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The Fast Track
An 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, Kindle Edition
Published August 4, 2026
About the author
Angelica Cheng
1 book32 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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August 15, 2026
The Fast Track by Angelica Cheng is a fun, light-hearted Formula 1 romance that shines brightest through its empowering focus on women in motorsports. 🥰🏁 As a BIPOC author, Cheng brings a fresh, much-needed perspective to the sports romance space by putting a BIPOC female driver behind the wheel. The female lead is one of the only women competing at the top level of the sport, and navigating the intense double standards of a heavily male-dominated paddock felt so authentic. Her journey of having to work twice as hard while fighting for the same respect and opportunities gave the story real depth and strong early-2000s sports rom-com vibes, like watching Bend It Like Beckham.
The plot leans into classic rivals-to-lovers tension while touring iconic Grand Prix stops across London, Belgium, and beyond. Honestly, I don't think you need to have to know alot about Formula 1 to understand this book. I felt like the writing was still accessible even with casual F1 knowledge, keeping the racing dynamics easy to follow alongside a sweet romance that focuses on banter, connection, and emotional chemistry.
I listened to the audiobook at an accelerated speed, and the narration was clear, engaging, and easy to understand all throughout. I love feel-good sports romances, especially with empowering themes, and this standout representation of a resilient woman breaking barriers on the grid made it such an enjoyable read. 🥰🏁
Perfect if you love:
🏎 Sports Romances
🏁 Formula 1 Romances
❤️ BIPOC Author
💛 BIPOC Lead Female Character
🏎 She's an aspiring F1 Driver
🏁 He's her rival (and teammate!)
🙃 Rivals to Lovers
👀 Opposites Attract
❤️ Forced Proximity
💛 Women in Sports
🥰 Empowerment Themes
The plot leans into classic rivals-to-lovers tension while touring iconic Grand Prix stops across London, Belgium, and beyond. Honestly, I don't think you need to have to know alot about Formula 1 to understand this book. I felt like the writing was still accessible even with casual F1 knowledge, keeping the racing dynamics easy to follow alongside a sweet romance that focuses on banter, connection, and emotional chemistry.
I listened to the audiobook at an accelerated speed, and the narration was clear, engaging, and easy to understand all throughout. I love feel-good sports romances, especially with empowering themes, and this standout representation of a resilient woman breaking barriers on the grid made it such an enjoyable read. 🥰🏁
Perfect if you love:
🏎 Sports Romances
🏁 Formula 1 Romances
❤️ BIPOC Author
💛 BIPOC Lead Female Character
🏎 She's an aspiring F1 Driver
🏁 He's her rival (and teammate!)
🙃 Rivals to Lovers
👀 Opposites Attract
❤️ Forced Proximity
💛 Women in Sports
🥰 Empowerment Themes
August 4, 2026
જ⁀➴ 4 stars
Thank you SO much to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the NetGalley widget for The Fast Track through the Simon Teen influencer program! All thoughts are my own. The Fast Track will be officially published on August 4th, 2026!
🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹
It's been a long while since I've read an F1 sports romance, let alone a YA romance, and The Fast Track was such a cute palate cleanser! I flew through this book, and I can't wait for more people to read about Justine and Cameron.
Justine Kwong is Orbital's newest F3 driver, and the first female driver in F3 overall. Surrounded by people who think she's there for a diversity hire and won't take her seriously, she's determined to prove her worth on the track instead. When an F2 seat for Orbital opens up for next season, Justine jumps at every chance to do what she can to move up, because moving up as quickly as she has means getting one step closer to her ultimate goal: F1. The only problem standing in her way is Cameron Evans, her British teammate who's quickly making a name for himself. They're constantly clashing, but the more time they spend together, the more sparks fly.
As an Asian American woman myself, I think that Justine's story resonated a lot more with me, and I hope it does for other non-Asian readers as well. Justine's struggles with sexism and prejudice in a male-dominated industry were clearly topics that the author wanted to explore, and I'm glad that more and more authors are starting to write about this subject so freely and flat out admit that, yes, sexism, racism, and prejudices still unfortunately exist in 2026. On top of all of that, people of color have always had to work ten times as hard compared to their white counterparts to get the same amount of recognition, and I feel like that's also the reason why Justine is so determined to prove herself. I admired her drive, her determination, and her passion for racing, and it's clear that this is something she's sacrificed so much for to be able to live out her dream. I will admit that some aspects of that drive and determination turned into her making some boneheaded decisions by sticking to her guns and sticking to what she wants to do, some of which had dire consequences in the story, but that same drive and determination kept her going, even when everything was stacked against her.
The one thing I took a star off for was, ironically, her relationship with Cameron in the story. Yes, they're technically rivals because they're directly competing for the same F2 seat that opened up, but other than brief interactions between them during races and their personalities clashing, I never felt that the rivalry was fully there. Cameron's been competing on the F3 circuit for a while and has established himself as a seasoned F3 driver, whereas Justine just stepped onto the scene at the start of the book. Yes, Justine is a quick study, and she knows what she's doing, but I would've loved to see the rivalry aspect play out a little more.
On top of that, the romance between Justine and Cameron felt overshadowed at times by Justine's relationship with Dietrich. Dietrich is Orbital's F1 driver, and he's assigned to mentor Justine through her first F3 season. They get off on the wrong foot, but they eventually become friends. I honestly felt like Justine had a lot more meaningful interactions with Dietrich than Cameron, aside from maybe 2 scenes with Cameron that I thought were important to their relationship building. For a moment I even thought there was going to be a love triangle situation going on with how much time she spends with Dietrich going over film, talking strategy before races together, and the close proximity that comes with it all.
With that said, I did feel like Justine and Cameron's romantic relationship almost came out of nowhere in the grand scheme of things. I wish we were able to explore their relationship a little more and have more scenes where they were interacting and building that bond, because whenever Justine was with Cameron, his friends were usually not that far behind and they'd hang out together as a group. Cameron is more subtle in his ways that he's on Justine's side with the way he calls his friends out for acting out of line or speaking out of turn, but I would've personally loved some more one-on-one scenes with just the two of them that didn't involve them making out.
(Also a very minor thing: I think people reading this book who have no knowledge of F1/F2/F3 racing and how it all works could probably benefit from a general glossary of terms. Some of the jargon does get kind of technical, and as someone who knows the bare bones of F1 racing, I knew enough to get by, but someone who has absolutely no knowledge of the sport going into this might have some trouble understanding at first.)
Overall, I enjoyed this debut novel, and I can't wait to see what Angelica Cheng has in store next! This quick palate cleanser was exactly what I needed, and it was interesting to read a YA sports romance that takes place in the racing world for once!
🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹
Thank you SO much to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the NetGalley widget for The Fast Track through the Simon Teen influencer program! All thoughts are my own. The Fast Track will be officially published on August 4th, 2026!
🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹
It's been a long while since I've read an F1 sports romance, let alone a YA romance, and The Fast Track was such a cute palate cleanser! I flew through this book, and I can't wait for more people to read about Justine and Cameron.
Justine Kwong is Orbital's newest F3 driver, and the first female driver in F3 overall. Surrounded by people who think she's there for a diversity hire and won't take her seriously, she's determined to prove her worth on the track instead. When an F2 seat for Orbital opens up for next season, Justine jumps at every chance to do what she can to move up, because moving up as quickly as she has means getting one step closer to her ultimate goal: F1. The only problem standing in her way is Cameron Evans, her British teammate who's quickly making a name for himself. They're constantly clashing, but the more time they spend together, the more sparks fly.
As an Asian American woman myself, I think that Justine's story resonated a lot more with me, and I hope it does for other non-Asian readers as well. Justine's struggles with sexism and prejudice in a male-dominated industry were clearly topics that the author wanted to explore, and I'm glad that more and more authors are starting to write about this subject so freely and flat out admit that, yes, sexism, racism, and prejudices still unfortunately exist in 2026. On top of all of that, people of color have always had to work ten times as hard compared to their white counterparts to get the same amount of recognition, and I feel like that's also the reason why Justine is so determined to prove herself. I admired her drive, her determination, and her passion for racing, and it's clear that this is something she's sacrificed so much for to be able to live out her dream. I will admit that some aspects of that drive and determination turned into her making some boneheaded decisions by sticking to her guns and sticking to what she wants to do, some of which had dire consequences in the story, but that same drive and determination kept her going, even when everything was stacked against her.
The one thing I took a star off for was, ironically, her relationship with Cameron in the story. Yes, they're technically rivals because they're directly competing for the same F2 seat that opened up, but other than brief interactions between them during races and their personalities clashing, I never felt that the rivalry was fully there. Cameron's been competing on the F3 circuit for a while and has established himself as a seasoned F3 driver, whereas Justine just stepped onto the scene at the start of the book. Yes, Justine is a quick study, and she knows what she's doing, but I would've loved to see the rivalry aspect play out a little more.
On top of that, the romance between Justine and Cameron felt overshadowed at times by Justine's relationship with Dietrich. Dietrich is Orbital's F1 driver, and he's assigned to mentor Justine through her first F3 season. They get off on the wrong foot, but they eventually become friends. I honestly felt like Justine had a lot more meaningful interactions with Dietrich than Cameron, aside from maybe 2 scenes with Cameron that I thought were important to their relationship building. For a moment I even thought there was going to be a love triangle situation going on with how much time she spends with Dietrich going over film, talking strategy before races together, and the close proximity that comes with it all.
With that said, I did feel like Justine and Cameron's romantic relationship almost came out of nowhere in the grand scheme of things. I wish we were able to explore their relationship a little more and have more scenes where they were interacting and building that bond, because whenever Justine was with Cameron, his friends were usually not that far behind and they'd hang out together as a group. Cameron is more subtle in his ways that he's on Justine's side with the way he calls his friends out for acting out of line or speaking out of turn, but I would've personally loved some more one-on-one scenes with just the two of them that didn't involve them making out.
(Also a very minor thing: I think people reading this book who have no knowledge of F1/F2/F3 racing and how it all works could probably benefit from a general glossary of terms. Some of the jargon does get kind of technical, and as someone who knows the bare bones of F1 racing, I knew enough to get by, but someone who has absolutely no knowledge of the sport going into this might have some trouble understanding at first.)
Overall, I enjoyed this debut novel, and I can't wait to see what Angelica Cheng has in store next! This quick palate cleanser was exactly what I needed, and it was interesting to read a YA sports romance that takes place in the racing world for once!
🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹
August 6, 2026
Stooooop. This was so much fun!!
I'm always keen for more books set in the F1 world. It's so high stakes, cutthroat and drama filled, that it creates such a perfect bookish setting. So I was very excited when The Fast Track was first announced. A YA contemporary following a racer following her dreams to be the first female F1 driver? Sign me up.
With all that excitement, there was a lot of room for disappointment but I'm happy to say I enjoyed every moment of my time with this book.
While the romance was undeniably adorable, the exploration of racism, misogyny and the idea of tokenism within the racing world was what really sold me on this book. I had so much admiration for Justine's perseverance and growing unapologetic attitude to her place in the sport made for such an empowering read. Watching her find more of her voice throughout the book was wonderful to follow.
I do think the balance between romance and racing didn't quite hit the right mark, as Justine and Dietrich's relationship somewhat overshadowed her relationship with Cameron at times but I was having so much fun with the F1/racing side of things that this didn't bother me all that much.
Overall, I had a really great time with this book. It was incredibly easy to read and filled the racing gap the F1 summer break is causing. I'm excited to see what Angelica writes next.
what to expect:
- they're teammates and rivals
- (sorta) love triangle
- women in sport
- female friendships
- racism and misogyny in sport
I'm always keen for more books set in the F1 world. It's so high stakes, cutthroat and drama filled, that it creates such a perfect bookish setting. So I was very excited when The Fast Track was first announced. A YA contemporary following a racer following her dreams to be the first female F1 driver? Sign me up.
With all that excitement, there was a lot of room for disappointment but I'm happy to say I enjoyed every moment of my time with this book.
While the romance was undeniably adorable, the exploration of racism, misogyny and the idea of tokenism within the racing world was what really sold me on this book. I had so much admiration for Justine's perseverance and growing unapologetic attitude to her place in the sport made for such an empowering read. Watching her find more of her voice throughout the book was wonderful to follow.
I do think the balance between romance and racing didn't quite hit the right mark, as Justine and Dietrich's relationship somewhat overshadowed her relationship with Cameron at times but I was having so much fun with the F1/racing side of things that this didn't bother me all that much.
Overall, I had a really great time with this book. It was incredibly easy to read and filled the racing gap the F1 summer break is causing. I'm excited to see what Angelica writes next.
what to expect:
- they're teammates and rivals
- (sorta) love triangle
- women in sport
- female friendships
- racism and misogyny in sport
May 30, 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!
August 19, 2026
rivals to lovers, asian rep, women slaying in male-dominated fields — what more can a girl really ask for?? <3
August 6, 2026
Niby spoko a jednak nie siadło.
Mało jest jakichkolwiek wydarzeń więc przez większość książki wieje nudą, 'rywale' bo tym reklamowana jest książka mało co rywalizują a same wyścigi odgrywają mały kawałek w tej historii.
Nie czułam żadnej presji podczas wyścigów/zawodów poza myślami głównej bohaterki w której to było napomykane, postacie poboczne prawie że nie istniejące ;/ prawie że nikogo nie poznaliśmy głębiej niż level kałuży.
Sam romans był spoko choć też wydawał się niesamowicie płytki a sama kulminacja z 'dramą' w tej historii była dla mnie jednym wielkim nieporozumieniem które było przyozdobione moim najmniej ulubionym trope'm(?) nw jak to nazwać a chodzi mi o 'misscommunication' bo tak to wszystko mogłoby się nie wydarzyć gdyby bohaterowie ze sobą *powiedzmy to razem* ROZMAWIALI.
*spoilerowo*
Też dla mnie lekko naciągane jest to że bohaterka idzie na imprezę, upija się, ktoś robi jej zdjęcia z ukrycia i wysyła to do gazety co później skutkuje nieprzychylnym artykułem w owej gazecie - i tak nie znam się na tematach F1 ale czy naprawdę jest to możliwe że po jednej takiej sytuacji wywaliliby kogoś z teamu?? zwłaszcza jak ten ktoś ma dobre wyniki na torze itp itd??? no ja się zastanawiam.
Plusik za to że czyta się to błyskawicznie i temat seksizmu względem kobiet w tym sporcie był fajnie nakreślony.
Mało jest jakichkolwiek wydarzeń więc przez większość książki wieje nudą, 'rywale' bo tym reklamowana jest książka mało co rywalizują a same wyścigi odgrywają mały kawałek w tej historii.
Nie czułam żadnej presji podczas wyścigów/zawodów poza myślami głównej bohaterki w której to było napomykane, postacie poboczne prawie że nie istniejące ;/ prawie że nikogo nie poznaliśmy głębiej niż level kałuży.
Sam romans był spoko choć też wydawał się niesamowicie płytki a sama kulminacja z 'dramą' w tej historii była dla mnie jednym wielkim nieporozumieniem które było przyozdobione moim najmniej ulubionym trope'm(?) nw jak to nazwać a chodzi mi o 'misscommunication' bo tak to wszystko mogłoby się nie wydarzyć gdyby bohaterowie ze sobą *powiedzmy to razem* ROZMAWIALI.
*spoilerowo*
Też dla mnie lekko naciągane jest to że bohaterka idzie na imprezę, upija się, ktoś robi jej zdjęcia z ukrycia i wysyła to do gazety co później skutkuje nieprzychylnym artykułem w owej gazecie - i tak nie znam się na tematach F1 ale czy naprawdę jest to możliwe że po jednej takiej sytuacji wywaliliby kogoś z teamu?? zwłaszcza jak ten ktoś ma dobre wyniki na torze itp itd??? no ja się zastanawiam.
Plusik za to że czyta się to błyskawicznie i temat seksizmu względem kobiet w tym sporcie był fajnie nakreślony.
August 13, 2026
2.65 stars
Did Not Finish
July 12, 2026DNF at 24%.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC! Unfortunately this one did not work for me.
To preface this, I am not really a racing fan. I love YA contemporary romance and debut authors, plus I was hoping this would feed my itch for more media like the DCOM Motocrossed…
Guys. No.
To say I was disappointed is a huge understatement. Every single man in this book is sexist in some fashion. I don’t think a single one is actually supportive of women in the F1 industry, except maybe Frank - he doesn’t seem all that bad yet. The MMC in particular calls the FMC the “girl driver” when he meets her. 🤮 I understand character growth throughout a book but he does some really frustratingly sexist things: interrupting a convo of her with her mentor, poking fun of her successful Instagram page, and chuckling along with the other guys behind her back. It’s a major turn off.
Our FMC is not great either. She’s too cocky and reckless. Her need to prove herself gets her into major trouble. It’s frustrating. And she also just basically ridiculed and harassed her mother even though her mom threw her old life away to help her daughter with her dream. ☠️ And honestly her mom is killing it? So back off, girly.
And then, after all that sexism, you’d think that we’d be in for a high feminist read, right? Nope. I DNFed right after this convo which I never thought I’d read in a YA book:
“Boys like to hunt, so you have to give them a chase.”
“Isn’t that kind of 1990’s? What happened to smashing the patriarchy?”
“Yeah, well, I also want his patriarchy to smash me, so can you please help a sister out.”
^ that quote is based off the arc copy and may change in a final version
You can’t have this overtly feminist ideal and also spout nonsense about a girl needing to make men chase them by showing cleavage. I am so out.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC! Unfortunately this one did not work for me.
To preface this, I am not really a racing fan. I love YA contemporary romance and debut authors, plus I was hoping this would feed my itch for more media like the DCOM Motocrossed…
Guys. No.
To say I was disappointed is a huge understatement. Every single man in this book is sexist in some fashion. I don’t think a single one is actually supportive of women in the F1 industry, except maybe Frank - he doesn’t seem all that bad yet. The MMC in particular calls the FMC the “girl driver” when he meets her. 🤮 I understand character growth throughout a book but he does some really frustratingly sexist things: interrupting a convo of her with her mentor, poking fun of her successful Instagram page, and chuckling along with the other guys behind her back. It’s a major turn off.
Our FMC is not great either. She’s too cocky and reckless. Her need to prove herself gets her into major trouble. It’s frustrating. And she also just basically ridiculed and harassed her mother even though her mom threw her old life away to help her daughter with her dream. ☠️ And honestly her mom is killing it? So back off, girly.
And then, after all that sexism, you’d think that we’d be in for a high feminist read, right? Nope. I DNFed right after this convo which I never thought I’d read in a YA book:
“Boys like to hunt, so you have to give them a chase.”
“Isn’t that kind of 1990’s? What happened to smashing the patriarchy?”
“Yeah, well, I also want his patriarchy to smash me, so can you please help a sister out.”
^ that quote is based off the arc copy and may change in a final version
You can’t have this overtly feminist ideal and also spout nonsense about a girl needing to make men chase them by showing cleavage. I am so out.
June 7, 2026
I absolutely adored this book so much! It’s fun and flirty and look at how cute that cover is! An all around fabulous young adult F1 romance!
I loved Justine as a FMC. She’s super competitive and wants to be the best but wasn’t snobby about it. Her romance with Cameron was so sweet, even though he’s her main rival and competition. I loved their scenes when they were fixing the old car together in Lot 19 and easily loved jealous Cameron during the gala. I also loved that they both came out as winners in the end, in both their racing careers and their relationship!
I also felt that the side characters were great additions to the story! I loved that Justine and Dietrich formed a great friendship and they kind of ended up being mentors for each other.
If you’re looking for a fun YA F1 romance featuring the rivals to lovers trope, then be sure to read The Fast Track, which releases on August 4th!
Thank you so much to Simon Teen for the advanced copy!
I loved Justine as a FMC. She’s super competitive and wants to be the best but wasn’t snobby about it. Her romance with Cameron was so sweet, even though he’s her main rival and competition. I loved their scenes when they were fixing the old car together in Lot 19 and easily loved jealous Cameron during the gala. I also loved that they both came out as winners in the end, in both their racing careers and their relationship!
I also felt that the side characters were great additions to the story! I loved that Justine and Dietrich formed a great friendship and they kind of ended up being mentors for each other.
If you’re looking for a fun YA F1 romance featuring the rivals to lovers trope, then be sure to read The Fast Track, which releases on August 4th!
Thank you so much to Simon Teen for the advanced copy!
August 18, 2026
i need more formula ya romance books STAT!!! this was SO much fun!!! it felt like i was back reading lights out by jenni fletcher, but what this book did that lights out couldnt was making a female lead actually involved in the sport. it was so cool to actually see the FMC BE THE DRIVER!! she was actually doing all of this crazy driving stuff! i really loved justines character in this!! she was so messy, and so real! i also really loved cameron and dietrich! i felt like they were both such great characters! i dont have a single complaint about this book to be honest! i just fell in love with this one! i really wanna get into watching formula now, this sounded like so much fun!
August 22, 2026
Very cute YA romance (and the first YA romance I've read in literal years), but there is a third act conflict that makes no sense, and there is this horrible "and then everyone clapped!" moment at the end that I just can't deal with.
The third act conflict... An article that would never be written, that nobody would read, like when something goes really viral that would never go viral in a bad teen movie. And without going into spoilers, a lot of people get really mad about something they should know isn't accurate because they were literally there the whole way. It didn't make sense to me.
It's also trying to do a girl boss thing but without making it 2010s Feminism Girl Boss, which apparently is so out of fashion now, but that just kinda ends up making the message a little bit confusing. Like what am I supposed to think about this exchange???:
IT'S WEIRD. Why would we say this? Actually all of Roz is weird. I don't understand what the author is trying to do with her, because the unprofessionalism with her is SO off the charts that I thought the team had given Justine her as a race engineer as a joke.
But I like Justine and her mom, as far as F1 accuracy goes it's mostly fine with a lot of fun references, and if we ignore the third act conflict, and we have to because as I said it makes no sense, the romance is cute too. I don't read a lot of YA anymore, but if I needed a pick-me up (and I desperately needed one right now because why do I only read depressing books?), I could see myself reading more from Angelica Cheng.
The third act conflict... An article that would never be written, that nobody would read, like when something goes really viral that would never go viral in a bad teen movie. And without going into spoilers, a lot of people get really mad about something they should know isn't accurate because they were literally there the whole way. It didn't make sense to me.
It's also trying to do a girl boss thing but without making it 2010s Feminism Girl Boss, which apparently is so out of fashion now, but that just kinda ends up making the message a little bit confusing. Like what am I supposed to think about this exchange???:
“Why can’t you just ask him out like a normal human being?”
“Because.” Roz rolls her eyes. “Boys like to hunt, so you have to give them the chase.”
“Isn’t that kind of 1990s? What happened to smashing the patriarchy?”
“Yeah, well, I also want his patriarchy to smash me, so can you please help a sister out?”
IT'S WEIRD. Why would we say this? Actually all of Roz is weird. I don't understand what the author is trying to do with her, because the unprofessionalism with her is SO off the charts that I thought the team had given Justine her as a race engineer as a joke.
But I like Justine and her mom, as far as F1 accuracy goes it's mostly fine with a lot of fun references, and if we ignore the third act conflict, and we have to because as I said it makes no sense, the romance is cute too. I don't read a lot of YA anymore, but if I needed a pick-me up (and I desperately needed one right now because why do I only read depressing books?), I could see myself reading more from Angelica Cheng.
July 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ok diva! Look I think I am more judgy of book about topics I happen to know lots about. I think if this book is an introduction to the formula racing world, this book would be a good read for you. However, as someone who does know about it, it fell a little flat for me. Now I’m so so so glad it wasn’t a mechanic falling for her driver !!!!!! Small wins let me tell you. I think where I always have problems with romance books set in sports is the girl is always made out to be this man hater no matter what role or position she’s in. I did like that this book really represented the teenage girl to its fullest extent in the fact that our fmc was competitive against her male competitors but was also just a girl. Justine had her crushes, she made bad decisions, she did teenage things, and we got some fun girlhood moments too.
Now I’m not gonna claim I know the inner workings of formula 3 or how those rules work compared to F1, so I think if I had known absolutely nothing about the racing world I would’ve been really confused what was happening. I wish we would’ve dived deeper into what F3 is or even F1 just so the people who don’t know could kinda comprehend. I did like that the real world of F1 was mixed into the fictional one the author had made. Getting to read about drivers and teams I know and love was a welcome surprise.
I will say the love story felt lackluster. I really wanted more from all the characters in the passion or yearning or want or literally anything that showed more than jealousy. It felt like even though they weren’t on the grid they were still competing for a relationship and I wasn’t the biggest fan. With all that being said I think this book was a fun way to get younger readers (especially those who are wanting to pursue careers where others like them aren’t usually welcome) into the world of racing.
Ok diva! Look I think I am more judgy of book about topics I happen to know lots about. I think if this book is an introduction to the formula racing world, this book would be a good read for you. However, as someone who does know about it, it fell a little flat for me. Now I’m so so so glad it wasn’t a mechanic falling for her driver !!!!!! Small wins let me tell you. I think where I always have problems with romance books set in sports is the girl is always made out to be this man hater no matter what role or position she’s in. I did like that this book really represented the teenage girl to its fullest extent in the fact that our fmc was competitive against her male competitors but was also just a girl. Justine had her crushes, she made bad decisions, she did teenage things, and we got some fun girlhood moments too.
Now I’m not gonna claim I know the inner workings of formula 3 or how those rules work compared to F1, so I think if I had known absolutely nothing about the racing world I would’ve been really confused what was happening. I wish we would’ve dived deeper into what F3 is or even F1 just so the people who don’t know could kinda comprehend. I did like that the real world of F1 was mixed into the fictional one the author had made. Getting to read about drivers and teams I know and love was a welcome surprise.
I will say the love story felt lackluster. I really wanted more from all the characters in the passion or yearning or want or literally anything that showed more than jealousy. It felt like even though they weren’t on the grid they were still competing for a relationship and I wasn’t the biggest fan. With all that being said I think this book was a fun way to get younger readers (especially those who are wanting to pursue careers where others like them aren’t usually welcome) into the world of racing.
August 6, 2026
If you love F1 as much as I do or if you’re new to F1 romance then you need to pick this book up.
The whole plot of this book was just incredible and actually a conversation we should have in our current climate. Women competing against Men in sport at equal measure. I’ve always said why don’t we see women driving in F1? But I get to live this through reading this book.
FMC Justine is an F3 driver in an academy for Orbital Racing along with her team mate Cameron MMC. All the F3 and F2 racers get the opportunity to have an F1 mentor to ask questions, shadow them or help them succeed.
They travel around in Grand Prix, and race at every one with the highs and lows or complications that would happen in real life racing. What I loved and really appreciated about this was Angelica mentioned so many amazing details into this that refer to F1. Even about Niki Lauda which was amazing- and now I’m going to re watch Rush for the millionth time.
So many giggles with the tension from being super competitive but also the sweet moments between Cameron and Justine that made my cheeks heat and smile to myself.
Thank you so much Insta Book Tours, Ink Road Books and Angelica Cheng for the gifted copy in exchange for a review.
The whole plot of this book was just incredible and actually a conversation we should have in our current climate. Women competing against Men in sport at equal measure. I’ve always said why don’t we see women driving in F1? But I get to live this through reading this book.
FMC Justine is an F3 driver in an academy for Orbital Racing along with her team mate Cameron MMC. All the F3 and F2 racers get the opportunity to have an F1 mentor to ask questions, shadow them or help them succeed.
They travel around in Grand Prix, and race at every one with the highs and lows or complications that would happen in real life racing. What I loved and really appreciated about this was Angelica mentioned so many amazing details into this that refer to F1. Even about Niki Lauda which was amazing- and now I’m going to re watch Rush for the millionth time.
So many giggles with the tension from being super competitive but also the sweet moments between Cameron and Justine that made my cheeks heat and smile to myself.
Thank you so much Insta Book Tours, Ink Road Books and Angelica Cheng for the gifted copy in exchange for a review.
June 3, 2026
This is hands down my favourite Formula Series read ever!!! 🤯🤯🤯
Justine Kwong strives to be an F1 World Champion. She’s on the pathway there as she begins her F3 season with Orbital Racing! Working hard through the US series to finally land herself in Motorsport Valley.
The Fast Track covers the complex journey of a woman in a male dominated field. Fighting the urge to just fit in and be recognised for her own talents rather than her obvious differences. The way women are subjected to harsher standards despite doing absolutely nothing different to her male counterparts.
As a up and coming talent, who’s also just a girl, finds herself figuring out what she can and can’t have or manage with an F2 seat up for grabs. She’s up against her cute yet formidable team mate Cameron Evans and it’s not just as easy as getting that seat when they both deserve it!
The technical aspects shows you that Angelica KNOWS F1, the writing of the play by play racing is incredible and fun. I love reading about my favourite sport and I’m absolutely immersed!
For a YA F1 romance book, this packs a punch. Covering everything from romance, identity, family and why representation matters. If you were to only ever pick up one F1 romance, please let it be this!
Thank you to Angelica and NetGalley for my eARC (begging does work after all 🤭) 🫶🏻
Justine Kwong strives to be an F1 World Champion. She’s on the pathway there as she begins her F3 season with Orbital Racing! Working hard through the US series to finally land herself in Motorsport Valley.
The Fast Track covers the complex journey of a woman in a male dominated field. Fighting the urge to just fit in and be recognised for her own talents rather than her obvious differences. The way women are subjected to harsher standards despite doing absolutely nothing different to her male counterparts.
As a up and coming talent, who’s also just a girl, finds herself figuring out what she can and can’t have or manage with an F2 seat up for grabs. She’s up against her cute yet formidable team mate Cameron Evans and it’s not just as easy as getting that seat when they both deserve it!
The technical aspects shows you that Angelica KNOWS F1, the writing of the play by play racing is incredible and fun. I love reading about my favourite sport and I’m absolutely immersed!
For a YA F1 romance book, this packs a punch. Covering everything from romance, identity, family and why representation matters. If you were to only ever pick up one F1 romance, please let it be this!
Thank you to Angelica and NetGalley for my eARC (begging does work after all 🤭) 🫶🏻
June 9, 2026
WOW. I think this might be my first YA F1 romance and it works so well for formula racing pipeline of F3 to F2 to F1. I’m a sucker for a YA romance and put it with formula racing and I’m all in
Our two main characters Justine and Cameron are F3 drivers for the same team and lighting up the track grabbing a lot of recognition. Justine is the first woman in the sport and is feeling the pressure and also wants to be seen as just another driver. However, it’s impossible and all consequences for her seem to be completely different from her male competitors.
I really loved the angst in this book, the high stakes and emotions, and that it was filled with teenage drama but also real world drama. I just thought it really did a great job at pointing flaws at this system and how even once you break in those flaws can really impact everything including the person seeing them.
I just had a really fun time and can’t wait to read more from this author!
Our two main characters Justine and Cameron are F3 drivers for the same team and lighting up the track grabbing a lot of recognition. Justine is the first woman in the sport and is feeling the pressure and also wants to be seen as just another driver. However, it’s impossible and all consequences for her seem to be completely different from her male competitors.
I really loved the angst in this book, the high stakes and emotions, and that it was filled with teenage drama but also real world drama. I just thought it really did a great job at pointing flaws at this system and how even once you break in those flaws can really impact everything including the person seeing them.
I just had a really fun time and can’t wait to read more from this author!
August 13, 2026
Cute, fun, sporty! Definitely YA and I learned a lot about car racing (who knew there was an F2 and F3? Probably my siblings actually). I don’t think I’ll remember much about the characters and it was pretty predictable but not a bad read.
July 11, 2026
4.5 stars
Justine scores such a great opportunity as the only female F3 driver with the goal of one day going to F1. Her attempts to blend in sometimes work and sometimes fail but Justine has to work hard to combat her reputation as just a diversity hire. But her teammate and competition on the track, Cameron, is proving to be hard to ignore .
This is the exact book I was hoping for when I picked it up. It's sweet and swoony rivals-to-more with a great touch of feminism and the best can-do spirit. I adored seeing F3 where it was girl power coded but didn't put down the boys to lift Justine. It simply showed how talent should see no sex. I loved the way Justine ultimately embraced her girlhood as an asset for her future. As for the romance, yes! Rival teammates gives off such an endearing competitive spirit that battles the attraction and Cameron was the perfect personality to play opposite Justine.
Thank you Simon Teen and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Justine scores such a great opportunity as the only female F3 driver with the goal of one day going to F1. Her attempts to blend in sometimes work and sometimes fail but Justine has to work hard to combat her reputation as just a diversity hire. But her teammate and competition on the track, Cameron, is proving to be hard to ignore .
This is the exact book I was hoping for when I picked it up. It's sweet and swoony rivals-to-more with a great touch of feminism and the best can-do spirit. I adored seeing F3 where it was girl power coded but didn't put down the boys to lift Justine. It simply showed how talent should see no sex. I loved the way Justine ultimately embraced her girlhood as an asset for her future. As for the romance, yes! Rival teammates gives off such an endearing competitive spirit that battles the attraction and Cameron was the perfect personality to play opposite Justine.
Thank you Simon Teen and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
August 10, 2026
3.75 stars
August 30, 2026
🏁🏎️3.5 stars 🏎️🏁
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.
August 6, 2026
british sweet zoomin
August 26, 2026
Angelica Cheng's debut novel, The Fast Track, is one of those books that can't be missed from your bookshelf. It participates in the current sports romance trend while also bringing in the diversity and feminism we still need today.
While I'm still new to the Motor racing world, I've been part of the female Asian diaspora community since I was born, so this book meant the world to me. There is a motivating message for females in general wanting to participate in male-dominated sports. Sure, there is more attention to it, but we still have a long way to go if we want to reach real equality. How does that even look, considering our often biological and anatomical differences? Besides smashing the patriarchy, The Fast Track comments on class differences. Now, Formula 1 (, 2, and 3 for that matter) is a highly elite sport. This is where the characters, Justine and Cameron, show an exemplary representation.
Justine may be female, asian, and unapologetic; she has sponsors lined up to work with her. They want to show more diversity and be more inclusive, but for whom? For themselves, their own reputations, or do they genuinely care about Justine? It's what makes her feel like a "token girl," just another "check-the-box" on their list, thereby obscuring her real talent. Her personality is admirable; flawed, competitive, fierce, and ambitious. Her growth throughout the book is therefore even more enlightening to reflect upon as she starts to embrace all parts of her without losing her core and learning new skills. Many can identify with her as a fangirl. The whole book is an exciting experience. The sport itself, the challenges, and the opportunities.
However, expectations can be shattered. When Justine meets Cameron, they don't get off on the best foot. They're forced to work together on rebuilding an FC-80 after an incident. Slowly but surely, they start to get to know each other, earning more respect and understanding. Even though they're teammates, sport is sport with winners and losers. Justine and Cameron's chemistry felt realistic and genuine. Despite not having a POV from Cameron's side, it did feel like we knew enough about him. I would've loved it if we delved a bit deeper, but I still think it's already remarkable of Cheng to be able to add this much depth to an MMC. Cameron is more than just his looks, though; they're surely cute bonus points. He is also hard-working, caring, surprisingly studious, and observant. He deserves every win and prize (in whatever form).
A few side characters stood out to me too: Dietrich and Roz are important people to the characters. There are also a few ass-heads who portrayed their function well. Not to say that they were all "bad." Cheng, again, made them more complex than just "bad." As for Dietrich and Roz, they both had immense influence on the story and the characters in different ways.
Dietrich showed that you're allowed to chase your dreams while living the dreams of others. It's hard to do that while having those others in mind, but you can't keep living the life for others.
Roz is such a fun girl to be friends with. Together with Justine, she will surely inspire many more girls chasing their racing dreams.
I'm still a newbie in Motor racing, but Cheng used understandable enough terms, and her writing in general was fluent. I only would've loved a bit more depth in some side characters, but I think that's all I have to comment on. The dialect and the immersive emanation were strong, and the structure was also clear.
Thank you for reading my yap review, and big thanks to Angelica Cheng for writing such an inspiring story!
While I'm still new to the Motor racing world, I've been part of the female Asian diaspora community since I was born, so this book meant the world to me. There is a motivating message for females in general wanting to participate in male-dominated sports. Sure, there is more attention to it, but we still have a long way to go if we want to reach real equality. How does that even look, considering our often biological and anatomical differences? Besides smashing the patriarchy, The Fast Track comments on class differences. Now, Formula 1 (, 2, and 3 for that matter) is a highly elite sport. This is where the characters, Justine and Cameron, show an exemplary representation.
Justine may be female, asian, and unapologetic; she has sponsors lined up to work with her. They want to show more diversity and be more inclusive, but for whom? For themselves, their own reputations, or do they genuinely care about Justine? It's what makes her feel like a "token girl," just another "check-the-box" on their list, thereby obscuring her real talent. Her personality is admirable; flawed, competitive, fierce, and ambitious. Her growth throughout the book is therefore even more enlightening to reflect upon as she starts to embrace all parts of her without losing her core and learning new skills. Many can identify with her as a fangirl. The whole book is an exciting experience. The sport itself, the challenges, and the opportunities.
However, expectations can be shattered. When Justine meets Cameron, they don't get off on the best foot. They're forced to work together on rebuilding an FC-80 after an incident. Slowly but surely, they start to get to know each other, earning more respect and understanding. Even though they're teammates, sport is sport with winners and losers. Justine and Cameron's chemistry felt realistic and genuine. Despite not having a POV from Cameron's side, it did feel like we knew enough about him. I would've loved it if we delved a bit deeper, but I still think it's already remarkable of Cheng to be able to add this much depth to an MMC. Cameron is more than just his looks, though; they're surely cute bonus points. He is also hard-working, caring, surprisingly studious, and observant. He deserves every win and prize (in whatever form).
A few side characters stood out to me too: Dietrich and Roz are important people to the characters. There are also a few ass-heads who portrayed their function well. Not to say that they were all "bad." Cheng, again, made them more complex than just "bad." As for Dietrich and Roz, they both had immense influence on the story and the characters in different ways.
Dietrich showed that you're allowed to chase your dreams while living the dreams of others. It's hard to do that while having those others in mind, but you can't keep living the life for others.
Roz is such a fun girl to be friends with. Together with Justine, she will surely inspire many more girls chasing their racing dreams.
I'm still a newbie in Motor racing, but Cheng used understandable enough terms, and her writing in general was fluent. I only would've loved a bit more depth in some side characters, but I think that's all I have to comment on. The dialect and the immersive emanation were strong, and the structure was also clear.
Thank you for reading my yap review, and big thanks to Angelica Cheng for writing such an inspiring story!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dnf at 50%
Thank you so much NetGalley and
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I made it to the 50% mark, so I think I've given this book a fair chance before deciding to DNF it.
I went into this expecting a YA enemies-to-lovers romance with genuine rivalry, fun banter, and great chemistry. Instead, the story spends most of its time highlighting the sexism women face in motorsport. I understand that this is the message the author wanted to explore, and I can't comment on how accurately it reflects Formula racing since I'm not an F1 fan. It just wasn't what I was hoping to read, and the constant focus on it made the experience feel more frustrating than enjoyable.
What disappointed me the most was the rivalry. The book keeps telling us that they're competing for the same F2 seat, but I never believed they were actual rivals. The male lead is already at the top of his game in F3, while the female lead has only just entered the category. They never felt like equals, so the rivalry never landed for me. Honestly, if she were to suddenly beat him for that seat, it would feel a little unearned because he has consistently been the strongest driver.
The romance didn't work for me either. It felt like the story went from hostility to bonding and almost kissing without enough development to make that transition believable. I also couldn't connect with a single character. Not the male lead, not the female lead, and not even the side characters. I kept waiting for someone to make me care about the story, but it never happened. Even when the author started making the male lead more sympathetic, I still couldn't bring myself to like him.
At this point, I know continuing would only make me dislike the book even more, so I'm officially DNFing this ARC. I might give it another chance when the audiobook comes out, but for now, this just wasn't the book for me.
Thank you so much NetGalley and
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I made it to the 50% mark, so I think I've given this book a fair chance before deciding to DNF it.
I went into this expecting a YA enemies-to-lovers romance with genuine rivalry, fun banter, and great chemistry. Instead, the story spends most of its time highlighting the sexism women face in motorsport. I understand that this is the message the author wanted to explore, and I can't comment on how accurately it reflects Formula racing since I'm not an F1 fan. It just wasn't what I was hoping to read, and the constant focus on it made the experience feel more frustrating than enjoyable.
What disappointed me the most was the rivalry. The book keeps telling us that they're competing for the same F2 seat, but I never believed they were actual rivals. The male lead is already at the top of his game in F3, while the female lead has only just entered the category. They never felt like equals, so the rivalry never landed for me. Honestly, if she were to suddenly beat him for that seat, it would feel a little unearned because he has consistently been the strongest driver.
The romance didn't work for me either. It felt like the story went from hostility to bonding and almost kissing without enough development to make that transition believable. I also couldn't connect with a single character. Not the male lead, not the female lead, and not even the side characters. I kept waiting for someone to make me care about the story, but it never happened. Even when the author started making the male lead more sympathetic, I still couldn't bring myself to like him.
At this point, I know continuing would only make me dislike the book even more, so I'm officially DNFing this ARC. I might give it another chance when the audiobook comes out, but for now, this just wasn't the book for me.
September 11, 2026
Firstly I need to say a massive thank you to instabook tours Angelica Cheng & Inkroad books for the opportunity to read The Fast Track.
Our book follows Justine who has always dreamed of being a formula one champion, the thing is there has never been a female driver to have won it. Justine is given a seat in a formula three team; the only problem is her team mate Cameron. Competition between the two team mates rises along with Justine fight against inequality with in the sport. Can Justine win? Can she stay away from Cameron even though she needs to beat him?
This debut YA from Angelica, was amazing. Our formula one world, is completely fleshed out. It doesn’t feel, as the reader, that it takes us long to get to grips with the world. You can see that Angelica knows the formula one world well, its mechanics, its history. You can see her love for the world.
Our characters are full of life, they are relatable and also feel as though you have known them for a long time. Sometimes with YA books can lack emotional and character depth but this book is not one of them. Our characters are fully realised with a lot of heart.
In this book Angelica does not shy away from tackling subjects such as racism, misogyny and sexism. She handles them with grace and we as the reader feel the weight and the impact it has on our main character Justine. It was incredible to have such emotional depth when these themes arises in the book; showing more now than ever that books should not shy away from tackling tough subjects.
Our romance is glorious, rivals to lovers, that grows over time. It makes your heart burst and I was shouting at the book on multiple occasions, and I mean this in a good way. Angelica had me routing for our couple and had me kicking my feet and giggling multiple times.
If you’re looking for your next formula one romance, this should be it. I cannot wait to see what Angelica writes next.
Our book follows Justine who has always dreamed of being a formula one champion, the thing is there has never been a female driver to have won it. Justine is given a seat in a formula three team; the only problem is her team mate Cameron. Competition between the two team mates rises along with Justine fight against inequality with in the sport. Can Justine win? Can she stay away from Cameron even though she needs to beat him?
This debut YA from Angelica, was amazing. Our formula one world, is completely fleshed out. It doesn’t feel, as the reader, that it takes us long to get to grips with the world. You can see that Angelica knows the formula one world well, its mechanics, its history. You can see her love for the world.
Our characters are full of life, they are relatable and also feel as though you have known them for a long time. Sometimes with YA books can lack emotional and character depth but this book is not one of them. Our characters are fully realised with a lot of heart.
In this book Angelica does not shy away from tackling subjects such as racism, misogyny and sexism. She handles them with grace and we as the reader feel the weight and the impact it has on our main character Justine. It was incredible to have such emotional depth when these themes arises in the book; showing more now than ever that books should not shy away from tackling tough subjects.
Our romance is glorious, rivals to lovers, that grows over time. It makes your heart burst and I was shouting at the book on multiple occasions, and I mean this in a good way. Angelica had me routing for our couple and had me kicking my feet and giggling multiple times.
If you’re looking for your next formula one romance, this should be it. I cannot wait to see what Angelica writes next.
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
I really enjoyed this! This is a sweet, no-spice romance for teens who are interested in racing (or the racers). Focused on an F3 league of drivers who has just welcomed the first female driver, we follow Justine and her journey through her first season on a professional European track.
The plot was a bit of a soft ball, following common tropes and threads rather than pulling anything super surprising. I figured out the end before the F2 seat was even brought up as a plot point. I didn't mind that! This was a good palate cleanser.
What I did mind, however, was the subplot surrounding Dietrich and Justine. I don't really care that the "relationship" was age-appropriate (this is explicitly mentioned), any relationship where there is an imbalance of power should not be endorsed by the adults that surround the younger, more vulnerable of the two. The fact that not only the racing executives give direct or indirect stamps of approval, but her mother does as well, was a very uncomfortable misstep for me. I thought this was a pretty contrived, obvious love triangle trope trying to form - and it wasn't believable - but I wanted to mention that I think this wasn't really appropriate as an addition.
Though the relationship there is a big miscalculation for me, I thought the tackling of difficult topics, communication between the MCs, and the healthy shifting of perspectives was excellent. Cheng does a great job of showing that, though Justine is struggling, she also isn't the only one, and she certainly isn't alone. I also loved that Justine is human, makes mistakes, and must reckon with the consequences.
Great work! Good for teens who want romance, racing, or books about girls overcoming their circumstances.
The plot was a bit of a soft ball, following common tropes and threads rather than pulling anything super surprising. I figured out the end before the F2 seat was even brought up as a plot point. I didn't mind that! This was a good palate cleanser.
What I did mind, however, was the subplot surrounding Dietrich and Justine. I don't really care that the "relationship" was age-appropriate (this is explicitly mentioned), any relationship where there is an imbalance of power should not be endorsed by the adults that surround the younger, more vulnerable of the two. The fact that not only the racing executives give direct or indirect stamps of approval, but her mother does as well, was a very uncomfortable misstep for me. I thought this was a pretty contrived, obvious love triangle trope trying to form - and it wasn't believable - but I wanted to mention that I think this wasn't really appropriate as an addition.
Though the relationship there is a big miscalculation for me, I thought the tackling of difficult topics, communication between the MCs, and the healthy shifting of perspectives was excellent. Cheng does a great job of showing that, though Justine is struggling, she also isn't the only one, and she certainly isn't alone. I also loved that Justine is human, makes mistakes, and must reckon with the consequences.
Great work! Good for teens who want romance, racing, or books about girls overcoming their circumstances.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars - This was my first time reading a racing themed YA book and I really enjoyed most of it. It was interesting learning about how the racing circuits work and getting to experience racing from Justine’s cockpit. I’m always in awe of people who find a true passion so early in life and are able to dedicate themselves to it.
With Justine I’m a bit conflicted. She definitely has extreme drive to succeed, and she claims to really love racing. At times though it feels like she’s only gunning for F1 racing to shove her success in her estranged dad’s face. Also, for all she goes through trying to prove herself in a male dominated sport, it takes a literal crisis to get her to embrace actually being a female in the sport and how she’s quite obviously an inspiration to so many younger girls.
I loved how eventually both Justine & Cameron were successful and rewarded for their hard work; however, I don’t understand how for most of the book Justine thinks she’s a shoe in for the F2 spot after never racing in Europe before and with how good she knows the more experienced Cameron is.
My two drawbacks are the focus on Justine’s restricted diet and the amount of underage drinking, including getting blackout drunk. It’s never even explained why she might want to eat more nutritiously or watch her weight, but it borderlines on creating an eating disorder for her. I get in Europe drinking ages are different, but Justine, an American, is only 17, and there’s alcohol in so many scenes with all these teenagers.
Overall though a good storyline with an interesting premise, and I appreciate NetGalley for providing me with an eARC.
With Justine I’m a bit conflicted. She definitely has extreme drive to succeed, and she claims to really love racing. At times though it feels like she’s only gunning for F1 racing to shove her success in her estranged dad’s face. Also, for all she goes through trying to prove herself in a male dominated sport, it takes a literal crisis to get her to embrace actually being a female in the sport and how she’s quite obviously an inspiration to so many younger girls.
I loved how eventually both Justine & Cameron were successful and rewarded for their hard work; however, I don’t understand how for most of the book Justine thinks she’s a shoe in for the F2 spot after never racing in Europe before and with how good she knows the more experienced Cameron is.
My two drawbacks are the focus on Justine’s restricted diet and the amount of underage drinking, including getting blackout drunk. It’s never even explained why she might want to eat more nutritiously or watch her weight, but it borderlines on creating an eating disorder for her. I get in Europe drinking ages are different, but Justine, an American, is only 17, and there’s alcohol in so many scenes with all these teenagers.
Overall though a good storyline with an interesting premise, and I appreciate NetGalley for providing me with an eARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
What a fun book! I know nothing about F1 or racing but I love any kind of sports and competitive story and it's so unique to read in a novel, especially a romance book! I really enjoyed how fast pace and fun it was to read about the races. Justine is such a fun character and I love how strong and realistic she is, I appreciate reading and watching real and fake women in sports so much, it feels so empowering and I love how that was a main focus. The relationships in this book were also really sweet, I loved her friendship with Dietrich and how in the end he took her advice and she took his spot in the race, and how he was a tough but helpful mentor. Roz was a great friend as well.
Her romance with Cameron was very cute and entertaining but I think it happened a bit fast and took a backseat for most of the book. I wish the book was maybe longer to focus on their relationship after the argument and last few plot points and add some dates in between. This was really my only issue with the book, I wanted more focus on them as a couple. But I do think this book has the idea of a woman in racing dealing with misogyny is more of a focus than the romance, which makes sense as a coming of age story that I deeply enjoyed. I wanted more character depth to Justine and Cameron as well, more backstory to his poor upbringing and how they can relate to being different from the main racers as a way to connect, and more about her passion for racing and history in her family. Overall this was a very fun and unique debut and a very well written story.
What a fun book! I know nothing about F1 or racing but I love any kind of sports and competitive story and it's so unique to read in a novel, especially a romance book! I really enjoyed how fast pace and fun it was to read about the races. Justine is such a fun character and I love how strong and realistic she is, I appreciate reading and watching real and fake women in sports so much, it feels so empowering and I love how that was a main focus. The relationships in this book were also really sweet, I loved her friendship with Dietrich and how in the end he took her advice and she took his spot in the race, and how he was a tough but helpful mentor. Roz was a great friend as well.
Her romance with Cameron was very cute and entertaining but I think it happened a bit fast and took a backseat for most of the book. I wish the book was maybe longer to focus on their relationship after the argument and last few plot points and add some dates in between. This was really my only issue with the book, I wanted more focus on them as a couple. But I do think this book has the idea of a woman in racing dealing with misogyny is more of a focus than the romance, which makes sense as a coming of age story that I deeply enjoyed. I wanted more character depth to Justine and Cameron as well, more backstory to his poor upbringing and how they can relate to being different from the main racers as a way to connect, and more about her passion for racing and history in her family. Overall this was a very fun and unique debut and a very well written story.
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.
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Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The world deserves more good wholesome YA and The Fast Track is exactly that. Focusing on teammates Cameron and Justine who are both trying to prove themselves as F3 drivers so they can claim the upcoming F2 vacancy that is coming up on their team. Justine wants to prove to other women and minorities that they can do whatever they put their mind to, and Cameron who grew up with little and wants to become financially strong and buy his grandparents a new home.
Cheng did a great job at making us readers root for both Orbital F3 drivers, seeing their motivations and understanding how they drive Cameron and Justine. The story had that depth to it while still being a fun read.
Remember in Twisters how we got that scene at the end with Glenn Powell's character running after Daisy Edgar-Jones's character in the airport and we were all there ready for that kiss only for us to not get it in the end? Honestly, I thought it was a great way to keep the story about Kate and not completely pivot the movie to a romance instead. I do feel like the Fast Track did need to either go more subtile with the romance or lean into it more. I was left a bit dissatisfied with the amount of romance, it was too much of a tease without enough delivery for me.
Absolutely worth the read if you are into F1 romance or starting to get into F1 romance.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Cheng did a great job at making us readers root for both Orbital F3 drivers, seeing their motivations and understanding how they drive Cameron and Justine. The story had that depth to it while still being a fun read.
Remember in Twisters how we got that scene at the end with Glenn Powell's character running after Daisy Edgar-Jones's character in the airport and we were all there ready for that kiss only for us to not get it in the end? Honestly, I thought it was a great way to keep the story about Kate and not completely pivot the movie to a romance instead. I do feel like the Fast Track did need to either go more subtile with the romance or lean into it more. I was left a bit dissatisfied with the amount of romance, it was too much of a tease without enough delivery for me.
Absolutely worth the read if you are into F1 romance or starting to get into F1 romance.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
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