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Frontrunners #3
All to Play For
Not yet published
Expected 7 Apr 26Sage Sikora, the new driver for the Emerald F1 team, is bold and daring, on and off the track. This season, as the only female driver on the grid she has a single-minded to be the first woman to win a Grand Prix. But there's one thorn in her side, the unfairly gorgeous and spoiled journalist and popular blogger Alexander Laskaris-who seems to have it out for Sage.
When one of his blog posts goes too far, Alexander finds himself working for Emerald as penance and his new boss is none other than Sage herself. Despite their battle of wills, the pair end up as allies when trouble arrives and Alexander begins to fall for F1's Queen of Chaos. Sage soon realises there's more to spoiled playboy Alexander than meets the eye. But with the critical eyes of the racing world upon them, she has too much to prove and even more to lose. Can her feelings take a backseat or will Emerald's first female driver fail to reach the podium?
When one of his blog posts goes too far, Alexander finds himself working for Emerald as penance and his new boss is none other than Sage herself. Despite their battle of wills, the pair end up as allies when trouble arrives and Alexander begins to fall for F1's Queen of Chaos. Sage soon realises there's more to spoiled playboy Alexander than meets the eye. But with the critical eyes of the racing world upon them, she has too much to prove and even more to lose. Can her feelings take a backseat or will Emerald's first female driver fail to reach the podium?
Audible Audio
Expected publication April 7, 2026
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107 people want to read
About the author
Josie Juniper
12 books116 followersJosie Juniper writes high-steam romance featuring hot, angsty men who are dirty talkers with hearts of gold, and smart, snarky women with hilarious foul mouths. She works in mathematics and has been a staff writer and/or editor for four publications, winning awards for her sharp, funny, iconoclastic writing. She lives in Portland, OR and loves rain, swearing, lost causes, tattoos, F1 racing, and prime numbers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing me with an ALC of this book in return for a voluntary and honest review!
This book was pretty fun to read and super easy flowing which i really appreciated!
I do feel like at points there was just kind of smut scene after smut scene and while I can see why it was done in the context of the FMC and MMCs connection at the time, it just kind of got a little bit boring/too often for my personal taste.
We also get mentions of how the MMC has wanted the FMCs attention for years and I just wish we got a bit more grovelling and yearning on his part! I am a sucker for that though so I fear I'll always be longing for more yearning...
I enjoyed the narrators a lot, they both expressed the necessary emotions throughout the book and really helped make everything thaat little bit more believable! I would love to check out more of their work in the future
This book was pretty fun to read and super easy flowing which i really appreciated!
I do feel like at points there was just kind of smut scene after smut scene and while I can see why it was done in the context of the FMC and MMCs connection at the time, it just kind of got a little bit boring/too often for my personal taste.
We also get mentions of how the MMC has wanted the FMCs attention for years and I just wish we got a bit more grovelling and yearning on his part! I am a sucker for that though so I fear I'll always be longing for more yearning...
I enjoyed the narrators a lot, they both expressed the necessary emotions throughout the book and really helped make everything thaat little bit more believable! I would love to check out more of their work in the future
November 9, 2025
I’ll be honest: All to Play For was marginally better than the other books in this series, but that’s really not saying much. I went in excited, because who doesn’t want a kickass female F1 driver in fiction? But I came out genuinely annoyed. If the future of women in motorsport looked anything like Sage Sikora in this book, I’d start rooting for the grid to stay men only and I am a certified man hater. And I say that as someone who loves the idea of women in F1. Sage was chaotic, sure, but not in a charming way, but more like a what is she doing here kind of way.
Alexander was... something. “Spoiled” doesn’t even begin to cover it. If a man publicly trashed me online and then showed up to work for me as some kind of redemption exercise… absolutely not. No universe, no timeline, no multiverse would make that scenario believable. Sage entertaining him, and eventually falling for him, felt like the most baffling, self-sabotaging choice imaginable. His so called “redemption arc” was about as convincing as a three lap race. He wasn’t misunderstood; he was just cruel, entitled, and exhausting.
Honestly, both of them were immature, and their entire dynamic read like a Wattpad fanfic from 2012, and I do not mean that in a cute or nostalgic way. It felt juvenile, messy, and lacking any real emotional or character depth. The book had the bones for something exciting because it included feminism, motorsport, rivalry, and redemption, but instead delivered something flat, underdeveloped, and painfully predictable.
The only thing truly working here is the cover, which is gorgeous and full of potential the story never lived up to. As a diehard F1 fan, this was extra disappointing. You can’t slap an F1 label on a book, sprinkle in some pit lane jargon, and expect it to work if the characters feel like they’ve never watched a race, let alone lived in that world.
In short: great idea, wasted execution, and a frustrating read from start to finish.
Thank you to NetGalley, Josie Juniper, and Forever for the eARC of this book.
Alexander was... something. “Spoiled” doesn’t even begin to cover it. If a man publicly trashed me online and then showed up to work for me as some kind of redemption exercise… absolutely not. No universe, no timeline, no multiverse would make that scenario believable. Sage entertaining him, and eventually falling for him, felt like the most baffling, self-sabotaging choice imaginable. His so called “redemption arc” was about as convincing as a three lap race. He wasn’t misunderstood; he was just cruel, entitled, and exhausting.
Honestly, both of them were immature, and their entire dynamic read like a Wattpad fanfic from 2012, and I do not mean that in a cute or nostalgic way. It felt juvenile, messy, and lacking any real emotional or character depth. The book had the bones for something exciting because it included feminism, motorsport, rivalry, and redemption, but instead delivered something flat, underdeveloped, and painfully predictable.
The only thing truly working here is the cover, which is gorgeous and full of potential the story never lived up to. As a diehard F1 fan, this was extra disappointing. You can’t slap an F1 label on a book, sprinkle in some pit lane jargon, and expect it to work if the characters feel like they’ve never watched a race, let alone lived in that world.
In short: great idea, wasted execution, and a frustrating read from start to finish.
Thank you to NetGalley, Josie Juniper, and Forever for the eARC of this book.
March 26, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for this honest review! I loved this book. The narrators were amazing. The MMC is British and the banter between the two is just chefs kiss. I didn’t love the side plot with the FMC and her brother but everything else I really enjoyed and will be reading the first two books for sure.
March 1, 2026
I came for the romance and F1 racing and was left with a younger sister who blames her parents for her misgivings even though they spent THOUSANDS on her for race training. And who thinks her golden child older brother is given everything by her parents, when really it’s the opposite. Oh and he’s a drug addict and left her for literal dead?? The tension isn’t there. The FMC sleeps with someone else while pining over the MMC and then answers the hotel door butt naked and falls on the floor and he basically sees everything. Uh what? Also the MMC tries to get her attention by saying she slept her way to the top and that’s why she’s racing?? That is not the way to get a girls attention. I was left confused and annoyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2025
Yeah, ok. It was really difficult for me to get on board with this one, whereas I loved the first two books in the series. Both MCs are difficult to root for, or even like, with Sage not even apologizing when she blows things out of proportion (which she does for everything). Alexander was a little better, but he turned from playboy nepobaby to lovesick without getting any positive emotion from Sage. It just didn’t make sense. I know everyone loves a redemption story, but I’m not sure anyone in this story deserves it.
March 25, 2026
All To Play For is a cute F1 romance novel. It feels somewhat unique and different from the standard romance while still fitting solidly within the genre.
Alexander (MMC) accuses Sage (FMC) of sleeping her way into her F1 seat on his blog. Sage’s team threatens legal action, and a compromise is reached where Alexander works as Sage’s assistant in lieu of legal action.
I enjoyed this book. It is what I expect from the genre and was a fun read. I especially enjoyed how obsessed and devoted Alexander is. He does a great job of respecting Sage’s boundaries and, after the first few chapters, is delightfully respectful.
The F1 element of the story is fairly minimal. It serves more as a backdrop than a central focus. If you’re looking for a romance that deeply engages with F1 itself, this probably isn’t the book for you. It doesn’t even feel like a typical sports romance except for Alexander’s admiration of Sage’s body. I think this is overall good for the story and I enjoyed these choices, though they were a bit unexpected for a book with a F1 driver and a race car on the cover.
There are a few unique things in All To Play For. First, it feels like it’s told more from Alexander’s perspective than most romance novels. I really liked this. It felt fresh and gave us a front row seat for his adoration of Sage. I’d like to see more books adopt this approach. It’s one thing to be told you are adored but another to experience that admiration from inside your lover’s internal narrative. This was such a delicious way to consume the romance and relationship development from the female gaze. It felt a bit like cosmic retribution for every movie sex scene that was done by a male director for men to be able to enjoy watching a woman's naked body. It was great to be able to enjoy Alexander's naked brain full of so many feelings.
Second, the pacing is heavily biased towards the end of the book. About 45 minutes from the end, I was surprised by how much story still seemed unresolved. And yet, it all comes together smoothly and didn’t feel rushed at all. I don’t quite understand how it pulled that off, but it worked. I think part of it is how well the mutual interest is developed earlier, allowing things to resolve quickly in a way that still feels earned. I also wasn’t expecting Alexander to find his people and a sense of chosen/found family at the end. That was such a wholesome and genuinely lovely surprise.
Sage’s character is a delightful chaos gremlin. It can be frustrating to watch her make the same mistakes repeatedly and continually be mean to and push away the people who care about her and who she loves. While I didn’t always enjoy it in the moment because it was a bit too real, I think this portrayal of avoidant attachment’s manifestations was very well done and honestly spot on. I didn’t always love having a front row seat for Sage not wanting to hurt the people who love her but not being able to stop but I do love that the book didn’t shy away from this and didn’t water it down. It’s authentic and accurate and one of the best depictions of this I’ve read in a while. I deeply relate to the feeling of powerlessness of not wanting to hurt the people you love but having your brain with all its attachment issues make that impossible in the moment, even as you know what you're doing. The feeling of just not being able to stop is brutal and it was shown so well here.
I listened to the audiobook and it was well done. Both narrators did a great job bringing the story to life. I especially enjoyed Gary Furlong’s voice for Alexander.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Alexander (MMC) accuses Sage (FMC) of sleeping her way into her F1 seat on his blog. Sage’s team threatens legal action, and a compromise is reached where Alexander works as Sage’s assistant in lieu of legal action.
I enjoyed this book. It is what I expect from the genre and was a fun read. I especially enjoyed how obsessed and devoted Alexander is. He does a great job of respecting Sage’s boundaries and, after the first few chapters, is delightfully respectful.
The F1 element of the story is fairly minimal. It serves more as a backdrop than a central focus. If you’re looking for a romance that deeply engages with F1 itself, this probably isn’t the book for you. It doesn’t even feel like a typical sports romance except for Alexander’s admiration of Sage’s body. I think this is overall good for the story and I enjoyed these choices, though they were a bit unexpected for a book with a F1 driver and a race car on the cover.
There are a few unique things in All To Play For. First, it feels like it’s told more from Alexander’s perspective than most romance novels. I really liked this. It felt fresh and gave us a front row seat for his adoration of Sage. I’d like to see more books adopt this approach. It’s one thing to be told you are adored but another to experience that admiration from inside your lover’s internal narrative. This was such a delicious way to consume the romance and relationship development from the female gaze. It felt a bit like cosmic retribution for every movie sex scene that was done by a male director for men to be able to enjoy watching a woman's naked body. It was great to be able to enjoy Alexander's naked brain full of so many feelings.
Second, the pacing is heavily biased towards the end of the book. About 45 minutes from the end, I was surprised by how much story still seemed unresolved. And yet, it all comes together smoothly and didn’t feel rushed at all. I don’t quite understand how it pulled that off, but it worked. I think part of it is how well the mutual interest is developed earlier, allowing things to resolve quickly in a way that still feels earned. I also wasn’t expecting Alexander to find his people and a sense of chosen/found family at the end. That was such a wholesome and genuinely lovely surprise.
Sage’s character is a delightful chaos gremlin. It can be frustrating to watch her make the same mistakes repeatedly and continually be mean to and push away the people who care about her and who she loves. While I didn’t always enjoy it in the moment because it was a bit too real, I think this portrayal of avoidant attachment’s manifestations was very well done and honestly spot on. I didn’t always love having a front row seat for Sage not wanting to hurt the people who love her but not being able to stop but I do love that the book didn’t shy away from this and didn’t water it down. It’s authentic and accurate and one of the best depictions of this I’ve read in a while. I deeply relate to the feeling of powerlessness of not wanting to hurt the people you love but having your brain with all its attachment issues make that impossible in the moment, even as you know what you're doing. The feeling of just not being able to stop is brutal and it was shown so well here.
I listened to the audiobook and it was well done. Both narrators did a great job bringing the story to life. I especially enjoyed Gary Furlong’s voice for Alexander.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I have to admit, I started this series and was disappointed with the first book. But I loved the second book. So I really needed to see where Juniper would take this third story (especially given it is about a female F1 driver). And I was not disappointed. I absolutely loved how the story of Sage and Alex played out.
What I love about interrelated romance is that we meet the characters in other books. So when we come to their story, we are already rooting for them. And we're definitely interested in how the author will develop them and their story line. To say I was enamored with these two is an understatement. The prickly Sage with the golden retriever Alex was so much fun to watch.
Sage is the grumpy in this grumpy/sunshine relationship, for sure. She keeps her distance from so many: friends, family, teammates. She doesn't allow herself to get attached. She doesn't feel she has it in her to do so. She's full of baggage from her family, from her job, from who she is in general. But Alex breaks down her walls. He takes what she can give him and never asks her for more. He remains stoic and true to who he is. At the same time, his emotion and draw to Sage spills off the page. I actually preferred his character to Sage's, even if I did understand why she was the way she was.
I will admit there was not as much F1 in this story as I was expecting. I kind of wanted to see more of Sage driving and how her being a woman affected this. It is alluded to a bit but the author never really dives into that part. Given the overwhelming male presence in F1, I feel like it would have been important to really explore this aspect. We do get some of it from Sage's POV, but not as much as I would have liked. I did notice the author has some good background in F1 with her the verbage she used and how she did integrate the races. I just feel like this should have been much more at the forefront of the story given the FMC's position on the team.
The book does touch on addiction. Juniper does a decent job with this. Having grown up in this environment, I am often weary when authors introduce. I can see there is some research that has been done, though not as much as I would have liked.
If you're not a fan of third act break ups, skip this. There is some miscommunication, though it's forced from the MMC, to be honest. These two tropes are not my favorite but Juniper does them well enough to not bother me enough not to enjoy the rest of the plot.
If you're looking for an F1 romance that is light on the F1, this one is a good start. I would read the previous books so you understand some of the relationships that are presented. Overall, this one was fun. I loved Alex and just felt meh about Sage. The side characters were fun but not all that deep. Not my favorite romance book but it kept me interested enough to keep turning pages to see how it ended.
I have to admit, I started this series and was disappointed with the first book. But I loved the second book. So I really needed to see where Juniper would take this third story (especially given it is about a female F1 driver). And I was not disappointed. I absolutely loved how the story of Sage and Alex played out.
What I love about interrelated romance is that we meet the characters in other books. So when we come to their story, we are already rooting for them. And we're definitely interested in how the author will develop them and their story line. To say I was enamored with these two is an understatement. The prickly Sage with the golden retriever Alex was so much fun to watch.
Sage is the grumpy in this grumpy/sunshine relationship, for sure. She keeps her distance from so many: friends, family, teammates. She doesn't allow herself to get attached. She doesn't feel she has it in her to do so. She's full of baggage from her family, from her job, from who she is in general. But Alex breaks down her walls. He takes what she can give him and never asks her for more. He remains stoic and true to who he is. At the same time, his emotion and draw to Sage spills off the page. I actually preferred his character to Sage's, even if I did understand why she was the way she was.
I will admit there was not as much F1 in this story as I was expecting. I kind of wanted to see more of Sage driving and how her being a woman affected this. It is alluded to a bit but the author never really dives into that part. Given the overwhelming male presence in F1, I feel like it would have been important to really explore this aspect. We do get some of it from Sage's POV, but not as much as I would have liked. I did notice the author has some good background in F1 with her the verbage she used and how she did integrate the races. I just feel like this should have been much more at the forefront of the story given the FMC's position on the team.
The book does touch on addiction. Juniper does a decent job with this. Having grown up in this environment, I am often weary when authors introduce. I can see there is some research that has been done, though not as much as I would have liked.
If you're not a fan of third act break ups, skip this. There is some miscommunication, though it's forced from the MMC, to be honest. These two tropes are not my favorite but Juniper does them well enough to not bother me enough not to enjoy the rest of the plot.
If you're looking for an F1 romance that is light on the F1, this one is a good start. I would read the previous books so you understand some of the relationships that are presented. Overall, this one was fun. I loved Alex and just felt meh about Sage. The side characters were fun but not all that deep. Not my favorite romance book but it kept me interested enough to keep turning pages to see how it ended.
March 20, 2026
This book hasn’t gotten the best reviews from other people, but I’m not gonna lie to you. I actually liked it. I did do an immersion read with the audiobook and the narrators for this were fantastic. It is a dual narration, and I found that the female narrator, Cecily Foster, absolutely fantastic. She really brought sage to life for me. I really liked her pacing how she articulated her words. The accent differences she used between sage, and some of the other characters. I also liked the male narrator and the accent he used for Alexander. It was very easy to understand him at high rates of speed as well. Sometimes I’ve found in the past that is not always true especially with male narrators. And I really appreciate that. I will definitely be listening to other audiobooks stunned by him and her
Now I will say that sometimes I didn’t quite like Sage, but she grew on me as the story progressed as she really did come full circle and have a lot of growth and I really appreciate it that I also really appreciated that out of the entire series, she is the only female F1 driver something I do wish we saw more of though… was actual racing I really do like that in F1 books there was a bit and there was talk of racing. But in my opinion, there could’ve been more.
I also did like Alexander impression him wasn’t that great as well. I’m not gonna lie, but he also really grew on me as well and I really liked both of sage and Alexander’s growth together. This story does hit on addiction. If you do have issues with that this might not be the best story for you to read as Sage’s brother does battle with addiction and in the end, I did really appreciate the story arc between the two siblings. I really do recommend if you’re gonna grab this definitely grab the audio. I did binge it in one sitting.
Thank you so much to Avon and Harper audio for the complementary copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Now I will say that sometimes I didn’t quite like Sage, but she grew on me as the story progressed as she really did come full circle and have a lot of growth and I really appreciate it that I also really appreciated that out of the entire series, she is the only female F1 driver something I do wish we saw more of though… was actual racing I really do like that in F1 books there was a bit and there was talk of racing. But in my opinion, there could’ve been more.
I also did like Alexander impression him wasn’t that great as well. I’m not gonna lie, but he also really grew on me as well and I really liked both of sage and Alexander’s growth together. This story does hit on addiction. If you do have issues with that this might not be the best story for you to read as Sage’s brother does battle with addiction and in the end, I did really appreciate the story arc between the two siblings. I really do recommend if you’re gonna grab this definitely grab the audio. I did binge it in one sitting.
Thank you so much to Avon and Harper audio for the complementary copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 24, 2026
I want to start by saying thank you to Forever, Netgalley and author Josie Juniper for this ARC.
This one was such a fun ride!! I picked it up for the female F1 driver + enemies-to-lovers romance, and it definitely delivered on the drama, tension, and spice 👀
Sage is such a bold, unapologetic main character—messy, driven, and completely focused on proving herself in a male-dominated sport. I really liked that she wasn’t “perfect,” and her intensity made the story feel more real. The dynamic between her and Alexander had some great banter, and their push-and-pull kept me hooked.
The romance leans more toward fast-paced and high tension than slow burn, but I still found myself invested in their story. There are definitely chaotic moments, but that kind of added to the entertainment for me.
I do wish we got a bit more depth in the racing side of things—the F1 setting is such a strong concept and I wanted even more of it. But overall, I had a great time with this one and flew through it.
If you love messy characters, enemies-to-lovers, and sports romances with plenty of heat, this is worth picking up 🏎️🔥
This one was such a fun ride!! I picked it up for the female F1 driver + enemies-to-lovers romance, and it definitely delivered on the drama, tension, and spice 👀
Sage is such a bold, unapologetic main character—messy, driven, and completely focused on proving herself in a male-dominated sport. I really liked that she wasn’t “perfect,” and her intensity made the story feel more real. The dynamic between her and Alexander had some great banter, and their push-and-pull kept me hooked.
The romance leans more toward fast-paced and high tension than slow burn, but I still found myself invested in their story. There are definitely chaotic moments, but that kind of added to the entertainment for me.
I do wish we got a bit more depth in the racing side of things—the F1 setting is such a strong concept and I wanted even more of it. But overall, I had a great time with this one and flew through it.
If you love messy characters, enemies-to-lovers, and sports romances with plenty of heat, this is worth picking up 🏎️🔥
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Spice level: 5/5 (explicit, open door)
Positives:
- funny
- Illustrating women as more than just eye-candy in a male dominated field. Even the women who are obviously using their bodies to manipulate are shown as very intelligent rather than traditionally being shown as dumb
- Enjoyed Alexander’s development and insights
- Sage is well written
- Male voice for Alexander is fantastic!
- British English was easy to understand and didn’t need to be looked up
- Inner dialogue is hilarious
- Ending feels more realistic than most of the romances I have read
- Insight into addiction is backed by current research
Negatives:
- Would have appreciated trigger warnings
- reason for forced proximity is far fetched but I know rich people can be weird, so it might be realistic
- Mentioning “love” sickness when it’s more of a crush. . . Too fast for love
- development for Alexander feels too fast at first. . . The pace gets better as you continue reading
- Built up conflict feels like it should have been easily solved (common complaint I have about romance novels)
Positives:
- funny
- Illustrating women as more than just eye-candy in a male dominated field. Even the women who are obviously using their bodies to manipulate are shown as very intelligent rather than traditionally being shown as dumb
- Enjoyed Alexander’s development and insights
- Sage is well written
- Male voice for Alexander is fantastic!
- British English was easy to understand and didn’t need to be looked up
- Inner dialogue is hilarious
- Ending feels more realistic than most of the romances I have read
- Insight into addiction is backed by current research
Negatives:
- Would have appreciated trigger warnings
- reason for forced proximity is far fetched but I know rich people can be weird, so it might be realistic
- Mentioning “love” sickness when it’s more of a crush. . . Too fast for love
- development for Alexander feels too fast at first. . . The pace gets better as you continue reading
- Built up conflict feels like it should have been easily solved (common complaint I have about romance novels)
March 14, 2026
This is the third book in her series and is about an all women crew, the FMC a F1 woman driver, with her female principal and female lead engineer, which honestly is a dream team I’d love to see IRL. Maybe Dorian Pin will be the next F1 driver (?), fingers crossed for her. Each book in this series builds on each other but definitely can be read as a stand alone. This book really delved into the life of a Formula 1 driver not so much on the track but how it affected her life and her life relationships and the sacrifices it took to be a racer of this caliber. Josie Juniper wrote an amazingly brash, take no shit, spicy character and a MMC you grow to love. I hope everyone picks up this book in April when it comes out and I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.
This ties perfectly with the book we are excited to review this week, Josie Juniper’s All To Play For. Thank you @readforeverpub for this #gifted review copy, all thoughts are my own and not influenced by the company.
This ties perfectly with the book we are excited to review this week, Josie Juniper’s All To Play For. Thank you @readforeverpub for this #gifted review copy, all thoughts are my own and not influenced by the company.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
DNFd @11%. The fmc was annoying, whiny, very self centered and lacked communication skills and empathy. Instead of trying to actually help her brother (and yes I understand their relationship wasn’t good) with his addiction problem she just gets mad at him and her best friend. She complains about how much attention her parents give her brother, as if she didn’t get any, and acts like they just support him even though they have also given her all the support she needs. The mmc was just a sexist asshole that’s supposed to be this “good boy” but deadass wrote an article saying that the fmc slept her way to the top just to get her attention. I don’t care, you can’t convince me that a man that does that and talks about people (mainly women) the way that he does can better himself in a short time. I also would like to know why the author thought it was necessary to have the mmc recall how he met his best friend by saying “above me stood the biggest blackest kid I’d ever seen in my sheltered life”. There are so many ways to add a person of color into your book and this just isn’t it. The narrators did a great job but this book isn’t for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sage & Alexander
F1 Romance
Opposites Attract
Boy Obsessed
Enemies to Lovers
I saw that this was F1 and was super excited to read it!
It was an enjoyable read overall 😊
3.5⭐️
F1 Romance
Opposites Attract
Boy Obsessed
Enemies to Lovers
I saw that this was F1 and was super excited to read it!
It was an enjoyable read overall 😊
3.5⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I know how much work goes into writing a book, and I don’t take negative ratings lightly. That said, in the interest of transparency, I want to share specific reasons this didn’t work for me. Every reader’s experience is different, so I encourage you to look at a variety of reviews before deciding if it’s right for you.(my detailed review at the bottom may contain spoilers, but I tried to keep it somewhat generic).
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. This book comes out April 7, 2026.
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○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: Sage is the first ever female F1 driver. After Alex, writer for an Auto Racing magazine, tears her apart online, he’s fired from his family magazine and is offered a job by Sage, following her around the world to her races and righting his wrong. The two cannot stand each other, at least that’s what an outsider would say…but deep down, do their feelings match that façade? What happens when these two people who hate each other start to develop feelings?
– FMC: Sage Sikora (aka “love” or “Salvia officinalis” or “Salvi” or “pet”). Complicated. Rough around the edges (and maybe in the middle, too). Has high standards for others.
– MMC: Alexander Laskaris (aka “Sandy” or “Sandy boy”. 31-year-old journalist that is a bit of a nepo baby (his family owns a magazine).
– Location: Several locations including Portland, OR and London (amongst other countries)
– POV: Dual first-person
– Spice: 5-6 open-door explicit spicy scenes
– Tropes: Sports romance (FMC is a Formula 1 driver), prickly FMC, entitled MMC, secret relationship, “friends” with benefits, hate to love, insta-lust, opposites attract, forced proximity
– Content warning: family member with opioid addiction, parents with unstable marriage, being shamed online and in the media, near-death appendix rupture (mentioned)
– Representation: LGBTQ+ FMC and side characters, Formula 1 driving FMC
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven—✧——————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn———✧————————Slow Burn
Sweet————————✧———Spicy
Light/Fluffy——✧—————————Heavy/Emotional
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
Some books won’t resonate with every reader, and unfortunately this one didn’t work for me. Here’s how I arrived at my 2-star rating.
The Writing & Plot: At times, the narrative felt disjointed, and some of the terminology and phrasing leaned more crude than I prefer. Several themes were introduced but not fully explored, which left me with more questions than clarity.
• Examples of the writing style include lines such as: “Why does this shitbag have to be so cute?” and “Christ on a fish stick,” as well as the FMC frequently calling others “honeybee” and the MMC calling people “pet.”
• The transitions between scenes felt abrupt. After Alex is fired for writing a scathing article about Sage and she tells him, “You work for me now,” the story quickly jumps locations with little explanation. I struggled to understand why he would accept the job—and why she would offer it—given their hostility.
• Sage’s bisexuality is mentioned, but I would have appreciated deeper integration into her backstory. Seeing her hook up with a woman while thinking she “can’t stop thinking about” the MMC felt underdeveloped rather than a complex development. Moments like “do I smell like sex?” and “My hands smell like a mermaid petting zoo” added to the tonal inconsistency for me.
• Sage is described as the first female Formula 1 driver (a groundbreaking achievement) yet we see little exploration of how she reached that level or the challenges she may have faced in such a male-dominated field. More backstory here could have added dimension and strengthened Alex’s perspective of her accomplishments.
The Characters:
I enjoy prickly or unconventional heroines when their sharpness is grounded in emotional context, but here Sage’s edge often lacked vulnerability. Her response to her brother’s admission of addiction—“You really don’t think you can just, y’know, stop? On your own?”—made it difficult for me to connect with her.
Similarly, moments such as offering Alex “I want to give you a lap dance” shortly after a tense family exchange felt abrupt in emotional pacing.
Alex comes across as somewhat more personable, but inconsistent. The shift from disliking Sage to thinking “Ah, fuck…she’s already got me dead to rights” during their first meeting felt sudden, making the romance read more like insta-lust than earned development.
There were also character descriptions and dialogue choices that I found off-putting, including:
• Badrick described as “Above me stood the biggest, blackest kid I’d ever seen in my sheltered life.”
• A 45-year-old nemesis of Sage’s saying to Alex, “I don’t mind having you on top, honey, as long as you know what to do once you get there.”
• Sage described physically by Alex as “An uncharitable viewer might call her flat-chested, with curve little bigger than the bottom of a Jaffa Cake but she’s every bit as sweet.”
• Alex’s line: “A womanizing friend of mine in New York once joked that immediately after sex, ‘a woman should turn into a six-pack and a pizza,’ and at the time I agreed.”
These moments pulled me out of the story rather than deepening it.
Would I Recommend?: While this book wasn’t for me, I recognize that other readers may enjoy its tone, dynamic, and humor. I’d recommend checking a range of reviews if you’re considering it, as your experience may differ from mine.
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. This book comes out April 7, 2026.
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: Sage is the first ever female F1 driver. After Alex, writer for an Auto Racing magazine, tears her apart online, he’s fired from his family magazine and is offered a job by Sage, following her around the world to her races and righting his wrong. The two cannot stand each other, at least that’s what an outsider would say…but deep down, do their feelings match that façade? What happens when these two people who hate each other start to develop feelings?
– FMC: Sage Sikora (aka “love” or “Salvia officinalis” or “Salvi” or “pet”). Complicated. Rough around the edges (and maybe in the middle, too). Has high standards for others.
– MMC: Alexander Laskaris (aka “Sandy” or “Sandy boy”. 31-year-old journalist that is a bit of a nepo baby (his family owns a magazine).
– Location: Several locations including Portland, OR and London (amongst other countries)
– POV: Dual first-person
– Spice: 5-6 open-door explicit spicy scenes
– Tropes: Sports romance (FMC is a Formula 1 driver), prickly FMC, entitled MMC, secret relationship, “friends” with benefits, hate to love, insta-lust, opposites attract, forced proximity
– Content warning: family member with opioid addiction, parents with unstable marriage, being shamed online and in the media, near-death appendix rupture (mentioned)
– Representation: LGBTQ+ FMC and side characters, Formula 1 driving FMC
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven—✧——————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn———✧————————Slow Burn
Sweet————————✧———Spicy
Light/Fluffy——✧—————————Heavy/Emotional
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
Some books won’t resonate with every reader, and unfortunately this one didn’t work for me. Here’s how I arrived at my 2-star rating.
The Writing & Plot: At times, the narrative felt disjointed, and some of the terminology and phrasing leaned more crude than I prefer. Several themes were introduced but not fully explored, which left me with more questions than clarity.
• Examples of the writing style include lines such as: “Why does this shitbag have to be so cute?” and “Christ on a fish stick,” as well as the FMC frequently calling others “honeybee” and the MMC calling people “pet.”
• The transitions between scenes felt abrupt. After Alex is fired for writing a scathing article about Sage and she tells him, “You work for me now,” the story quickly jumps locations with little explanation. I struggled to understand why he would accept the job—and why she would offer it—given their hostility.
• Sage’s bisexuality is mentioned, but I would have appreciated deeper integration into her backstory. Seeing her hook up with a woman while thinking she “can’t stop thinking about” the MMC felt underdeveloped rather than a complex development. Moments like “do I smell like sex?” and “My hands smell like a mermaid petting zoo” added to the tonal inconsistency for me.
• Sage is described as the first female Formula 1 driver (a groundbreaking achievement) yet we see little exploration of how she reached that level or the challenges she may have faced in such a male-dominated field. More backstory here could have added dimension and strengthened Alex’s perspective of her accomplishments.
The Characters:
I enjoy prickly or unconventional heroines when their sharpness is grounded in emotional context, but here Sage’s edge often lacked vulnerability. Her response to her brother’s admission of addiction—“You really don’t think you can just, y’know, stop? On your own?”—made it difficult for me to connect with her.
Similarly, moments such as offering Alex “I want to give you a lap dance” shortly after a tense family exchange felt abrupt in emotional pacing.
Alex comes across as somewhat more personable, but inconsistent. The shift from disliking Sage to thinking “Ah, fuck…she’s already got me dead to rights” during their first meeting felt sudden, making the romance read more like insta-lust than earned development.
There were also character descriptions and dialogue choices that I found off-putting, including:
• Badrick described as “Above me stood the biggest, blackest kid I’d ever seen in my sheltered life.”
• A 45-year-old nemesis of Sage’s saying to Alex, “I don’t mind having you on top, honey, as long as you know what to do once you get there.”
• Sage described physically by Alex as “An uncharitable viewer might call her flat-chested, with curve little bigger than the bottom of a Jaffa Cake but she’s every bit as sweet.”
• Alex’s line: “A womanizing friend of mine in New York once joked that immediately after sex, ‘a woman should turn into a six-pack and a pizza,’ and at the time I agreed.”
These moments pulled me out of the story rather than deepening it.
Would I Recommend?: While this book wasn’t for me, I recognize that other readers may enjoy its tone, dynamic, and humor. I’d recommend checking a range of reviews if you’re considering it, as your experience may differ from mine.
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I swear I really wanted to love All to Play For. Genuinely. Put a woman in Formula 1, make her fast, talented, a little unhinged, and give her something to prove? I’m already seated. I love F1 romances—especially the ones where the FMC is an absolute force! It makes me want to celebrate women for being unapologetically badass. When I finish a book like this, I should be ready to scream about how undeniably cool she is and how much I love her.
But this… just wasn’t it.
Sage had the potential to be that kind of character, but instead of coming across as confident and compelling, she felt chaotic in a way that lacked grounding. There’s a difference between “messy but layered” and “what is she doing and why should I root for her,” and unfortunately Sage lands in the latter. For someone positioned as the first female F1 driver—a groundbreaking achievement—we get very little depth about her journey, her struggles, or what it actually took to get there. That absence made her feel more like a concept than a fully realized character.
And Alexander… I truly don’t know what to say. The idea of a redemption arc for a guy who publicly trashes the FMC and then is forced to work for her could have been so good. But his arc never felt earned. He’s not just cocky—he’s mean, entitled, and honestly exhausting. The fact that Sage entertains him at all (let alone develops feelings) made their entire dynamic feel unbelievable from the start.
Their relationship leans heavily on physical chemistry, but the emotional buildup just isn’t there. It reads more like insta-lust than anything substantial, and the progression from enemies to something more felt rushed and inconsistent. Instead of tension, it often just felt… awkward. It’s never a good sign when I find myself hating both main characters.
The writing itself didn’t help. The tone swings wildly—from attempts at humor to heavier topics like addiction and family trauma—without giving any of it the space it needs to land. Some dialogue and phrasing pulled me completely out of the story, and the transitions between scenes were jarring at times.
Some examples:
- “Why does this shitbag have to be so cute?” (not the worst thing I’ve read, but still, it took me out of the story. it almost felt like because our FMC is supposed to be this badass, first ever female F1 driver, the author didn’t allow her to be emotional or soft or idk NORMAL?)
- “christ on a fish stick” (HUH?!?!)
- the MMC calling everyone “pet”… no thank you sir! try again!
- “My hands smell like a mermaid petting zoo” (first of all… what? but also, let’s NOT slap a bisexual label on a main character only for it to become relevant in moments like this. her being bisexual has absolutely no depth behind it, it does nothing for her backstory or who she is in the present moment. it’s mentioned and then only pops up in moments where she’s physically sleeping with other women but mentally going “I can’t stop thinking about” the MMC. You don’t get points for LGBTQ+ representation if this is the way you choose to do it)!
- "You really don't think you can just, y'know, stop? on your own?" … ah! yes! the groundbreaking medical advice of ‘just stop’! I can’t believe no one’s tried that before! girlie your brother is dealing with an opioid addiction… get over yourself.
- Badrick’s described as: "Above me stood the biggest, blackest kid I'd ever seen in my sheltered life." um… seems like an odd way to describe a character for the first time. that’s really all you could come up with?
- Alex’s line: "A womanizing friend of mine in New York once joked that immediately after sex, 'a woman should turn into a six-pack and a pizza, and at the time I agreed." for the love of everything good in life… PLEASE put me out of my misery!!!!!
- I could keep going, but I should probably stop before I get too carried away.
What’s frustrating is that all the ingredients are here: F1 racing, feminism, rivalry, forced proximity, redemption. It should have worked. But the execution felt underdeveloped, juvenile, and at times, offensive—this was like a Wattpad draft that needed A LOT more refinement.
Overall, someone out there will probably like this, but unfortunately, that someone is not me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for this eARC in exchange for a honest review!
But this… just wasn’t it.
Sage had the potential to be that kind of character, but instead of coming across as confident and compelling, she felt chaotic in a way that lacked grounding. There’s a difference between “messy but layered” and “what is she doing and why should I root for her,” and unfortunately Sage lands in the latter. For someone positioned as the first female F1 driver—a groundbreaking achievement—we get very little depth about her journey, her struggles, or what it actually took to get there. That absence made her feel more like a concept than a fully realized character.
And Alexander… I truly don’t know what to say. The idea of a redemption arc for a guy who publicly trashes the FMC and then is forced to work for her could have been so good. But his arc never felt earned. He’s not just cocky—he’s mean, entitled, and honestly exhausting. The fact that Sage entertains him at all (let alone develops feelings) made their entire dynamic feel unbelievable from the start.
Their relationship leans heavily on physical chemistry, but the emotional buildup just isn’t there. It reads more like insta-lust than anything substantial, and the progression from enemies to something more felt rushed and inconsistent. Instead of tension, it often just felt… awkward. It’s never a good sign when I find myself hating both main characters.
The writing itself didn’t help. The tone swings wildly—from attempts at humor to heavier topics like addiction and family trauma—without giving any of it the space it needs to land. Some dialogue and phrasing pulled me completely out of the story, and the transitions between scenes were jarring at times.
Some examples:
- “Why does this shitbag have to be so cute?” (not the worst thing I’ve read, but still, it took me out of the story. it almost felt like because our FMC is supposed to be this badass, first ever female F1 driver, the author didn’t allow her to be emotional or soft or idk NORMAL?)
- “christ on a fish stick” (HUH?!?!)
- the MMC calling everyone “pet”… no thank you sir! try again!
- “My hands smell like a mermaid petting zoo” (first of all… what? but also, let’s NOT slap a bisexual label on a main character only for it to become relevant in moments like this. her being bisexual has absolutely no depth behind it, it does nothing for her backstory or who she is in the present moment. it’s mentioned and then only pops up in moments where she’s physically sleeping with other women but mentally going “I can’t stop thinking about” the MMC. You don’t get points for LGBTQ+ representation if this is the way you choose to do it)!
- "You really don't think you can just, y'know, stop? on your own?" … ah! yes! the groundbreaking medical advice of ‘just stop’! I can’t believe no one’s tried that before! girlie your brother is dealing with an opioid addiction… get over yourself.
- Badrick’s described as: "Above me stood the biggest, blackest kid I'd ever seen in my sheltered life." um… seems like an odd way to describe a character for the first time. that’s really all you could come up with?
- Alex’s line: "A womanizing friend of mine in New York once joked that immediately after sex, 'a woman should turn into a six-pack and a pizza, and at the time I agreed." for the love of everything good in life… PLEASE put me out of my misery!!!!!
- I could keep going, but I should probably stop before I get too carried away.
What’s frustrating is that all the ingredients are here: F1 racing, feminism, rivalry, forced proximity, redemption. It should have worked. But the execution felt underdeveloped, juvenile, and at times, offensive—this was like a Wattpad draft that needed A LOT more refinement.
Overall, someone out there will probably like this, but unfortunately, that someone is not me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for this eARC in exchange for a honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
All To Play For by Josie Juniper 🎧
Sage & Alexander
Tropes include: Enemies to Lovers, F1, British MMC, “good boy”, Bi FMC
The Basics:
Blogger ✍️ // F1 Driver 🏎️
1st Person Dual POV
Standalone, but book 3 of the “Frontrunners” series
Narrated by: Gary Furlong & Cecily Foster
HEA 🖤 + childfree epilogue
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Things I Loved:
•alt baddie fmc
•realizing your opinion is rooted in emotion and not fact, then doing research to try to learn instead of judge
•a playboy down bad for a playgirl
•love persisting through addiction
“You’re more like a weather event than a person sometimes - it’s invigorating”
One of my biggest pet peeves and book icks is the MCs being with other people during the main timeline. It starts with the MMC in bed with someone else 🤦♀️ Then, the FMC was with someone else at 28%, the MMC coming in and finding them and just… not caring? They weren’t together but it just felt so strange. I totally get showing, not just telling, how a character is a playboy/girl, but gah - maybe not this blatantly.
I don’t know that I have much to add to what has already been said about this books disjointed plot line and unlikable characters beyond that. Other reviews have done a fantastic job describing my thoughts.
Overall, it was a tough listen. I found myself going back and re-listening to try to figure out what was going on. Not for lack of talent of the narrators, who did a wonderful job. Their cadence kept me engaged and there was clarity despite my slight inability to comprehend an accent at 3x the speed lol
This one wasn’t for me. I’ve read F1 themed books and really enjoyed them. This one had so much potential with a female driver, but it just didn’t pan out. Maybe next time.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Josie Juniper for the opportunity to listen to this ALC 🤍
Sage & Alexander
Tropes include: Enemies to Lovers, F1, British MMC, “good boy”, Bi FMC
The Basics:
Blogger ✍️ // F1 Driver 🏎️
1st Person Dual POV
Standalone, but book 3 of the “Frontrunners” series
Narrated by: Gary Furlong & Cecily Foster
HEA 🖤 + childfree epilogue
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Things I Loved:
•alt baddie fmc
•realizing your opinion is rooted in emotion and not fact, then doing research to try to learn instead of judge
•a playboy down bad for a playgirl
•love persisting through addiction
“You’re more like a weather event than a person sometimes - it’s invigorating”
One of my biggest pet peeves and book icks is the MCs being with other people during the main timeline. It starts with the MMC in bed with someone else 🤦♀️ Then, the FMC was with someone else at 28%, the MMC coming in and finding them and just… not caring? They weren’t together but it just felt so strange. I totally get showing, not just telling, how a character is a playboy/girl, but gah - maybe not this blatantly.
I don’t know that I have much to add to what has already been said about this books disjointed plot line and unlikable characters beyond that. Other reviews have done a fantastic job describing my thoughts.
Overall, it was a tough listen. I found myself going back and re-listening to try to figure out what was going on. Not for lack of talent of the narrators, who did a wonderful job. Their cadence kept me engaged and there was clarity despite my slight inability to comprehend an accent at 3x the speed lol
This one wasn’t for me. I’ve read F1 themed books and really enjoyed them. This one had so much potential with a female driver, but it just didn’t pan out. Maybe next time.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Josie Juniper for the opportunity to listen to this ALC 🤍
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the advanced reader copy
2.5 stars
When Alexander makes an almost career-ending mistake, by writing a misogynistic blog post about Sage, the only female driver on an F1 team, his penance is to intern for Sage and her team. For Sage, this is an opportunity to give payback to the man who humiliated her, through sending him on embarrassing errands and giving him loads of snarky insults. But eventually, Alexander's steadfastness in the face of her actions makes her rethink his place in her life and whether they have something worth putting her heart on the line for.
I enjoyed Juniper's previous two novels and was excited to spend more time in this world of F1 racing. Unfortunately, ALL TO PLAY FOR hit a low note in this series of books. The relationship between Sage and Alexander seems to come from nowhere, especially in his interest in her (which seems to stem from the fact that he doesn't really understand who she is). Both characters felt one-dimensional and I wasn't particularly interested in either one of them. Most disappointing was that much of Sage's story--as the first female F1 driver--happened off the track/didn't have that much to do with her job. For a character who everyone notes is so driven to prove herself, she spent a lot of time eschewing her team's rules and having lots of sex with Alexander (including a scene that occurs while she's battling an injury that could keep her out of her car for a while). The sex scenes are spicy, but they don't make up for the lack of substantive relationship building.
If you liked Juniper's other books, you might like this one:
-sports romance
-professional female athlete
-he falls first
-forced proximity
All to Play For is out April 7, 2026
2.5 stars
When Alexander makes an almost career-ending mistake, by writing a misogynistic blog post about Sage, the only female driver on an F1 team, his penance is to intern for Sage and her team. For Sage, this is an opportunity to give payback to the man who humiliated her, through sending him on embarrassing errands and giving him loads of snarky insults. But eventually, Alexander's steadfastness in the face of her actions makes her rethink his place in her life and whether they have something worth putting her heart on the line for.
I enjoyed Juniper's previous two novels and was excited to spend more time in this world of F1 racing. Unfortunately, ALL TO PLAY FOR hit a low note in this series of books. The relationship between Sage and Alexander seems to come from nowhere, especially in his interest in her (which seems to stem from the fact that he doesn't really understand who she is). Both characters felt one-dimensional and I wasn't particularly interested in either one of them. Most disappointing was that much of Sage's story--as the first female F1 driver--happened off the track/didn't have that much to do with her job. For a character who everyone notes is so driven to prove herself, she spent a lot of time eschewing her team's rules and having lots of sex with Alexander (including a scene that occurs while she's battling an injury that could keep her out of her car for a while). The sex scenes are spicy, but they don't make up for the lack of substantive relationship building.
If you liked Juniper's other books, you might like this one:
-sports romance
-professional female athlete
-he falls first
-forced proximity
All to Play For is out April 7, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This fast-paced Formula 1 romance racing towards publication definitely makes the podium for spice, but falls below expectations with 3⭐️
Our FMC is Sage, a spunky green-haired racer, newly signed to one of F1’s premier teams. We meet our MMC, Alexander, when one of his blog posts goes too far: insinuating Sage has slept her way to the top. To placate a looming defamation suit, Alexander finds himself working as a social media intern under Sage herself (HELLO forced proximity).
While Sage finds herself falling for Alexander, we learn that the whole point of Alexander’s smear blog post was to get Sage’s attention. Tension increases between them as physical and emotional lines are blurred, and Sage’s brother grapples with an opioid addiction and a relationship with Sage’s best friend.
Both MCs are perfect for each other in the sense that they were hard to root for and demonstrated extreme entitlement throughout the story. Sage completely takes advantage of her best friend and doesn’t know how to actually apologize, whereas Alexander is a spoiled playboy. The long-term trajectory of their relationship just doesn’t make sense. However, I do see the physicality of their relationship supporting this plot (HELLO HANDCUFFS!!!)
Given that I was listening to the audiobook version, I truly enjoyed the narrators. They were able to express necessary emotions that added to character dialogue and development! They were the stars of the show for this one!
🏁 Opioid addiction
🏁 Forced proximity
🏁 Sports romance (F1)
🏁 LGBTQ+
🏁 Handcuffs
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!
Our FMC is Sage, a spunky green-haired racer, newly signed to one of F1’s premier teams. We meet our MMC, Alexander, when one of his blog posts goes too far: insinuating Sage has slept her way to the top. To placate a looming defamation suit, Alexander finds himself working as a social media intern under Sage herself (HELLO forced proximity).
While Sage finds herself falling for Alexander, we learn that the whole point of Alexander’s smear blog post was to get Sage’s attention. Tension increases between them as physical and emotional lines are blurred, and Sage’s brother grapples with an opioid addiction and a relationship with Sage’s best friend.
Both MCs are perfect for each other in the sense that they were hard to root for and demonstrated extreme entitlement throughout the story. Sage completely takes advantage of her best friend and doesn’t know how to actually apologize, whereas Alexander is a spoiled playboy. The long-term trajectory of their relationship just doesn’t make sense. However, I do see the physicality of their relationship supporting this plot (HELLO HANDCUFFS!!!)
Given that I was listening to the audiobook version, I truly enjoyed the narrators. They were able to express necessary emotions that added to character dialogue and development! They were the stars of the show for this one!
🏁 Opioid addiction
🏁 Forced proximity
🏁 Sports romance (F1)
🏁 LGBTQ+
🏁 Handcuffs
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This one hurts to write.
I have been enjoying this series and I was really excited for a female F1 driver story. Honestly, feels like it was almost an insult to women in the industry. Let me try to put words to it.
Sage was supposed to be chaotic and quirky but she comes off unlikeable. She's promiscuous but not in a female empowerment way, more in a flat, damaged way (I don't feel like her childhood trauma relates to this). I'm not a prude but it just felt very off (and off-putting). I genuinely hate books where a love interest is intimate with someone on page who is not the intended love interest. So, maybe the whole thing is just an ick. Then she kept fucking up her personal relationships and just threw her hands up like "oopsie babes, that's just me teehee". I would rather have just seen more Priya.
Even the MMC was off-putting in the beginning. The whole idea of him publicly negging her to "get her attention". but then we don't really see much yearning or effort once they cross paths....Idk. And his whole personality is rich and plays piano.
Towards the end I did end up mostly liking the MMC but the ship had sailed for the FMC. I didn't feel like she redeemed herself or had any growth. Nothing connected me to her (or the sport).
A+ to the male narrator for keeping me engaged. Had I been solely reading this in print, I may have had to put it down for a bit.
Thank you so much to Josie, Forever and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this title. I attest that I am leaving this review voluntarily and honestly.
I have been enjoying this series and I was really excited for a female F1 driver story. Honestly, feels like it was almost an insult to women in the industry. Let me try to put words to it.
Sage was supposed to be chaotic and quirky but she comes off unlikeable. She's promiscuous but not in a female empowerment way, more in a flat, damaged way (I don't feel like her childhood trauma relates to this). I'm not a prude but it just felt very off (and off-putting). I genuinely hate books where a love interest is intimate with someone on page who is not the intended love interest. So, maybe the whole thing is just an ick. Then she kept fucking up her personal relationships and just threw her hands up like "oopsie babes, that's just me teehee". I would rather have just seen more Priya.
Even the MMC was off-putting in the beginning. The whole idea of him publicly negging her to "get her attention". but then we don't really see much yearning or effort once they cross paths....Idk. And his whole personality is rich and plays piano.
Towards the end I did end up mostly liking the MMC but the ship had sailed for the FMC. I didn't feel like she redeemed herself or had any growth. Nothing connected me to her (or the sport).
A+ to the male narrator for keeping me engaged. Had I been solely reading this in print, I may have had to put it down for a bit.
Thank you so much to Josie, Forever and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this title. I attest that I am leaving this review voluntarily and honestly.
March 24, 2026
4 ⭐️🎧
I listened to All to Play For by Josie Juniper and WOW this was fast, chaotic, and so addictive.
We’ve got a blue-haired, no-nonsense Formula 1 driver who is literally fighting to become the first woman to win a Grand Prix, and a cocky, rich blogger who absolutely ruins his life and ends up working for her as punishment and the tension?? Immediate. 
This gave enemies-to-lovers with bite. The banter was sharp, the dynamic was messy in the best way, and I loved how their relationship built through all the chaos, rivalry, and forced proximity. It felt fun but still had emotional moments that hit when they needed to.
And on audio?? SO GOOD.
The dual narration (Cecily Foster and Gary Furlong) really brought the characters to life. The attitude, the tension, the quieter emotional moments, it all landed so much harder hearing it performed. It made the racing scenes feel more intense and the banter even better.
Sage was everything I want in a heroine, ambitious, stubborn, a little unhinged and I loved how focused she was on her career, especially in such a high-pressure, male-dominated space. 
My only reason it’s not a full 5⭐️ is that some parts of the relationship felt slightly rushed, and I wanted just a bit more depth in certain emotional beats.
But overall? I was hooked.
Fast-paced, spicy, and full of tension this was such a fun audiobook experience.
If you like: enemies to lovers, sports romance, strong FMCs, and chaotic banter… this one hits 🏁
I listened to All to Play For by Josie Juniper and WOW this was fast, chaotic, and so addictive.
We’ve got a blue-haired, no-nonsense Formula 1 driver who is literally fighting to become the first woman to win a Grand Prix, and a cocky, rich blogger who absolutely ruins his life and ends up working for her as punishment and the tension?? Immediate. 
This gave enemies-to-lovers with bite. The banter was sharp, the dynamic was messy in the best way, and I loved how their relationship built through all the chaos, rivalry, and forced proximity. It felt fun but still had emotional moments that hit when they needed to.
And on audio?? SO GOOD.
The dual narration (Cecily Foster and Gary Furlong) really brought the characters to life. The attitude, the tension, the quieter emotional moments, it all landed so much harder hearing it performed. It made the racing scenes feel more intense and the banter even better.
Sage was everything I want in a heroine, ambitious, stubborn, a little unhinged and I loved how focused she was on her career, especially in such a high-pressure, male-dominated space. 
My only reason it’s not a full 5⭐️ is that some parts of the relationship felt slightly rushed, and I wanted just a bit more depth in certain emotional beats.
But overall? I was hooked.
Fast-paced, spicy, and full of tension this was such a fun audiobook experience.
If you like: enemies to lovers, sports romance, strong FMCs, and chaotic banter… this one hits 🏁
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
All to Play for seems to be wrapping up Juniper's Frontrunners trilogy about the Emerald Formula One team, and she foregrounds two characters who have been in the background (both for good and for bad). Sage Sikora always popped as a character with her wacky attitude, and her take no prisoners approach to racing, while Alexander was the journalist rival of Natalia Evans, known for his sexist takes.
The book starts with Alexander frankly doing something deeply awful and sexist to Sage. The book is smart to frame it as a result of Alexander being instantly and completely in love with Sage, but it definitely is jarring as a character moment, and makes him hard to root for in the the book for anyone who has experienced sexism or mistreatment as a professional woman. But the two have great chemistry, and I enjoyed Juniper writing a book where the two are completely into each other right away, even if they won't admit it.
I also appreciated that Juniper includes a pretty substantial subplot about addiction and about learning to be supportive of a family member dealing with it. Despite that, the book is a fun end to her Frontrunners series and I'm excited to see if Juniper continues to sports romance. This is for fans of Madge Maril and the Drive to Survive show on Netflix. Thanks to Forever Publishing for the early copy.
The book starts with Alexander frankly doing something deeply awful and sexist to Sage. The book is smart to frame it as a result of Alexander being instantly and completely in love with Sage, but it definitely is jarring as a character moment, and makes him hard to root for in the the book for anyone who has experienced sexism or mistreatment as a professional woman. But the two have great chemistry, and I enjoyed Juniper writing a book where the two are completely into each other right away, even if they won't admit it.
I also appreciated that Juniper includes a pretty substantial subplot about addiction and about learning to be supportive of a family member dealing with it. Despite that, the book is a fun end to her Frontrunners series and I'm excited to see if Juniper continues to sports romance. This is for fans of Madge Maril and the Drive to Survive show on Netflix. Thanks to Forever Publishing for the early copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
While the premise was fun and entertaining, I didn't love it. The fact that Alexander was purposely provoking her with misogynistic articles in order to get Sage's attention was completely ick. I guess at least he realized it but ewww. Then the fact that Sage and her brother have not talked about the incident that almost killed her for YEARS and this has caused a rift between them. How could her parents have let this fester this long? She also was not a great friend. Again, at least she realized it.
I think those were the main issues for me. I don't need likeable characters, these were just qualities that were hard to swallow. I also knew from the beginning that Alex would made the mistake to keep the secret from sage and it would blow up in his face. Called it!
I did appreciate that they both realized they were better when together and Alex and Sage were actively working to be better people to those they love. I appreciated the realities shown on addiction and the heartfelt moments. The banter was a lot of fun between the characters and I appreciated Sage's shopping list for Alex 🤣 The pace was good and the story was easy to follow. The narrators did a great job bringing the story to life!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I think those were the main issues for me. I don't need likeable characters, these were just qualities that were hard to swallow. I also knew from the beginning that Alex would made the mistake to keep the secret from sage and it would blow up in his face. Called it!
I did appreciate that they both realized they were better when together and Alex and Sage were actively working to be better people to those they love. I appreciated the realities shown on addiction and the heartfelt moments. The banter was a lot of fun between the characters and I appreciated Sage's shopping list for Alex 🤣 The pace was good and the story was easy to follow. The narrators did a great job bringing the story to life!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sage is a the first female driver that I have read that truly is a strong FMC. She is loud and proud, and angry but for the most part she is just trying to keep herself safe. She has the "full of herself" attitude that I feel like athletes need, even if that's not how they truly are in real life.
I do wish the story expanded a bit more on Sage and Jules but I get that it was more of a sub-plot to what was really happening. But it is pretty important for her mentality and driving.
Alexander is truly the typical wealthy man. Has the 3 limit rule with women, writes horrible things to get Sage's attention and hides things that he "thinks" he can just get around. He was instantly obsessed with Sage, I feel like before he even met her, so that added to the attraction but also to the downfall.
This is book 3 in a series but these are all standalone couples and do not need to be read in order.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Spice Level: 🌶️
🎧 Dual Narration (9h 21m at 2X)
F1 Romance
FMC Driver x MMC Blogger
"Enemies" to Lovers
He Falls Hard / Obsessive
Fast Paced
TW: Parents Divorce, Brother with Addiction.
Thank you to Hachette Audio / Forever, and author Josie Jumper, for providing me with the ALC of “All to Play For”. Gary Furlong and Cecily Foster did a wonderful job narrating this book.
I do wish the story expanded a bit more on Sage and Jules but I get that it was more of a sub-plot to what was really happening. But it is pretty important for her mentality and driving.
Alexander is truly the typical wealthy man. Has the 3 limit rule with women, writes horrible things to get Sage's attention and hides things that he "thinks" he can just get around. He was instantly obsessed with Sage, I feel like before he even met her, so that added to the attraction but also to the downfall.
This is book 3 in a series but these are all standalone couples and do not need to be read in order.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Spice Level: 🌶️
🎧 Dual Narration (9h 21m at 2X)
F1 Romance
FMC Driver x MMC Blogger
"Enemies" to Lovers
He Falls Hard / Obsessive
Fast Paced
TW: Parents Divorce, Brother with Addiction.
Thank you to Hachette Audio / Forever, and author Josie Jumper, for providing me with the ALC of “All to Play For”. Gary Furlong and Cecily Foster did a wonderful job narrating this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
All to Play For is the first book I've read by Josie Juniper and is the third book in the Frontrunners series.
Sage Sikora has risen in the ranks and now finds herself with a seat on a great F1 team. She has been accused by Alexander Laskaris, by way of his blog, of sleeping her way into her position. When her team threatens legal action, it turns out that instead of that, he is going to serve as Sage's assistant, which might be worse than if it had gone to court!
Alexander's family owns a magazine, so he is used to the nicer things in life, so when he becomes Sage's assistant, there are some interesting moments. Sage likes to keep her distance from people and doesn't like to get connected in any way. She is a lot to handle and she has a lot of baggage across her life. Alexander decides that he is willing to take what Sage offers him, which really isn't much, but it's more than she's offered others.
I found this book a challenge to read. I struggled with both characters throughout the book and while things eventually worked out for them, it felt like a struggle, as the reader, to get there. Not every book hits for everyone and that's okay. I would definitely give another Josie Juniper book a read.
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Sage Sikora has risen in the ranks and now finds herself with a seat on a great F1 team. She has been accused by Alexander Laskaris, by way of his blog, of sleeping her way into her position. When her team threatens legal action, it turns out that instead of that, he is going to serve as Sage's assistant, which might be worse than if it had gone to court!
Alexander's family owns a magazine, so he is used to the nicer things in life, so when he becomes Sage's assistant, there are some interesting moments. Sage likes to keep her distance from people and doesn't like to get connected in any way. She is a lot to handle and she has a lot of baggage across her life. Alexander decides that he is willing to take what Sage offers him, which really isn't much, but it's more than she's offered others.
I found this book a challenge to read. I struggled with both characters throughout the book and while things eventually worked out for them, it felt like a struggle, as the reader, to get there. Not every book hits for everyone and that's okay. I would definitely give another Josie Juniper book a read.
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sage is the only female F1 driver and she's determined to win and show everyone women belong in sports. Alexander is a rich spoiled blogger who drags Sage's name through the mud and gets not only her attention, but the attention of her legal team. To avoid any legal action he's volun-told to be her intern for the season. Is this really punishment, or exactly what he wanted?
Objectively, this book is fantastic! It's very well written, the scenes are just detailed enough, and the dialogue is natural. Even the premise is great! The spice was top tier. Sage took charge in the bedroom and it was HOT. A woman who goes after what she wants in the bedroom is a great deviation from the typical alpha males we see in romances. Mechanics alone, this one gets 5 stars.
Subjectively, I swear I really wanted to love this book. I just couldn't. While I do love an FMC being in a man's world, I could not for the life of me begin to care about Sage. Every little thing she did was self-destructive. She was so insufferable. It's insane to me how someone that obnoxious could even make it to that level of sport. And honestly, Alexander wasn't much better, being the stereotypical rich kid.
I fully understand this is a me issue and not a reflection on the book and how it may feel for you, hence the 4 stars. So if you enjoy sport romances, especially those that will take you to cities all over the world, this is a great read. Plenty of spice, yearning, and emotion to go around.
Objectively, this book is fantastic! It's very well written, the scenes are just detailed enough, and the dialogue is natural. Even the premise is great! The spice was top tier. Sage took charge in the bedroom and it was HOT. A woman who goes after what she wants in the bedroom is a great deviation from the typical alpha males we see in romances. Mechanics alone, this one gets 5 stars.
Subjectively, I swear I really wanted to love this book. I just couldn't. While I do love an FMC being in a man's world, I could not for the life of me begin to care about Sage. Every little thing she did was self-destructive. She was so insufferable. It's insane to me how someone that obnoxious could even make it to that level of sport. And honestly, Alexander wasn't much better, being the stereotypical rich kid.
I fully understand this is a me issue and not a reflection on the book and how it may feel for you, hence the 4 stars. So if you enjoy sport romances, especially those that will take you to cities all over the world, this is a great read. Plenty of spice, yearning, and emotion to go around.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐️
I was gifted an advanced listeners copy of the book. I've read and enjoyed the first two books in the Frontrunners series. I liked that you didn't need to read the prior books to understand what was going on in this book. There were some 'cameos' but generally each book was a complete standalone.
The narrators were really good. The book is written in alternating POV. There were were two narrators, a male and female. It wasn't duet narration, but they both did a great job with accents, tone, inflection, and delivery style.
~~What I liked~~
-As previously stated, even though this was book 3 in the series, it was a complete standalone. There wasn't a huge character list and no large info dump that overly complicated the plot.
-The writing style was good, easy to listen to and follow.
-I generally liked the story. There was a drug abuse sub-plot if that is a trigger for anyone.
~~What I didn't like~~
-I wasn't overly fond of the characters. Josie Juniper seems to write more immature characters. Sage, the FMC, was quirky, but also hung up on stupid, decades old problem. She didn't make very smart or mature choices. The MMC was a bit better, but he also started the whole book by slut-shaming Sage because he wanted her attention. I mean, really? He gets better, but he starts out pretty rough.
Overall, this was decent, but I really struggled to enjoy the FMC.
I was gifted an advanced listeners copy of the book. I've read and enjoyed the first two books in the Frontrunners series. I liked that you didn't need to read the prior books to understand what was going on in this book. There were some 'cameos' but generally each book was a complete standalone.
The narrators were really good. The book is written in alternating POV. There were were two narrators, a male and female. It wasn't duet narration, but they both did a great job with accents, tone, inflection, and delivery style.
~~What I liked~~
-As previously stated, even though this was book 3 in the series, it was a complete standalone. There wasn't a huge character list and no large info dump that overly complicated the plot.
-The writing style was good, easy to listen to and follow.
-I generally liked the story. There was a drug abuse sub-plot if that is a trigger for anyone.
~~What I didn't like~~
-I wasn't overly fond of the characters. Josie Juniper seems to write more immature characters. Sage, the FMC, was quirky, but also hung up on stupid, decades old problem. She didn't make very smart or mature choices. The MMC was a bit better, but he also started the whole book by slut-shaming Sage because he wanted her attention. I mean, really? He gets better, but he starts out pretty rough.
Overall, this was decent, but I really struggled to enjoy the FMC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I requested this book mostly on a whim. Because I love to women in male fields.
I’m was unfamiliar with the narrators, Gary Furlong and Cecily Foster, however, I’m happy to say they did a stellar job. The book is dual narrated rather than duet, but I find I didn’t mind much because the narrators did a good job with both parts.
The story itself is a tad much at times. Alexander and Sage are somewhat like a tornado meets a volcano. They’re immature and sometimes illogical.
Because in what world would a sane grown man pen defamatory articles in bid to get his crush’s attention? What are you twelve bro? And why would any sane woman grant such a man further access to her by taking him on as intern?
The plot only makes sense if you don’t think about it.
That being said, chemistry is rather delicious. Their push and pull entertaining, though also equally frustrating.
I might’ve shelved this as a two star were it not for the narration. But I did very much enjoy the audiobook so it gets one-star bump.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Forever Books for providing me with an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I’m was unfamiliar with the narrators, Gary Furlong and Cecily Foster, however, I’m happy to say they did a stellar job. The book is dual narrated rather than duet, but I find I didn’t mind much because the narrators did a good job with both parts.
The story itself is a tad much at times. Alexander and Sage are somewhat like a tornado meets a volcano. They’re immature and sometimes illogical.
Because in what world would a sane grown man pen defamatory articles in bid to get his crush’s attention? What are you twelve bro? And why would any sane woman grant such a man further access to her by taking him on as intern?
The plot only makes sense if you don’t think about it.
That being said, chemistry is rather delicious. Their push and pull entertaining, though also equally frustrating.
I might’ve shelved this as a two star were it not for the narration. But I did very much enjoy the audiobook so it gets one-star bump.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Forever Books for providing me with an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
All to Play for (Audiobook)
Book #3 Frontrunners series
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Enemies to lovers
Sports romance
Strong FMC F1 Driver (LGBTQI+)
Good boy MMC Sports journalist
He falls first
Dual POV - 1st person
Dual narration-Cecily Foster & Gary Furlong
Trigger warning:
Drug addiction
Divorce
I have really enjoyed this audiobook, this is my second Josie Juniper book but a first as an audiobook.
Although the story is set in the world of F1 it is a secondary part to the story. The main story revolves around Sage and Alexander and how their relationship evolves during the season. The story is well written and easy to follow. I enjoyed the banter between the characters which really added to the dynamic. There were a few tongue in cheek moments that had me laughing out loud and really played to the British sense of humour.
The narrators did an excellent job bringing the characters to life and portrayed the emotions well. This is dual narration and they did a great job covering both parts.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Josie Juniper for the opportunity to listen to this ALC
Book #3 Frontrunners series
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Enemies to lovers
Sports romance
Strong FMC F1 Driver (LGBTQI+)
Good boy MMC Sports journalist
He falls first
Dual POV - 1st person
Dual narration-Cecily Foster & Gary Furlong
Trigger warning:
Drug addiction
Divorce
I have really enjoyed this audiobook, this is my second Josie Juniper book but a first as an audiobook.
Although the story is set in the world of F1 it is a secondary part to the story. The main story revolves around Sage and Alexander and how their relationship evolves during the season. The story is well written and easy to follow. I enjoyed the banter between the characters which really added to the dynamic. There were a few tongue in cheek moments that had me laughing out loud and really played to the British sense of humour.
The narrators did an excellent job bringing the characters to life and portrayed the emotions well. This is dual narration and they did a great job covering both parts.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Josie Juniper for the opportunity to listen to this ALC
March 22, 2026
"All to Play For" by Josie Juniper is part of the "Frontrunners" series.
Thank you Forever and Hachette Audio for the gifted eARC and ALC.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.
Sage Sikora, the new driver for the Emerald F1 team, is bold and daring, on and off the track.
Alexander Laskaris is a popular blogger and a thorn on Sage's side.
After a blog post that went to far, he ends up working for Emerald as Sage's assistant as penance.
I have to say that I liked this book more than the previous one, but there were still some things that did not click.
Alexander is very annoying in the beginning and also imature.
Sage is an interesting character, but I would have liked to see more of her as a driver.
The audiobook is narrated in dual style by Gary Furlong and Cecily Foster. While they did a great job as Alexander and Sage, I would have liked this to be a duet. It was weird to hear him try to voice Sage and her Alexander.
It took me a long time to warm up to a potential relationship between Sage and Alexander, as they did not seem to have chemistry and their interactions were a bit toxic.
I liked that Sage was the one in power, but she did act immature a lot.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I have been looking forward to reading Sage’s book since we met her. Thank you so much for the ARC, Forever!
Well that was fun. I feel like this 3rd book had an overall lighter feeling than the first two books in the series. I liked it. I think it sort of fits both their personalities well.
Okay. Listen. I know Josie is known for writing headstrong, sometimes stubborn, sometimes chaotic, FMCs. But headstrong, stubborn women deserve love too. Deserve the happiness of being known and understood. I feel like people are only “allowed” to be a certain kind of “unlikable” (I hate that term, btw.) But why? Why can’t the chaotic girl be given the opportunity to learn and grow and find love? BE loved?
I think more folks should be comfortable pushing the boundaries of the boxes they create in their minds for characters they read about. I, for one, am looking forward to more Josie Juniper books. Gimmie all the chaotic, “unlikable” girls.
Well that was fun. I feel like this 3rd book had an overall lighter feeling than the first two books in the series. I liked it. I think it sort of fits both their personalities well.
Okay. Listen. I know Josie is known for writing headstrong, sometimes stubborn, sometimes chaotic, FMCs. But headstrong, stubborn women deserve love too. Deserve the happiness of being known and understood. I feel like people are only “allowed” to be a certain kind of “unlikable” (I hate that term, btw.) But why? Why can’t the chaotic girl be given the opportunity to learn and grow and find love? BE loved?
I think more folks should be comfortable pushing the boundaries of the boxes they create in their minds for characters they read about. I, for one, am looking forward to more Josie Juniper books. Gimmie all the chaotic, “unlikable” girls.
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