Away With You

by Belinda Mary

She’s grieving. He’s heartbroken. Neither expected a second chance.

Katie Winslow has kept to herself since her mother’s death, trading social outings for solitude and science. She’s not looking for love, or anything remotely close to it.

Nathan Jackson crashes back into her life.

Once her high school classmate, now a world-famous Formula 1 driver with a broken heart and a family mess on his hands, Nathan has to survive one week at his brother’s lavish destination wedding in St. Lucia. His solution? Fake a relationship. His fake girlfriend? Katie.

One villa. One bed. Seven days of sun, secrets, and stolen glances that feel dangerously real.

But between disapproving relatives, a jealous ex, and scars from the past, pretending gets complicated, and falling in love was never part of the plan.

Can two people who’ve lost everything learn to trust again, before they lose each other?

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Rom Com, Fake Dating, Sports Romance

342 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

Belinda Mary is a long-time lover of all the books and has dreamed of being a writer her whole life. Since picking up her first Judy Blume novel at the age of ten, she has been happily lost in the world of fiction, and ask anyone around her, when she has a book to read, she turns into a very unproductive member of society.

After studying for ten years and obtaining her PhD in molecular biology, she pursued a career in the healthcare industry, and has recently taken the leap to make her lifelong dream of writing and publishing a novel come true. And when she is not looking after her two kids, her husband of eleven years and her crazy spoodle, she can be found on the couch reading, watching all things Bravo TV, or listening to true crime podcasts.

Belinda writes the kind of stories that she loves to read; filled with laughs, longing and love.

For the latest news, book information and bonus scenes—sign up to Belinda's newsletter at https://belindamary.com

Reviews

[❋ Booked Out Today ❋ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Away With You by Belinda Mary
★★★★★

Fake Dating | Friends to Lovers | F1 Romance

Scientist Katie Winslow agrees to pose as Formula 1 driver Nathan Jackson’s fake girlfriend at his brother’s St. Lucia wedding, neither expects real feelings to surface. But as old wounds, jealous exes, and family drama collide, their pretend romance starts to feel all too real.

This second book did not disappoint. I love how you can read this book as a standalone. I feel like this book needs to be advertised more as a Christmas book because it was truely magical. I love how the Christmas vibes felt authentic and real. (Some books force it too much and it irritates me).

I loved how Nathan had his flaws but wasn’t a turn off. The couples relationship paced well and captivated me from the beginning.

Belinda has an ease to her writing. She paces her stories well and makes the characters feel real and relatable.

I read this pretty quickly so I think that I did throughly enjoy this romance read.

🏝️💍🏎️🔥

Thank you to Belinda Mary for a copy of this book.

💭 What’s your favourite romance read for 2025?

Pour a hot drink, it’s book talk time.
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[Less · Rating 4 out of 5]

tropes:
-Fake Dating
-Only one Bed
-Friends to lovers
-FMC in stem
-F1 Driver MMC


🇮🇹

Questo è il secondo libro che leggo di quest'autrice e non mi ha delusa! Ho amato questo libro. Qui abbiamo un mix di tutte le trope che mi piacciono come il fake dating e he falls first. Ha soprattutto molte vibes invernali e natalizie! Ho amato l'atmosfera natalizia e avrei voluto che fosse già quel periodo dell'anno.


Nathan è un mmc che alza gli standard, ama con tutto se stesso e si prende cura di Katie. Entrambi stanno affrontando delle sofferenze all'inizio del libro e insieme riescono a superarle (e in un caso conviverci). Mi sono rivista molto in Katie, la paura di lasciarsi andare e di "dipendere" da una persona, la paura di soffrire è stato facile entrare in empatia con lei.

Per quanto riguarda la storia invece, all'inizio lo trovavo abbastanza letto e anche "affrettato" ma verso la fine ho capito perché ed è stato giusto così!

Ora voglio il libro sulla sorella di Nathan, tipo subito.

🇬🇧

This is the second book I've read by this author, and it didn't disappoint! I loved it. It's a mix of all the tropes I like, like fake dating and "he falls first." It especially has a lot of winter and Christmassy vibes! I loved the Christmassy atmosphere and wished it were already that time of year.

Nathan is a MMC who raises the bar, loves with all his heart, and cares for Katie. They're both going through hardship at the beginning of the book, and together they manage to overcome it (and in one case, live with it). I saw a lot of myself in Katie—the fear of letting go and "depending" on someone, the fear of suffering—it was easy to empathize with her.

As for the story, at first I found it quite readable and even "rushed," but towards the end I understood why, and rightfully so! Now

I want the book about Nathan's sister, like immediately.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to eARC read and if you love a sweet a Christmas romcom this is the perfect book for you. Katie (Kitty-Kat) and Nathan's story will give you butterflies and make you heart beat a little faster as you fall for them page by pages.
Friends to Lovers ❤️
Forced Proximity 🛌
He Fall First
Fake Dating

[Lilly Guirguis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay! Finished!

And I loved it!

I loved that Belinda Mary made Katie an awesome, British scientist lady who grows in confidence and then fights for Nathan.
I wanted to be bold like Bathan as I read, and the way he’s described, handsome and kind and always nicknames his love as “Kitty Kat” I had a crush on him.

I also loved Rosie, Theo, and Jade!

And Nuke the fluffy boy!

I didn’t like the sad 😢 part of Nathan’s mum, brother George, and Victoria talking against him and being toxic.
If anyone has family members or friends who are unkind and rude to you (or rude to your partners) I’m so sorry. I send you virtual hugs and I hope you find safety and respect this holiday season.

Best quotes will come in the post after church! :)

[Paige Rothwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ ARC REVIEW ✨
Away With You by Belinda Mary
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nathan and Katie’s story is the perfect mix of heartfelt, cozy, and swoony. Belinda Mary weaves together a fake-dating setup, a tropical wedding backdrop, and second-chance vibes in a way that had me hooked from the first chapters.

Nathan might be the ultimate book boyfriend—sweet, thoughtful, and the kind of hero who remembers the little things (yes, the snow globes!!). Katie’s grief and guarded heart made her so relatable, and I loved watching her slowly open back up to love.

This book gave me everything:
💖 Friends to Lovers
⛸️ Fake Dating
🏎️ Formula One driver hero
🏝️ Forced Proximity
✨ He Falls First

If you love romance with depth, cozy vibes, and a guaranteed smile at the end, Away With You will absolutely melt your heart.

Thank you Belinda Mary for the ARC in exchange for my honest review 💌

[Melissa (honeybee.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Away With You is the second book in the Beyond The Grid series and can be read entirely fine as a standalone. I think this might be my new favorite Belinda book and I've read all of them! It was such an addictive, cozy and heartwarming romance. The wintery vibes also added to the charm for this book. Once I started it, it was hard to put down!

Nathan is a top tier book boyfriend for sure !!! The attentiveness this man has for his girl, the way he cares for her and fights for her, every woman needs a Nathan. Katie is a great FMC, highly relatable with past tragedies preventing her from moving forward. The character growth for her was beautiful. Although this is a closed door romance, the chemistry and se*ual tension was on fire. I could feel it radiating off the characters. I did feel this book was definitely more explicit and detailed in that department than her previous works and I was here for it. Bringing the perfect amount of sweet & spicy.

Overall, this was another fantastic book by Belinda. She never ceases to amaze me. Her writing is beautiful and easy to get lost into. Her stories are the sweetest and most adorable, definitely give it a shot!

✨ ️Thank you to @belindamary for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favourite book by Belinda and I have enjoyed every one of her books I have read!

Away With You is book two in the Beyond The Grid series and features Nathan and Katie. Belinda creates such loveable heartfelt characters that you just fall in love with and these two might just be my favourite. Nathan a F1 driver and Katie a STEM researcher reconnect after meeting at high school honestly they are perfect for each other. Nathan might be the perfect book boyfriend.

This cozy, heartwarming story leaves you with a smile on your face as two brokenhearted souls find their happy ever after. I just loved it! I received a complementary copy from the author.

[Alysha M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, I was hooked by the first 10% of the book.

I love these two together and the way the family and ex are written to be so rude and manipulating chefs kiss.

And the fact that Nathan got Katie snow globes because he remembered she wanted to collect them for her mum was so thoughtful.

The last few chapters are my favourite everything is right in the world now.

If you love formula one and fake dating you’ll love this!

[Natasha Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25*

“Away With You” starts during December in the F1 off-season, and follows Nathan, an F1 driver, and Katie, a scientist.

Katie and Nathan are well-written, loveable characters. Katie is working through grief after losing her mom 2 years before the story takes place. She is relatable, smart, and funny. Nathan is amazing. His family sucks (except for his sister) but he is kind and loving. I’m so glad Nathan got his own book after seeing glimpses of his story in “Away We Go”. Speaking of the first book in this series, Cherry and Nicky make a few appearances. I loved seeing them together again!

Katie and Nathan knew each other for about a year when they attended school together, but they hadn’t seen each other since then. Seeing them fall in love and come to know the adult versions of each other was so sweet. These two reconnect and come up with a plan to fake date while going to Nate’s brother’s wedding abroad. While on this vacation, the characters have fun together and get to know each other more deeply. One scene that stuck with me was when they went out to dinner while they were still “fake dating” and Katie needed a hair tie, which Nathan gave her from his wrist. He noticed that she often needed an elastic, so he took it upon himself to have some in case she needed one when they were together😭🥰

If you like fake dating, women in STEM, and F1, definitely check out this book! It can probably be read as a standalone, but I think you will have a better reading experience if you read “Away We Go” first.

Thank you to Belinda Mary for the chance to read an eARC of this novel!

[Angie (mushmysteriesandmore) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sooooooo good. I loved the characters from the very start. Despite being an extremely intelligent, sorry make that actual genius and therefore nothing like me, Katie was so relatable. I love all the rom-com vibes and references from her, right from the opening chapter about the Christmas trees, I can still picture the tree crashing through the landlords window in While You Were Sleeping.

Enter Nathan, who attended the same high school as Katie for a year and is now a highflying, F1 superstar, I loved how down to earth he was and also very relatable. Being invited in for a cup of tea, how very British but also very real and everyday.

Once the fake dating and only one bed tropes kicked in, the book kicked up a notch and the fun really begins. How Nathan is so normal after meeting his family (most of them, his sister Rosie is a hoot) is beyond me. His brother is despicable and his mother is a really nasty piece of work. His father sounds like he could be okay but isn’t allowed to have an opinion. Whilst they are stuck on the island of St Lucia, involved in the farce of his brothers wedding to his ex, Nathan and Katie become much closer and suddenly faking becomes feeling and so real.

Even though this is a one bed trope book, it is also clean. No on-page spice, bedsharing but cuddles only (and possibly use your imagination but nothing descriptive, ie they stayed in bed all morning) but sizzling kisses galore and plenty of tension and nicknames.

Fake dating is my favourite trope ever but I also love enemies to lovers, Hear that Rosie and Theo?

[Courtney Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katie & Nathan 🩵🩵🩵

Call me crazy but I love a MMC that calls the FMC by a nickname he comes up with for her. In this case, Nathan calls Katie “Kitty Cat”. And since this takes place (mostly) in London… just imagine Kitty Cat said in an English accent!! These two weren’t to school together, and were good friends until Nathan left to become an F1 racer and Katie went on to be a doctor. They reconnect one night while Katie is walking home and she literally bumps into Nathan.

Nathan peruses every reason to continue to spend time with Katie, but she just thinks he’s being nice. And even he’s taking her on the cutest dates… Katie just cannot believe he would be into her like that. Eventually Nathan asks her a favor…. He would like them to pretend to be dating and take her to St Lucia to his ex girlfriend’s wedding who just so happens to be marrying HIS brother. Yep, you read that right. It’s been really hard on Nathan and he knows with Katie’s mom’s recent passing, he thought going together would be good for both of them. So off the go to a luxury wedding in St Lucia!

Cue the one bed, fake dating turned into real feelings and a little bit of miscommunication and you’ve got yourself the cutest, wintery vibe, closed door romance I have ever read!!

So glad I was lucky enough to be chosen to read this as an ARC! I loved this story and love even more than I’ll be able to recommend a clean romance to my younger romance book lovers!!

[Katie_thebookslayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review… and I couldn’t be happier to share my thoughts!

💙 Friends to Lovers
💙 90’s Rom-Com Vibes
💙 Dual POV
💙 Closed Door
💙 Only One Bed
💙 He Falls First
💙 Fake Dating

Katie is a scientist, she spends her free time at home with her cat Nuke and her neighbour/best friend Jade for company. She’s comfortable rewatching her favourite rom-coms, which brings both joy and a little sadness in the approach to Christmas. It was her mums favourite time of year. But since she lost her two years ago, she doesn’t celebrate like she used to.

When she (literally) bumps into an old school friend, who happens to now be a famous F1 driver, she agrees to catch up. Convinced it’s just two old friends catching up, rumours start to circulate online about Nathan Jackson seeing someone new.

It’s the perfect fake dating, friends to lovers vibe! Katie is relatable and awkward and way too much of an overthinker (maybe it’s a Katie thing). Nathan is thoughtful and sweet and of course handsome!

I’m a little late with my reading and review… but Away with You is out now! 💙

[iara ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t tell you how excited I was to go back to this series. I had such a great time reading Away we go and I just knew I would love Away with you. Spoiler alert: I most definitely did love it!!

It was such a cozy read, just like all the other Belinda books I’ve read until now. She knows how to write the cutest, most heartwarming love stories. I just know I will have the time of my reading it

Nathan and Katie are everything! Their relationship was to die for. Every single one of their interactions got me smiling (and swooning) to the point I couldn’t even control myself

Oh Nathan the man you are! I was super intrigued about his story, after meeting him in the first book and mostly because of what happened at the end. I liked him a lot then but now?? I’m obsessed with this man. Loved, LOVED getting to see him fall in love with Katie, always showing up for her whenever he could!

Katie is such a relatable character and it made it so easy to get attached to her. So many times I wished I could step inside and give her the biggest hug. She’s the kind of girl I would love to have as a friend!! I absolutely loved her character development and I was sooo happy to see her finally getting her happy ending!

Away with you is already out and I couldn’t recommend it enough 💙

Thank you so much Belinda for this ARC copy, I loved reading Katie and Nathan’s story 🤍

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sweet story! I've been excited to read Nathan's story after meeting him in book one, Away We Go, however, you don't have to have read that book to enjoy this one.

I loved how quickly Nathan realized that he had feelings for Katie and all that he did to reconnect with her after they ran into each other. He was so thoughtful with her and I loved the descriptions of how he frequently couldn't take his eyes off her.

I love the fake dating trope and it was fun to see these two fake dating while also knowing that Nathan was already all in for Katie.

They had some painful issues to work through and Katie also had to recognize and overcome her fears before they could find their hard won happily ever after.

(This story is fade to black.)

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading this one! Nathan and Katie had so much chemistry from the get-go, and I was immediately rooting for them to get together. There were both cozy Christmas-y vibes AND fun beach vibes in this story, which I thought was fun and unique. I loved how Nathan fell so hard for our sweet Katie, and even though she was scared out of her mind and extremely resistant for a while, the way she finally gave into her feelings was such a sweet payoff. There is a bit of a third-act breakup, which isn’t my favorite, but I see how it was necessary for Katie’s story in the end. I also really liked Nathan’s sister, Rosie. If you’re a fan of reconnected friends to more and found family vibes, this is for you.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book of 2026, done ✅ & I’d give it 3.75 stars!

I loved this one, although there wasn’t much F1 racing until the last 20% 👀 it was more focused during the off season.

It has:
Old friends to lovers
Fake dating
One bed tropes

And also mentioned a lot of my favourite romantic movies. I love that the author joked about different tropes in this book and the reading was soooo easy to read. It was set at Christmas/New Year and into the beginning of a year so felt perfect.

I just wished there was more racing 😭

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy, sweet, closed-door holiday romcom.

Nathan, an F1 driver, and Katie, a cancer research doctor, make such a heartwarming pair. Nathan is the ultimate book boyfriend—so attentive to Katie and swoon-worthy in the way he notices even the smallest details.

This story is perfect for readers who love:
✨ Friends to Lovers
✨ Fake Dating
✨ One Bed
✨ He Falls First

A wonderful holiday romance to cozy up with!

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️ ARC

This was such a cute second chance romance for Nathan and Katie, was nice to see him fight for her finally towards the end.
The back and forth was a bit annoying from Katie but was a nice solid resolution in the end.

I hate the nickname Kitty-Kat but oh well haha

[Emma Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Away with you by Belinda Mary was a sweet heart warming read that a thoroughly enjoyed. I'll be on the lookout for more of her books!
Kate Winslow literally bumps into her old school class mate Nathan Jackson, now a world famous F1 race car driver, they rekindle there friendship and it doesn't take long for sparks to fly.
Kate is a science Dr and in true form doesn't realise how attractive she is and that Nathan had a crush on her at school.
Nathan having recently been ditched by his girlfriend for his brother comes up with the perfect plan, Kate can be his fake girlfriend to show everyone he's over his ex.
I really enjoyed the banter in this book and the characters, it was interesting and kept you turning the pages you see how it was going to pan out.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Thank you for the copy to read and review!

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book—just wow! Such a stellar series, and book two did not disappoint. Katie is so relatable (I’d also rather be reading in bed than going out to make friends). Her run-in with her super hot high school friend had me hooked, and their interactions felt so natural. The whole story flowed beautifully without a single clunky moment. Loved it!

[Mads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a fun and addictive read! Katie and Nathan used to go to school together, but they were not close. Years later, they reconnect, and she agrees to be his fake girlfriend for his brother's wedding.

I really liked that the book didn't just jump into fake dating. A good portion was dedicated to them reconnecting prior to the trip - no spoilers in this post, but THE CHRISTMAS TREE SCENE OMG that was so cute, thank you, I loved that!

I am definitely looking forward to the next book! I'm running now to read Belinda's other books ❤️

Thank you for the ARC!

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katie a fiercely independent biologist from London, who has been a bit lonely since her Mum died of cancer, literally runs into Nathan her former class mate and teenage crush.
Nathan and an F1 driver on the circuit, who season didn’t end the way he expected it to, is dealing with that as well as to betrayal from his ex. When he runs into Katie, he realizes that he’s never forgotten about her from all those years ago.

Katie and Nathan decided to reconnect as friends until he has a proposal for her. He wants Katie to attend his brother’s wedding with him, the twist his brother is marrying his ex.

This was the first Belinda Mary book I read, and I absolutely fell in love with the writing and the characters. I found Katie and Nathan story so endearing. I absolutely loved the side characters. I felt like it just brought the whole book together. This book just kind of felt like a little Christmas snow globe of perfection.


Thank you so much to Belinda for gifting me this ARC it was a magical read


•Friends to lovers
•Forced Proximity
•He Fall First
•Fake Dating

[Randi Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the first book in this series, I was absolutely drawn into this world of F1 racing and couldn't wait to dive back in... this time with a character who we met briefly in book one and whose public heartbreak was quite memorable--- with his longtime girlfriend breaking up with him and hooking up with his brother! Yikes! That little glimpse certainly had me hoping for him to get a happily ever after and I was thrilled to see his story would be next... and it absolutely did not disappoint. Right from their awkward reintroduction, I found myself rooting for Katie and Nathan. They had only been acquainted briefly in school, but their connection picked up instantly upon their chance meeting... as did his teenage crush, making her the perfect choice when he needed a fake girlfriend to take to his brother's wedding to his ex... but there was absolutely nothing fake about the chemistry between these two. Their story takes us from Christmas in London to New Year's in St. Lucia with the perfect blend of family drama, swoon worthy romance and healing... and I loved every single moment! I cannot wait to see what is going to happen next!

Away With You is a closed-door romance with implied intimacy and minor language. It is the second book in the Beyond the Grid series. While previous characters to make an appearance, I do think this could be enjoyed as a standalone as well.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Alanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5! I’ve been waiting do Nate’s story since he appeared in book 1! This was such a cute story of friends to lovers and fake dating (that wasn’t really fake?) and it all took place in St. Lucia mainly!!
Nate was such a sweet character and was one of the most empathetic and emotionally aware (while still being a totally clueless male) MMC. Him and Katie completely complimented each other and I loved their back and forth banter when they were “pretending”.

Now Belinda…are we seeing Theo and Rosie next?!? Because the tension there was burning off the page!

[Melting Into Fiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 4.5 out of 5 ⭐️

My Thoughts:
F1 off-season perspective:
While the first book, "Away We Go," heavily followed an entire competitive F1 season, "Away With You" focuses on Nicky's competitor and close friend, Nathan Jackson, during his off-season. I loved learning about the F1 season and what it entails, but I also loved getting the perspective of an F1 racer's downtime. It created the perfect setting for Nathan to randomly bump into Katie Winslow, his old classmate and eventual fake girlfriend. Plus, their time in St. Lucia, albeit for Nathan's ex's wedding to his brother, was giving all the "Bachelor/Bachelorette" vibes with helicopter rides and excursions sans pre-wedding drama. 

We love a woman in STEM:
As things got more serious with Katie and Nathan, I loved that Katie didn't drop everything, including her important job and cancer research to follow Nathan around the world for his F1 career. We love a woman in STEM, but, more importantly, we love a woman who doesn't sacrifice her career and life just for love. Love is grand and all, but if it's with the right person, it will be worth the time and effort - even with the distance. And, I loved that Nathan understood the importance of Katie's work and wouldn't have let her sacrifice it for him.

A classic fake dating trope:
After bumping into Katie in London, Nathan tries to spend as much time as he can with her as his feelings for her are rekindled - having formerly crushed on her as classmates. When he suggests that Katie pose as his girlfriend during his ex and brother's week long wedding festivities in St. Lucia, it leads to funny and sweet moments. From a "Pretty Woman" moment to chocolate making, these two naturally blurred the lines between fake and real as time progressed and feelings grew stronger. I loved Nathan's sister, Rosie, who saw their budding romance and suggested the fake situationship in the first place. Sometimes, you just need a gentle nudge, or in this case, a very aggressive shove, to make things happen.

Golden retriever energy:
Nathan may be considered one of the world's sexiest men, but that didn't stop him from giving major golden retriever energy when it came to Katie. She kept that man humble, which I was here for! From going tree shopping to buying her Toblerone bars she had her eye on to wearing extra hair ties on his wrist in case she needed one, Nathan didn't hesitate to pull out all the stops for her. Buying her snow globes and bringing her to pick one out in St. Lucia was the absolute icing on the cake. He knew Katie's sentimental attachment to snow globes, since her late mother had a desire to collect them with her before sadly passing away.

You had me at "While You Were Sleeping":
I already loved Belinda Mary after reading "Away We Go," but she solidified that feeling with this novel through her love of the film "While You Were Sleeping." I fully agree that it is such a highly underrated rom-com and is one of my fave comfort watches. Plus, Katie's attachment to snow globes was such a sweet reminder of the scene when Bill Pullman's character, Jack, gifts a snow globe to Sandra Bullock's character, Lucy. Plus, Katie's hilarious film reference of a single girl lugging a tree up to her apartment was the start of the beautiful romance when Nathan offers to bring her tree shopping.

FINAL THOUGHTS
"Away With You" is such a fun and romantic follow-up to the first novel. It would've been easy to copy and paste the concept of following Nathan during an entire F1 season, but I loved that it strayed from that and showed the off-season aspect. While things moved quickly between Nathan and Katie, the two of them just made sense together and already had history of crushing on one another as classmates. In many ways, it was a second chance trope - a second chance for them to fall for one another and a second chance for both of them to find happiness after painful heartbreak. Belinda is so good at delivering the romance in her novels, while offering a closed door romance that is still full of heat and sexual tension (1 out of 5 🌶). I saw sprinkles and hints of what could be the next novel in the Beyond the Grid series, and, if I'm correct, I'm here for it! I highly recommend "Away With You" if you're looking for a great fake dating rom-com. A big thank you to Belinda Mary for giving me the opportunity to read the eARC ahead of its release. "Away With You" is now available, including Kindle Unlimited!

[Fairies And Paperweights · Rating 3 out of 5]

We follow Katie, a biologist in London, who felt lonely ever since her mum died 2 years ago.
Until she crosses paths with her long lost school friend, Nathan.
Nathan, a smoking hot F1 driver, is currently dealing with a nasty break up. Still Everyone expects him to attend his ex's wedding. Why you ask? Well, his ex is about to marry his brother...

To show everybody that he is not hung up by this betrayal, Katie and Nathan agree to fake-dating...😌🤭

You know I love me some fake-dating and friends-to-lovers is probably my favorite trope.
So just imagine my excitement when I saw that our FMC is a Woman in STEM. (As a girly in STEM myself, I love the representation!)

However there where a couple of things I did not like.
First of all, it became repetitive very early on. There was not a single scene in which her "extremely thick hair" was not mentioned. And then her hair kept breaking all her hair ties, which I found kind of weird and unrealistic... like what hair tie is that weak...?
Than there was her writing. I don't think it was for me. Conversation seemed staged. Things were said that really should have been inside thoughts (but not in funny, ironic way). It just made me think "noone talks like this".
It made me cringe pretty regularly.

My biggest pet peeve was that Katie really seemed to have an inferiority complex. It's one thing that she was his fan before they reconnected. And there is an obvious power imbalance bc he is rich and famous. I get that. However there is no need to make her talk to herself like that. She continuously called herself a "nobody" in a pretty degrading way and never took pride in being a badass scientist with a PhD!! It was mostly him who had to reassure her. Which is cute and I can see why the author did that. But still, why not show us an accomplished woman in a more dignified way.

Then there was the third act break up. I like that it adds a little more drama. However, it did make Nathan look really bad. Then again maybe that gave him a little depth. The reconciliation was unsatisfying. It really was not the time or place for an love admission. Seemed like he wanted to change the topic when he clearly needed to explain his behavior. I found this a bit toxic.

Lastly, I would have liked to see them spend more time together before their happy ending. They spend 1 month together before having a break for a month. And that's it. Didn't talk for 1 month but at the end of it he was ready to end his career for her... IDK this just doesn't seem healthy.

To end this on a positive note: there really have been funny scenes and i loved the tropical vibes. And of course I love to see a girl pampered by a millionaire who is ready to make all her dreams come true. Katie really was relatable sometimes😂.

[Carmen Dieleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Away with you

Eerder dit jaar las ik deel 1 en was gelijk enthousiast en kon niet wachten op deel 2 en hier is ie dan! En al uit wat onwijs jammer is want dit boek was geweldig, hopelijk komt er een deel 3 over Rosie!!

Dit verhaal gaat over Katie en Nathan. Een super schattig, low key verhaal. Ze hebben allebei een hart van goud en bouwen weer een geweldige vriendschap op. Ze kennen elkaar al van vroeger, maar hebben andere paden bewandelt. Ze komen nu weer bij elkaar en helpen elkaar door het verhaal heen, met het verwerken van gevoelens. Katie is slim, erg op zichzelf en een oprecht leuke meid. Nathan is een formule 1 rijder die zorgzaam is, geweldige met de kat van Katie en een oprechte man. Hun verhaal samen had zulke leuke chemie dat ik geen genoeg kon krijgen van dit verhaal.

De schrijfstijl was geweldig, ik zet heerlijk in het boek vanaf het begin en wilde dolgraag weten hoe het verder ging. Het verhaal leest vlot en ik ben onwijs fan geworden van deze serie boeken door hun verhaal, de boodschap erom heen en de lieve personages.

Earlier this year, I read part 1 and was immediately hooked. I couldn't wait for part 2, and here it is! I've already finished it, which is a real shame because this book was fantastic. Hopefully, there will be a part 3 about Rosie!

This story is about Katie and Nathan. It's a super sweet, low-key story. They both have hearts of gold and are rebuilding a wonderful friendship. They've known each other since childhood, but have taken different paths. They reconnect and help each other through the story, processing their feelings. Katie is smart, very private, and a genuinely nice girl. Nathan is a caring Formula 1 driver, great with Katie's cat, and a genuine man. Their story together had such great chemistry that I couldn't get enough of it.

The writing style was fantastic; I was hooked from the very beginning and desperately wanted to know what happened next. The story is a smooth read, and I've become a huge fan of this series because of the story, the message behind it, and the lovable characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ sterren
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[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fake dating, snow globes and so much tea - you’ll find all that and more in Away With Me.

F1 driver Nathan is not having a great year. His long term girlfriend dumped him for his brother, and is now about to marry him. To make matters worse, his family is pressuring him to go to the wedding.

Cancer researcher Katie feels alone. It’s two years since her mother died and she is about to face another Christmas alone (aside from her cat). Then she bumps into her old school friend Nathan - literally, dropping a box of tampons at his feet.

What follows is the first of many cups of tea as they work their way back into each other’s lives while their attraction grows. Then Nathan asks for a favour - he needs Katie to be his girlfriend to get his mother off his back. Given the plan involves attendance at the wedding in St Lucia, Katie is hesitant…what happens to her fragile heart when it all falls apart?

This was really sweet. Nathan is 100% green flag and was dedicated to Katie from the moment he fell back into her orbit. He takes her Christmas tree shopping, bewitches her cat, learns about her work and favourite movies. He insists people refer to her properly as Doctor. Nathan is so ridiculously gone for Katie you will squeal and kick your feet.

While this book is ostensibly an F1 romance, it was so cool to read more about Katie’s career. The book compares Nathan and Katie’s work, with Nathan expressing frustration that he is paid so much more to drive around a track for 90 minutes every few weeks.

The banter is top notch and everyone is so *very* British. I adored Katie and I want to have coffee with her immediately. She learns to be brave by not choosing the safe option automatically. There’s OW drama and toxic family relationships. The book also deals with parental death and loneliness. It’s a slow burn, fade to black romance.

This was such a lovely read and I’m so grateful I got to enjoy Katie and Nathan’s story. It is part of a series but you can enjoy it as a standalone. It will be an easy, enjoyable read to anyone who loves green flags and sweet romance, F1 and women in STEM.

[donutqueenie · Rating 3 out of 5]

F1 driver Nathan bumps into old friend Katie and she agrees to be a fake girlfriend as his wedding date. The wedding is for Nathan’s ex-fiance and Nathan’s brother. (TW: mention of absent father, past death of a parent, cancer, grief)

Release date 9/30/25.

🏁Dual POV
🍊Fake dating
🐈‍⬛He falls first
🏁Cute cat
🍊Scientist FMC
🐈‍⬛ F1 driver MMC
🏁Tropical wedding

I loved book 1 and was looking forward to this one. The pacing was quick and light. This book pokes fun at tropes in romance books and it was so funny. The romance is sweet. I liked the author’s writing flow. It’s a cute fluffy book if you don’t think about it too hard.

*sigh* It took me so long to read this so unfortunately I DID think about it too hard. I liked this book but I wanted more…

🍊MORE TENSION
The main characters had plenty of chemistry but the fun tension of fake dating around other people was not there.

🍊MORE TROPES
The one bed trope is teased but not shown.

🍊MORE DEPTH
The character development is unrealistic for both MCs. More info in spoiler area below.

🍊MORE DRAMA
Fiancé dumps you and married your sibling? That’s a perfect recipe for a boatload of family drama.

🍊MORE F1 RACING
Is it really a sports romance if there’s no sport? It’s the off season for F1 racing. The F1 racing in book 1 made it so interesting.

Thank you to the author for the ARC.


🚨 spoilers
-I would have loved to see the FMC dig into her attachment issues. She realizes attachment is scary but doesn’t dig into it at all. A momentary flash of decision and her mind changed isn’t realistic with that kind of attachment issues, especially when you add in the grief of her mom.
-The MMC has no backbone. Major red flag. The MMC being such a doormat to his family his whole life doesn’t magically disappear because you get the girl back. The resolution to that scenario of MMC establishing should have been in the BOOK not the EPILOGUE 🤦‍♀️
-it didn’t feel like a 90s rom-com to me but 974 of them were mentioned

[Bernadette Ducanes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Away With You

ARC gifted by: Belinda Mary

I've just wrapped up my 3rd ARC read, and wow… Away with You by Belinda Mary absolutely gave me all the feels! ❄️💙

With tropes like friends-to-lovers, fake dating, only one bed, and my personal favorite—he falls first—this book was everything I wanted and more. The cozy winter London setting just made the story even more magical. ☃️❄️

As a single mom, balancing work, school, and everyday mom duties means my reading time is often squeezed in late at night or in between errands. But this book? It had me so hooked that I found myself carrying it everywhere and sneaking in chapters whenever I could. 👜📖

And let me tell you, I actually got teary-eyed during the last three chapters—the emotions were just that raw and real. 🥹✨

I adored the chemistry between Nathan and Katie, the sweetness of the slow burn, and the heartwarming message of love. This is the kind of romance that lingers with you long after the last page. 💖

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A solid five stars from me! If you’re looking for a closed-door romance that still delivers all the swoony feels, Away with You is one you cannot miss. Perfect for curling up with a blanket, a cup of coffee, and maybe some tissues too. ☕🧣📚

💭 On a personal note, as a mom who often puts her kids and responsibilities first, reading stories like this feels like a little reminder that love, hope, and joy can still find their way into our lives when we least expect them. 💕 Books like this are not just an escape, but also a comfort.

PS: I hope there'll be a book about Theo and Rosie too 💗💗💗

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