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The Home Stretch: A Sports Romance
Nora Tierney has spent years keeping her town’s karting track alive, but she never expected Finn Magrath—her childhood best friend turned Formula 1 star—to show up back in town, filming a documentary and bringing his chaotic racing world with him. She expects the flashy cameras, old grudges, and no apologies.
Finn’s return stirs up feelings Nora thought she’d buried. As they work together to train a new generation of racers, old memories and unresolved emotions resurface. But with Finn’s career pulling him away once more, he’s forced to question what he really wants—and what he’s willing to let go.
Will they find the courage to go the distance together, or will Finn’s heart be the one thing he leaves behind?
Finn’s return stirs up feelings Nora thought she’d buried. As they work together to train a new generation of racers, old memories and unresolved emotions resurface. But with Finn’s career pulling him away once more, he’s forced to question what he really wants—and what he’s willing to let go.
Will they find the courage to go the distance together, or will Finn’s heart be the one thing he leaves behind?
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 10, 2025
18 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 2, 2025
“Leaning closer, he lowered his voice. “Kiss me again.”
This is a story of coming home and finding home!!! There is so much heart in this story, growth, change, and the sweetest romance between childhood best friends that had me smiling so soo much! I love Nora and Finn. Their story is entertaining, touching, such an enjoyable journey, and the history between them had my heart melting!!!! The flashbacks were my absolute favorite, and it made their story so much sweeter!!!
I loved the small town Irish setting! It felt so charming and so cozy. It made the story feel almost magic! Such a gorgeous setting and getting a taste of the culture was amazing too! This book is also full of an incredible cast of characters that’ll steal your heart!!!
Another aspect I loved about this story is the way the author did childhood friends to more with a dose of enemies to more! Such an amazing combination and that feisty banter!
Read for:
🏎️Dual POV
🏎️Wishing tree
🏎️Chicken
🏎️Go kart racing
🏎️Finn the famous Formula One star
🏎️Nora his beautiful and stubborn childhood friend
🏎️That first kisssss
🏎️Adorable kids
🏎️Quirky grandmas
🏎️Heart warming story
I’ve read 2 of Maggie’s regency books which are amazing and she so beautifully wrote her first contemporary story! I really really loved reading it!!! It’s wonderful, unique, enjoyable, romantic, fun, sweet, moving, and will have you feeling all the emotions!!! I loved it!
Coming June 10th!
.
.
.
Thank you to the author for the arc copy. All opinions are my own.
Content: Alzheimer’s, cruel family member, kisses only
This is a story of coming home and finding home!!! There is so much heart in this story, growth, change, and the sweetest romance between childhood best friends that had me smiling so soo much! I love Nora and Finn. Their story is entertaining, touching, such an enjoyable journey, and the history between them had my heart melting!!!! The flashbacks were my absolute favorite, and it made their story so much sweeter!!!
I loved the small town Irish setting! It felt so charming and so cozy. It made the story feel almost magic! Such a gorgeous setting and getting a taste of the culture was amazing too! This book is also full of an incredible cast of characters that’ll steal your heart!!!
Another aspect I loved about this story is the way the author did childhood friends to more with a dose of enemies to more! Such an amazing combination and that feisty banter!
Read for:
🏎️Dual POV
🏎️Wishing tree
🏎️Chicken
🏎️Go kart racing
🏎️Finn the famous Formula One star
🏎️Nora his beautiful and stubborn childhood friend
🏎️That first kisssss
🏎️Adorable kids
🏎️Quirky grandmas
🏎️Heart warming story
I’ve read 2 of Maggie’s regency books which are amazing and she so beautifully wrote her first contemporary story! I really really loved reading it!!! It’s wonderful, unique, enjoyable, romantic, fun, sweet, moving, and will have you feeling all the emotions!!! I loved it!
Coming June 10th!
.
.
.
Thank you to the author for the arc copy. All opinions are my own.
Content: Alzheimer’s, cruel family member, kisses only
June 13, 2025
thank you to the author for the ARC!! i loved it! the knowledge of f1 was good but i felt that the connection between them could’ve been explored more in the beginning!
June 10, 2025
THE HOME STRETCH
by: Maggie Bradford
@authormaggiebradford
•I give 4.5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
~Nora Tierney has spent years keeping her town’s karting track alive, but she never expected Finn Magrath-her childhood best friend turned Formula 1 star-to show up back in town, filming a documentary and bringing his chaotic racing world with him…
“Give in to the crazy or else it will drive you crazy.”
-THE HOME STRETCH, is a dear story of roots, of coming home, finding home, and being at home! It’s a story filled with heart, character growth, and change! The journey with endearing characters is both heartwarming and enjoyable. I throughly enjoyed watching dear characters, who once were dear childhood friends go from being distanced to a bit of enemies, to something so much more, had my full attention. Their fiesty Irish banter and swoony moments had me smiling. Most of all, I loved seeing these dear characters choose courage when it really comes down to the wire, when hearts and love are at the finish line, and the beauty of forgiveness, and being enough! Add in a charming small town Irish setting, and you can’t go wrong with this delightful story with depth my friends! It is worth the read!📚🙌🏻
“When you are starting to forget, remember that people are more important.”
•Content: one of the characters is living with
Alzheimer’s and so are the people who love him, cruel family member, drinking mentioned, pub scene, kisses only.
“If you focus too much on what’s behind you, you won’t see what’s ahead of you. And you’ve got so much life ahead of you.”
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
“And though the road was long, I was here.
I was home.”
#thehomestretch
#authormaggiebradford
#allaboutthebestreads
by: Maggie Bradford
@authormaggiebradford
•I give 4.5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
~Nora Tierney has spent years keeping her town’s karting track alive, but she never expected Finn Magrath-her childhood best friend turned Formula 1 star-to show up back in town, filming a documentary and bringing his chaotic racing world with him…
“Give in to the crazy or else it will drive you crazy.”
-THE HOME STRETCH, is a dear story of roots, of coming home, finding home, and being at home! It’s a story filled with heart, character growth, and change! The journey with endearing characters is both heartwarming and enjoyable. I throughly enjoyed watching dear characters, who once were dear childhood friends go from being distanced to a bit of enemies, to something so much more, had my full attention. Their fiesty Irish banter and swoony moments had me smiling. Most of all, I loved seeing these dear characters choose courage when it really comes down to the wire, when hearts and love are at the finish line, and the beauty of forgiveness, and being enough! Add in a charming small town Irish setting, and you can’t go wrong with this delightful story with depth my friends! It is worth the read!📚🙌🏻
“When you are starting to forget, remember that people are more important.”
•Content: one of the characters is living with
Alzheimer’s and so are the people who love him, cruel family member, drinking mentioned, pub scene, kisses only.
“If you focus too much on what’s behind you, you won’t see what’s ahead of you. And you’ve got so much life ahead of you.”
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
“And though the road was long, I was here.
I was home.”
#thehomestretch
#authormaggiebradford
#allaboutthebestreads
May 27, 2025
First off, I know nothing about F1 racing, so I was super happy to see a list of F1 terms at the beginning of the book - a small but super helpful detail so the actual book isn't bogged down with explanations during a fast-paced race!
I loved Nora and Finn - childhood best friends and racing buddies who got separately when Finn gets recruited by a talent scout. 7 years later he finally returns and Nora is none too pleased to see the boy who never looked back suddenly in front of her. As they spend more time around each other and slowly mend what time has broken, Finn has to decide what he truly wants and whether he's brave enough to go after it. Their chemistry and banter were SO good throughout the book (even though I wanted to strangle Finn just a little bit for his stubbornness). The kids that Nora teaches were such fun side characters and I loved them all! Also now I think I need to go racing or something because it just sounds so fun! Definitely pick this up if you love a good friends to lovers romance, F1 racing, Ireland, stubborn but loveable main characters, and just a heartwarming story that will make you want to keep reading! (I may have read this in a single sitting and I regret nothing)
Thank you to the author for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
I loved Nora and Finn - childhood best friends and racing buddies who got separately when Finn gets recruited by a talent scout. 7 years later he finally returns and Nora is none too pleased to see the boy who never looked back suddenly in front of her. As they spend more time around each other and slowly mend what time has broken, Finn has to decide what he truly wants and whether he's brave enough to go after it. Their chemistry and banter were SO good throughout the book (even though I wanted to strangle Finn just a little bit for his stubbornness). The kids that Nora teaches were such fun side characters and I loved them all! Also now I think I need to go racing or something because it just sounds so fun! Definitely pick this up if you love a good friends to lovers romance, F1 racing, Ireland, stubborn but loveable main characters, and just a heartwarming story that will make you want to keep reading! (I may have read this in a single sitting and I regret nothing)
Thank you to the author for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
October 29, 2025
there’s low spice, and then there’s this.
Well, that sure was a book! Here are things I thought the book did well:
1. We didn’t spend too long in the past. The relationship between the two MCs as children was establish and then we moved on.
2. The parent with Alzheimer’s wasn’t too heavy-handed.
3. The goofy side characters didn’t overshadow the plot.
And that’s basically all I’ve got. Things I really disliked about this book:
1. The MCs’ actions didn’t at all seem to match their emotions. They were a little prickly at first, but the FMC seemed angry and sad at the MMC’s abandonment. So it was confusing when she was just joking around with him, agreeing to help him with the documentary, generally being more or less pleasant to him? Likewise, the MMC had been ruthless in cutting off his past, but within hours of returning home he wants to help? Why?
2. Their first kiss came out of nowhere. Literally, nothing was really different about their interactions and then he kisses her? Whiplash.
3. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, went way too easy on the MMC for being just the worst kind of jerk. Not only to his best friend and surrogate father, but also to literally everyone he worked with.
4. We establish a bff for the MMC early in the book only for him to disappear and then heart-to-heart to come from someone completely different? And that guy (Dallin) was just sort of… floating around? I have no idea what his role was for him to be around the MMC so much. It was super weird.
5. I don’t mind low spice books, and I don’t mind closed door books. What I do mind is an author trying to convince me something’s a romance when it’s entirely platonic, as far as we see. I know they must be attracted to each other, but it’s just completely left out besides a few appreciative thoughts the FMC has for the MMC’s hands and abs. Is the MMC attracted to the FMC? No idea. Doesn’t appear to be?
6. The dad just kind of disappears? I didn’t need him to die or anything, but he just ceases to exist really?
7. WOW did the FMC forgive the MMC for being an unmitigated a** for a SECOND time. Not even an apology? And he *barely* apologized for ignoring her for however many years.
8. Would have been really nice to see the MMC acknowledge, in some way, the way the FMC was completely passed over for her dreams. Like, idk, maybe inviting her to his Italian mansion sometime would have been a nice indication that he wanted her to be part of his fancy dream life, not just separate from what they’d both once wanted? (Using the little go kart kids as an excuse is such pitiful writing I might drop this down to one star, tbh)
9. The resolution was just so weak and didn’t actually solve the issue of the MMC being so mean. He didn’t really deal with anything, just retired? Considering this was dual POV I really didn’t understand the MMC at all.
10. Epilogue was weeaakkkkk. Like literally so lazy.
Well, that sure was a book! Here are things I thought the book did well:
1. We didn’t spend too long in the past. The relationship between the two MCs as children was establish and then we moved on.
2. The parent with Alzheimer’s wasn’t too heavy-handed.
3. The goofy side characters didn’t overshadow the plot.
And that’s basically all I’ve got. Things I really disliked about this book:
1. The MCs’ actions didn’t at all seem to match their emotions. They were a little prickly at first, but the FMC seemed angry and sad at the MMC’s abandonment. So it was confusing when she was just joking around with him, agreeing to help him with the documentary, generally being more or less pleasant to him? Likewise, the MMC had been ruthless in cutting off his past, but within hours of returning home he wants to help? Why?
2. Their first kiss came out of nowhere. Literally, nothing was really different about their interactions and then he kisses her? Whiplash.
3. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, went way too easy on the MMC for being just the worst kind of jerk. Not only to his best friend and surrogate father, but also to literally everyone he worked with.
4. We establish a bff for the MMC early in the book only for him to disappear and then heart-to-heart to come from someone completely different? And that guy (Dallin) was just sort of… floating around? I have no idea what his role was for him to be around the MMC so much. It was super weird.
5. I don’t mind low spice books, and I don’t mind closed door books. What I do mind is an author trying to convince me something’s a romance when it’s entirely platonic, as far as we see. I know they must be attracted to each other, but it’s just completely left out besides a few appreciative thoughts the FMC has for the MMC’s hands and abs. Is the MMC attracted to the FMC? No idea. Doesn’t appear to be?
6. The dad just kind of disappears? I didn’t need him to die or anything, but he just ceases to exist really?
7. WOW did the FMC forgive the MMC for being an unmitigated a** for a SECOND time. Not even an apology? And he *barely* apologized for ignoring her for however many years.
8. Would have been really nice to see the MMC acknowledge, in some way, the way the FMC was completely passed over for her dreams. Like, idk, maybe inviting her to his Italian mansion sometime would have been a nice indication that he wanted her to be part of his fancy dream life, not just separate from what they’d both once wanted? (Using the little go kart kids as an excuse is such pitiful writing I might drop this down to one star, tbh)
9. The resolution was just so weak and didn’t actually solve the issue of the MMC being so mean. He didn’t really deal with anything, just retired? Considering this was dual POV I really didn’t understand the MMC at all.
10. Epilogue was weeaakkkkk. Like literally so lazy.
June 10, 2025
The Home Stretch completely swept me off my feet. I read it in under two days, on top of working a full-time corporate job, because I simply couldn’t put it down. As a HUGE Formula 1 fan, I expected something fast-paced and thrilling, but what I got was that and so much more: a heartfelt, beautifully written story about love, loss, healing, and the almost unseen ways motorsport can connect people.
Finn and Nora feel less like characters and more like people you’ve known your whole life, messy, real, and impossible not to root for. I found myself relating to both of them in different ways, their fears, their hopes, the way they each try to make sense of the past while figuring out who they want to be. Their story isn’t just about racing, it’s about family, grief, memory, and the invisible strings that tie people together across time and place. The “friends to enemies to lovers” arc was perfectly paced and emotionally satisfying, and I found myself laughing out loud at their banter one moment and crying the next.
What sets this book apart is how it balances depth with accessibility. Bradford includes helpful definitions for F1 terms and even a pronunciation guide for the Irish names and places, making the story welcoming to newcomers and extra immersive for everyone. As someone who studied abroad in Galway for many months last summer, reading a story set so close to where I lived brought on a wave of nostalgia I wasn’t expecting. It truly felt like reliving a transformative chapter of my life, and that made me feel even more connected to Finn, Nora, and their journey.
The book also highlights the unsung heroes of the sport: the mentors, teachers, and community figures who guide young drivers through more than just laps on a track. It’s a celebration of growth, resilience, and the way people come together around something they love.
Heartwarming, funny, emotional, and rich with character development, The Home Stretch is a must-read whether you’re into Formula 1 or not. It’s not just about racing, it’s about connection, and it hits every note just right.
Finn and Nora feel less like characters and more like people you’ve known your whole life, messy, real, and impossible not to root for. I found myself relating to both of them in different ways, their fears, their hopes, the way they each try to make sense of the past while figuring out who they want to be. Their story isn’t just about racing, it’s about family, grief, memory, and the invisible strings that tie people together across time and place. The “friends to enemies to lovers” arc was perfectly paced and emotionally satisfying, and I found myself laughing out loud at their banter one moment and crying the next.
What sets this book apart is how it balances depth with accessibility. Bradford includes helpful definitions for F1 terms and even a pronunciation guide for the Irish names and places, making the story welcoming to newcomers and extra immersive for everyone. As someone who studied abroad in Galway for many months last summer, reading a story set so close to where I lived brought on a wave of nostalgia I wasn’t expecting. It truly felt like reliving a transformative chapter of my life, and that made me feel even more connected to Finn, Nora, and their journey.
The book also highlights the unsung heroes of the sport: the mentors, teachers, and community figures who guide young drivers through more than just laps on a track. It’s a celebration of growth, resilience, and the way people come together around something they love.
Heartwarming, funny, emotional, and rich with character development, The Home Stretch is a must-read whether you’re into Formula 1 or not. It’s not just about racing, it’s about connection, and it hits every note just right.
June 12, 2025
I 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐃 this book.
I received the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I adored everything about this story. The small-town setting was perfect — it felt like I was right there. Everyone felt like one big family. The characters were so warm and genuine. There was so much love in this story; my heart is full, and I’m truly glad I got to read it.
The plot was incredible — it explored the complexities of life, how people fight their own battles, and how that struggle can sometimes hurt those who love them.
The heartbreak was beautifully written — not just romantic, but the kind that comes from life itself. Just the right amount of ache before a beautiful, healing conclusion.
The characters completely stole my heart, and I NEED to talk about a few of them:
🫧 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐚: She’s kind, warm, and resilient. Even after losing so much, she stayed true to herself and her passion. I loved how she cared for her students like they were her own children.
🫧 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧: Do I even need to explain? I loved his character. I’m so glad we got to see his different layers — his struggles, his reasonings for his actions, his passion for F1 and what drove him to achieve that level of success, and finally his uncertainty about what he truly wants in life. It was all so real and raw.
🫧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐦 (𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐚’𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫): My favorite side character. His love for Finn, his moments with Nora — they got me emotional every time. The story wouldn’t have been the same without him.
🫧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬: Nora’s students were the sweetest (loved Sorcha btw). Finn’s interactions with them were adorable. They were the heart of the story.
🫧 𝐌𝐲𝐫𝐧𝐚, 𝐀𝐨𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐧: I loved these three. Their bond with Finn and Nora felt so natural — like mothers with their children. And Eileen is such a diva, haha!
Overall, this book is everything you’d want from a small-town romance — and so much more. 100% recommend! 💗
I received the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I adored everything about this story. The small-town setting was perfect — it felt like I was right there. Everyone felt like one big family. The characters were so warm and genuine. There was so much love in this story; my heart is full, and I’m truly glad I got to read it.
The plot was incredible — it explored the complexities of life, how people fight their own battles, and how that struggle can sometimes hurt those who love them.
The heartbreak was beautifully written — not just romantic, but the kind that comes from life itself. Just the right amount of ache before a beautiful, healing conclusion.
The characters completely stole my heart, and I NEED to talk about a few of them:
🫧 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐚: She’s kind, warm, and resilient. Even after losing so much, she stayed true to herself and her passion. I loved how she cared for her students like they were her own children.
🫧 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧: Do I even need to explain? I loved his character. I’m so glad we got to see his different layers — his struggles, his reasonings for his actions, his passion for F1 and what drove him to achieve that level of success, and finally his uncertainty about what he truly wants in life. It was all so real and raw.
🫧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐦 (𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐚’𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫): My favorite side character. His love for Finn, his moments with Nora — they got me emotional every time. The story wouldn’t have been the same without him.
🫧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬: Nora’s students were the sweetest (loved Sorcha btw). Finn’s interactions with them were adorable. They were the heart of the story.
🫧 𝐌𝐲𝐫𝐧𝐚, 𝐀𝐨𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐧: I loved these three. Their bond with Finn and Nora felt so natural — like mothers with their children. And Eileen is such a diva, haha!
Overall, this book is everything you’d want from a small-town romance — and so much more. 100% recommend! 💗
June 10, 2025
The Home Stretch is a sweet childhood friends to lovers, second chance, Formula 1 love story.
Finn and Nora grew up together, both with a passion for racing and a dream to one day race in formula 1.
Finn lives with his uncle, a horrible, drunk of a man who didn’t take care of him. He befriended his neighbor, Nora, and she and her father took him in as a part of their family.
Growing up together, they had always had a special bond. But when Finn was drafted for F2, Nora was left behind. Running from the ghost of his family’s name, Finn left and never looked back. Seven years later, he’s back in Ireland and back with all the people he hurt when he left, including Nora.
As they work together to film a documentary featuring Finn, he and Nora start to rekindle the friendship they’d had so long ago.
Finn has many ghosts that he must face in order to find the life that he will truly love. We get to watch him struggle to understand that he was worthy and loved without being a top performing F1 racer. As they grew back together, Nora was supportive of him, even when she had to call him out for his nonsense.
Nora shows a quiet strength in her ability to be there for her father, Finn, and the children she is teaching to race. Despite not getting the chance to pursue who own dreams in F1, she still supports others in their pursuit of the same dream.
Nora and Finn make a very sweet couple and it was so nice to see Finn’s growth as he came to realize his worth outside of racing.
Thank you to the author for including me on her ARC team, all opinions expressed are my own.
Content warning:
Toxic/Neglectful family member
Alzheimer’s
Clean kisses
No language
Finn and Nora grew up together, both with a passion for racing and a dream to one day race in formula 1.
Finn lives with his uncle, a horrible, drunk of a man who didn’t take care of him. He befriended his neighbor, Nora, and she and her father took him in as a part of their family.
Growing up together, they had always had a special bond. But when Finn was drafted for F2, Nora was left behind. Running from the ghost of his family’s name, Finn left and never looked back. Seven years later, he’s back in Ireland and back with all the people he hurt when he left, including Nora.
As they work together to film a documentary featuring Finn, he and Nora start to rekindle the friendship they’d had so long ago.
Finn has many ghosts that he must face in order to find the life that he will truly love. We get to watch him struggle to understand that he was worthy and loved without being a top performing F1 racer. As they grew back together, Nora was supportive of him, even when she had to call him out for his nonsense.
Nora shows a quiet strength in her ability to be there for her father, Finn, and the children she is teaching to race. Despite not getting the chance to pursue who own dreams in F1, she still supports others in their pursuit of the same dream.
Nora and Finn make a very sweet couple and it was so nice to see Finn’s growth as he came to realize his worth outside of racing.
Thank you to the author for including me on her ARC team, all opinions expressed are my own.
Content warning:
Toxic/Neglectful family member
Alzheimer’s
Clean kisses
No language
June 11, 2025
🏎️The Home Stretch🏎️
By: Maggie Bradford
ARC Review
Are you familiar with Formula One racing?? I LOVE it!
Finn and Nora’s story is filled with childhood history, heartache, grief, angst, self discovery, banter, and a beautiful second chance ♥️ and I loved the dual POV!
Nora and Finn grew up together and developed a close competitive friendship! They both have a love of racing and Nora helped him escape, even for an afternoon from his uncles awful treatment. Colm, Nora’s father, helped Finn whenever he could and treated him as a son, because of his rough upbringing.
Finn is offered a sponsorship and is whisked away to the F2 and eventually the F1 circuits. He left Tirnanog and never looked back. Leaving Nora and her father with no closure.
Nora is a sweet, independent woman who has taken over Dublin Dash, a racetrack, and teaches young kids how to race. With her father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, she is struggling. In her business and her family.
Finn is an aggressive, determined to win racer who desires above all else to change what people think of the Magrath name. He is the star of a documentary which brings him back to his home town. Where it all started.
Nora and Finn both rediscover who they are and what they truly desire in their future.
The side characters, Myrna, Eileen, and Aoife- (I’m talking about you 😂,) and the kids Nora teach add so much fun dialogue and brings a familial feel to this story that is absolutely amazing!!
I loved this story! And can’t wait until I can read it again.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
By: Maggie Bradford
ARC Review
Are you familiar with Formula One racing?? I LOVE it!
Finn and Nora’s story is filled with childhood history, heartache, grief, angst, self discovery, banter, and a beautiful second chance ♥️ and I loved the dual POV!
Nora and Finn grew up together and developed a close competitive friendship! They both have a love of racing and Nora helped him escape, even for an afternoon from his uncles awful treatment. Colm, Nora’s father, helped Finn whenever he could and treated him as a son, because of his rough upbringing.
Finn is offered a sponsorship and is whisked away to the F2 and eventually the F1 circuits. He left Tirnanog and never looked back. Leaving Nora and her father with no closure.
Nora is a sweet, independent woman who has taken over Dublin Dash, a racetrack, and teaches young kids how to race. With her father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, she is struggling. In her business and her family.
Finn is an aggressive, determined to win racer who desires above all else to change what people think of the Magrath name. He is the star of a documentary which brings him back to his home town. Where it all started.
Nora and Finn both rediscover who they are and what they truly desire in their future.
The side characters, Myrna, Eileen, and Aoife- (I’m talking about you 😂,) and the kids Nora teach add so much fun dialogue and brings a familial feel to this story that is absolutely amazing!!
I loved this story! And can’t wait until I can read it again.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
June 2, 2025
The book is divided into wonderfully short chapters, making it easy to always read "just one more chapter" and stay immersed in the story's flow. The writing style is vivid and emotional. The characters are going through a tough time, and each has their own burdens to bear. I really liked how the author managed to write an emotional yet entertaining and lively book. Nora and Finn argue a lot at first, share a past, and are then forced to meet again. Sparks are bound to fly! This, along with the shifting character perspectives, perfectly rounds out the enjoyable writing.
Finn left his found family behind with his increasing success and never looked back. I just wanted to hug Nora and curse Finn right along with her. The two had a beautiful connection since early childhood, which he simply trampled on. As a reader, I couldn't help but demonize him, even though he had his reasons. I really liked how the plot brought them back together and how realistically slow their relationship progressed.
There are a few flashbacks at the beginning that show how good friends Nora and Finn were and that explain both of their family situations. This was a nice addition and immediately built a strong sense of closeness and understanding for the characters. A large part of the story revolves around working at the go-kart track and we get to know the children who train there. And I can promise that these scenes are simply adorable. The associated small-town feeling was also wonderful. This relative short book is perfect for a day's read. I certainly had a few wonderful hours.
Finn left his found family behind with his increasing success and never looked back. I just wanted to hug Nora and curse Finn right along with her. The two had a beautiful connection since early childhood, which he simply trampled on. As a reader, I couldn't help but demonize him, even though he had his reasons. I really liked how the plot brought them back together and how realistically slow their relationship progressed.
There are a few flashbacks at the beginning that show how good friends Nora and Finn were and that explain both of their family situations. This was a nice addition and immediately built a strong sense of closeness and understanding for the characters. A large part of the story revolves around working at the go-kart track and we get to know the children who train there. And I can promise that these scenes are simply adorable. The associated small-town feeling was also wonderful. This relative short book is perfect for a day's read. I certainly had a few wonderful hours.
July 8, 2025
The Home Stretch was not what I was expecting. I was thinking it was going to be more of a romcom, but there is a lot of deep emotions and regrets to go along with the laughs and the memories of good times, hopes, and dreams.
Finn and Nora were best friends growing up but when Finn left town to pursue his dream of racing, Nora feels abandoned by him. So, when Finn returns years later, she has a hard time jumping back to how things were between them. As they work together on a documentary and training young racers, they forge through past hurts, anger, and who they really want to be.
The Home Stretch has great characters who are dealing with a lot – it’s real and relatable. It made my heart ache when Nora visits her father who has Alzheimer’s – I felt her pain and her longing for him to remember. You can’t help feel sorry for Finn and the past he is running from. They both need each other and the journey of them getting there is sweet – Nora and Finn find home.
The Home Stretch is an enjoyable, romantic, funny, and touching story that will take you through the gamut of emotions but leaves you feeling good with a happy ever after ending.
My favorite things:
- Small Irish town
- The “Grandmas”
- The kids were hilarious!
- The chicken
- That first kiss
Tropes:
- Formula 1 sports romance
- Childhood friends to enemies to more
- Small town vibes
- Set in Ireland
- Found family
- Fun banter
- Just kisses
Happy reading!
Finn and Nora were best friends growing up but when Finn left town to pursue his dream of racing, Nora feels abandoned by him. So, when Finn returns years later, she has a hard time jumping back to how things were between them. As they work together on a documentary and training young racers, they forge through past hurts, anger, and who they really want to be.
The Home Stretch has great characters who are dealing with a lot – it’s real and relatable. It made my heart ache when Nora visits her father who has Alzheimer’s – I felt her pain and her longing for him to remember. You can’t help feel sorry for Finn and the past he is running from. They both need each other and the journey of them getting there is sweet – Nora and Finn find home.
The Home Stretch is an enjoyable, romantic, funny, and touching story that will take you through the gamut of emotions but leaves you feeling good with a happy ever after ending.
My favorite things:
- Small Irish town
- The “Grandmas”
- The kids were hilarious!
- The chicken
- That first kiss
Tropes:
- Formula 1 sports romance
- Childhood friends to enemies to more
- Small town vibes
- Set in Ireland
- Found family
- Fun banter
- Just kisses
Happy reading!
November 9, 2025
My rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Swearing: 🚫
Tropes:
🇮🇪Childhood friends to enemies to friends to lovers
🏎️F1 romance
🇮🇪Dual pov
🏎️He has a temper and tries to fix it for her
🇮🇪Found family
🏎️Small town
🇮🇪Alzheimer’s rep
🏎️Slow burn
Oh my goodness. This book was amazing. It starts off telling you a little bit about when Finn and Nora were younger, his uncle wasn’t a good person, so he would often go hangout with Nora and her father Colm. Finn and Nora started racing karts when they were younger and it became a passion for both of them. One year there is a scout looking at one of their races when one of them gets the call. Finn was the one to get a seat at F2.
He then went further up, and she remained in the same place, they had a falling out until 7 years later he showed back up in their small town to shoot a documentary. She's angry over something that happened 7 years ago. They start bonding over coaching some kids to race. Soon their feelings started to rekindle again but at what risk?
I loved this book so much because of the depth of emotion you get from it. Most of you probably saw in my stories that I cried twice in this book 😭. But I couldn't have asked for a better way! I highly recommend it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Swearing: 🚫
Tropes:
🇮🇪Childhood friends to enemies to friends to lovers
🏎️F1 romance
🇮🇪Dual pov
🏎️He has a temper and tries to fix it for her
🇮🇪Found family
🏎️Small town
🇮🇪Alzheimer’s rep
🏎️Slow burn
Oh my goodness. This book was amazing. It starts off telling you a little bit about when Finn and Nora were younger, his uncle wasn’t a good person, so he would often go hangout with Nora and her father Colm. Finn and Nora started racing karts when they were younger and it became a passion for both of them. One year there is a scout looking at one of their races when one of them gets the call. Finn was the one to get a seat at F2.
He then went further up, and she remained in the same place, they had a falling out until 7 years later he showed back up in their small town to shoot a documentary. She's angry over something that happened 7 years ago. They start bonding over coaching some kids to race. Soon their feelings started to rekindle again but at what risk?
I loved this book so much because of the depth of emotion you get from it. Most of you probably saw in my stories that I cried twice in this book 😭. But I couldn't have asked for a better way! I highly recommend it!
May 29, 2025
i’ll start this review off with saying thank you to the author for an arc of this book!
this story was so cute and adorable. all the characters were extremely lovable and made for a fun time. i absolutely loved the whole plot line of nora working at the karting place because those kids were so much fun. i also really like the documentary portion of the story and i kinda wish it was a real documentary since i love the kids so much. the reason this is 3 stars though is because i felt like we didn’t get to see enough of finn racing before he came back, this could’ve been incorporated through flashbacks or something but i think that could’ve really added some more depth to his character and show us how he’s being portrayed as this rude, stubborn, and somewhat hard to work with driver. as someone who actively follows formula 1 racing i just think seeing all that would’ve been nice.
overall, this was a cute romance and it was super fast paced. if you don’t know a lot about formula 1, don’t worry because there’s a little glossary at the front!
this story was so cute and adorable. all the characters were extremely lovable and made for a fun time. i absolutely loved the whole plot line of nora working at the karting place because those kids were so much fun. i also really like the documentary portion of the story and i kinda wish it was a real documentary since i love the kids so much. the reason this is 3 stars though is because i felt like we didn’t get to see enough of finn racing before he came back, this could’ve been incorporated through flashbacks or something but i think that could’ve really added some more depth to his character and show us how he’s being portrayed as this rude, stubborn, and somewhat hard to work with driver. as someone who actively follows formula 1 racing i just think seeing all that would’ve been nice.
overall, this was a cute romance and it was super fast paced. if you don’t know a lot about formula 1, don’t worry because there’s a little glossary at the front!
May 30, 2025
Finn and Nora have been best friends since childhood, bonded by their shared love of racing and Nora’s Da. They spent countless hours at Dublin Dash, the track in town. But everything changed when Finn was scouted for Formula One. At 19, he left Ireland—running from his family’s reputation and anyone, that might hold him back, including Nora.
Seven years pass in silence.
Now, Finn is back in Ireland to film a documentary about his life and roots. But when he runs into Nora, she throws his plans completely off course.
This is a cute story! I knew absolutely nothing about A1 racing going into this but with the Glossary and some Google visualization I was able to read it just fine. I loved the one lines from Nora and her Da. Full of such Irish wisdom without even trying. The 3 hilarious woman that work at the pub who also took care of Nora and Finn as kids and clearly still take there job very “seriously” I did feel like the characters were a little underdeveloped however, I was rooting for them to settle there grudges and make amends! And the scene with Da and the letter 😭
Seven years pass in silence.
Now, Finn is back in Ireland to film a documentary about his life and roots. But when he runs into Nora, she throws his plans completely off course.
This is a cute story! I knew absolutely nothing about A1 racing going into this but with the Glossary and some Google visualization I was able to read it just fine. I loved the one lines from Nora and her Da. Full of such Irish wisdom without even trying. The 3 hilarious woman that work at the pub who also took care of Nora and Finn as kids and clearly still take there job very “seriously” I did feel like the characters were a little underdeveloped however, I was rooting for them to settle there grudges and make amends! And the scene with Da and the letter 😭
June 10, 2025
The Home Stretch by is a clean sweet romance featuring:
☘️ Ireland
💚 friends to enemies to lovers
💚 Formula One racing 🏎️
💚 Found family
💚 Kisses only 💋
💚 No profanity 🚫🤬
This sweet romance book was raw, powerful, and deeply moving. It’s a story of finding oneself and finding home. This love story encompasses so much more than just romantic love. It explores
❤️ Love in friendship
❤️ Love in family (and found family)
❤️ Love of teaching/inspiring the next generation
❤️ Love of racing
❤️ Love of self
✨I really loved the author’s writing style - it was beautifully poetic. ✨
Content:
The author tackles some challenging and heavy topics in a very sensitive and compassionate way.
📚 Non-graphic portrayal of child abuse/neglect and the devastation it causes.
📚Portrayals of a loved one with Alzheimer’s.
☘️ Ireland
💚 friends to enemies to lovers
💚 Formula One racing 🏎️
💚 Found family
💚 Kisses only 💋
💚 No profanity 🚫🤬
This sweet romance book was raw, powerful, and deeply moving. It’s a story of finding oneself and finding home. This love story encompasses so much more than just romantic love. It explores
❤️ Love in friendship
❤️ Love in family (and found family)
❤️ Love of teaching/inspiring the next generation
❤️ Love of racing
❤️ Love of self
✨I really loved the author’s writing style - it was beautifully poetic. ✨
Content:
The author tackles some challenging and heavy topics in a very sensitive and compassionate way.
📚 Non-graphic portrayal of child abuse/neglect and the devastation it causes.
📚Portrayals of a loved one with Alzheimer’s.
June 11, 2025
The story is a friends to lovers, sports romance. Nora and Finn spent most of their childhood running around and being fun loving children. Until Finn went home to his unbearable uncle. Something that Nora and Finn had in common was their love of cart racing. This love pushed Finn into Formula One racing, unfortunately it took him away from Nora. But when he came home to clean out his uncle’s home, the connection he felt with Nora was stronger than ever.
This is a charming story of two people that care deeply for each other but not sure they can trust each other. There are side stories of local children and their growing passion of cart racing and also the love and compassion they have with Nora‘s father and helping him through his Alzheimer’s. It is a story of growing, maturing, commitment and sweet romance.
This is a charming story of two people that care deeply for each other but not sure they can trust each other. There are side stories of local children and their growing passion of cart racing and also the love and compassion they have with Nora‘s father and helping him through his Alzheimer’s. It is a story of growing, maturing, commitment and sweet romance.
July 18, 2025
This was a beautiful story of healing, accepting love and forgiveness.
I thought this was just going to be a funny romcom and I was wrong. While, I laughed a lot, there were so many moments of raw emotion and my heart broke for Finn, Nora, and her father, Colm.
I might have read this out loud at times with an Irish accent as well lol.
Finn, is running and has been for seven years. He ran from his found family to make a name for himself that wasn’t connected to his past but in doing so he lost sight of himself.
His childhood best friend Nora, has never stopped thinking about him and feels utterly abandoned by Finn.
She is struggling to keep their local track afloat and dealing with her father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis by herself.
Will a chance documentary bring them back together or tear them apart for good?
I thought this was just going to be a funny romcom and I was wrong. While, I laughed a lot, there were so many moments of raw emotion and my heart broke for Finn, Nora, and her father, Colm.
I might have read this out loud at times with an Irish accent as well lol.
Finn, is running and has been for seven years. He ran from his found family to make a name for himself that wasn’t connected to his past but in doing so he lost sight of himself.
His childhood best friend Nora, has never stopped thinking about him and feels utterly abandoned by Finn.
She is struggling to keep their local track afloat and dealing with her father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis by herself.
Will a chance documentary bring them back together or tear them apart for good?
June 11, 2025
“But, before my fingers could mark my uncle’s death, a warm hand closed mine and helped me the rest of the way.”
Nora and Finn were the best of friends until Finn’s F1 career takes off and he leaves Nora behind.
Now seven years later, Nora is struggling to keep things afloat at the karting track that is until Finn shows up and with the camera crew no less ready to film a documentary.
Together they will not only work together to help the karting track but to help each other find their way home.
A story about love and loss and the crazy journey called life. The Home Stretch is about rekindling friendships and reconnecting with home whether it is a place or a person.
Nora and Finn were the best of friends until Finn’s F1 career takes off and he leaves Nora behind.
Now seven years later, Nora is struggling to keep things afloat at the karting track that is until Finn shows up and with the camera crew no less ready to film a documentary.
Together they will not only work together to help the karting track but to help each other find their way home.
A story about love and loss and the crazy journey called life. The Home Stretch is about rekindling friendships and reconnecting with home whether it is a place or a person.
June 11, 2025
I am notoriously harsh on my F1 romance reviews so take this with a grain of salt, but it sort of failed to meet my criteria for a sports romance. Don't get me wrong! Nora and Finn were cuties with complex characterization. If you're looking for a sweet, wholesome small town romance where one of them happens to be a millionare this is great. Personally, it just wasn't something I really enjoyed and if you're looking to see a lot of the glitz and glam of the F1 world in fiction, this isn't it.
Thank you to the author, Maggie Bradford, for the free advance copy. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily, and all opinions remain my own.
Thank you to the author, Maggie Bradford, for the free advance copy. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily, and all opinions remain my own.
June 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 Stars
I really enjoyed reading this book! I’m used to sports romance, but this is my first Formila 1 story. There was a guide in the beginning that explained F1 terms and phrases which was so helpful!
Finn & Nora were the cutest friends to enemies to lovers pair. They started as childhood bestfriends that grew apart due to Finn then reunited after 7 years. It was a rollercoaster of ups and downs that ended up getting them to a phenomenal ending!
🌶️ Spice: None / Only Kisses
🤐 Language: None
I 100% recommend this book! It was such a cute, fun, and easy read in between longer novels! It made me want to start reading more formula 1 romance! 🏎️
4/5 Stars
I really enjoyed reading this book! I’m used to sports romance, but this is my first Formila 1 story. There was a guide in the beginning that explained F1 terms and phrases which was so helpful!
Finn & Nora were the cutest friends to enemies to lovers pair. They started as childhood bestfriends that grew apart due to Finn then reunited after 7 years. It was a rollercoaster of ups and downs that ended up getting them to a phenomenal ending!
🌶️ Spice: None / Only Kisses
🤐 Language: None
I 100% recommend this book! It was such a cute, fun, and easy read in between longer novels! It made me want to start reading more formula 1 romance! 🏎️
June 10, 2025
From the beginning I knew this book was going to get me in the feels.
There was so much heart felt emotion.
Childhood friendship, being left behind, struggling alone.
Dreams realized. Dreams dashed.
Racing was Finn’s escape. His ticket to freedom so he doesn’t hesitate to grab the chance to go professional. Leaving behind his childhood friend, the man that treated him like his own, and the small town he wants to forget.
“But I didn't start racing because I wanted to have fun. It was an escape. I needed to get away from everything, and, in the end, that included Nora.”
Nora’s dreams are long gone. She was left behind by her best friend. She’s struggling to keep her business afloat and take care of her father. She feels betrayed and abandoned.
This journey was just beautiful. I loved Finn and Nora’s reconnection. There’s much to overcome. Pride, hurt, anger. The added storyline with Nora’s father…. my heart. The heart remembers.
It was heartwarming and heart-felt, joyful and sweet. A beautiful story and message.
Leaving home to find where you belong only to discover you belong in the place you left.
Thank you to Maggie Bradford for the copy. All opinions are my own.
There was so much heart felt emotion.
Childhood friendship, being left behind, struggling alone.
Dreams realized. Dreams dashed.
Racing was Finn’s escape. His ticket to freedom so he doesn’t hesitate to grab the chance to go professional. Leaving behind his childhood friend, the man that treated him like his own, and the small town he wants to forget.
“But I didn't start racing because I wanted to have fun. It was an escape. I needed to get away from everything, and, in the end, that included Nora.”
Nora’s dreams are long gone. She was left behind by her best friend. She’s struggling to keep her business afloat and take care of her father. She feels betrayed and abandoned.
This journey was just beautiful. I loved Finn and Nora’s reconnection. There’s much to overcome. Pride, hurt, anger. The added storyline with Nora’s father…. my heart. The heart remembers.
It was heartwarming and heart-felt, joyful and sweet. A beautiful story and message.
Leaving home to find where you belong only to discover you belong in the place you left.
Thank you to Maggie Bradford for the copy. All opinions are my own.
June 11, 2025
The Home Stretch is so lovely.
First, it’s set in Ireland and the prose is full of lyrical Irish wit. You haven’t read banter yet if you haven’t read Irish banter. And this book has a whole community full of banter and love.
This is a beautiful redemption story of a young man who runs from his past to make something of himself but loses himself in the process. Finn Magrath dreams his whole life of becoming a Formula 1 champion. It meant leaving behind his childhood best friend, Nora, but it was the price he was willing to pay. When he is forced to return home, Finn receives the hero’s welcome he always wanted, but he isn’t the hero Nora always wanted. They must work together to train young racers, navigating the pain of loss, anger, and the uncertainty of the future.
As poignant as this all sounds, I laughed through most of the book, and I also cried a little. Don’t miss this fantastic story.
First, it’s set in Ireland and the prose is full of lyrical Irish wit. You haven’t read banter yet if you haven’t read Irish banter. And this book has a whole community full of banter and love.
This is a beautiful redemption story of a young man who runs from his past to make something of himself but loses himself in the process. Finn Magrath dreams his whole life of becoming a Formula 1 champion. It meant leaving behind his childhood best friend, Nora, but it was the price he was willing to pay. When he is forced to return home, Finn receives the hero’s welcome he always wanted, but he isn’t the hero Nora always wanted. They must work together to train young racers, navigating the pain of loss, anger, and the uncertainty of the future.
As poignant as this all sounds, I laughed through most of the book, and I also cried a little. Don’t miss this fantastic story.
June 10, 2025
The Home Stretch does a good job of cementing Nora and Finn’s relationship by starting out with the first multiple chapters taking place in the past.
That said, it can be difficult to keep track of what happened when during reading. The glossary and pronunciation guide were smart add ons by Bedford. You do not need to have any knowledge of Irish customs or F1 to enjoy this love story. I appreciated the complexity of the storyline focusing on the romance, family, the kids, and the sport itself.
A worthy read!
That said, it can be difficult to keep track of what happened when during reading. The glossary and pronunciation guide were smart add ons by Bedford. You do not need to have any knowledge of Irish customs or F1 to enjoy this love story. I appreciated the complexity of the storyline focusing on the romance, family, the kids, and the sport itself.
A worthy read!
June 10, 2025
4/5 stars
This story was so good. I felt everything, anger, sadness, joy, etc. I had genuine
laugh-out-loud moments which I feel like I generally don't experience to the extreme that I did with this. The banter was bantering, the burn was slow and painful (in the best way), and the emotions were high.
I think I've realized that I really like the childhood bestfriends turn lovers trope.
There is the topic of a loved one with Alzheimer's, in case that's a trigger. This is also a spice free romance. F1 racing is important to the story line, but no prior knowledge is needed to enjoy the book.
This story was so good. I felt everything, anger, sadness, joy, etc. I had genuine
laugh-out-loud moments which I feel like I generally don't experience to the extreme that I did with this. The banter was bantering, the burn was slow and painful (in the best way), and the emotions were high.
I think I've realized that I really like the childhood bestfriends turn lovers trope.
There is the topic of a loved one with Alzheimer's, in case that's a trigger. This is also a spice free romance. F1 racing is important to the story line, but no prior knowledge is needed to enjoy the book.
July 11, 2025
What a fun sports romance! I didn’t know I loved F1 until I read @authormaggiebradford’s book The Home Stretch. You don’t need to know anything about F1 to enjoy this book! It was very well written. Enemies to more is probably my favorite trope now, but it’s even better when it’s friends to more. You’ve got to read Finn and Nora’s story to know how they are friends and yet enemies in this story. I loved it! Be sure and put it on your TBR lists!! Thank you Maggie for an early copy!! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
June 4, 2025
There's no place like home, unless you are trying to outrun the past. Finn and Nora have been friends forever. Both love F1 racing. When Finn gets his big break and is signed to a sponsor he leaves everything and everyone behind.
This is a story of truly coming home and realizing you aren't the mistakes of the past or of your family. That true family are those that love you and stick by you through thick and thin.
I loved these characters and the journey together and apart.
This is a story of truly coming home and realizing you aren't the mistakes of the past or of your family. That true family are those that love you and stick by you through thick and thin.
I loved these characters and the journey together and apart.
June 2, 2025
This was a fun story. This was my first F1 romance and I really enjoyed it. The chapters were short and the story flowed nicely. It had fun banter, great side characters as well as main characters. There was depth but also lots of lighthearted and fun moments.
I received an ARC of this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received an ARC of this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 9, 2025
I am not someone who knows much about F1, and I still fell in LOVE with this book! Maggie is so talented at creating characters that the reader will immediately connect to and cheer for. She also handles all the deeper topics in this book with care and concern. I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who loves a good plot and phenomenal romance!!!
June 10, 2025
I was able to be an ARC reader for this book, and let me tell you it was SO good!!! I absolutely loved it, especially since it was F1 themed. I really liked how the story shows that coming home can be a brave step toward healing. This book is great for anyone who enjoys stories about personal growth and reconnecting with loved ones. Thank you again for letting me be an ARC reader!! 💗
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