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Slipstream #2
The Paddock Club: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 14 Jul 26A Formula 1 romance set in the Slipstream universe following Cat Cromwell, a fashion influencer on a secret mission to ruin a driver’s reputation, but she may fall for his rival instead.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 14, 2026
About the author
Madge Maril
2 books178 followersHello! I'm Madge Maril, author of SLIPSTREAM & THE PADDOCK CLUB (7/14/2026). When I'm not writing romance books, I'm probably on Instagram. (Or you can follow my *very* sporadic newsletter.) Happy reading!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
February 9, 2026
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.
i truly don’t know if i have adequate enough words to describe how much i love madge maril’s books, so please bear with me.
first - i love the writing. beautiful, witty, thought provoking prose that makes it so easy to fly through the pages and lose track of time.
these characters are so real. they’re flawed and smart and funny and vulnerable and so, so real. i loved the glimpses we got of faust from book 1 and i loved learning more about him. i am obsessed with cat - she’s one of my new favorite book characters. i loved seeing her character development and a lot of her inner monologue had me going “girl, same.” side note i also adored cat’s love for fashion and the true appreciation for it that the author showed.
the romance!!!!! the ROMANCEEEE!! so so good. the back and forth, cat and mouse dynamic they had at first had me actually screaming. i also love a “he falls first” trope and faust was down BAD for cat - it had me genuinely kicking my feet, giggling, twirling my hair, sliding down the wall, etc. every other page like oh my god?? madge knows how to write tension and banter between two intelligent characters and i truly eat it up every time.
similar to slipstream, the paddock club deals with formula 1 in a very nuanced way. as a fan of the sport, madge does a great job at writing her love for racing into the pages while also not shying away from (very valid) critiques about the sport itself and the socioeconomic divide within the world of f1. also these books are accurate regarding the rules of f1, which is very much appreciated!!
i also really resonated with how cat’s grief, especially for her grandmother, was portrayed. i was crying right alongside her and highlighted so many quotes that really got me.
also: “you’re the reason people keep lights on” iykyk!!!!!!
overall, PLEASE read these books and add them to your tbr if you haven’t already. they’re so, so well written and are such beautiful stories. if you’re a fan of f1 you’ll love them and if you are unfamiliar with f1, these books are accessible and a fun introduction to the sport.
i truly don’t know if i have adequate enough words to describe how much i love madge maril’s books, so please bear with me.
first - i love the writing. beautiful, witty, thought provoking prose that makes it so easy to fly through the pages and lose track of time.
these characters are so real. they’re flawed and smart and funny and vulnerable and so, so real. i loved the glimpses we got of faust from book 1 and i loved learning more about him. i am obsessed with cat - she’s one of my new favorite book characters. i loved seeing her character development and a lot of her inner monologue had me going “girl, same.” side note i also adored cat’s love for fashion and the true appreciation for it that the author showed.
the romance!!!!! the ROMANCEEEE!! so so good. the back and forth, cat and mouse dynamic they had at first had me actually screaming. i also love a “he falls first” trope and faust was down BAD for cat - it had me genuinely kicking my feet, giggling, twirling my hair, sliding down the wall, etc. every other page like oh my god?? madge knows how to write tension and banter between two intelligent characters and i truly eat it up every time.
similar to slipstream, the paddock club deals with formula 1 in a very nuanced way. as a fan of the sport, madge does a great job at writing her love for racing into the pages while also not shying away from (very valid) critiques about the sport itself and the socioeconomic divide within the world of f1. also these books are accurate regarding the rules of f1, which is very much appreciated!!
i also really resonated with how cat’s grief, especially for her grandmother, was portrayed. i was crying right alongside her and highlighted so many quotes that really got me.
also: “you’re the reason people keep lights on” iykyk!!!!!!
overall, PLEASE read these books and add them to your tbr if you haven’t already. they’re so, so well written and are such beautiful stories. if you’re a fan of f1 you’ll love them and if you are unfamiliar with f1, these books are accessible and a fun introduction to the sport.
Want to Read
April 24, 2026
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*
One of the tropes are F1 driver x professional heartbreaker. I love professional heartbreakers!!! I'm so looking forward to this.
One of the tropes are F1 driver x professional heartbreaker. I love professional heartbreakers!!! I'm so looking forward to this.
April 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinions!
The premise of this book jumped out at me right away, and as an F1 girlie myself who really liked Slipstream, I knew I had to read this ASAP. Unfortunately, this one simply didn’t click with me. We follow Cat Cromwell as she fake dates and breaks heart for a living - her newest mark is formula 1 driver Bernard Baudelaire and when she begins the ruse, she’s intrigued by Faust, the driver she is styling. Throughout the book, the two of them speak a few times, have some tension that I personally couldn’t see, and eventually fall for each other. My biggest issue was the timing - it moved incredibly quickly and I feel like there was nothing to back it up, just a whole lot of unnecessary angst.
Everything felt a little choppy, out of place, and overall confusing if I’m being completely honest. Luckily the characters had some depth, because that was one of the redeeming factors for me. I didn’t dislike it by any means, but I didn’t love it. I can see this 100% being other people’s cup of tea though, so if it sounds interesting to you, I’d definitely recommend giving it a go.
The premise of this book jumped out at me right away, and as an F1 girlie myself who really liked Slipstream, I knew I had to read this ASAP. Unfortunately, this one simply didn’t click with me. We follow Cat Cromwell as she fake dates and breaks heart for a living - her newest mark is formula 1 driver Bernard Baudelaire and when she begins the ruse, she’s intrigued by Faust, the driver she is styling. Throughout the book, the two of them speak a few times, have some tension that I personally couldn’t see, and eventually fall for each other. My biggest issue was the timing - it moved incredibly quickly and I feel like there was nothing to back it up, just a whole lot of unnecessary angst.
Everything felt a little choppy, out of place, and overall confusing if I’m being completely honest. Luckily the characters had some depth, because that was one of the redeeming factors for me. I didn’t dislike it by any means, but I didn’t love it. I can see this 100% being other people’s cup of tea though, so if it sounds interesting to you, I’d definitely recommend giving it a go.
March 25, 2026
Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC of The Paddock Club.
Love! Love! Love! Madge Maril absolutely nailed The Paddock Club, the second book in her Slipstream series. This story was the perfect mix of F1 and romance with a male main character who absolutely yearns for our FMC. I loved the premise of Cat being a work for hire girl who breaks men’s hearts only to find her match with Faust. Their relationship and all the things Faust does along the way to show he cares had me kicking my feet. This novel was also the perfect way to pass the time while waiting for F1 to return. This is a summer must read! 5⭐️
Love! Love! Love! Madge Maril absolutely nailed The Paddock Club, the second book in her Slipstream series. This story was the perfect mix of F1 and romance with a male main character who absolutely yearns for our FMC. I loved the premise of Cat being a work for hire girl who breaks men’s hearts only to find her match with Faust. Their relationship and all the things Faust does along the way to show he cares had me kicking my feet. This novel was also the perfect way to pass the time while waiting for F1 to return. This is a summer must read! 5⭐️
December 12, 2025
I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this book from the author. Madge really grew as a writer here. Slipstream was shiny and new and a feel-good time to read, but with the Paddock Club you can really tell that Madge let loose and had a ton of fun writing these characters. It's kind of like her debut was her first-born and she was being so soft, gentle and loving with it, but the Paddock Club is like her wildchild secondborn that she lets be feral (positive) and unsupervised. I flew through this in two days because I could not stop reading it. It has a bit of an addictive quality. Congrats on Book #2, Madge!!!
April 9, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
I have never watched an F1 race but I’m apparently into reading about the sport.
Fans of Mariana Zapata I think would devour this.
Single POV
And the girl is clueless about the guys feelings. Yet we the reader just know.
I eat this up.
Little miss Cat has a unique job.
Breaking mens hearts for a living.
Secret identity
Lands a job for the team as a fashion gal
Faust, our driver.
Secretly obsessed.
Netgalley arc review ✨
I have never watched an F1 race but I’m apparently into reading about the sport.
Fans of Mariana Zapata I think would devour this.
Single POV
And the girl is clueless about the guys feelings. Yet we the reader just know.
I eat this up.
Little miss Cat has a unique job.
Breaking mens hearts for a living.
Secret identity
Lands a job for the team as a fashion gal
Faust, our driver.
Secretly obsessed.
Netgalley arc review ✨
Want to Read
June 5, 2025I need it. I want it. I'll get it.
March 5, 2026
6 stars for Cat & Faust!!!!!!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!
Madge Maril's sophomore novel, The Paddock Club is an absolutely delectable read. It follows Cat Cromwell, professional heartbreaker & Faust Ferreira Sanchez, F1 driver. When Cat is hired to break the heart of one of F1's golden boys, she unexpectedly crosses paths with Faust, who is determined to figure her out. What's the worst that could happen??? They fall in love? I sure hope so!
Cat is a character I found myself drawn to from the very beginning. She's a bit jaded on some fronts—love, men, & the wealthy being a few (can you blame her?). Her witty, charmingly awkward, & caring personality is easy to love. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to her fears surrounding love, her family, & her desire to be the one everyone can count on. Her grief is handled beautifully & with care, & I really admire how Madge incorporated it into her story/character. I adored getting to know her, see her growth & watch her open up as the story went on! Faust is a mysterious yet downright charming man who I absolutely love. He is unwaveringly caring, steady, safe, emotionally intelligent. I loved discovering parts of him & his backstory, learning about his life with F1. I adored seeing him unravel in the small intimate ways someone like him does as they fall in love. He fascinated & intrigued me & I just wanted to attach myself to his control-loving, soft-hearted soul & learn everything about him. I LOVE THEM BOTH BAD!!!
The romance! OH! THE ROMANCE!!! The Paddock Club is a masterclass in yearning. Truly. Cat & Faust have an unreal amount of chemistry & tension that feels like a real, living thing throughout the entirety of this story. It was almost mind-boggling just how much these two understood each other, and how well they were able to unravel each other. If I could describe them in one word it would be: inevitable. See also: soulmates, hot, fated, and Hot. I love them. I love their love story, albeit a wee bit unconventional. I love how much they both want it each other, so much so it's almost sickening!!!! THE JOURNAL! i'm going to cry right now.
I can't recommend this one enough!!! Add it to your tbr NOW!!!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!
Madge Maril's sophomore novel, The Paddock Club is an absolutely delectable read. It follows Cat Cromwell, professional heartbreaker & Faust Ferreira Sanchez, F1 driver. When Cat is hired to break the heart of one of F1's golden boys, she unexpectedly crosses paths with Faust, who is determined to figure her out. What's the worst that could happen??? They fall in love? I sure hope so!
Cat is a character I found myself drawn to from the very beginning. She's a bit jaded on some fronts—love, men, & the wealthy being a few (can you blame her?). Her witty, charmingly awkward, & caring personality is easy to love. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to her fears surrounding love, her family, & her desire to be the one everyone can count on. Her grief is handled beautifully & with care, & I really admire how Madge incorporated it into her story/character. I adored getting to know her, see her growth & watch her open up as the story went on! Faust is a mysterious yet downright charming man who I absolutely love. He is unwaveringly caring, steady, safe, emotionally intelligent. I loved discovering parts of him & his backstory, learning about his life with F1. I adored seeing him unravel in the small intimate ways someone like him does as they fall in love. He fascinated & intrigued me & I just wanted to attach myself to his control-loving, soft-hearted soul & learn everything about him. I LOVE THEM BOTH BAD!!!
The romance! OH! THE ROMANCE!!! The Paddock Club is a masterclass in yearning. Truly. Cat & Faust have an unreal amount of chemistry & tension that feels like a real, living thing throughout the entirety of this story. It was almost mind-boggling just how much these two understood each other, and how well they were able to unravel each other. If I could describe them in one word it would be: inevitable. See also: soulmates, hot, fated, and Hot. I love them. I love their love story, albeit a wee bit unconventional. I love how much they both want it each other, so much so it's almost sickening!!!! THE JOURNAL! i'm going to cry right now.
I can't recommend this one enough!!! Add it to your tbr NOW!!!
March 5, 2026
Rating: 5 Stars
The Paddock Club is everything I could ask for in a romance and MORE. Ever since I became a fan of Formula 1, I've been hoping to find a romance set in that world that truly captures the excitement and emotion of the sport. I've tried a couple other books, but none have managed to pull me in until THIS BOOK. From the very first chapters, I was absolutely enamored. I immediately knew this was going to be a favorite for me. This completely delivered everything I wanted from an F1 book, and right before the new season starts!
Faust is, without question, the standard for MMCs. Truly. I do not think anyone will ever compare. The way he listened to Cat, cared for her, and consistently showed up in his perfect brooding way made my heart melt. He was so attentive, thoughtful and present in a way that felt so refreshing compared to other sports romances. I have a personal vendetta against reformed playboy, so anytime a sports romance doesn't lean into that I am VERY happy.
One of my absolute favorite things in this book was the glimpses we got into his journal. Those scenes added such a soft and intimate layer to his character that made me fall in love with him even more. I was legit SQUEALING at every entry. Such a unique and fun way to add in a bit of the male POV without being too much.
This book completely reignited my excitement for F1 romances. It was so perfect and Faust is now one of my fav MMCs ever. I will immediately be picking up a copy of Slipstream, Madge Maril is now an auto buy author after this!
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
The Paddock Club is everything I could ask for in a romance and MORE. Ever since I became a fan of Formula 1, I've been hoping to find a romance set in that world that truly captures the excitement and emotion of the sport. I've tried a couple other books, but none have managed to pull me in until THIS BOOK. From the very first chapters, I was absolutely enamored. I immediately knew this was going to be a favorite for me. This completely delivered everything I wanted from an F1 book, and right before the new season starts!
Faust is, without question, the standard for MMCs. Truly. I do not think anyone will ever compare. The way he listened to Cat, cared for her, and consistently showed up in his perfect brooding way made my heart melt. He was so attentive, thoughtful and present in a way that felt so refreshing compared to other sports romances. I have a personal vendetta against reformed playboy, so anytime a sports romance doesn't lean into that I am VERY happy.
One of my absolute favorite things in this book was the glimpses we got into his journal. Those scenes added such a soft and intimate layer to his character that made me fall in love with him even more. I was legit SQUEALING at every entry. Such a unique and fun way to add in a bit of the male POV without being too much.
This book completely reignited my excitement for F1 romances. It was so perfect and Faust is now one of my fav MMCs ever. I will immediately be picking up a copy of Slipstream, Madge Maril is now an auto buy author after this!
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
April 2, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the early review copy! I was very excited to receive an early copy of *The Paddock Club* after enjoying *SlipStream*.
This novel follows Cat, who is hired to break the heart of serial fiancé and F1 driver Bernard Boudalaire after he leaves yet another woman at the altar. Working undercover for an F1 team, Cat's plan begins to unravel when Bernard exits her team, leading her to work with a quiet driver named Faust.
I found *SlipStream* to be more enjoyable than this one. The premise of Cat being paid to break people's hearts felt a bit far-fetched to me, and I thought we spent too much time in her unrealistic romantic situation instead of focusing on the potential real romance with Faust. For the story to be believable, I felt that Cat needed to actually date Bernard for a longer period. Additionally, I struggled to connect with either Faust or Cat due to the confusing storyline. However, I did like Faust and wished I could have felt a stronger emotional connection to him. I admire Cat for her dedication to taking care of her family.
This novel follows Cat, who is hired to break the heart of serial fiancé and F1 driver Bernard Boudalaire after he leaves yet another woman at the altar. Working undercover for an F1 team, Cat's plan begins to unravel when Bernard exits her team, leading her to work with a quiet driver named Faust.
I found *SlipStream* to be more enjoyable than this one. The premise of Cat being paid to break people's hearts felt a bit far-fetched to me, and I thought we spent too much time in her unrealistic romantic situation instead of focusing on the potential real romance with Faust. For the story to be believable, I felt that Cat needed to actually date Bernard for a longer period. Additionally, I struggled to connect with either Faust or Cat due to the confusing storyline. However, I did like Faust and wished I could have felt a stronger emotional connection to him. I admire Cat for her dedication to taking care of her family.
Want to Read
February 11, 2026preread: guess who got the arc? me! ♡ ︎
April 10, 2026
I love the slipstream universe and I never want to leave. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. Cat and Faust are my angel babies and I need them more than I need air or food.
February 11, 2026
I’m calling it now. The Paddock Club is going to be one of my favorite books of 2026. I loved this so much. The plot was well written, the characters were great, and I’m obsessed with Faust. Cat was so relatable and I wish I could fall into a job like that accidentally (fashion, not getting paid to break hearts). I also really loved a peek behind the curtain of luxury of F1 and fashion.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ebook in exchange for an honest review, all opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ebook in exchange for an honest review, all opinions expressed are my own.
Want to Read
September 10, 2025I need this like I need air.
February 5, 2026
When I opened the email from Simon and Schuster’s Marketing team and saw that I was invited to read Madge Maril’s new Formula 1 romance—well, squealed in excitement is one way of putting it. I proceeded to drop everything I was reading to disappear into the pages of The Paddock Club.
And I’m so glad I did.
I’m placing this novel in the “books I wish I could read for the first time again” category because “I loved it” isn’t a strong enough phrase for how I feel. Much like Slipstream, this book made me laugh, cry, and squeal, all while kicking my feet. I felt butterflies in my stomach on more than one occasion, and it was all because of the electric story Maril penned on page.
Madge Maril is in a league of her own when it comes to Formula 1 romances. Her writing is funny and honest. I lost track of how many sentences I highlighted because I adored the prose so much. Much like her first novel, Maril made Formula 1 accessible to readers who may not be fans of the sport. It was easy to see how much love she has for the sport, and how many honest and valid critiques she has of it, too. Cat was the perfect narrator to usher the reader through the commentary on Formula 1, as she was a woman with a foot in both the normal experience and the upper-class experience of Formula 1. The commentary wasn’t overdone, either. It was a beautiful sub-current to the stories unfolding on the page.
Despite this novel laying out commentary about how socioeconomic classes come face-to-face at a Formula 1 race, there was also a lot of pure joy to be found in the pages of this story. An element I was surprised to enjoy was Cat’s love for fashion and how Maril wrote about it. With Maril’s history as a fashion writer, I enjoyed seeing how fashion is an art form and it’s a tool one can use express oneself. Additionally, there was the joy of watching a romance unfold on page, while enjoying a “he fell first” trope. While Cat and Faust’s romance was the cornerstone to this novel—the cat and mouse game was so fun to read about—I can’t deny that Cat’s character arc was the true triumph of this story.
The characters felt incredibly realistic and were easy to connect with; much of that realism was due to their very human faults. Cat, our female Robin Hood, needed to be in control and enjoying taking on the patriarchy in the funniest way: by starting a business in helping women get revenge on the partners who broke their hearts. She had a strong incentive for going down this path, though. While a big part of her motivation was to make enough money for her family to safely chase after their dreams, the other part was Cat running away from herself and her grief. Grief and the control that arises because of the fallout from grief are themes any reader can relate to, and both were handled with care and intention. Faust, our male love interest, was the perfect foil to Cat. Inquisitive, kind, he balanced Cat and pushed her to grow into an even better person. (Honestly, Cat and Faust have become one of my favorite fictional couples!)
I adore a romance novel that discusses more than the, well, the romance. When these novels step beyond the love plot-line and explore how that love helps a character change for a better—that is where a romance novel shines. Cat (Arcadia’s) story was no exception to that. A novel exploring the contours of loving yourself will always be a story that finds a special place in this reader’s heart.
I hope Madge Maril continues penning romance novels because she’s made a fan out of me. Whether or not she returns to Formula 1 or sports romances doesn’t matter. What does matter is continuing to explore new characters, new romances, and new stories with her addicting and gorgeous writing style.
Now if you’ll kindly excuse this reader, I need to go reread this novel from the beginning because I simply cannot get enough of Cat and Faust’s story.
P.S. I wouldn’t be opposed to the addition of an epilogue to the published version of this novel. I would give anything to see another ten pages of their story!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
And I’m so glad I did.
I’m placing this novel in the “books I wish I could read for the first time again” category because “I loved it” isn’t a strong enough phrase for how I feel. Much like Slipstream, this book made me laugh, cry, and squeal, all while kicking my feet. I felt butterflies in my stomach on more than one occasion, and it was all because of the electric story Maril penned on page.
Madge Maril is in a league of her own when it comes to Formula 1 romances. Her writing is funny and honest. I lost track of how many sentences I highlighted because I adored the prose so much. Much like her first novel, Maril made Formula 1 accessible to readers who may not be fans of the sport. It was easy to see how much love she has for the sport, and how many honest and valid critiques she has of it, too. Cat was the perfect narrator to usher the reader through the commentary on Formula 1, as she was a woman with a foot in both the normal experience and the upper-class experience of Formula 1. The commentary wasn’t overdone, either. It was a beautiful sub-current to the stories unfolding on the page.
Despite this novel laying out commentary about how socioeconomic classes come face-to-face at a Formula 1 race, there was also a lot of pure joy to be found in the pages of this story. An element I was surprised to enjoy was Cat’s love for fashion and how Maril wrote about it. With Maril’s history as a fashion writer, I enjoyed seeing how fashion is an art form and it’s a tool one can use express oneself. Additionally, there was the joy of watching a romance unfold on page, while enjoying a “he fell first” trope. While Cat and Faust’s romance was the cornerstone to this novel—the cat and mouse game was so fun to read about—I can’t deny that Cat’s character arc was the true triumph of this story.
The characters felt incredibly realistic and were easy to connect with; much of that realism was due to their very human faults. Cat, our female Robin Hood, needed to be in control and enjoying taking on the patriarchy in the funniest way: by starting a business in helping women get revenge on the partners who broke their hearts. She had a strong incentive for going down this path, though. While a big part of her motivation was to make enough money for her family to safely chase after their dreams, the other part was Cat running away from herself and her grief. Grief and the control that arises because of the fallout from grief are themes any reader can relate to, and both were handled with care and intention. Faust, our male love interest, was the perfect foil to Cat. Inquisitive, kind, he balanced Cat and pushed her to grow into an even better person. (Honestly, Cat and Faust have become one of my favorite fictional couples!)
I adore a romance novel that discusses more than the, well, the romance. When these novels step beyond the love plot-line and explore how that love helps a character change for a better—that is where a romance novel shines. Cat (Arcadia’s) story was no exception to that. A novel exploring the contours of loving yourself will always be a story that finds a special place in this reader’s heart.
I hope Madge Maril continues penning romance novels because she’s made a fan out of me. Whether or not she returns to Formula 1 or sports romances doesn’t matter. What does matter is continuing to explore new characters, new romances, and new stories with her addicting and gorgeous writing style.
Now if you’ll kindly excuse this reader, I need to go reread this novel from the beginning because I simply cannot get enough of Cat and Faust’s story.
P.S. I wouldn’t be opposed to the addition of an epilogue to the published version of this novel. I would give anything to see another ten pages of their story!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2026
I really love Madge’s writing. I know literally nothing about the actual F1 world, but I love everything that she’s created in her own universe! I loved that we got to see a little bit of Arthur and Lilah!! And this one was a treat!
I LOVED Cat and Faust. Their chemistry was delicious! They had such a good connection, even when they were skirting around each other, even when they were trying to figure each other out!! And then when Cat did finally give in and tell Faust everything…they just were so gooooood! And I loved how much Faust wanted to take care of her, she desperately needed that!! He really was able to give her a way to find herself again.
I really struggled through the first half, and I don’t quite know why. I just felt like I was missing something? And that could really just be because of the nature of Cat’s entire life - that there is mystery and there are things missing that we don’t know about her. And it was written WELL don’t get me wrong, I do think it was a me issue not a book issue!
With that said!! I will keep reading whatever Madge writes because I love her!!
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I LOVED Cat and Faust. Their chemistry was delicious! They had such a good connection, even when they were skirting around each other, even when they were trying to figure each other out!! And then when Cat did finally give in and tell Faust everything…they just were so gooooood! And I loved how much Faust wanted to take care of her, she desperately needed that!! He really was able to give her a way to find herself again.
I really struggled through the first half, and I don’t quite know why. I just felt like I was missing something? And that could really just be because of the nature of Cat’s entire life - that there is mystery and there are things missing that we don’t know about her. And it was written WELL don’t get me wrong, I do think it was a me issue not a book issue!
With that said!! I will keep reading whatever Madge writes because I love her!!
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
February 25, 2026
I personally went into this book knowing it would be different than the first one, just based on the cover alone. I am so glad I did that, because this is unlike any other F1 romance book I have read before. Our female MC breaks up with men for work, to get revenge on women who have been done dirty. That itself is an interesting premise, and it definitely caught my attention from the beginning. Additionally, I can't say I saw the plotline coming. This is by no means a cliche romance, and I truly appreciated that. This book does not feel like a copy and paste plotline, which is funnnn. I am pretty neutral on my own opinions on this book. It was not my favorite, but it was by no means bad at all!!! I think it may not have been a read for me, but for so many others I know it will be. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book!
May 10, 2026
rtc ! sure to be a long one for this beauty 🐇
April 30, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ What an absolute DELIGHT of a book. I literally finished it in a day I could not put it down.
It was so refreshing to read a sports romance and be able to tell the author is actually a fan and KNOWS what she’s talking about. As an avid F1 watcher myself I loved the racing aspects of the book and thought it had a good balance of race moments/romance moments.
I really really loved Faust of course. What a man. Seeing his sporadic journal entries was also so fun. Cat is such a complex character and the discussions around grief that she has were so well written and impactful. At times I did forget that her dating Bernard was supposed to be the main reason she was there because the moments with Faust overshadowed it but I didn’t mind too much since I was really rooting for them.
If anything I would’ve loved to have an epilogue of sorts just to see how things are when Cat gets back to the team and how the season finishes out for Faust, but overall an extremely enjoyable read that I think fans of the sport will enjoy!
Thank you to Madge Maril, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the ARC!
It was so refreshing to read a sports romance and be able to tell the author is actually a fan and KNOWS what she’s talking about. As an avid F1 watcher myself I loved the racing aspects of the book and thought it had a good balance of race moments/romance moments.
I really really loved Faust of course. What a man. Seeing his sporadic journal entries was also so fun. Cat is such a complex character and the discussions around grief that she has were so well written and impactful. At times I did forget that her dating Bernard was supposed to be the main reason she was there because the moments with Faust overshadowed it but I didn’t mind too much since I was really rooting for them.
If anything I would’ve loved to have an epilogue of sorts just to see how things are when Cat gets back to the team and how the season finishes out for Faust, but overall an extremely enjoyable read that I think fans of the sport will enjoy!
Thank you to Madge Maril, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the ARC!
February 26, 2026
4.5/5 ✨
European Summer Fantasies: Loading...Please wait as I book a flight to Europe
Review of Advance Copy Received from NetGalley
Beyond the dreamy romantic European setting, this book beautifully captures the essence of loving others so deeply we forget to allow ourselves to feel loved in return.
Cat is a complex character, one I wasn’t sure I would be able to relate to at first. She initially comes across as vapid, self-centered, and overly fake. As the story progresses we truly see her for who she is behind that mask: someone who just wants to give and protect others so abundantly that she forgets about herself along the way.
Now, do not let the hidden emotional depths of this love story drag you away from reading it because my goodness...Faust Ferreira Sanchez. Now that, is a man you’re gonna wanna witness for yourself.
Faust is equally complex, but in a way I would describe as “well-rounded”. He is aware of his shortcomings and isn’t afraid to articulate his thoughts. Even if it’s over an impromptu game of chess.
Tropes:
~ Grumpy x Sunshine
~ Forced Proximity
~He’s Obsessed
A huge thank you goes out to Madge Maril, Simon & Schuster team, as well as NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I hope everyone enjoys this book as much as I did.
European Summer Fantasies: Loading...Please wait as I book a flight to Europe
Review of Advance Copy Received from NetGalley
Beyond the dreamy romantic European setting, this book beautifully captures the essence of loving others so deeply we forget to allow ourselves to feel loved in return.
Cat is a complex character, one I wasn’t sure I would be able to relate to at first. She initially comes across as vapid, self-centered, and overly fake. As the story progresses we truly see her for who she is behind that mask: someone who just wants to give and protect others so abundantly that she forgets about herself along the way.
Now, do not let the hidden emotional depths of this love story drag you away from reading it because my goodness...Faust Ferreira Sanchez. Now that, is a man you’re gonna wanna witness for yourself.
Faust is equally complex, but in a way I would describe as “well-rounded”. He is aware of his shortcomings and isn’t afraid to articulate his thoughts. Even if it’s over an impromptu game of chess.
Tropes:
~ Grumpy x Sunshine
~ Forced Proximity
~He’s Obsessed
A huge thank you goes out to Madge Maril, Simon & Schuster team, as well as NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I hope everyone enjoys this book as much as I did.
February 16, 2026
I had high hopes for this book, but it fell flat for me.
I’m going to try to avoid spoilers here by simply saying that everything felt too surface. I could not connect with the FMC (our narrator) at all. She was too flat and I had trouble cheering for her. I also didn’t understand how she was supposed to appear ordinary so she blends in. However she was a model and all these rich guys want to date her…it doesn’t add up.
Also, there were too many characters. I felt lost at times.
I didn’t read the first book in this series, which isn’t necessary I don’t think. I heard the first one is better so maybe I’ll venture there eventually.
*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.
I’m going to try to avoid spoilers here by simply saying that everything felt too surface. I could not connect with the FMC (our narrator) at all. She was too flat and I had trouble cheering for her. I also didn’t understand how she was supposed to appear ordinary so she blends in. However she was a model and all these rich guys want to date her…it doesn’t add up.
Also, there were too many characters. I felt lost at times.
I didn’t read the first book in this series, which isn’t necessary I don’t think. I heard the first one is better so maybe I’ll venture there eventually.
*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review
DNF @ 94%
I really tried to finish this book to give it a fully informed review; however, after spending weeks getting to the 94% mark, I decided that I'd gotten far enough to share my thoughts and spend the remaining time reading a book I enjoy. I requested this book without reading the author's other book because I was intrigued by the premise, and it seemed that it could be read as a standalone. In essence, the main character is like a dating Robin Hood who is hired to date men by their exes, in order to break their hearts in retribution for wronging said ex. This sounded really cool to me, so I decided to request it. Usually, I request advanced copies of books by authors I know I like to avoid situations like this, where I feel forced to finish a book I don't enjoy to leave a fair review. I gave it two stars because I didn't hate it; however, I had a few issues with it that made it unenjoyable to read.
To start, I strongly disliked the main character. I was immediately put off by her narration and struggled to empathize with her desire to do such an unethical job. I was curious to see what these men did to make them deserve this treatment, but I ended up feeling like they did bad things and weren't great people, but didn't necessarily deserve this punishment. It seemed incredibly bizarre that their exes chose to take their revenge this far. Additionally, the main character claims to do these jobs to support her family, who are struggling from the loss of their mother. However, an element that was left out of the synopsis was that it's also done to fund her bizarre spending habits. She's a fashion influencer with a strong passion for fashion, which I can relate to. However, on the same page where she criticizes the wealthy and claims that she badly needs this money, she flashes her exorbitant designer purchases. She's like Carrie Bradshaw, with her irresponsible spending habits; however, Carrie wasn't supporting her entire family financially. Cat seems to have a closet filled with high-end and archival designer clothes and accessories. As someone who enjoys these things too, I immediately recognized the tens of thousands of dollars she must be spending on a fraction of her closet. For those who don’t know: YOU CAN RENT DESIGNER PIECES!!! So as a fashion influencer, she absolutely doesn’t need to buy these items. Her constant justification of her job being to support her family is completely contradicted by her crazy and unnecessary spending, in my opinion.
To make this worse, this book tries to make commentary on class that really irritated me. She constantly criticizes the wealthy people she encounters and how they use their money, while she simultaneously blows money that the average person wouldn't spend on clothing in a year on a vintage designer gown or bag. This class commentary fell flat for me and lacked depth. It felt like reading a high schooler's essay on class relations, in which she oversimplifies complex issues without acknowledging her own privilege. Later in the book, she shocked me by saying the money she doesn't spend on her family or fashion is donated to charity. Once again, how can you also claim to desperately need money?? Her cognitive dissonance annoyed me to no end.
As far as the plot, it made no sense to me. The premise of the story is that she pretends to date a famous F1 racer for leaving his ex-fiance at the altar. However, she barely interacts with this man throughout the book. Despite this, he quickly escalates their relationship, asking her to be his girlfriend after MAYBE 2-3 dates. Why on earth was 90% of the plot spent on her new job and the love interest? I understand focusing on the actual relationship, but it caused the actual job she is meant to be doing to make zero sense to me as a reader. I was so confused by the fake relationship, because we're expected to believe that he "falls in love" with Cat, when she's MAYBE spent 5% of the book with him, over WEEKS.
Overall, I didn't hate this book, but it was exceedingly average to me. I felt zero connection to any of the characters, and I felt that there were serious issues with the plot and writing. In order to like Cat, we need to understand her motivations. However, they seemed flimsy and nonsensical to me. And the unnecessary, constant, and shallow critique of class took me out of the book entirely.
DNF @ 94%
I really tried to finish this book to give it a fully informed review; however, after spending weeks getting to the 94% mark, I decided that I'd gotten far enough to share my thoughts and spend the remaining time reading a book I enjoy. I requested this book without reading the author's other book because I was intrigued by the premise, and it seemed that it could be read as a standalone. In essence, the main character is like a dating Robin Hood who is hired to date men by their exes, in order to break their hearts in retribution for wronging said ex. This sounded really cool to me, so I decided to request it. Usually, I request advanced copies of books by authors I know I like to avoid situations like this, where I feel forced to finish a book I don't enjoy to leave a fair review. I gave it two stars because I didn't hate it; however, I had a few issues with it that made it unenjoyable to read.
To start, I strongly disliked the main character. I was immediately put off by her narration and struggled to empathize with her desire to do such an unethical job. I was curious to see what these men did to make them deserve this treatment, but I ended up feeling like they did bad things and weren't great people, but didn't necessarily deserve this punishment. It seemed incredibly bizarre that their exes chose to take their revenge this far. Additionally, the main character claims to do these jobs to support her family, who are struggling from the loss of their mother. However, an element that was left out of the synopsis was that it's also done to fund her bizarre spending habits. She's a fashion influencer with a strong passion for fashion, which I can relate to. However, on the same page where she criticizes the wealthy and claims that she badly needs this money, she flashes her exorbitant designer purchases. She's like Carrie Bradshaw, with her irresponsible spending habits; however, Carrie wasn't supporting her entire family financially. Cat seems to have a closet filled with high-end and archival designer clothes and accessories. As someone who enjoys these things too, I immediately recognized the tens of thousands of dollars she must be spending on a fraction of her closet. For those who don’t know: YOU CAN RENT DESIGNER PIECES!!! So as a fashion influencer, she absolutely doesn’t need to buy these items. Her constant justification of her job being to support her family is completely contradicted by her crazy and unnecessary spending, in my opinion.
To make this worse, this book tries to make commentary on class that really irritated me. She constantly criticizes the wealthy people she encounters and how they use their money, while she simultaneously blows money that the average person wouldn't spend on clothing in a year on a vintage designer gown or bag. This class commentary fell flat for me and lacked depth. It felt like reading a high schooler's essay on class relations, in which she oversimplifies complex issues without acknowledging her own privilege. Later in the book, she shocked me by saying the money she doesn't spend on her family or fashion is donated to charity. Once again, how can you also claim to desperately need money?? Her cognitive dissonance annoyed me to no end.
As far as the plot, it made no sense to me. The premise of the story is that she pretends to date a famous F1 racer for leaving his ex-fiance at the altar. However, she barely interacts with this man throughout the book. Despite this, he quickly escalates their relationship, asking her to be his girlfriend after MAYBE 2-3 dates. Why on earth was 90% of the plot spent on her new job and the love interest? I understand focusing on the actual relationship, but it caused the actual job she is meant to be doing to make zero sense to me as a reader. I was so confused by the fake relationship, because we're expected to believe that he "falls in love" with Cat, when she's MAYBE spent 5% of the book with him, over WEEKS.
Overall, I didn't hate this book, but it was exceedingly average to me. I felt zero connection to any of the characters, and I felt that there were serious issues with the plot and writing. In order to like Cat, we need to understand her motivations. However, they seemed flimsy and nonsensical to me. And the unnecessary, constant, and shallow critique of class took me out of the book entirely.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
i might go on a rant so spare with me here. I've gone around screaming about slipstream, because it captured me in a way no F1 romance ever had before, and i credit slipstream as the book that got me into F1 as sport. It was ambitious, it was solid, it was romantic and it encapsulated the spirit of sport in a very magnetic way. so when I saw that madge was coming out with another F1 novel in the same world, it would be an understatement to say I was excited.
and now that I'm done with it, I'm too disappointed. don't get me wrong, you can see why madge says it's an ambitious project. for an author, absolutely. it is. but for a reader? It's not. slipstream was very ambitious with all the subplots it had going on, and as a reader, you were LOCKED IN, soaking up the races, the paddock drama, the family drama, the character drama, the F1 teams history drama, the F1 world drama and the documentary drama sprinkled with fake dating of arthur and lilah. It was so stimulating and THAT, for me as a reader is an ambitious project. feeling so many emotions from so many sides. while this one, paddock club, feels very flat in its narrative. There isn't a lot of complexity narratively, and it wasn't polished enough emotionally imo. It feels less like a romance and more like an underwhelming robinhood fashion girl chic lit. It has an identity crisis, and it's trying to be so many things but they don't mesh so well and the resulting product is very awkwardly underwhelming.
and i think madge maril has a bit of a insta love problem where she jumps the gun a bit too abruptly which was only made worse in this book because we get a bit of snippet of faust pov with his notes and it just sucks the tension out. faust, i feel like had a very unique personality in the beginning, that was watered down by the end to fit him into this romance book in a way that doesn't make cat too disoriented. I do understand what the author was trying to do but none of it is exciting. That's my issue. the con wasn't exciting, the voice wasn't exciting, there wasn't enough witty humour to carry this plot and nothing is exciting except the hotness of this couple.
Faust and Cat are undeniably hot and that's the one good thing. Their steamy scenes are a delight and the set up for those scenes was awesome and that's the only thing I don't have a complaint about. Cat as a character is conflicting for me, because her thoughts are a bit like me and I don't enjoy that when I'm reading fiction, but I would still say objectively, her character work is a step down from what I expected of madge after slipstream. Lilah Graywood had one of the most solid writing and characterization I've come across that year. We never really see her lose the essence of her character, but she still comes out of her shell and goes through a character development that is enviable! I teared up when she showed up!! That's my queen y'all!!! Anyways, yeah, Cat, on the other hand, is a bit of letdown because nothing about her stands out as a character. There isn't a strong core. I do understand that she's a pretty regular girl as we progressed and that's a good thing for me but the ball really drops in the third act when she's not given a situation that allows her voice or actions to stand out. very ironically, we get a spoon fed ending that is too safe, not emotional enough, not risky enough. the takedown of the billionaire is so underwhelming and i won't even call it a takedown so don't go into it expecting that exhilaration.
i could honestly go on and on and on, but it's simply because I'm disappointed. but if you love fashion, definitely check this out! and if you're an F1 fan that is sick of unrealistic scenes about f1, then you should definitely check this out too because madge seldom writes any unrealistic scenes about racing! it's the literature and romance fan in me that's disappointed, that's all. the F1 fan in me isn't disappointed.
thank you so much to simon & schuster, netgalley and danielle for the arc in exchange for an honest review 🤍
and now that I'm done with it, I'm too disappointed. don't get me wrong, you can see why madge says it's an ambitious project. for an author, absolutely. it is. but for a reader? It's not. slipstream was very ambitious with all the subplots it had going on, and as a reader, you were LOCKED IN, soaking up the races, the paddock drama, the family drama, the character drama, the F1 teams history drama, the F1 world drama and the documentary drama sprinkled with fake dating of arthur and lilah. It was so stimulating and THAT, for me as a reader is an ambitious project. feeling so many emotions from so many sides. while this one, paddock club, feels very flat in its narrative. There isn't a lot of complexity narratively, and it wasn't polished enough emotionally imo. It feels less like a romance and more like an underwhelming robinhood fashion girl chic lit. It has an identity crisis, and it's trying to be so many things but they don't mesh so well and the resulting product is very awkwardly underwhelming.
and i think madge maril has a bit of a insta love problem where she jumps the gun a bit too abruptly which was only made worse in this book because we get a bit of snippet of faust pov with his notes and it just sucks the tension out. faust, i feel like had a very unique personality in the beginning, that was watered down by the end to fit him into this romance book in a way that doesn't make cat too disoriented. I do understand what the author was trying to do but none of it is exciting. That's my issue. the con wasn't exciting, the voice wasn't exciting, there wasn't enough witty humour to carry this plot and nothing is exciting except the hotness of this couple.
Faust and Cat are undeniably hot and that's the one good thing. Their steamy scenes are a delight and the set up for those scenes was awesome and that's the only thing I don't have a complaint about. Cat as a character is conflicting for me, because her thoughts are a bit like me and I don't enjoy that when I'm reading fiction, but I would still say objectively, her character work is a step down from what I expected of madge after slipstream. Lilah Graywood had one of the most solid writing and characterization I've come across that year. We never really see her lose the essence of her character, but she still comes out of her shell and goes through a character development that is enviable! I teared up when she showed up!! That's my queen y'all!!! Anyways, yeah, Cat, on the other hand, is a bit of letdown because nothing about her stands out as a character. There isn't a strong core. I do understand that she's a pretty regular girl as we progressed and that's a good thing for me but the ball really drops in the third act when she's not given a situation that allows her voice or actions to stand out. very ironically, we get a spoon fed ending that is too safe, not emotional enough, not risky enough. the takedown of the billionaire is so underwhelming and i won't even call it a takedown so don't go into it expecting that exhilaration.
i could honestly go on and on and on, but it's simply because I'm disappointed. but if you love fashion, definitely check this out! and if you're an F1 fan that is sick of unrealistic scenes about f1, then you should definitely check this out too because madge seldom writes any unrealistic scenes about racing! it's the literature and romance fan in me that's disappointed, that's all. the F1 fan in me isn't disappointed.
thank you so much to simon & schuster, netgalley and danielle for the arc in exchange for an honest review 🤍
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I hate that it feels too early for me to start talking about this book because as the new Formula 1 season is about to begin, it's all I really want to talk about.
I do love reading F1 romances, but a lot of them tend to disappoint me. There's always something that goes wrong around the 60% mark, and it eventually tends to fall flat or feel forced or weird. But Madge Maril does a really great job at introducing the reader to the sport without feeling overwhelming, and doing so in a way that feels very authentic to the actual sport. I can tell she actually watches and understands the sports and its technicalities, and it's very subtle, but it's something I really appreciate. I'd rather have less F1 in an F1 romance, but have it feel real and authentic, than feel flooded by unlikely scenarios for the sake of drama.
Madge Maril does a really beautiful job at helping us understand her heroines as well. "Cat" or Arcadia, felt like such a larger than life character, mainly because this is a character she has carefully constructed for the sake of power and control - even at the height of this character, as readers, we understand her and we are rooting for her and believe in her. And as she starts to unspool and the real human peeks through, we feel her humanity and her choices.
I thought this was so much fun. Genuinely loved Cat, loved her relationship with Fausto. They had on page chemistry that felt palpable, and they didn't even need to have physical intimacy for it to feel real. The spicy scenes were great, and not too much where I felt like it didn't make sense for the story - but mainly, what I loved was their back and forth and how you could feel the tension even from a look - and that is really impressive when it's a book and you're going off your imagination and what the scene could play out like in your head.
The real issues I had feel very minor, but it kept the book from being 5 stars for me. The set up with Bernard didn't feel too believable, since their exchanges and moments together felt so surface level. Not real enough to warrant all of the reactions from Bernard towards the end. And not real enough for me to believe that his heart could actually break from whatever their relationship was in his mind. The conflict at the end was handled well, but it did feel rushed. And I would have just loved a little more time spent with the resolution, because it could have been so sweet. It still felt satisfactory and like a win, but I just feel like we could've used a couple of extra chapters.
And then my biggest (small) ick - even though it's what I love most about Madge Maril's writing, the dialogue at times just felt too flowery and confusing. It didn't feel like it's how real people speak to each other. Cat is a character that is very bold, so it was okay every now and then when she said something that was a little on the corny side, but with a character like Faust, at times it just felt a little too over-the-top. I still loved it. But it did make me kind of cringe at times. It is what it is! Still such a blast and such a fun Formula 1 romance. Such a full circle moment for me, since Slipstream is what got me curious about the sport in the first place!
I do love reading F1 romances, but a lot of them tend to disappoint me. There's always something that goes wrong around the 60% mark, and it eventually tends to fall flat or feel forced or weird. But Madge Maril does a really great job at introducing the reader to the sport without feeling overwhelming, and doing so in a way that feels very authentic to the actual sport. I can tell she actually watches and understands the sports and its technicalities, and it's very subtle, but it's something I really appreciate. I'd rather have less F1 in an F1 romance, but have it feel real and authentic, than feel flooded by unlikely scenarios for the sake of drama.
Madge Maril does a really beautiful job at helping us understand her heroines as well. "Cat" or Arcadia, felt like such a larger than life character, mainly because this is a character she has carefully constructed for the sake of power and control - even at the height of this character, as readers, we understand her and we are rooting for her and believe in her. And as she starts to unspool and the real human peeks through, we feel her humanity and her choices.
I thought this was so much fun. Genuinely loved Cat, loved her relationship with Fausto. They had on page chemistry that felt palpable, and they didn't even need to have physical intimacy for it to feel real. The spicy scenes were great, and not too much where I felt like it didn't make sense for the story - but mainly, what I loved was their back and forth and how you could feel the tension even from a look - and that is really impressive when it's a book and you're going off your imagination and what the scene could play out like in your head.
The real issues I had feel very minor, but it kept the book from being 5 stars for me. The set up with Bernard didn't feel too believable, since their exchanges and moments together felt so surface level. Not real enough to warrant all of the reactions from Bernard towards the end. And not real enough for me to believe that his heart could actually break from whatever their relationship was in his mind. The conflict at the end was handled well, but it did feel rushed. And I would have just loved a little more time spent with the resolution, because it could have been so sweet. It still felt satisfactory and like a win, but I just feel like we could've used a couple of extra chapters.
And then my biggest (small) ick - even though it's what I love most about Madge Maril's writing, the dialogue at times just felt too flowery and confusing. It didn't feel like it's how real people speak to each other. Cat is a character that is very bold, so it was okay every now and then when she said something that was a little on the corny side, but with a character like Faust, at times it just felt a little too over-the-top. I still loved it. But it did make me kind of cringe at times. It is what it is! Still such a blast and such a fun Formula 1 romance. Such a full circle moment for me, since Slipstream is what got me curious about the sport in the first place!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5
As someone who stated watching f1 over the last 3 years I’ve been let down by so many f1 romances in the past. They’re either sexist and misogynistic or completely ignore the rules of f1. Reading slipstream by Madge was one of the first f1 romance books that I actually really enjoyed. The characters are complex and easy to root for and there’s not too much f1 where you’re overwhelmed. Madge’s books uplift women in f1 and explore their treatment under a male dominated system.
This book is a fabulous follow up to Slipstream. The premise of this book immediately sucked me in. A fashion influencer who’s hired to break the heart of an f1 driver who treats women like shit? Sign me up! Even following this sport for a short amount of time it’s easy to see how inaccessible it is to many of its fans. The tickets to the races are expensive not even taking travel and everything that comes with it into account. The drivers and the people that own the teams are millionaires surrounded by wealth and more wealth. So to see someone bring down a man in power when so many of them need to be brought down a peg is so empowering!
Cat is such a mystery starting out and as we got to know more of her story I understood why she tried to put up a barrier between her and others. Her grief is palpable and has influenced so many facets of her life. She puts her family’s needs first and ignores her own happiness for those around her. Her facade is pure confidence and charm but on the inside she is scared to let herself be known and cared for. Faust is mysterious and quiet and always observing. The way that he cares for her has me swooning. You can tell he wanted to know the real her and he cares for her so much. If this was the real f1 grid I would be his biggest fan. He treats women in f1 with respect and care and cares for his teammates and friends. Their dynamic makes so much sense as the book went on because although they’re elusive on the outside they both want to be known in a way that’s terrifying. They had palpable tension in their scenes. Even when they wouldn’t say a word they were so aware of each other and in tune with the other. This felt like such a slow burn and their scenes together were HOT! Their intimacy wasn’t just physical but you could also feel their emotional walls come down. The last 5% had me in tears. The way grief is described felt so universal and was the missing puzzle piece I needed to figure Cat out.
While this is a f1 romance there’s not too much f1. I think it’s easy to understand the rules and the stakes and the schedule as Madge describes them. It’s a perfect sports romance where you don’t leave the book knowing too much about the sport, just enough to push the story along.
I had a great time reading this book. There were some scenes that felt clunky and I had to go back and read scenes multiple times to understand what was going on but overall I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see what Madge writes next! I am begging for a book about Christine! Thanks to Simon and Schuster for an arc in excuse for an honest review!
As someone who stated watching f1 over the last 3 years I’ve been let down by so many f1 romances in the past. They’re either sexist and misogynistic or completely ignore the rules of f1. Reading slipstream by Madge was one of the first f1 romance books that I actually really enjoyed. The characters are complex and easy to root for and there’s not too much f1 where you’re overwhelmed. Madge’s books uplift women in f1 and explore their treatment under a male dominated system.
This book is a fabulous follow up to Slipstream. The premise of this book immediately sucked me in. A fashion influencer who’s hired to break the heart of an f1 driver who treats women like shit? Sign me up! Even following this sport for a short amount of time it’s easy to see how inaccessible it is to many of its fans. The tickets to the races are expensive not even taking travel and everything that comes with it into account. The drivers and the people that own the teams are millionaires surrounded by wealth and more wealth. So to see someone bring down a man in power when so many of them need to be brought down a peg is so empowering!
Cat is such a mystery starting out and as we got to know more of her story I understood why she tried to put up a barrier between her and others. Her grief is palpable and has influenced so many facets of her life. She puts her family’s needs first and ignores her own happiness for those around her. Her facade is pure confidence and charm but on the inside she is scared to let herself be known and cared for. Faust is mysterious and quiet and always observing. The way that he cares for her has me swooning. You can tell he wanted to know the real her and he cares for her so much. If this was the real f1 grid I would be his biggest fan. He treats women in f1 with respect and care and cares for his teammates and friends. Their dynamic makes so much sense as the book went on because although they’re elusive on the outside they both want to be known in a way that’s terrifying. They had palpable tension in their scenes. Even when they wouldn’t say a word they were so aware of each other and in tune with the other. This felt like such a slow burn and their scenes together were HOT! Their intimacy wasn’t just physical but you could also feel their emotional walls come down. The last 5% had me in tears. The way grief is described felt so universal and was the missing puzzle piece I needed to figure Cat out.
While this is a f1 romance there’s not too much f1. I think it’s easy to understand the rules and the stakes and the schedule as Madge describes them. It’s a perfect sports romance where you don’t leave the book knowing too much about the sport, just enough to push the story along.
I had a great time reading this book. There were some scenes that felt clunky and I had to go back and read scenes multiple times to understand what was going on but overall I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see what Madge writes next! I am begging for a book about Christine! Thanks to Simon and Schuster for an arc in excuse for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC REVIEW
I can already tell that this is going to be one of my favorite books of the year!
The plot is compelling, the characters are fiercely lovable, the emotions and motivations behind everything have depth and complexity, and the romance is the perfect balance of slow-burn tension and searing chemistry.
Cat and Faust are the kind of characters that will stick with me past the end of the book. They challenge each other in different ways and that makes for great banter and character growth.
I love Cat’s loyalty and how talented and driven she is. She’s confident while also being a little broken inside and the fragile, soft parts of her are just as endearing to read about as her strengths.
Faust is fascinating. He’s straight-to-the-point without being cruel and incredibly observant in a way that can either anticipate your every need or discern your truths from your lies. There’s a tender intensity to him. I love that he not only accepts Cat at her most authentic, but demands it.
As for the sport aspect, Madge Maril excels at writing it in a way that will appeal broadly to F1 fans and non fans alike! She doesn’t dump a bunch of technical info on you, but won’t leave you hanging. Newbies can follow along easily and diehard fans won’t be annoyed or bored. This book in particular does a great job at highlighting the emotion involved in loving and watching a sport live. The joy, the excitement, and the energy will resonate even with people who don’t watch sports. She celebrates the average fan without being afraid to take shots at the gross amount of wealth and privilege that comes with Formula 1.
The romance in this is so SO satisfying (with great conversations around consent and boundaries), but this book is also about family relationships, grief, women supporting women, the inequality of wealth, healthcare injustice, and having the courage to show your true self to the people who have the power to hurt you. Even the the smallest parts of this story feel fully thought out.
This can absolutely be read as a standalone, but you’d be doing yourself a disservice to not read Slipstream as well.
Madge Maril has outdone herself with this one and further cemented her spot amongst my auto-buy authors!
I can already tell that this is going to be one of my favorite books of the year!
The plot is compelling, the characters are fiercely lovable, the emotions and motivations behind everything have depth and complexity, and the romance is the perfect balance of slow-burn tension and searing chemistry.
Cat and Faust are the kind of characters that will stick with me past the end of the book. They challenge each other in different ways and that makes for great banter and character growth.
I love Cat’s loyalty and how talented and driven she is. She’s confident while also being a little broken inside and the fragile, soft parts of her are just as endearing to read about as her strengths.
Faust is fascinating. He’s straight-to-the-point without being cruel and incredibly observant in a way that can either anticipate your every need or discern your truths from your lies. There’s a tender intensity to him. I love that he not only accepts Cat at her most authentic, but demands it.
As for the sport aspect, Madge Maril excels at writing it in a way that will appeal broadly to F1 fans and non fans alike! She doesn’t dump a bunch of technical info on you, but won’t leave you hanging. Newbies can follow along easily and diehard fans won’t be annoyed or bored. This book in particular does a great job at highlighting the emotion involved in loving and watching a sport live. The joy, the excitement, and the energy will resonate even with people who don’t watch sports. She celebrates the average fan without being afraid to take shots at the gross amount of wealth and privilege that comes with Formula 1.
The romance in this is so SO satisfying (with great conversations around consent and boundaries), but this book is also about family relationships, grief, women supporting women, the inequality of wealth, healthcare injustice, and having the courage to show your true self to the people who have the power to hurt you. Even the the smallest parts of this story feel fully thought out.
This can absolutely be read as a standalone, but you’d be doing yourself a disservice to not read Slipstream as well.
Madge Maril has outdone herself with this one and further cemented her spot amongst my auto-buy authors!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I don't think this did as much for me as Slip Stream did, which was a bummer because Faust is great. He is presented as an intense man, but really he is someone that values honesty and taking care of those around him.
Cat Cromwell makes her money by knocking crappy rich men off their high horse. After attending a wedding gone wrong, the bride to be asks her to date F1 driver Bernard Baudelaire and rip his heart out. With a job lined up as a stylist for his team, she joins only to be working with Faust Ferreira Sanchez while Bernard runs off to a different team.
We see Cat worm her way into Bernard's interests... Kind of? It's way more secondary to the story of Cat and Faust. It's not really believable that he (Bernard) would be this into her. I also can't really believe that Bernard wouldn't see what's going on with Faust, or try to ruin that in some way.
What was good? Faust and Cat had decent chemistry, I found the fashion talk enjoyable, and who doesn't love the idea of men finally getting their comeuppance?
My main complaints:
1) Faust should've been brought into the fold sooner. We know there is some rivalry between Bernard and Faust, and very quickly we learn that Faust knows what Cat is up to.
2) Us knowing Faust knows. It takes the suspense out of it all. We don't need to wonder what he's thinking or if he'll do anything because we get journal entries that spoil that for us.
3) Stop saying "and they are gonna have kinky BDSM sex!!!" and then not really do that much at all!!!!!! 1.5 sex scenes in a book where you have full boundary setting, discussions about dominance, and some good tension beforehand? No! I want more!
Outside of that, I didn't really have issues with the writing or side characters. There was an open door for talking about mental health and Cat slammed that door shut instantly, though handling grief and health concerns was plenty already.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing an eARC of The Paddock Club in exchange for this honest review!
Cat Cromwell makes her money by knocking crappy rich men off their high horse. After attending a wedding gone wrong, the bride to be asks her to date F1 driver Bernard Baudelaire and rip his heart out. With a job lined up as a stylist for his team, she joins only to be working with Faust Ferreira Sanchez while Bernard runs off to a different team.
We see Cat worm her way into Bernard's interests... Kind of? It's way more secondary to the story of Cat and Faust. It's not really believable that he (Bernard) would be this into her. I also can't really believe that Bernard wouldn't see what's going on with Faust, or try to ruin that in some way.
What was good? Faust and Cat had decent chemistry, I found the fashion talk enjoyable, and who doesn't love the idea of men finally getting their comeuppance?
My main complaints:
1) Faust should've been brought into the fold sooner. We know there is some rivalry between Bernard and Faust, and very quickly we learn that Faust knows what Cat is up to.
2) Us knowing Faust knows. It takes the suspense out of it all. We don't need to wonder what he's thinking or if he'll do anything because we get journal entries that spoil that for us.
3) Stop saying "and they are gonna have kinky BDSM sex!!!" and then not really do that much at all!!!!!! 1.5 sex scenes in a book where you have full boundary setting, discussions about dominance, and some good tension beforehand? No! I want more!
Outside of that, I didn't really have issues with the writing or side characters. There was an open door for talking about mental health and Cat slammed that door shut instantly, though handling grief and health concerns was plenty already.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing an eARC of The Paddock Club in exchange for this honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
While my feedback is genuine and my own, I was lucky enough to be given an ARC through NetGalley so thank you to the publisher.
I adore Madge Maril's writing style. Her writing has the ability to completely pull you in and quiet everything else until you're right there with the characters experiencing moments with them. When I finished Slipstream, I remember the only feedback I could think of was how very seen I felt. The same is true for The Paddock Club. Maril created a story that speaks to the anxious oldest daughters who yearn to have someone help them carry the weight. For those who have spent their entire life crafting themselves to be liked by all.
My favorite thing about Maril's characters is how whole they feel. Cat and Faust were entire people with complex motivations, reactions, and feelings. I adored Cat, and getting to be in her head throughout the book was so much fun. There were so many quotes throughout this book that made me think "Oh!" because yes! It is impossible to be a woman, or to be a human at all, and especially one who has gotten by on shapeshifting to ensure everyone likes them. Once you realize how much everyone loves you when you tailor yourself to be their perfect match, it's impossible to go back to being yourself. I mean, everyone loves you. Sure, it's because you aren't you but what's a small detail like that anyway. That is Cat throughout this book. Faust sees through the carefully crafted character she slips into though, and Maril did a beautiful job cultivating that dynamic.
I was fully invested in Cat and Faust from their very first interaction. Faust is the founder and mayor of Yearn-ville. That man is a Yearner. He is vulnerable, honest, and so caring. I always think about how these are stories, so why not write the best version of a man? And Maril must agree because she delivered with Faust. Overall, this book blew me away and I can't wait to see what else Maril cooks up.
I adore Madge Maril's writing style. Her writing has the ability to completely pull you in and quiet everything else until you're right there with the characters experiencing moments with them. When I finished Slipstream, I remember the only feedback I could think of was how very seen I felt. The same is true for The Paddock Club. Maril created a story that speaks to the anxious oldest daughters who yearn to have someone help them carry the weight. For those who have spent their entire life crafting themselves to be liked by all.
My favorite thing about Maril's characters is how whole they feel. Cat and Faust were entire people with complex motivations, reactions, and feelings. I adored Cat, and getting to be in her head throughout the book was so much fun. There were so many quotes throughout this book that made me think "Oh!" because yes! It is impossible to be a woman, or to be a human at all, and especially one who has gotten by on shapeshifting to ensure everyone likes them. Once you realize how much everyone loves you when you tailor yourself to be their perfect match, it's impossible to go back to being yourself. I mean, everyone loves you. Sure, it's because you aren't you but what's a small detail like that anyway. That is Cat throughout this book. Faust sees through the carefully crafted character she slips into though, and Maril did a beautiful job cultivating that dynamic.
I was fully invested in Cat and Faust from their very first interaction. Faust is the founder and mayor of Yearn-ville. That man is a Yearner. He is vulnerable, honest, and so caring. I always think about how these are stories, so why not write the best version of a man? And Maril must agree because she delivered with Faust. Overall, this book blew me away and I can't wait to see what else Maril cooks up.
Review of advance copy
First off, I want to thank my local indie bookstore for allowing me the opportunity to read this book before it comes out. (To be very clear, I definitely pre-ordered my copy as soon as I was able to, and I'm very much looking forward to being able to read it again when it's finally published!)
As someone who absolutely loved reading "Slipstream", finding out that there was a sequel on its way had me racing to pre-order a copy and boy was I so correct about how much I was going to love it. Cat and Faust are so incredibly well written, not just as individual characters, but also as a pairing. The conversations they have not only fit each character so well, but also helped me feel like I was watching it all play out in my head like a movie. There were also so many moments where I almost snorted my drink because I was laughing so hard at snarky lines, or because of one characters spon-con social media posts. I just need you to know that I was absolutely reading little snippets aloud to my friend because they were just that good.
I'm also a pretty big f1 fan, and there's something about how Madge writes the world that just hits so well. There is a pretty big divide monetarily between the drivers, staff, paddock guests, general admission, and then most viewers who can't afford to go to a race. I feel like that was handled so well in this book and there weren't rose colored glasses about the sport as a whole, which I really appreciate.
All this to say, I cannot recommend this book enough for romance fans, for f1 fans, for f1 fans who love romance, for people who enjoy well written characters, for people who enjoy snarky characters, I guess what I'm trying to say is that everybody should be reading this, it's just that good! And last but not least, with finishing this book, Madge Maril has become one of my auto-buy authors and I look forward to seeing what comes next!
As someone who absolutely loved reading "Slipstream", finding out that there was a sequel on its way had me racing to pre-order a copy and boy was I so correct about how much I was going to love it. Cat and Faust are so incredibly well written, not just as individual characters, but also as a pairing. The conversations they have not only fit each character so well, but also helped me feel like I was watching it all play out in my head like a movie. There were also so many moments where I almost snorted my drink because I was laughing so hard at snarky lines, or because of one characters spon-con social media posts. I just need you to know that I was absolutely reading little snippets aloud to my friend because they were just that good.
I'm also a pretty big f1 fan, and there's something about how Madge writes the world that just hits so well. There is a pretty big divide monetarily between the drivers, staff, paddock guests, general admission, and then most viewers who can't afford to go to a race. I feel like that was handled so well in this book and there weren't rose colored glasses about the sport as a whole, which I really appreciate.
All this to say, I cannot recommend this book enough for romance fans, for f1 fans, for f1 fans who love romance, for people who enjoy well written characters, for people who enjoy snarky characters, I guess what I'm trying to say is that everybody should be reading this, it's just that good! And last but not least, with finishing this book, Madge Maril has become one of my auto-buy authors and I look forward to seeing what comes next!
April 7, 2026
5 ⭐️ I love you, Madge Maril. And I love your books. Truly, Slipstream and The Paddock Club are two of my all time favorite romances. Something about Maril’s writing sucks me in and keeps me so entranced in her stories.
I have soo many things I could say about this book but my favorite part of Maril’s writing are her characters. Faust and Cat are everything to me. Their dynamic and chemistry was so apparent throughout the story and had me rooting for them from the first time they met. They are layered and intriguing and so easy to connect to. While yes, Cat has some flaws and obvious trauma, she was so believable, strong, and so loveable to me. I loved Cat’s very real journey with grief, health scaries, and emotional vulnerabilities. I related to her on so many different levels. I cried when she cried, laughed when she laughed, and felt every moment when she pushed herself down or believed she wasn’t worth remembering. Seeing the way Faust opened her up to the possibility of love both from someone else and for herself… gave me chills and made me cry. Maril’s background characters also really shine for me. The inclusion of Mei, Christine, and Eddie made Cat and Faust both stronger characters in my opinion.
I adored the plot too. Cat the cat burglar was such a fun, unique concept! I was rooting for her to take down the bad guys and for her to get the good one all along. My only real complaint is that we didn’t get to see the aftermath of Cat walking out on Bernard mid-proposal. I wanted more of Christine, Mei, and Eddie after they find out! And then even more with how Cat comes back to the team. Really I think I’m saying I wish it was longer.
And I can’t forget the Lilah and Arthur cameo! It made me miss them and their story (a Slipstream re-read is in my future).
Honestly this was my most anticipated release this year and I feel so lucky I got an arc of it! So thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the arc!
I have soo many things I could say about this book but my favorite part of Maril’s writing are her characters. Faust and Cat are everything to me. Their dynamic and chemistry was so apparent throughout the story and had me rooting for them from the first time they met. They are layered and intriguing and so easy to connect to. While yes, Cat has some flaws and obvious trauma, she was so believable, strong, and so loveable to me. I loved Cat’s very real journey with grief, health scaries, and emotional vulnerabilities. I related to her on so many different levels. I cried when she cried, laughed when she laughed, and felt every moment when she pushed herself down or believed she wasn’t worth remembering. Seeing the way Faust opened her up to the possibility of love both from someone else and for herself… gave me chills and made me cry. Maril’s background characters also really shine for me. The inclusion of Mei, Christine, and Eddie made Cat and Faust both stronger characters in my opinion.
I adored the plot too. Cat the cat burglar was such a fun, unique concept! I was rooting for her to take down the bad guys and for her to get the good one all along. My only real complaint is that we didn’t get to see the aftermath of Cat walking out on Bernard mid-proposal. I wanted more of Christine, Mei, and Eddie after they find out! And then even more with how Cat comes back to the team. Really I think I’m saying I wish it was longer.
And I can’t forget the Lilah and Arthur cameo! It made me miss them and their story (a Slipstream re-read is in my future).
Honestly this was my most anticipated release this year and I feel so lucky I got an arc of it! So thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the arc!
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