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Heart Racer
Romance readers! You've had chemistry with steminist romance, you've raced through sports romance. Now get ready for the ultimate crossover...
Biochemistry major Keely has the next five years of her life down to a science. But when her grad school loan application is inexplicably rejected, her carefully calculated future spontaneously combusts.
Her college's Pursue Your Passions scholarship could be the answer. The problem? There's one place left, and she's not the only student in the running. Enter a state champion sprinter who sets hearts racing on and off the track - and the one thing standing between Keely and her dreams.
Keely knows the key to winning is keeping her head in the game. But when your opponent is Lycra-clad and... rippling?! Well, it's hard to keep the chemistry to the lab.
Experimenting with her heart could cost Keely everything she's worked for. But staying away from Max might be a race she's destined to lose...
The Love Hypothesis meets Heated Rivalry in this spicy, dual-pov, academic rivals rom com - as nerdy as it is sure to raise your pulse...
💖 Stem x Sports/ Jock x Nerd
💖 Childhood friends to academic rivals to lovers
💖 He falls first
💖 On campus!
💖 Slow burn (some spice)
💖 Only one... scholarship
💖 You know how to ball, I know Aristotle
💗💗 Real readers loved Max and Keely 💗💗
'I really enjoyed this one...every exchange sparked with tension and humor...Funny, smart and surprisingly heartfelt' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'So cute, I loved every bit of it. It would be hard not to love these two...I loved the prank wars and watching them fall for each other...I already wish I could read it again for the first time' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book is absolutely phenomenal!!! The chemistry between Max and Keely? Sizzling. Their shared love for Biscuit? Adorable. How painfully relatable Keely is? Perfection. I wish I could go back and read this for the first time again. Hello??? The locker room scene??? If you're a fan of witty, spicy romance, this is the book for you!' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A cutie of a romance...told with care and empathy, which adds to the overall depth of the book. Five stars!' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'As someone who has only read ice hockey [sports] romances, this was a pleasant change of scenery for me. Who knew that running could be so sexy?...I really felt for both characters throughout and I was completely cheering them both on to win the scholarship...I really had no idea how it would end, but I was happy with the outcome' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Really liked this...such a cute and fun read.
Biochemistry major Keely has the next five years of her life down to a science. But when her grad school loan application is inexplicably rejected, her carefully calculated future spontaneously combusts.
Her college's Pursue Your Passions scholarship could be the answer. The problem? There's one place left, and she's not the only student in the running. Enter a state champion sprinter who sets hearts racing on and off the track - and the one thing standing between Keely and her dreams.
Keely knows the key to winning is keeping her head in the game. But when your opponent is Lycra-clad and... rippling?! Well, it's hard to keep the chemistry to the lab.
Experimenting with her heart could cost Keely everything she's worked for. But staying away from Max might be a race she's destined to lose...
The Love Hypothesis meets Heated Rivalry in this spicy, dual-pov, academic rivals rom com - as nerdy as it is sure to raise your pulse...
💖 Stem x Sports/ Jock x Nerd
💖 Childhood friends to academic rivals to lovers
💖 He falls first
💖 On campus!
💖 Slow burn (some spice)
💖 Only one... scholarship
💖 You know how to ball, I know Aristotle
💗💗 Real readers loved Max and Keely 💗💗
'I really enjoyed this one...every exchange sparked with tension and humor...Funny, smart and surprisingly heartfelt' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'So cute, I loved every bit of it. It would be hard not to love these two...I loved the prank wars and watching them fall for each other...I already wish I could read it again for the first time' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book is absolutely phenomenal!!! The chemistry between Max and Keely? Sizzling. Their shared love for Biscuit? Adorable. How painfully relatable Keely is? Perfection. I wish I could go back and read this for the first time again. Hello??? The locker room scene??? If you're a fan of witty, spicy romance, this is the book for you!' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A cutie of a romance...told with care and empathy, which adds to the overall depth of the book. Five stars!' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'As someone who has only read ice hockey [sports] romances, this was a pleasant change of scenery for me. Who knew that running could be so sexy?...I really felt for both characters throughout and I was completely cheering them both on to win the scholarship...I really had no idea how it would end, but I was happy with the outcome' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Really liked this...such a cute and fun read.
397 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
April 28, 2026
This was honestly such a fun and downright adorable read and I honestly loved every second of it. The banter alone had me laughing out loud and had me kicking my feet while reading it. I love a good friends, to enemies to lovers and this was done so well.
The story follows Keely who is trying to navigate her life after learning she lost her grad school loan and has her world turned upside down with this news. After learning about another opportunity at another scholarship, she is desperate for the spot to be hers. Unfortunately she learns that there is only one spot left and she isn’t the only one who is competing for it. Enter Max, her childhood friend who ended up breaking her heart and their friendship. Keely was a true woman in stem and I was so here for it. She was a true planner at heart and needed everything in her life to be organized in order for it feel like she had her life together when everything else felt like it was falling apart. Especially when Max came crashing back into her world. When you first meet Max it seems like he is just another typical jock who is only focused on himself and nothing else and it was just so far from the truth. He had so many layers to him and when he finally shows his vulnerability to Keely it made me love him even more. Not only was Keely’s story relatable, but also so was Max’s. Also, we LOVE a man who asks for consent.
This would definitely be great for someone who is a fan of YA romances but also adult romances with little spice. There definitely was definitely some spice to it, just more on the lighter side which I honestly don’t mind. If you read Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood this is definitely up your alley way. Just all around super cute and loved every second of it.
The story follows Keely who is trying to navigate her life after learning she lost her grad school loan and has her world turned upside down with this news. After learning about another opportunity at another scholarship, she is desperate for the spot to be hers. Unfortunately she learns that there is only one spot left and she isn’t the only one who is competing for it. Enter Max, her childhood friend who ended up breaking her heart and their friendship. Keely was a true woman in stem and I was so here for it. She was a true planner at heart and needed everything in her life to be organized in order for it feel like she had her life together when everything else felt like it was falling apart. Especially when Max came crashing back into her world. When you first meet Max it seems like he is just another typical jock who is only focused on himself and nothing else and it was just so far from the truth. He had so many layers to him and when he finally shows his vulnerability to Keely it made me love him even more. Not only was Keely’s story relatable, but also so was Max’s. Also, we LOVE a man who asks for consent.
This would definitely be great for someone who is a fan of YA romances but also adult romances with little spice. There definitely was definitely some spice to it, just more on the lighter side which I honestly don’t mind. If you read Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood this is definitely up your alley way. Just all around super cute and loved every second of it.
February 23, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
I did enjoy this college romance and Megan Avery definitely had a way of hitting some really hard topics and making you feel ALL of the emotions. I loved the fact that Max and Keeley had been friends as children and it was a coming back together story, with all of that history already there. I felt like sometimes it jumped around a bit and we missed important context. However, I enjoyed the overall book and I liked their relationship as a whole.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I did enjoy this college romance and Megan Avery definitely had a way of hitting some really hard topics and making you feel ALL of the emotions. I loved the fact that Max and Keeley had been friends as children and it was a coming back together story, with all of that history already there. I felt like sometimes it jumped around a bit and we missed important context. However, I enjoyed the overall book and I liked their relationship as a whole.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
March 3, 2026
Heart Racer has a strong premise and the potential to be an engaging romance, but the overall execution fell short for me. The writing style feels quite young and doesn’t fully match the maturity or life experience of the characters. This disconnect made it difficult to stay immersed in the story and sometimes gave the book a YA tone rather than the more adult voice it seemed to be aiming for.
One of the biggest issues is pacing and character motivation — the main characters tend to make big decisions almost instantly, without any real sense of thought or emotional build-up. They’ll have a fleeting idea in one sentence, and by the next, they’re acting on it. This makes the story feel disjointed and a bit jarring to follow.
Overall, the book reads more like a first draft than a finished novel. It could really benefit from another thorough round of editing to tighten up the prose and clarify the character arcs. There’s also a lot of extra information thrown into sentences that doesn’t add anything to the scene or help move the story forward.
In terms of character voice, the male main character’s dialogue and inner thoughts feel fairly natural and grounded, but the female lead’s voice doesn’t come across as convincingly. Her narration often feels overly naïve — a little too “unsure young girl” for the character she’s meant to be.
I did really like the idea of flipping the typical miscommunication trope by resolving it halfway through the book, but unfortunately the misunderstanding itself felt overly juvenile and not particularly believable. It’s a clever structural idea, but it needed more depth and logic to really work.
In the end, Heart Racer has the foundation of a strong story, but it needs significant tightening and refinement to reach its potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
One of the biggest issues is pacing and character motivation — the main characters tend to make big decisions almost instantly, without any real sense of thought or emotional build-up. They’ll have a fleeting idea in one sentence, and by the next, they’re acting on it. This makes the story feel disjointed and a bit jarring to follow.
Overall, the book reads more like a first draft than a finished novel. It could really benefit from another thorough round of editing to tighten up the prose and clarify the character arcs. There’s also a lot of extra information thrown into sentences that doesn’t add anything to the scene or help move the story forward.
In terms of character voice, the male main character’s dialogue and inner thoughts feel fairly natural and grounded, but the female lead’s voice doesn’t come across as convincingly. Her narration often feels overly naïve — a little too “unsure young girl” for the character she’s meant to be.
I did really like the idea of flipping the typical miscommunication trope by resolving it halfway through the book, but unfortunately the misunderstanding itself felt overly juvenile and not particularly believable. It’s a clever structural idea, but it needed more depth and logic to really work.
In the end, Heart Racer has the foundation of a strong story, but it needs significant tightening and refinement to reach its potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2026
It's time for Max and Keely to start making their way into the world. These two idiots (affectionate) are something special; they came from a tender place in my heart I didn't know existed. I see a lot of myself in them. Max's all-or-nothingness, his tendency to flip the switch on feelings when the hurt is too big to handle. And Keely is, in another life, a younger version of me, one who white knuckles everything until her hands go numb.
If this sounds like you too, then I think you'll really love this book. I hope you find some friends in the pages.
Welcome to AMU.
If this sounds like you too, then I think you'll really love this book. I hope you find some friends in the pages.
Welcome to AMU.
March 13, 2026
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Biochemistry major Keely has the next five years of her life down to a science. But when her grad school loan application is inexplicably rejected, her carefully calculated future spontaneously combusts. Her college's Pursue Your Passions scholarship could be the answer. The problem? There's one place left, and she's not the only student in the running. Enter Max: a state champion sprinter who sets hearts racing on and off the track - and the one thing standing between Keely and her dreams. Keely knows the key to winning is keeping her head in the game. But when your opponent is Lycra-clad and... rippling?! Well, it's hard to keep the chemistry to the lab. Experimenting with her heart could cost Keely everything she's worked for. But staying away from Max might be a race she's destined to lose...
Keely is a girl after my own heart. She’s a planner, needing to find order in her day to ensure things are done and she isn’t a problem for anyone to deal with. I saw a lot of myself in Keely - just not the cleverness for science! - and loved getting to know her. The passion she has for science is second to none and seeing that passion applied elsewhere in her life was a delight. I do wish she would have stood her ground a little more in other situations, not just those involving Max and his infuriating (for her) nature. Yet, I also appreciated that she didn’t because I do that as well and it was really great for me to be able to relate to a character in that way.
A man who asks for consent before doing something most wouldn’t think twice at? Sexy AF! Max is a great character! Yes, his emotional capacity is a bit off but he has a great sense of humour, he’s kind hearted and care forward… What more could you ask for in a guy? Doesn’t hurt he’s incredibly fit too! I loved that we got to see not just “superstar” Max but also the boy underneath, the one who volunteers, who does everything he does for his sick dad. All too often, we get vulnerable moments with MMCs but that’s all they are - moments. Here, we get to see Max living daily with his emotions which is something I very strongly believe we need to see more of!
When I see a story marketed as The Love Hypothesis meets Heated Rivalry… I am SOLD! I may not have read the latter but sports romances and women in STEM have my whole heart! This is such a great story, having two worlds collide brilliantly. It was incredibly enjoyable spending time in both worlds, seeing the pressures and the joys in each. I loved that despite the rivalry, there was still this element of encouragement and pride for the other’s field of expertise! We don’t have a huge range of characters here but it worked very well! We got to see family interactions and best friends as well, enriching the world further whilst also lending history to the main characters as well. I would have perhaps liked to have seen a few more characters, even in passing, considering they are both busy people at what sounds like a bustling university. The romance… chef’s kiss! That rivalry mixed with enemies to lovers, mixed with childhood history. Oh it was perfection! And mixed in with the sweet spice we get as well? What a great relationship. I absolutely adored the ending and where these characters ended up. I couldn’t have asked for anything better!
Overall, Heart Racer is a delightful enemies to lovers romance you’ll want to get your hands on!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to Little, Brown Book Group for an advanced copy of this book.
Biochemistry major Keely has the next five years of her life down to a science. But when her grad school loan application is inexplicably rejected, her carefully calculated future spontaneously combusts. Her college's Pursue Your Passions scholarship could be the answer. The problem? There's one place left, and she's not the only student in the running. Enter Max: a state champion sprinter who sets hearts racing on and off the track - and the one thing standing between Keely and her dreams. Keely knows the key to winning is keeping her head in the game. But when your opponent is Lycra-clad and... rippling?! Well, it's hard to keep the chemistry to the lab. Experimenting with her heart could cost Keely everything she's worked for. But staying away from Max might be a race she's destined to lose...
Keely is a girl after my own heart. She’s a planner, needing to find order in her day to ensure things are done and she isn’t a problem for anyone to deal with. I saw a lot of myself in Keely - just not the cleverness for science! - and loved getting to know her. The passion she has for science is second to none and seeing that passion applied elsewhere in her life was a delight. I do wish she would have stood her ground a little more in other situations, not just those involving Max and his infuriating (for her) nature. Yet, I also appreciated that she didn’t because I do that as well and it was really great for me to be able to relate to a character in that way.
A man who asks for consent before doing something most wouldn’t think twice at? Sexy AF! Max is a great character! Yes, his emotional capacity is a bit off but he has a great sense of humour, he’s kind hearted and care forward… What more could you ask for in a guy? Doesn’t hurt he’s incredibly fit too! I loved that we got to see not just “superstar” Max but also the boy underneath, the one who volunteers, who does everything he does for his sick dad. All too often, we get vulnerable moments with MMCs but that’s all they are - moments. Here, we get to see Max living daily with his emotions which is something I very strongly believe we need to see more of!
When I see a story marketed as The Love Hypothesis meets Heated Rivalry… I am SOLD! I may not have read the latter but sports romances and women in STEM have my whole heart! This is such a great story, having two worlds collide brilliantly. It was incredibly enjoyable spending time in both worlds, seeing the pressures and the joys in each. I loved that despite the rivalry, there was still this element of encouragement and pride for the other’s field of expertise! We don’t have a huge range of characters here but it worked very well! We got to see family interactions and best friends as well, enriching the world further whilst also lending history to the main characters as well. I would have perhaps liked to have seen a few more characters, even in passing, considering they are both busy people at what sounds like a bustling university. The romance… chef’s kiss! That rivalry mixed with enemies to lovers, mixed with childhood history. Oh it was perfection! And mixed in with the sweet spice we get as well? What a great relationship. I absolutely adored the ending and where these characters ended up. I couldn’t have asked for anything better!
Overall, Heart Racer is a delightful enemies to lovers romance you’ll want to get your hands on!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to Little, Brown Book Group for an advanced copy of this book.
April 24, 2026
I enjoyed the storyline of this, it had really good potential, and as much as I knew the book was based around science, I got a little lost with it. It was so in detail with the science element ( no pun intended ) i just got a little lost what the fmc was talking about at points.
I didnt enjoy the third person narrative, it also felt like it switched from third person to first person at parts.
The Fmc also annoyed the hell out of me too!
Personally, if this was written in first person, I would've enjoyed it a whole lot more and that alone would've made it a 3 star for me.
However, for a third person narrative this was a good go at it, usually it feels so impersonal, like youre looking at the story from the outside and not living in the story, but this wasn't like that. I did get into it at points, and could picture the story taking place so that was good.
I felt the story was lacking... in what im unsure. But the first half of the book was simply fighting each other... for a scholarship, pulling one over on each other. I would've liked abit more romance, seeing more insite into their friendships, their history at school, their families more than we did.
I have the hots for the mmc too, he was dreamy.
HOWEVER, the last 20% had me hooked, which nearly made it a 4 star rating for me. It was so good, so gripping, so emotional, so passionate. However the first 80% just didn’t cut it for me😔
I think this book could have abit more depth to it and it would've been slightly more gripping, it took a good half of the book to grip me, and even then I just wanted to see the ending more than being unable to put the book down.
I didnt enjoy the third person narrative, it also felt like it switched from third person to first person at parts.
The Fmc also annoyed the hell out of me too!
Personally, if this was written in first person, I would've enjoyed it a whole lot more and that alone would've made it a 3 star for me.
However, for a third person narrative this was a good go at it, usually it feels so impersonal, like youre looking at the story from the outside and not living in the story, but this wasn't like that. I did get into it at points, and could picture the story taking place so that was good.
I felt the story was lacking... in what im unsure. But the first half of the book was simply fighting each other... for a scholarship, pulling one over on each other. I would've liked abit more romance, seeing more insite into their friendships, their history at school, their families more than we did.
I have the hots for the mmc too, he was dreamy.
HOWEVER, the last 20% had me hooked, which nearly made it a 4 star rating for me. It was so good, so gripping, so emotional, so passionate. However the first 80% just didn’t cut it for me😔
I think this book could have abit more depth to it and it would've been slightly more gripping, it took a good half of the book to grip me, and even then I just wanted to see the ending more than being unable to put the book down.
May 11, 2026
3.75⭐️ Contemporary romance is not something I tend to reach for most of the time, but the premise of this intrigued me. A woman in STEM and a track athlete🤪
This book had good vibes throughout, this was genuinely a fun and adorable read, I was giggling throughout and had a fun time whilst reading it - this was a slow burn, childhood friends to academic rivals to lovers and it was done so well🙏🏻
The third act breakup did stress me out slightly, this a trope that either needs to be done correctly or not at all, and part of the stress was that the miscommunication trope was also used🫠 With that being said, the ending felt slightly rushed after the miscommunication, but was still happy with how it ended… The little ‘Alchemy’ moment, all I was thinking about was “he just comes running over to me”⭐️
“Loving you feels like first place”❤️
Thank you for Net Galley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book had good vibes throughout, this was genuinely a fun and adorable read, I was giggling throughout and had a fun time whilst reading it - this was a slow burn, childhood friends to academic rivals to lovers and it was done so well🙏🏻
The third act breakup did stress me out slightly, this a trope that either needs to be done correctly or not at all, and part of the stress was that the miscommunication trope was also used🫠 With that being said, the ending felt slightly rushed after the miscommunication, but was still happy with how it ended… The little ‘Alchemy’ moment, all I was thinking about was “he just comes running over to me”⭐️
“Loving you feels like first place”❤️
Thank you for Net Galley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2026
3.75 stars
This was my first Megan Avery book.
The writing is good, as are the characterisations. It was likened to The Love Hypothesis, and I can see the similarities, although Heart Racer feels like it’s for a less mature audience.
The main problem I had with it was that I didn’t particularly like Keely, especially the way she starts the sabotage war. I found her selfish and vindictive.
Having said that, I really liked Max.
I would definitely try more Megan Avery books.
Many thanks to Little Brown Book Group for the advance copy.
This was my first Megan Avery book.
The writing is good, as are the characterisations. It was likened to The Love Hypothesis, and I can see the similarities, although Heart Racer feels like it’s for a less mature audience.
The main problem I had with it was that I didn’t particularly like Keely, especially the way she starts the sabotage war. I found her selfish and vindictive.
Having said that, I really liked Max.
I would definitely try more Megan Avery books.
Many thanks to Little Brown Book Group for the advance copy.
April 23, 2026
Megan's talent is clear from the first page: the witty dialogue, the prose, the depth of character. It's all there. She packs so much heart into every sentence, and I loved spending time with Max and Keely. Such a special book.
April 22, 2026
Romance readers! You've had chemistry with steminist romance, you've raced through sports romance. Now get ready for the ultimate crossover...
I enjoyed this book!! It was funny in areas, I enjoyed the prank games!!
The Love Hypothesis meets Heated Rivalry in this spicy, dual-pov, academic rivals rom com - as nerdy as it is sure to raise your pulse...
Tropes:
💖 Stem x Sports/ Jock x Nerd
💖 Childhood friends to academic rivals to lovers
💖 He falls first
💖 On campus!
💖 Slow burn (some spice)
💖 Only one... scholarship
💖 You know how to ball, I know Aristotle
I enjoyed this book!! It was funny in areas, I enjoyed the prank games!!
The Love Hypothesis meets Heated Rivalry in this spicy, dual-pov, academic rivals rom com - as nerdy as it is sure to raise your pulse...
Tropes:
💖 Stem x Sports/ Jock x Nerd
💖 Childhood friends to academic rivals to lovers
💖 He falls first
💖 On campus!
💖 Slow burn (some spice)
💖 Only one... scholarship
💖 You know how to ball, I know Aristotle
February 26, 2026
This was a cute and fun read, but its characters were well developed. Nothing groundbreaking but well told and you couldn’t help but love them. I liked the rivals to lovers- the banter and there were some hilarious moments
November 9, 2025
I really enjoyed this one. Max and Keely's dynamic balanced by sharp rivalry with slow growing respect is something that I truly love, it made every exchange spark with tension and humor. Keely’s focus on her biochemistry goals felt refreshing for a romance lead, and her stress about grad school and scholarships added real stakes without feeling heavy handed. Max, on the other hand, brought just the right amount of cocky charm and hidden depth, and seeing his perspective made the story flow naturally. Their banter was fast and fun, but there were also moments where the emotional walls dropped, and it felt very honest. The writing was light and engaging, and I could easily picture both characters’ worlds. Overall, it was funny, smart, and surprisingly heartfelt. Thank you so much to the author, Little, Brown Book Group and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving an honest review.
November 12, 2025
After having high hopes for this book, I'm afraid this book didn't work for me. Keely's pranks were immature which had some real serious consquences for Max. While I'm glad her called her out on it, she continued it. I appreciate that she had a journey to go on - particularly regarding her future - but it just felt too late for me. Which is why I couldn't buy the spice and romance as I couldn't take her seriously. Also, volunteering to pad your resume with a few months to go for applicationd deadline? As if any scholarship committee would buy it. That said I really loved some of the sharp banter and there were some really lovely heartfelt moments.
Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK/Sphere and NetGalley for the ARC.
Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK/Sphere and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 ⭐ (3 for the sake of rounding up)
I was so conflicted on how to rate this book, because on the one hand, I enjoyed the romance, but on the other, the inaccuracies and mistakes regarding track and field and scientists just drove me crazy and had me constantly rolling my eyes... As a scientist and ex-athlete myself, with a track and field coach for a dad, and a completely normal obsession over the sport, I felt like this book could be "The One", the sports romance that I had been longing for for years. Turns out, I was wrong, and ended quite disappointed.
I feel like in some countries, track and field (or athletics) is not a very popular or highly followed sport (which is a shame btw, because it's an incredible sport, but that's not the point here), so it is likely that a lot of people will not catch the inaccuracies within this book and won't think twice about the details. Sadly, I struggled to move past them and almost DNF'd at one point, because it felt like there was a lot of basic research missing in the writing of this book. I don't want to be mean or overly picky (although I fear I have), but most of the mistakes could have been solved with quick internet searches at minimum, but ideally, a person with a little bit of knowledge on track and field and more specifically, sprints, could have been consulted, and it just frustrated me that that wasn't the case. We are expected to believe that Max is an almost Olympic-level athlete, who just missed out on qualifying the previous year, and then when he discusses his PRs, he's running 11.8 s in the 100 m??? I can confidently say that with that time, he would not even be in the top 50 college athletes, let alone be considered to go to the Olympic Games. To be competitive, he should be running under 10.3 s, at least, without even considering that the US Olympic Trials are the hardest in the world and the 3 or 4 selected athletes typically run sub-10. When Max said that the relay time was one min six (!!!) I almost threw my kindle to the floor and had to go back through the book to check which relay he was running. A competitive 4x100 m relay will be at least around the 40 s mark! Not to mention that they are typically all-male or all-female teams, so the fact that they were three men and one woman just didn't make sense, other than trying to be inclusive, which I can appreciate, but it just didn't work here. In another instance, Max is annoyed because his times are not improving, and refers to all his training times as being sub-PR: sub-PR means below the personal record, so not the right term to use! Lastly, I feel like any athlete that is at an Olympic level will very easily get funding/sponsorship, so I felt like the main plot of the story was unrealistic and Max could have found an alternative source of funding quite quickly. I know it might seem that I am getting very technical and picky, but you can look up this things within a couple of mins, so the fact that these details were not checked just frustrate me.
Regarding the science aspect, this was full of cliches, but my main issues were the fact that at undergrad level, Keely was carrying out a PhD-level thesis, completely on her own, and being unsupervised in the lab until 11/12 at night... I mean, I don't know how undergrad theses work in the US, but that just seemed completely unrealistic to me. Also, after being surrounded by scientists for the last 9 years, I can assure you, I have never met anyone that makes science references and jokes like Keely and her friends, or has a wall covered with prints of their favourite scientists...
That said, once I decided to ignore the mistakes and the story progressed further, I ended up having a good time, and I read this in one day. Max was a well developed character, with an in-depth backstory, and he was easy to like despite his grumpiness. Keely came across a bit self-obsessed and immature at the start (a prank war, really???) but as the book went on, I started liking her more, and I appreciated her journey to discover what she wanted to do after undergrad, especially the final decision. Although the transition between friendship to romance was a bit quick, I liked their tender moments and loved them together. There was an emotional layer to the characters and the story which added depth and maturity, and although sad and hard to read, I appreciated what it brought to the book. The third act conflict was frustrating but to a point, understandable, and although I liked how it was solved, it felt a little bit rushed.
Overall, I am aware that this is a fiction book, and that these issues are mostly a "me" problem and that most people will not catch the track and field-specific inaccuracies. In the acknowledgments, the mentions how she was inspired by the 2024 Summer Olympics and athletes that participated, and I seriously love that it motivated her to write this book, but I just wish that more research had been done when writing and editing this book, because most of the things could have been corrected easily and quickly. If you are not overly picky with details and don't know much about athletics, this will be a good sports romance book to pick up, but sadly, it just didn't meet the mark for me.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book UK/Sphere and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was so conflicted on how to rate this book, because on the one hand, I enjoyed the romance, but on the other, the inaccuracies and mistakes regarding track and field and scientists just drove me crazy and had me constantly rolling my eyes... As a scientist and ex-athlete myself, with a track and field coach for a dad, and a completely normal obsession over the sport, I felt like this book could be "The One", the sports romance that I had been longing for for years. Turns out, I was wrong, and ended quite disappointed.
I feel like in some countries, track and field (or athletics) is not a very popular or highly followed sport (which is a shame btw, because it's an incredible sport, but that's not the point here), so it is likely that a lot of people will not catch the inaccuracies within this book and won't think twice about the details. Sadly, I struggled to move past them and almost DNF'd at one point, because it felt like there was a lot of basic research missing in the writing of this book. I don't want to be mean or overly picky (although I fear I have), but most of the mistakes could have been solved with quick internet searches at minimum, but ideally, a person with a little bit of knowledge on track and field and more specifically, sprints, could have been consulted, and it just frustrated me that that wasn't the case. We are expected to believe that Max is an almost Olympic-level athlete, who just missed out on qualifying the previous year, and then when he discusses his PRs, he's running 11.8 s in the 100 m??? I can confidently say that with that time, he would not even be in the top 50 college athletes, let alone be considered to go to the Olympic Games. To be competitive, he should be running under 10.3 s, at least, without even considering that the US Olympic Trials are the hardest in the world and the 3 or 4 selected athletes typically run sub-10. When Max said that the relay time was one min six (!!!) I almost threw my kindle to the floor and had to go back through the book to check which relay he was running. A competitive 4x100 m relay will be at least around the 40 s mark! Not to mention that they are typically all-male or all-female teams, so the fact that they were three men and one woman just didn't make sense, other than trying to be inclusive, which I can appreciate, but it just didn't work here. In another instance, Max is annoyed because his times are not improving, and refers to all his training times as being sub-PR: sub-PR means below the personal record, so not the right term to use! Lastly, I feel like any athlete that is at an Olympic level will very easily get funding/sponsorship, so I felt like the main plot of the story was unrealistic and Max could have found an alternative source of funding quite quickly. I know it might seem that I am getting very technical and picky, but you can look up this things within a couple of mins, so the fact that these details were not checked just frustrate me.
Regarding the science aspect, this was full of cliches, but my main issues were the fact that at undergrad level, Keely was carrying out a PhD-level thesis, completely on her own, and being unsupervised in the lab until 11/12 at night... I mean, I don't know how undergrad theses work in the US, but that just seemed completely unrealistic to me. Also, after being surrounded by scientists for the last 9 years, I can assure you, I have never met anyone that makes science references and jokes like Keely and her friends, or has a wall covered with prints of their favourite scientists...
That said, once I decided to ignore the mistakes and the story progressed further, I ended up having a good time, and I read this in one day. Max was a well developed character, with an in-depth backstory, and he was easy to like despite his grumpiness. Keely came across a bit self-obsessed and immature at the start (a prank war, really???) but as the book went on, I started liking her more, and I appreciated her journey to discover what she wanted to do after undergrad, especially the final decision. Although the transition between friendship to romance was a bit quick, I liked their tender moments and loved them together. There was an emotional layer to the characters and the story which added depth and maturity, and although sad and hard to read, I appreciated what it brought to the book. The third act conflict was frustrating but to a point, understandable, and although I liked how it was solved, it felt a little bit rushed.
Overall, I am aware that this is a fiction book, and that these issues are mostly a "me" problem and that most people will not catch the track and field-specific inaccuracies. In the acknowledgments, the mentions how she was inspired by the 2024 Summer Olympics and athletes that participated, and I seriously love that it motivated her to write this book, but I just wish that more research had been done when writing and editing this book, because most of the things could have been corrected easily and quickly. If you are not overly picky with details and don't know much about athletics, this will be a good sports romance book to pick up, but sadly, it just didn't meet the mark for me.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book UK/Sphere and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2025
Enjoyed this book. Really highlights dementia. Would have given it at least 4.5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Little, Brown Book Group UK | Sphere, for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Heart Racer is a sweet, easy-to-read sports romance with a strong emotional core and two driven main characters fighting hard for their futures. I really enjoyed the focus on women in STEM and the realistic portrayal of college life, especially the pressure of balancing studies, work, goals, and personal relationships. Not everyone in college is a party-goer, and I appreciated how the story highlighted that experience.
Keely and Max are both ambitious and career-focused, which made their motivations feel genuine and relatable. Max’s character arc stood out in particular; the exploration of his habit of keeping his personal life guarded and how he gradually learns the value of opening up added warmth and depth. The story also weaves in strong family themes, giving the romance an emotional grounding that many readers will connect with.
As someone still getting into sports romance, I also liked the fresh setting, moving away from the usual hockey-dominated romances and into a track-and-field world that felt different and engaging. The pacing of the chapters is brisk and easy to follow, and the scholarship competition adds an apparent emotional and personal conflict for both leads.
However, there were aspects that didn’t quite work for me. Keely’s best-friend subplot felt unnecessarily harsh and didn’t fully land in terms of motivation or emotional payoff. More broadly, the writing style sometimes reads younger than the characters themselves, which gives parts of the book a YA tone rather than the more mature voice it seems to be aiming for.
The pacing and character decision-making also feel rushed at times; big choices are made almost instantly, without the emotional buildup needed to make them feel believable. This occasionally makes the narrative feel disjointed, and some sentences include extra detail that doesn’t contribute to the story or character development. While Max’s voice feels natural and grounded, Keely’s internal narration can come across as overly naïve for who she’s meant to be as a character.
There are some clever ideas here, including flipping the usual miscommunication trope earlier in the story, but the execution of that conflict feels a bit juvenile and underdeveloped, which limits its emotional impact. Overall, the book has a strong premise and plenty of potential, but it would really benefit from further editing to tighten the prose, deepen motivations, and strengthen the character arcs.
Heart Racer is heartfelt, hopeful, and built on a solid foundation; it just needs a little more refinement to fully reach its potential. A heartfelt sports romance with strong themes of ambition, family and women in STEM, and two likeable leads with real emotional stakes. While the premise is great, the pacing and character motivations sometimes feel rushed. Overall, a sweet, engaging read with potential that would benefit from tighter editing.
Heart Racer is a sweet, easy-to-read sports romance with a strong emotional core and two driven main characters fighting hard for their futures. I really enjoyed the focus on women in STEM and the realistic portrayal of college life, especially the pressure of balancing studies, work, goals, and personal relationships. Not everyone in college is a party-goer, and I appreciated how the story highlighted that experience.
Keely and Max are both ambitious and career-focused, which made their motivations feel genuine and relatable. Max’s character arc stood out in particular; the exploration of his habit of keeping his personal life guarded and how he gradually learns the value of opening up added warmth and depth. The story also weaves in strong family themes, giving the romance an emotional grounding that many readers will connect with.
As someone still getting into sports romance, I also liked the fresh setting, moving away from the usual hockey-dominated romances and into a track-and-field world that felt different and engaging. The pacing of the chapters is brisk and easy to follow, and the scholarship competition adds an apparent emotional and personal conflict for both leads.
However, there were aspects that didn’t quite work for me. Keely’s best-friend subplot felt unnecessarily harsh and didn’t fully land in terms of motivation or emotional payoff. More broadly, the writing style sometimes reads younger than the characters themselves, which gives parts of the book a YA tone rather than the more mature voice it seems to be aiming for.
The pacing and character decision-making also feel rushed at times; big choices are made almost instantly, without the emotional buildup needed to make them feel believable. This occasionally makes the narrative feel disjointed, and some sentences include extra detail that doesn’t contribute to the story or character development. While Max’s voice feels natural and grounded, Keely’s internal narration can come across as overly naïve for who she’s meant to be as a character.
There are some clever ideas here, including flipping the usual miscommunication trope earlier in the story, but the execution of that conflict feels a bit juvenile and underdeveloped, which limits its emotional impact. Overall, the book has a strong premise and plenty of potential, but it would really benefit from further editing to tighten the prose, deepen motivations, and strengthen the character arcs.
Heart Racer is heartfelt, hopeful, and built on a solid foundation; it just needs a little more refinement to fully reach its potential. A heartfelt sports romance with strong themes of ambition, family and women in STEM, and two likeable leads with real emotional stakes. While the premise is great, the pacing and character motivations sometimes feel rushed. Overall, a sweet, engaging read with potential that would benefit from tighter editing.
April 22, 2026
2 ⭑
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unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. i had a plethora of issues with the characters and the romance. it had potential but the execution just didn't do it justice.
our fmc, keeley, was a bit of a complicated character for me. i didn't wholly hate her, and there were parts of her that were relatable, or at the very least understandable, but she did get on my nerves a lot. a portion of the book focuses on the "prank war" between keeley and max, the way it started out just didn't sit right with me and definitely didn't seem like a prank. in fact, it felt a little vindictive.
not only that, but she was also very obtuse regarding the problems in her friendship with zoey. even after noticing that zoey had an issue with her, she did little to nothing to figure out what she may have done/how to fix it— before or after she finds out about one of zoey's issues with her. that being said, i can't fully blame her because it seemed that zoey didn't attempt to communicate with keeley about her issues before going silent on her. and considering keeley's circumstances, i'm a little shocked about the lack of grace she [zoey] gave her best friend. it felt like neither keeley or zoey cared much for the friendship if i'm completely honest.
then, we have our mmc, max. like keeley, he was also a shit friend. the difference? he's aware of this and also does little to nothing the resolve this. my biggest issue is regarding his passion for running, or lack thereof. it's clear his passion is his dad, which manifests into essentially living the life he thinks his dad missed out on by pursuing a career in running/olympics. on top of that, at no point does max come to the realisation that running isn't completely a sole sport but does require some teamwork. i don't think he truly loved the sport to be honest? and because of that he doesn't really have much growth as a character.
finally, we have the romance between max and keeley. first of all, how do two people who barely have time for their friends manage to find time for each other? second, the third act break up (my biggest pet peeve) highlighted one big issue; they don't trust each other. max, upon realising keeley was hiding something, immediately assumed she submitted her application early despite both agreeing to do it together (which she suggested to do), and keeley immediately assumes that after their "break up" (were they even together together?) that max doesn't want to be friends because he'll no longer get anything from her (i.e. tutoring, sex, etc). the fact that at this point they have no trust in each other? yeah, i don't believe that relationship is truly surviving.
when you don't necessarily like any of the characters (i didn't say hate!), nor are you rooting for the romance, it's hard to actually like the book. like i said, the potential was there but the execution was out the window.
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Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC — which was given in exchange for an honest review!
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unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. i had a plethora of issues with the characters and the romance. it had potential but the execution just didn't do it justice.
our fmc, keeley, was a bit of a complicated character for me. i didn't wholly hate her, and there were parts of her that were relatable, or at the very least understandable, but she did get on my nerves a lot. a portion of the book focuses on the "prank war" between keeley and max, the way it started out just didn't sit right with me and definitely didn't seem like a prank. in fact, it felt a little vindictive.
not only that, but she was also very obtuse regarding the problems in her friendship with zoey. even after noticing that zoey had an issue with her, she did little to nothing to figure out what she may have done/how to fix it— before or after she finds out about one of zoey's issues with her. that being said, i can't fully blame her because it seemed that zoey didn't attempt to communicate with keeley about her issues before going silent on her. and considering keeley's circumstances, i'm a little shocked about the lack of grace she [zoey] gave her best friend. it felt like neither keeley or zoey cared much for the friendship if i'm completely honest.
then, we have our mmc, max. like keeley, he was also a shit friend. the difference? he's aware of this and also does little to nothing the resolve this. my biggest issue is regarding his passion for running, or lack thereof. it's clear his passion is his dad, which manifests into essentially living the life he thinks his dad missed out on by pursuing a career in running/olympics. on top of that, at no point does max come to the realisation that running isn't completely a sole sport but does require some teamwork. i don't think he truly loved the sport to be honest? and because of that he doesn't really have much growth as a character.
finally, we have the romance between max and keeley. first of all, how do two people who barely have time for their friends manage to find time for each other? second, the third act break up (my biggest pet peeve) highlighted one big issue; they don't trust each other. max, upon realising keeley was hiding something, immediately assumed she submitted her application early despite both agreeing to do it together (which she suggested to do), and keeley immediately assumes that after their "break up" (were they even together together?) that max doesn't want to be friends because he'll no longer get anything from her (i.e. tutoring, sex, etc). the fact that at this point they have no trust in each other? yeah, i don't believe that relationship is truly surviving.
when you don't necessarily like any of the characters (i didn't say hate!), nor are you rooting for the romance, it's hard to actually like the book. like i said, the potential was there but the execution was out the window.
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Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC — which was given in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3 stars
Content warning: parental figure with terminal cancer, parental death (off-page), past sports injury, strained parental relationship due to divorce
Thank you to the author and publisher, via NetGalley, for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.
I'll be honest, this isn't anything new. It has the similar trappings of a college-set romance between a jock and a STEM major where they are fighting for the same funding and there's only one space. Shameless sabotage to try and beat the other out of the running happens, and then forced proximity kicks in. I'll admit, I had been really hopeful at the start of the book that I was going to enjoy this. I liked the first introduction to the FMC, Keely, and prayed that the academic rivals would be handled well since, aside from her evident struggle with letting go of controlling everything in her life, she seemed pretty mature. Annoyingly, she was the first character I started to dislike.
The added layer to this rivals to lovers story is that both Keely and Max were once childhood besties, who, after an understandable miscommunication from Keely's point of view, had a falling out, and have the element of rekindling their friendship. When this was happening, I did appreciate the story, but the sheer juvenile behaviour during the sabotage war, and the way both main character's treat their current best friends and all is well without little consequence in the end, was hard for me to connect with them further than a shallow level. It all felt like something I'd read before in other books, and whilst that is pretty common with romance and you generally need to come in knowing it will be formulaic to the romance writing trajectory, I feel like there were many missed opportunities to make both characters relatable and strengthen their development as individuals, and their physical relationship and rekindled friendship.
The third act breakup was poorly constructed and really ruined the flow of what had been building up for me. Sometimes it's just so unnecessary to throw it in there, but I am grateful it didn't last long. I did like how both characters were at the end of the book - weak consequences to previous actions aside - which is why I gave this 3 stars in the end. Readers who love college-set romances where opposites attract and have an interest in sports/STEMinist romances will enjoy this as an easy enough, highly predictable read. However, I do feel that there was a lot of convenience writing where development was lacking, so I can't say I recommend this as something all romance readers will enjoy.
Content warning: parental figure with terminal cancer, parental death (off-page), past sports injury, strained parental relationship due to divorce
Thank you to the author and publisher, via NetGalley, for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.
I'll be honest, this isn't anything new. It has the similar trappings of a college-set romance between a jock and a STEM major where they are fighting for the same funding and there's only one space. Shameless sabotage to try and beat the other out of the running happens, and then forced proximity kicks in. I'll admit, I had been really hopeful at the start of the book that I was going to enjoy this. I liked the first introduction to the FMC, Keely, and prayed that the academic rivals would be handled well since, aside from her evident struggle with letting go of controlling everything in her life, she seemed pretty mature. Annoyingly, she was the first character I started to dislike.
The added layer to this rivals to lovers story is that both Keely and Max were once childhood besties, who, after an understandable miscommunication from Keely's point of view, had a falling out, and have the element of rekindling their friendship. When this was happening, I did appreciate the story, but the sheer juvenile behaviour during the sabotage war, and the way both main character's treat their current best friends and all is well without little consequence in the end, was hard for me to connect with them further than a shallow level. It all felt like something I'd read before in other books, and whilst that is pretty common with romance and you generally need to come in knowing it will be formulaic to the romance writing trajectory, I feel like there were many missed opportunities to make both characters relatable and strengthen their development as individuals, and their physical relationship and rekindled friendship.
The third act breakup was poorly constructed and really ruined the flow of what had been building up for me. Sometimes it's just so unnecessary to throw it in there, but I am grateful it didn't last long. I did like how both characters were at the end of the book - weak consequences to previous actions aside - which is why I gave this 3 stars in the end. Readers who love college-set romances where opposites attract and have an interest in sports/STEMinist romances will enjoy this as an easy enough, highly predictable read. However, I do feel that there was a lot of convenience writing where development was lacking, so I can't say I recommend this as something all romance readers will enjoy.
April 16, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own
3.5 ⭐️ 1🌶️ A fun, lighthearted stem x jock college romance with a good level of spice that pays off
Heart Racer by Megan Avery is dual POV sports romance. We follow biochemistry major, Keely, and track runner, Max, who both suddenly lose their scholarships. This results in both applying for the Pursue Your Passions scholarship for different reasons. Keely is a list loving type A student who has a five year plan, whereas Max is trying to fulfil his dream of making it to the Olympics. As it turns out, Keely and Max are former childhood best friends until the friendship stopped abruptly. What happens next is a series of pranks to try and ruin the other’s chance of winning scholarship. With their history in the mix as well, Keely and Max struggle with trying to one up each other and also caring for their former best friend. As they start to fall for each other, they start to have conflicting feelings on if they want the win the scholarship for themselves.
This is definitely a book you reach for when you are looking for a fun time! I really enjoyed the pranks Keely and Max pull on each other. This book does true rivals to lovers very well. You really get the sense that the two are really enemies to begin with. The slow burn in this was done incredibly well, I love it when a book makes me work for it! Would I recommend this book? Yes, if you are looking for fun and light and a sloooow burn.
The main issue I had with this book is I found the backstory for why both Keely and Max wanted the scholarship to be a bit far fetched and unrealistic. I also found Keely’s decision making around her career towards the end of the book a bit forced when she wouldn’t tell anyone what she was thinking. Now, Max… I went back and forth on him. I think the descriptions of him being cold and distant a bit unconvincing. What was ultimately missing from this book was the emotions. It didn’t really tug on my heartstrings, I didn’t find myself feeling what the characters were feeling.
📚Tropes:
- nerd x jock
- rivals to lovers
- second chance romance
- slow burn
Trigger warnings:
- cancer
3.5 ⭐️ 1🌶️ A fun, lighthearted stem x jock college romance with a good level of spice that pays off
Heart Racer by Megan Avery is dual POV sports romance. We follow biochemistry major, Keely, and track runner, Max, who both suddenly lose their scholarships. This results in both applying for the Pursue Your Passions scholarship for different reasons. Keely is a list loving type A student who has a five year plan, whereas Max is trying to fulfil his dream of making it to the Olympics. As it turns out, Keely and Max are former childhood best friends until the friendship stopped abruptly. What happens next is a series of pranks to try and ruin the other’s chance of winning scholarship. With their history in the mix as well, Keely and Max struggle with trying to one up each other and also caring for their former best friend. As they start to fall for each other, they start to have conflicting feelings on if they want the win the scholarship for themselves.
This is definitely a book you reach for when you are looking for a fun time! I really enjoyed the pranks Keely and Max pull on each other. This book does true rivals to lovers very well. You really get the sense that the two are really enemies to begin with. The slow burn in this was done incredibly well, I love it when a book makes me work for it! Would I recommend this book? Yes, if you are looking for fun and light and a sloooow burn.
The main issue I had with this book is I found the backstory for why both Keely and Max wanted the scholarship to be a bit far fetched and unrealistic. I also found Keely’s decision making around her career towards the end of the book a bit forced when she wouldn’t tell anyone what she was thinking. Now, Max… I went back and forth on him. I think the descriptions of him being cold and distant a bit unconvincing. What was ultimately missing from this book was the emotions. It didn’t really tug on my heartstrings, I didn’t find myself feeling what the characters were feeling.
📚Tropes:
- nerd x jock
- rivals to lovers
- second chance romance
- slow burn
Trigger warnings:
- cancer
Read
May 18, 20263.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐✨
Keely, a hyper‑focused biochemistry major with a five‑year life plan mapped down to the molecule, thinks she has everything under control — until her grad school loan application is unexpectedly denied. Suddenly, her perfectly engineered future is in free fall.
Her last hope is the Pursue Your Passions scholarship, but there’s a catch: only one spot remains, and her biggest competition is Max, the campus golden boy. Max is a state‑champion sprinter, a walking endorphin rush in Lycra, and the one person who can match Keely’s intensity with equal fire.
What begins as academic rivalry quickly turns into something far more combustible. Between late‑night study sessions, competitive banter, and a chemistry that refuses to stay in the lab, Keely and Max find themselves running a race neither expected — one where the finish line might be love.
With dual POV, slow‑burn tension, STEM‑meets‑sports energy, and childhood‑friends‑to‑rivals‑to‑lovers vibes, Heart Racer blends nerdy charm with pulse‑raising romance.
Review:
Heart Racer delivers a light, engaging blend of academic rivalry and slow‑burn attraction, offering a romance that feels both playful and heartfelt. The story shines most through Max and Keely’s dynamic: Keely’s tightly wound, hyper‑focused STEM‑girl energy contrasts beautifully with Max’s warm, quietly devoted athlete persona, creating a chemistry that feels natural and deeply satisfying. Their competitive banter adds spark without tipping into hostility, and the dual‑POV structure gives the reader a clear window into Max’s early, earnest feelings, strengthening the “he falls first” trope. While the plot follows familiar rom‑com beats and occasionally lingers too long on predictable conflicts, the overall experience remains charming, especially for readers who enjoy academic rivals, campus romance, and the STEM‑meets‑sports crossover. With its mix of nerdy humour, emotional softness, and just‑enough spice, Heart Racer earns its 3.5‑star reception as a fun, easy read that raises your pulse without demanding too much intensity.
Keely, a hyper‑focused biochemistry major with a five‑year life plan mapped down to the molecule, thinks she has everything under control — until her grad school loan application is unexpectedly denied. Suddenly, her perfectly engineered future is in free fall.
Her last hope is the Pursue Your Passions scholarship, but there’s a catch: only one spot remains, and her biggest competition is Max, the campus golden boy. Max is a state‑champion sprinter, a walking endorphin rush in Lycra, and the one person who can match Keely’s intensity with equal fire.
What begins as academic rivalry quickly turns into something far more combustible. Between late‑night study sessions, competitive banter, and a chemistry that refuses to stay in the lab, Keely and Max find themselves running a race neither expected — one where the finish line might be love.
With dual POV, slow‑burn tension, STEM‑meets‑sports energy, and childhood‑friends‑to‑rivals‑to‑lovers vibes, Heart Racer blends nerdy charm with pulse‑raising romance.
Review:
Heart Racer delivers a light, engaging blend of academic rivalry and slow‑burn attraction, offering a romance that feels both playful and heartfelt. The story shines most through Max and Keely’s dynamic: Keely’s tightly wound, hyper‑focused STEM‑girl energy contrasts beautifully with Max’s warm, quietly devoted athlete persona, creating a chemistry that feels natural and deeply satisfying. Their competitive banter adds spark without tipping into hostility, and the dual‑POV structure gives the reader a clear window into Max’s early, earnest feelings, strengthening the “he falls first” trope. While the plot follows familiar rom‑com beats and occasionally lingers too long on predictable conflicts, the overall experience remains charming, especially for readers who enjoy academic rivals, campus romance, and the STEM‑meets‑sports crossover. With its mix of nerdy humour, emotional softness, and just‑enough spice, Heart Racer earns its 3.5‑star reception as a fun, easy read that raises your pulse without demanding too much intensity.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved this story and how it connected two people with high goals and aspirations and drew them together, as rivals but also as friends and made them strong and better together.
We have two strong main characters. On one side there is Keely, a Science major, that wants to be a scientist and help improve people's lives. She lives and breathes her projects and has a completely controled system that cannot be derailed or faltered. Is she a control freack? Yes. But a sweet and caring one.
Max is an athelet and aspires to get to the olympics. He almost made it in the past but personal problems got in the way and he didn't got in. He is driven, strong, protective and even if a little grumpy has very good intentions. He is a little tough cookie to crack open but once inside he is sweet and loyal.
So when both their funding to reach their dreams is cut off and they have to apply to a new one and there is only one place left it's game on.
Their rivalary leads to pranks and those pranks make them think about each other, and anticipate each other's moves and even be eager for them. They reignite an old friendship, start learning and helping aech other to improve and be better and fall head over heels for one another.
But how will one react when they win/lose? Will they accept or resent the other?
"And I’m sorry if they negatively affected you. If, at any point since then, what I said or laughed at or agreed to made you think you’re anything less than fucking brilliant, Keely Sinclair."
It was funny, endearing, enraging and a little heartbreaking. It showed how strong our dreams and goals can be, how powerfull our deside to please and protect our loved ones can be and how what we believed we wanted and dreamed can change and become something else when we start doing and chasing what we dream for ourselves.
I loved it!
We have two strong main characters. On one side there is Keely, a Science major, that wants to be a scientist and help improve people's lives. She lives and breathes her projects and has a completely controled system that cannot be derailed or faltered. Is she a control freack? Yes. But a sweet and caring one.
Max is an athelet and aspires to get to the olympics. He almost made it in the past but personal problems got in the way and he didn't got in. He is driven, strong, protective and even if a little grumpy has very good intentions. He is a little tough cookie to crack open but once inside he is sweet and loyal.
So when both their funding to reach their dreams is cut off and they have to apply to a new one and there is only one place left it's game on.
Their rivalary leads to pranks and those pranks make them think about each other, and anticipate each other's moves and even be eager for them. They reignite an old friendship, start learning and helping aech other to improve and be better and fall head over heels for one another.
But how will one react when they win/lose? Will they accept or resent the other?
"And I’m sorry if they negatively affected you. If, at any point since then, what I said or laughed at or agreed to made you think you’re anything less than fucking brilliant, Keely Sinclair."
It was funny, endearing, enraging and a little heartbreaking. It showed how strong our dreams and goals can be, how powerfull our deside to please and protect our loved ones can be and how what we believed we wanted and dreamed can change and become something else when we start doing and chasing what we dream for ourselves.
I loved it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was incredibly grateful to receive both an eARC via NetGalley and a surprise physical copy from the publisher, thank you so much!
Heart Racer is a really sweet and heartwarming romance that blends STEM and sport in a fun and engaging way. The story follows Keely, a science-focused university student who has her future carefully planned, and Max, a dedicated athlete competing in sprinting, hurdles and relay races. When they both unexpectedly lose their funding for postgraduate study, they find themselves competing for a single “Pursue Your Passions” scholarship.
The first half of the book is great fun and centres around their rivalry. Keely and Max try to outdo each other and occasionally sabotage one another with pranks and petty antics, which makes for some genuinely entertaining moments. There is also a shared history between them, as they were once close friends at middle school before drifting apart, which adds a nice layer of tension.
As the story develops, their dynamic shifts from rivals to reluctant allies and then into something more. Watching them realise they work better together, and that their chemistry goes beyond competition, was really satisfying. The romance itself is soft, slow burn and full of warmth.
I also appreciated the more emotional elements of the story. Both characters are dealing with personal challenges involving family pressures and difficult home situations, which adds depth and makes their motivations feel believable.
That said, one aspect did not quite work for me. Keely’s friendship with Zoey was not my favourite part of the book. I found Zoey quite unlikeable and that subplot did not add much for me personally.
Overall, this is a charming and feel good read. If you enjoy rivals to lovers, childhood friends reconnecting, and STEM meets sports romance, this is definitely one to pick up.
Heart Racer is a really sweet and heartwarming romance that blends STEM and sport in a fun and engaging way. The story follows Keely, a science-focused university student who has her future carefully planned, and Max, a dedicated athlete competing in sprinting, hurdles and relay races. When they both unexpectedly lose their funding for postgraduate study, they find themselves competing for a single “Pursue Your Passions” scholarship.
The first half of the book is great fun and centres around their rivalry. Keely and Max try to outdo each other and occasionally sabotage one another with pranks and petty antics, which makes for some genuinely entertaining moments. There is also a shared history between them, as they were once close friends at middle school before drifting apart, which adds a nice layer of tension.
As the story develops, their dynamic shifts from rivals to reluctant allies and then into something more. Watching them realise they work better together, and that their chemistry goes beyond competition, was really satisfying. The romance itself is soft, slow burn and full of warmth.
I also appreciated the more emotional elements of the story. Both characters are dealing with personal challenges involving family pressures and difficult home situations, which adds depth and makes their motivations feel believable.
That said, one aspect did not quite work for me. Keely’s friendship with Zoey was not my favourite part of the book. I found Zoey quite unlikeable and that subplot did not add much for me personally.
Overall, this is a charming and feel good read. If you enjoy rivals to lovers, childhood friends reconnecting, and STEM meets sports romance, this is definitely one to pick up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I quite liked reading Heart Racer.
It took me a bit to get into the story but the middle part was really good and the characters had good chemistry!
I liked Max's character and I'm glad he was able to open up to other people and fulfill his dream.
I didn't really love the end. It felt a bit too drawn out and felt to eager to tie up everything neatly.
Like Max suddenly making an effort to be friends with his teammate who does not hold the slightest grudge and then moving on to fix things with Keely.
I'm also not sure what to feel about Keely's decision to no longer persue a PhD but instead go into teaching. While there was some build up to it (like her enjoying teaching the children) this big change of heart about her career choice felt odd and rushed. Does it mean she never truly liked her research and lab work? Because in the beginning of the book she seemed quite into it.
Though tbf I think her research project on energy, caffeine and how to sleep the least or whatever it was about also felt pretty odd to begin with.
I also never got why she acted like not getting this scholarship meant not being able to go to grad school ever. Like in the end of the book she anyway does a filler year, she could have done the same thing and then reapplied for scholarships and stuff for her research thing in California.
At this point it's just me ranting about details, but to sum it: I enjoyed reading this book mainly for the chemistry between the main characters and the side stories about their families.
I would recommend it if you want to read a fun college romance.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
It took me a bit to get into the story but the middle part was really good and the characters had good chemistry!
I liked Max's character and I'm glad he was able to open up to other people and fulfill his dream.
I didn't really love the end. It felt a bit too drawn out and felt to eager to tie up everything neatly.
Like Max suddenly making an effort to be friends with his teammate who does not hold the slightest grudge and then moving on to fix things with Keely.
I'm also not sure what to feel about Keely's decision to no longer persue a PhD but instead go into teaching. While there was some build up to it (like her enjoying teaching the children) this big change of heart about her career choice felt odd and rushed. Does it mean she never truly liked her research and lab work? Because in the beginning of the book she seemed quite into it.
Though tbf I think her research project on energy, caffeine and how to sleep the least or whatever it was about also felt pretty odd to begin with.
I also never got why she acted like not getting this scholarship meant not being able to go to grad school ever. Like in the end of the book she anyway does a filler year, she could have done the same thing and then reapplied for scholarships and stuff for her research thing in California.
At this point it's just me ranting about details, but to sum it: I enjoyed reading this book mainly for the chemistry between the main characters and the side stories about their families.
I would recommend it if you want to read a fun college romance.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
So, I’m really trying to get into this book. This is not me saying I hate it, because I don’t—but I also don’t think it’s interesting enough to keep me entertained. I’m honestly bored. I’m continuing it mostly for the sake of the arc and because it’s such a great opportunity, which is why I’m pushing through.
I do like the characters—they have strong and distinct personalities—but I just feel like the plot is exaggerated and dragged out. It was kind of boring overall. I like books that really pull me in, and this just didn’t do that for me. It was just a different kind of slow.
I know I’m not done with the book yet, so I’m going to pause my full judgment until I finish it. I’m currently on page 282 and a half out of about 401 pages, so I’m close. I do want to finish it so I can properly review it, and I won’t give up now. But I’ve been reading it for the past 16 days on and off, and that’s a long time for me. When I’m really into a book, I never take this long.
It’s not even that long—around 400 pages—but I just don’t think there was enough substance to justify that length. I’ve read books that are 800 pages and felt more engaging. This one just doesn’t feel like it has a strong plot.
Also, the miscommunication really frustrated me. I hate miscommunication as a trope—it feels like problems could have been solved quickly, but instead they drag on for too long. That completely turned me off the story. Everything felt very slow at first, and then suddenly things started moving too fast.
Overall, the book is very tricky to rate, but right now it’s probably a 3 stars for me, since I really liked it at the start.
I do like the characters—they have strong and distinct personalities—but I just feel like the plot is exaggerated and dragged out. It was kind of boring overall. I like books that really pull me in, and this just didn’t do that for me. It was just a different kind of slow.
I know I’m not done with the book yet, so I’m going to pause my full judgment until I finish it. I’m currently on page 282 and a half out of about 401 pages, so I’m close. I do want to finish it so I can properly review it, and I won’t give up now. But I’ve been reading it for the past 16 days on and off, and that’s a long time for me. When I’m really into a book, I never take this long.
It’s not even that long—around 400 pages—but I just don’t think there was enough substance to justify that length. I’ve read books that are 800 pages and felt more engaging. This one just doesn’t feel like it has a strong plot.
Also, the miscommunication really frustrated me. I hate miscommunication as a trope—it feels like problems could have been solved quickly, but instead they drag on for too long. That completely turned me off the story. Everything felt very slow at first, and then suddenly things started moving too fast.
Overall, the book is very tricky to rate, but right now it’s probably a 3 stars for me, since I really liked it at the start.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
-Stem x Sports
-Golden Girl x Sad Boy
-Friends to Rivals to Lovers
-Forced Proximity
-Only One Scholarship
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the eARC!
While it took me a bit to get into it, I ended up enjoying this stem/sports romance.
Keely and Max, former childhood best friends, are fighting for the same scholarship and turn into rivals, trying to sabotage each other. Their academic tension turns into a different kind of tension that brings them closer.
I enjoyed the overall plot and found the “pranks” to be funny. Her ending up in his locker and her blue hands were hilarious. I liked the college backdrop in general and felt like Megan Avery painted college life, even for two people very caught up in their major/sport, well.
I think that the chemistry between them was well done and it didn’t feel like a reach for me to believe they were falling in love with each other. The tension and some yearning was there. I really liked the party scene and Max taking her home and leaving her water, snacks and medicine. The way he came through for her for WIS was sweet. I don’t think anyone could blame her for her reaction.
I did think the reason Keely thought they stopped being friends a little silly but they were children so…
I also loved the side characters, especially Zoey and Nolan. They good people ❤️
Anyways, this was a sweet contemporary romance book that I’m glad I requested on NetGalley not really knowing anything about it ❤️
-Golden Girl x Sad Boy
-Friends to Rivals to Lovers
-Forced Proximity
-Only One Scholarship
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the eARC!
While it took me a bit to get into it, I ended up enjoying this stem/sports romance.
Keely and Max, former childhood best friends, are fighting for the same scholarship and turn into rivals, trying to sabotage each other. Their academic tension turns into a different kind of tension that brings them closer.
I enjoyed the overall plot and found the “pranks” to be funny. Her ending up in his locker and her blue hands were hilarious. I liked the college backdrop in general and felt like Megan Avery painted college life, even for two people very caught up in their major/sport, well.
I think that the chemistry between them was well done and it didn’t feel like a reach for me to believe they were falling in love with each other. The tension and some yearning was there. I really liked the party scene and Max taking her home and leaving her water, snacks and medicine. The way he came through for her for WIS was sweet. I don’t think anyone could blame her for her reaction.
I did think the reason Keely thought they stopped being friends a little silly but they were children so…
I also loved the side characters, especially Zoey and Nolan. They good people ❤️
Anyways, this was a sweet contemporary romance book that I’m glad I requested on NetGalley not really knowing anything about it ❤️
April 13, 2026
❣️ STEM x sports
❣️ jock x nerd
❣️ childhood friends to rivals to lovers
❣️ he falls first
❣️ only one scholarship on the line
keely has her whole life planned out until it suddenly isn’t - and the one thing standing between her and fixing it is max. aka track star, heartthrob, ex childhood friend and unfortunately VERY distracting academic rival.
if there is one thing Megan does insanely well it is slow burn. this was actually torturous. i have never rooted for two people to just KISSSS more in my life. i was S T R U G G L I N G. and then max is out here saying things like “𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢’𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨, 𝐬𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝” and i’m supposed to be normal about it??? be serious please.
another thing megan always does so well is making her characters feel real. there’s always something so deeply relatable about them, and max my gosh how i loved him. he’s so used to carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, feeling like he has no one but himself to rely on - until keely. watching him slowly unravel, letting her in, learning to trust her with his heavy feelings got me. soft max has my whole heart 💕
its no secret that i LOVED Fake It Like You Mean It, this has that same emotional depth but with even more yearning, rivalry, and heart racing tension (literally). funny, swoony, a little bit spicy, and so so full of heart i adored it 🫶
thank you endlessly to @megmurphywrites and @littlebrownbookgroup_uk for the gifted copy I am so grateful and cannot wait to see this one on the shelves in stores on 23rd April 😍
❣️ jock x nerd
❣️ childhood friends to rivals to lovers
❣️ he falls first
❣️ only one scholarship on the line
keely has her whole life planned out until it suddenly isn’t - and the one thing standing between her and fixing it is max. aka track star, heartthrob, ex childhood friend and unfortunately VERY distracting academic rival.
if there is one thing Megan does insanely well it is slow burn. this was actually torturous. i have never rooted for two people to just KISSSS more in my life. i was S T R U G G L I N G. and then max is out here saying things like “𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢’𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨, 𝐬𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝” and i’m supposed to be normal about it??? be serious please.
another thing megan always does so well is making her characters feel real. there’s always something so deeply relatable about them, and max my gosh how i loved him. he’s so used to carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, feeling like he has no one but himself to rely on - until keely. watching him slowly unravel, letting her in, learning to trust her with his heavy feelings got me. soft max has my whole heart 💕
its no secret that i LOVED Fake It Like You Mean It, this has that same emotional depth but with even more yearning, rivalry, and heart racing tension (literally). funny, swoony, a little bit spicy, and so so full of heart i adored it 🫶
thank you endlessly to @megmurphywrites and @littlebrownbookgroup_uk for the gifted copy I am so grateful and cannot wait to see this one on the shelves in stores on 23rd April 😍
April 16, 2026
Thank you at Netgalley for supplying the arc in return for an honest review:
I went in with high hopes, but this one didn’t fully hit for me. Keely’s pranks felt a little too childish, especially with the real consequences for Max and even though she does grow, it came too late for me to fully sink into the romance.
That said… this book felt like something. It was funny, endearing, a little enraging, and quietly heartbreaking in places. The chemistry? So good. The banter? Sharp. And the family dynamics added a layer of softness that really worked. There’s a strong thread about ambition, the pressure to be everything for the people you love, and how dreams can shift when you finally start choosing yourself.
But the execution didn’t always match the potential. Some moments felt rushed, decisions happened too quickly, and the writing occasionally leaned younger than the characters. A few subplots - especially Keely’s friendship drama - didn’t land the way they should have.
The ending also lost me a bit. It felt drawn out but somehow still too neat, with conflicts resolving a little too easily. Keely’s sudden shift away from a PhD into teaching didn’t fully convince me either - there was some buildup, but not enough to make it feel earned.
At the end of the day, this was a soft, slightly messy college sports romance with heart. I stayed for the chemistry, the emotion, and those tender moments, but I wanted a little more depth and polish to truly love it. This was a solid 3 star read for me.
I went in with high hopes, but this one didn’t fully hit for me. Keely’s pranks felt a little too childish, especially with the real consequences for Max and even though she does grow, it came too late for me to fully sink into the romance.
That said… this book felt like something. It was funny, endearing, a little enraging, and quietly heartbreaking in places. The chemistry? So good. The banter? Sharp. And the family dynamics added a layer of softness that really worked. There’s a strong thread about ambition, the pressure to be everything for the people you love, and how dreams can shift when you finally start choosing yourself.
But the execution didn’t always match the potential. Some moments felt rushed, decisions happened too quickly, and the writing occasionally leaned younger than the characters. A few subplots - especially Keely’s friendship drama - didn’t land the way they should have.
The ending also lost me a bit. It felt drawn out but somehow still too neat, with conflicts resolving a little too easily. Keely’s sudden shift away from a PhD into teaching didn’t fully convince me either - there was some buildup, but not enough to make it feel earned.
At the end of the day, this was a soft, slightly messy college sports romance with heart. I stayed for the chemistry, the emotion, and those tender moments, but I wanted a little more depth and polish to truly love it. This was a solid 3 star read for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Gosh I was so excited for this book. Don’t get me wrong, I liked this book. But there was just too many issues for me to fall in love with the book
Keely. Let's start with her. We love a woman in STEM, especially one that works to empower other women. She definitely made so much sense and felt her perfectionism deep in my soul. However! She felt almost like her maturity was still stuck in high school. I understand the stressors she had but she felt almost shallow rather than deep.
Max. Max was genuinely one of my highlights. He is almost the complete opposite to Keely. There was so much depth to his character, life and development. Max gave me all the feels all the time. A couple of his choices definitely left me questioning his thought process.
The sabotage games were definitely not up my alley. I felt these were immature. I am definitely not one for petty revenge. It honestly made me more frustrated than excited.
I jumped in and out. At the beginning I was definitely struggling to push through. I then hit a pace where I couldn’t put the book down. And then I fell back into a slump. It kinda had me feeling a bit all over the place which made it kinda difficult to be 1000% committed.
This kinda sucked cause I wanted to love this book so much. But sadly for me it is a read once and put it away. These characters had a lot of promise and these spicy scenes, especially the locker room scene.
Keely. Let's start with her. We love a woman in STEM, especially one that works to empower other women. She definitely made so much sense and felt her perfectionism deep in my soul. However! She felt almost like her maturity was still stuck in high school. I understand the stressors she had but she felt almost shallow rather than deep.
Max. Max was genuinely one of my highlights. He is almost the complete opposite to Keely. There was so much depth to his character, life and development. Max gave me all the feels all the time. A couple of his choices definitely left me questioning his thought process.
The sabotage games were definitely not up my alley. I felt these were immature. I am definitely not one for petty revenge. It honestly made me more frustrated than excited.
I jumped in and out. At the beginning I was definitely struggling to push through. I then hit a pace where I couldn’t put the book down. And then I fell back into a slump. It kinda had me feeling a bit all over the place which made it kinda difficult to be 1000% committed.
This kinda sucked cause I wanted to love this book so much. But sadly for me it is a read once and put it away. These characters had a lot of promise and these spicy scenes, especially the locker room scene.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First, I want to thank Netgalley, Little, Brown Book Group, and Megan Avery for an arc of Heart Racer!
Next on my checklist (iykyk) is to gush over this book and author. Megan is one of those authors who, when you read her books, you sit back and go, "Oh, this person is meant to be an author." I absolutely devoured every line, every paragraph, and every piece of this story embued with passion as Keely and Max like to refer to.
Keely is smart and meticulous and gutsy, paired with Max, who is driven and throws his all into everything he does. Their rival prank war over the single scholarship was laced with funny and steamy moments that drew me in page by page. And their own external struggles (and struggles with their growing feelings) bleed into a gorgeous arc that won a gold medal in my heart. I understood Keely on a molecular level--her unfailing ambition for her goals, her drive to always be the best, and finally choosing a path for herself. And Max! How could you not love him? He's cocky and charming, but with a layered, flawed, and emotional family complexities that really ground his character and why he does what he does. Altogether, Keely and Max blend perfectly for what I look for in romance books, and their rivals-to-lovers slow burn feels like a flawless science experiment and winning first place at the same time. How did Taylor Swift put it? "Where's the trophy? He just comes running over to me."
Next on my checklist (iykyk) is to gush over this book and author. Megan is one of those authors who, when you read her books, you sit back and go, "Oh, this person is meant to be an author." I absolutely devoured every line, every paragraph, and every piece of this story embued with passion as Keely and Max like to refer to.
Keely is smart and meticulous and gutsy, paired with Max, who is driven and throws his all into everything he does. Their rival prank war over the single scholarship was laced with funny and steamy moments that drew me in page by page. And their own external struggles (and struggles with their growing feelings) bleed into a gorgeous arc that won a gold medal in my heart. I understood Keely on a molecular level--her unfailing ambition for her goals, her drive to always be the best, and finally choosing a path for herself. And Max! How could you not love him? He's cocky and charming, but with a layered, flawed, and emotional family complexities that really ground his character and why he does what he does. Altogether, Keely and Max blend perfectly for what I look for in romance books, and their rivals-to-lovers slow burn feels like a flawless science experiment and winning first place at the same time. How did Taylor Swift put it? "Where's the trophy? He just comes running over to me."
February 20, 2026
At this point I think Megan is inside my brain being like “how would she feel in this situation” and then she’s writing it into her books like (:
Except that all of her characters are WAY smarter than me so they for sure get that from her (are they our children? I’m losing control of this comparison).
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
If you loved Fake It Like You Mean It, obviously add this one to the TBR. If you didn’t - try again, first of all - but ALSO add this to your TBR because Megan has RANGE, baby. There is just as much heart, humanity, and sense of belonging in this rivalry, and the frenetic energy of the passage of time is like an inconsistent metronome ticking in the background. Decision paralysis? Violently unmedicated ADHD? Fear of failure (and also of being perceived)? This one is for you (it is for me but it can also be for you, I can share sometimes)!!!
Once they’re able to call a tentative (and skeptical) truce, Max and Keely are SO gentle with each other. They make space for each other’s vulnerability because the nature of their rekindled relationship means that they already know the other’s weaknesses, so there’s no reason to waste energy trying to hide them.
It also means they’ve got a lot more to lose than either of them wants to acknowledge, but that’s neither here nor there. After all, competition is almost as great of a motivator as having someone cheering you on.
Except that all of her characters are WAY smarter than me so they for sure get that from her (are they our children? I’m losing control of this comparison).
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
If you loved Fake It Like You Mean It, obviously add this one to the TBR. If you didn’t - try again, first of all - but ALSO add this to your TBR because Megan has RANGE, baby. There is just as much heart, humanity, and sense of belonging in this rivalry, and the frenetic energy of the passage of time is like an inconsistent metronome ticking in the background. Decision paralysis? Violently unmedicated ADHD? Fear of failure (and also of being perceived)? This one is for you (it is for me but it can also be for you, I can share sometimes)!!!
Once they’re able to call a tentative (and skeptical) truce, Max and Keely are SO gentle with each other. They make space for each other’s vulnerability because the nature of their rekindled relationship means that they already know the other’s weaknesses, so there’s no reason to waste energy trying to hide them.
It also means they’ve got a lot more to lose than either of them wants to acknowledge, but that’s neither here nor there. After all, competition is almost as great of a motivator as having someone cheering you on.
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