Formula Zero

by Meredith Lanzen

Romantic tension between ex-best friends rockets to new heights in this dazzling sports romance debut set in the fast-paced, interplanetary world of Formula Zero racing.

Madeline Clarke didn't think her life would be all fun and trophies after earning her spot in the solar system's most elite zero-gravity racing circuit, but she definitely thought it'd be better than this. Aside from being a female pilot in a male-dominated sport, her boss is a controlling jerk, her estranged father is a beloved figure from her team's past glory days (and an absolute ass), and she's performing so poorly she risks losing her contract. And worst of all, there's Julian Casperi.

Julian was Clarke's childhood best friend and is a rising star in the league. The dance between them has always been complicated, but when Clarke walked away from her feelings years ago and Julian didn’t stop her they became nothing more than competitors—until Clarke gets into a near-fatal accident on the track and Julian comes to her rescue.

Now back in each other’s orbits, the tension between them is at an all-time high. But navigating their relationship might be the least of Clarke’s problems. Things keep going wrong on the track, and she suspects there's something shady at play. If she wants to come out on top, she needs to move fast and make bold choices—about her team, her future, and her heart.

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Sports

448 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 7, 2026

Reviews

[har. (BACK!!) · Rating 2 out of 5]

it wasn’t for me 🫠

── .✦ pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹

┆ ⤿ 🚀 ⌗ started: january 26, finished: january 29

book 5 and my last one of my 24 hour reading challenge!! i’m on my last 4 hours wow?! this was fun but exhausting. howeverrrr, wdym formula 1 but in space?! count me in 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ can you tell i miss formula 1 so much?🤸 (update: i didn’t finish this in time for the challenge but i’m loving it still!)

thank you netgalley, berkley publishing group and meredith lanzen for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i absolutely cannot believe how much fun i had with this book, i binged it in less than a day because i just couldnt put it down 😩.

i will be the first to admit that i do not understand f1, i dont watch it and i dont see the appeal (PERSONALLY) howeverrrrr, f1/racing books in general just really do something for me — the constant location changes, the forced proximity, the competitiveness, etc. then you throw space into the mix and im even more sold on it.

this book brought a fresh unique experience to the romance/sports romance genre that (to my knowledge) we’ve yet to see, which can be extremely hard to do in such a saturated environment so like props to meredith for that on its own, even if i did not like this book whatsoever that would have added stars onto my rating simply because its impressive as hell.

this book was super engaging the entire time, there was a mystery element to it that has you yelling at clarke to open her eyes to whats happening right in front of her and also following her on the journey of trying to figure out who on her own team is trying to sabotage her and the way its written kind of felt like you were kind of an invisible sidekick solving it along side her.

julian and clarke we’re truly precious. i loved the way the way that they were forced back into each others orbit (haha see what i did there) and that even though theres the obvious small bits of drama that comes with being forced to spend time with someone you dont want or know how to be friends with anymore, the entire book didnt revolve around their drama if that makes sense? it felt more bantery than anything and it was nice reading a forced proximity book where the main conflicts laid elsewhere and didnt drown the MCs.

i am very much looking forward to reading more of meredith’s books in the future and i cannot wait to see what she does next!! i would do heinous things to return to this world in the future but im also curious to see if there are any other fresh spins on the typical romance book up her sleeve!!!

[hailee · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.

formula one (zero) in SPACE?!? i’m proud to report that this was just as much fun as you’re thinking!

first i just want to say hats off to the author for the way the sport itself is described in this book. going into this, i was full expecting it to just be “formula one but in space.” while, essentially, that is the case, formula zero is so much more than that. the author clearly put a lot of time and effort into the mechanics behind the ships, the politics between teams and drivers, the overall worldbuilding with the different types of racing (off planet vs on planet), and many more. additionally, the author clearly made this as accurate as possible to the sport( considering this takes place in space, any inaccuracies can be excused in my opinion). i was interested from page one until the very end, and i would absolutely read another book in this same world following the formula zero season.

i loved clarke as our FMC. she was going THROUGH it (and i mean THROUGHHHH it that poor woman) for a lot of the book. i was enraged and heartbroken on her behalf for the majority of the story, which only made it that much more satisfying to see her character growth and the way she really came back to herself. she was strong, capable, determined, and ambitious - which i LOVE to see. women in motor(space?)sports!!!!!!!

i also had a great time with the politics/mystery aspect of the plot. while a great deal of it was predictable, that didn’t stop me from gasping along with the characters and being stressed out with each racing accident and dramatic reveal.

surprisingly, my least favorite aspect of this book was the romance. it wasn’t bad by any means, I just did not feel a proper romantic connection between our two main characters. yes, they’re childhood friends and yes, they’ve had a few “almost” moments in their past, but i think their storyline would have greatly benefited from more heartfelt scenes between them, both in the past and in the present. that being said, i still had a lot of fun reading about clarke and julian together and i enjoyed how neither of them held the other back, in any way.

overall, i had such a great time reading formula zero and highly recommend this one!!

[meredithandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I initially thought that the beginning was a bit slow and I couldn’t get into it but I’m so happy I decided to finish it. I honestly cried multiple times for Clarke (especially when Julian said the thing to that one team principal and I didn’t know what was happening). Julian and Maddie’s love story was so sweet and perfect for them and I love that it’s not impacting their racing (obviously because they’re the best and so in love with each other and the sport). I wasn’t expecting some of the plot twists and it was a really fun read in the end, I loved it. However, I just wanted to know who won the last race.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book.

[Devon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS!

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for the e-arc!! (My first ever)

Formula 1 in space? Yes please!! I absolutely loved this book. It’s exactly how it sounds, it’s thrilling!

Racing cars in space and going from planet to planet was so fun. The sci-fi aspect had me hooked from the beginning. The slow burn romance of childhood best friends was SO good. I love Julian.

I went into this book SO excited since I read the blurb and it didn’t disappoint. I had so much fun reading this and I can’t wait to purchase it when it comes out!

[Rhianon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley

Not gonna lie, when I requested this book I did not read the info close enough. I thought it was another Formula 1 book and I was super pumped because it featured a female driver. I did not realize this was Formula 1 racing but in SPACE. Color me surprised when I started reading.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was a new area of sports romance for me. Sometimes it felt like a technical fact overload, but it was kind of necessary since this isn't your normal Earth based story. Nope we've got colonies on the moon (Lunar), Earth is "Terran", and there are colonies out on Mars and Uranus.

In terms of the romance, this was a massive mix of friends to lovers to enemies to lovers. It was also a slow burn (not my favorite). Sometimes I was frustrated because I prefer my romance to be more central to the story. This book is only from Clarke's point of view and the story focuses more on her journey. She's struggling to find her footing in this complex racing world. There are a lot of factors weighing on her and she's a young woman who feels pretty alone.

The mystery suspense aspect gave it a fun twist and had a lot of action in the final third of the book.

I look forward to seeing what else this author writes. Thank you for allowing me to read this ARC.

[jordan εїз · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars 🌟 F1 mixed with space??? definitely something unique and it was a wild ride for sure 🏎️🪐🏁 julianclarke had a lot of chemistry and i really liked the childhood best friends to lovers trope in this 😇 they were super cute together and i loved how the book ended for them!

my main issue with this was how long it was, and honestly how dramatic that last 20% was 😭 like soooo much was going on i just wanted the book to wrap up. i also wasn’t the biggest fan of how long it took clarke to wake the fuck up and realize what was going on at elemental 😔 otherwise this was good!

a special thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good formula 1 romance but in SPACE I couldn't download this fast enough. It was worth it. Definitely a 4.5 it got a little clunky in the middle but it came right back and had great second half and ending.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. A Formula 1 romcom - IN SPACE!!! It was more intense with the behind the scenes F1 political machinations than I was expecting, but that only heightened the story. Well done. Thanks to Berkley for the arc.

[Salomé]

this seems so wacky can’t wait 😂

[ems ₊⊹]

FORMULA ONE IN SPACE??!?!??! OH MY GOD GIMME

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's at times like this when I hate having to review based on numbers... so firstly. 4/5. But at the same time, slightly below? Not quite a 3.75 even, but still below a 4. But also part of me wants to give this a 5 SO. BAD.

Without further ado, though, let me write my review.
Premise: Okay, this is technically labeled a sports romance (which it is), but there's actually a really fun mystery element to it, too! Clarke and Julian are F0 racers, which is sort of like a futuristic, sci-fi-y version of F1. Instead of racing with race cars (I'm sorry, I know next to nothing about F1 - apart from Charles Leclerc - so excuse me if they use some other, fancier term for them), they're racing literal SPACE SHIPS!!! Hello??? Our FMC and MMC compete with each other and blah blah blah but! Ooooooh mystery~~~ What's the mystery? Well, read it to find out🙃.

My Thoughts:
YOU GUYS!!!!!!!! WHEN I TELL YOU I READ THE LAST ~15/20% WITH MY JAW DROPPED????? LITERALLY CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO COUNT THE AMOUNT OF TIMES MY BRAIN JUST WENT "pause. what the fuck is going on???????????"

Honestly (and I know, I know, this is my mistake and I accept full fault), I apparently didn't read the blurb closely enough and didn't realize this would be more sci-fi than I thought. They're literally out on other planets. I genuinely thought it would be just flying cars... So, as someone who isn't a huge fan of sci-fi, upon seeing the words "Martian" and "Jupiter", I had half a mind to drop it. BUT WHEN I TELL YOU I'M SO GLAD I DIDN'T!

Y'ALL! I LOVED IT. The following things will be in numbered form. I literally cannot pull my thoughts together enough to coherently gush about this novel with making-my-English-Teacher-proud paragraphs.

1. JULIAN!!! JULIAN I LOVE YOU. YOU'RE THE GREENEST GREEN FLAG EVER WRITTEN. Please, he was the sweetest. The way he was ALWAYS in Maddie's corner, even when she wasn't even in her own corner??? He loved her so much. I don't even know what to say... they haven't created a word in the English language strong enough to convey how much I love Julian.

2. The slow burnnnnn. My gosh, the slow burn burned real slow. Normally, I would've been so annoyed at how glacially slow the romance was moving, but Meredith did it so well. Why? Because there were other parts of the plot. So many pure romance novels get bogged down by slow burn, because it gets so boring just watching two people do nothing but circle around each other again and again and again. But in F0, we get to see Clarke trying to establish herself as a driver/pilot, while also trying to figure out what's "shady". There's never a moment where you're sitting there, thinking to yourself, "my god, this AGAIN??? GET ON WITH IT!"

3. Clarke pissed me off SO BAD at the beginning, with her fervently defending her old team. LIKE GIRL LITERALLY JUST OPEN YOUR EYES? They have a literal CHIP in your body. They don't listen to anything you say??? EVERYONE'S TELLING YOU THEY SUCK!!! I actually cheered when she finally started to stand up for herself. I was so proud of her character growth. Honestly, I need a book 2. I just know my girl will become the best F0 driver there ever was when she finally has a team behind her that supports her.

4. Thierry, you're adorable. He was sooooo fun. I hope everyone finds a friend like you. The Moms Club. Her stepdad/half-brother. The people who worked on her ship/her publicist. Lennox. Muah muah. We love a book where the side characters aren't dragging the story down.
And to that one lady, you know who you are, FUCK YOU. I can't believe I didn't see that coming from a mile away. Shame on me, honestly.

5. I know lots of debut authors are still figuring things out, so I try to give some leeway in writing, but Meredith Lanzen? You've figured it out. Zero notes on the writing. It was a delight to read.

Onto the complaints though... just a few! Like I said, loved the book overall. I have a few very minor complaints and one major complaint.

Minor: Frankly, there are all things I think most people would be able to get over them, so there were no points docked for this. They were just annoyances.
1. I touched on this above. It bothered me a lot that Maddie wasn't seeing what was literally right in front of her for so long. I almost dropped the book because of this... but that just made the end all the more satisfying.

2. Is it normal for cars in F1 to have this many big problems and for no one to step in? I get they'll... break down/need fixes, but I feel like the ones Maddie was facing were extreme? Why did no F0 officials step in earlier and be like "bro, wtf is going on with y'all?"

3. I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t really get the motive behind why the villain did what they did. I just feel it’s really shaky reasoning? Like what a 0-100 jump?

Like I said. All minor annoyances. But my one big one, which is why this is a 4 instead of a 5, was the fact that he supposedly has loved her for so long, but in the meantime, he's been sleeping with other people? Maybe it's too much to expect someone to be celibate for 6 years, but like. You said you loved her for this whole time, though??? How'd you stomach sleeping with someone else. And then her imagining him with someone else after they made out that first time... my gosh, it gave me an ick I couldn't shake off for the rest of the novel. And perhaps it's petty! I know it's petty! After all, it was literally only one paragraph. But I just couldn't forget it? It made all of his romantic talk about loving her seem... fake??? Anywho. My one and only complaint.

Oh. One last comment. I wish we could've seen Julian's POV too🥺 Novella? Book 2? Or maybe a bonus? Please?

Loved it overall. Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley, and Meredith Lenzen for the ARC!

[steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a kid who grew up in a NASCAR loving household in the 90's (my driver was Elliott Sadler because he drove the M&M's car haha), I am always ready to read books set in the racing world. So when I saw this book about Formula One (in space!!!), I knew I had to read it. And overall it didn't disappoint though I will say it's less a romance book and more focused on everything else.

Our narrator is Madeline Clarke whom everyone calls Clarke. She is 23 and has been racing professionally for 2 years on a mid level team (they aren't at the front of the pack, but they aren't at the back either). She loves racing, but her ships don't always perform well, her boss isn't the easiest person to work for and she hasn't talked to her childhood-best-friend-turned crush Julian who is currently racing for one of the top 3 ranking teams in about two years.

My girl Clarke has got a lot going on.

But when Clarke realizes that her DNF's losses and ship issues might be a deliberate act, she sets up to find out who is trying to sabotage her and why, while in the meantime growing closer to her old BFF Julian.

Things I loved about this book: Clarke, her family, her friends, the way the author weaves all the information about Formula Zero and ships in a way that is engaging and interesting.

Things I did not love about this book: At 450 pages it's too long. The story goes slow which is nice because as a reader it really made me get inside Clarke's head and learn to absolutely ADORE her, but it also dragged out the plot a bit longer than I thought it would. Like, we could have skipped some of the technical stuff about Formula Zero instead of going on for two pages about how the engines and tracks worked (although the track with the 8 black holes would be cool to race on, I'm not going to lie). And it's not really romanced focused, though the cover and synopsis imply heavily that it is. Clarke and Julian have the slowest of slow burns, they don't have that many scenes together, and the majority of their scenes initially involve Clarke running away. Their romance takes a backseat to the racing which is FINE (I was getting some Mariana Zapata vibes while reading because I do love a well written and drawn out love story) but I do wish I had known that going in. I would have lowered my expectations of the romance.

That said, this book was super interesting and fun and Clarke is probably one of my favorite main characters that I've read in awhile. I would highly recommend if you are intrigued by Formula One set in space and strong female leads.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shirtballs, Batman...this was an unexpected and fun read!! I did not anticipate being SUCKED IN by a Formula-One-in-space sports romance this spring, but here we are.

Madeline Clarke (mostly addressed as Clarke in the story) is a downtrodden Formula Zero (F0) racer for a middling team with dysfunctional leadership. Her former BFF is one of her main rivals. We are dropped in mid-season with a stellar opening, delivering us all the context we need for the state of Clarke's team, her ship, and her relationships.

I adored the growth of Clarke—it was measured and believable. Did I want to shout at her sometimes? Of course.

The MMC, Julian Casperi, is as handsome as he is talented. I enjoyed their banter and rekindling of friendship. There is a lot of "the one that got away" vibes, but I think that only enhances their tension and draw.

What I did not expect was how much I would get into the racing and political drama. It was DELICIOUS. This story was so much more than a sports romance. It centers on a female athlete rediscovering that she is enough. Period. And that she doesn't need to be rescued, but instead open up to the community and find that support was there all along. I LOVE this kind of theme when there is a real conflict with the FMC, and while the MMC does help, he is not her rescuer: Clarke is enough.

There is spice, but if that's not your thing, it is skippable; honestly, by the end, it wasn't necessary. I loved the prose, the intrigue, the side characters. The story is so rich that the spice was a fun touch, but it was one of those books that didn't need the spice legs to stand strong in the pool of sports romances.

SO—for a sports romance, five stars.
Three chilli peppers for spice.

Thank you, #NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for my E-Arc of #FormulaZero!

[kat lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Meredith Lanzen for this eARC!

Rating: 4 Stars
Review: I LOVED this book!! I binged it in two days, could not put it down, and when I did it was all I could think about. Clarke is such a badass and I'm so happy she got her happy ending!

Clarke's storyline was crazy and dramatic but really well written. I think the universe Meredith Lanzen has created is incredibly creative and this concept of F1 but in space with all the futuristic elements attached was super entertaining and I would love to read about more characters in this universe. I unfortunately do not fully understand F1 as it is so there were some aspects of F0 that I just simply had trouble picturing because I don't know this sport well. However, that didn't hinder my ability to feel what the character was feeling and experience those emotions. I enjoyed reading the race scenes despite my difficulty picturing them!

One thing I didn't love about this book is the length. While I usually don't mind a long book, this one felt unnecessarily long. Unfortunately, I think this is due to the lack of Julien/Clarke content. I did love Clarkes storyline, her character development, and the racing of it all but the ratio was just off. I mean this genuinely when I say I wish we got more of Clarke and Julien's storyline. I personally feel that since this is technically a romance that portion of the book shouldn't feel like a side plot and there could be less of Clarke's career challenges because it felt more like the main plot.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were entertaining, seeing Clarkes friends and co-workers rally around her was really fulfilling, the side-characters were very impactful, and Clarke and Julien had an adorable second-chance/right person wrong time story that I just wish we got more of.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘡𝘦𝘳𝘰 is an exciting and heartwarming romance debut with a unique premise - Formula One set in space!

Childhood best friends Julian and Clarke allowed a chasm to swallow their mutual pining as to not interfere with their promising F0 careers. Their distance was further deepened by a painful loss, and years later their interactions are limited to bickering. When Clarke crashes her ship and Julian saves her life, their dynamic begins to shift once again...

I'm obsessed with the mix of a captivating sci-fi setting and addictive romance plot! It's well-written in an engaging voice, and I could not put this book down. The concept was executed brilliantly, conveyed in a fast pace to match the excitement I'd expect for interplanetary Formula One!

I adored the characters, especially Julian's unwavering support and respect, even from afar. The mutual yearning made for such a swoon-worthy read - exactly what this genre should be about!

I heavily related to Clarke and her struggles, easily seeing bits of myself at 23 in her. 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘡𝘦𝘳𝘰 evaluates the sudden moments of pain following grief, especially grief made heavier by the weight of guilt. It examines the fractures grief can wedge in previously unbreakable relationships, and I appreciated how naturally this was developed. Her career challenges also encourage immense character growth, and the development is seamlessly balanced with other important plotlines. The prior conflict between characters was also sensical and realistic, building tension for readers from the start and allowing for a satisfying payoff by the end.

This is a debut to watch out for in 2026 when it races onto shelves near you!

Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the advance reading copy!

[Annie K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Formula One racing… in space?!

Clarke is in her sophomore year of Formula 0, and things aren’t going well. To make matters worse, her ex-best friend is consistently winning. With her reputation on the line, Clarke is forced to “fake a friendship” with Julian after years of distance—and maybe her reasons for avoiding him weren’t so good after all.

I didn’t even fully read the synopsis going in because I thought this was about formula one racing lol. Turns out this book is a sci-fi romance mystery masterpiece I didn’t know I was missing. The setting was so much fun! Clarke is from Mars, living on the Moon, and the story takes them from Earth to Mars to the Moon—and even to a separate interplanetary race track locations?!? I was absolutely here for it. I’m not usually a sci-fi fan, but if this author doesn’t write more books in this setting, I’ll be devastated. Please let me return to this world—I loved it.

The mystery was fantastic too. There was definitely foreshadowing, but the twist genuinely shocked me. Usually, I can figure these things out—or at least narrow the options—but I was completely blindsided, which made it even more fun and intriguing.

And of course, the romance! Julian was adorable. I loved the slow burn and tension between them, and Clarke’s reasons for avoiding him made perfect sense. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way.

All in all, this book scratched an itch I didn’t even know I had. It beautifully weaves sci-fi, romance, and mystery into one story. It definitely wasn’t what I expected, but I loved it all the same.

Thank you, NetGalley, and a special thank you to Berkley for granting me access to the eARC—I always scream when a Berkley approval comes through!

[RUTH GUCKIEAN · Rating 3 out of 5]

Formula One... in space??? I genuinely did not see that coming.

I requested Formula Zero because I'm a sucker for F1 romances and was immediately drawn to the female driver angle. The interplanetary zero-gravity racing circuit was a complete surprise—but honestly, Meredith Lanzen executes the concept well. The world-building around the sport translates surprisingly smoothly to a sci-fi setting, and the racing sequences have real energy. Clarke is a compelling protagonist: fighting for her place in a male-dominated sport, dealing with a controlling boss, an estranged father who's beloved by everyone except her, and performance pressure that threatens her entire career.

The rekindled tension with Julian—childhood best friend turned competitor turned complicated almost-something—provides solid romantic stakes. The "she walked away, he didn't stop her, now they're back in each other's orbits" dynamic works.

Where it lost me was the middle. The pacing lagged, some sections felt clunky, and the book ran longer than it needed to. I found my attention drifting in places where it should have been locked in. The sabotage subplot adds intrigue but also contributes to the bloat.

Here's my honest take: I enjoyed this, but it's not the F1 romance I'd readily recommend to someone looking to get into the sport or sports romance as a genre. The space setting, while well-executed, adds a layer of complexity that might distract from the core appeal for readers specifically chasing that F1 energy.

Fun and unique, but uneven.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[sjane34 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 ★

Genre: Sports Romance

I had a lot of fun reading this book, as I was easily immersed in the concept and characters chemistry. The world building was well paced and gave enough information to keep the story progressing. It does include a lot of unfamiliar terms, but I expected in for this other world setting. There were moments that I struggled to keep up with the technical aspects of the vehicles, race courses, etc., but I attribute this to being unfamiliar with Formula One. It was still easy to follow the story and I look forward to reading other sport romances in the professional racing category!

I enjoyed that we received unexpected twists that made this more than just a sport romance. It encouraged me to think back to connect the foreshadowing from previous chapters that laid the groundwork for the our MC's revelations.

True to being a slow burn, we really had to wait for the MC's to finally come together. There is a lot of moments heavy with heavy chemistry, that kept me asking, 'Is it finally happening?'
The only thing I felt critical of in their friendship/relationship is how long Clarke was blinded by her reasons why it would never work. But, it does also help the character development with how she views herself and her dynamics with other characters. She does evolve into who she wants to be, which I appreciate how vital her struggles with Julian, reflect how she views herself and takes control of her future.

Definitely recommend this book if you like:
Slow burn
Protective & possessive MMC
Open-door spice
Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Miscommunication
Betrayal

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Veeka · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 (rounded to 4) ⭐️

This was such a fun and unique read! I haven’t read many sports/racing romance books, so this being a Formula One (zero) racing with the twist of it being set in space, was so unique and fun to read!
I loved seeing the world-building and atmosphere of how everything was set up, especially the way the different tracks were created and the racing scene and environment behind it. I was sucked in right from the first chapter with how high-stakes everything felt.
I really love the FMC, Clarke. This girl had everything happening and was going through soo much. I loved how resilient she was with everything thrown her way and all the hands she was dealt. Plus the little bits of mystery that was thrown into the story too made this even more fun to read.
I will say the pacing threw me off just a little bit. I had to go back and re-read some things to figure out how exactly we got there. One minute she’s talking with her dad, and the next it jumps straight into a conversation with someone else in a different location. It didn’t happen too often, but when it did, it definitely pulled me out of the story a bit.
But with all that said, I still thought this was such an interesting and entertaining read. The concept stood out, the mystery kept me hooked, and the ending left me thinking. If you enjoy suspenseful stories with a unique premise and layered reveals, this is definitely one to check out!

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read or even watched Formula 1 so I went in completely blind and I have to say, it was so much fun.

The premise is Formula 1 but in space, which honestly works and adds so much excitement to the story. The main character is Maddie Clarke, a Formula Zero racer who races for a meh team. They're not the worst, but it's clear that they have no chance at placing in the top either.

At first, I was aggravated by Maddie because she let people treat her like crap and didn't do anything. However, as the story develops, it becomes clear that this was an intentional choice by the author and it allows us to watch Maddie's growth as she recognizes her own worth and finds her voice. It felt like a journey into empowerment and I enjoyed that a lot.

The MMC was well done as well, he has flaws and screws up -- and owns it. I felt like their relationship developed well and it was belieavable. The spice was well done too; it made sense when it happened, and it was written well.

I enjoyed the racing parts of the book which surprised me, because I am not a fan of any kind of racing. But the way the author writes it is engaging and exciting, and I ended up gripped by the action multiple times.

The plot was good as well and everything came together well, making sense at the end.

What keeps this book from being a five for me is that it read a little slow around the middle and I think some parts could have been shortened or cut, but all in all I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did and I recommend it even for those who are clueless about racing like I am.

Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC e-book

[Sandrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read ! This book is exactly what you expect, F1 but with ships and on interplanetary circuits. In the future, humans have colonized the solar system. Clarke is a Formula 0 pilot, but she’s having trouble winning since her ship is not performing well. Julian, her best friend turned rival in Formula 0, keeps coming back in her life and meddling.
I’m a big fan of sci-fi and I loved the world the author had created. There’s a lot of explanations and context, so the world makes sense and as readers, we are not thrown into this without knowledge, which I really appreciate. This is marketed as a romance, and while there is a nice romance, it’s not full on romance heavy. This book is definitely more focused on Formula 0 races, strategies team politics, conspiracies and overall character growth, which I liked. That being said, I did really enjoyed the romance, it’s a slow burn and Julian is a dreamy MMC. The stakes were high, there were some plot twists I didn’t expect and the world building was extensive and well done.

Overall, this is definitely a must read for fans of formula 1. There’s some Easter eggs that fans will enjoy. Sci-fi lovers will also enjoy this book as it combines well sci-fi with romance. I really enjoyed this book, the concept was well executed and it delivered on what it promised! I hope to read more books in this universe !

Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.

[Briana Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review ✨
First I would like to say a big thank you to NetGalley for letting me be a part of this ARC Team!
Rate: 3.5/5⭐️
Spice: 0.5/5🌶️

What to expect when reading ;
-Ex Best Friends
-Formula 1 with a spacey twist
-Female Racer Pilot


In this is book you get to follow Madeline Clarke and Julian Casperi!Clarke is a racer pilot with all the odds going against her. Julian has always wanted to be there for Clarke but when a falling out left them not only as competitors but as enemies too will anything be able to mend this relationship. This was such a cool and fun twist, because formula one in space? What a genius idea!!!! I wish this would have been a dual pov, instead of being written in third person, I would have loved to have Julians pov in certain situations. I also think it would have helped the story flow for everything Clarke was going through. There were so many plot twist throughout this book that definitely kept you on your toes. To sum up thoughts; Clarkes character development was perfection. I wish we got more Clarke and Julian. The epilogue was the perfect way to end this book!

Side notes:
-the couch scene
-I need a Thierry book lol

Fav Quote:
•”I don’t share”
•”F0 was his world then, not mine.”
•”Is that your fantasy? That you’re my kept man?”
•”Have been. Will be.”

Make sure you get your copy of the book when it releases 🤍
#bookstagram #romance #review

[Payton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was genuinely so much fun and had me invested in a sport that both terrified me and also does not exist at all.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A man in a fireproof jumpsuit who is so unbelievably down bad??? I’m here for it. We like them flame-resistant and also a little bit pathetic, and Julian delivers in spades.

There was a sort of mystery/verging on thriller (on account of THEY ARE IN SPACE) aspect to this that I also really loved. Julian and Clarke reconnecting both cautiously and with the kind of familiarity that comes with a long-term friendship was woven so intricately between them literally solving crime(s) and doing tricks in spaceships. And though he was frustrated with Clarke’s determination to keep him at arms length, Julian also understood it because he knew her well enough to respect why.

Clarke is SO determined and headstrong and brave, and I adored her commitment to everything that mattered to her - whether that be her career, her friendships, or orbiting Julian like a suspicious planet. She is a bit like a feral cat that wants to cuddle but will bite if you make any move to reciprocate (me).

I would say this book made me want to be a spaceship racer but I will leave that to the professionals because I was sweaty just thinking about it. Also we as a species really do not deserve flying vehicles.

[Amber Kemp Schuman · Rating 4 out of 5]

🏎️ arc review: Formula Zero by Meredith Landen🏎️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️

“He always lets her leave. It’s what’s defined their entire relationship. Clarke always pulls back, and Julian always lets her, and somewhere along the way the line they wouldn’t cross turned into a chasm that can’t be bridged.“

Thank you to Berkley for the arc of Formula Zero by Meredith Landen! I was so excited to read a new author and a very cool concept of a F1 romance.

GUYS I have been in such a formula 1 romance mood. I can’t explain it, but this summer I have been craving a formula one romance here and there. There’s just something about the high stakes of it that I love. Enters: Berkley with a new author and a fun twist on formula 1. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to request it!

Formula Zero is basically formula one meets zeenon of the 21st century. It’s formula one with no gravity across the universe. It’s unique, and fun, and has a push and pull romance that I’ll never say no to.

I assume that this is leading us to an interconnected series and this book is the first that sets the world up and the players. It definitely had its twists and turns and I will say it was more based on our FMCs journey than the romance but if you love sports romance and are tired of the same
Old I totally recommend picking this one up!

Tropes:

🏎️ angsty romance
🏎️ self growth journey
🏎️ sports romance (formula 1 kinda?)
🏎️ forced proximity
🏎️ childhood best friends to lovers


Thank you again to Berkley for the opportunity to read before release! I appreciate the opportunity 🫶🏽

[Nicole P · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

This book is for the F1 girlies!!! Formula 1 but in space, racing ships on different planets, and so many strong female characters shown in the sport?? Yes please!! This story did an incredible job balancing both an incredible plot and a romance that makes you swoon. I was so incredibly locked in for this, and I loved the way the author took Formula One and made it her own in this story. The setting in space was an incredible and unique take on the sport that I loved seeing, and how she created tracks that were so unique while also adding in the classic F1 tracks that fans of the sport will love to see. The romance in this had me SAT. I loved Clarke and Julian so much; their dynamic was everything to me, and I couldn't get enough of them. Julian was absolutely perfect, and he was an incredible MMC. I had moments where Clarke irritated me, especially in the beginning, when I felt a lot of her reactions were blown way out of proportion, but grew to love her as her character developed throughout the story. These two are honestly one of my top-tier book couples, and you really feel every minute of the slow burn in this story. I also really enjoyed the mystery plot of this book, and how it dove deeper into the inter-team politics, and how far the teams will go to win. While some of the twists were predictable, I enjoyed every second of this read!

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC!

[Julia Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Formula One books have been hit-or-miss for me, but this one was definitely a hit. There were so many references to actual Formula One drama, but kicked up a notch with all the crazy new tracks and rules, making it feel like a true (but very unique) homage to the sport. As a big Formula One fan, I appreciated that the racing was just as exciting as the off-track drama, which is hard to achieve on paper. I was glued to the page every time a race was intense.

As far as the romance goes, I loved it. It was full of the messy feelings that come with falling for your childhood friend, and it avoided all of my least-favorite tropes, or cut them off at the head (I'm looking at you, miscommunication), which made the characters feel more emotionally mature than I've seen in many sports romances. The side characters were wonderful as well, and I ended up enjoying the friendships as much as the main relationship. The bad guys (no spoilers) did feel a little super-villain-like, but they weren't far off from some real controversies Formula One has seen, so it didn't take me out of the plot.

Overall, I had a great time reading this novel. I'll definitely keep an eye out for more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc!

[‎Lia .☘︎ ݁˖ · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★ ~ three stars

*・❥・**Formula Zero* was an interesting read, even if it wasn’t exactly what I expected going in. I originally thought it would focus more on Formula One or racing, but the story actually goes in a different direction and centers more on its ideas and character dynamics.

⋮ ⌗ ┆One thing that stood out to me was the narration style. It’s written in third person from what feels like an outsider’s perspective, which gives the story a slightly distant, observational tone. At times, this works really well and makes everything feel more thoughtful and reflective, though it can also make it a bit harder to fully connect with the characters.

⋮ ⌗ ┆Speaking of characters, they didn’t always click for me. Some of them came across as a little frustrating, which made it harder to stay fully invested in their choices. That said, they do have distinct personalities, and their interactions still help carry the story forward.

・❥・Even though it didn’t match my expectations, I can appreciate what the book was trying to do. It explores some interesting ideas, and there are moments where those concepts really stand out. Overall, I’d say *Formula Zero* is a unique and thought-provoking read—just one that might surprise you depending on what you’re expecting.

[linds❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there’s two things I love in romance books it’s friends to lovers and sports. Well, Formula Zero was right up my alley because not only did it have that but it also featured one of my favourite sports - F1 (with a twist)! This intergalactic romcom is suprisingly charming and just zany enough. It has a few moments that kind of remind me of the 1990’s game F-Zero X crossed with the real-life F1. It has nods to real tracks (like Monza and Monaco), and some easter eggs to some on-track drama, but is different enough to stand on it’s own.
The sci-fi setting was not especially deep (we don’t really see much of the world outside of the tracks) but it was intriguing - with tracks featured on Mars, and other planets. Everything is explained well, but does not feel like an info-dump, which is appreciated. And while the book really focused on Maddie’s career and the politics of said career, what really stood out to me was Julian and Maddie’s friendship, their budding romance, and their navigation of grief. I really enjoyed their growth, their support, and their competitiveness.

Thank you to Berkley for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Portia Citlali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a 3.5 star read for me ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
It is like a space Formula One soap opera!! DRAMA!!

🤝⚔️❤️Friends to Rivals to Lovers
🚀🏁💖Sci-Fi Sports Romance
Single POV
Mystery

I wasn’t sure how I felt about this at first. I was a little thrown off by the futuristic setting. But once the drama kicked in, I was hooked and completely antsy for more. There’s so much happening behind the scenes: sabotage, ruthless rival team competition, attempted murder, and backstabbing. The tension is constantly at an all-time high.

This story follows Clarke, a Formula Zero racer fighting against all odds to come out on top. She has to face relentless adversity, not just on the track, but within her own family. Along the way, she ends up relying on the people she least expects, and it’s so rewarding to watch her truly come into her own. Once she realizes she has nothing to lose, she fully taps in. She becomes no-nonsense and self-assured, learning that no matter what others think of her, she knows her talent and her worth and that she has what it takes to win and to get the guy.

The spice was minimal, but the tension never wavered. 🌶️

I wanted to thank Netgally for this ARC