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Drive Me Crazy
'I love, love, love Lizzy Dent' Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Sparks fly when an up-and-coming team principal and her new hot-shot driver - and former childhood crush - are forced to work together to save their careers and team in this deliciously winning Formula 1 romance.
Can they navigate the twists and turns of love without crashing and burning?
As one of the first female team principals in Formula 1, Chloe Coleman is determined to prove herself and transform her failing team from underdogs to champions. Nothing can ruin her strategy - except maybe the surprising new addition of a cocky, top-tier driver who's lost his edge. And he just so happens to be her estranged childhood crush who still sends her heart racing.
Matt Warner needs a comeback. A former champion, he hasn't won a race since the disastrous crash that landed his best friend and teammate in the hospital. If there's a silver lining to this scandalous demotion, it's his fierce and familiar new boss, Chloe. But as the competition heats up, so does an unexpected spark that turns dangerously and passionately hot. With the world watching and pressures of the season mounting, will their chemistry lead them to victory, or spin them out of control?
Praise for Lizzy
'Lizzy Dent gives me ALL the feels!' Rachael Johns
'A fantastic enemies-to-lovers romance' The Australian on Just One Taste
'Just One Taste is romantic comedy perfection ... yet it's also a book that includes plenty of depth [and] incredible heart' Good Reading
Sparks fly when an up-and-coming team principal and her new hot-shot driver - and former childhood crush - are forced to work together to save their careers and team in this deliciously winning Formula 1 romance.
Can they navigate the twists and turns of love without crashing and burning?
As one of the first female team principals in Formula 1, Chloe Coleman is determined to prove herself and transform her failing team from underdogs to champions. Nothing can ruin her strategy - except maybe the surprising new addition of a cocky, top-tier driver who's lost his edge. And he just so happens to be her estranged childhood crush who still sends her heart racing.
Matt Warner needs a comeback. A former champion, he hasn't won a race since the disastrous crash that landed his best friend and teammate in the hospital. If there's a silver lining to this scandalous demotion, it's his fierce and familiar new boss, Chloe. But as the competition heats up, so does an unexpected spark that turns dangerously and passionately hot. With the world watching and pressures of the season mounting, will their chemistry lead them to victory, or spin them out of control?
Praise for Lizzy
'Lizzy Dent gives me ALL the feels!' Rachael Johns
'A fantastic enemies-to-lovers romance' The Australian on Just One Taste
'Just One Taste is romantic comedy perfection ... yet it's also a book that includes plenty of depth [and] incredible heart' Good Reading
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2026
152 people are currently reading
17277 people want to read
About the author
Lizzy Dent
5 books624 followersLizzy Dent (miss)spent her early twenties working in Scotland in hospitality, in a hotel not unlike the one in this novel. She somehow ended up in a glamourous job travelling the world creating content for various TV companies, including MTV, Channel 4, Cartoon Network, the BBC and ITV. But she always knew that writing was the thing she wanted to do, if only she could find the confidence. After publishing three young adult novels, she decided to write a novel that reflected the real women she knew, who don't always know where they're going in life, but who always have fun doing it. The Summer Job is that novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 851 reviews
January 6, 2026
rtc.
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putting this on hold for now
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pre-read: I've had this arc for so long too and I had forgotten about it. oops 🙊
buddy reading with felicia!
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putting this on hold for now
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pre-read: I've had this arc for so long too and I had forgotten about it. oops 🙊
buddy reading with felicia!
January 16, 2026
“𝑌𝑜𝑢’𝑟𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑎𝑧𝑦, 𝑀𝑎𝑡𝑡 𝑊𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑟.”
This book was okay — not terrible, but not amazing either. There were parts I didn’t enjoy, but there were some really good moments too, so let’s start with those. 🏎️💚
I really enjoyed the races — they were exciting and kept me engaged. The best part for me was Arden’s arc and how the team climbed step by step until they finally achieved what they were working toward. That progression felt rewarding and well done 🏁✨
As for Matt, the author never explicitly named it, but it was very clear that what he was dealing with was PTSD. And that’s not something small or easy to ignore — it deeply affects a person’s life and progress. I genuinely appreciated how this was handled, how he worked through it, and how things eventually turned out for him. That part was emotional and meaningful.
Now, onto what I didn’t like.
Chloe is unprofessional and doesn’t know how to set boundaries or separate her personal life from her professional life. I was genuinely surprised by how she avoided talking to Matt at the beginning because of personal issues, and even refused to speak to him before a race — her lead driver. That was not professional at all. She should’ve put her personal feelings aside and been more firm in many situations.
On top of that, I still don’t clearly understand what Chloe’s actual role or job within the team is. As someone with basic F1 knowledge, this was already confusing — so I can’t imagine how unclear it would be for someone who knows nothing about the sport. We’re constantly told that Chloe is incredibly successful, yet aside from bringing Jasper into the team… there’s really nothing else shown 🤷🏻♀️.
Now, Matt. A two-time world champion, the most handsome face in F1… and still a red flag for me 🚩. He didn’t give Chloe the respect she deserved, especially when he kept calling her by the nickname “bug” in front of the team — knowing full well that she struggled to assert herself and felt uncomfortable.
I also really disliked how he only ever saw her as “a sister” when she wore baggy clothes and hid her hair under a baseball cap — despite the fact that she already had feelings for him, supported him, cared for him, and shared many beautiful moments with him. His line “You could play out my life a million times over and I’d never have guessed I’d end up wanting Chloe Coleman. Never.” says it all. But the moment she grew up, her beauty stood out, and she had a slim figure and a nice ass, suddenly a spark ignited. And you absolutely cannot convince me that this was love — it was physical desire. Purely sexual 🙃
As for their relationship overall, it felt way too rushed. Their transition was way too fast — From friends to strangers who hadn’t seen each other in 10 years, to suddenly flirting intensely 🤷🏻♀️. I didn’t like how Matt kept pushing Chloe to the edge so they could be together (even though she was clearly enthusiastic). Matt was at the end of his career, while Chloe was just getting started, and I hated how much he ignored that reality and acted recklessly around her. A scandal like that would destroy her career alone — simply because she’s a woman. And don’t even get me started on their cringe behavior. I will never get over Matt touching Chloe and making her feel aroused behind the glass of an open shop, or Chloe dragging Matt into an empty room while their entire team was actively searching for them 😳🙈😬
The ending was fine regarding Matt and Chloe, but I wish I had learned more about the Arden team and what they became.
Overall: The book had exciting F1 moments and handled serious issues like PTSD well, but the romance felt rushed, some character behavior was unprofessional, and certain scenes were cringe-worthy. Still, there were enjoyable moments that made it worth reading 🏎️💚🏁.
Sorry for the long review 😞
╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝🏁
Back to the F1 world, and honestly… I missed it 🏎️ and I’m already in love with the cover 💚
This book was okay — not terrible, but not amazing either. There were parts I didn’t enjoy, but there were some really good moments too, so let’s start with those. 🏎️💚
I really enjoyed the races — they were exciting and kept me engaged. The best part for me was Arden’s arc and how the team climbed step by step until they finally achieved what they were working toward. That progression felt rewarding and well done 🏁✨
As for Matt, the author never explicitly named it, but it was very clear that what he was dealing with was PTSD. And that’s not something small or easy to ignore — it deeply affects a person’s life and progress. I genuinely appreciated how this was handled, how he worked through it, and how things eventually turned out for him. That part was emotional and meaningful.
Now, onto what I didn’t like.
Chloe is unprofessional and doesn’t know how to set boundaries or separate her personal life from her professional life. I was genuinely surprised by how she avoided talking to Matt at the beginning because of personal issues, and even refused to speak to him before a race — her lead driver. That was not professional at all. She should’ve put her personal feelings aside and been more firm in many situations.
On top of that, I still don’t clearly understand what Chloe’s actual role or job within the team is. As someone with basic F1 knowledge, this was already confusing — so I can’t imagine how unclear it would be for someone who knows nothing about the sport. We’re constantly told that Chloe is incredibly successful, yet aside from bringing Jasper into the team… there’s really nothing else shown 🤷🏻♀️.
Now, Matt. A two-time world champion, the most handsome face in F1… and still a red flag for me 🚩. He didn’t give Chloe the respect she deserved, especially when he kept calling her by the nickname “bug” in front of the team — knowing full well that she struggled to assert herself and felt uncomfortable.
I also really disliked how he only ever saw her as “a sister” when she wore baggy clothes and hid her hair under a baseball cap — despite the fact that she already had feelings for him, supported him, cared for him, and shared many beautiful moments with him. His line “You could play out my life a million times over and I’d never have guessed I’d end up wanting Chloe Coleman. Never.” says it all. But the moment she grew up, her beauty stood out, and she had a slim figure and a nice ass, suddenly a spark ignited. And you absolutely cannot convince me that this was love — it was physical desire. Purely sexual 🙃
As for their relationship overall, it felt way too rushed. Their transition was way too fast — From friends to strangers who hadn’t seen each other in 10 years, to suddenly flirting intensely 🤷🏻♀️. I didn’t like how Matt kept pushing Chloe to the edge so they could be together (even though she was clearly enthusiastic). Matt was at the end of his career, while Chloe was just getting started, and I hated how much he ignored that reality and acted recklessly around her. A scandal like that would destroy her career alone — simply because she’s a woman. And don’t even get me started on their cringe behavior. I will never get over Matt touching Chloe and making her feel aroused behind the glass of an open shop, or Chloe dragging Matt into an empty room while their entire team was actively searching for them 😳🙈😬
The ending was fine regarding Matt and Chloe, but I wish I had learned more about the Arden team and what they became.
Overall: The book had exciting F1 moments and handled serious issues like PTSD well, but the romance felt rushed, some character behavior was unprofessional, and certain scenes were cringe-worthy. Still, there were enjoyable moments that made it worth reading 🏎️💚🏁.
Sorry for the long review 😞
╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝🏁
Back to the F1 world, and honestly… I missed it 🏎️ and I’m already in love with the cover 💚
May 6, 2025
This book was so cute and I really enjoyed reading it! I thought it was exciting and competitive! I loved that there was a strong female character in this one, who was likable! I loved the strong character development between the two main characters, the different point of views, and the chemistry the main characters had! I could tell that the author of this book really knew a lot about Formula 1 racing! This is a childhood friends to lovers romance, mixed in with a whole lot of racing and a little spice!
“Drive Me Crazy” is about a woman named Chloe becoming one of the first female F1 team principles on the team! She is determined and strong, knowing she will get this team of underdogs to champions! To Chloe’s surprise, she sees her childhood friend named Matt. Matt used to be a champion, but then got into a crash a while back. He is now on the same team as Chloe. Feelings start occurring between these two, while their team is in desperate need of getting into championship! Will they end up happily ever after? Does the team end up making it as champions? As the story unfolds, we find out how these two end up and how the team turns out! Be sure to read the content warnings. Overall, I rate this a 3 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Lizzy Dent and Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on January 6, 2026!
“Drive Me Crazy” is about a woman named Chloe becoming one of the first female F1 team principles on the team! She is determined and strong, knowing she will get this team of underdogs to champions! To Chloe’s surprise, she sees her childhood friend named Matt. Matt used to be a champion, but then got into a crash a while back. He is now on the same team as Chloe. Feelings start occurring between these two, while their team is in desperate need of getting into championship! Will they end up happily ever after? Does the team end up making it as champions? As the story unfolds, we find out how these two end up and how the team turns out! Be sure to read the content warnings. Overall, I rate this a 3 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Lizzy Dent and Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on January 6, 2026!
December 31, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Chloe Coleman has been hired as one of the first female team principals in Formula 1 and is determined to prove herself worthy of the job by helping her team rise up in the ranks. But when a new driver is hired and just so happens to be her ex-best friend and childhood crush, Chloe has to ignore the feelings she still feels for him and help the cocky new hire to win races she desperately needs to keep her job.
After a devastating crash that landed his best friend and teammate in the hospital, Matt Warner needs a comeback, but doesn’t know how to attain it. And when Formula 1’s worst team hires him, he thinks his time behind the wheel is over, but if anyone can help Matt get back into the game, it’s Chloe Coleman, who knows him better than he knows himself, even after years of not being in contact. What he wasn’t expecting, though, was to be attracted to his new boss and ex-best friend, who also feels the sparks flying between them.
STORY TIME!!
Ever since I watched Ford v. Ferrari, I have an appreciation for racecar driving, or just driving in general. I mean, it’s hard not to when you see Christian Bale behind the wheel and making it look like the most amazing thing in the world. Now, do I watch the actual races? No, but I like to admire the sport from afar, just as I do with hockey and baseball, checking in from time to time to see who won what race. So, all that to say, when I saw this book and its cute cover, I knew I had to read it. Not requesting it was out of the question. 😂
As far as the racing parts of the story are concerned, it was great! I loved reading the parts when Matt raced, especially when it was in his pov, hoping he’d win and help Arden. The terminology and stuff about the cars were so fun to read, and I had a blast. But I wish there were more of it. Granted, it is a shorter book, but I felt like there could have been more racing bits added to the story. That’s just my opinion, though, and I’m fairly happy with what I got.
I liked the characters, Chloe and Matt. They were both capable at what they did, and they respected each other in their skills and abilities. Heck, I was so concerned for their jobs that I didn’t even want them to be in any form of relationship except for friendship, which is funny because I’m always waiting for the characters to confess their feelings and navigate a possible relationship. 😂 And the side characters were great, too. I loved the team dynamic and how Chloe and Matt had to work on making their team feel like a family.
What I did have a problem with was how quickly the story jumped into romance. I was hoping the two ex-best friends would at least mend their friendship before they even thought about romance, and for the most part, they did, but it was so quick that I was somewhat shocked that the characters were already wanting to get the other into bed. Like, can we wait a sec, guys? Can y’all just learn to trust each other first and rekindle that friendship BEFORE you even kiss? There’s no rush, I swear. 😅
All in all, I still had fun with this book, and if you are a fan of this sport and trope, then I definitely recommend it! 🏎🏁
Thank you to Putnam | G. P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Mentions misogyny, trauma, & details of a car crash.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)
Chloe Coleman has been hired as one of the first female team principals in Formula 1 and is determined to prove herself worthy of the job by helping her team rise up in the ranks. But when a new driver is hired and just so happens to be her ex-best friend and childhood crush, Chloe has to ignore the feelings she still feels for him and help the cocky new hire to win races she desperately needs to keep her job.
After a devastating crash that landed his best friend and teammate in the hospital, Matt Warner needs a comeback, but doesn’t know how to attain it. And when Formula 1’s worst team hires him, he thinks his time behind the wheel is over, but if anyone can help Matt get back into the game, it’s Chloe Coleman, who knows him better than he knows himself, even after years of not being in contact. What he wasn’t expecting, though, was to be attracted to his new boss and ex-best friend, who also feels the sparks flying between them.
STORY TIME!!
Ever since I watched Ford v. Ferrari, I have an appreciation for racecar driving, or just driving in general. I mean, it’s hard not to when you see Christian Bale behind the wheel and making it look like the most amazing thing in the world. Now, do I watch the actual races? No, but I like to admire the sport from afar, just as I do with hockey and baseball, checking in from time to time to see who won what race. So, all that to say, when I saw this book and its cute cover, I knew I had to read it. Not requesting it was out of the question. 😂
As far as the racing parts of the story are concerned, it was great! I loved reading the parts when Matt raced, especially when it was in his pov, hoping he’d win and help Arden. The terminology and stuff about the cars were so fun to read, and I had a blast. But I wish there were more of it. Granted, it is a shorter book, but I felt like there could have been more racing bits added to the story. That’s just my opinion, though, and I’m fairly happy with what I got.
I liked the characters, Chloe and Matt. They were both capable at what they did, and they respected each other in their skills and abilities. Heck, I was so concerned for their jobs that I didn’t even want them to be in any form of relationship except for friendship, which is funny because I’m always waiting for the characters to confess their feelings and navigate a possible relationship. 😂 And the side characters were great, too. I loved the team dynamic and how Chloe and Matt had to work on making their team feel like a family.
What I did have a problem with was how quickly the story jumped into romance. I was hoping the two ex-best friends would at least mend their friendship before they even thought about romance, and for the most part, they did, but it was so quick that I was somewhat shocked that the characters were already wanting to get the other into bed. Like, can we wait a sec, guys? Can y’all just learn to trust each other first and rekindle that friendship BEFORE you even kiss? There’s no rush, I swear. 😅
All in all, I still had fun with this book, and if you are a fan of this sport and trope, then I definitely recommend it! 🏎🏁
Thank you to Putnam | G. P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Mentions misogyny, trauma, & details of a car crash.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)
June 15, 2025
ARC - 3/5⭐️ this one had me torn…I loved the concept of the F1 racing team and the romance, however it was definitely a little slow for me. I just wasn’t motivated to pick up this book and it took me forever to get through. It was cute and the racing scenes were exciting, but I just felt like it was a little drawn out. I wish the romance picked up a lot sooner than it did. The character development between Chloe and Matt was nice to see.
I just felt confused for a while about how Chloe and Matt knew each other and their mysterious past; I wished it explained sooner because I hate feeling confused while reading a book.
Still it was a nice read and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes romance and racing. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! 🩷🩷
I just felt confused for a while about how Chloe and Matt knew each other and their mysterious past; I wished it explained sooner because I hate feeling confused while reading a book.
Still it was a nice read and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes romance and racing. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! 🩷🩷
April 29, 2025
I'm realising my sports romance phase is stretching past hockey and veering into F1.
This was such a good romance, I like how the characters feel like adults with most things figured out, but still have their struggles. I really like the FMC, she's a strong character and I'm glad the author didn't shy away from letting her shine and stand up for what she wanted and believed in.
Overall I really enjoyed Drive Me Crazy, the only downside is that the ending felt a little rushed. It seemed like there was so much more to happen but then it was just over. The epilogue is perfect though.
I highly recommend everyone read it once it's out in 2026!
Thank you Netgalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was such a good romance, I like how the characters feel like adults with most things figured out, but still have their struggles. I really like the FMC, she's a strong character and I'm glad the author didn't shy away from letting her shine and stand up for what she wanted and believed in.
Overall I really enjoyed Drive Me Crazy, the only downside is that the ending felt a little rushed. It seemed like there was so much more to happen but then it was just over. The epilogue is perfect though.
I highly recommend everyone read it once it's out in 2026!
Thank you Netgalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 24, 2026
You know what I want to leave in 2025? Stories about women who put it all on the line for some barely average dude.
Chloe recently became one of the first female principals of a F1 team. In a male dominated environment like this, that’s a difficult position to be in because no one really believes that she has what it takes to do this job.
She also struggled with imposter syndrome, her team sucked, and the men around her belittled her constantly and didn’t take her seriously at all. So the odds were stacked against her, but it also sounded like a nice set-up for an uplifting and fun romance. Or so I thought.
What I would have liked to see here was her overcoming all of this and showing everyone that she is in fact more than capable to do her job. I wanted to see her excel at it. And also find love along the way.
You know what actually happened? She never really stood up for herself, let everyone walk all over her, and then started to hook up with one of her drivers.
Seriously? You have come so far, you’re fighting for your right to be where you are only to jeopardise everything by hooking up with this idiot? And I would still say that even if Matt was a catch, you know, like anywhere close to a great guy. But he wasn’t. He was hot and could drive really fast, that’s it.
Girl, you can find a hot guy like literally anywhere, you don’t have to sabotage your whole career for this one.
Maybe you don’t care that she was making dumb decisions, but I just got very annoyed reading this. And even if I overlooked that, the romance was still weak, lacking any sort of tension and/or chemistry, the F1 theme was too heavy-handed and a weird mix of reality and fiction and neither Chloe nor Matt were very intriguing or even interesting characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Chloe recently became one of the first female principals of a F1 team. In a male dominated environment like this, that’s a difficult position to be in because no one really believes that she has what it takes to do this job.
She also struggled with imposter syndrome, her team sucked, and the men around her belittled her constantly and didn’t take her seriously at all. So the odds were stacked against her, but it also sounded like a nice set-up for an uplifting and fun romance. Or so I thought.
What I would have liked to see here was her overcoming all of this and showing everyone that she is in fact more than capable to do her job. I wanted to see her excel at it. And also find love along the way.
You know what actually happened? She never really stood up for herself, let everyone walk all over her, and then started to hook up with one of her drivers.
Seriously? You have come so far, you’re fighting for your right to be where you are only to jeopardise everything by hooking up with this idiot? And I would still say that even if Matt was a catch, you know, like anywhere close to a great guy. But he wasn’t. He was hot and could drive really fast, that’s it.
Girl, you can find a hot guy like literally anywhere, you don’t have to sabotage your whole career for this one.
Maybe you don’t care that she was making dumb decisions, but I just got very annoyed reading this. And even if I overlooked that, the romance was still weak, lacking any sort of tension and/or chemistry, the F1 theme was too heavy-handed and a weird mix of reality and fiction and neither Chloe nor Matt were very intriguing or even interesting characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2026
I would take a thousand more F1 romance books by Lizzy Dent, please & thank you! The stakes are high, the tension is crackling like fireworks between these two.
Screaming from the rooftops how much I love that while HE was HER childhood crush, HE becomes a man so feral, pathetic, obsessed & HE falls so much harder. My GAWD.
Screaming from the rooftops how much I love that while HE was HER childhood crush, HE becomes a man so feral, pathetic, obsessed & HE falls so much harder. My GAWD.
January 18, 2026
⊹₊⟡⋆ 3.5 stars
this was such a cute F1 romance book! i found it extremely addictive and couldn't put it down at all. i'm now gonna be such a sucker for more f1 romance books.
. ˖ ꒰𑁬 ♡ ໒꒱ ˖ .
pre-read
i'm super excited to start this since it'll be my first F1 romance book. my friend highly recommended me this and also let me borrow her copy.
this was such a cute F1 romance book! i found it extremely addictive and couldn't put it down at all. i'm now gonna be such a sucker for more f1 romance books.
. ˖ ꒰𑁬 ♡ ໒꒱ ˖ .
pre-read
i'm super excited to start this since it'll be my first F1 romance book. my friend highly recommended me this and also let me borrow her copy.
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Want to read
May 23, 2025f1 romance??
i’m not an f1 girlie at all 💪😭
but i got this arc, so maybe that will covert me
i’m not an f1 girlie at all 💪😭
but i got this arc, so maybe that will covert me
June 3, 2025
Formula 1 racer, Matt (MMC) is far from his glory days after a big crash that rocked his world mentally and professionally. After he is forced to join a new team, he meets his new Team Principle, Chloe (FMC) which happens to also be his former training friend from childhood. We hear both perspectives as Matt is battling with his PTSD from the crash, trying to win a championship, and figuring out their feelings for each other.
I don’t know anything about racing so I’m glad this author did a good job of giving a general overview of how racing works. I loved how Chloe was a strong FMC and wasn’t afraid of speaking up in a mainly male dominated field. I enjoyed the banter, romance, and the spice level. I knocked down a star since the ending felt a bit rushed, but I adored it overall.
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
💞 Thank you Net Galley & PutnamBooks for the ARC! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review 💞
I don’t know anything about racing so I’m glad this author did a good job of giving a general overview of how racing works. I loved how Chloe was a strong FMC and wasn’t afraid of speaking up in a mainly male dominated field. I enjoyed the banter, romance, and the spice level. I knocked down a star since the ending felt a bit rushed, but I adored it overall.
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
💞 Thank you Net Galley & PutnamBooks for the ARC! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review 💞
January 15, 2026
⋆.˚✮ 2 stars ✮˚.⋆
⤿ Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Penguin for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
i went into this story not knowing like anything about F1 and i was a little worried that would take me out of the story. but that wasn’t the thing that made me cringe or feel like the story could have used a little more editing and development. there were some things to like, but many things that bothered me.
this story follows Chloe as she becomes one of the first female team principals in Formula 1, though she’s signed to the worst racing team at the moment she is determined to make it to the top. when her boss signs a new driver without her knowledge, she’s flabbergasted as it turns out to be her estranged childhood crush who’s floundering in his racing. Matt needs a comeback, and as competition gets more intense so does the spark between the two of them.
honestly that’s something i’ve found some authors struggle with when writing friends to lovers, they just have the audience assume they have a connection and a past but don’t show enough of it to make it believable. we are told Chloe & Matt were best friends but we barely hear them talk about it, and the moments they do discuss seem superficial at best. i didn’t see the connection between them in the present, beyond Matt thinking she was hot, and I unfortunately didn’t see it in the past either.
the romance was not for me at all, immediately upon seeing Chloe again on the track the first thing (i kid you not) Matt thinks about is how her breasts look when she’s breathing. i tried to overlook this because yeah maybe Chloe IS really that pretty and attractive, but it got worse from there. Matt and Chloe struggle to communicate and find common ground about their feelings, with Chloe many times that maybe she does still have a crush on him, but she needs to focus on this job she has and not him (especially when around the team)- or she’ll be fired because she’s a woman. constantly, and i mean CONSTANTLY Matt pushes her boundaries on this following her to her hotel room, flirting and being touchy with her when they’re around their teammmates, and pulling up past memories to taunt her with. he also keeps initiating doing spicy things to her when they’re lowkey in public.
- exhibit a: in an alleyway out of sight, yet still pressed up against an open shop’s window
- exhibit b: on a beach behind an F1 driver’s house, when he can definitely see them (also he’s covered in sand and so are his fingers you cant tell me that works)
- exhibit c: in the garage after an improvement of a race with their team on the other side of the door
Chloe doesn’t exactly say no, but she doesn’t exactly say yes all the time and there’s enough ambiguity to just make me uncomfortable while I was reading it unfortunately. especially as Matt was really just pushing her boundaries outside of those situations too.
i think Chloe herself had a powerful motivator for staying focused and being in the F1 job she is, and I enjoyed seeing a woman in a male-dominated role. but i wish she had more character growth of learning to stick up for herself, instead of it being squished into the last 50 pages of the book. Matt himself is definitely going through some trauma, but he’s kind of mean outside of the pushing boundaries and i wish we had seen more of his growth dealing with the trauma & his therapist to fully flesh out his character.
this book has two stars though because even though the romance was really not what i was looking for, learning about F1 and seeing the racing was very fun. i definitely want to check out more of this, i think that there will just be better books that involve this area of sports. this book fell a little flat in the beginning too of showing how the racing works, but picked up at the end. and i found that to be very fun!
overall this wasn’t the book for me, but i ended up feeling not really infuriated by it just really meh. there’s some intriguing things but i think a lot needed to be worked on more, like developing the romance in a different way. but im not going to write off Lizzy Dent, I might try her other books sometime
↬ trigger warnings: car crash and serious injury, burn scars and a burning injury, sexual scenes
⤿ Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Penguin for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
i went into this story not knowing like anything about F1 and i was a little worried that would take me out of the story. but that wasn’t the thing that made me cringe or feel like the story could have used a little more editing and development. there were some things to like, but many things that bothered me.
this story follows Chloe as she becomes one of the first female team principals in Formula 1, though she’s signed to the worst racing team at the moment she is determined to make it to the top. when her boss signs a new driver without her knowledge, she’s flabbergasted as it turns out to be her estranged childhood crush who’s floundering in his racing. Matt needs a comeback, and as competition gets more intense so does the spark between the two of them.
honestly that’s something i’ve found some authors struggle with when writing friends to lovers, they just have the audience assume they have a connection and a past but don’t show enough of it to make it believable. we are told Chloe & Matt were best friends but we barely hear them talk about it, and the moments they do discuss seem superficial at best. i didn’t see the connection between them in the present, beyond Matt thinking she was hot, and I unfortunately didn’t see it in the past either.
the romance was not for me at all, immediately upon seeing Chloe again on the track the first thing (i kid you not) Matt thinks about is how her breasts look when she’s breathing. i tried to overlook this because yeah maybe Chloe IS really that pretty and attractive, but it got worse from there. Matt and Chloe struggle to communicate and find common ground about their feelings, with Chloe many times that maybe she does still have a crush on him, but she needs to focus on this job she has and not him (especially when around the team)- or she’ll be fired because she’s a woman. constantly, and i mean CONSTANTLY Matt pushes her boundaries on this following her to her hotel room, flirting and being touchy with her when they’re around their teammmates, and pulling up past memories to taunt her with. he also keeps initiating doing spicy things to her when they’re lowkey in public.
- exhibit a: in an alleyway out of sight, yet still pressed up against an open shop’s window
- exhibit b: on a beach behind an F1 driver’s house, when he can definitely see them (also he’s covered in sand and so are his fingers you cant tell me that works)
- exhibit c: in the garage after an improvement of a race with their team on the other side of the door
Chloe doesn’t exactly say no, but she doesn’t exactly say yes all the time and there’s enough ambiguity to just make me uncomfortable while I was reading it unfortunately. especially as Matt was really just pushing her boundaries outside of those situations too.
i think Chloe herself had a powerful motivator for staying focused and being in the F1 job she is, and I enjoyed seeing a woman in a male-dominated role. but i wish she had more character growth of learning to stick up for herself, instead of it being squished into the last 50 pages of the book. Matt himself is definitely going through some trauma, but he’s kind of mean outside of the pushing boundaries and i wish we had seen more of his growth dealing with the trauma & his therapist to fully flesh out his character.
this book has two stars though because even though the romance was really not what i was looking for, learning about F1 and seeing the racing was very fun. i definitely want to check out more of this, i think that there will just be better books that involve this area of sports. this book fell a little flat in the beginning too of showing how the racing works, but picked up at the end. and i found that to be very fun!
overall this wasn’t the book for me, but i ended up feeling not really infuriated by it just really meh. there’s some intriguing things but i think a lot needed to be worked on more, like developing the romance in a different way. but im not going to write off Lizzy Dent, I might try her other books sometime
↬ trigger warnings: car crash and serious injury, burn scars and a burning injury, sexual scenes
June 17, 2025
4/24: ⋆⁺₊⋆Got the ARC and omg I’m so so excited! I love ALL the vroom vroom in my books 😍 ⋆⁺₊⋆
4/27: Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for this ARC!
⋆⁺₊⋆ 3 Noah for prez stars ⋆⁺₊⋆
This review is one big spoiler, so if you’re not into that- please keep your hands and arms inside the vehicle and disembark at the next stop. This book has no amusement rides or trams; I don’t know why my brain decided THAT was appropriate for the occasion.
Well, this went in a different direction than I thought it would. Drive Me Crazy has the potential to be something special. The writing was clean (quite spotless), the dialogue was a pleasure to read (thank god), and the idea is so very fun (F is for frien…nope wrong time for that too). Going into this I expected different things. I didn’t expect the writing quality to be so high, but I also didn’t expect some of the finer details to throw me off so much.
Our two MC’s Matt and Chloe were childhood friends. I am an absolute sucker for that trope. Add in the fact that there were unrequited feelings…mwah, chefs kiss! Chloe is a pioneer and we love trailblazing women. Matt is a former hot shot that needs…well, one more shot. They were solid characters who felt real and not overwritten. All that being said, I had a few issues with the finer character behaviors.
Matt really needed to learn boundaries and when not to push. This was Chloe’s moment! Women don’t do this everyday…or ever honestly, and all he could do was keep pushing her for more. A weird character trait for him to have (this was corrected at the end, but too little too late). Chloe needs to learn that saying yes and no, in the same sentence, is confusing for everyone. It’s especially confusing for the reader. I have no idea why she kept saying no…since she really did mean yes. Push and pull games wear me down, and I was WORE down. I appreciate the imposter syndrome representation, it’s something that runs rampant among us. However, it was maybe too much of a plot point, and it honestly led nowhere. I don’t have patience for a woman letting her own self doubts sabotage her life/career (women have too many external battles being waged against them already). You can think you don’t belong somewhere, but girly, you need to ACT like you were the one who sent out invitations.
Up until about 70% I thought this was quite good. We were hovering around the 4 star mark. Characters were assembling like a ragtag group of rinky-dink avengers (to be clear, I mean that in the best way possible), love was on the horizon, races were racing, and cars were being souped up and made to go vroom-vroom. Overall, lots of exciting things were happening! Then. THEN, the ‘fuck-up that even a banana peel couldn’t make worse’ happens. The complete lack of accountability from Chloe, for several chapters, just took me out of this. She was incredibly unprofessional, and the audacity she had to try and deflect blame made my mouth drop and my shoulders slump. I love when my MC’s act like adults, and I thought she lost a lot of credibility. But ma’am, I ask you “where’s the grovel? Where was the grand gesture?”Matt was far too forgiving, and it made my heart hurt that he moved past it so quickly. No, really, it was zoomed past faster than he drove in any race.
Chloe essentially being pimped out, by her boss, in a tiny silver dress gave me the sweats. I understand the importance of her looking nice, but I would have liked her objectified less. A lot less. She could have worn another beautiful dress that was described as not being TINY. She could have worn a killer pants suit. She could have worn literally anything else. Just for the love of god- get this girl a blazer. She’s the boss of her team, let her dress appropriately for a work event ffs.
I’m a sex-scene-fiend, so this pains me, but I had a real problem with the smut. While the scenes were well done and not cringey at all, I felt they acted as a substitute for emotional intimacy. I didn’t want them to kiss, I wanted them to talk. The post hotel bar hookup made my head spin. In what world should that not have been an immediate conversation? Not mine, but I could be the odd one here.
I feel overly critical and a quite a bit judgey with this review, but Drive Me Crazy could be, should be, really special. If some of the issues were tweaked, this would be 5 stars. The writing is good. Genuinely incredible, and that is a shockingly rare find. Dialogue flows, flawless transitions, great scene descriptions. Mario Kart references were on point. Bananas are iconic, but personally, the shells are my jam. I’ll be seeing more of you in other books, Lizzy Dent. You got me with your writing style, and now you’re not getting away from me. That felt very ominous…but I mean it less stalkerish and more fan-girlish.
4/27: Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for this ARC!
⋆⁺₊⋆ 3 Noah for prez stars ⋆⁺₊⋆
This review is one big spoiler, so if you’re not into that- please keep your hands and arms inside the vehicle and disembark at the next stop. This book has no amusement rides or trams; I don’t know why my brain decided THAT was appropriate for the occasion.
Well, this went in a different direction than I thought it would. Drive Me Crazy has the potential to be something special. The writing was clean (quite spotless), the dialogue was a pleasure to read (thank god), and the idea is so very fun (F is for frien…nope wrong time for that too). Going into this I expected different things. I didn’t expect the writing quality to be so high, but I also didn’t expect some of the finer details to throw me off so much.
Our two MC’s Matt and Chloe were childhood friends. I am an absolute sucker for that trope. Add in the fact that there were unrequited feelings…mwah, chefs kiss! Chloe is a pioneer and we love trailblazing women. Matt is a former hot shot that needs…well, one more shot. They were solid characters who felt real and not overwritten. All that being said, I had a few issues with the finer character behaviors.
Matt really needed to learn boundaries and when not to push. This was Chloe’s moment! Women don’t do this everyday…or ever honestly, and all he could do was keep pushing her for more. A weird character trait for him to have (this was corrected at the end, but too little too late). Chloe needs to learn that saying yes and no, in the same sentence, is confusing for everyone. It’s especially confusing for the reader. I have no idea why she kept saying no…since she really did mean yes. Push and pull games wear me down, and I was WORE down. I appreciate the imposter syndrome representation, it’s something that runs rampant among us. However, it was maybe too much of a plot point, and it honestly led nowhere. I don’t have patience for a woman letting her own self doubts sabotage her life/career (women have too many external battles being waged against them already). You can think you don’t belong somewhere, but girly, you need to ACT like you were the one who sent out invitations.
Up until about 70% I thought this was quite good. We were hovering around the 4 star mark. Characters were assembling like a ragtag group of rinky-dink avengers (to be clear, I mean that in the best way possible), love was on the horizon, races were racing, and cars were being souped up and made to go vroom-vroom. Overall, lots of exciting things were happening! Then. THEN, the ‘fuck-up that even a banana peel couldn’t make worse’ happens. The complete lack of accountability from Chloe, for several chapters, just took me out of this. She was incredibly unprofessional, and the audacity she had to try and deflect blame made my mouth drop and my shoulders slump. I love when my MC’s act like adults, and I thought she lost a lot of credibility. But ma’am, I ask you “where’s the grovel? Where was the grand gesture?”Matt was far too forgiving, and it made my heart hurt that he moved past it so quickly. No, really, it was zoomed past faster than he drove in any race.
Chloe essentially being pimped out, by her boss, in a tiny silver dress gave me the sweats. I understand the importance of her looking nice, but I would have liked her objectified less. A lot less. She could have worn another beautiful dress that was described as not being TINY. She could have worn a killer pants suit. She could have worn literally anything else. Just for the love of god- get this girl a blazer. She’s the boss of her team, let her dress appropriately for a work event ffs.
I’m a sex-scene-fiend, so this pains me, but I had a real problem with the smut. While the scenes were well done and not cringey at all, I felt they acted as a substitute for emotional intimacy. I didn’t want them to kiss, I wanted them to talk. The post hotel bar hookup made my head spin. In what world should that not have been an immediate conversation? Not mine, but I could be the odd one here.
I feel overly critical and a quite a bit judgey with this review, but Drive Me Crazy could be, should be, really special. If some of the issues were tweaked, this would be 5 stars. The writing is good. Genuinely incredible, and that is a shockingly rare find. Dialogue flows, flawless transitions, great scene descriptions. Mario Kart references were on point. Bananas are iconic, but personally, the shells are my jam. I’ll be seeing more of you in other books, Lizzy Dent. You got me with your writing style, and now you’re not getting away from me. That felt very ominous…but I mean it less stalkerish and more fan-girlish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2025
Drive Me Crazy is a feel-good Formula 1 romance that hits the gas from the very first chapter. It’s got sparks, ambition, and just the right dose of tension… both on and off the track. 🤭
Chloe Coleman is one of the first female team principals in Formula 1, and watching her fight for respect in a world dominated by men was one of my favorite parts of this book. She’s fierce, smart, and determined to prove herself. 👏🏼 Enter Matt Warner, the once-golden driver who’s lost his edge and, inconveniently, also happens to be Chloe’s old crush. 🫣
Their dynamic is a mix of professional tension and undeniable chemistry. What I loved most is that, once they’re forced to work together, their relationship doesn’t fall into endless miscommunication traps. They actually talk things through. (refreshing right?) There’s plenty happening around them (racing politics, pressure, high stakes), but it never feels like too much.
It’s a fast, easy read with heart, heat, and a heroine worth cheering for. 🤍💚 The story balances the thrill of competition with a slow, simmering romance that feels earned rather than rushed. If you love sports romances or just need something engaging and a little different (a book that feels like a breath of fresh air between heavier reads) this one’s a perfect pick.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”And now we have this chance to ... explore this. No one is in the way. There are no obligations, just what we want. And I know without a shadow of a doubt I want you. I want to make you happy, Bug. Just how you make me feel."
⸻
"You're going to drive me crazy, Matt Warner."
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🏎️ workplace romance
🏎️ second chance/childhood crush
🏎️ emotional healing
🏎️ strong ambitious heroine
🏎️ dual POV
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Putnam, and Lizzy Dent for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
Chloe Coleman is one of the first female team principals in Formula 1, and watching her fight for respect in a world dominated by men was one of my favorite parts of this book. She’s fierce, smart, and determined to prove herself. 👏🏼 Enter Matt Warner, the once-golden driver who’s lost his edge and, inconveniently, also happens to be Chloe’s old crush. 🫣
Their dynamic is a mix of professional tension and undeniable chemistry. What I loved most is that, once they’re forced to work together, their relationship doesn’t fall into endless miscommunication traps. They actually talk things through. (refreshing right?) There’s plenty happening around them (racing politics, pressure, high stakes), but it never feels like too much.
It’s a fast, easy read with heart, heat, and a heroine worth cheering for. 🤍💚 The story balances the thrill of competition with a slow, simmering romance that feels earned rather than rushed. If you love sports romances or just need something engaging and a little different (a book that feels like a breath of fresh air between heavier reads) this one’s a perfect pick.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”And now we have this chance to ... explore this. No one is in the way. There are no obligations, just what we want. And I know without a shadow of a doubt I want you. I want to make you happy, Bug. Just how you make me feel."
⸻
"You're going to drive me crazy, Matt Warner."
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🏎️ workplace romance
🏎️ second chance/childhood crush
🏎️ emotional healing
🏎️ strong ambitious heroine
🏎️ dual POV
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Putnam, and Lizzy Dent for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
December 22, 2025
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.
this was cute & a fun, fast paced f1 romance that was decently accurate in terms of the sport itself.
i greatly enjoyed the racing aspect of this book & the fact that chloe was the team principal. i was rooting for her & her career HARD!!
i found that the romance fell a bit flat for me. some of the dialogue had me cringing & just felt fake. i also think there could have been more tension built up between matt & chloe, or some more scenes about their relationship growing up.
also - the number of hr violations…. too many!!
i think my favorite part of this book has to be the side characters. i know in my heart that i would LOVEEE a book about stavros & his journey. i also really liked keyla & would love to see more about her!! barry’s dogs were adorable & i love them so much.
overall, i had fun with this & know many people will love it!!
this was cute & a fun, fast paced f1 romance that was decently accurate in terms of the sport itself.
i greatly enjoyed the racing aspect of this book & the fact that chloe was the team principal. i was rooting for her & her career HARD!!
i found that the romance fell a bit flat for me. some of the dialogue had me cringing & just felt fake. i also think there could have been more tension built up between matt & chloe, or some more scenes about their relationship growing up.
also - the number of hr violations…. too many!!
i think my favorite part of this book has to be the side characters. i know in my heart that i would LOVEEE a book about stavros & his journey. i also really liked keyla & would love to see more about her!! barry’s dogs were adorable & i love them so much.
overall, i had fun with this & know many people will love it!!
July 29, 2025
This was a really fun read! I felt like the book flew by and I love childhood friends to lovers. I love the thrill of F1 and forbidden romance, it hit both those perfectly. I loved have a strong FMC in a position of power over the MMC and how they supported each other in a sticky situation. Matt falling pathetically in love with her and being confused by it was funny. Once he accepted it he was DOWN BAD. Overall I had a fun time and I’d read another Lizzie Dent book!
Want to read
April 20, 2025i’m a slut for formula 1 romance! duh, of course i’m reading this! and childhood crush!? quit playing with me and hand it over miss lizzy dent
April 22, 2025
I eagerly (if not always with a totally open mind, admittedly) read every F1 romance I can get my grubby little hands on and can therefore say with confidence that Lizzy Dent is the first person to really get the racing right. No notes.
But.
Famous people participating in sex acts in public places is a big peeve of mine, especially when the people involved are in a "secret" relationship. So, that's my explanation for the missing star.
But.
Famous people participating in sex acts in public places is a big peeve of mine, especially when the people involved are in a "secret" relationship. So, that's my explanation for the missing star.
January 23, 2026
This one didn’t hit for me. I was interested at first, but it quickly fell apart. Chloe becoming a team principal for an F1 team, the same team that hires Matt, her childhood friend and crush, sounds intriguing, but the execution doesn’t work. She comes across more like an intern than a team principal, no one seems to take her seriously, and then there’s Matt… 🌚
The shift in their relationship happens far too quickly. Because we’re given so little backstory, it’s hard to feel invested in their connection. I also don’t like that the book focuses far more on romance, and the romance isn’t even convincing 😭
The shift in their relationship happens far too quickly. Because we’re given so little backstory, it’s hard to feel invested in their connection. I also don’t like that the book focuses far more on romance, and the romance isn’t even convincing 😭
May 1, 2025
Ladies and Gentlemen, please start your engines.
I literally ZOOMED through this last night. I'd blame insomnia, but it was really more about enjoying the characters and the vibe of this book.
I loved the childhood crush trope, and while I actually know NOTHING about F1 racing, it felt legit.
Chloe is one determined little lady. As one of the first female team principles in Formula 1, she is set to make a name for herself and decides nothing will get in way.
That is until Matt Warner walks in. He's the hottest new driver and Chloe's childhood crush. Chloe's heart races just about as fast as these cars when Matt is near, and some spice (albeit some unbelievable public sex scene) ensues.
I loved this book, and it kept me smiling all the way to end, which happen to fall around 2:30am..oops.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a chance to read this prior to it's roll out next January.
I literally ZOOMED through this last night. I'd blame insomnia, but it was really more about enjoying the characters and the vibe of this book.
I loved the childhood crush trope, and while I actually know NOTHING about F1 racing, it felt legit.
Chloe is one determined little lady. As one of the first female team principles in Formula 1, she is set to make a name for herself and decides nothing will get in way.
That is until Matt Warner walks in. He's the hottest new driver and Chloe's childhood crush. Chloe's heart races just about as fast as these cars when Matt is near, and some spice (albeit some unbelievable public sex scene) ensues.
I loved this book, and it kept me smiling all the way to end, which happen to fall around 2:30am..oops.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a chance to read this prior to it's roll out next January.
May 31, 2025
3/5 stars for this childhood friends to lovers Formula 1 romance!
I’ve been wanting to read more sports romance. I’m not very familiar with F1, never watched a race on TV, so some of the things going on I was little confused about but you can definitely tell that Lizzy Dent knows her stuff when it comes to the sport. When Matt was on the track racing, I could feel his excitement and adrenaline through the pages, along with his frustrations. I really loved Chloe, she’s a strong FMC who learns to stand up for herself in a male dominated sport. Matt and Chloe’s romance was cute with a little bit of spice, only complaint was I thought the spicy scenes felt a little rushed. Overall though, I would recommend this one!
Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book is expected to be published on January 6, 2026.
I’ve been wanting to read more sports romance. I’m not very familiar with F1, never watched a race on TV, so some of the things going on I was little confused about but you can definitely tell that Lizzy Dent knows her stuff when it comes to the sport. When Matt was on the track racing, I could feel his excitement and adrenaline through the pages, along with his frustrations. I really loved Chloe, she’s a strong FMC who learns to stand up for herself in a male dominated sport. Matt and Chloe’s romance was cute with a little bit of spice, only complaint was I thought the spicy scenes felt a little rushed. Overall though, I would recommend this one!
Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book is expected to be published on January 6, 2026.
January 7, 2026
i CANNOT believe i got accepted for this ARC
i'm gonna throw up
🏎️childhood crush
🏎️ second chance romance
🏎️boss x employee (she’s the boss !!)
🏎️forbidden romance
🏎️forced proximity
🏎️MMC with a max verstappen attitude with the looks of carlos sainz + george russel 🤭
Chloe is starting her first day at her new job, team principle for an f1 team, Arden. Frankly, she knows her hire was a publicity stunt but she’s willing to make everything she can work in her favor with the time quickly ticking down. Chloe is better driver than half the grid, but didn’t get her seat due to being a woman. She’s in the middle of her first press announcement about her hiring at Arden, and then she sees him. Matt Warner, her childhood crush that has risen to complete stardom, and now fallen from it. Between his attitude, lack of reliability, and most recent reputation she could not care less to see him. And then it happens, just as she's been announced as the team principal for Arden Racing, all lights and attention go to him. Matt Warner, Arden Racing seat 1.
But as fate will have it, they both find each other again on the grid after growing up racing each other in the same town in England.
Matt is having his Max Verstappen moment when it all comes to a crashing halt. His best friend is in a coma, he can’t race, and he loses his team right before his qualifying race. Luckily he’s picked up by another team, until he’s realizes it’s Arden. The worst of the worst on the grid, losing sponsors left and right and in risk of going under. But just as he's put on the spot about joining his new team, he finds out his childhood crush is also his new team principal.
There's a few things they need to do now:
☆Place podium
☆Get Sponsors
☆Don't let anyone find out about their relationship
Can they do it before they lose their only chance at F1?
This books is such a fun F1 romance. Lizzy Dent has definitely gained another fan. 5/5
i'm gonna throw up
🏎️childhood crush
🏎️ second chance romance
🏎️boss x employee (she’s the boss !!)
🏎️forbidden romance
🏎️forced proximity
🏎️MMC with a max verstappen attitude with the looks of carlos sainz + george russel 🤭
Chloe is starting her first day at her new job, team principle for an f1 team, Arden. Frankly, she knows her hire was a publicity stunt but she’s willing to make everything she can work in her favor with the time quickly ticking down. Chloe is better driver than half the grid, but didn’t get her seat due to being a woman. She’s in the middle of her first press announcement about her hiring at Arden, and then she sees him. Matt Warner, her childhood crush that has risen to complete stardom, and now fallen from it. Between his attitude, lack of reliability, and most recent reputation she could not care less to see him. And then it happens, just as she's been announced as the team principal for Arden Racing, all lights and attention go to him. Matt Warner, Arden Racing seat 1.
But as fate will have it, they both find each other again on the grid after growing up racing each other in the same town in England.
Matt is having his Max Verstappen moment when it all comes to a crashing halt. His best friend is in a coma, he can’t race, and he loses his team right before his qualifying race. Luckily he’s picked up by another team, until he’s realizes it’s Arden. The worst of the worst on the grid, losing sponsors left and right and in risk of going under. But just as he's put on the spot about joining his new team, he finds out his childhood crush is also his new team principal.
There's a few things they need to do now:
☆Place podium
☆Get Sponsors
☆Don't let anyone find out about their relationship
Can they do it before they lose their only chance at F1?
This books is such a fun F1 romance. Lizzy Dent has definitely gained another fan. 5/5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ☆ | My first read of 2026 ֶָ֢ᐟ I will say that I know absolutely nothing about F1 or racing, but this read pretty well, though I have no idea how realistic or close to the actual thing it is.
🏎️ : 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
▸ One of my favorite parts of this book was seeing Chloe at the team principal, which is a predominantly male job/field. And in this case, she's one of the first for women.
▸ The book was cute, and the romance was nice (except maybe the romance was a little too soon?), though I didn't really feel too connected to Matt and Chloe. I 𝘥𝘪𝘥 like that they actually communicated with each other and talked things through..and I can't quite place what I didn't particularly love about them, I just know that I didn't so much.
▸ I really enjoyed reading about Matt's racing, especially when it was in his pov, so I do wish there was more of that.
▸ Some things I didn't much care for was that Matt seemed a 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 pushy at times.
Also the fact that Chloe was given such a short dress (chapter 25), like she did like the way she looked, and it was described beautifully, but I feel like it wasn't entirely professional, and that maybe people wouldn't take her seriously in that. In chapter 26, in Matt's pov, there's a point that says, "When I saw Chloe in that disgracefully short dress, everyone fawning over her," might just be me but I feel like a woman of her position should be wearing something more professional? Though she also wasn't the one to pick the dress so..
And the spice was a bit...like it wasn't bad or anything, was quite good. But maybe if there was more emotional stuff than physical? 𝘈𝘭𝘴𝘰 the scene where they did it outside on the grass..like you're trying to keep your relationship a secret but do that out in the open where literally anyone could see at any time?? Like idk, shouldn't you be worried, or looking over your shoulders constantly or something?
▸ I think the ending was a bit rushed but the epilogue was adorable!
🏁 : 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍
This was a nice, quick read. The writing and flow of it all is beautiful. I'm not a huge racing fan, but I feel like any fan of it (or sports romances in general) would really enjoy this one.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for allowing to have an advanced e-copy of this book!
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
"𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺, 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘵 𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳."
🏎️ : 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
▸ One of my favorite parts of this book was seeing Chloe at the team principal, which is a predominantly male job/field. And in this case, she's one of the first for women.
▸ The book was cute, and the romance was nice (except maybe the romance was a little too soon?), though I didn't really feel too connected to Matt and Chloe. I 𝘥𝘪𝘥 like that they actually communicated with each other and talked things through..and I can't quite place what I didn't particularly love about them, I just know that I didn't so much.
▸ I really enjoyed reading about Matt's racing, especially when it was in his pov, so I do wish there was more of that.
▸ Some things I didn't much care for was that Matt seemed a 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 pushy at times.
Also the fact that Chloe was given such a short dress (chapter 25), like she did like the way she looked, and it was described beautifully, but I feel like it wasn't entirely professional, and that maybe people wouldn't take her seriously in that. In chapter 26, in Matt's pov, there's a point that says, "When I saw Chloe in that disgracefully short dress, everyone fawning over her," might just be me but I feel like a woman of her position should be wearing something more professional? Though she also wasn't the one to pick the dress so..
And the spice was a bit...like it wasn't bad or anything, was quite good. But maybe if there was more emotional stuff than physical? 𝘈𝘭𝘴𝘰 the scene where they did it outside on the grass..like you're trying to keep your relationship a secret but do that out in the open where literally anyone could see at any time?? Like idk, shouldn't you be worried, or looking over your shoulders constantly or something?
▸ I think the ending was a bit rushed but the epilogue was adorable!
🏁 : 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍
This was a nice, quick read. The writing and flow of it all is beautiful. I'm not a huge racing fan, but I feel like any fan of it (or sports romances in general) would really enjoy this one.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for allowing to have an advanced e-copy of this book!
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
"𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺, 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘵 𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳."
December 22, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!
As a baby F1 fan, I was looking forward to jumping into this book! I know enough about the races, team dynamics and process of F1 and didn’t feel lost or confused through so that was good. But overall, I was left wanting more.
The relationship that developed felt forced and completely unrealistic. I understand that it’s likely romance won’t develop in real life F1 world, but the relationship and tension between Matt and Chloe was too cringy to be believable.
I liked the side story of Matt’s journey as a driver, I would have liked the focus to be on that!
And I’m personally in a place in my reading life where I really don’t like spice in books so that put me off as well. It was all together too much!
I can see people enjoying this book enough so if you’re looking for an F1 romance, give it a try!
As a baby F1 fan, I was looking forward to jumping into this book! I know enough about the races, team dynamics and process of F1 and didn’t feel lost or confused through so that was good. But overall, I was left wanting more.
The relationship that developed felt forced and completely unrealistic. I understand that it’s likely romance won’t develop in real life F1 world, but the relationship and tension between Matt and Chloe was too cringy to be believable.
I liked the side story of Matt’s journey as a driver, I would have liked the focus to be on that!
And I’m personally in a place in my reading life where I really don’t like spice in books so that put me off as well. It was all together too much!
I can see people enjoying this book enough so if you’re looking for an F1 romance, give it a try!
September 4, 2025
3.5/5 ⭐️
First I want to thank NetGalley, Lizzy Dent, and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to review this book before its release.
In theory there is nothing wrong with this book but it feels like every other romcom out there. While racing was talked about a lot I don’t feel like it was throughly dived into. Side characters weren’t really used to their full extent. The FMC’s best friend is only in a few scenes and honestly could have just been taken completely out of the book and it wouldn’t have changed anything, which is upsetting because I think she had way more to offer the story.
If you’re looking for an easy read, low angst, F1 racing, and easy romance then give this book a go.
First I want to thank NetGalley, Lizzy Dent, and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to review this book before its release.
In theory there is nothing wrong with this book but it feels like every other romcom out there. While racing was talked about a lot I don’t feel like it was throughly dived into. Side characters weren’t really used to their full extent. The FMC’s best friend is only in a few scenes and honestly could have just been taken completely out of the book and it wouldn’t have changed anything, which is upsetting because I think she had way more to offer the story.
If you’re looking for an easy read, low angst, F1 racing, and easy romance then give this book a go.
December 21, 2025
If you’ve read Simone Soltani’s Lights Out Series you’re going to love Lizzy Dent’s Formula One novel Drive Me Crazy. This truly is the type of sports romance from the Formula One niche genre that I adore. Lizzy delivers a fast paced, heart racing, and memorable read. I admit I wasn’t familiar with Lizzy’s previous works but I truly hope this book is the start of a series because the potential is baked right into the plot and its characters.
I often wondered when we would get a Formula One novel with a female team principal and Lizzy brought Chloe to life. We all love Claire Williams and the space she held in the F1 world for such a long time has left a legacy. While the sport is dominated by men, opportunities are opening up and Lizzy takes advantage of that spark with Chloe. She’s passionate about the sport, shy, guarded, and truly a leader. In contrast, the race car driver Matt for Team Arden is going through PTSD from a harrowing incident that occurred on the race course. They’re paired together on Team Arden and the chemistry flickers and then roars. Yes the comparisons are going to be made to ‘Ride With Me’ by Simone Soltani, but these two books stand alone and honestly have different takes and perspectives on the sport.
One thing I’d like to mention? I didn’t really enjoy the world building in this. There were ample opportunities to create fictional teams and characters and it needed to be stronger. The heavy reliance on the reader knowing the sport of Formula One is strong.
Overall I adored my time reading this book and I’m happy to give this book 4 stars! This book is out in January 2026 but honestly, get your pre-orders in NOW!
Thank you so much Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the digital arc!
I often wondered when we would get a Formula One novel with a female team principal and Lizzy brought Chloe to life. We all love Claire Williams and the space she held in the F1 world for such a long time has left a legacy. While the sport is dominated by men, opportunities are opening up and Lizzy takes advantage of that spark with Chloe. She’s passionate about the sport, shy, guarded, and truly a leader. In contrast, the race car driver Matt for Team Arden is going through PTSD from a harrowing incident that occurred on the race course. They’re paired together on Team Arden and the chemistry flickers and then roars. Yes the comparisons are going to be made to ‘Ride With Me’ by Simone Soltani, but these two books stand alone and honestly have different takes and perspectives on the sport.
One thing I’d like to mention? I didn’t really enjoy the world building in this. There were ample opportunities to create fictional teams and characters and it needed to be stronger. The heavy reliance on the reader knowing the sport of Formula One is strong.
Overall I adored my time reading this book and I’m happy to give this book 4 stars! This book is out in January 2026 but honestly, get your pre-orders in NOW!
Thank you so much Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the digital arc!
July 1, 2025
3.75⭐️! As someone who’s still new to the F1 world, this was such an engaging story! The plot follows Chloe and Matt, who both grew up as childhood friends, drifted apart, and are now forced to work together. I personally found this to be a really cute and fun read and it did a great job of explaining the F1 world and races. Not only that, but I love a story that uplifts women in this sport.
The romance was well-paced for the most part, although I would’ve loved to see more of a build up to it. I still loved the chemistry and tension both Chloe and Matt had, given their past history.
I also really enjoyed how we got to see Matt start at the bottom and learn how to build his way back up, facing his problems head on. I found myself very engaged during some of the racing sequences, really wanting him to succeed. Overall, I would recommend this to all the F1 girlies out there! Thanks to Putnam Books and NetGalley for this ARC!
The romance was well-paced for the most part, although I would’ve loved to see more of a build up to it. I still loved the chemistry and tension both Chloe and Matt had, given their past history.
I also really enjoyed how we got to see Matt start at the bottom and learn how to build his way back up, facing his problems head on. I found myself very engaged during some of the racing sequences, really wanting him to succeed. Overall, I would recommend this to all the F1 girlies out there! Thanks to Putnam Books and NetGalley for this ARC!
Want to read
April 29, 2025Childhood crush f1 driver. Need i say more.
April 25, 2025
ARC provided by NetGalley
So this is childhood crush and F1 romance? SIGN ME UP! I read this so quickly, it was addictive.
I was expecting a slow burn (which it isn’t) but there’s lots of yearning and complications that make this forbidden love so hard to put down.
I’ve never been a fan of workplace type romances but this was the exception! There was no third act breakup or miscommunication between the main characters. Both Chloe and Matt had great character development and emotional motivation. The romance and banter were so cute plus the spice level was perfect!
P.S. My only gripe (coming from a McLaren fan) was the mentions of the Red Bull car being awesome. Kidding… kind of. Sorry Lizzy Dent I know you worked for Red Bull so that’s fair, but that car needs work
So this is childhood crush and F1 romance? SIGN ME UP! I read this so quickly, it was addictive.
I was expecting a slow burn (which it isn’t) but there’s lots of yearning and complications that make this forbidden love so hard to put down.
I’ve never been a fan of workplace type romances but this was the exception! There was no third act breakup or miscommunication between the main characters. Both Chloe and Matt had great character development and emotional motivation. The romance and banter were so cute plus the spice level was perfect!
P.S. My only gripe (coming from a McLaren fan) was the mentions of the Red Bull car being awesome. Kidding… kind of. Sorry Lizzy Dent I know you worked for Red Bull so that’s fair, but that car needs work
May 4, 2025
Rating ⭐️: 3.75/5
Spice 🌶️: 2/5
Expected Release Date: January 6 2026
F1 Romance ✅
Childhood Crush ✅
Forbidden Love ✅
Strong FMC ✅
Things to note: Not a fan of a team principle and a driver romance BUT since it’s a childhood crush and they knew each other for years prior, I let it pass and I am so glad I did because this book had me HOOKED.
This was the most accurate F1 Romance book I’ve read when it comes to explaining F1. Prior to this, I have never read anything by Lizzy Dent, but her writing style completely drew me in. I flew through the pages and felt like I truly got to know the characters through her story telling. I will be definitely picking up more of her books.
The only reason this book wasn’t a 4/5 or higher for me is that some parts felt rushed. I really wanted to see a few more deeper conversation between some of the characters since I left this world with some questions unanswered.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It was a fun read especially in between watching the Miami Grand Prix weekend 🏁
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
Spice 🌶️: 2/5
Expected Release Date: January 6 2026
F1 Romance ✅
Childhood Crush ✅
Forbidden Love ✅
Strong FMC ✅
Things to note: Not a fan of a team principle and a driver romance BUT since it’s a childhood crush and they knew each other for years prior, I let it pass and I am so glad I did because this book had me HOOKED.
This was the most accurate F1 Romance book I’ve read when it comes to explaining F1. Prior to this, I have never read anything by Lizzy Dent, but her writing style completely drew me in. I flew through the pages and felt like I truly got to know the characters through her story telling. I will be definitely picking up more of her books.
The only reason this book wasn’t a 4/5 or higher for me is that some parts felt rushed. I really wanted to see a few more deeper conversation between some of the characters since I left this world with some questions unanswered.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It was a fun read especially in between watching the Miami Grand Prix weekend 🏁
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
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