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Lights Out
An addictive new adult Formula One romance, perfect for fans of BookTok faves Hannah Grace and Lauren Asher.
An addictive new adult Formula One romance, perfect for fans of BookTok faves Hannah Grace and Lauren Asher.
He’s a future F1 champion, but she’s making it hard to stay on track…
F1’s resident bad boy Giovanni Bauer needs to turn his reputation around fast - or risk losing his place on the team.
Maisie Evans is a dedicated university student, who still secretly dreams of the glittering sports career she abandoned.
When Gio and Maisie's worlds collide, the answer to their problems seems obvious: a fake relationship. She gets to travel and brush shoulders with sports royalty, and he gets to fix his public image.
But as sparks fly - on and off the track - will their 'relationship' make it across the finish line, or crash and burn?
An addictive new adult Formula One romance, perfect for fans of BookTok faves Hannah Grace and Lauren Asher.
He’s a future F1 champion, but she’s making it hard to stay on track…
F1’s resident bad boy Giovanni Bauer needs to turn his reputation around fast - or risk losing his place on the team.
Maisie Evans is a dedicated university student, who still secretly dreams of the glittering sports career she abandoned.
When Gio and Maisie's worlds collide, the answer to their problems seems obvious: a fake relationship. She gets to travel and brush shoulders with sports royalty, and he gets to fix his public image.
But as sparks fly - on and off the track - will their 'relationship' make it across the finish line, or crash and burn?
368 pages, Paperback
Published November 5, 2024
61 people are currently reading
2339 people want to read
About the author
Jenni Fletcher
87 books175 followersJenni Fletcher writes heartwarming Historical Romance and fun Formula 1 romances. She has won 2 Romantic Novelists' Association Awards and teaches creative writing at Bishop Grosseteste University. Originally from Scotland, she now lives in the north of England with her family and one extremely hairy dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
November 7, 2024
Listen, I rarely read straight romance (sorry not sorry) and have never in my life picked up an F1 romance before, but this author is so good at what she does that I was loving it from start to finish. The drama, the feels! Nice and swoony, with an impulsive and moody hot love interest, and yet the female MC has clear boundaries and won’t let any man disrespect her. This was sexy and dramatic without being toxic, and I love that.
I’m also majorly impressed with the writing - it’s mostly dialogue and quick action, and the author doesn’t waste much time on world-building. On top of that the style is kind of simple and not super detailed or flowery, but it all comes together in a way that makes for such an entertaining, quality romance.
I’m also majorly impressed with the writing - it’s mostly dialogue and quick action, and the author doesn’t waste much time on world-building. On top of that the style is kind of simple and not super detailed or flowery, but it all comes together in a way that makes for such an entertaining, quality romance.
June 9, 2025
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆
꣑ৎ oh heck yeah. THIS is what an f1 fake dating romance should be like.
why is this book not out there??
im giggling and kicking my feet at italian terms and i have no idea what they mean!!!
꣑ৎ(okay okay just some warning, this is said to be a YA romance but there were like 2 spicy-ish scenes that lasted a page or two.) but apart from that, this was so sweet and the tension between these two?! amazing.
gio and maisie are JUST. MEANT. TO. BE.
꣑ৎ ive now read two book that have the villain named as luc. very interesting.
ANYWAYS JUST GO READ IT, ITS SUCH A CUTE LITTLE READ AND I WOULD 100% RECOOO.
into you - ariana grande
━━━●─────
↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ
꣑ৎ oh heck yeah. THIS is what an f1 fake dating romance should be like.
why is this book not out there??
im giggling and kicking my feet at italian terms and i have no idea what they mean!!!
꣑ৎ(okay okay just some warning, this is said to be a YA romance but there were like 2 spicy-ish scenes that lasted a page or two.) but apart from that, this was so sweet and the tension between these two?! amazing.
gio and maisie are JUST. MEANT. TO. BE.
꣑ৎ ive now read two book that have the villain named as luc. very interesting.
ANYWAYS JUST GO READ IT, ITS SUCH A CUTE LITTLE READ AND I WOULD 100% RECOOO.
into you - ariana grande
━━━●─────
↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ
January 8, 2025
this was cute and made me want to get into f1 hehe
February 17, 2025
Cuki volt nagyon, szerettem! :)
January 7, 2025
Ok, so this started off good. It was a little fast moving but I really enjoyed Maisie and Gio together. Gio is an F1 racer and Maisie is a sports psychology student and formerly a mountain bike racer but she left the sport after a bad crash. There were a couple of points that annoyed me, like the miscommunications that resulted in blow-up arguments, but overall, the start was great. Ava, Maisie’s F1-obsessed bestie, is probably my favourite character, and I wish we got more of her.
Then there was the rest of it, really just the last 20% tbh. I have a theory with F1 romance that they are all either great with the romance and bad with the F1 or great with the F1 and poor on the romance. This was the latter.
Everything was miscommunication; they were fake dating with a contract in place and yet somehow broke up like 3 times. He was not capable of being in a relationship at all; he never communicated, shut everyone out and was generally really immature. She was a psychology student who didn't think, was really naive and blew everything out of proportion.
The rest of this is going to have a lot of spoilers because otherwise it will just be criptic and weird. Read them if you want to.
Miscommunication is the bain of my fucking existience along with another little romance book cliche:.
Things really blew up right at the end with a tonne of stupid decisions on both their parts.
The last one especially annoyed me. There was a weird psychology to blame her and make him look better thing going on in this book but quite frankly it was just stupid.
Anyway. Rant over.
And I was thinking my biggest issues were going to be that it moved a bit too fast and that the author was trying to hard to create conflict in the relationship.
Then there was the rest of it, really just the last 20% tbh. I have a theory with F1 romance that they are all either great with the romance and bad with the F1 or great with the F1 and poor on the romance. This was the latter.
Everything was miscommunication; they were fake dating with a contract in place and yet somehow broke up like 3 times. He was not capable of being in a relationship at all; he never communicated, shut everyone out and was generally really immature. She was a psychology student who didn't think, was really naive and blew everything out of proportion.
The rest of this is going to have a lot of spoilers because otherwise it will just be criptic and weird. Read them if you want to.
Miscommunication is the bain of my fucking existience along with another little romance book cliche:.
Things really blew up right at the end with a tonne of stupid decisions on both their parts.
The last one especially annoyed me. There was a weird psychology to blame her and make him look better thing going on in this book but quite frankly it was just stupid.
Anyway. Rant over.
And I was thinking my biggest issues were going to be that it moved a bit too fast and that the author was trying to hard to create conflict in the relationship.
October 23, 2024
This is a good book if you’re like me and only just starting your f1 romance books journey. I was a little bit worried going into it that it would have a lot of terms that i wouldn’t understand and that i’d have to google things all the time, but i quickly learnt that Maisie, the fmc is in the same boat as me, new to F1 world, so it was great to navigate this journey with her.
This was a very quick and easy read and i really enjoyed finding out more about racing, and i will definitely be reaching for more f1 romances!
However, because both Maisie and Gio are in their early twenties, i did find them quite immature, which affected how much I enjoyed their characters and this book. It was nice to see that there was some character development and both of them realised things about themselves and actively sought professional counselling, but i would have liked to see more of a development in that area.
I would also have loved to see Maisie’s relationship with her dad evolving and them discussing her trauma and everything she felt in more details. I felt like her trauma was a big thing, but when it actually came to her expressing her feelings to her dad, this was skimmed over.
I felt like Maisie and Gio’s relationship’s pace was a little off. I also felt like they barely spent any time together while they were fake dating to having big feelings for each other. But it might just be a personal preference, as im usually not a fan of relationships in books going from 0 to 100 very quickly.
Overall, im glad i read this book as it gave me a great insight into f1 world & f1 romances, and definitely encouraged me to read more of them. 🥰
Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Random House for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was a very quick and easy read and i really enjoyed finding out more about racing, and i will definitely be reaching for more f1 romances!
However, because both Maisie and Gio are in their early twenties, i did find them quite immature, which affected how much I enjoyed their characters and this book. It was nice to see that there was some character development and both of them realised things about themselves and actively sought professional counselling, but i would have liked to see more of a development in that area.
I would also have loved to see Maisie’s relationship with her dad evolving and them discussing her trauma and everything she felt in more details. I felt like her trauma was a big thing, but when it actually came to her expressing her feelings to her dad, this was skimmed over.
I felt like Maisie and Gio’s relationship’s pace was a little off. I also felt like they barely spent any time together while they were fake dating to having big feelings for each other. But it might just be a personal preference, as im usually not a fan of relationships in books going from 0 to 100 very quickly.
Overall, im glad i read this book as it gave me a great insight into f1 world & f1 romances, and definitely encouraged me to read more of them. 🥰
Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Random House for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 16, 2025
2.5
åh vad jag älskar att hatläsa böcker jag vet att jag inte kommer gilla. F1 delen va slay, karaktärerna tyvärr ganska tråkiga…
åh vad jag älskar att hatläsa böcker jag vet att jag inte kommer gilla. F1 delen va slay, karaktärerna tyvärr ganska tråkiga…
September 15, 2025
lights out - ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
i actually really enjoyed lights out and i’m so glad i picked it up because it pulled me out of a reading slump!! the formula 1 romance aspect was so fun and honestly made me want to read more f1 romances in the future.
the reason my rating isn’t higher is because once the characters became intimate, it felt like everything between them shifted into just physical attraction. there are only two scenes (and they’re easy to skip if that’s not your thing), but after that it seemed like that’s all they wanted from each other.
but overall, i still had such a good time reading this one. it was fast-paced, the racing world setting was super exciting, and it kept me hooked the whole way through!
thank you @simonteen for the arc !!
i actually really enjoyed lights out and i’m so glad i picked it up because it pulled me out of a reading slump!! the formula 1 romance aspect was so fun and honestly made me want to read more f1 romances in the future.
the reason my rating isn’t higher is because once the characters became intimate, it felt like everything between them shifted into just physical attraction. there are only two scenes (and they’re easy to skip if that’s not your thing), but after that it seemed like that’s all they wanted from each other.
but overall, i still had such a good time reading this one. it was fast-paced, the racing world setting was super exciting, and it kept me hooked the whole way through!
thank you @simonteen for the arc !!
August 21, 2025
I don't normally write reviews, but this book was SO BAD, I don't think I can read romance for a whole month. Or maybe the rest of my life.
This truly was a booktok final boss, and it feels like the author was trying to mash in as many tropes as possible. F1, fake dating, the slowburn (which turned into a forest fire in like 2 pages), miscommunication, etc.
And don't even get me started with the random Italian thrown in there. Dear authors, foreign languages are hot ONLY to Americans. If I wanted to hear a man speak Italian, I'd just cross the street to my neighbour who worked there for 10 years. In books, it's just corny and gives me second-hand embarrassment. (I literally had to take a deep breath when he started listing CAR PARTS in Italian, as if that was in any way sexy)
The smut was straight out of a 13 y.o.'s Wattpad story, the pace was TERRIBLY FAST (I read children's books better than this) and it felt like emotions and scenery was described by just pushing in as many adjectives as one can think of in 20 seconds, before moving on to some unnecessary squeal, gasp or admiring Gio's jawline or eyes for the 100th time.
The characters were more two-dimensional than a stick figure, and although I know the whole fake dating thing always ends the same in these romance books, I would have appreciated a little more.. plot? Story? Drama? Any kind of actual content?
You could or probably disassociate or be drunk while reading this book, and have about the same experience as actually focusing on the action. Or lack of.
It was not cute, it did not make me giggle or kick my feet, and the only thing I liked about any of the characters was that Maisie thinks Hawaiian pizza is good.
#PinappleBelongs
This truly was a booktok final boss, and it feels like the author was trying to mash in as many tropes as possible. F1, fake dating, the slowburn (which turned into a forest fire in like 2 pages), miscommunication, etc.
And don't even get me started with the random Italian thrown in there. Dear authors, foreign languages are hot ONLY to Americans. If I wanted to hear a man speak Italian, I'd just cross the street to my neighbour who worked there for 10 years. In books, it's just corny and gives me second-hand embarrassment. (I literally had to take a deep breath when he started listing CAR PARTS in Italian, as if that was in any way sexy)
The smut was straight out of a 13 y.o.'s Wattpad story, the pace was TERRIBLY FAST (I read children's books better than this) and it felt like emotions and scenery was described by just pushing in as many adjectives as one can think of in 20 seconds, before moving on to some unnecessary squeal, gasp or admiring Gio's jawline or eyes for the 100th time.
The characters were more two-dimensional than a stick figure, and although I know the whole fake dating thing always ends the same in these romance books, I would have appreciated a little more.. plot? Story? Drama? Any kind of actual content?
You could or probably disassociate or be drunk while reading this book, and have about the same experience as actually focusing on the action. Or lack of.
It was not cute, it did not make me giggle or kick my feet, and the only thing I liked about any of the characters was that Maisie thinks Hawaiian pizza is good.
#PinappleBelongs
December 25, 2024
This book kept my attention the entire time it was SO GOOD, I wish more people would read it because it shows a fake dating trope where there isn’t miscommunication but more just uncertainty due to pressure. You could tell that they loved eachother so much <3
November 30, 2024
gio you are slay but you will never be sebastian vettel
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2024
super fun and cute!
very accurate f1 wise so that was exciting
very accurate f1 wise so that was exciting
December 18, 2025
4.5 Rounded Up
Thank you so much Simon and Schuster and McEldery books for this ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Let me start out by stating that this book is intended and marketed as a YA book in children's publishing. However; there are 2 explicit scenes, one of which is the entire act of intimacy with the two main characters that is fully described from start to finish. This book also takes place overseas and so there is alcohol consumption by both the FMC and MMC, due to the difference in drinking ages being regulated differently in other countries. Neither of these are issue for me but I do feel that readers should be informed of both especially if a parent is researching whether their child should read this story, I would say this is an upper YA book and would be suitable for older teens/new adults.
NOW, for the review.
This book was adorable, hilarious, and heartwarming. We have a FMC named Maisie who is working at a large event for Formula 1 drivers when a mishap occurs this puts her directly in Gio Bauer's radar. The famously bad-boy formula 1 racer who is on track to be the next big thing, if he can stop his repeat offenses that put him in the crossfires of the tabloids.
Desperate to alter his image he proposes to Maisie, the sweet college sport psychology student, to be his "fake girlfriend". These two have so much chemistry and their banter is top notch. Maisie may seem sweet at first but don't worry she can absolutely hold her own against Gio in any squabble but can she face her darkest fear? Her past?
This story did a great job with mental health representation and the mental toll that athletes can face. The writing is easy and enjoyable to consume and I couldn't put the book down. I was kicking my feet at the tension between these two characters as they realize their fake dating is turning into something more.
I will say the reason it isn't a full five stars is there were things at the end of the story that bothered me a touch. However; this story is one I will absolutely recommend to anyone who is looking for an UPPER YA romance. I laughed out loud several times, especially with Gio and his family, so many endearing side characters that you will fall in love with.
Again thank you to simon and schuster for this advanced reader copy.
Thank you so much Simon and Schuster and McEldery books for this ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Let me start out by stating that this book is intended and marketed as a YA book in children's publishing. However; there are 2 explicit scenes, one of which is the entire act of intimacy with the two main characters that is fully described from start to finish. This book also takes place overseas and so there is alcohol consumption by both the FMC and MMC, due to the difference in drinking ages being regulated differently in other countries. Neither of these are issue for me but I do feel that readers should be informed of both especially if a parent is researching whether their child should read this story, I would say this is an upper YA book and would be suitable for older teens/new adults.
NOW, for the review.
This book was adorable, hilarious, and heartwarming. We have a FMC named Maisie who is working at a large event for Formula 1 drivers when a mishap occurs this puts her directly in Gio Bauer's radar. The famously bad-boy formula 1 racer who is on track to be the next big thing, if he can stop his repeat offenses that put him in the crossfires of the tabloids.
Desperate to alter his image he proposes to Maisie, the sweet college sport psychology student, to be his "fake girlfriend". These two have so much chemistry and their banter is top notch. Maisie may seem sweet at first but don't worry she can absolutely hold her own against Gio in any squabble but can she face her darkest fear? Her past?
This story did a great job with mental health representation and the mental toll that athletes can face. The writing is easy and enjoyable to consume and I couldn't put the book down. I was kicking my feet at the tension between these two characters as they realize their fake dating is turning into something more.
I will say the reason it isn't a full five stars is there were things at the end of the story that bothered me a touch. However; this story is one I will absolutely recommend to anyone who is looking for an UPPER YA romance. I laughed out loud several times, especially with Gio and his family, so many endearing side characters that you will fall in love with.
Again thank you to simon and schuster for this advanced reader copy.
April 4, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you know me, you’re well aware that I’m obsessed with romance novels (obviously), but I also have a serious love for Formula 1. So, when I come across something that blends the two, I absolutely lose it! Haha. Now, when I say that this is probably the best F1-related romance book I’ve ever read, I mean it I'm not saying that lightly. This book strikes the perfect balance between the thrill of F1 and the heart of romance. It’s not particularly spicy, but honestly, I’m a firm believer that a great book doesn’t always need that to be amazing.
If you're reading this and thinking, 'But Chrissa, I don't know anything about F1, so I won’t get any of the references,' don’t worry Jenni’s got you covered. The way F1 is explained and woven into the story is so cleverly done. By the end of the book, I’m confident you’ll be able to hold an F1 conversation with me, and I’d be more than happy to test that out! Haha.
I’m a total sucker for a good fake dating trope, and I absolutely adored both Maisie and Gio. One of my favourite things in a story is strong character development, and these two definitely delivered. I especially loved how Maisie knew her worth, set clear boundaries, and held firm to them. Major shout out to the fantastic side characters as well. Ava was the perfect best friend, and I’d love to have someone like her in my corner any day. Gio’s parents were equally wonderful, and honestly, I’d love to meet his mum and give her the biggest hug.
If you couldn’t already tell, I absolutely loved this book and Jenni’s writing style. It kept me hooked from start to finish without ever feeling overwhelming. I’m so glad I picked up Lights Out, and I can’t wait to dive into Falling Fast and any future books Jenni writes!
If you know me, you’re well aware that I’m obsessed with romance novels (obviously), but I also have a serious love for Formula 1. So, when I come across something that blends the two, I absolutely lose it! Haha. Now, when I say that this is probably the best F1-related romance book I’ve ever read, I mean it I'm not saying that lightly. This book strikes the perfect balance between the thrill of F1 and the heart of romance. It’s not particularly spicy, but honestly, I’m a firm believer that a great book doesn’t always need that to be amazing.
If you're reading this and thinking, 'But Chrissa, I don't know anything about F1, so I won’t get any of the references,' don’t worry Jenni’s got you covered. The way F1 is explained and woven into the story is so cleverly done. By the end of the book, I’m confident you’ll be able to hold an F1 conversation with me, and I’d be more than happy to test that out! Haha.
I’m a total sucker for a good fake dating trope, and I absolutely adored both Maisie and Gio. One of my favourite things in a story is strong character development, and these two definitely delivered. I especially loved how Maisie knew her worth, set clear boundaries, and held firm to them. Major shout out to the fantastic side characters as well. Ava was the perfect best friend, and I’d love to have someone like her in my corner any day. Gio’s parents were equally wonderful, and honestly, I’d love to meet his mum and give her the biggest hug.
If you couldn’t already tell, I absolutely loved this book and Jenni’s writing style. It kept me hooked from start to finish without ever feeling overwhelming. I’m so glad I picked up Lights Out, and I can’t wait to dive into Falling Fast and any future books Jenni writes!
December 4, 2025
3.75 stars rounded up
What a cute lil’ sports romance! I liked both of the main characters and the fake dating plot. The progression of the relationship was believable and really well done! The FMC’s background with biking and her trauma from that was super interesting. There were a few things I wish were fleshed out a bit more (ex. the FMC’s therapy and the MMC’s rivalry with his teammate), but what was there was good! This book was short, sweet, and easy to breeze through. More cute lil’ ya sports romances like this, please!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
What a cute lil’ sports romance! I liked both of the main characters and the fake dating plot. The progression of the relationship was believable and really well done! The FMC’s background with biking and her trauma from that was super interesting. There were a few things I wish were fleshed out a bit more (ex. the FMC’s therapy and the MMC’s rivalry with his teammate), but what was there was good! This book was short, sweet, and easy to breeze through. More cute lil’ ya sports romances like this, please!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
February 1, 2025
We love a good F1 love story
August 8, 2025
pokud chcete pohodu tak si tohle rozhodně přečtěte
to se snad na ty formule někdy podívám...
to se snad na ty formule někdy podívám...
March 8, 2025
Not going to lie, I read almost all of this book from 9:40pm to 2:00am in one go
I couldn't sleep
I couldn't sleep
March 20, 2025
0.25⭐️ - This may be the worst book I’ve ever read. It reads like a year 4’s creative writing piece.
Also everyone keeps praising the F1 knowledge but imo it was absolutely dreadful. Please tell me when race control would give a driver a choice about giving the place back or a penalty?!? Also the final race being in Japan?!? I swear people saw the word DRS and thought yes great 🙃🙃
Also everyone keeps praising the F1 knowledge but imo it was absolutely dreadful. Please tell me when race control would give a driver a choice about giving the place back or a penalty?!? Also the final race being in Japan?!? I swear people saw the word DRS and thought yes great 🙃🙃
November 1, 2024
It has been a while since I stepped out of fantasy and this was the perfect book for it!!
Fake relationship?!!! YES PLEASE
I loved the chemistry between the two, Gio was a really fun character and I loved seeing him grow. I dont know anything about formula 1 so this was a treat!!
Fake relationship?!!! YES PLEASE
I loved the chemistry between the two, Gio was a really fun character and I loved seeing him grow. I dont know anything about formula 1 so this was a treat!!
November 14, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
F1’s resident bad boy Giovanni Bauer isn’t used to losing, but when his non-stop partying leaves his position on the team at risk, he needs to turn his reputation around - fast. Maisie Evans is a dedicated psychology student, desperate to break into Gio’s competitive world and reignite her dreams of a glittering sports career, but with no clue how to do it. When Gio and Maisie’s worlds collide, the answer to their problems seems a fake relationship. She gets to travel the world and brush shoulders with sports royalty, and he gets to fix his image by settling down.
Maisie has the heart of a thrill seeker. But after her accident, it’s on the back burner and she seeks her passions down other avenues. I really, really liked Maisie. I could see parts of myself in her - particularly with the way her mind works and processes things. I absolutely adored her positive attitude and her kind and supporting personality. She really deserves the world that girl. She has dealt with a lot in her past and I love how she relies on her best friend and is determined to do good in the world. The fact she is sassy and also entirely awkward at the same time was perfect for me. No one wants a perfect lead who can do everything right!
Gio is the bad boy of racing with his imperfect record and rollercoaster attitude. But he is a lot more than that. He is kind and giving. He has a massive heart and it is clear he wants the best for those he loves and cares for. I think Gio was a great character. There are so many layers and dynamics to him that were so interesting to read. He never felt boring to read. Sure he was a little unpredictable at times with his moods, but it added to his character. There was certainly never a dull moment with him around!
I am not a big sports romance person, but I have been getting into reading them more this year. So when this one came along, I saw that it had the wonderful fake dating trope and I knew I needed to dig in! The plot is pretty good! It flows wonderfully from one event to the next and never feels clunky or boring. The fact that it goes into enough detail about Formula 1 so that we can understand it but not be burdened with too much knowledge was perfect. It all confuses me to be honest, but this has the perfect amount of background information! The characters were great. I liked that the main focus was on our lead pairing but that we got plenty of interactions with the rest of the cast. I think they were all well fleshed out and engaging to read! The romance was so sweet and so fluffy, I practically wanted to kick me feet and swoon! The chemistry between our cuties was so so adorable and I wanted to see more and more. I did appreciate that there was angst and bumps in the road because no relationship - real or not - is smooth sailing. It helped to add further depth to the story. The light spicy moments also heightened the chemistry as well. They were so tender and sweet and perfection! That ending was everything I needed and more! I could not have asked for anything better!
Overall, Lights Out is a F1 romance I highly, HIGHLY recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of this book.
F1’s resident bad boy Giovanni Bauer isn’t used to losing, but when his non-stop partying leaves his position on the team at risk, he needs to turn his reputation around - fast. Maisie Evans is a dedicated psychology student, desperate to break into Gio’s competitive world and reignite her dreams of a glittering sports career, but with no clue how to do it. When Gio and Maisie’s worlds collide, the answer to their problems seems a fake relationship. She gets to travel the world and brush shoulders with sports royalty, and he gets to fix his image by settling down.
Maisie has the heart of a thrill seeker. But after her accident, it’s on the back burner and she seeks her passions down other avenues. I really, really liked Maisie. I could see parts of myself in her - particularly with the way her mind works and processes things. I absolutely adored her positive attitude and her kind and supporting personality. She really deserves the world that girl. She has dealt with a lot in her past and I love how she relies on her best friend and is determined to do good in the world. The fact she is sassy and also entirely awkward at the same time was perfect for me. No one wants a perfect lead who can do everything right!
Gio is the bad boy of racing with his imperfect record and rollercoaster attitude. But he is a lot more than that. He is kind and giving. He has a massive heart and it is clear he wants the best for those he loves and cares for. I think Gio was a great character. There are so many layers and dynamics to him that were so interesting to read. He never felt boring to read. Sure he was a little unpredictable at times with his moods, but it added to his character. There was certainly never a dull moment with him around!
I am not a big sports romance person, but I have been getting into reading them more this year. So when this one came along, I saw that it had the wonderful fake dating trope and I knew I needed to dig in! The plot is pretty good! It flows wonderfully from one event to the next and never feels clunky or boring. The fact that it goes into enough detail about Formula 1 so that we can understand it but not be burdened with too much knowledge was perfect. It all confuses me to be honest, but this has the perfect amount of background information! The characters were great. I liked that the main focus was on our lead pairing but that we got plenty of interactions with the rest of the cast. I think they were all well fleshed out and engaging to read! The romance was so sweet and so fluffy, I practically wanted to kick me feet and swoon! The chemistry between our cuties was so so adorable and I wanted to see more and more. I did appreciate that there was angst and bumps in the road because no relationship - real or not - is smooth sailing. It helped to add further depth to the story. The light spicy moments also heightened the chemistry as well. They were so tender and sweet and perfection! That ending was everything I needed and more! I could not have asked for anything better!
Overall, Lights Out is a F1 romance I highly, HIGHLY recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of this book.
July 5, 2025
Gio Bauer, jednadvacetiletý pilot Formule 1, plní stránky bulváru svými excesy, románky a rivalitou s týmovým kolegou Lucem Farronem natolik, až mu hrozí vyhazov z týmu. Když na jedné párty potká studentku psychologie Maisie, dostane nápad: Maisie by mohla sehrát jeho přítelkyni a on by tak světu dokázal, že se napravil.
(Recenze vznikla v rámci barterové spolupráce s nakladatelstvím Cosmpolis, kterému tímto děkuji za poskytnutí recenzního výtisku.)
Maisie s tím bláznivým nápadem souhlasí. Kvůli otcově nemoci se jí zhoršil prospěch a hrozí, že bude muset opakovat ročník. Jenže esej přímo ze zákulisí Formule 1 by mohla její známky zachránit. Dokáže ale ustát, že musí o svém „vztahu“ lhát i svým nejbližším, pronásledování bulváru a toxicitu na sociálních sítích?
Maisie navíc prostředí Formule 1 připomíná její vlastní závodní kariéru ve sjezdové cyklistice, kterou před pár lety ukončila nehoda. Od té doby nedokáže na kolo nasednout a pomalu se na něj ani podívat, aniž by dostala panický záchvat.
Aby toho nebylo málo, Gio dokáže být okouzlující a laskavý, ale taky chladný, nezdvořilý, arogantní a vzteklý. Nenávidí svého rivala Luca Farrona, ale nedokáže Maisie vysvětlit proč, a stejně tak nesnáší, jak mu všichni předhazují jeho otce, několikanásobného mistra světa, a naznačují, že se do Formule 1 dostal jen kvůli protekci.
Jenni Fletcher píše čtivě a chytlavě, takže knihu slupnete za jeden nebo dva večery. Na plný plyn je postavené na zápletce s napravením image slavného a bohatého závodníka Formule 1 prostřednictvím předstíraného vztahu – jedná se sice o hrozné klišé, pro které mám ale slabost. Přináší slow burn romanci, i když mezi Maisie a Giem to od začátku jiskří. Kvůli věku hlavních hrdinů spadá Na plný plyn mezi new adult romance, ale erotických scén je tu naprosté minimum a nejsou popisné.
Jenni Fletcher do děje zakomponovala i vážnější témata, jako jsou nezpracovaná traumata, úzkosti a panické ataky, zranění při sportu, problematické vztahy s rodiči nebo toxicita na sociálních sítí a tlak bulvárního tisku.
Jenni Fletcher se snaží ukázat zdravé vztahy, ale oběma hrdinům je kolem dvaceti a jejich chování tomu odpovídá. Nezvládají komunikaci, takže mezi nima vznikají různá nedorozumění a třenice. Maisie i Gio se v tom plácají, protože předstíraný vztah se mění ve skutečnou přitažlivost a city, ale ani jeden si to nechce přiznat. Navíc Maisie do toho šla dost neuváženě a naivně, protože si vůbec neuvědomovala, jaký dopad to může mít na její život nebo jak toxičtí a nenávistní dokážou být lidé pod rouškou anonymity na internetu.
Poslední čtvrtina knihy byla až moc emocionální a vyhrocená a celá zápletka s Farronem se dala vyřešit lépe. Chápu, že Gio nemohl Maisie vysvětlit, proč ho tak nesnáší, ale v knize bylo hned několik zodpovědných dospělých, kteří mohli Maisie aspoň varovat. Taky mě iritovaly poznámky „chci to zkusit“ nebo „dejme tomu volný průběh a uvidíme“, protože to kluci říkají, ale žádná dívka se zdravě nastavenýma hranicema by na to neměla přistoupit. Stejně tak ono načasování sexu bylo dost podivné a v reálném životě bych nic podobného nedoporučovala.
Navzdory pár výtkám Na plný plyn přináší čtivou, oddechovou a příjemně nevinou romanci ozvláštněnou atraktivním prostředím Formule 1. Za mě je Na plný plyn ideální čtení (nejenom) na léto.
3,5/5
(Recenze vznikla v rámci barterové spolupráce s nakladatelstvím Cosmpolis, kterému tímto děkuji za poskytnutí recenzního výtisku.)
Maisie s tím bláznivým nápadem souhlasí. Kvůli otcově nemoci se jí zhoršil prospěch a hrozí, že bude muset opakovat ročník. Jenže esej přímo ze zákulisí Formule 1 by mohla její známky zachránit. Dokáže ale ustát, že musí o svém „vztahu“ lhát i svým nejbližším, pronásledování bulváru a toxicitu na sociálních sítích?
Maisie navíc prostředí Formule 1 připomíná její vlastní závodní kariéru ve sjezdové cyklistice, kterou před pár lety ukončila nehoda. Od té doby nedokáže na kolo nasednout a pomalu se na něj ani podívat, aniž by dostala panický záchvat.
Aby toho nebylo málo, Gio dokáže být okouzlující a laskavý, ale taky chladný, nezdvořilý, arogantní a vzteklý. Nenávidí svého rivala Luca Farrona, ale nedokáže Maisie vysvětlit proč, a stejně tak nesnáší, jak mu všichni předhazují jeho otce, několikanásobného mistra světa, a naznačují, že se do Formule 1 dostal jen kvůli protekci.
Jenni Fletcher píše čtivě a chytlavě, takže knihu slupnete za jeden nebo dva večery. Na plný plyn je postavené na zápletce s napravením image slavného a bohatého závodníka Formule 1 prostřednictvím předstíraného vztahu – jedná se sice o hrozné klišé, pro které mám ale slabost. Přináší slow burn romanci, i když mezi Maisie a Giem to od začátku jiskří. Kvůli věku hlavních hrdinů spadá Na plný plyn mezi new adult romance, ale erotických scén je tu naprosté minimum a nejsou popisné.
Jenni Fletcher do děje zakomponovala i vážnější témata, jako jsou nezpracovaná traumata, úzkosti a panické ataky, zranění při sportu, problematické vztahy s rodiči nebo toxicita na sociálních sítí a tlak bulvárního tisku.
Jenni Fletcher se snaží ukázat zdravé vztahy, ale oběma hrdinům je kolem dvaceti a jejich chování tomu odpovídá. Nezvládají komunikaci, takže mezi nima vznikají různá nedorozumění a třenice. Maisie i Gio se v tom plácají, protože předstíraný vztah se mění ve skutečnou přitažlivost a city, ale ani jeden si to nechce přiznat. Navíc Maisie do toho šla dost neuváženě a naivně, protože si vůbec neuvědomovala, jaký dopad to může mít na její život nebo jak toxičtí a nenávistní dokážou být lidé pod rouškou anonymity na internetu.
Poslední čtvrtina knihy byla až moc emocionální a vyhrocená a celá zápletka s Farronem se dala vyřešit lépe. Chápu, že Gio nemohl Maisie vysvětlit, proč ho tak nesnáší, ale v knize bylo hned několik zodpovědných dospělých, kteří mohli Maisie aspoň varovat. Taky mě iritovaly poznámky „chci to zkusit“ nebo „dejme tomu volný průběh a uvidíme“, protože to kluci říkají, ale žádná dívka se zdravě nastavenýma hranicema by na to neměla přistoupit. Stejně tak ono načasování sexu bylo dost podivné a v reálném životě bych nic podobného nedoporučovala.
Navzdory pár výtkám Na plný plyn přináší čtivou, oddechovou a příjemně nevinou romanci ozvláštněnou atraktivním prostředím Formule 1. Za mě je Na plný plyn ideální čtení (nejenom) na léto.
3,5/5
November 14, 2024
For the first 50-80 pages, I was almost convinced this book would be a 4 ⭐️, but sadly it went downhill from there.
Both Maisie and Gio, who I loved from their first meeting (particularly because of their mutual hobbies/life experiences) became extremely unlikable quickly. Maisie became so incredibly whiny and judgmental of Gio, particulary when she kissed him then instantly accused him of trying to force her into sleeping with him (because she failed to see a second bedroom). Meanwhile, Gio was so quick to jump on the attack and say insulting things, which eventually Maisie started doing too!
For both of them, they'd come to some dramatic conclusion, then instantly blame the other person for it. So, instead of growing as individuals, their character development went completely backwards (besides Maisie overcoming her fear) and left me really disliking them. It was so toxic.
The real killer for this book though, was the writing style. It felt like I was reading a recount of everything Maisie did, including the why (i.e., I asked her because I wanted to know)... no shit, people generally ask questions because they're interested in finding out the answer. As for the intimate scenes, they were written so awkwardly, it sounded frantic and uncomfortable.
By the 80% mark, I started skimreading because the writing became so difficult for me to engage with. Overall, the book had so much promise, but ultimately the characters' backwards development ruined it for me.
Both Maisie and Gio, who I loved from their first meeting (particularly because of their mutual hobbies/life experiences) became extremely unlikable quickly. Maisie became so incredibly whiny and judgmental of Gio, particulary when she kissed him then instantly accused him of trying to force her into sleeping with him (because she failed to see a second bedroom). Meanwhile, Gio was so quick to jump on the attack and say insulting things, which eventually Maisie started doing too!
For both of them, they'd come to some dramatic conclusion, then instantly blame the other person for it. So, instead of growing as individuals, their character development went completely backwards (besides Maisie overcoming her fear) and left me really disliking them. It was so toxic.
The real killer for this book though, was the writing style. It felt like I was reading a recount of everything Maisie did, including the why (i.e., I asked her because I wanted to know)... no shit, people generally ask questions because they're interested in finding out the answer. As for the intimate scenes, they were written so awkwardly, it sounded frantic and uncomfortable.
By the 80% mark, I started skimreading because the writing became so difficult for me to engage with. Overall, the book had so much promise, but ultimately the characters' backwards development ruined it for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2025
He’s the Grid’s resident ‘bad boy’ - wild behaviour off the track causing issues with sponsors. She’s a ‘normal girl’ - university student who used to be a sportswoman herself before she was in an accident.
After their chance meeting at a party (he’s a guest, she’s working catering) they agree to fake date so her can try and rescue his image, and in turn save his seat. The usual fake dating antics ensue, where the feelings become real even though the relationship is supposed to be fake.
I loved the discussions of the races - it was well researched and written in a way that explains the processes for someone who’s not familiar with F1, but not so descriptive it takes us away from the characters. So a perfect ‘starting’ formula one romance, or a good read for someone who isn’t familiar.
Overall they were cute together - Gio raised a few red flags, mainly in the way he responded to certain scenarios, but they made a cute couple and he clearly cared for her. I loved the supporting characters - mainly Maisie’s best friend Eva, I’d totally listen to her podcast!
If you’re looking for a low spice, cute formula one romance this may be the read for you!
After their chance meeting at a party (he’s a guest, she’s working catering) they agree to fake date so her can try and rescue his image, and in turn save his seat. The usual fake dating antics ensue, where the feelings become real even though the relationship is supposed to be fake.
I loved the discussions of the races - it was well researched and written in a way that explains the processes for someone who’s not familiar with F1, but not so descriptive it takes us away from the characters. So a perfect ‘starting’ formula one romance, or a good read for someone who isn’t familiar.
Overall they were cute together - Gio raised a few red flags, mainly in the way he responded to certain scenarios, but they made a cute couple and he clearly cared for her. I loved the supporting characters - mainly Maisie’s best friend Eva, I’d totally listen to her podcast!
If you’re looking for a low spice, cute formula one romance this may be the read for you!
June 18, 2025
Športovo ladené príbehy by som mohla čítať kedykoľvek. Zároveň je vítané, ak nám autor naservíruje šport, ktorý nám nie je až taký blízky (teraz narážam na všadeprítomný hokej). V romantickej jednohubky Na plný plyn autorka vsadila na prostredie pretekárov Formuly 1, čo poňa z pohľadu obyčajného dievčaťa, ktoré má zohrať úlohu falošnej priateľky. Jej falošným priateľom nemôže byť nik iný ako neslávne známy sukničkár Gio a Maisie sa neočakávane dostáva do kolotoča pozornosti. Horšie už je, táto pozornosť nie je vždy vítaná a publicita môže častokrát skôr ublížiť ako pomôcť. Medzi Maisie a Giom dochádza nielen k príjemným scenárom, ale aj nezhodám a prekvapilo ma, ako hladko ich dokázali vyriešiť. Samozrejme nesmie chýbať malá dráma, ktorá všetko zamotá viac, ako by mi bolo milé. Voči knihe mám jednu maličký výčitku, a tou je skutočnosť, že som si Gia nevedela predstaviť. Popis tam síce nejaký bol, ale z toho som si k nemu nedokázala vytvoriť vzťah, a ak by nebolo Maisie, bol by mi ukradnutý, no našťastie chémiu medzi mini to zachránila.
November 28, 2024
This was my first F1/sport romance and it was so fun to read. The story was such an enjoyable pace that I found difficult to put down.
I am a sucker for a fake dating trope (especially when its slow burn). It also had an opposites attract vibe, trauma and grief, and soooo much personal growth and healing.
I loved Maisie and the female friendships she has in this story. The scene with her dad made me cry, and I adored Gio’s family too.
Jenni made it so easy to understand and visualise the racing elements (as someone who doesn’t follow F1), I learnt a lot and I can’t wait to pick up more sports romance after this.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!
I am a sucker for a fake dating trope (especially when its slow burn). It also had an opposites attract vibe, trauma and grief, and soooo much personal growth and healing.
I loved Maisie and the female friendships she has in this story. The scene with her dad made me cry, and I adored Gio’s family too.
Jenni made it so easy to understand and visualise the racing elements (as someone who doesn’t follow F1), I learnt a lot and I can’t wait to pick up more sports romance after this.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!
June 8, 2025
pretty accurate f1 knowledge, but unfortunately the characters had very little chemistry in my eyes and the story wasn't very unique either - an enjoyable read and very easy to fly through, but nothing groundbreaking
September 25, 2025
Knížka to byla dobrá, fakt mě bavila a možná by si zasloužila i víc hvězdiček, ale! Z mého pohledu jakožto traťové komisařky mě strašně urazila paní překladatelka, že naše “povolání” nazvala DOBROVOLNÍKAMA.. kvůli tomu jsem měla sto chutí tu knížku odložit.. ale až na tohle to bylo fakt skvělý!!
December 15, 2024
such a fun read!! shoutout to my bf for picking this book for me
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