐
Genre ~ sports romance
Setting ~ Texas and where some races are
Publication date ~ April 1, 2025
Est Page Count ~ 283 (16 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 17 minutes
Narrator ~ Talon David
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ podcaster, formula 1 racer, some steamage
Mia (Me~a, not My~a) & Xander don't get off on the right foot when she blasts his driving skills on her podcast Not so Fast. This starts as enemies, but soon after they meet in real life the sparks are flying faster than his racecar.
I've read quite a few sports romances but never one about race car driving, so that was fun. The author seemed to do her research since Mia was spewing facts about it left and right.
They were both pretty sweet. I really liked his family and their supportiveness. Mia does a superb job of helping Xander with the issues that were causing his racing to suffer.
Overall, enjoyed it well enough.
Narration notes:
Well we all know by now I prefer 2 narrators for dual POV, however I gotta say she did a pretty darn good male British voice.
Genre ~ sports romance
Setting ~ Texas and where some races are
Publication date ~ April 1, 2025
Est Page Count ~ 283 (16 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 17 minutes
Narrator ~ Talon David
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ podcaster, formula 1 racer, some steamage
Mia (Me~a, not My~a) & Xander don't get off on the right foot when she blasts his driving skills on her podcast Not so Fast. This starts as enemies, but soon after they meet in real life the sparks are flying faster than his racecar.
I've read quite a few sports romances but never one about race car driving, so that was fun. The author seemed to do her research since Mia was spewing facts about it left and right.
They were both pretty sweet. I really liked his family and their supportiveness. Mia does a superb job of helping Xander with the issues that were causing his racing to suffer.
Overall, enjoyed it well enough.
Narration notes:
Well we all know by now I prefer 2 narrators for dual POV, however I gotta say she did a pretty darn good male British voice.
April 26, 2025
This was basically George Russel fan fiction!!!
January 4, 2025
2.75⭐
A huge shoutout to Harlequin Publishing and Karen Booth for providing the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
I've been looking for F1 books ever since I read the Dirty Air series by Lauren Asher last year. Safe to say, there aren't many GOOD books with this setting. So I greedily grabbed this ARC opportunity in hopes that I'd be back to a similar world and it was kinda fun!
🚗 formula 1 setting
🚗 dislike to lovers
🚗 insta love
🚗 third pov
This was a quick & easy read. However, I wanted more depth and complexity to the characters. I wanted the plot to give me a little more of something. Everything seemed to be resolved too easily and by the end of the book, I was left wanting more. The premise of the story was a little too simplistic and the way everything wrapped up so neatly just made it more unrealistic. And also, Mia and Xander's relationship progressed forward too soon for my liking. It's not a bad book, it's just not a memorable one or something I'd rave about in the future. Not to mention, third pov in contemporary romance books always seems off putting to me.
A huge shoutout to Harlequin Publishing and Karen Booth for providing the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
I've been looking for F1 books ever since I read the Dirty Air series by Lauren Asher last year. Safe to say, there aren't many GOOD books with this setting. So I greedily grabbed this ARC opportunity in hopes that I'd be back to a similar world and it was kinda fun!
🚗 formula 1 setting
🚗 dislike to lovers
🚗 insta love
🚗 third pov
This was a quick & easy read. However, I wanted more depth and complexity to the characters. I wanted the plot to give me a little more of something. Everything seemed to be resolved too easily and by the end of the book, I was left wanting more. The premise of the story was a little too simplistic and the way everything wrapped up so neatly just made it more unrealistic. And also, Mia and Xander's relationship progressed forward too soon for my liking. It's not a bad book, it's just not a memorable one or something I'd rave about in the future. Not to mention, third pov in contemporary romance books always seems off putting to me.
June 29, 2025
4.5⭐️
Such a fun F1 romance! The FMC is a podcaster who went viral for insulting the MMC’s driving, so it is a bit of an enemies to lovers (sort of). They end up falling for each other and fake dating and their romance was so cute! I loved the banter between them and really enjoyed the audiobook narration
Such a fun F1 romance! The FMC is a podcaster who went viral for insulting the MMC’s driving, so it is a bit of an enemies to lovers (sort of). They end up falling for each other and fake dating and their romance was so cute! I loved the banter between them and really enjoyed the audiobook narration
December 12, 2024
Pre Read Thoughts: I have this weird deja vu feeling.
Mia (basically a Formula One Bobbi Althoff, major ew energy) I can whole heartedly say is the worst character I’ve read in a while. Mia has a podcast where she talks about F1. But in every episode she bashes a Formula One driver named Xander. There’s an attempt to make Mia seem like she's knowledgeable about the sport by referring to Senna. But, NOPE, Senna couldn't save this book, and I wasn't buying it.
But let me move on to these quotes: “I say you just keep insulting that one driver” a few moments later “that’s the one. He’s your meal ticket, isn’t he”.
Those quotes right there were the reason why I checked out while reading. Why did I continue reading you might ask? I agreed entirely with Xander and wanted him to be given the opportunity to defend himself. Why should a domineering podcaster, hiding behind her gender (as a defence when she's inevitably called out), who’s never sat behind a Formula One car, be rewarded money and given a platform to bash drivers?
We somehow have to be on board and believe that Mia falls in love with the driver she basically bullies? Nahhh this wasn't for me.
Anyways thank you Harlequin - Romance and Afterglow for the ARC!
Mia (basically a Formula One Bobbi Althoff, major ew energy) I can whole heartedly say is the worst character I’ve read in a while. Mia has a podcast where she talks about F1. But in every episode she bashes a Formula One driver named Xander. There’s an attempt to make Mia seem like she's knowledgeable about the sport by referring to Senna. But, NOPE, Senna couldn't save this book, and I wasn't buying it.
But let me move on to these quotes: “I say you just keep insulting that one driver” a few moments later “that’s the one. He’s your meal ticket, isn’t he”.
Those quotes right there were the reason why I checked out while reading. Why did I continue reading you might ask? I agreed entirely with Xander and wanted him to be given the opportunity to defend himself. Why should a domineering podcaster, hiding behind her gender (as a defence when she's inevitably called out), who’s never sat behind a Formula One car, be rewarded money and given a platform to bash drivers?
We somehow have to be on board and believe that Mia falls in love with the driver she basically bullies? Nahhh this wasn't for me.
Anyways thank you Harlequin - Romance and Afterglow for the ARC!
May 26, 2025
3.5
Very cute!
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced, light-hearted romance. It was my second ever F1 sports romance (I really gotta read more of those, because I enjoyed the technical aspects quite a lot here too!), and I was hooked immediately.
I managed to INHALE "Not So Fast" from start to finish.
I enjoyed the two protagonists, and I loved their romance quite a lot. Mia was fabulous, and she felt really relatable to me too. Overthinking perfectionist who's unforgiving towards her own perceived failures and missteps? YEP.
I loved Xander too, and I loved being in his head. He was soooooo supportive for Mia, and I seriously swooned.
Their romance was great; I adored the build-up towards them trusting each other and ultimately falling in love, although maybe I think there was a step or two missing in the middle. I'm not sure where and why, but I feel like it went very fast very quickly after a bit.
I loved the side characters to bits, although I'm not 100% sure I liked Mia's mother and her brand of being (un)supportive. Mmmh.
On the other hand, the writing felt a biiiiiit chunky for my tastes, and I definitely would have loved a bit more angst to spice up the plot too. But that's just my own preferences talking, you know?
Anyway, if you're looking for fast and sweet and sexy, this is the romance for you.
Double kudos for the fat/curvy rep too <3 and for Xander for being a breast man (KEEP IT GOING KING <3)
I received an ARC from Netgalley. This is my honest review.
Very cute!
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced, light-hearted romance. It was my second ever F1 sports romance (I really gotta read more of those, because I enjoyed the technical aspects quite a lot here too!), and I was hooked immediately.
I managed to INHALE "Not So Fast" from start to finish.
I enjoyed the two protagonists, and I loved their romance quite a lot. Mia was fabulous, and she felt really relatable to me too. Overthinking perfectionist who's unforgiving towards her own perceived failures and missteps? YEP.
I loved Xander too, and I loved being in his head. He was soooooo supportive for Mia, and I seriously swooned.
Their romance was great; I adored the build-up towards them trusting each other and ultimately falling in love, although maybe I think there was a step or two missing in the middle. I'm not sure where and why, but I feel like it went very fast very quickly after a bit.
I loved the side characters to bits, although I'm not 100% sure I liked Mia's mother and her brand of being (un)supportive. Mmmh.
On the other hand, the writing felt a biiiiiit chunky for my tastes, and I definitely would have loved a bit more angst to spice up the plot too. But that's just my own preferences talking, you know?
Anyway, if you're looking for fast and sweet and sexy, this is the romance for you.
Double kudos for the fat/curvy rep too <3 and for Xander for being a breast man (KEEP IT GOING KING <3)
I received an ARC from Netgalley. This is my honest review.
June 8, 2025
*~* Fastest Read *~* (Pun Intended)
I thought this story was a really cute take on a sports romance. A unique sport and a unique premise of a podcaster learning how her shows can actually impact the drivers personally. I felt like it was a good narrative on how what we say and do online matters, even if it's about celebrities. But, I mean, all in all, I wouldn't say it was that deep. It was a cute story. Notes of depth here and there with Xander's mom having MS and him trying to help his special needs brother live a more independent life, but the book did what it came here to do - which was be a cute romance with some spice and a happy ending. :-)
Thank you to Net Galley, Harlequin Audio, and Karen Booth for an ALC of this story.
I thought this story was a really cute take on a sports romance. A unique sport and a unique premise of a podcaster learning how her shows can actually impact the drivers personally. I felt like it was a good narrative on how what we say and do online matters, even if it's about celebrities. But, I mean, all in all, I wouldn't say it was that deep. It was a cute story. Notes of depth here and there with Xander's mom having MS and him trying to help his special needs brother live a more independent life, but the book did what it came here to do - which was be a cute romance with some spice and a happy ending. :-)
Thank you to Net Galley, Harlequin Audio, and Karen Booth for an ALC of this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2025
Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine (I know the first line makes it seem like first person POV)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: It takes a little bit – about 10% in, or chapter 2
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 4 months later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley. I started with the e-book version but switched to the audiobook
Why I chose this book: The cover and title were cute
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
I think this one stands alone.
Basic plot:
Mia loves Formula 1 so much, she decided to start a pod cast. She creates waves by criticizing Xander and comes face to face with him when invited to a race.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- heroine has a podcast covering Formula 1 racing
- heroine has dual master degrees in psychology and journalism (and massage therapy)
- American heroine / British hero
- formula 1 racer hero
- size difference – she’s 5’2” and he’s 6’3”
- celibate hero – it’s been over a year since he’s kissed someone
- medium steam – I think 3 full scenes, I might have missed something
Ages:
- didn’t catch either mentioned
First line:
Today I feel... Effusive. Optimistic. Ebullient even.
My thoughts:
This novel is soooooo cute. I think my expectations were a bit lower because my last racing theme book I was disappointed in. But this was just adorable and I loved it.
Mia is a podcaster, and has been gaining fame by criticizing Xander’s racing. When they meet, he has no idea he’s actually her favorite racer. There’s some fun banter, light animosity and ego rears its head to pull these two together.
This book was funny and when they were together, I loved the evolution of their relationship. It had a great mix of character depth for each main with their respective careers, race page time, relationship and a family focus. I don’t usually pursue many contemporary authors (just occasionally read what posts/tropes grab me), but Karen Booth is one I will be checking out again...
This novel is narrated by Talon David – I really loved the narration. I think she did a fantastic job varying the voices and the accents. She reminded me a lot of the voice actress for Gianna in Skyrim and I loved that!
My complaint about listening on the NetGalley app is that when you miss something at the end of a chapter and you try to go back, you can’t just skip back 30 seconds. It will only take you to the beginning of the chapter. So you have to go into the menu and click the chapter you want to find and then scroll to it. Very frustrating for me!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Endearments
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine (I know the first line makes it seem like first person POV)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: It takes a little bit – about 10% in, or chapter 2
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 4 months later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley. I started with the e-book version but switched to the audiobook
Why I chose this book: The cover and title were cute
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
I think this one stands alone.
Basic plot:
Mia loves Formula 1 so much, she decided to start a pod cast. She creates waves by criticizing Xander and comes face to face with him when invited to a race.
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- heroine has a podcast covering Formula 1 racing
- heroine has dual master degrees in psychology and journalism (and massage therapy)
- American heroine / British hero
- formula 1 racer hero
- size difference – she’s 5’2” and he’s 6’3”
- celibate hero – it’s been over a year since he’s kissed someone
- medium steam – I think 3 full scenes, I might have missed something
Ages:
- didn’t catch either mentioned
First line:
Today I feel... Effusive. Optimistic. Ebullient even.
My thoughts:
This novel is soooooo cute. I think my expectations were a bit lower because my last racing theme book I was disappointed in. But this was just adorable and I loved it.
Mia is a podcaster, and has been gaining fame by criticizing Xander’s racing. When they meet, he has no idea he’s actually her favorite racer. There’s some fun banter, light animosity and ego rears its head to pull these two together.
This book was funny and when they were together, I loved the evolution of their relationship. It had a great mix of character depth for each main with their respective careers, race page time, relationship and a family focus. I don’t usually pursue many contemporary authors (just occasionally read what posts/tropes grab me), but Karen Booth is one I will be checking out again...
This novel is narrated by Talon David – I really loved the narration. I think she did a fantastic job varying the voices and the accents. She reminded me a lot of the voice actress for Gianna in Skyrim and I loved that!
My complaint about listening on the NetGalley app is that when you miss something at the end of a chapter and you try to go back, you can’t just skip back 30 seconds. It will only take you to the beginning of the chapter. So you have to go into the menu and click the chapter you want to find and then scroll to it. Very frustrating for me!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 5 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
Endearments
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
December 4, 2024
Mia Neal is a Formula One racing addict. She knows everything about the ins and outs of the sport and has dedicated her time to a podcast detailing all of the updates on the circuit. Along with a healthy dose of snark and sarcasm.
Xander Bishop is a gorgeous, British F1 driver who came out of F2 with a killer track record. He was expected to do great things, but he's fumbling everything, and he's getting eviscerated online and in the media.
Mia's recent hot take on how Xander drives has gone semi viral, and Xander's competitor invites her to the next race to knock him farther off his game. Unexpectedly, they form a connection and understanding, and everything is up in the air from there.
*****
I don't know much of anything about the F1 circuit, however despite this, I found the book incredibly engaging and interesting. I loved how Mia was neurodiverse-coded with her overthinking, perfectionism, hypercritical thoughts, and issues with intimacy. She was so genuine, and it helped that the author made her deeply flawed in ways she wasn't aware of and brilliant in others. Xander was also genuine, flawed, and such an earnest character that I couldn't help but to root for them from the start. The steady theme of mental health support and self care were refreshing to read and brought a lot of authenticity to the characters despite it being such a short book.
I did find some issues with the pacing around the POV swaps. I loved how it was utilized during high stress events where you got their perspectives back to back, however sometimes it could get a little frustrating switching back and forth multiple times within a chapter when I'd just gotten interested in one POV. I also found some of the dialogue to be a little stilted and awkward, but overall, the characters and their intent were so enjoyable that it didn't take away from the book much as a whole. The least natural part of the book was probably the spicy scenes. They danced the line between detailed and stark, and I wasn't sure if I liked how vague they were, yet how apparently constant they were going at it. I enjoy spicy scenes in books, and it weirdly felt out of balance with the rest of the novel.
Either way, this was a quick, entertaining, and sweet read. It balanced family issues, boundaries, mental health care, and dealing with negative intrusive thoughts, all wrapped up in a fun sports-romance. If you're looking for a light but genuine read, I'd grab onto this one!
*****
Thank you, NetGalley, and Harlequin - Romance, for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Xander Bishop is a gorgeous, British F1 driver who came out of F2 with a killer track record. He was expected to do great things, but he's fumbling everything, and he's getting eviscerated online and in the media.
Mia's recent hot take on how Xander drives has gone semi viral, and Xander's competitor invites her to the next race to knock him farther off his game. Unexpectedly, they form a connection and understanding, and everything is up in the air from there.
*****
I don't know much of anything about the F1 circuit, however despite this, I found the book incredibly engaging and interesting. I loved how Mia was neurodiverse-coded with her overthinking, perfectionism, hypercritical thoughts, and issues with intimacy. She was so genuine, and it helped that the author made her deeply flawed in ways she wasn't aware of and brilliant in others. Xander was also genuine, flawed, and such an earnest character that I couldn't help but to root for them from the start. The steady theme of mental health support and self care were refreshing to read and brought a lot of authenticity to the characters despite it being such a short book.
I did find some issues with the pacing around the POV swaps. I loved how it was utilized during high stress events where you got their perspectives back to back, however sometimes it could get a little frustrating switching back and forth multiple times within a chapter when I'd just gotten interested in one POV. I also found some of the dialogue to be a little stilted and awkward, but overall, the characters and their intent were so enjoyable that it didn't take away from the book much as a whole. The least natural part of the book was probably the spicy scenes. They danced the line between detailed and stark, and I wasn't sure if I liked how vague they were, yet how apparently constant they were going at it. I enjoy spicy scenes in books, and it weirdly felt out of balance with the rest of the novel.
Either way, this was a quick, entertaining, and sweet read. It balanced family issues, boundaries, mental health care, and dealing with negative intrusive thoughts, all wrapped up in a fun sports-romance. If you're looking for a light but genuine read, I'd grab onto this one!
*****
Thank you, NetGalley, and Harlequin - Romance, for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 31, 2025
I picked up "Not So Fast" by Karen Booth randomly from the library, after watching the Formula 1 movie, and I wasn't expecting to like it so much. This book was a surprisingly fun and fast-paced read.
Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect from reading my first F1 romance, but the Cinderella-story elements of this book had an addictive, binge-able quality. It's definitely a light and breezy escape from reality. While at first it might seem like a typical enemies-to-lovers story, the dynamic changes pretty quickly—the complete opposite of a slow burn.
For me, the mental health aspects of the story were the real strengths, with themes of navigating pressure, perfectionism, overthinking, and expectations. And, the love story between Mia and Xander will make you want to keep reading. It’s an ideal read if you're looking for a spicy F1-themed romance, and a classic Cinderella-style story.
The only minor thing that bothered me was some of the formatting in the paperback version. The text message threads would switch fonts between the message and a character's thought, which was a little jarring and took me out of the story.
Overall, I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It was definitely a light palate cleanser between heavier reads.
Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect from reading my first F1 romance, but the Cinderella-story elements of this book had an addictive, binge-able quality. It's definitely a light and breezy escape from reality. While at first it might seem like a typical enemies-to-lovers story, the dynamic changes pretty quickly—the complete opposite of a slow burn.
For me, the mental health aspects of the story were the real strengths, with themes of navigating pressure, perfectionism, overthinking, and expectations. And, the love story between Mia and Xander will make you want to keep reading. It’s an ideal read if you're looking for a spicy F1-themed romance, and a classic Cinderella-style story.
The only minor thing that bothered me was some of the formatting in the paperback version. The text message threads would switch fonts between the message and a character's thought, which was a little jarring and took me out of the story.
Overall, I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It was definitely a light palate cleanser between heavier reads.
May 25, 2025
Mia is a Formula One podcaster with a penchant for saying some viral things ~ and Xander is the driver that she recently went viral talking about. I’m an attempt to get into Xander’s head, a rival teammate invites Mia to a big race where her and Xander meet and sparks start to fly. And whewwwwwweeee were they flying all throughout this book!
I really enjoyed this one! I haven’t read any F1 romances prior to this, but the author did a decent job explaining the sport without feeling like a Wikipedia entry. I enjoyed both characters and the plot was really cute - it was all super cute, honestly! And one of my favorite parts of that Mia’s initial insult that started the whole thing kept coming back into the story ~ it made it feel very full circle.
The audiobook narrator also did a wonderful job in her performance, especially voicing all of the different characters and their accents. Seriously, bravo!!
I really enjoyed this one! I haven’t read any F1 romances prior to this, but the author did a decent job explaining the sport without feeling like a Wikipedia entry. I enjoyed both characters and the plot was really cute - it was all super cute, honestly! And one of my favorite parts of that Mia’s initial insult that started the whole thing kept coming back into the story ~ it made it feel very full circle.
The audiobook narrator also did a wonderful job in her performance, especially voicing all of the different characters and their accents. Seriously, bravo!!
June 30, 2025
I loved this book, it really served up a delightful helping of rom-com realness. It gives you everything a good rom-com should.. romance, humor, spice, with a few life lessons sprinkled about. I also found the characters to be very likable and found myself rooting for both of them, separately and as a unit. I cried, I giggled, and tried not to give myself a paper cut from turning the pages too fast out of sheer excitement!
February 21, 2025
Firstly I want to say thank you to @netgalley and @karenbbooth for giving me the opportunity to read this
ARC
I absolutely ate this book up especially since the F1 season is only 20!! Days away the chemistry between Xander and Mia was and it got me kicking my feet like a school
girl, this was just a cute romcom set in the F1 world and I couldn't ask for me.... I need another one
5/⭐️
#f1romancebooks
ARC
I absolutely ate this book up especially since the F1 season is only 20!! Days away the chemistry between Xander and Mia was and it got me kicking my feet like a school
girl, this was just a cute romcom set in the F1 world and I couldn't ask for me.... I need another one
5/⭐️
#f1romancebooks
May 12, 2025
Mia is an F1 podcaster who mentions that a certain someone is not as good as the rest of the field. Xander is a British F1 driver who dreams of being a champion.
I really wish the animosity between Mia and Xander lasted longer. I was hoping for some build up in the rivals/enemies to lovers but it seemed to move really fast. Other than that, I did really enjoy the story and the F1 aspect was really fun and interesting. I bought into the romance between Mia and Xander and the long distance aspect for parts of the story added something different in their development.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the ALC!
I really wish the animosity between Mia and Xander lasted longer. I was hoping for some build up in the rivals/enemies to lovers but it seemed to move really fast. Other than that, I did really enjoy the story and the F1 aspect was really fun and interesting. I bought into the romance between Mia and Xander and the long distance aspect for parts of the story added something different in their development.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the ALC!
April 19, 2025
2.5 Stars
I love sports romance so was looking forward to reading this book especially as I have only read one F1 romance before. Sadly though, it didn't quite live up to my expectations.
Not So Fast is about Mia who is a podcaster on F1. Her podcast is doing well due to her honest and no nonsense remarks but also because she knows the sport inside and out. She makes a slightly rude remark about F1 driver Xander and his teammate/nemesis invites Mia to the next race to mess with him. However what noone was expecting was the instant connection Mia and Xander would feel when they met...
This story is very basic and predictable, very much an instalove and also incredibly cheesy at times. I don't think I would have finished the book of I hadn't been sent an ARC.
I thought the sport aspect was really good and the best part of the book for me. The romance however was sweet but didn't do much for me. I think that is probably because I found Mia rather annoying and although I liked Xander and thought he was a sweet gentleman, he was also pretty 2D. I just needed more from the characters and so struggled to feel any real connection.
The small side stories would have been great if we had delved deeper into them but they just felt too basic unfortunately.
The writing was also in third person but often read really weirdly. The dialogue was super cheesy at times too and I just cringed.
Overall, a bit of a miss for me and I am sad to say that! I sadly won't be rushing to read this author's next book.
Please note that I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love sports romance so was looking forward to reading this book especially as I have only read one F1 romance before. Sadly though, it didn't quite live up to my expectations.
Not So Fast is about Mia who is a podcaster on F1. Her podcast is doing well due to her honest and no nonsense remarks but also because she knows the sport inside and out. She makes a slightly rude remark about F1 driver Xander and his teammate/nemesis invites Mia to the next race to mess with him. However what noone was expecting was the instant connection Mia and Xander would feel when they met...
This story is very basic and predictable, very much an instalove and also incredibly cheesy at times. I don't think I would have finished the book of I hadn't been sent an ARC.
I thought the sport aspect was really good and the best part of the book for me. The romance however was sweet but didn't do much for me. I think that is probably because I found Mia rather annoying and although I liked Xander and thought he was a sweet gentleman, he was also pretty 2D. I just needed more from the characters and so struggled to feel any real connection.
The small side stories would have been great if we had delved deeper into them but they just felt too basic unfortunately.
The writing was also in third person but often read really weirdly. The dialogue was super cheesy at times too and I just cringed.
Overall, a bit of a miss for me and I am sad to say that! I sadly won't be rushing to read this author's next book.
Please note that I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2025
5/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️
4/5 🎙️
Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, and Karen Booth for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
I absolutely LOVED this audiobook. This was pure fluff and I ate it up!! Literally so obsessed with this. You’ve got enemies to lovers turned into a secret relationship. The FMC is super smart, sarcastic, and his biggest fan…even though she talks a lot of trash. The MMC is a British F1 driver and tbh, I know absolutely nothing about that sport, BUT I *will* be reading more F1 books after this.
Literally just giggling and kicking my feet the whole time while reading this. Our MMC falls hard and fast. He is treating our FMC right. The vibes are immaculate and the conflict does not make you want to pull your hair out in stress, so this is honestly the perfect book to read when you need to chill out with something fun. I would have LOVED the audiobook to be a duet, obviously, but that’s always the case. Definitely recommend this! Super fun read.
2/5 🌶️
4/5 🎙️
Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, and Karen Booth for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
I absolutely LOVED this audiobook. This was pure fluff and I ate it up!! Literally so obsessed with this. You’ve got enemies to lovers turned into a secret relationship. The FMC is super smart, sarcastic, and his biggest fan…even though she talks a lot of trash. The MMC is a British F1 driver and tbh, I know absolutely nothing about that sport, BUT I *will* be reading more F1 books after this.
Literally just giggling and kicking my feet the whole time while reading this. Our MMC falls hard and fast. He is treating our FMC right. The vibes are immaculate and the conflict does not make you want to pull your hair out in stress, so this is honestly the perfect book to read when you need to chill out with something fun. I would have LOVED the audiobook to be a duet, obviously, but that’s always the case. Definitely recommend this! Super fun read.
June 10, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I received an advance copy of this book from Harlequin/ Afterglow Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Not So Fast by Karen Booth follows a podcaster who suddenly finds herself thrust into the glamorous and fast-paced world of Formula 1 after one of her comments goes viral. What begins as a whirlwind of unexpected attention quickly turns into a blooming romance with the star of F1, Xander Bishop. After getting off on the wrong foot, Xander is focused on shifting the public opinion caused by Mia. Instead, they find that maybe they have more in common than they thought.
This was a really enjoyable, quick read that pulled me in from the start. There aren’t too many F1 stories out there, and I was excited to dive into the world. The enemies to lovers aspect of the plot pulled me in as well. Mia and Xander had some good chemistry together, after they got past their initial bad meeting. However, I did find myself wishing the relationship would grow at a slower pace. Xander got over his issue with the podcast relatively fast, and they did not have much of a buildup. It almost felt a bit unbelievable how fast they went from dislike to falling into bed with each other. But I definitely enjoyed this book overall!
I received an advance copy of this book from Harlequin/ Afterglow Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Not So Fast by Karen Booth follows a podcaster who suddenly finds herself thrust into the glamorous and fast-paced world of Formula 1 after one of her comments goes viral. What begins as a whirlwind of unexpected attention quickly turns into a blooming romance with the star of F1, Xander Bishop. After getting off on the wrong foot, Xander is focused on shifting the public opinion caused by Mia. Instead, they find that maybe they have more in common than they thought.
This was a really enjoyable, quick read that pulled me in from the start. There aren’t too many F1 stories out there, and I was excited to dive into the world. The enemies to lovers aspect of the plot pulled me in as well. Mia and Xander had some good chemistry together, after they got past their initial bad meeting. However, I did find myself wishing the relationship would grow at a slower pace. Xander got over his issue with the podcast relatively fast, and they did not have much of a buildup. It almost felt a bit unbelievable how fast they went from dislike to falling into bed with each other. But I definitely enjoyed this book overall!
dnf
July 15, 2025DNF @ 56%
Thank you so much to Afterglow Books and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are still my own.
This was another book for a video project that sadly did not go as hoped... This had a lot of promise in its setup, but flopped in terms of pacing and chemistry for me.
The heroine in this book is a podcaster who loves F1 and is trying to make a career out of her show. She gets a big break when she gets invited to a race by a driver who is teammates with her favorite driver.. and the one she just tore apart of having a bad season.
When they meet there is obviously some initial tension. But when I tell you it's immediately swept away after a single conversation... and by their next meeting they're completely infatuated. Where? Why? How?...
So much of them getting to know each other was implied so I felt literally *nothing* for them or their sudden romance.
Thank you so much to Afterglow Books and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are still my own.
This was another book for a video project that sadly did not go as hoped... This had a lot of promise in its setup, but flopped in terms of pacing and chemistry for me.
The heroine in this book is a podcaster who loves F1 and is trying to make a career out of her show. She gets a big break when she gets invited to a race by a driver who is teammates with her favorite driver.. and the one she just tore apart of having a bad season.
When they meet there is obviously some initial tension. But when I tell you it's immediately swept away after a single conversation... and by their next meeting they're completely infatuated. Where? Why? How?...
So much of them getting to know each other was implied so I felt literally *nothing* for them or their sudden romance.
June 22, 2025
I love a good sports romance and do appreciate the popularity of car racing/F1 romance, but this one did fall a little flat. While I appreciated the storytelling, it was a little predictable and the relationship went from -50 to 100 really quick (there needed to be a stepping stone or something). A redemption for this book was Xavier’s family, I enjoyed the scenes with them in it.
⭐️⭐️.5/5
⭐️⭐️.5/5
October 20, 2025
just as bad as i thought it’d be
July 7, 2025
dnf @/35% because it was boring and annoying
picked it up because it was a george Russell fanfiction specifically but oh boy it was so bad.
ENEMIES TO LOVERS WHERE???
that’s an athlete x online bully podcaster to athlete x i’m actually your biggest fan to lovers
miss me with that fake ass marketing buzzwords
and oh my god, the fmc was so annoying, worst case of a know-it-all, like girl, we dont careeeee spare me
the whole “he drives like he has a dick in his hand” was disgusting 🤢 in your official podcast? girl please, and that’s what got her podcast recognition, so she jumped the gun only to tell george “ahaha actually your my favourite driver and me being a hater on the podcast was just for clout so dont be bad i believe in you, you can do that 🥺” girl—
i also dont like podcaster/influencer/sm and pr jobs in my sports romance books. are there no other career paths????? first two aren’t even real jobs
what also didn’t sit right with me was their first interaction how he didn’t believe her she was knowledgeable enough to have an f1 podcast. first of all, george would never, and second of all, girl we don’t entertain that type of behaviour. she passed the impromptu quiz and then what? still not earn respect, so yeah, don’t. entertain. that. type. of. behaviour.
good f1 romance recs will be welcomed
picked it up because it was a george Russell fanfiction specifically but oh boy it was so bad.
ENEMIES TO LOVERS WHERE???
that’s an athlete x online bully podcaster to athlete x i’m actually your biggest fan to lovers
miss me with that fake ass marketing buzzwords
and oh my god, the fmc was so annoying, worst case of a know-it-all, like girl, we dont careeeee spare me
the whole “he drives like he has a dick in his hand” was disgusting 🤢 in your official podcast? girl please, and that’s what got her podcast recognition, so she jumped the gun only to tell george “ahaha actually your my favourite driver and me being a hater on the podcast was just for clout so dont be bad i believe in you, you can do that 🥺” girl—
i also dont like podcaster/influencer/sm and pr jobs in my sports romance books. are there no other career paths????? first two aren’t even real jobs
what also didn’t sit right with me was their first interaction how he didn’t believe her she was knowledgeable enough to have an f1 podcast. first of all, george would never, and second of all, girl we don’t entertain that type of behaviour. she passed the impromptu quiz and then what? still not earn respect, so yeah, don’t. entertain. that. type. of. behaviour.
good f1 romance recs will be welcomed
June 11, 2025
Not So Fast by Karen Booth
Narrated by: Talon David
Thank you to NetGalley, studio, publisher, and the author for this advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was everything I didn’t know I needed.
Some context: I’m not a sporty person at all, I knew nothing about Formula One, and didn’t have the highest expectations—but now? I’m obsessed. Not So Fast had me pulling up F1 races online.
First of all, Mia. I loved her from the jump. She’s relatable in a really refreshing way—brilliant, messy, a little lost, and just trying to figure out her path. She’s had multiple degrees and a million careers that never seem to work out. And honestly? Same, girl. Her inner monologue is hilarious, and Booth’s writing had me laughing out loud more than once. The figurative language? So clever. So sharp.
And then there’s Xander: the charming, sexy, British Formula One driver. Xander is such an adorably sweet guy. And the banter between Xander and Mia is perfection, the spice is sizzling, and I absolutely loved how fast and fond he becomes of her. This was a quick “enemies” to lovers that worked.
What truly brought the story to life for me, though, was the narration. Talon David did an unreal job. Switching seamlessly between accents, juggling multiple characters, and even shifting between narration and dialogue with multiple accents—it was seriously impressive. One of the best audiobook performances I’ve heard in a while.
Not So Fast was a fun and fluffy ride that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a low-stress read. Why four stars instead of five? While I loved the ride (pun intended), it didn’t punch me in the gut or leave me in an emotional puddle questioning my existence. But not every book needs to! This was fun, super spicy, and just the right kind of escape.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced romance with heart, spice, and witty writing—especially one that might convert you into a Formula One fangirl—Not So Fast is the right read.
Narrated by: Talon David
Thank you to NetGalley, studio, publisher, and the author for this advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was everything I didn’t know I needed.
Some context: I’m not a sporty person at all, I knew nothing about Formula One, and didn’t have the highest expectations—but now? I’m obsessed. Not So Fast had me pulling up F1 races online.
First of all, Mia. I loved her from the jump. She’s relatable in a really refreshing way—brilliant, messy, a little lost, and just trying to figure out her path. She’s had multiple degrees and a million careers that never seem to work out. And honestly? Same, girl. Her inner monologue is hilarious, and Booth’s writing had me laughing out loud more than once. The figurative language? So clever. So sharp.
And then there’s Xander: the charming, sexy, British Formula One driver. Xander is such an adorably sweet guy. And the banter between Xander and Mia is perfection, the spice is sizzling, and I absolutely loved how fast and fond he becomes of her. This was a quick “enemies” to lovers that worked.
What truly brought the story to life for me, though, was the narration. Talon David did an unreal job. Switching seamlessly between accents, juggling multiple characters, and even shifting between narration and dialogue with multiple accents—it was seriously impressive. One of the best audiobook performances I’ve heard in a while.
Not So Fast was a fun and fluffy ride that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a low-stress read. Why four stars instead of five? While I loved the ride (pun intended), it didn’t punch me in the gut or leave me in an emotional puddle questioning my existence. But not every book needs to! This was fun, super spicy, and just the right kind of escape.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced romance with heart, spice, and witty writing—especially one that might convert you into a Formula One fangirl—Not So Fast is the right read.
May 10, 2025
First F1 romance for a change, and I will say I have reached the finish line!
This audiobook was a nice change of pace. Never read an F1 romance until today, and as a first experience, I enjoyed this book. This book started off strong between the FMC and the MMC, the bantering, how strong both characters were, and it was a fun time seeing the chemistry between them. Although I must say I was a bit thrown off by how fast the instant love was. I swear I be like 15% in and my brain is already like wait... did they just smooch?!
After 80%, for me, it started to feel like a drag. The chemistry between the two was cute and sweet, but when it came to the climax... wasn't feeling it as much. It didn't really pop out as much, and for a couple, the main issue felt more like a miscommunication if anything. What something felt so fast... became "not so fast" towards the end (see what I did there).
My experience overall. This is a 3.75 star read (rounded up by 4 if there is no quarter rating)! Karen Booth wrote this well, it was easy to follow, Talon David did great at narrating, and I like listening to her voice as a first timer. Would want to listen again if she ever pops up in another book.
Big thanks to Karen Booth, Netgalley, and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity on listening to this ALC!
This audiobook was a nice change of pace. Never read an F1 romance until today, and as a first experience, I enjoyed this book. This book started off strong between the FMC and the MMC, the bantering, how strong both characters were, and it was a fun time seeing the chemistry between them. Although I must say I was a bit thrown off by how fast the instant love was. I swear I be like 15% in and my brain is already like wait... did they just smooch?!
After 80%, for me, it started to feel like a drag. The chemistry between the two was cute and sweet, but when it came to the climax... wasn't feeling it as much. It didn't really pop out as much, and for a couple, the main issue felt more like a miscommunication if anything. What something felt so fast... became "not so fast" towards the end (see what I did there).
My experience overall. This is a 3.75 star read (rounded up by 4 if there is no quarter rating)! Karen Booth wrote this well, it was easy to follow, Talon David did great at narrating, and I like listening to her voice as a first timer. Would want to listen again if she ever pops up in another book.
Big thanks to Karen Booth, Netgalley, and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity on listening to this ALC!
June 5, 2025
3.75🌟 This was good I love the aspect of Mia doing her podcast about F1 then seeing her going to different countries to experience new things was amazing and I love the friendship between her and her best friend Jasmine! Xander he definitely loves driving we see that he tried to go above and beyond but sometimes he just needs that reassurance and lucky he found it within Mia the way these guys meet was funny too and I didn’t expect it to turn out like that but the story played out well I must say if you’re a F1 lover you’ll love ie because as we see Mia go to different countries we also see Xander go as well and it’s definitely revolved about the F1 which is great I don’t know much about F1 but I did enjoy this book and it was a lovely quick easy read!
Quotes I loved:
"You have the most beautiful eyes, Mia. Warm and rich. I could get lost in them for days. If I close mine, I can see them. I think you imprinted on me."
"That's one of the things I admire about you, Xander. You've gotten as far as you have without all those advantages. It's so impressive. You defied the odds."
"Yes. Mia. I want to be part of your world, just like you have become part of mine.”
"This sport gave me so much, but the best thing it gave me is you."
Tropes:
🏎️ Enemies to lovers
🏁 Dating in secret
🏎️ Forced proximity
🏁 Slow burn (kinda)
Quotes I loved:
"You have the most beautiful eyes, Mia. Warm and rich. I could get lost in them for days. If I close mine, I can see them. I think you imprinted on me."
"That's one of the things I admire about you, Xander. You've gotten as far as you have without all those advantages. It's so impressive. You defied the odds."
"Yes. Mia. I want to be part of your world, just like you have become part of mine.”
"This sport gave me so much, but the best thing it gave me is you."
Tropes:
🏎️ Enemies to lovers
🏁 Dating in secret
🏎️ Forced proximity
🏁 Slow burn (kinda)
May 3, 2025
1.5 stars ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆
i just want to start off and say i’m a HUGE f1 fan and was so hyped to get the opportunity to read another f1 romance as an arc.
the narrator Talon David delivered a really good audiobook experience and helped add some depth to the writing of the characters.
this book had so much potential, i was so disappointed while reading this. the plot seemed so intriguing but unfortunately it fell so short for me.
this book was a little too insta lovey for my personal taste. like i can understand why maybe our fmc mia may feel that “insta love” attraction because she’s been watching him race for a while and he’s famous blah blah but xander literally just is automatically like yup i like her. i genuinely wish we got more pining and yearning.
the characters themselves were really flat and boring as people. the stakes never actually felt that high and important in my opinion. genuinely the only part i was interested in was why mia’s mom and aunt no longer talk and even that reveal was a let down. i feel like this book could have been written so much better for what the plot was.
i just want to start off and say i’m a HUGE f1 fan and was so hyped to get the opportunity to read another f1 romance as an arc.
the narrator Talon David delivered a really good audiobook experience and helped add some depth to the writing of the characters.
this book had so much potential, i was so disappointed while reading this. the plot seemed so intriguing but unfortunately it fell so short for me.
this book was a little too insta lovey for my personal taste. like i can understand why maybe our fmc mia may feel that “insta love” attraction because she’s been watching him race for a while and he’s famous blah blah but xander literally just is automatically like yup i like her. i genuinely wish we got more pining and yearning.
the characters themselves were really flat and boring as people. the stakes never actually felt that high and important in my opinion. genuinely the only part i was interested in was why mia’s mom and aunt no longer talk and even that reveal was a let down. i feel like this book could have been written so much better for what the plot was.
April 14, 2025
- Baby’s first physical ARC!! I got this as a gift from the Steamy Lit Bookstore grand opening in Tampa.
- This was my first F1 romance. I know NOTHING about F1. So this was a slow start for me trying to understand or care about what was going on. However, once we got into it, it was pretty dang cute.
- The first half of the book I was feeling pretty snarky about the constantly swapping POVs and long chapters, and for the Most part I’m still not sure how I feel about the constantly swapping POVs with a chapter, BUT it did build suspense in the racing scenes. Which was pretty effective in keeping me locked in.
- The enemies to lovers aspect was short lived. It was really giving a bit of insta love, which I don’t usually feel excited about, but something about this was nice. The general neurosis of the FMC was really refreshing, she was an over thinker and we really got to be in her head.
- This is a new author for me and I would definitely read more from her!
- This was my first F1 romance. I know NOTHING about F1. So this was a slow start for me trying to understand or care about what was going on. However, once we got into it, it was pretty dang cute.
- The first half of the book I was feeling pretty snarky about the constantly swapping POVs and long chapters, and for the Most part I’m still not sure how I feel about the constantly swapping POVs with a chapter, BUT it did build suspense in the racing scenes. Which was pretty effective in keeping me locked in.
- The enemies to lovers aspect was short lived. It was really giving a bit of insta love, which I don’t usually feel excited about, but something about this was nice. The general neurosis of the FMC was really refreshing, she was an over thinker and we really got to be in her head.
- This is a new author for me and I would definitely read more from her!
April 29, 2025
Thank you harlequin romance for the ARC! This was a fun, fast paced F1 romance. We meet Mia who is a F1 podcaster who get pushed into the world of F1 where she is on top because of a comment she made about Xander Bishop, a British driver who is a bit too cocky for his own good. They butt heads until they don’t 😏. I really enjoyed the banter between the characters and the fact they needed each other to work through the obstacles of self doubt and self sabotage, which I know we all experience in our lives. Overall if you love quick sport romance with found family, rivalry to lovers with some spice. This is definitely a great choice!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 627 reviews