Crash Course

by Piper Lawson

An angsty, slow burn, spicy F1 academy romance about fast cars and family secrets from WSJ and USA Today bestselling author Piper Lawson.

Shay MacDonald was raised to avoid two things: race cars and the Ashford family. But when an injury puts her mechanic father on bedrest, she vows to save his career by covertly covering his shifts at the Ashford garage and enrolling at Ashford Academy–an elite school that trains aspiring drivers and engineers, like herself, for the lucrative F1 circuit.

Keeping a low profile is out of the question when she has a run-in with the Ashford brothers on day one. Theo and Jameson are racing royalty who know they can get away with anything. Theo, the charming and reckless playboy, tempts her to break every rule, while Jameson, the brilliant prodigy, unsettles her with a cold intensity that cuts deeper than she expects.

Shay will always be the adopted daughter of a mechanic, trying to survive unnoticed in a world that was never meant for her. But Theo and Jameson’s only reprieve from their father’s sky-high expectations is Shay. She’s a shiny new pawn in their old rivalry—or a prize worth risking everything for.

When a competition to work on the F1 circuit brings her further into their orbit, Shay is forced to work harder to protect her secrets. But the deeper she’s pulled into the world of the rich and famous Ashfords, the more she realizes everyone is keeping secrets.

Secrets that could shatter her past, her future…and her heart.

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Sports, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Adult, New Adult

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication October 20, 2026

About the author

Piper Lawson is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of smart, steamy romance! She writes about women who follow their dreams (even the scary ones), best friends who know your dirty secrets (and love you anyway), and complex heroes you’ll fall hard for (especially after talking with them). Brains or brawn? She’ll never make you choose. Piper lives in Canada with her tall, dark and brilliant husband. She believes peanut butter is a protein, rose gold is a neutral, and love is ALWAYS the answer.

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Books by Piper Lawson:

DENVER KODIAKS SERIES

Hard to Fake
Hard to Take
Hard to Break
Rookie Season

KING OF THE COURT SERIES

Game Changer
Shot Taker
Play Maker
Game Day

WICKED SERIES

Good Girl
Bad Girl
Wicked Girl
Forever Wicked

RIVALS SERIES

A Love Song for Liars
A Love Song for Rebels
A Love Song for Dreamers
A Love Song for Always

ENEMIES SERIES

Beautiful Enemy
Beautiful Sins
Beautiful Ruin
Beautiful Salvation

OFF-LIMITS SERIES

Crave
Collide
Claim
Tempt

TRAVESTY SERIES

Schooled
Stripped
Sealed
Styled
Satisfaction

PLAY SERIES

PLAY
NSFW
RISE

MODERN ROMANCE SERIES

Easy Love
Bad Love
Twisted Love

Reviews

[Sophie]

never read a F1 romance before so this sneak peek of the first 8 chapters seemed like the perfect chance to try it. sadly, the writing style is not my favorite, a lot of scenes felt choppy and, while i love good banter, the final scene between Theo and Shay just made me cringe. Jameson was the only highlight, but he's not quite enough to make me want to continue.

⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the sneak peek!

[fromthestudyof]

okay I REALLY enjoyed this!!!! & I have the dozens of tabs in my copy to prove it!!

I picked this up after watching one too many Your Fault: London edits & thank god I did

F1 racing academy. Two hot brothers. Fast cars. Tension!!!! Flirty af MMCs!!!!!

I thought the cover of this book was SO clever bc without reading the synopsis you don’t really know which brother is “it” - HIGHLY recommend reading this with as little info as possible

The banter was steamy. The cars were fast. The spice was hot af. I had a fkin blast

[Piper Lawson]

Releasing October 20th!

Pre-order your copy today!
https://books2read.com/crashcoursebook

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[Amee]

Oh man. NetGalley gave me a “Sneak Peek” ARC which definitely left me wanting more… where’s the rest??

[Sam]

I’ve never read an F1 racing romance before. I’ll have to say love a good mess. Two brothers, fast race cars, and a girl mechanic? Hell yes. It reminds me a lot of Elle Kennedy’s books, but with car boys instead of hockey ones.

[Lauren]

As my first ARC, this did not disappoint! I’m fairly new to the sports romance world, definitely new to a racing romance, but damn this was fun. I honestly didn’t want to put it down and was annoyed on days I was simply too tired after work or had no time at lunch to slip some reading. I was scared for a moment towards the end that one of the twists was going to go a different way, but was surprised and I think a lot less traumatized that it didn’t in fact go where my head had it going. In general though, loved the characters and the whole story ❤️

[Michelle Matejka]

Sneak Peak courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.

I had the opportunity to get an early look at the first eight chapters of this one and let me tell you October can’t come soon enough. Let me set the scene for you. Rival brothers, a school competing in a hunger games style F1 race to win a spot on their family team, and a new girl with a mysterious past that may just have to do with that same F1 team. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

[Toni allmyloveandalibrary]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, BerkleyXO Books for the chance to read this sneak peek…. even if I’m now suffering because I need the full ARC immediately. *wink wink* Berkley, GIMME IT!!

So as I mentioned above, this is a sneak peek that is up as READ NOW on Netgalley (yeah, I’m fully aware that this may convince you to wait but also.. do yourself a favor and go read it, no regrets!!). Anyways, I’m now sitting here 70 pages in, fully invested, and ITCHING for the rest. I 1000% would have binged the rest today if I had it.

This sneak peek does exactly what it should do.. it hooked me fast (how punny) and delivered a perfect setup full of tension and banter. The character descriptions are perfection, I feel like Ive already clocked exactly who they are. It’s addictive and if I didn’t already drive this point into the ground, it was over way too quick.

I was so engrossed that I forgot I was reading just a snippet and went to push my thumb to turn to the next page and NOTHING HAPPENED - queue the scream of “NOOOOOO NOT YET!!” Who ends a preview with “I’d rather hear you shouting my name.”!!!!!?!!!!! COME ON, YALL ARE SUCH A TEASE!!!!

If the rest of the books delivers on even half of what these first 8 chapters set up, this is going to be an instant *click, adds to cart*. GIMME IT!!!!!

[Samantha]

SNEAK PEEK
⭐4 stars⭐
Thank you to Piper Lawson and Netgalley for the Sneak Peek ARC of Crash Course. This review is based on the first 8 chapters only.

I am obsessed with this story and I can't wait to read more! 🤩 I'm so intrigued by the mystery surrounding Shay's dad and how her mysterious past will factor into the upcoming F1 competition. This is my first ever F1 romance, and I am loving it.

The character dynamics are so enticing: I love how New Girl Shay is such a strong character and unapologetic. That first interaction when she got run over by the Ashford brothers and laid into them was iconic. 💪 Additionally, the banter in this book is top notch, I full on cackled when Shay showed off her knowledge and then made a dick joke about Jameson in front of the class. 🤣 Shay's friends are the perfect backup, and I am excited to see more of them. And of course, the love triangle with Bad Boy Jameson and Golden Retriever Theo has me totally hooked.

My one critique is that the writing was a little choppy at times, though I'm aware this version is unedited. 🫤 I cannot wait to read the full book!

[Yani]

Crash Course is such a fun take on F1 romance. In this universe there is university that has an F1 Academy training young drivers, engineers, and all those involved in the racing world to gear them up for the big international racing world.

For someone who has 0 interest in F1 IRL, this book really keeps you drawn and locked in with the family drama and the twist and turns of some character’s backstories.

I had the best time reading this it gave me TSITP with the brother love triangle x Your Fault (no step brother love, more around the driving, family drama, and university) soooo obviously if you love those two things you’ll LOVE Crash Course!

[Katie Akerman]

Fast cars, adrenaline and straddling the hottest guy on the back of a Ducati. What more can I ask for. The cover of Crash Course delivers and made me painstaking wait in the crazy bookcon26 lines to get this book early. I cracked this bad boy open right when I got home after my 6 hour flight and I was so glad I did. I couldn't put it down. Was reading whenever I could possibly forgetting to blink. (Eye drops are our friends when reading) My husband is super into cars and I have learned a good deal along the way and I was very impressed that the research was all there. Of course the story didn't delve in to how to rebuild a motor or install a supercharger but I wasn't urked by flaring inaccuracies. All that being said im definitely not a car mechanic. I truly enjoyed this book so much and how it got my heart pumping. Can't wait for the next one!

[Laura Holley]

I was able to read the first 8 chapters of this book and it absolutely left me wanting more! I always enjoy a dual POV book, especially when the MCs initially DO NOT get along, and after the meet cute in this book, how could they possibly? I will definitely be purchasing this book when it comes out.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the sneak peek!

[Amanda]

This was a very good read! Thank you so much!

[Ali]

A dramatic and cliché new adult romance set at an academy with all the familiar tropes will get me every fucking time.

Shay Macdonald was raised alongside cars her whole life. When her father gets injured at work, leaving him in need of her care, Shay leaves college and is offered the chance to transfer to Ashford Academy, a school for elite Formula One drivers and engineers. The only problem she was raised to stay away from the Ashfords, and that they only bring trouble. So, lying to her dad about her transfer and withholding that she's picking up his shifts at their garage isn't exactly an easy task, but as long as she stays away from the Ashfords, she should be fine. That is, until she almost gets run over by the Ashford brothers: Jameson and Theo.

Jameson, the prodigy of the Ashford empire. Racing is all he has in him to care about. And charming Theo, always second-best to his brother but always keeping a smile on his face. Shay quickly captures their attention in both positive and negative ways, and getting caught up in their world was the last thing she wanted, but she's finally found a place she fits in.

I ATE THIS THE FUCK UP. Anything set at an academy (and other synonyms) I automatically add to my TBR list. I wasn't expecting to binge the shit out of this book; I literally read 85% of it last night until 1:30 in the morning, OOPS.

The love triangle between brothers was YUMMY, and I love that Shay actually had a backbone. This started as your typical "I'm not like other girls" and "Popular boys in school fall for the new girl" tropes, but IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.

Jameson was the guy I immediately knew would be my dude because he's a lil rat. A YEARNING RAT. The chemistry between these two is insane! Theo is a big ol' sweetheart as well, but alas, I love an asshole.

I will point out that once Shay finally kisses the other brother, she basically makes her choice on which one she likes, so there is no flipping between both. If you wanted a messy love triangle, this isn't really that. There are a couple of threats thrown around between brothers, but nothing is acted on.

The drama in this book also goes crazy. I forgot how fun and silly romances could be. This is the brainrot formula I CRAVE. Give me MORE.

The ending was also so TEAAAAAA. I actually need the next book asap, thank YOU.

My review is based on the ARC copy! This title is set to release from Berkley XO on October 20, 2026. Thank you!

[Hallie]

I got an ARC of this at Book Con and I've finally gotten around to reading it. This is a new adult romance book set at a F1 academy owned by a famous racing family, the Ashfords, who also own one of the best racing companies in the world. Shay is attending the academy after having to drop out of Ohio State to care for her adoptive father after his surgery. During the day, she attends intense classes learning how to become a mechanic and engineer, and at night she covers her father's shifts at the Ashford garage because Shay and her father can't afford to keep their house plus pay medical expenses without the job. On the first day, Shay is hit by a Porsche owned by none other than one of the Ashford sons, Jameson. While Jameson's younger brother, Theo, takes an interest in Shay, Jameson wants nothing more than to see her out of the academy. There's a bit of enemies to lovers/cat and mouse situation that develops between Shay and Jameson. To add to the tension, the Ashfords' father, Luca, fires one of Ashford's drivers and holds a competition for a new driver at the academy. Jameson and Theo are pitted against one another for the spot, while Shay attempts to prove her worth by helping fix cars to give the brothers an advantage and score an internship.

Overall, this was a fun and easy read. Shay and Jameson had great chemistry (sorry Theo). There were actually some darker themes here too, when you dig into the Ashfords' back story and what happened to Shay's birth parents. Corporate espionage, money, power, you know the drill. I'm excited to see Theo in his villain era though in the next one, fingers crossed.

[Kae]

Crash Course completely surprised me in the best way. It was such a fun, cute, fast-paced read, and I flew through it. There was plenty of drama, but the story never felt weighed down by it. The romance, the banter, the F1 setting, the academy, and Shay’s journey as an engineer all worked together really well.
Shay being caught between two brothers made the tension even better because I genuinely liked both Theo and Jameson. Theo was charming and easy to like, but once Jameson stepped in with that broody, back-and-forth banter and “I absolutely should not want you” energy, I was done for.
I also loved that Shay had her own ambitions outside of the romance. Watching her work toward becoming an engineer and eventually team up with Jameson gave the story real substance beyond their chemistry.
And the spice was perfectly placed. It wasn’t overdone, the scenes were chefs kiss, and the book still remained very plot-focused and that is exactly what I want from a romance.
I won’t lie, I liked both brothers enough that I could imagine a very different solution to the love triangle. But I was completely satisfied with where Shay’s story landed, and I’m really hoping we haven’t seen the last of Theo because he deserves his own love story too.
This was genuinely worth the wait.

[Megan Walker]

4.5 ⭐️

I couldn't be more thankful to have received an early copy of this! Thank you NetGalley, Berkley XO and Piper Lawson for this eARC!

Jameson and Theo are both boys that you want to root for but for completely different reasons. The way this book ended had me audibly gasping and I cannot wait to see the next turn. The FMC, Shay is relatable and has you cheering for her from page one. I also loved meeting the cast of side characters in this book and the friends that she makes along the way. It was also very fun for me to see my own name printed on page, one of Shay’s best friends Megan - it made me feel even more intertwined into the story! This book does have spicy scenes in it, however they are tastefully done and fit with the plot of the story. The twists and turns of the ride this book takes you on will have you laughing out loud one second, on the edge of your seat the next and not ready for it to end.

This was my first F1 romance as well as my first Piper Lawson book and I know for a fact it is only the beginning for both! When this releases on October 20th, do not hesitate! 🏁🖤

[Lex Rose]

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book from NetGalley and once I did, I was super excited to start this!

I am a sports romance girly, but this is my first F1 sports romance and I had such a great time reading this! This was fun and gave me all the vibes I was looking for. The racing aspect of the story was really interesting and entertaining and I honestly liked the characters. I got a little frustrated at times with he romance and characters, but I still enjoyed my time overall. I love an academic setting in a novel and with a big splash of sports with romance made it even better. I finished the last 25% in one sitting because the ending really had me hooked. I thought it was written well as a whole and didn't really find anything I didn't like or enjoy. This was enjoyable and I am grateful for being able to read it in advance! I recommend if you're looking for a fun but different sports romance to get into.

[Kimberly]

What a fun ride!
I couldn’t stop reading Crash Course. I loved both men (Theo and Jameson.) The female main character Shay is well developed and she was such a vivid character. I really enjoyed her portrayal. The found family was cute and I’m looking forward to seeing them again? I just really loved the vibes. The spice was well spicy.

Shay wants to work as a mechanic and open a garage with her dad. Her dad has to have knee surgery so Shay steps in and takes over his job (that wouldn’t pay him) while he’s out for PT. She transfers to Ashford Academy the academy that is headed by the CEO of one of the major F1 racing companies. The CEO’s two son’s shoe in’s for a future driver are both there and both take a keen interest in Shay. One wants her. The other loathes her. Will Shay be able to navigate through the academy to the finish line or will she crash?

A thrilling and entertaining trip!

Thank you to Berkley XO and NetGalley for the arc.

4.5/5 stars

[AOKayy]

Thank you Netgalley, Berkeley XO, and Piper Lawson for the sneak peak of Crash Course. I wanted to sample this book to see if I'd be interested in reviewing the full version.

While this one ultimately wasn't the best fit for me, I can definitely see the appeal for readers who enjoy this genre. I tend to need a bit more character development and world-building early on to feel fully invested, and I found the opening moved very quickly into the story.

I'm also not very familiar with F1 racing, and while I was hoping this would spark a new interest, some of the references felt a little difficult for me to fully understand.

That said, if you're looking for a fast-paced, academy setting with F1 influences, and a forbidden romance storyline, this could be a great pick for you.

[Michelle (easy.vesey.reads)]

"Driving fast I can handle. You? You make me out of control." ♥️

I absolutely loved this one! The vibes were incredible and totally my style. It had a good mix of F1 knowledge, angsty romance, and a suspenseful plot full of family secrets! It truly was an all-around amazing book. Shay and Jameson were so good together! He has this bad boy persona but Shay just knew how to push all the right buttons. No wonder he fell hard for her so fast. I also think the love triangle with both Jameson and Theo worked well and I can't wait for Theo's story next!

Thank you so much to Berkley XO and Netgalley for the advanced copy! Crash Course releases on October 20, so be sure to check it out!

[Kimberly (Kimsbookaddiction)]

✨ARC Review✨

I loved everything about this book! F1 is quickly becoming my new favorite in sports romance and this is my new #1.
The writing was amazing. I was invested in every character that was introduced. Love triangle is one of my least favorite tropes but this one was done so well. You really question who Shay will end up with and you struggle with who you want to root for. But when Shay makes her choice, you cannot get enough of them- so much chemistry, amazing banter, and emotional depth. It’s everything you want in a romance.

Overall, an amazing read that I could revisit again.

[Annette Brignac]

A F1 Romance with a heroine who knows her way around cars and two brothers fighting over her?

SIGN. ME. UP!

Piper has completely and wholly nailed this book in every aspect. From the characters, to the tension, to the cars, to the racing... She has built a world that I want to live in everyday.

I cannot recommend this book enough.

[Nicole Mahar (nikkijean.reads)]

Full review to come!

[Srahhreadsx]

**ARC SNEAK PEAK**
Now this is my first piper Lawson book.. and I fear I may need to go into a reading binge.

This sneak peak had me HOOKED. The dynamic between the characters? SO GOOD I think it’ll be a real good slow burn full of tension, possible love triangle? and I’m here for it. Also loved there was different POVS but I wanted one from Theo :(

It did seem very fast paced from the get go but I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of the book!!

It’s hard to say what I’d rate it given it’s only a sneak peak BUT!

3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Will I be reading it ? Definitely!

[Caty Ordonez | Catysreads07]

This was my first F1 romance and I am definitely read more! I loved the banter between the two main characters. This was so much fun to read and I definitely want to read more of Piper's books in the future cause her writing was amazing. Also the cover art is so gorgeous, which was one of the reasons why I wanted to read this ARC.

The pacing of the story is really good. I liked that it moved quickly but everything was perfect for the storyline. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants a sports romance with witty dialogue and amazing character development.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley XO for this ARC!

[Jaclyn]

⭐ 4.25 | ❤️ 4/5

This was a fun, easy read of a romance set at an F1 academy, which was new-to-me and felt novel. I devoured it.

The FMC Shay is covering her injured adoptive father's F1 mechanic shifts in secret, so he doesn't lose his job, but she dreams of a career in F1 of her own that feels impossible due to family obligation. She enrolls in secret at the local F1 Academy to stay close to home while she covers for him.

I enjoyed the love triangle between Shay and the Ashford brothers: Theo, a golden retriever who isn't characterized only by his archetype, and Jameson, a black cat with Cardan-esque vibes (à la The Cruel Prince as he loathes that he desires her). If you've read romances before, the endgame is telegraphed from the start, though they're both compelling enough in the first quarter of the story. There’s good tension and chemistry between Shay and both MMCs, but as the story goes on, it’s very clear who she should be with. So as not to spoil it by naming the endgame MMC, there is an undercurrent of tenderness with the MMC she ends up with and a gradual accumulation of thoughtful acts of service that make the romance feel earned.

Fortunately only an issue in the first quarter of the book: Shay seemed to be set up as not like the other girls: they're jealous of the attention she's getting from the Ashford brothers as they fawn over the brothers themselves, and wear short skirts while she wears leggings. But her closest friend Megan, who is also on the technical track at the academy, loves all things pink, makeup, and glitter and isn't admonished for it, which I appreciated. Later on in the story, there were a few moments that felt jarring, where the MMC and his brother separately said something misogynistic, which I didn’t feel was necessary for the story and seemed to just be there for texture. Eventually Shay calls out the MMC on his misogynistic attitude about the love triangle. But at least it wasn’t pervasive.

The line-level banter was decent, and the chemistry and tension at the scene-level was good, but sometimes the writing felt like it was overreaching particularly during big emotional beats. Occasionally the dialogue was too on the nose. Sometimes there were sentences that were ambiguous/unclear.

The exposition was clunky with Megan explaining how the academy works to new student Shay, who one would think should know the basics if she chose to enroll here. When it comes to the found family of secondary characters, there is a lot of telling rather than showing. This does improve after the first few chapters.

What pulled me out of the story the most was a character logic issue with the MMC. The story hinges the FMC’s belief in a specific ‘known fact’ as a plot mechanism for keeping the leads apart romantically for as long as possible, and the MMC’s justification for delaying clarifying this ‘known fact’ does not make sense given that the MMC and Shay have been together for weeks at some point and has given no reason for the MMC to distrust her or fear any sort of negative consequence of communicating with her directly about this. Miscommunication that exists only for plot reasons is one of my pet peeves.

There were a lot of continuity errors that hopefully will get resolved by the time this gets released. This included but is not limited to characters knowing something before they should and then the story not keeping it straight if that person knew the reveal or not and an injury that only is present during non-romantic scenes but conveniently invisible/forgotten otherwise.

Was the writing without fault? No, but I was thoroughly entertained. If you enjoy sports romances, academy environment, and love triangles and are looking for a light read with an unfamiliar setting, this could be a fit for you.

This review is based on an ARC provided by Berkley XO via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Pía]

This is a review of the sneak peek provided by NetGalley, not of the book in its entirety.

5/5

Omg, I love it. It’s fast-paced, it’s a love triangle between two hot brothers with amazing names, Theo and Jameson, and F1. What else is there to say? I should be asleep, but instead, I stayed up reading this. I love it. I got a sample of the first eight chapters, and I am dying for the rest. I find it super interesting that Shay is a mechanic instead of a driver or the owner’s daughter, as it feels very different from other F1 dramas.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the sample. I’ll be reading it when it comes out

[Rebecca Martin]

I received this galley from PRH at Bookcon 26 with no pretense of having to provide anything in return. This is my unbiased review! I’m trying not to include any spoilers.

I first need to say that I haven’t read anything in the “sports romance” genre before but honestly, I could go back for another after reading this one from Ms Piper. THIS WAS SO MUCH FUN. I’m a slow reader and it still only took me a night and the following morning to inhale.

I don’t know how accurate any of these F1 terms are - I watch F1 but I am a very shallow participant, I don’t know industry terms or back end operations or anything. Nor do I know anything about cars. Or vehicles. But hot freaking dog it if this story isn’t just as much fun to see play out in my head.

I’m super ready for AA season 2. Maybe we just saw the start of a really good sequence of good guy stories? Or maybe it’s the perfect villain origin story 😈
I was OBSESSED with the cover art (i absolutely judged this book by the cover) and it has been my baby since getting it at the event in April.

Team Theo or Team Jamie??

[Laura Holley]

“Driving fast I can handle, you? You make me out of control.”

I absolutely DEVOURED this book in a day! Shay and Jameson crash into each other (literally) to meet. Shay is struggling to help her dad while attending Ashford Academy. Jameson and his brother, Theo, are Ashfords and attend the academy as drivers. Jameson attempts to bully Shay away from Theo, and this escalates to car prank wars and somehow, incredible chemistry. Especially after Jameson and Shay are forced to study together.

This book was an absolutely amazing read. I felt it was definitely more action packed than most romances I’ve read. The racing storylines, complicated story lines, and intertwined histories made this book absolutely unputdownable. And the scene at the very end? I’m still scraping my jaw off the floor. Incredible. I can’t wait to read what’s next!!

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!