First to Finish

Pole Position #2

by Rebecca J. Caffery

The stakes have never been higher…🏎️🏎️🏎️

Race car driver Johannes Muller is on a hot streak this season and seems destined to claim the championship win … until his performance unexpectedly falters. Gone is his cool confidence – on the track he can barely qualify, let alone take home the trophy.

The team’s race engineer, Caleb Hughes, is determined to get his star driver back in pole position, but soon the sparks flying over the radio are more chemistry than competition.

In a sport where everyone gives it their all at all times, it’s not long before Johannes and Caleb realise that their racing line is leading them towards a collision they won’t be able to walk away from unscathed…

Tropes

Opposites attractForced ProximitySpicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️Sports romance 🏎️
Everyone loved Rebecca's first book POLE Featured in Us Weekly's 'Hottest New LGBTQIA+ Romances to Read during Pride Month 2024'

‘This was freaking phenomenal. [The] chemistry and banter was off the charts!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Reviewer

‘I flew through this book… I am literally rereading just because it is sooo bingeable’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Reviewer

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Sports, Queer, M M Romance, LGBT, Contemporary Romance

354 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 20, 2026

About the author

Rebecca J. Caffery is a queer romance author from Birmingham, UK, whose stories celebrate love, electric chemistry, fierce
emotion, and found families. She rediscovered her passion for writing in 2017
during a study abroad year in Canada, and she’s been writing one too many
enemies to lovers tropes since.

Rebecca is best known for her high-octane F1 romances, Pole
Position (2024) and First to Finish (2026), where fast cars meet
even faster hearts. With plans to expand into small-town romance, she continues
to craft stories that celebrate queer love in all its intensity and joy.

When she’s not writing, Rebecca can be found devouring queer
romance novels, binge-watching romantic dramas and romcoms, or passionately (read
screaming at her TV) supporting Arsenal Women’s football team and McLaren Formula
One Team.

Where else to find her?

Instagram - @RJCafferyAuthor
TikTok - BeckaWrites

Reviews

[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one even more than pole position. This was such a cute, heartwarming romance!
Our main characters are Johannes a F1 driver and Caleb, his team engineer. I was a little afraid of how the power imbalance and secrecy would be handled but I actually really like how it was done. It wasn't too smutty which is a good thing, it was the right amount for the story I feel like.
I also really loved to see how Harper and Kian are doing, I didn't realize that I missed them until I started reading this.
Now I have my fingers crossed for a Nils book, I pricked up on some things and I feel like I would really like it.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC given by publisher through netgally in exchange for an honest review. This is my honest review and contains my own opinions all thoughts and views are my own

First off thank you to netgally and Harper Collins UK for the ARC I see myself in both caleb and Johannes particularly at the start of the book and I already love Johannes from pole position so this book had that already in its favour I love both of the characters for so many reasons. Theres a forbidden element a will they won't they vibe and an absolute slow burn workplace romance. If you read and liked pole position I absolutely urge you to start this book as soon as possible and if you've not read pole position that's okay you can start with this one if you don't mind a few spoilers for the first in the series. I think this is a beautiful story and I would highly recommend it.

[Naomi (aplace_inthesun) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First to Finish is a queer romance, second on a series to Pole Position. I’ve been lucky to be sent digital copies of both books (one via netgalley and the other through the publisher who sent me a netgalley widget).

We met Johannes in book 1 as the party boy best friend (and ex) of F1 driver Harper. Johannes is Harper’s main rival for the World Championship but he’s struggling after a relationship breakup. Team Engineer Caleb has no intention to letting Harper beat Johannes and given he’s relatively new to the team, is keen to prove his worth. Neither expect their support and friendship to lead to …. More.

This series seems to balance the environment or racing, with behind the scenes friendships and happenings. The books aren’t particularly heavy on the steam though they are open door and they succeed in capturing the points of view of each of the characters well. For Johannes it’s wanting to be seen after being hidden by a previous partner and getting back his racing mojo after being so despondent. For Caleb it’s adding to a life he’s grateful for even though he’s risking it all by getting entangled with the Team #1.

The series tends to be quite low angst with high reward. You get a complete sense of other characters as well - Kian and Harper from Book 1 are constants in Book 2. It’s a series best read in order but I wouldn’t let that stop you if you’ve opportunity to read later one/s first.

Enjoyed this. Can recommend!

[Maggie Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

First to Finish
When Johannes top driver for his F1 team starts underperforming his chance of a world championship appears to be out of reach. Heartbroken after breaking up with his secret boyfriend of over two year he is depressed and apathetic. Said boyfriend Jackson works for his father who is principal of a rival race team and Jackson has insisted their relationship is kept private as he is hoping to take over the team but if his father finds out he’s gay that won’t happen.
Team engineer Caleb realises he needs to help and support his driver to return to his winning drives and gradually Caleb and Johannes become friends and Johannes confidence returns and he’s back winning races and on the way to becoming world champion. They become much closer and start a relationship.
A strong cast of characters, the emotions described with humorous episodes and the excitement of each race makes this a great read. It was also lovely to catch up with Kian and Harper from the previous book. Even If you’re not a follower of formula 1 this is an enjoyable book.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

[Eilis Dunne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley and Rebecca J Cafferty for the ARC!

I'm officially obsessed with Caleb and Johannes and just want to live in their world. I won't pretend I'm generally an F1 fan, but I was fully invested in the racing too.

The writing was really warm and engaging and made me love even the side characters. I loved the slow burn of their relationship, despite there definitely being enough heat between them to keep it spicy while they tried to stay friends.

Think I'm gunna have to buy a physical trophy of this one for my book shelf!

[Shelby Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating 4.75 stars rounded up.

I loved both characters, and loved the found family aspect of this book! It was so nice to finally read an F1 book with some engineering representation, and it being done so well??!? Perfection! At this point, if Rebecca writes it, I will read it gladly!!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc! 💖

[palolibross · Rating 4 out of 5]

RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL

La verdad es que me ha gustado… mucho.

Pole Position, el primero de esta serie, me encantó. Y este también ha sido un acierto!! (Muchas gracias a netgalley y a la editorial por enviármelos, por cierto).

En esta aventura descubriremos el romance entre Johannes, piloto de Fórmula 1, y Caleb, su ingeniero de carrera.

En primer lugar, los personajes principales son súper humanos, pueden llegar a ser divertidos e incluso puedes empatizar con ellos aunque no hayas vivido lo mismo nunca. No todos los libros consiguen eso, por cierto. Además, es de destacar que los personajes que ya aprendimos a querer en el primer libro aparecen de forma recurrente, así que no te olvides de ellos, amigo lector!!

Por otro lado, me ha encantado el énfasis que se hace en el trabajo de los ingenieros y de todo lo que ocurre dentro del garaje. La F1 es un deporte donde influyen muchas más cosas que lo bien que conduzca el piloto y me encanta que en este libro este presente el resto del equipo de forma activa y visible.

Para terminar, la mayor crítica a este tipo de libros es que no sean fieles al deporte real. Mi opinión es que… da igual. Da igual que no conozcas el deporte, da igual que no sea 100% exacto. Da igual. Para muchos, esta lectura será el primer contacto con ese deporte que terminarán amando. Para otros, será una lectura divertida dentro del contexto de la F1. Pero no es relevante para la trama. Es más, no necesitas saber de F1 para disfrutar de este libro

Y dicho esto, me alegro muchísimo de haberlo leído. Lo he devorado!!!!

………………………

ENGLISH REVIEW

The truth is… I really liked this book.

I really loved Pole Position, the first book in the series. And, unsurprisingly, I also liked First to Finish (thanks to Netgalley and to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read both of them in advance, btw).

In this adventure, we discover the romance between Johannes, a Formula 1 driver, and Caleb, his race engineer.

Firstly, the main characters are so human that they can be funny and you can even feel what they’re feeling even though you’ve never lived something similar before. And that’s something that not so many authors can do. Besides, the characters who we learnt to love in the first book come back in this book! So don’t forget about them yet, my dear friend.

On another note, I loved the importance given to the work of race engineers and to everything that happens in the garage. The F1 is a sport influenced by something more than just the ability of the driver, so I really appreciated how actively and visible the work of the team is portrayed here.

Finally, the biggest criticism towards this kind of books is the inaccuracy with the real sport. In mi opinion… that’s actually not important. It’s ok that you don’t know the sport, it’s ok that the book’s not 100% accurate. It’s. Ok. For some people, this book will be a first contact with the sport they’ll someday love. For others, it will be an enjoyable read in the F1 context. But the accuracy doesn’t determine whether this book is worth the read. And, what is more, you don’t need to know anything about F1 to enjoy this book

And having said that, I’m really happy that I have read it!!!

[Renee (aredheadwithbedhead) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I cannot pursue this. I shouldn’t even want to. A week ago I was crying my eyes out over Jackson and now I’m lusting over my race engineer? What the hell’s wrong with me?"

What an incredible second book for this terrific series! I couldn’t get enough of Johannes and Caleb’s forbidden romance and savoured every minute of it!

Having already read Pole Position, I was so curious about Johannes Müller. I was hooked right from the start with his gut-wrenching secret breakup from his ex. His heartbreak felt so real and made him such a relatable character. Then we are introduced to Caleb, Johannes’ new race engineer and pHD candidate who desperately wants to help his racer make it back to the top of the podium. The way Caleb tries to bring him back from the darkness, without ever prying for details, was so sweet and makes you fall for him immediately. Their F1 driver x race engineer friendship was so well written and laid the perfect groundwork for a second forbidden relationship to grow.

If you are a fan of Formula 1 racing, this is the book for you. As newbie to the sport, I felt so transported into the world of racing and have to give major kudos to Rebecca for making me fall in love with the atmosphere she created. A lot of the book is dedicated to racing on page and it just added to the tension of the story as Johannes and Caleb do everything in their power to make to the top.

As for their romance, chef’s kiss. Because of the nature of Johannes’ breakup and their workplace relationship, it’s a bit of a slow burn, but the tension and character development are to die for! The acts of service, caretaking, flirting, “should we/shouldn’t we” push & pull were all emotional payoff that makes the wait for spice worthwhile.

I both loved and loved-to-hate the added dramatic element of Jackson, Johannes’ ex, being in forced proximity with them both throughout the book and the secret that was still being kept between them. It added angst to the story and made you root even harder for Caleb. To balance that out, Rebecca did a marvellous job of incorporating such strong found family elements with old faces from Pole Position and new characters to fall in love with. They provide so much support and love to Caleb & Johannes and made me laugh out loud at times.

This has been such a refreshing series and I can’t recommend First To Finish enough for fans of high-energy, tension filled, MM romances with a lot of heart! Thank you so much to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC 🫶🏻

[Belen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐
2🌶️

.Formula 1
.Workplace
.Forbidden
.Forced proximity
.Hurt/comfort
.Healing
.Dual POV

I saw this book announced and didn’t even bother reading the blurb. I just knew I was going to read it. I really liked the first book in the series, so I trusted I’d enjoy this one too. That said, skipping the synopsis did leave me a little confused at the beginning (entirely my fault). I was already preparing myself to dislike who I thought would be the love interest… and then Caleb showed up, and everything clicked into place.

From that moment on, I had so much fun with it. I kept bracing myself for a massive shoe to drop, some dramatic twist that would wreck me, but it never came, and I was relieved. I love MM romances where the world around the characters is mostly accepting and open. The conflict here isn’t about them being two men; it’s about them working together, something that would complicate any couple. That distinction made the story feel refreshing and grounded.

I already liked Johannes in the previous book, and he didn’t disappoint here. But I fell hard for Caleb. He’s such a supportive, steady sweetheart. The kind of love interest who shows up in quiet, meaningful ways and makes you melt without even trying.

And having the rest of the gang around made it even better. Their night out, the competitiveness between Johannes and Harper, Nils’ absolute dorkiness, the constant banter, it all felt lively and real. It’s one of those friend groups you enjoy spending time with.

I’m not big on sports in general, but Formula 1 is one of the few I’ll actually stop to watch if it’s on TV, so I especially love reading books set in that world. The atmosphere, the tension, the teamwork, it all adds such a great backdrop for romance.

Warm, entertaining, low on unnecessary angst. It reminded me exactly why I was excited for this series in the first place, and now I’m already looking forward to whatever comes next.

[Rory Munton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was literally amazing REBECCA J. CAFFERY THE AUTHOR YOU ARE. Anyway, this review is gonna be split into two parts as normal, the characters and the book itself.

First up Johannes Müller. This man felt so relatable to the way he dealt with his heartbreak. His character development throughout the book was impeccable and I couldn't see any flaws in the way this character was written. His friendship with Harper felt like such a nice addition to his character as it shows he really does care for his friends and he'd give the world for them. Next is Caleb Hughes. He also felt so relatable as how he handles most situations isn't anything dramatic or over the top, he does it in a completely normal way. Which I think is why I love his character so much is because he isn't like most men in books I've read, he felt genuine. He felt real. His background of coming from such a big family was another nice addition to his character because it shows that he cares the same way Johannes does for his friends.

Next up is the book as a whole. The romance to F1 ratio was perfect. Unlike most books I read that contain some sort of sport where the sport is just a subplot and the romance is the main event, this book didn't do that, it was balanced perfectly. The plot was perfect, I don't have any words to say, it was that good. And the ending. OMFG IT WAS SUCH A PERFECT CONCLUSION TO SUCH A PERFECT BOOK. This book has earned its 5 star rating just like 'Pole Position' did.

Also, random side note but this book made me think of the song 'Need You Now' by Lady A. I'm not the only one thinking that, right? I can't wait to see if there is another book in this series because if there is, I will be jumping at the opportunity to get it.

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought Pole Position was just okay, so I was nervous about reading the second installment. First to Finish had such a strong concept going in with high stakes racing, pressure filled teamwork, and a rivals to lovers vibe that practically writes itself. The F1 setting was definitely the highlight for me, as a huge fan of the sport. You can tell Rebecca did her homework, and the on track tension and behind the scenes dynamics felt authentic and engaging.

However, while the chemistry between Johannes and Caleb was there, it sometimes leaned more on tell than show. Their emotional connection developed a bit too quickly for how intense and complicated their situation was supposed to be, especially given the power dynamics and pressure of the sport. I wanted more buildup, more quiet moments, and more depth to really feel the weight of what they were risking.

Johannes’ struggle with his sudden loss of confidence was compelling, but I wish the story had dug deeper into that arc instead of resolving it so neatly. The stakes are said to be high, and in some ways I felt like they were, but emotionally, they didn’t always hit as hard as they could have.

This was an enjoyable, fast paced read with a great setting and solid premise, and I love that it was an MM romance, but it didn’t quite cross the finish line for me in terms of reward. Still worth picking up if you love sports romances and racing worlds, just don’t expect it to completely blow you away.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca J. Caffery, and One More Chapter for the eARC of this book.

[Elianna Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, I loved this book. Rebecca J. Caffrey’s writing is genuinely fantastic. I’ve been deep in MM romance slop lately, so when I requested this ARC on NetGalley, I was excited to read something that wasn’t hockey romance, and wow, it delivered. This was an absolutely fantastic read.

At nearly 380 pages, it’s a romance-heavy story, and I ate it up. The first half, especially, was incredible. Just pure, unfiltered yearning. And listen, a man who yearns is a man who earns, and this book understood the assignment. While reading, I genuinely felt like yearning was being brought back to romance, and I loved every second of it.

The second half did fall a little flatter for me compared to how strong the beginning was, but the romance itself remained heartfelt and deeply touching. If you’re looking for something super spicy, this isn’t that, but the emotional payoff more than makes up for it. The writing is beautiful, the connection between the characters feels real, and the romance is incredibly warm and satisfying.

I didn’t even realize this was part of a series until I finished, but I’m absolutely going back to read the first book, and I am very sat for the next one as well. Huge thank you to Rebecca J. Caffrey, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for the ARC. I’m so excited for this to be published in March.

[Blandrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Car racing romance is a new thing for me. I read Pole Position following recommendations around the Rivals to Lovers trope and was introduced to Johannes in book one, so was excited to see where his story went in book 2.

SO: Johannes is an F1 racer who is in a secret relationship that he can’t tell ANYONE about (not even his best friend), so when Johannes gets dumped his is left all alone to try and pull himself back together. All he really wants is for someone to genuinely care about him and see him. Enter his new race engineer, Caleb who notices how down Johannes is and takes tiny, thoughtful steps to helps Johannes pull himself back together.

Johannes is a black man, but does read like he’s written by a white person. In some ways it feels like you could have swapped brown skin for brown hair and it wouldn’t have changed the story much. As a white reader, I do feel like there would be added levels of complexity of not being white is very white spaces that a non-white writer would have mentioned. That said, it is nice to imagine a world where race would not significantly impact one’s career and relationship prospects.

The love story between Johannes and Caleb is sweet and has the gentle, small gesture caring that I like to see in a love story. Seeing an only child getting absorbed into a massive loving family and found family absorbing loners is just the best.

[emillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You put yourself back together, Jo. I just walked beside you while you did it.”

First To Finish is my favorite read of 2026 so far. It was such a fun read and kept me on my toes almost the whole time.

Johannes is a German F1 driver who is gunning for the world championship but he is heart broken after the end of a toxic relationship. He struggling with his self worth and the hardship of trying to stay focused on his races.

Caleb is the new racing engineer on Johannes’ team. He’s sweet and caring, noticing that Johannes is struggling and just makes small gestures to help him through out; which helps with getting his head back in the race.

Their relationship is a pretty slow burn 🔥 the best of them all are. They slowly learn that they have a lot in common and find themselves comfortable with being with each other while working together & living together on the road.

The “3rd act break up” kinda annoyed me but was understandable from some points of view when you take into consideration Caleb having normal insecurities and overreacting.

First To Finish is a cute yet spicy 🌶️ rom com set in the world of Formula 1 racing with a super star driver with his own insecurities & his incredibly driven racing engineer who find their true place with in each other despite the complications that could and do arise with the imbalance of their roles.

[Seamus M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Would recommend a quick refresh on the first book before jumping in. It’s not a continuation per se but a lot of overlap with characters.

This is a slow burn, low spice F1 MM romance that leans heavily into the emotional side of the sport. The author really gets Formula One. The race sequences aren’t just technical filler, but carry weight. A couple of moments genuinely gave me that tight-chested, goosebump feeling you get watching a close race on a Sunday. The tension, the stakes, the drama — it’s all there.

Pacing-wise, it moves well. It’s a quick, easy read without feeling shallow, and the character development is solid. You can see how they’ve grown, even when they’re making questionable choices.

What didn’t quite land was some of the conflict toward the end. At times it felt a little forced, reactions dialled up past what the situation really called for. A touch more restraint would have made it hit harder.

It also skewed slightly sweeter than my personal preference. I kept waiting for one of them to show a bit more bite. That’s not a flaw so much as taste.

Overall, if you’re here for slow burn tension, strong F1 atmosphere, and relationship growth with relatively low spice, this will absolutely deliver. Just don’t expect fireworks in every argument, the real drama is on track.

[Hannah Heartss · Rating 4 out of 5]

NETGALLEY ARC | As a lover of romance books and F1, this series is a match made in heaven for me. I read the first book a few weeks ago and you can already tell the author has made dramatic improvements in her writing, and I did really enjoy book one!

The relationship between Johannes and Caleb is heart warming to see. The way it transformed was beautiful and while Johannes came into with a lot of issues from his previous relationship, it was great to see him work on those issues. I actually didn’t like Johannes in the first book based on the way he was treating Harper but now it makes complete sense. That was made very clear within the first couple of chapters why he was acting the way he was and it was completely understandable.

I will say I could have done with a bit less of a focus on the previous relationship towards the end of the book and I felt the ending was a little abrupt.

A note about the marketing of the book: please stop comparing it to Heated Rivalry, I know why it’s being done because that series has taken over the world right now but apart from elements about their ankles touching, there is no comparison between the two, other than the romance being between male characters.

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you One More Chapter and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I consumed this book! I don’t know much about F1 but it is so thrilling to read about! Johannes Muller is on a hot streak this season and everyone thinks he may just end up being the champion, taking it from his best friend Harper. That is until his personal life starts to interfere and his performance begins to lack. Suddenly it’s becoming harder for him to even qualify let alone win. His race engineer, Caleb Hughes, is determined to get his race back on track, but how can he when no one seems to know what is going on with Johannes? And the more time he spends trying the more he’s drawn into Johannes’ orbit. Soon the chemistry and attraction between the two is undeniable, but should Caleb risk his job? And what exactly has been keeping Johannes down? Will their blossoming love be enough to bring Johannes back to being a champion? Or are the both risking everything that’s important to them? A fast paced slow burn romance that was absolutely swoon worthy! I loved both Johannes and Caleb and it’s wonderful to get to see Harper, Kian, and Elijah again! Plus I really enjoyed Nils! Rebecca J. Caffery tells a sweet, charming, engaging, emotional story filled with love, competition, and spice!

[Danny Kearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Pole Position was my first F1 MM romance, and I absolutely adored it—this was the perfect follow-up.

Yes to Johannes. My poor baby 😭 Being stuck in a secret relationship for nearly three years with a man who will always put his career first is heartbreaking. Johannes is carrying so much pain and isolation, unable to share what he’s going through with the person he loves. It’s such a lonely, devastating place to be.

And then there’s Caleb—the perfect golden retriever angel. He truly sees Johannes, notices his struggle, and is simply there for him when he needs it most. Exactly what Johannes deserves.

Watching Jo and Caleb get to love each other out loud, with no secrets, made me so incredibly happy. I adored them together.

I’m beyond excited for more from this world—Nils, who is this mysterious ex you keep spending time with in London? I need to know more.

[Courtney Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this for my honest review

In this MM F1 racing story one of our MMCs is the star driver for his team - but his world is rocked when his boyfriend of almost 3 years ends their relationship because he is going to be taking over a rival team - and he put the job first. Honestly, like he always has. The biggest problem is the whole relationship has been in secret - so now he's moody and falling behind in the standings and can't tell anyone why. Enter our MMC ML, his new racing engineer. He absolutely loves this sport, is getting his PhD to prove it. And now has taken on the task of bringing his driver back from his slump. But all this togetherness is causing some blurred lines. They shouldn't, they work together and if it goes wrong it could go very wrong for the whole team. But what if it goes right?

[Tippy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who knows nothing about F1 I have enjoyed reading Caffery's series. When I read Pole Position I kind of hated Johannes because it seems like he was a terrible friend to Harper. But First to Finish mostly cleared that up. Johannes' turmoil felt authentic, more so than Caleb's, and I really wanted him to get his happy ending. I was a little disappointed with the resolution though. I really felt like his ex should have gotten some sort of blowback for how he treated Johannes, even if that's not what Johannes wanted. It left me a little unsatisfied. But I like the relationship between Johannes and Caleb. It made sense, and they worked well together. Caleb was right to worry about how their relationship could potentially effect him because he had more to lose than Johannes did so I wasn't put off by the excessive amounts of longing. Overall a pretty decent romance.

[Morgan Vorwald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC!

My MM sports romance kick still has me in a chokehold, and this book is keeping it going! This was a good sports romance, fast-paced and fun. There were some parts, like how quickly the main conflict between the couple was glossed over, that I thought could have been covered in more depth. The characters and the relationship were pretty well developed despite moving past the main conflict so quickly. It was obvious that the author did a good job of researching F1, because it seemed really realistic to me (a newer F1 fan who just started paying attention this year). I didn’t read the first book in the series before reading this book; however, I really enjoyed it, and I feel like it stands alone well!

[Zoey M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this romance to be a very enjoyable read, and I thought that Johannes and Caleb were very cute together. The development of their relationship was done well, and I really enjoyed seeing how both Johannes and Caleb grew throughout the book. This series does a good job of balancing the racing elements with the romance and the character interactions, which I appreciate.
I had not previously read Pole Position, but I decided to read it before starting First to Finish. I think that while First to Finish can function as a standalone novel if you don't start with the first book, it's definitely more enjoyable after reading Pole Position. Kian and Harper make several appearances and are referenced throughout the book, and so it's best to be aware of their story and the events of the first book.
4.25/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks you One More Chapter and NetGalley for the arc.

Cute, high tension and the perfect amount of spice. I’ve been looking for something to take me out of the MM hockey romance world and this F1 romance was just what I needed. I devoured every page of this book. -1 star for the headache I now have for getting zero sleep. I will say “3rd act breakups” royally piss me off, but in this book it was done right.

I also felt the build of for Nils in this book was perfect. I’m counting down the days until I can read his story!!

[Nisha Read All · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you netgally for this eARC, I was so in love with the first book, and I knew I had to request the second one in the series. This did not disappoint Caleb and Johannes was so adorable and so meant for each other, and I love they started out as friends while navigating a working relationship and Jo was working a heartbreaking secret relationship that was toxic to him and his job on the F1 scene. I totally loved this book, found family, building a healthy relationship and the angst of the F1 dynamic, amazing read.

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful and a very enjoyable read. It was emotional and heartfelt and the relationship between the two main characters was understated and lovely. Even the 'drama' that unfolded between the two of them later in the book was handled maturely and in a way that felt very on brand for the two characters.

I think I enjoyed this one even more than the first in the series. I definitely will be checking out anything else that Caffery publishes.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Jine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this was so so good! It was the perfect follow up to pole position! I love interconnected universes and can get updates on book 1s couple during this one! When it started I was a little nervous about Jackson being connected to Johannes but it worked out so well! I loved the development of Johannes and Caleb; I loved how Caleb slowly but surely put him back together and those coffee drop offs were chefs kiss!!

[Ellie French · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this one more than Pole Position. I was nervous going into it that I wouldn't enjoy it given I found Pole Position jsut okay, but this was so much better. The third act break up was a bit weird for me, it was kinda like they both just forgot about Caleb's blowup and moved on, despite how ridiculous his reasoning was. I'm not a fan of F1 but it really doesn't matter, you definitely don't need to be to enjoy this.

*ARC provided for review*

[Cristiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to "One More Chapter" and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC*

3.75 ⭐️

I really liked this book and the characters. It was cool to see Kian and Harper again.
When I read the first book, I was hoping for a book about Johannes and Jackson, because it looked like the story was going there. But I'm so glad it was different, because it added more to the story.

[Steph Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book (even more than Pole Position).
It gave me my F1 fix during the off-season. There is a good mix of relationships and the technical side of the sport.
Many thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for the review copy, where I give my honest opinion.