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The Fast Track
Not yet published
Expected 4 Aug 26An ambitious racer who dreams of becoming the first female F1 champion finds her plans going off track when she catches feelings for her biggest competition in this dishy, delicious contemporary romance for fans of love, Lynn Painter, and Lewis Hamilton.
Justine Kwong has always dreamed of becoming a Formula 1 champion. There’s just one problem: no female driver has ever done it before. So when she’s offered a coveted chance to race in Formula 3, she leaps at the opportunity. Sure, half the fans think she’s just there to fill a diversity quota, and her teammate—the infuriatingly cute Cameron Evans—mistakes her for an intern, but Justine knows her talent will leave them all in the dust.
But driving well isn’t the only prerequisite to getting noticed, and Justine’s forced to fend for herself in a sea of prejudice, paparazzi, and petty backstabbing. There’s a lot riding on her ability to navigate the complicated trackside hierarchy—like the open F2 seat that could be her ticket to the big leagues.
Except…when Justine and Cameron’s bickering gives way to unexpected chemistry, the boy she’s falling for may be the one person standing in the way of her dreams—because while they may be teammates, they are also each other’s biggest competitor. And with her only shot at glory on the line, this race could break more than just hearts.
Justine Kwong has always dreamed of becoming a Formula 1 champion. There’s just one problem: no female driver has ever done it before. So when she’s offered a coveted chance to race in Formula 3, she leaps at the opportunity. Sure, half the fans think she’s just there to fill a diversity quota, and her teammate—the infuriatingly cute Cameron Evans—mistakes her for an intern, but Justine knows her talent will leave them all in the dust.
But driving well isn’t the only prerequisite to getting noticed, and Justine’s forced to fend for herself in a sea of prejudice, paparazzi, and petty backstabbing. There’s a lot riding on her ability to navigate the complicated trackside hierarchy—like the open F2 seat that could be her ticket to the big leagues.
Except…when Justine and Cameron’s bickering gives way to unexpected chemistry, the boy she’s falling for may be the one person standing in the way of her dreams—because while they may be teammates, they are also each other’s biggest competitor. And with her only shot at glory on the line, this race could break more than just hearts.
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 4, 2026
About the author
Angelica Cheng
2 books3 followersAngelica Cheng is a YA & romance author whose books feature messy, ambitious girls trying their hardest despite the cards being stacked against them. She lives in the New York metropolitan area with her partner and two sons. Her debut novel, THE FAST TRACK, comes out August 2026 with Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (NA) and Ink Road, an imprint of Bonnier Books (UK).
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 31, 2026
huge thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!!
This was GENUINELY SO GOOD! I can’t stop thinking about it! I need a copy as soon as it officially releases.
While I am a little tired of the increasingly common first-girl-driver-in-F1 trope (I get it’s important but there’s other ways women can work in sports!), this book didn’t make that the WHOLE plot which made it actually super enjoyable! As a die-hard F1 fan, I am very impressed!
This was GENUINELY SO GOOD! I can’t stop thinking about it! I need a copy as soon as it officially releases.
While I am a little tired of the increasingly common first-girl-driver-in-F1 trope (I get it’s important but there’s other ways women can work in sports!), this book didn’t make that the WHOLE plot which made it actually super enjoyable! As a die-hard F1 fan, I am very impressed!
May 19, 2026
The Fast Track was such an addicting read, especially as someone who loves seeing women thrive in male-dominated spaces. Watching Justine fight for her place in the F3 world while constantly being underestimated, criticized, and doubted made me root for her even harder. I loved how determined and resilient she was, even when it felt like everyone around her wanted to see her fail.
The chemistry between Justine and Cameron was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their banter, tension, and competitive dynamic made their relationship so entertaining to read, and I loved seeing how their connection developed throughout the story.
I also really enjoyed the friendships Justine built along the way. Those relationships added so much heart to the story and balanced out the intense competition and pressure of the racing world.
Overall, this was such a fun and empowering sports romance with high stakes, emotional moments, and an inspiring main character. If you love Formula 1/F3 settings, rivals-to-lovers romance, and stories about women breaking barriers, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
The chemistry between Justine and Cameron was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their banter, tension, and competitive dynamic made their relationship so entertaining to read, and I loved seeing how their connection developed throughout the story.
I also really enjoyed the friendships Justine built along the way. Those relationships added so much heart to the story and balanced out the intense competition and pressure of the racing world.
Overall, this was such a fun and empowering sports romance with high stakes, emotional moments, and an inspiring main character. If you love Formula 1/F3 settings, rivals-to-lovers romance, and stories about women breaking barriers, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My first foray into the racing world, and I appreciated this journey through our protagonist, Justine’s, lens! Justine Kwong has finally made it: she is the first female F3 driver for the Orbital team, with even world-renowned Dietrich as her mentor. But entering this male-dominated world and being the seemingly “token diversity hire” has its costs: constant micro (and macro) aggressions about her ability, social life, and looks. Even the media touting “girl power” doesn’t actually help her dynamics with the her team and management.
Her fellow F3 driver Cameron Evans immediately get off on the wrong foot, and they’re both tasked with a wholesome team building activity: rebuilding an FC-80 from ancient spare parts. And it’s in these moments that the two can start to cast aside their previous assumptions about one another and build a friendship.
I love Justine’s drive, her single-minded dedication to winning, and doing her best despite people discounting her or actively rooting for her downfall. She has so much more to prove, but also with that much more to lose, and has to keep asking herself: how do you find the line between playing it safe and risking to make a name for yourself?
It was fascinating viewing behind the scenes of F3 but also F1 driving, the adrenaline rush and celebrity, but also the less glamorous parts. Conceptually, there was a lot to like about this book, but her relationship with Cameron genuinely did not add any value for me. If someone is both ignorant and insufferable, they are at least still insufferable even they’re cute and apologize for their behavior. His having a difficult background was not excusable for behaving like trash.
But by the end, The Fast Track’s ending was satisfying on many fronts, and I loved the positive messaging. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
Her fellow F3 driver Cameron Evans immediately get off on the wrong foot, and they’re both tasked with a wholesome team building activity: rebuilding an FC-80 from ancient spare parts. And it’s in these moments that the two can start to cast aside their previous assumptions about one another and build a friendship.
I love Justine’s drive, her single-minded dedication to winning, and doing her best despite people discounting her or actively rooting for her downfall. She has so much more to prove, but also with that much more to lose, and has to keep asking herself: how do you find the line between playing it safe and risking to make a name for yourself?
It was fascinating viewing behind the scenes of F3 but also F1 driving, the adrenaline rush and celebrity, but also the less glamorous parts. Conceptually, there was a lot to like about this book, but her relationship with Cameron genuinely did not add any value for me. If someone is both ignorant and insufferable, they are at least still insufferable even they’re cute and apologize for their behavior. His having a difficult background was not excusable for behaving like trash.
But by the end, The Fast Track’s ending was satisfying on many fronts, and I loved the positive messaging. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was SO witty and entertaining. It had me giggling, stressed, and aggressively turning pages past the speed limit (no pun intended).
I totally adore Justine. She’s ambitious, driven, and constantly dealing with people underestimating her, yet she never backs down from chasing what she wants. She fights for her place over and over again, and I LOVE that for her. Watching her push back against all the pressure and expectations was honestly one of my favorite parts of the book.
Cameron is dangerously attractive as a love interest. He has that competitive edge mixed with just the right amount of tension and banter, which immediately makes him infinitely more entertaining. Their dynamic is so fun to read because they’re constantly pushing and challenging each other without losing that underlying chemistry. The rivalry-to-something-sweeter build-up was deliciously thrilling.
And honestly, this book is just packed with entertaining dynamics overall. The competitions, the rivalries, the friendships. There’s always something happening, so the story never feels dull. But what I really liked is that underneath all the fun and chaos, there’s still emotional depth grounding everything. It’s not just fast-paced entertainment for the sake of it, because the characters actually feel human, with insecurities, pressure, and things they genuinely care about.
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Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!
I totally adore Justine. She’s ambitious, driven, and constantly dealing with people underestimating her, yet she never backs down from chasing what she wants. She fights for her place over and over again, and I LOVE that for her. Watching her push back against all the pressure and expectations was honestly one of my favorite parts of the book.
Cameron is dangerously attractive as a love interest. He has that competitive edge mixed with just the right amount of tension and banter, which immediately makes him infinitely more entertaining. Their dynamic is so fun to read because they’re constantly pushing and challenging each other without losing that underlying chemistry. The rivalry-to-something-sweeter build-up was deliciously thrilling.
And honestly, this book is just packed with entertaining dynamics overall. The competitions, the rivalries, the friendships. There’s always something happening, so the story never feels dull. But what I really liked is that underneath all the fun and chaos, there’s still emotional depth grounding everything. It’s not just fast-paced entertainment for the sake of it, because the characters actually feel human, with insecurities, pressure, and things they genuinely care about.
════════════════════════
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"What, are you watching me?"
"Someone told me I had to keep an eye on the competition."
I had considered jumping into the world of F1 romances for a while, and a YA one seemed like a safe place to start! It was a culture shock for me because I didn't realize how snobbish and strict F1 was. This was just as cutesy as I'd expected, though, with a hefty dash of romance and girl power.
"Someone told me I had to keep an eye on the competition."
I had considered jumping into the world of F1 romances for a while, and a YA one seemed like a safe place to start! It was a culture shock for me because I didn't realize how snobbish and strict F1 was. This was just as cutesy as I'd expected, though, with a hefty dash of romance and girl power.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Interesting story; more YA than MG.
Interesting story; more YA than MG.
November 28, 2025
The Fast Track is everything I want in a YA contemporary: sharp, funny, emotional, and incredibly heartfelt. Justine is an unforgettable heroine. She's ambitious, relatable, and navigating the high-pressure world of racing with grit and vulnerability.
Her chemistry with Cameron is electric and the found-family vibes among the team are delightful. The racing scenes are thrilling and immersive, but it's Justine's internal journey---trusting herself, her own talent, and finding her place in a male-dominated sport---that gives the story its depth.
A fast, addictive read. I adored this!
Her chemistry with Cameron is electric and the found-family vibes among the team are delightful. The racing scenes are thrilling and immersive, but it's Justine's internal journey---trusting herself, her own talent, and finding her place in a male-dominated sport---that gives the story its depth.
A fast, addictive read. I adored this!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews