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Throttle & Thrust #1
The First Turn
Punished for his secret, a Formula One driver races for redemption—until he falls for his devastatingly attractive team principal. Wyatt West had it a championship-contending seat with his father’s Formula One team, the West Racing legacy in his blood, and a future mapped out in silver and blue. Until Cash West caught him kissing another driver and cast him out without a second thought.
Sixteen months later, Wyatt gets his shot at revenge when Paolo Rossi—his father’s oldest rival—offers him a lifeline. The scarlet and gold of Rossi Performance represents more than just a new team. It’s his chance to prove that talent trumps bloodline, that he can win without the West name.
But Wyatt didn’t count on Sergio García.
The enigmatic Spanish team principal is everything Wyatt’s father isn’t—brilliant, controlled, and devastatingly attractive. As victories mount from Monaco to Barcelona and championship hopes soar, the professional chemistry between them ignites into something far more dangerous. Stolen moments in engineering offices, heated confrontations on Mediterranean balconies, and whispered confessions under city lights blur every line Wyatt swore he’d never cross again.
In a sport where image is everything and secrets are weapons, loving Sergio could destroy them both. When Wyatt’s private struggles are weaponized against him and family loyalty becomes a blood sport, he must choose to play it safe and lose himself, or risk everything for a love that could end his career forever.
Some races are won with courage. Others with heart.
From podium victories to passionate nights, from family betrayal to found love, The First Turn delivers high-octane romance where the stakes are championship glory and the prize is everything that matters.
Book 1 in the Throttle & Thrust series
Perfect for fans of Red, White & Royal Blue and Heated Rivalry —enemies-to-lovers romance, sports drama, and stories where love conquers all—even at 200 mph.
Sixteen months later, Wyatt gets his shot at revenge when Paolo Rossi—his father’s oldest rival—offers him a lifeline. The scarlet and gold of Rossi Performance represents more than just a new team. It’s his chance to prove that talent trumps bloodline, that he can win without the West name.
But Wyatt didn’t count on Sergio García.
The enigmatic Spanish team principal is everything Wyatt’s father isn’t—brilliant, controlled, and devastatingly attractive. As victories mount from Monaco to Barcelona and championship hopes soar, the professional chemistry between them ignites into something far more dangerous. Stolen moments in engineering offices, heated confrontations on Mediterranean balconies, and whispered confessions under city lights blur every line Wyatt swore he’d never cross again.
In a sport where image is everything and secrets are weapons, loving Sergio could destroy them both. When Wyatt’s private struggles are weaponized against him and family loyalty becomes a blood sport, he must choose to play it safe and lose himself, or risk everything for a love that could end his career forever.
Some races are won with courage. Others with heart.
From podium victories to passionate nights, from family betrayal to found love, The First Turn delivers high-octane romance where the stakes are championship glory and the prize is everything that matters.
Book 1 in the Throttle & Thrust series
Perfect for fans of Red, White & Royal Blue and Heated Rivalry —enemies-to-lovers romance, sports drama, and stories where love conquers all—even at 200 mph.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2025
4 people are currently reading
2700 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Reed
7 books16 followersRyan Reed writes spicy M/M romance that pushes boundaries and explores social taboos. His stories feature authentic, multidimensional characters grappling with the complexities of attraction and sexuality. When he’s not writing, Ryan enjoys eating tacos while stargazing on clear Texas nights.
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July 29, 2025dnfed at 37%
I'm sorry but give me your milk wasn't on my bingo card when I started this
I'm sorry but give me your milk wasn't on my bingo card when I started this
July 25, 2025
Wyatt & Sergio.
This book is very well written. As a fan of formula 1, this book had a lot of technical writing which jived well with what I already knew about racing. I will say that if you are looking for a romance M/M heavy book. This is not that. This is a story that shows diversity in racing is not only important but should be talked about more. Not only that but that mental health is even more important. These drivers are racing at a high level and the media sometimes aren't always kind in that regard.
The First Turn touches on mental health, anxiety, a M/M relationship, and how to navigate coming back from being away from the one thing you love most. Not only is there high flying action in the racing (as we follow along in the grid and on race day) but there is behind the scenes interactions between the teams and their drivers.
I really loved this book a lot.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book is very well written. As a fan of formula 1, this book had a lot of technical writing which jived well with what I already knew about racing. I will say that if you are looking for a romance M/M heavy book. This is not that. This is a story that shows diversity in racing is not only important but should be talked about more. Not only that but that mental health is even more important. These drivers are racing at a high level and the media sometimes aren't always kind in that regard.
The First Turn touches on mental health, anxiety, a M/M relationship, and how to navigate coming back from being away from the one thing you love most. Not only is there high flying action in the racing (as we follow along in the grid and on race day) but there is behind the scenes interactions between the teams and their drivers.
I really loved this book a lot.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2025
3.5 stars
Ryan Reed’s The First Turn is book one in a new series of m/m romances set in the world of Formula 1 racing (which seems to be becoming a more popular setting for romance novels recently.) I enjoyed it for the most part – the author’s knowledge and love for F1 comes through strongly, and while sometimes the detail felt a bit too intricate for a lay-person like me, it does add a feeling of authenticity and some excitement to the sections of the story that take place on the track. Unfortunately however, the thing that initially drew me to the book – the romance – is the least successful thing about it. There is little chemistry between the leads and their relationship is sorely underdeveloped, going from zero to sixty way too fast and without creating any emotional connection or romantic tension along the way.
Wyatt West, formerly a driver with West Racing, the team owned and managed by his father, Cassius ‘Cash’ West, was dropped the previous season because his father walked in on him and another driver making out. That he threw his own son off the team because Wyatt is gay hasn’t been made public; instead the reasons given hinted that Wyatt was unstable and didn’t have the mental fortitude necessary to make an F1 champion.
When the book begins, Wyatt is on the verge of being signed up by Rossi Performance, the team owned by Paolo Rossi – who happens to be a long-time rival of Cash West. The trials go well and he’s signed up to RP, where team principal Sergio García is charged with integrating him into the team and guiding and mentoring him.
There is – we’re told – an almost immediate attraction between the Wyatt and Sergio (who is fifty to Wyatt’s thirty), although of course a relationship between a driver and his principal would be crossing all sorts of professional boundaries, so they try to fight it – until they can’t and desire spills over into a furtive and passionate encounter after Wyatt pulls off an incredible win at the Shanghai Grand Prix. Unfortunately, it’s not a very sexy sex scene; , and it consists almost entirely of snarky innuendo and motor racing related puns that feel a bit forced and don’t convey any sense of attraction or sexual tension.
The lack of chemistry between Wyatt and Sergio certainly doesn’t help matters, and unfortunately, that doesn’t change as the story progresses; the puns keep coming, there’s no emotional intimacy or connection between them and the sex scenes are rather wooden and impersonal as a result. It also means that the third-act crisis doesn’t have the impact it would have done had the romance been stronger and more fully developed.
Also strange is the way that everyone around them seems to know about Sergio and Wyatt’s relationship - even before it becomes one! Both men know that getting together creates all sorts of ethical problems and talk about the need to keep things on the downlow – and there’s never anything to suggest that they get caught sneaking around or acting inappropriately where others can see, yet everyone is dropping hints about it! They’re not doing anything public (other than exchanging the odd heated glance) but Paolo Rossi, Alejandro (Sergio’s tech-geek son, who has never met Wyatt) and even Wyatt’s father somehow twig that something is going on – and there is not even a single hint given as to how they could have possibly have come to that conclusion.
But the story comes to life in the sections that deal with the sport itself, whether it’s on the track, in the pit lane, dealing with the politics of the sport or life in the media spotlight. I admit that some of the technical detail was too much for me, especially in the early stages of the story, but the parts describing the actual races are quite exciting and the author does a superb job of showing just how a racing team works together and that there’s a helluva lot more to motor racing at this level than sitting in the car and steering it. The driver receives a constant flow of information about the car, the track conditions, the weather, and is making split-second decisions and adjustments while whizzing around at incredibly high speeds.
The West family dynamics are interesting. Wyatt is the middle brother of three, all of them professional racing drivers for West Racing until Jax, the eldest, was badly injured in a crash and Wyatt was dumped. Reid, the youngest brother, is now the golden child and, it seems, willing to do whatever it takes to stay in his dad’s good books. These somewhat toxic father/son relationships are nicely contrasted with the interactions between Sergio and his son, Alejandro, who don’t always agree but who clearly love and respect each other.
The First Turn is, then, a bit of a mixed bag. The character/family dynamics, the plotline that addresses Wyatt’s struggles with anxiety and his mental health, and the on-track scenes are well done, but the book is billed as a romance, and it doesn’t really deliver on that front. Had the romance been stronger, I’d definitely have given the book a much higher grade. Still, and despite my reservations, I’m intrigued by the hints about what’s going on with Jax so I’ll probably pick up the next book in the series, and will keep my fingers crossed that the author is able to up his romance game.
Ryan Reed’s The First Turn is book one in a new series of m/m romances set in the world of Formula 1 racing (which seems to be becoming a more popular setting for romance novels recently.) I enjoyed it for the most part – the author’s knowledge and love for F1 comes through strongly, and while sometimes the detail felt a bit too intricate for a lay-person like me, it does add a feeling of authenticity and some excitement to the sections of the story that take place on the track. Unfortunately however, the thing that initially drew me to the book – the romance – is the least successful thing about it. There is little chemistry between the leads and their relationship is sorely underdeveloped, going from zero to sixty way too fast and without creating any emotional connection or romantic tension along the way.
Wyatt West, formerly a driver with West Racing, the team owned and managed by his father, Cassius ‘Cash’ West, was dropped the previous season because his father walked in on him and another driver making out. That he threw his own son off the team because Wyatt is gay hasn’t been made public; instead the reasons given hinted that Wyatt was unstable and didn’t have the mental fortitude necessary to make an F1 champion.
When the book begins, Wyatt is on the verge of being signed up by Rossi Performance, the team owned by Paolo Rossi – who happens to be a long-time rival of Cash West. The trials go well and he’s signed up to RP, where team principal Sergio García is charged with integrating him into the team and guiding and mentoring him.
There is – we’re told – an almost immediate attraction between the Wyatt and Sergio (who is fifty to Wyatt’s thirty), although of course a relationship between a driver and his principal would be crossing all sorts of professional boundaries, so they try to fight it – until they can’t and desire spills over into a furtive and passionate encounter after Wyatt pulls off an incredible win at the Shanghai Grand Prix. Unfortunately, it’s not a very sexy sex scene; , and it consists almost entirely of snarky innuendo and motor racing related puns that feel a bit forced and don’t convey any sense of attraction or sexual tension.
The lack of chemistry between Wyatt and Sergio certainly doesn’t help matters, and unfortunately, that doesn’t change as the story progresses; the puns keep coming, there’s no emotional intimacy or connection between them and the sex scenes are rather wooden and impersonal as a result. It also means that the third-act crisis doesn’t have the impact it would have done had the romance been stronger and more fully developed.
Also strange is the way that everyone around them seems to know about Sergio and Wyatt’s relationship - even before it becomes one! Both men know that getting together creates all sorts of ethical problems and talk about the need to keep things on the downlow – and there’s never anything to suggest that they get caught sneaking around or acting inappropriately where others can see, yet everyone is dropping hints about it! They’re not doing anything public (other than exchanging the odd heated glance) but Paolo Rossi, Alejandro (Sergio’s tech-geek son, who has never met Wyatt) and even Wyatt’s father somehow twig that something is going on – and there is not even a single hint given as to how they could have possibly have come to that conclusion.
But the story comes to life in the sections that deal with the sport itself, whether it’s on the track, in the pit lane, dealing with the politics of the sport or life in the media spotlight. I admit that some of the technical detail was too much for me, especially in the early stages of the story, but the parts describing the actual races are quite exciting and the author does a superb job of showing just how a racing team works together and that there’s a helluva lot more to motor racing at this level than sitting in the car and steering it. The driver receives a constant flow of information about the car, the track conditions, the weather, and is making split-second decisions and adjustments while whizzing around at incredibly high speeds.
The West family dynamics are interesting. Wyatt is the middle brother of three, all of them professional racing drivers for West Racing until Jax, the eldest, was badly injured in a crash and Wyatt was dumped. Reid, the youngest brother, is now the golden child and, it seems, willing to do whatever it takes to stay in his dad’s good books. These somewhat toxic father/son relationships are nicely contrasted with the interactions between Sergio and his son, Alejandro, who don’t always agree but who clearly love and respect each other.
The First Turn is, then, a bit of a mixed bag. The character/family dynamics, the plotline that addresses Wyatt’s struggles with anxiety and his mental health, and the on-track scenes are well done, but the book is billed as a romance, and it doesn’t really deliver on that front. Had the romance been stronger, I’d definitely have given the book a much higher grade. Still, and despite my reservations, I’m intrigued by the hints about what’s going on with Jax so I’ll probably pick up the next book in the series, and will keep my fingers crossed that the author is able to up his romance game.
July 7, 2025
If I could give this book 6 stars I would. Everything about this story was just so compelling. It is exactly what a sports romance should be. There was clearly so much research and care put into this book. As an F1 fan, I was in heaven. I’ve never read an F1 book where you spend so much time in the car. Almost everything about it was spot on though there were some creative liberties taken. Even so, they only added to the story. The characters were so well developed. I truly was along for the ride on this one. This is a must read for sports romance fans and I am impatiently waiting for book 2 in this series.
June 29, 2025
Loved this!! Especially that it focuses on the sometimes mixed feelings that come with the beginning of an LGBT relationship, rather than later when characters are coming out, like I think most books do.
Combine that with the dazzling, high stakes world of F1 and a some uh… romance 😳, you’ve got a hit!!
Thank you to BookSiren for the ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
Combine that with the dazzling, high stakes world of F1 and a some uh… romance 😳, you’ve got a hit!!
Thank you to BookSiren for the ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
July 13, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"I really am gone for this man. He could read me the FIA technical regulations and I'd still want to jump his bones"
Formula 1 romance stories are becoming all the rage at the moment, and I have read multiple F/M and M/M books already, and I have to say this is my favourite so far.
There is so much focus on the racing aspect and i love it, as a major F1 fan you can tell the author has done heaps of research and unlike others F1 romances where were exsessive creative liberties are taken there is so much care written into this book intertwining the racing and romance in a much more acurate way.
This is a must-read for F1 fans who love romance books. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
"I really am gone for this man. He could read me the FIA technical regulations and I'd still want to jump his bones"
Formula 1 romance stories are becoming all the rage at the moment, and I have read multiple F/M and M/M books already, and I have to say this is my favourite so far.
There is so much focus on the racing aspect and i love it, as a major F1 fan you can tell the author has done heaps of research and unlike others F1 romances where were exsessive creative liberties are taken there is so much care written into this book intertwining the racing and romance in a much more acurate way.
This is a must-read for F1 fans who love romance books. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
July 25, 2025
Here's my honest review of the eARC: I admire how much the author knows about F1 and evidently I know next to nothing about it... which made me feel like maybe there was 'too much' F1 in this book? A lot of technical stuff that I ended up skimming through a little bit because I was there for the romance, the relationships, the drama! I imagine fans of F1 will actually love this because they'll feel a kinship with the author who is clearly a fan of the sport.
As for what was done well, certainly the complex relationships between the characters. Wyatt's family dynamics especially and in contrast Sergio had a very sweet rapport with his son Ale and a nice mutual respect with the team owner.
The chemistry between the 2 male leads was great and the spice was good (albeit not a fan of the milking comments, but that's personal preference). I still enjoyed the time I spent with this book and pretty much read it in one sitting which is always a good sign of my entertainment! I give it 3.5 stars.
As for what was done well, certainly the complex relationships between the characters. Wyatt's family dynamics especially and in contrast Sergio had a very sweet rapport with his son Ale and a nice mutual respect with the team owner.
The chemistry between the 2 male leads was great and the spice was good (albeit not a fan of the milking comments, but that's personal preference). I still enjoyed the time I spent with this book and pretty much read it in one sitting which is always a good sign of my entertainment! I give it 3.5 stars.
July 1, 2025
As much as I love sports romances, I typically do not read F1 themed books because it’s one sport I do not know much about. That wasn’t an issue with this book. Ryan Reed managed to weave a beautiful, and at time very hot, love story between driver and principal into the F1 world in a way that was approachable and delightful. I never felt like my lack of knowledge deterred from the book. Wyatt and Sergio but have great personal stories and when they come together it alternates between romantic, awkward, at times painful, spicy, and lovely. I love some strategic planning as foreplay. I cannot wait for the fall for the next book in this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 15, 2025
I really liked this book! It was my first F1 read. Although it had a lot of F1 lingo and I know nothing about it, it was so well written that I learned and followed everything with no problem. Although, every time telemetry was mentioned, it made me thing of cardiac monitoring and stuff because I work in a hospital 🤣.
The story was very emotional. Being anything other than straight in F1 isn't just a stigma, it's apparently grounds to be fired. Even worse, in some of the countries races are held it is illegal, so their freedom is at risk.
On top of the overall risk of just being who he is, Cash, suffers from crippling anxiety and has an a-hole of a father. Cash is a younger man, new to the Rossi Team. Sergio is an older man who is the team principal. Sergio sees Cash and helps him become his best self. Sergio has basically spent his life buried in his work...until Cash comes along 😉.
The age gap really works in this story and is so 🥵. When Sergio gets all hot and bothered, he starts speaking in Italian 🔥. There is also banter and innuendo with racing terms that added a lot of fun to the story and alleviated some of the heaviness of the other themes. Sergio+Cash= 🫠
Their journey is far from easy. I was in tears at one point. I just wanted to climb in and cuddle poor Cash. There were times when I wanted to jump in and fight people 💪😂.
I LOVE how things came together at the end. I can't wait for the next book and hope to see this little world continue to evolve.
I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story was very emotional. Being anything other than straight in F1 isn't just a stigma, it's apparently grounds to be fired. Even worse, in some of the countries races are held it is illegal, so their freedom is at risk.
On top of the overall risk of just being who he is, Cash, suffers from crippling anxiety and has an a-hole of a father. Cash is a younger man, new to the Rossi Team. Sergio is an older man who is the team principal. Sergio sees Cash and helps him become his best self. Sergio has basically spent his life buried in his work...until Cash comes along 😉.
The age gap really works in this story and is so 🥵. When Sergio gets all hot and bothered, he starts speaking in Italian 🔥. There is also banter and innuendo with racing terms that added a lot of fun to the story and alleviated some of the heaviness of the other themes. Sergio+Cash= 🫠
Their journey is far from easy. I was in tears at one point. I just wanted to climb in and cuddle poor Cash. There were times when I wanted to jump in and fight people 💪😂.
I LOVE how things came together at the end. I can't wait for the next book and hope to see this little world continue to evolve.
I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 26, 2025
AMAZING BOOK!
The characters had so much chemistry and the author wrote it in 3rd person pov which is my fav way to read a story! cant wait for the next book!
The characters had so much chemistry and the author wrote it in 3rd person pov which is my fav way to read a story! cant wait for the next book!
July 21, 2025
I would like to thank BookSirens for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
This was pretty amazing ngl! It's VERY rare for me to read a sporty MM and NOT know the jargon, but Reed's F1 romance blew my mind with both the sexy stuff AND all the technical details! My inner nerd went wild from the jump as i was inextricably captivated by all the flash, the speed, the screens, the specs...basically ALL the minutiae and THE top tier he-motional drama that only money and high-octane action can cook up! Straight up, The First Turn got me through 2 episodes of Formula 1: Drive to Survive for the visuals and the vibes, and all i can say is that I WANT MORE OF REED'S THROTTLE & THRUST SERIES IN MY BRAIN RIGHT DAFUQ NOW!
But also keeping it real, here are the two things i was NOT cool with:
1 the fact that the Japanese dude was the "bad guy"...
...
i totally get that it's 2025 and the whole world is burning, but can fictional POC NOT BE the low-vibe entities in flour-ranger majority spaces please and thanks?!?!? That's not the kinda rep we're talkin about.
And
2 the use of "milk" as dirty talk. I mean, everyone has their thing i suppose, but lactose intolerance is mine. So do with that what you will.
*As an aside*:
I don't speak Spanish so i can't comment on the veracity of its use in this, but i liked the flavour!
Also, every time i saw Sergio García's name i thought of the golfer, and this was not a favourable thing in the slightest. He is very much NOT A SEXY SERGIO, so after every whole-naming my brain had to scrub that image and then reassert Rossi's silver fox team principal. Thankfully Reed's characterization was juicy and my imagination enjoyed the work out!
Anyway, other than those two things i enjoyed The First Turn immensely! I'm already screaming for Jax's story up next in The Inner Line which i hope will match the energy of everything i loved about this installment, but with even more emotional depth because Reed absolutely can! Eeeee can't wait!
This was pretty amazing ngl! It's VERY rare for me to read a sporty MM and NOT know the jargon, but Reed's F1 romance blew my mind with both the sexy stuff AND all the technical details! My inner nerd went wild from the jump as i was inextricably captivated by all the flash, the speed, the screens, the specs...basically ALL the minutiae and THE top tier he-motional drama that only money and high-octane action can cook up! Straight up, The First Turn got me through 2 episodes of Formula 1: Drive to Survive for the visuals and the vibes, and all i can say is that I WANT MORE OF REED'S THROTTLE & THRUST SERIES IN MY BRAIN RIGHT DAFUQ NOW!
But also keeping it real, here are the two things i was NOT cool with:
1 the fact that the Japanese dude was the "bad guy"...
...
i totally get that it's 2025 and the whole world is burning, but can fictional POC NOT BE the low-vibe entities in flour-ranger majority spaces please and thanks?!?!? That's not the kinda rep we're talkin about.
And
2 the use of "milk" as dirty talk. I mean, everyone has their thing i suppose, but lactose intolerance is mine. So do with that what you will.
*As an aside*:
I don't speak Spanish so i can't comment on the veracity of its use in this, but i liked the flavour!
Also, every time i saw Sergio García's name i thought of the golfer, and this was not a favourable thing in the slightest. He is very much NOT A SEXY SERGIO, so after every whole-naming my brain had to scrub that image and then reassert Rossi's silver fox team principal. Thankfully Reed's characterization was juicy and my imagination enjoyed the work out!
Anyway, other than those two things i enjoyed The First Turn immensely! I'm already screaming for Jax's story up next in The Inner Line which i hope will match the energy of everything i loved about this installment, but with even more emotional depth because Reed absolutely can! Eeeee can't wait!
July 31, 2025
I want to start off by saying that the author clearly knows Formula One. The level of technical detail and insight into the world of F1 racing in this book was impressive, as was the way the reader is placed directly in the driver’s seat. If this was a drama set in the world of formula one, I’d rate it higher. It’s very entertaining, and the writing style lends itself well to that genre.
However, it is a romance, and that’s where it unfortunately fell a little flat for me. There was just no chemistry between the main characters. The was too much focus on the racing aspect and a lack of physicality and sensory detail between the main characters to allow for chemistry to develop.
The lack of chemistry between the mc’s extended into their physical intimacy as well. Wyatt’s porn-scene dialogue and car racing double entendres during sex were distracting and torpedoed the romance. The sex scenes were impersonal, more like porn than a passionate joining of lovers. Where was the connection, the intimacy? A funny one-liner or two can be fun and lighten tension, but the sex scenes consisted almost exclusively of dialogue with double entendres and innuendo. I’m reading a romance, I want to how beautiful the mc thinks their lover is, what they love about them, what drives them crazy.
I did wonder how everyone just seemed to know about Sergio and Wyatt’s relationship (even before their relationship began). The lack of foreshadowing made all the outside speculation and suspicion about their relationship seem like it came out of nowhere. There’s not a single raised brow from a coworker after the mc’s are caught exchanging a heated glance or a lingering touch. Everyone just seems to know, but how? It’s never explained. Paolo, Sergio’s son, even Wyatt’s father clocks their relationship without a single hint as to how. I think it needed some foreshadowing to make sense.
Still, a solid and entertaining read. Gorgeous cover. I’m looking forward to reading book 2.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
However, it is a romance, and that’s where it unfortunately fell a little flat for me. There was just no chemistry between the main characters. The was too much focus on the racing aspect and a lack of physicality and sensory detail between the main characters to allow for chemistry to develop.
The lack of chemistry between the mc’s extended into their physical intimacy as well. Wyatt’s porn-scene dialogue and car racing double entendres during sex were distracting and torpedoed the romance. The sex scenes were impersonal, more like porn than a passionate joining of lovers. Where was the connection, the intimacy? A funny one-liner or two can be fun and lighten tension, but the sex scenes consisted almost exclusively of dialogue with double entendres and innuendo. I’m reading a romance, I want to how beautiful the mc thinks their lover is, what they love about them, what drives them crazy.
I did wonder how everyone just seemed to know about Sergio and Wyatt’s relationship (even before their relationship began). The lack of foreshadowing made all the outside speculation and suspicion about their relationship seem like it came out of nowhere. There’s not a single raised brow from a coworker after the mc’s are caught exchanging a heated glance or a lingering touch. Everyone just seems to know, but how? It’s never explained. Paolo, Sergio’s son, even Wyatt’s father clocks their relationship without a single hint as to how. I think it needed some foreshadowing to make sense.
Still, a solid and entertaining read. Gorgeous cover. I’m looking forward to reading book 2.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 29, 2025
This is the first book in a series of MM romances set in the world of Formula One racing. Wyatt is an F1 driver looking to prove himself to his new team after being fired by his former team, which is managed by his father. He now must navigate new feelings for his boss, Sergio, while dealing with ongoing mental health struggles and family drama both on and off the racetrack. Sergio, the Team Principal of the Rossi F1 team, is under pressure to integrate Wyatt into the team while keeping his own feelings for him tightly under wraps. Balancing his responsibilities to his team and maintaining a connection with his son adds another layer of complexity. As the racing season unfolds, secrets come to light, and the quest to uncover true adversaries intensifies. The question remains: will fears and misunderstandings lead to the downfall of their emerging relationship, or can they overcome these obstacles?
This was my first experience reading a book by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially since I've never encountered an MM romance set in the realm of car racing. Some readers might find the focus on racing a bit overwhelming, as the romance may take a backseat. However, I appreciated the chemistry between the main characters on and off the track, as well as the important message that discussions about mental health should be normalized and not regarded as a weakness. The West family issues added additional drama to the story, and I look forward to seeing how they unfold in subsequent books. Overall, this is a fantastic start to a new car racing series that I am eager to read more of. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was my first experience reading a book by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially since I've never encountered an MM romance set in the realm of car racing. Some readers might find the focus on racing a bit overwhelming, as the romance may take a backseat. However, I appreciated the chemistry between the main characters on and off the track, as well as the important message that discussions about mental health should be normalized and not regarded as a weakness. The West family issues added additional drama to the story, and I look forward to seeing how they unfold in subsequent books. Overall, this is a fantastic start to a new car racing series that I am eager to read more of. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 28, 2025
This is my first F1 romance ever! I've seen racing on TV but never gave it too much thought but wanted to read something different than other sports romances I typically read and I was more than pleasantly surprised! Cash is a racer from a big family name. He's got the talent but is kicked out after his jerk of a father finds out he's gay when he catches him kissing another driver. Cash is determined to show his dad that he doesn't need his name to get him to the top and when his dad's rival comes to him with an offer to join his team Cash can't resist. He has something to prove. But he doesn't expect the gorgeous Team Principal Sergio. Sergio is older, which im glad isnt a huge obstacle in the story, and a workaholic until he meets Cash. Sergio prides himself on professionalism but has a hard time keeping that up the more he gets to know the beautiful Cash. Before they know it they go from work to stolen moments and hot nights with sweet confessions. They don't have it easy as their relationship could mean the end of one or both of their careers and they have to navigate that and decide what path to take all the while falling in love. This book gave me all the feelings and put me through it but I wasn't going to stop rooting for these two that easy and in the end I got a satisfying HEA for both these amazing men. I'm excited to read that next book and dive back into their world.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 4, 2025
Honesty- I originally DNF at 40% for the following reasons: "I really really like the characters. I wish the story was more about their relationship developing which has so much potential. Instead the dialogue and narrative are super technical. I read a lot of sports romances but this one feels like the romance is secondary to the sport heavy narrative; super detailed racing verbiage and background. If it was marketed as a sports drama, I think that would be more accurate. The romance is truly a subplot. It's obvious that there is flirting and foreplay, chemistry in spades but it's overshadowed. I will definitely finish it but probably not soon."
That being said - I finally finished it and enjoyed it. What I previously stated absolutely holds true. At about 50ish% the book flips 180* and the main storyline shifts the the romance, the F1 cultural politics, and racing, while still predominant, takes a secondary focus to them navigating their growing relationship. I'm glad I continued and finished the book. I usually love a HEA, this being a really responsible HFN is the most realistic. Forcing a flowery, artificial HEA would have felt just that... artificial and unrealistic based on their circumstances.
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
That being said - I finally finished it and enjoyed it. What I previously stated absolutely holds true. At about 50ish% the book flips 180* and the main storyline shifts the the romance, the F1 cultural politics, and racing, while still predominant, takes a secondary focus to them navigating their growing relationship. I'm glad I continued and finished the book. I usually love a HEA, this being a really responsible HFN is the most realistic. Forcing a flowery, artificial HEA would have felt just that... artificial and unrealistic based on their circumstances.
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 26, 2025
The First Turn by Ryan Reed drew me in from the very first lines. Set in the high-pressure, high-speed world of Formula 1, the book captures not only the thrill of racing but also the quiet intensity of a slow-burn, age-gap romance between a rising star driver and his emotionally guarded team principal.
Wyatt, the prodigious young talent recently disowned by his father, is offered more than just a second chance by Sergio, the principled yet reserved leader of his new F1 team. What begins as mentorship slowly blossoms into something deeper, with subtle moments of care and emotional healing layered through every chapter. I especially appreciated how the book didn’t rush the romance—at first, Sergio’s sexuality isn’t even clear—but as the bond between them strengthens, the emotional payoff feels truly earned.
Reed does an exceptional job portraying the vulnerability of being a prodigy, and the clever use of F1 language to describe personal relationships adds authenticity and charm. The setting is richly drawn, the team dynamics feel real, and even if you’ve never watched a race in your life, The First Turn might just make you a fan.
A beautiful, introspective, and heartwarming romance. Highly recommended.
Wyatt, the prodigious young talent recently disowned by his father, is offered more than just a second chance by Sergio, the principled yet reserved leader of his new F1 team. What begins as mentorship slowly blossoms into something deeper, with subtle moments of care and emotional healing layered through every chapter. I especially appreciated how the book didn’t rush the romance—at first, Sergio’s sexuality isn’t even clear—but as the bond between them strengthens, the emotional payoff feels truly earned.
Reed does an exceptional job portraying the vulnerability of being a prodigy, and the clever use of F1 language to describe personal relationships adds authenticity and charm. The setting is richly drawn, the team dynamics feel real, and even if you’ve never watched a race in your life, The First Turn might just make you a fan.
A beautiful, introspective, and heartwarming romance. Highly recommended.
August 22, 2025
An intriguing first book in an F1 MM romance series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It was clear to me as an F1 fan that this author knows their stuff! There is a lot of technical talk and deeper information about the logistics of a race weekend. I liked the addition of media days and press conferences. Felt a bit like a Drive to Survive episode!
Where I wish the book had focused more was the romance aspect. The timeline of the romance felt a bit rushed. Both MCs were flawed in really beautiful ways and I wanted them to explore more of the internal conflict before jumping into bed and confessing their feelings.
Similarly to other reviewers here, some of the love scenes threw me off. The constant innuendoes and phrasing of the dirty talk... took me out of the scene. The internal struggles of the characters did not mesh with how they were interacting when they were being physical.
All-in-all, I had a good time reading this book and the second in the series is out soon! This definitely appeals to major F1 fans and those just getting into the sport.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It was clear to me as an F1 fan that this author knows their stuff! There is a lot of technical talk and deeper information about the logistics of a race weekend. I liked the addition of media days and press conferences. Felt a bit like a Drive to Survive episode!
Where I wish the book had focused more was the romance aspect. The timeline of the romance felt a bit rushed. Both MCs were flawed in really beautiful ways and I wanted them to explore more of the internal conflict before jumping into bed and confessing their feelings.
Similarly to other reviewers here, some of the love scenes threw me off. The constant innuendoes and phrasing of the dirty talk... took me out of the scene. The internal struggles of the characters did not mesh with how they were interacting when they were being physical.
All-in-all, I had a good time reading this book and the second in the series is out soon! This definitely appeals to major F1 fans and those just getting into the sport.
July 11, 2025
As a fan of F1 and MM romances, this one hit on all cylinders for me. Wyatt is a racing legacy who is kicked off his team and essentially out of his family for being gay. But he's determined to show his dad that who he loves does not preclude him from being an F1 champion. He joins a rival team and meets Team Principle Sergio. Sergio has prided himself for years on being strictly professional and not letting emotions or attractions deviate him from his career. But Sergio is unprepared for the way the young and charismatic Wyatt turns all of those plans upside down. The race parts were exciting and well written. I could feel the tension and clearly visualize the different tracks they were racing on. And the relationship parts were equally hot and sweet. The age gap between the 2 MCs is mentioned a few times but it's not really an obstacle to the story. I definitely want to read about the other hinted at stories in future books. Would definitely recommend, especially if you like watching Lando Norris give other guys the up-down. :)
October 6, 2025
3.5 stars – Fun F1 romance with great characters 🫶🏼
I picked this up because I love F1 and MM romance, and The First Turn definitely had a lot of what I was looking for.
The characters were super likable, and I really enjoyed their dynamic. The romance felt genuine, and I was rooting for them the whole time. I also appreciated how the book explained F1 terms—it was clear enough for someone new, but still fun for fans like me. It didn’t feel like an info dump, just naturally worked into the story.
My main issue was the pacing—it moved a little too fast in places. Some emotional moments and relationship development could’ve used more time to breathe. I found myself wishing certain scenes were a bit longer or more fleshed out.
Still, it was an enjoyable read with heart, and I’d definitely check out more from Ryan Reed in the future. If you're into F1 and queer romance, it's worth a shot!
Thank you @booksirens for the ARC.
I picked this up because I love F1 and MM romance, and The First Turn definitely had a lot of what I was looking for.
The characters were super likable, and I really enjoyed their dynamic. The romance felt genuine, and I was rooting for them the whole time. I also appreciated how the book explained F1 terms—it was clear enough for someone new, but still fun for fans like me. It didn’t feel like an info dump, just naturally worked into the story.
My main issue was the pacing—it moved a little too fast in places. Some emotional moments and relationship development could’ve used more time to breathe. I found myself wishing certain scenes were a bit longer or more fleshed out.
Still, it was an enjoyable read with heart, and I’d definitely check out more from Ryan Reed in the future. If you're into F1 and queer romance, it's worth a shot!
Thank you @booksirens for the ARC.
July 25, 2025
My Review
I received an ARC of this book from Book Sirens. The book is already out.
I'm back with another book by Ryan Reed. This one is called First Turn and it's the first book in his new series Throttle & Thrust. Now does everyone have their helmets because we are entering the world of Formula One racing. Now I have to confess I know nothing about the sport except that cars and drivers go really, really fast. So, as you can imagine the racing jargon threw me but at the same time it was written in such a way that it didn't detract from the story but added to it. Plus, I felt like I learnt something while reading this book.
Wyatt and Sergio were delightful to get to know, the race parts were exciting and well written as was the whole book and I will be adding this to my re-read pile.
Until next time peace and happy reading.
I received an ARC of this book from Book Sirens. The book is already out.
I'm back with another book by Ryan Reed. This one is called First Turn and it's the first book in his new series Throttle & Thrust. Now does everyone have their helmets because we are entering the world of Formula One racing. Now I have to confess I know nothing about the sport except that cars and drivers go really, really fast. So, as you can imagine the racing jargon threw me but at the same time it was written in such a way that it didn't detract from the story but added to it. Plus, I felt like I learnt something while reading this book.
Wyatt and Sergio were delightful to get to know, the race parts were exciting and well written as was the whole book and I will be adding this to my re-read pile.
Until next time peace and happy reading.
July 31, 2025
As an F1 fan, I had a lot of fun reading The First Turn by Ryan Reed. The book made me feel like I was right in the paddock along side our MCs for every twist and turn. I especially loved the race scenes and appreciated the technical elements of the book. That being said, I would have loved to see a little more of the romance and relationship build up between our main characters, especially with the complicated and forbidden dynamic between the two. This read will be fun for F1 fans but is definitely sport heavy and may not be as appealing for pure romance fans. That being said, it’s my favorite of the few MM F1 books I’ve read. Overall, I enjoyed this one and look forward to checking out future books in the series. 3.5⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 16, 2025
Why does who you want to be with have to determine what you can do? Motor sports seem so limiting in terms of who can sit behind the wheel and represent a racing team. Wyatt is a racer with a known family name who loses his ride when his father finds him kissing another man. But he is not ready to stop racing and when a rival team offers him a chance to race for them he embraces it. He is determined to prove he is a winner and wants to focus on that until he meets Sergio, the Team Principle whose job it is to acclimate him to the team. The attraction is on both sides and both are feeling the pressure to get their respective job done. They find themselves navigating first a growing attraction, then a secret relationship that could derail both of their careers. This was both enjoyable and exciting.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
August 29, 2025An interesting look into the world of Formula 1 racing with a slow burn romance. Sport has still not evolved to the position where someone's sexual orientation is just that without controversy or sensualization. Wyatt comes from racing, but is rejected by his father because of who he loves. Sergio buckled to conformity after his first same-sex romance. Wyatt is tempting him out of his self imposed closet. Both men know that they need to keep their romance out of view to preserve their positions on the track. There's a lot of technical detail throughout the narrative detailing the workings of F1 racing. Knowing that these two are going to try to make their relationship work despite the difficulties has me looking forward to the next in the series .
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 20, 2025
This a good kickoff to the series with a F1 backdrop.
I’m not super familiar with the sport, but the passion and detail in the writing made it easy to understandand deep dive. The use of racing banter and metaphors was cool and kept things light even when the story touched on heavier themes.
The romance itself was sweet, Cash, the anxious rookie, and Sergio, the no-nonsense team principal, had a really engaging push-and-pull. I liked seeing Sergio crack open his workaholic shell while Cash gained confidence.
This would be fun por the F1 girlies.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I’m not super familiar with the sport, but the passion and detail in the writing made it easy to understandand deep dive. The use of racing banter and metaphors was cool and kept things light even when the story touched on heavier themes.
The romance itself was sweet, Cash, the anxious rookie, and Sergio, the no-nonsense team principal, had a really engaging push-and-pull. I liked seeing Sergio crack open his workaholic shell while Cash gained confidence.
This would be fun por the F1 girlies.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
June 30, 2025
This was such a fun read! I loved the age gap and the dynamic between the two MCs.
Both of their individual stories are very relatable and realistic and their path to their real self and to each other was beautiful.
The storyline was beautiful and well written and it made me really curious so I just finished the book in one sitting.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Both of their individual stories are very relatable and realistic and their path to their real self and to each other was beautiful.
The storyline was beautiful and well written and it made me really curious so I just finished the book in one sitting.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 9, 2025
F1 driver on his come back from being kicked out by family, finding a new home/team that can make him thrive. The Team Principal takes a keen interest in helping him gain his true potential and everything gets a little messy.
I enjoyed the close up look at the F1 machine and the contact between team, engineers and drivers. The story spends a lot of time on the track with lots of tactics and statistic conversations. The driving side of the story is solid and a great aspect on a less public side of things.
My issues with the story was that the main relationship seemed to happen rather quickly, jumping to serious almost immediately not much flirting. Also the pair aren't doing anything public or even started anything but everyone around them seemed to be aware of the relationship as if they read minds. More could have been done around that side of the story as it felt odd. Also everything happens in around 2 months felt like it was very rushed.
I enjoyed the close up look at the F1 machine and the contact between team, engineers and drivers. The story spends a lot of time on the track with lots of tactics and statistic conversations. The driving side of the story is solid and a great aspect on a less public side of things.
My issues with the story was that the main relationship seemed to happen rather quickly, jumping to serious almost immediately not much flirting. Also the pair aren't doing anything public or even started anything but everyone around them seemed to be aware of the relationship as if they read minds. More could have been done around that side of the story as it felt odd. Also everything happens in around 2 months felt like it was very rushed.
July 12, 2025
After his dad releases him from the family's Formula One legacy, Chase joins a rival team. Sergio is the team principal. Being from another team & knowing Chase didn't have it easy, Sergio pays a little more attention to him. One thing leads to another & they become more than trainer/racer. HEA Well Written, age gap. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 6, 2025
I loved this book 📖 The story is well written and captivating. The author Ryan Reed approached the subject of homosexuality in sports in a respectful way. It is a subject that needs to be addressed and that still is a taboo subject even if we have more understanding for it.
I received an ARC and are leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an ARC and are leaving this review voluntarily.
August 11, 2025
Big fan of this authors work and this one did not disappoint. Kept me hooked until the very end and I cannot wait for book 2 of the series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 27, 2025
I liked the book and how the author incorporated the Spanish language to an English written book, it didn’t feel force, it felt quite natural.
I also really enjoy the story line and how the love story evolves.
I will probably read more books from this author
I also really enjoy the story line and how the love story evolves.
I will probably read more books from this author
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