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Slipstream #2
The Paddock Club
A Formula 1 romance set in the Slipstream universe following Cat Cromwell, a fashion influencer on a secret mission to ruin a driver’s reputation, but she may fall for his rival instead.
- GenresRomanceSports Romance
Unknown Binding
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559 people want to read
About the author
Madge Maril
2 books145 followersHello! I'm Madge Maril, author of SLIPSTREAM & THE PADDOCK CLUB (7/14/2026). When I'm not writing romance books, I'm probably on Instagram. (Or you can follow my *very* sporadic newsletter.) Happy reading!
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 9, 2026
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.
i truly don’t know if i have adequate enough words to describe how much i love madge maril’s books, so please bear with me.
first - i love the writing. beautiful, witty, thought provoking prose that makes it so easy to fly through the pages and lose track of time.
these characters are so real. they’re flawed and smart and funny and vulnerable and so, so real. i loved the glimpses we got of faust from book 1 and i loved learning more about him. i am obsessed with cat - she’s one of my new favorite book characters. i loved seeing her character development and a lot of her inner monologue had me going “girl, same.” side note i also adored cat’s love for fashion and the true appreciation for it that the author showed.
the romance!!!!! the ROMANCEEEE!! so so good. the back and forth, cat and mouse dynamic they had at first had me actually screaming. i also love a “he falls first” trope and faust was down BAD for cat - it had me genuinely kicking my feet, giggling, twirling my hair, sliding down the wall, etc. every other page like oh my god?? madge knows how to write tension and banter between two intelligent characters and i truly eat it up every time.
similar to slipstream, the paddock club deals with formula 1 in a very nuanced way. as a fan of the sport, madge does a great job at writing her love for racing into the pages while also not shying away from (very valid) critiques about the sport itself and the socioeconomic divide within the world of f1. also these books are accurate regarding the rules of f1, which is very much appreciated!!
i also really resonated with how cat’s grief, especially for her grandmother, was portrayed. i was crying right alongside her and highlighted so many quotes that really got me.
also: “you’re the reason people keep lights on” iykyk!!!!!!
overall, PLEASE read these books and add them to your tbr if you haven’t already. they’re so, so well written and are such beautiful stories. if you’re a fan of f1 you’ll love them and if you are unfamiliar with f1, these books are accessible and a fun introduction to the sport.
i truly don’t know if i have adequate enough words to describe how much i love madge maril’s books, so please bear with me.
first - i love the writing. beautiful, witty, thought provoking prose that makes it so easy to fly through the pages and lose track of time.
these characters are so real. they’re flawed and smart and funny and vulnerable and so, so real. i loved the glimpses we got of faust from book 1 and i loved learning more about him. i am obsessed with cat - she’s one of my new favorite book characters. i loved seeing her character development and a lot of her inner monologue had me going “girl, same.” side note i also adored cat’s love for fashion and the true appreciation for it that the author showed.
the romance!!!!! the ROMANCEEEE!! so so good. the back and forth, cat and mouse dynamic they had at first had me actually screaming. i also love a “he falls first” trope and faust was down BAD for cat - it had me genuinely kicking my feet, giggling, twirling my hair, sliding down the wall, etc. every other page like oh my god?? madge knows how to write tension and banter between two intelligent characters and i truly eat it up every time.
similar to slipstream, the paddock club deals with formula 1 in a very nuanced way. as a fan of the sport, madge does a great job at writing her love for racing into the pages while also not shying away from (very valid) critiques about the sport itself and the socioeconomic divide within the world of f1. also these books are accurate regarding the rules of f1, which is very much appreciated!!
i also really resonated with how cat’s grief, especially for her grandmother, was portrayed. i was crying right alongside her and highlighted so many quotes that really got me.
also: “you’re the reason people keep lights on” iykyk!!!!!!
overall, PLEASE read these books and add them to your tbr if you haven’t already. they’re so, so well written and are such beautiful stories. if you’re a fan of f1 you’ll love them and if you are unfamiliar with f1, these books are accessible and a fun introduction to the sport.
December 12, 2025
I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this book from the author. Madge really grew as a writer here. Slipstream was shiny and new and a feel-good time to read, but with the Paddock Club you can really tell that Madge let loose and had a ton of fun writing these characters. It's kind of like her debut was her first-born and she was being so soft, gentle and loving with it, but the Paddock Club is like her wildchild secondborn that she lets be feral (positive) and unsupervised. I flew through this in two days because I could not stop reading it. It has a bit of an addictive quality. Congrats on Book #2, Madge!!!
Want to read
June 5, 2025I need it. I want it. I'll get it.
Want to read
February 11, 2026preread: guess who got the arc? me! ♡ ︎
Want to read
September 10, 2025I need this like I need air.
February 11, 2026
I’m calling it now. The Paddock Club is going to be one of my favorite books of 2026. I loved this so much. The plot was well written, the characters were great, and I’m obsessed with Faust. Cat was so relatable and I wish I could fall into a job like that accidentally (fashion, not getting paid to break hearts). I also really loved a peek behind the curtain of luxury of F1 and fashion.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ebook in exchange for an honest review, all opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ebook in exchange for an honest review, all opinions expressed are my own.
February 5, 2026
When I opened the email from Simon and Schuster’s Marketing team and saw that I was invited to read Madge Maril’s new Formula 1 romance—well, squealed in excitement is one way of putting it. I proceeded to drop everything I was reading to disappear into the pages of The Paddock Club.
And I’m so glad I did.
I’m placing this novel in the “books I wish I could read for the first time again” category because “I loved it” isn’t a strong enough phrase for how I feel. Much like Slipstream, this book made me laugh, cry, and squeal, all while kicking my feet. I felt butterflies in my stomach on more than one occasion, and it was all because of the electric story Maril penned on page.
Madge Maril is in a league of her own when it comes to Formula 1 romances. Her writing is funny and honest. I lost track of how many sentences I highlighted because I adored the prose so much. Much like her first novel, Maril made Formula 1 accessible to readers who may not be fans of the sport. It was easy to see how much love she has for the sport, and how many honest and valid critiques she has of it, too. Cat was the perfect narrator to usher the reader through the commentary on Formula 1, as she was a woman with a foot in both the normal experience and the upper-class experience of Formula 1. The commentary wasn’t overdone, either. It was a beautiful sub-current to the stories unfolding on the page.
Despite this novel laying out commentary about how socioeconomic classes come face-to-face at a Formula 1 race, there was also a lot of pure joy to be found in the pages of this story. An element I was surprised to enjoy was Cat’s love for fashion and how Maril wrote about it. With Maril’s history as a fashion writer, I enjoyed seeing how fashion is an art form and it’s a tool one can use express oneself. Additionally, there was the joy of watching a romance unfold on page, while enjoying a “he fell first” trope. While Cat and Faust’s romance was the cornerstone to this novel—the cat and mouse game was so fun to read about—I can’t deny that Cat’s character arc was the true triumph of this story.
The characters felt incredibly realistic and were easy to connect with; much of that realism was due to their very human faults. Cat, our female Robin Hood, needed to be in control and enjoying taking on the patriarchy in the funniest way: by starting a business in helping women get revenge on the partners who broke their hearts. She had a strong incentive for going down this path, though. While a big part of her motivation was to make enough money for her family to safely chase after their dreams, the other part was Cat running away from herself and her grief. Grief and the control that arises because of the fallout from grief are themes any reader can relate to, and both were handled with care and intention. Faust, our male love interest, was the perfect foil to Cat. Inquisitive, kind, he balanced Cat and pushed her to grow into an even better person. (Honestly, Cat and Faust have become one of my favorite fictional couples!)
I adore a romance novel that discusses more than the, well, the romance. When these novels step beyond the love plot-line and explore how that love helps a character change for a better—that is where a romance novel shines. Cat (Arcadia’s) story was no exception to that. A novel exploring the contours of loving yourself will always be a story that finds a special place in this reader’s heart.
I hope Madge Maril continues penning romance novels because she’s made a fan out of me. Whether or not she returns to Formula 1 or sports romances doesn’t matter. What does matter is continuing to explore new characters, new romances, and new stories with her addicting and gorgeous writing style.
Now if you’ll kindly excuse this reader, I need to go reread this novel from the beginning because I simply cannot get enough of Cat and Faust’s story.
P.S. I wouldn’t be opposed to the addition of an epilogue to the published version of this novel. I would give anything to see another ten pages of their story!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
And I’m so glad I did.
I’m placing this novel in the “books I wish I could read for the first time again” category because “I loved it” isn’t a strong enough phrase for how I feel. Much like Slipstream, this book made me laugh, cry, and squeal, all while kicking my feet. I felt butterflies in my stomach on more than one occasion, and it was all because of the electric story Maril penned on page.
Madge Maril is in a league of her own when it comes to Formula 1 romances. Her writing is funny and honest. I lost track of how many sentences I highlighted because I adored the prose so much. Much like her first novel, Maril made Formula 1 accessible to readers who may not be fans of the sport. It was easy to see how much love she has for the sport, and how many honest and valid critiques she has of it, too. Cat was the perfect narrator to usher the reader through the commentary on Formula 1, as she was a woman with a foot in both the normal experience and the upper-class experience of Formula 1. The commentary wasn’t overdone, either. It was a beautiful sub-current to the stories unfolding on the page.
Despite this novel laying out commentary about how socioeconomic classes come face-to-face at a Formula 1 race, there was also a lot of pure joy to be found in the pages of this story. An element I was surprised to enjoy was Cat’s love for fashion and how Maril wrote about it. With Maril’s history as a fashion writer, I enjoyed seeing how fashion is an art form and it’s a tool one can use express oneself. Additionally, there was the joy of watching a romance unfold on page, while enjoying a “he fell first” trope. While Cat and Faust’s romance was the cornerstone to this novel—the cat and mouse game was so fun to read about—I can’t deny that Cat’s character arc was the true triumph of this story.
The characters felt incredibly realistic and were easy to connect with; much of that realism was due to their very human faults. Cat, our female Robin Hood, needed to be in control and enjoying taking on the patriarchy in the funniest way: by starting a business in helping women get revenge on the partners who broke their hearts. She had a strong incentive for going down this path, though. While a big part of her motivation was to make enough money for her family to safely chase after their dreams, the other part was Cat running away from herself and her grief. Grief and the control that arises because of the fallout from grief are themes any reader can relate to, and both were handled with care and intention. Faust, our male love interest, was the perfect foil to Cat. Inquisitive, kind, he balanced Cat and pushed her to grow into an even better person. (Honestly, Cat and Faust have become one of my favorite fictional couples!)
I adore a romance novel that discusses more than the, well, the romance. When these novels step beyond the love plot-line and explore how that love helps a character change for a better—that is where a romance novel shines. Cat (Arcadia’s) story was no exception to that. A novel exploring the contours of loving yourself will always be a story that finds a special place in this reader’s heart.
I hope Madge Maril continues penning romance novels because she’s made a fan out of me. Whether or not she returns to Formula 1 or sports romances doesn’t matter. What does matter is continuing to explore new characters, new romances, and new stories with her addicting and gorgeous writing style.
Now if you’ll kindly excuse this reader, I need to go reread this novel from the beginning because I simply cannot get enough of Cat and Faust’s story.
P.S. I wouldn’t be opposed to the addition of an epilogue to the published version of this novel. I would give anything to see another ten pages of their story!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
i might go on a rant so spare with me here. I've gone around screaming about slipstream, because it captured me in a way no F1 romance ever had before, and i credit slipstream as the book that got me into F1 as sport. It was ambitious, it was solid, it was romantic and it encapsulated the spirit of sport in a very magnetic way. so when I saw that madge was coming out with another F1 novel in the same world, it would be an understatement to say I was excited.
and now that I'm done with it, I'm too disappointed. don't get me wrong, you can see why madge says it's an ambitious project. for an author, absolutely. it is. but for a reader? It's not. slipstream was very ambitious with all the subplots it had going on, and as a reader, you were LOCKED IN, soaking up the races, the paddock drama, the family drama, the character drama, the F1 teams history drama, the F1 world drama and the documentary drama sprinkled with fake dating of arthur and lilah. It was so stimulating and THAT, for me as a reader is an ambitious project. feeling so many emotions from so many sides. while this one, paddock club, feels very flat in its narrative. There isn't a lot of complexity narratively, and it wasn't polished enough emotionally imo. It feels less like a romance and more like an underwhelming robinhood fashion girl chic lit. It has an identity crisis, and it's trying to be so many things but they don't mesh so well and the resulting product is very awkwardly underwhelming.
and i think madge maril has a bit of a insta love problem where she jumps the gun a bit too abruptly which was only made worse in this book because we get a bit of snippet of faust pov with his notes and it just sucks the tension out. faust, i feel like had a very unique personality in the beginning, that was watered down by the end to fit him into this romance book in a way that doesn't make cat too disoriented. I do understand what the author was trying to do but none of it is exciting. That's my issue. the con wasn't exciting, the voice wasn't exciting, there wasn't enough witty humour to carry this plot and nothing is exciting except the hotness of this couple.
Faust and Cat are undeniably hot and that's the one good thing. Their steamy scenes are a delight and the set up for those scenes was awesome and that's the only thing I don't have a complaint about. Cat as a character is conflicting for me, because her thoughts are a bit like me and I don't enjoy that when I'm reading fiction, but I would still say objectively, her character work is a step down from what I expected of madge after slipstream. Lilah Graywood had one of the most solid writing and characterization I've come across that year. We never really see her lose the essence of her character, but she still comes out of her shell and goes through a character development that is enviable! I teared up when she showed up!! That's my queen y'all!!! Anyways, yeah, Cat, on the other hand, is a bit of letdown because nothing about her stands out as a character. There isn't a strong core. I do understand that she's a pretty regular girl as we progressed and that's a good thing for me but the ball really drops in the third act when she's not given a situation that allows her voice or actions to stand out. very ironically, we get a spoon fed ending that is too safe, not emotional enough, not risky enough. the takedown of the billionaire is so underwhelming and i won't even call it a takedown so don't go into it expecting that exhilaration.
i could honestly go on and on and on, but it's simply because I'm disappointed. but if you love fashion, definitely check this out! and if you're an F1 fan that is sick of unrealistic scenes about f1, then you should definitely check this out too because madge seldom writes any unrealistic scenes about racing! it's the literature and romance fan in me that's disappointed, that's all. the F1 fan in me isn't disappointed.
thank you so much to simon & schuster, netgalley and danielle for the arc in exchange for an honest review 🤍
and now that I'm done with it, I'm too disappointed. don't get me wrong, you can see why madge says it's an ambitious project. for an author, absolutely. it is. but for a reader? It's not. slipstream was very ambitious with all the subplots it had going on, and as a reader, you were LOCKED IN, soaking up the races, the paddock drama, the family drama, the character drama, the F1 teams history drama, the F1 world drama and the documentary drama sprinkled with fake dating of arthur and lilah. It was so stimulating and THAT, for me as a reader is an ambitious project. feeling so many emotions from so many sides. while this one, paddock club, feels very flat in its narrative. There isn't a lot of complexity narratively, and it wasn't polished enough emotionally imo. It feels less like a romance and more like an underwhelming robinhood fashion girl chic lit. It has an identity crisis, and it's trying to be so many things but they don't mesh so well and the resulting product is very awkwardly underwhelming.
and i think madge maril has a bit of a insta love problem where she jumps the gun a bit too abruptly which was only made worse in this book because we get a bit of snippet of faust pov with his notes and it just sucks the tension out. faust, i feel like had a very unique personality in the beginning, that was watered down by the end to fit him into this romance book in a way that doesn't make cat too disoriented. I do understand what the author was trying to do but none of it is exciting. That's my issue. the con wasn't exciting, the voice wasn't exciting, there wasn't enough witty humour to carry this plot and nothing is exciting except the hotness of this couple.
Faust and Cat are undeniably hot and that's the one good thing. Their steamy scenes are a delight and the set up for those scenes was awesome and that's the only thing I don't have a complaint about. Cat as a character is conflicting for me, because her thoughts are a bit like me and I don't enjoy that when I'm reading fiction, but I would still say objectively, her character work is a step down from what I expected of madge after slipstream. Lilah Graywood had one of the most solid writing and characterization I've come across that year. We never really see her lose the essence of her character, but she still comes out of her shell and goes through a character development that is enviable! I teared up when she showed up!! That's my queen y'all!!! Anyways, yeah, Cat, on the other hand, is a bit of letdown because nothing about her stands out as a character. There isn't a strong core. I do understand that she's a pretty regular girl as we progressed and that's a good thing for me but the ball really drops in the third act when she's not given a situation that allows her voice or actions to stand out. very ironically, we get a spoon fed ending that is too safe, not emotional enough, not risky enough. the takedown of the billionaire is so underwhelming and i won't even call it a takedown so don't go into it expecting that exhilaration.
i could honestly go on and on and on, but it's simply because I'm disappointed. but if you love fashion, definitely check this out! and if you're an F1 fan that is sick of unrealistic scenes about f1, then you should definitely check this out too because madge seldom writes any unrealistic scenes about racing! it's the literature and romance fan in me that's disappointed, that's all. the F1 fan in me isn't disappointed.
thank you so much to simon & schuster, netgalley and danielle for the arc in exchange for an honest review 🤍
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC REVIEW
I can already tell that this is going to be one of my favorite books of the year!
The plot is compelling, the characters are fiercely lovable, the emotions and motivations behind everything have depth and complexity, and the romance is the perfect balance of slow-burn tension and searing chemistry.
Cat and Faust are the kind of characters that will stick with me past the end of the book. They challenge each other in different ways and that makes for great banter and character growth.
I love Cat’s loyalty and how talented and driven she is. She’s confident while also being a little broken inside and the fragile, soft parts of her are just as endearing to read about as her strengths.
Faust is fascinating. He’s straight-to-the-point without being cruel and incredibly observant in a way that can either anticipate your every need or discern your truths from your lies. There’s a tender intensity to him. I love that he not only accepts Cat at her most authentic, but demands it.
As for the sport aspect, Madge Maril excels at writing it in a way that will appeal broadly to F1 fans and non fans alike! She doesn’t dump a bunch of technical info on you, but won’t leave you hanging. Newbies can follow along easily and diehard fans won’t be annoyed or bored. This book in particular does a great job at highlighting the emotion involved in loving and watching a sport live. The joy, the excitement, and the energy will resonate even with people who don’t watch sports. She celebrates the average fan without being afraid to take shots at the gross amount of wealth and privilege that comes with Formula 1.
The romance in this is so SO satisfying (with great conversations around consent and boundaries), but this book is also about family relationships, grief, women supporting women, the inequality of wealth, healthcare injustice, and having the courage to show your true self to the people who have the power to hurt you. Even the the smallest parts of this story feel fully thought out.
This can absolutely be read as a standalone, but you’d be doing yourself a disservice to not read Slipstream as well.
Madge Maril has outdone herself with this one and further cemented her spot amongst my auto-buy authors!
I can already tell that this is going to be one of my favorite books of the year!
The plot is compelling, the characters are fiercely lovable, the emotions and motivations behind everything have depth and complexity, and the romance is the perfect balance of slow-burn tension and searing chemistry.
Cat and Faust are the kind of characters that will stick with me past the end of the book. They challenge each other in different ways and that makes for great banter and character growth.
I love Cat’s loyalty and how talented and driven she is. She’s confident while also being a little broken inside and the fragile, soft parts of her are just as endearing to read about as her strengths.
Faust is fascinating. He’s straight-to-the-point without being cruel and incredibly observant in a way that can either anticipate your every need or discern your truths from your lies. There’s a tender intensity to him. I love that he not only accepts Cat at her most authentic, but demands it.
As for the sport aspect, Madge Maril excels at writing it in a way that will appeal broadly to F1 fans and non fans alike! She doesn’t dump a bunch of technical info on you, but won’t leave you hanging. Newbies can follow along easily and diehard fans won’t be annoyed or bored. This book in particular does a great job at highlighting the emotion involved in loving and watching a sport live. The joy, the excitement, and the energy will resonate even with people who don’t watch sports. She celebrates the average fan without being afraid to take shots at the gross amount of wealth and privilege that comes with Formula 1.
The romance in this is so SO satisfying (with great conversations around consent and boundaries), but this book is also about family relationships, grief, women supporting women, the inequality of wealth, healthcare injustice, and having the courage to show your true self to the people who have the power to hurt you. Even the the smallest parts of this story feel fully thought out.
This can absolutely be read as a standalone, but you’d be doing yourself a disservice to not read Slipstream as well.
Madge Maril has outdone herself with this one and further cemented her spot amongst my auto-buy authors!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this eARC.
Ok. So I loved Slipstream and decided after finishing that I would read all the books that Madge Maril writes... and then another book in the Slipstream series. Fantastic. I was soooo excited to get this ARC.
The Paddock Club follows Cat, newly hired stylist for Formula 1 (secretly there to ruin some dumb guy's ego and break his heart) and her budding relationship with F1 driver, Faust, who she helped style, along with his two other teammates.
I really loved Cat. She dubbed herself this Robin Hood like character, helping broken hearted women get revenge on the men that wronged them. She supported her family. She was a thoughtful, genuine character and I like that she supported other women. Her relationship with Faust was so nice. He supported and helped her when she needed it. She learned to trust him and give more of herself. He was the only one, most of the story, that new her truth and her past, which help their relationship grow. I absolutely loved Faust.
My issue with the book, the only reason really that took a star off, was the Bernard of it all. I liked it as a starting point for the novel, but I'm not sure if I think the book would be better completely without this subplot... or if it needed way more time to develop. I did not understand what Cat's plan was with him, it felt a bit empty, nor why he felt the way that he did. I know if was a key plot point for Cat, but I don't think it was needed or developed enough. I mean... in the end she did her thing and it was satisfying.
Anyway. If you loved Slipstream or you love sports romance or F1 or strong women, I highly recommend this book. It was such a fun read and great continuation of this universe. I can't wait until Madge's next book!
Ok. So I loved Slipstream and decided after finishing that I would read all the books that Madge Maril writes... and then another book in the Slipstream series. Fantastic. I was soooo excited to get this ARC.
The Paddock Club follows Cat, newly hired stylist for Formula 1 (secretly there to ruin some dumb guy's ego and break his heart) and her budding relationship with F1 driver, Faust, who she helped style, along with his two other teammates.
I really loved Cat. She dubbed herself this Robin Hood like character, helping broken hearted women get revenge on the men that wronged them. She supported her family. She was a thoughtful, genuine character and I like that she supported other women. Her relationship with Faust was so nice. He supported and helped her when she needed it. She learned to trust him and give more of herself. He was the only one, most of the story, that new her truth and her past, which help their relationship grow. I absolutely loved Faust.
My issue with the book, the only reason really that took a star off, was the Bernard of it all. I liked it as a starting point for the novel, but I'm not sure if I think the book would be better completely without this subplot... or if it needed way more time to develop. I did not understand what Cat's plan was with him, it felt a bit empty, nor why he felt the way that he did. I know if was a key plot point for Cat, but I don't think it was needed or developed enough. I mean... in the end she did her thing and it was satisfying.
Anyway. If you loved Slipstream or you love sports romance or F1 or strong women, I highly recommend this book. It was such a fun read and great continuation of this universe. I can't wait until Madge's next book!
February 7, 2026
I genuinely couldn’t put this love story about an understandably complicated woman and the devastating man she was not ready for, set in the fascinating world of Formula 1 racing.
Cat (29) has reasons why she set aside her dreams of college to become a fashion designer, and instead gets paid good money by angry women to string awful rich men into falling for her just so she can break their unfulfilled hearts before disappearing from their lives.
When she is hired as a stylist for an F1 racing team in order to get close to her new mark, she’s shocked when he suddenly leaves for another team, and finds herself styling his biggest rival, Faust, instead.
Faust (33) is an F1 legend coming off a terrible year, personally and professionally. Now this quiet, beautiful man is tasked with letting Cat style him into social media stardom as he fights to make a comeback and win races. He agrees, but his watchful eyes seem a bit too knowing for her comfort.
The tension and chemistry between these two is WHOA.
The surprises and twists are fun. (For the reader.)
Despite the messiness caused by [waves hands at the secrets and complications], there is a safety and grace woven into this story.
Recommend!
Read the content warnings.
Read if you like:
• Contemporary romance
• Sports romance (Formula 1 racing)
• Walking green flag feminist
• Fashion!
• Is chess hot now?
• Single POV
• Eldest daughter syndrome
• Rules and secrets
• How anger, grief, fear can control you when you think you’re the one in control
• Being really seen
• Open door spice
• SLIPSTREAM (2024) by this author
I was impatient so read a free ARC via NetGalley. Pub date is 7/14/26.
Cat (29) has reasons why she set aside her dreams of college to become a fashion designer, and instead gets paid good money by angry women to string awful rich men into falling for her just so she can break their unfulfilled hearts before disappearing from their lives.
When she is hired as a stylist for an F1 racing team in order to get close to her new mark, she’s shocked when he suddenly leaves for another team, and finds herself styling his biggest rival, Faust, instead.
Faust (33) is an F1 legend coming off a terrible year, personally and professionally. Now this quiet, beautiful man is tasked with letting Cat style him into social media stardom as he fights to make a comeback and win races. He agrees, but his watchful eyes seem a bit too knowing for her comfort.
The tension and chemistry between these two is WHOA.
The surprises and twists are fun. (For the reader.)
Despite the messiness caused by [waves hands at the secrets and complications], there is a safety and grace woven into this story.
Recommend!
Read the content warnings.
Read if you like:
• Contemporary romance
• Sports romance (Formula 1 racing)
• Walking green flag feminist
• Fashion!
• Is chess hot now?
• Single POV
• Eldest daughter syndrome
• Rules and secrets
• How anger, grief, fear can control you when you think you’re the one in control
• Being really seen
• Open door spice
• SLIPSTREAM (2024) by this author
I was impatient so read a free ARC via NetGalley. Pub date is 7/14/26.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I adored Slipstream, and I was so excited to read The Paddock Club, which turned out to be just as good, if not better. Cat’s mission in life is to help women get revenge on their exes, and her latest assignment leads her straight to Faust. Cat has built layers of armor around her heart and her true self to protect both herself and her family, and Faust is the one person who threatens to break those walls down. What follows is a flirty game of cat and mouse, with Faust determined to uncover her secrets while Cat fights both his efforts and her growing feelings for him.
I absolutely loved Cat and Faust together. While Cat hides behind a carefully constructed persona, Faust’s quiet steadiness grounds her. He’s the only one who truly sees through her as he is determined to solve the mystery that is Cat Cromwell. When he finally uncovers the truth, he doesn’t try to change her, instead, he accepts her fully and unconditionally. He pushes and encourages her to be her true self, helping her realize that she is brilliant and beautiful inside and out. And when Cat isn’t ready to give herself to him, Faust waits, loving her quietly and patiently until she is. The brief glimpses of Faust’s POV were perfect and added an extra layer of intensity to his feelings and their dynamic, something that wouldn’t have been as apparent from his usually silent demeanor.
The adrenaline-fueled F1 setting perfectly mirrors the intensity and secrecy of Cat and Faust’s relationship. The pacing was well done, and I loved the cameos from Book 1 with Arthur and Lilah. Would definitely recommend reading this one!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!
I absolutely loved Cat and Faust together. While Cat hides behind a carefully constructed persona, Faust’s quiet steadiness grounds her. He’s the only one who truly sees through her as he is determined to solve the mystery that is Cat Cromwell. When he finally uncovers the truth, he doesn’t try to change her, instead, he accepts her fully and unconditionally. He pushes and encourages her to be her true self, helping her realize that she is brilliant and beautiful inside and out. And when Cat isn’t ready to give herself to him, Faust waits, loving her quietly and patiently until she is. The brief glimpses of Faust’s POV were perfect and added an extra layer of intensity to his feelings and their dynamic, something that wouldn’t have been as apparent from his usually silent demeanor.
The adrenaline-fueled F1 setting perfectly mirrors the intensity and secrecy of Cat and Faust’s relationship. The pacing was well done, and I loved the cameos from Book 1 with Arthur and Lilah. Would definitely recommend reading this one!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was my first Madge Maril book and I was really excited by the plot. Cat (FMC) helps women get revenge on terrible men, mostly ex'es. She makes herself invisible to make the men fall for her and then breaks up with them publicly. This work makes her feel invisible. While on a job she meets Faust (MMC). He sees her, like no one before her. Faust is a Formula 1 racer and Cat is a clothing designer that is hired to dress the team. Her mark is a fellow driver.
I requested the book because of the plot. I finished the book because I wanted to see where the book went. The plot and the plot twists were excellent.
I rated the book a 3.5 because there were several pitfalls for me. I think it was mostly in the writing. The book started off slow but got much better after the first 25 pages. Cat's best friend, Renata, has a secret that she's kept from her husband. I thought maybe it was in the first book of the series, but it wasn't. I found that plotline a bit confusing. Also, her hatred of the healthcare company. I understand why it was included, but I thought it was dropped instead of carried through.
I also felt the connection between Cat and Faust was a bit insta-love. It came from nowhere and was crazy intense. Then to match the intensity they talk about/experiment with kinks. It was hard for me to believe and then the intensity faded. Cat grew during the story, but in ways we didn't know she needed to grow. Wish we got to know Faust better and why he's so broody.
Thank you Simon & Schuster, NetGalley , and Madge Maril for the ARC. This is my honest review.
I requested the book because of the plot. I finished the book because I wanted to see where the book went. The plot and the plot twists were excellent.
I rated the book a 3.5 because there were several pitfalls for me. I think it was mostly in the writing. The book started off slow but got much better after the first 25 pages. Cat's best friend, Renata, has a secret that she's kept from her husband. I thought maybe it was in the first book of the series, but it wasn't. I found that plotline a bit confusing. Also, her hatred of the healthcare company. I understand why it was included, but I thought it was dropped instead of carried through.
I also felt the connection between Cat and Faust was a bit insta-love. It came from nowhere and was crazy intense. Then to match the intensity they talk about/experiment with kinks. It was hard for me to believe and then the intensity faded. Cat grew during the story, but in ways we didn't know she needed to grow. Wish we got to know Faust better and why he's so broody.
Thank you Simon & Schuster, NetGalley , and Madge Maril for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Cat is a professional heartbreaker who dates and then dumps terrible men for hire, never risking her own heart. When she’s paid to con a Formula 1 star, she jumps at the chance to get into the glamorous world of racing, all while hoping to get revenge on another powerful man. But when her target is replaced by Faust, a quiet, guarded driver with a tarnished reputation, Cat’s carefully planned scam begins to unravel. As passion sparks between them and her past threatens to surface, Cat must choose between pulling off the con of a lifetime or risking everything for the first man who sees through her act.
This second installment in the series was loads of fun. The background of professional racing was once again a unique and entertaining perspective, and the characters of Cat and Faust were written in a genuine manner, lending them a lot of relatability. Plus, there is great chemistry between the two. This was a quick read for me due to how much fun I had while reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This second installment in the series was loads of fun. The background of professional racing was once again a unique and entertaining perspective, and the characters of Cat and Faust were written in a genuine manner, lending them a lot of relatability. Plus, there is great chemistry between the two. This was a quick read for me due to how much fun I had while reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ohhhhh I love a F1 romance and this one was so deliciously good omg. I ate up every single second of this book and barely put it down because I needed to continue their story.
To be honest, one of the reasons why I applied for this ARC was simply that it’s an influencer called Cat. And hi hello, I’m Cat myself. 🤭 It was fun to read my own name in way, though it’s just a nickname for me!
Both Cat and Faust were beautifully written and in a way, opposites attract. I mean Cat was obviously not really keen about a relationship but Faust showed her the sides of being seen and cherished as a person. He shows her his affection through small but also big gestures and while that might have overwhelmed Cat, which to be fair was quite understandable, I as a reader was kicking my feet and giggling to myself reading this.
Additionally, the dominance in a non sexual manner that Faust was showing, my goooood. Genuinely felt like one of those memes of biting your own fist. That was incredibly hot like yes hello those small gestures which prepping food etc? I’m so here for it.
But yeah, amazing read. Not too spicy but still so hot if you get me. I highly recommend this.
To be honest, one of the reasons why I applied for this ARC was simply that it’s an influencer called Cat. And hi hello, I’m Cat myself. 🤭 It was fun to read my own name in way, though it’s just a nickname for me!
Both Cat and Faust were beautifully written and in a way, opposites attract. I mean Cat was obviously not really keen about a relationship but Faust showed her the sides of being seen and cherished as a person. He shows her his affection through small but also big gestures and while that might have overwhelmed Cat, which to be fair was quite understandable, I as a reader was kicking my feet and giggling to myself reading this.
Additionally, the dominance in a non sexual manner that Faust was showing, my goooood. Genuinely felt like one of those memes of biting your own fist. That was incredibly hot like yes hello those small gestures which prepping food etc? I’m so here for it.
But yeah, amazing read. Not too spicy but still so hot if you get me. I highly recommend this.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars
I picked this book up because I loved Madge Maril's "Slipstream". This one was just okay to me. The romance started off a little instant-lovey. I mean, the male protagonist (Faust) started to write in a journal about the female protagonist (Cat) on the very same day he met her... He's almost instantly obsessed with her for really no apparent reason. I also felt like Cat had some character development, while Faust did not. He presents as this broody, dark, non-emotional man who is very rich. He supposedly has some trauma in his history, but we don't really get much development out of that. Considering that "Slipstream" had a lot of yearning and tension, this one fell flat for me sadly. Hopefully Madge Maril has other ideas up their sleeve, but this one was a no for me.
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars
I picked this book up because I loved Madge Maril's "Slipstream". This one was just okay to me. The romance started off a little instant-lovey. I mean, the male protagonist (Faust) started to write in a journal about the female protagonist (Cat) on the very same day he met her... He's almost instantly obsessed with her for really no apparent reason. I also felt like Cat had some character development, while Faust did not. He presents as this broody, dark, non-emotional man who is very rich. He supposedly has some trauma in his history, but we don't really get much development out of that. Considering that "Slipstream" had a lot of yearning and tension, this one fell flat for me sadly. Hopefully Madge Maril has other ideas up their sleeve, but this one was a no for me.
February 11, 2026
Overall. I enjoyed this book. The pacing at the beginning was a little off, and didn’t flow too well, but once she had the job and started the scheme, things improved from there.
Cat is essentially a woman for hire to ruin your man and kill his ego. Hey, I’m all for women supporting women. She constantly hides her real self and makes a man, or her target, fall in love with her to get revenge fir the women who hire her. However, this time, someone who she had a chance meeting with remembered her and she has to adjust. Cat/Arcadia isn’t really someone I would normally be rooting for or relate to, but the writing and complexity of her character sold it, and made me feel for her. Faust was an interesting love interest, who also has his faults.
I wish we got to see more of Renata and Rowan since their characters were fun.
I received an eARC from Simon & Schuster via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Cat is essentially a woman for hire to ruin your man and kill his ego. Hey, I’m all for women supporting women. She constantly hides her real self and makes a man, or her target, fall in love with her to get revenge fir the women who hire her. However, this time, someone who she had a chance meeting with remembered her and she has to adjust. Cat/Arcadia isn’t really someone I would normally be rooting for or relate to, but the writing and complexity of her character sold it, and made me feel for her. Faust was an interesting love interest, who also has his faults.
I wish we got to see more of Renata and Rowan since their characters were fun.
I received an eARC from Simon & Schuster via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As someone who learned about F1 entirely from reading Madge Maril’s Slipstream, this was an AMAZING follow-up! It was so good I read it in one single day, I genuinely could not put it down. I also think the romance in this book was even stronger than in the first, with delicious tension and fun twists that kept me fully locked in.
This book is for readers who love:
- YEARNING
- A self-sacrificing oldest daughter
- A sprinkle of trauma
- And fashion!
This was a five-star read for me, though I am a little sad we didn’t get an epilogue. I love knowing where characters land and what their futures look like and I wanted just a little more time with them.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This book is for readers who love:
- YEARNING
- A self-sacrificing oldest daughter
- A sprinkle of trauma
- And fashion!
This was a five-star read for me, though I am a little sad we didn’t get an epilogue. I love knowing where characters land and what their futures look like and I wanted just a little more time with them.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.25/5
I loved all the drama of this book (of the premise, but also of the characters and the situations they find themselves in).
I did feel like there was a lot going on at times, I could see some people getting confused if they weren't super focused when reading.
I also didn't feel like the characters really had much development throughout this book. I think it would've benefited from that. This was more so about characters realizing things about themselves that are already true - if that makes sense.
I did have fun with this and sped through it. If you like sports romances and drama, I'd check this out.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I loved all the drama of this book (of the premise, but also of the characters and the situations they find themselves in).
I did feel like there was a lot going on at times, I could see some people getting confused if they weren't super focused when reading.
I also didn't feel like the characters really had much development throughout this book. I think it would've benefited from that. This was more so about characters realizing things about themselves that are already true - if that makes sense.
I did have fun with this and sped through it. If you like sports romances and drama, I'd check this out.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Do I know a single thing about Formula 1? Absolutely not lol but if Madge Maril is writing it, I'm reading it. I loved Madge's debut Slipstream so when presented the opportunity to read this one early, y'all, I dropped EVERYTHING. The prose? Punchy. The characters? Relatable, hot, lovely. The spice? Consider me pulsating. This one is for the fashion girlies for sure - if you love fashion references (we're talking Zimmermann, Puzzle bags, Celine), F1, stern brunch daddies, twists and turns, scammers, Ali Hazelwood, and sweltering steam, this one is FOR YOU.
February 9, 2026
First of all, thanks for the ARC, I feel so honored to get to read this book in advance. Now, let me get this thing straight. It is amazing. It's beyond your regular sport romance, it is deep and sweet, and the characters are so human. I read it in 1 day and I KNOW they will stay with me for a long time. I even pre-ordered the physical book so I can see them and keep them with me. Seriously Madge, if you're reading this: BRAVO. And if you are looking for a good book to feel warm and that makes you think, this is the one dear readers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was fortunate to get to read an ARC of The Paddock Club and it is definitely a top read of the year for me! Maril does a phenomenal job of balancing heart and humor with characters that are incredibly real. I felt for them. I rooted for them. I'll be thinking of this story and Faust and Cat for a while. This book burrowed under my skin and evoked so much emotion. Laughing, crying, swooning. TPC has it all in spades. Highly recommend!
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December 29, 2025(w)
February 10, 2026
An epic, sweeping love story for fashion and F1 girlies. Only Madge could pull off a story this wild, this complex, this INSANE AND BRILLIANT, with so much swagger and effortlessness. I’m going to be thinking of this book for months, years, maybe.
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