What do you think?
Rate this book
Make Your Move
Reese Maddox is the kind of driver who’s relied on raw talent and unshakable confidence to get her to the top. But when that approach stops being enough, she’s recruited into Formula Next—the all-female racing academy designed to fast-track drivers to Formula 1. Reese is fearless, flashy, and knows how to put on a show. But at Formula Next, raw talent isn’t enough, and Reese is about to learn what it really means to be coached.
Sloane Foster was once the next big thing in Formula 1 until a crash ended her career and made her retreat from the spotlight. Now, she's back—this time on the other side of the circuit, tasked with coaching the next generation of racers. She’s not looking for redemption, and she’s definitely not looking for complications. But Reese is all fire and temptation, and keeping things professional becomes harder with every stolen glance and late-night debrief.
The rules are clear. The lines are drawn. But in a world fueled by adrenaline and ambition, one bold move could change everything.
Sloane Foster was once the next big thing in Formula 1 until a crash ended her career and made her retreat from the spotlight. Now, she's back—this time on the other side of the circuit, tasked with coaching the next generation of racers. She’s not looking for redemption, and she’s definitely not looking for complications. But Reese is all fire and temptation, and keeping things professional becomes harder with every stolen glance and late-night debrief.
The rules are clear. The lines are drawn. But in a world fueled by adrenaline and ambition, one bold move could change everything.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2026
About the author
Melissa Brayden
31 books2,866 followersMelissa Brayden is the multi-award winning author of more than twenty-five sapphic romance novels and is hard at work on more. She is a wine enthusiast, a fan of all donuts, and is probably staring off into space as you're reading this. You can find her at www.melissabrayden.com and on most social media sites.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
April 28, 2026
4,5 ⭐
I never would have thought that racing could be so sexy. Sloane has hung up her racing career and wants nothing more to do with F1. Until she returns as a favor to her best friend to coach young women in driving. Sloane and Reese’s first encounter is hilarious, and I laughed my head off. I immediately loved the amazing chemistry between the two of them. Sparks flew, lightning struck, and thunder rolled. And the banter? Great! It was just fantastic.
The combination of that connection with the friendship that develops between Reese and the other female drivers was just perfect. It was lighthearted and just fun to watch the women race.
What disappointed me a bit—and is why I’m not giving it a full 5 stars—is the conflict toward the end of the book. I loved the great, healthy communication between Sloane and Reese throughout the entire book. It was mature and just felt real. This conflict, on the other hand… I don’t want to spoil anything, but it didn’t quite fit after all the development between Sloane and Reese. If there’s such healthy communication, why take it away all of a sudden?
Nevertheless, it’s an absolutely great and heartwarming book with strong women. I’m already looking forward to the second part… maybe it’ll be about Veronika? A great woman! Highly recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I never would have thought that racing could be so sexy. Sloane has hung up her racing career and wants nothing more to do with F1. Until she returns as a favor to her best friend to coach young women in driving. Sloane and Reese’s first encounter is hilarious, and I laughed my head off. I immediately loved the amazing chemistry between the two of them. Sparks flew, lightning struck, and thunder rolled. And the banter? Great! It was just fantastic.
The combination of that connection with the friendship that develops between Reese and the other female drivers was just perfect. It was lighthearted and just fun to watch the women race.
What disappointed me a bit—and is why I’m not giving it a full 5 stars—is the conflict toward the end of the book. I loved the great, healthy communication between Sloane and Reese throughout the entire book. It was mature and just felt real. This conflict, on the other hand… I don’t want to spoil anything, but it didn’t quite fit after all the development between Sloane and Reese. If there’s such healthy communication, why take it away all of a sudden?
Nevertheless, it’s an absolutely great and heartwarming book with strong women. I’m already looking forward to the second part… maybe it’ll be about Veronika? A great woman! Highly recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
April 19, 2026
Arc review ♡
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/4 (4.25 stars)
I gotta say I had my ups and downs while reading this BUT, if given the chance,I would’ve flirted with Sloane the same (somewhat) embarrassing way that Reese did at the beging of this book.
But let’s start with the review for real now; as one might guess, I really liked the characters, both Reese and Sloane were written soooo well and I throughly enjoyed reading how their story progressed throughout the book. Though, I do wish we would’ve gotten even more insight into Sloane‘s POV (I just adored her parts sooo much, I flew through them haha). Besides that, I also really liked the side characters and how well they were included within the story, it all felt natural.
Speaking of side characters and the story, I really loved the Formula 1 & 2 theme. Though, I had no prior knowledge about it, reading about it was still so enjoyable for me and made me want to actually learn more about it to understand how it all worked!
Moreover, I loved the character developments and the fears and struggles of the characters throughout the story, nothing felt overly dramatic, instead it felt rather natural and gave the story overall a very nice flow overall.
However, I did experience moments where the story felt somewhat drawn out and I did struggle a tiny bit with the writing style sometimes (but that’s just my preference coming through).
Overall though, I did enjoy reading this very much and think this is especially for readers who liked a good character driven story which still has a good story overall. And again, I do wish Sloane would exit in real life because damn, I might have developed a little crush on her throughout this book (haha)
Thank you so much for the advanced readers copy. And I want to disclose that this review was voluntarily and honestly given ♡
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/4 (4.25 stars)
I gotta say I had my ups and downs while reading this BUT, if given the chance,I would’ve flirted with Sloane the same (somewhat) embarrassing way that Reese did at the beging of this book.
But let’s start with the review for real now; as one might guess, I really liked the characters, both Reese and Sloane were written soooo well and I throughly enjoyed reading how their story progressed throughout the book. Though, I do wish we would’ve gotten even more insight into Sloane‘s POV (I just adored her parts sooo much, I flew through them haha). Besides that, I also really liked the side characters and how well they were included within the story, it all felt natural.
Speaking of side characters and the story, I really loved the Formula 1 & 2 theme. Though, I had no prior knowledge about it, reading about it was still so enjoyable for me and made me want to actually learn more about it to understand how it all worked!
Moreover, I loved the character developments and the fears and struggles of the characters throughout the story, nothing felt overly dramatic, instead it felt rather natural and gave the story overall a very nice flow overall.
However, I did experience moments where the story felt somewhat drawn out and I did struggle a tiny bit with the writing style sometimes (but that’s just my preference coming through).
Overall though, I did enjoy reading this very much and think this is especially for readers who liked a good character driven story which still has a good story overall. And again, I do wish Sloane would exit in real life because damn, I might have developed a little crush on her throughout this book (haha)
Thank you so much for the advanced readers copy. And I want to disclose that this review was voluntarily and honestly given ♡
April 29, 2026
3.5⭐️ Rounded Up
It’s a classic Melissa Brayden novel, I knew it was going to be a solid, great read from the start. What I appreciate the most about the author is she knows how to write romantic feelings and delivers the dynamic between main characters perfectly.
I enjoyed the grown that Reese had, starting off as a cocky race car driver who lets that control the way she drivers. Her growth really was a breath of fresh air, and she was an incredibly likable character.
Sloane was equally as lovable, but something about Reese had me hooked on her. With Sloane being a big name in the race at driving world, but having a serious crash pushed her away from that scene.
The two come together in such a natural way which I always appreciate. It never felt like they had an 11 year age gap (a trope I always struggle with reading), they felt a lot more like equals.
Where my start rate comes in is the overall feel I had for the story. I loved it, loved the characters, loved the research Melissa Brayden had to have done to write this, but it just didn’t hit the way I thought it would. I felt like I had to drag myself through it during a few parts, and as much as I love really a smut scene, there was a LOT of it. I will always appreciate not having a third act break up, but in my gut it’s just telling me I wish there had been a bit more.
What I’m hoping for next is Reese’s friends to have their own love stories (especially Cassidy, I LOVED her). Overall, it was a solid read and I will forever pick up a need book from Melissa Brayden.
Thank you NetGalley and the author for a solid read!
It’s a classic Melissa Brayden novel, I knew it was going to be a solid, great read from the start. What I appreciate the most about the author is she knows how to write romantic feelings and delivers the dynamic between main characters perfectly.
I enjoyed the grown that Reese had, starting off as a cocky race car driver who lets that control the way she drivers. Her growth really was a breath of fresh air, and she was an incredibly likable character.
Sloane was equally as lovable, but something about Reese had me hooked on her. With Sloane being a big name in the race at driving world, but having a serious crash pushed her away from that scene.
The two come together in such a natural way which I always appreciate. It never felt like they had an 11 year age gap (a trope I always struggle with reading), they felt a lot more like equals.
Where my start rate comes in is the overall feel I had for the story. I loved it, loved the characters, loved the research Melissa Brayden had to have done to write this, but it just didn’t hit the way I thought it would. I felt like I had to drag myself through it during a few parts, and as much as I love really a smut scene, there was a LOT of it. I will always appreciate not having a third act break up, but in my gut it’s just telling me I wish there had been a bit more.
What I’m hoping for next is Reese’s friends to have their own love stories (especially Cassidy, I LOVED her). Overall, it was a solid read and I will forever pick up a need book from Melissa Brayden.
Thank you NetGalley and the author for a solid read!
April 24, 2026
3.25 ⭐
April 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I knew nothing about Formula One Racing going into this. I did however, think that it sounded interesting and I was excited to learn more. That being said, I didn’t double check if things were accurate but I felt like I learned a lot and was able to grasp the basics of racing thanks to how the author wrote about it.
I think I’ll never forget Reese and Sloane’s meet-cute. It was hilarious to witness Reese make a complete fool out of herself. I think she needed a little bit of the ego check. For a hot second she was a little hard for me to root for, but that quickly changed. Their chemistry was undeniable from the very beginning and only got better with each interaction.
I think the way that Melissa Brayden handled Sloane’s mental health journey was well thought out and well done. It was realistic and I was glad that she took the story where she took it in the last fourth of it. I was wondering where the story was going to go when I reached about the 55% mark, knowing there wasn’t a third act break up. I appreciate where it ended up going.
Can we talk about the friends in this book? I don’t know if I’ve ever loved side characters/friends/found family more than I did in Make Your Move. Especially Veronica’s friendship with Sloane. She is truly a gem. I was so touched when she said, “ That’s my girl [..] That’s my best friend. The closeness of The Starting Grid was so wholesome and I loved how close they all got and how loyal they were. I also liked that there wasn’t jealousy and they all genuinely wanted the best for each other.
This is the second book by Melissa Brayden that I’ve read and this is the second book that I’ve absolutely loved. I think with the light angst, tasteful spicy scenes and over wholesomeness of the novel, I will be rereading as a comfort read. 4.5 Stars!
**side note- I don’t know why but I want Shanelle and Julie to be a thing and have their own book!
I knew nothing about Formula One Racing going into this. I did however, think that it sounded interesting and I was excited to learn more. That being said, I didn’t double check if things were accurate but I felt like I learned a lot and was able to grasp the basics of racing thanks to how the author wrote about it.
I think I’ll never forget Reese and Sloane’s meet-cute. It was hilarious to witness Reese make a complete fool out of herself. I think she needed a little bit of the ego check. For a hot second she was a little hard for me to root for, but that quickly changed. Their chemistry was undeniable from the very beginning and only got better with each interaction.
I think the way that Melissa Brayden handled Sloane’s mental health journey was well thought out and well done. It was realistic and I was glad that she took the story where she took it in the last fourth of it. I was wondering where the story was going to go when I reached about the 55% mark, knowing there wasn’t a third act break up. I appreciate where it ended up going.
Can we talk about the friends in this book? I don’t know if I’ve ever loved side characters/friends/found family more than I did in Make Your Move. Especially Veronica’s friendship with Sloane. She is truly a gem. I was so touched when she said, “ That’s my girl [..] That’s my best friend. The closeness of The Starting Grid was so wholesome and I loved how close they all got and how loyal they were. I also liked that there wasn’t jealousy and they all genuinely wanted the best for each other.
This is the second book by Melissa Brayden that I’ve read and this is the second book that I’ve absolutely loved. I think with the light angst, tasteful spicy scenes and over wholesomeness of the novel, I will be rereading as a comfort read. 4.5 Stars!
**side note- I don’t know why but I want Shanelle and Julie to be a thing and have their own book!
April 24, 2026
Great prologue!
One main isn’t immediately likeable, not unlikeable but a bit arrogant. I like how we see her become better….. this is not a redemption arc but I liked her more as the book went on. There is of course Brayden batter between buddies that is amusing. There is longing, pretty instant, pretty overpowering. There is of course a barrier and I think Brayden has shown really well what the cost of that could or should be, emotionally. There can be a tendency in some novels for the barrier to be we can’t, we shouldn’t, we did. And the changes take place as quickly as reading that sentence. Time wise, in this book is has been quite quick but at least we are seeing the emotional road.
At the beginning I was enjoying the book but not all in. Just under 40% there was a pivotal incident that moved me further in. Well done Brayden. I read the incident through one mains eyes, but the next scene I could feel when we saw impact. Well set up!
I grew in to the book. I loved that there were not silly misunderstandings. That a conversation that had to be had, while delayed, did happen and did happen organically.
There is of course a barrier and I enjoyed the reality of the way it was overcome. The book started a 3, progressed to a 3.5 and ended up a four…. Slow and steady did win the race!
One main isn’t immediately likeable, not unlikeable but a bit arrogant. I like how we see her become better….. this is not a redemption arc but I liked her more as the book went on. There is of course Brayden batter between buddies that is amusing. There is longing, pretty instant, pretty overpowering. There is of course a barrier and I think Brayden has shown really well what the cost of that could or should be, emotionally. There can be a tendency in some novels for the barrier to be we can’t, we shouldn’t, we did. And the changes take place as quickly as reading that sentence. Time wise, in this book is has been quite quick but at least we are seeing the emotional road.
At the beginning I was enjoying the book but not all in. Just under 40% there was a pivotal incident that moved me further in. Well done Brayden. I read the incident through one mains eyes, but the next scene I could feel when we saw impact. Well set up!
I grew in to the book. I loved that there were not silly misunderstandings. That a conversation that had to be had, while delayed, did happen and did happen organically.
There is of course a barrier and I enjoyed the reality of the way it was overcome. The book started a 3, progressed to a 3.5 and ended up a four…. Slow and steady did win the race!
April 29, 2026
I adore Melissa Brayden, that’s more than a fact at this point.
I really enjoyed Make Your Move, I’m always a sucker for age gap and sports romances. The chemistry was electric from the start. I would have NEVER recovered from Reese’s first attempt at flirting, I would have simply crawled in a hole and died. The development of their relationship was so beautifully written and I loved that their communication was always mature, supportive and understanding. We support healthy communication as much as we love a little miscommunication.
The conflict resolution, for me, felt a bit too easy but I was very surprised when that sudden silence and distance was present and no conversation to go along with it.
The Starting Grid might be my new favorite friend group and I hope we get each of their stories along with Veronica’s.
Thank you to Melissa Brayden and Luna Literary Management for providing me with an eARC.
Rated 4.5 stars
The conflict resolution, for me, felt a bit too easy but I was very surprised when that sudden silence and distance was present and no conversation to go along with it.
The Starting Grid might be my new favorite friend group and I hope we get each of their stories along with Veronica’s.
Thank you to Melissa Brayden and Luna Literary Management for providing me with an eARC.
Rated 4.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2026
5⭐️
I knew I was going to love this the moment I saw it was a lesbian F1 romance.
Reese is aspiring to become an F1 driver and joins an academy created to help bridge more women into the sport. That’s where she meets Sloan, a mentor for the new racing academy who retired from F1 years ago.
I literally couldn’t put it down. There was a great balance between racing action and romance. I also really enjoyed the side characters.
Can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I knew I was going to love this the moment I saw it was a lesbian F1 romance.
Reese is aspiring to become an F1 driver and joins an academy created to help bridge more women into the sport. That’s where she meets Sloan, a mentor for the new racing academy who retired from F1 years ago.
I literally couldn’t put it down. There was a great balance between racing action and romance. I also really enjoyed the side characters.
Can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 10, 2026
Meh… I was bored with this one
June 21, 2026
4.25/5 stars
considering how much i was disappointed by another melissa brayden book, this one is a pleasant surprise because woooooo the tension, the dynamic, the sweet moments, the friendship aspect, they're being executed quite well here
considering how much i was disappointed by another melissa brayden book, this one is a pleasant surprise because woooooo the tension, the dynamic, the sweet moments, the friendship aspect, they're being executed quite well here
May 14, 2026
I loved this tho it might not appeal to everyone. I'm an F1 fan anyway and motorsport is such a rare topic for romance books.
We have Reese the young rookie trying to prove herself. Sloane the veteran who was forced out by a bad crash and suffers ptsd.
When they both join the same team Sloane becomes Reese's mentor but they both want something more. The chemistry, banter and spice is really well developed.
The other characters, fellow drivers helped add to the storyline. But always in the background is the tension and danger of race day. Sloane's fear for Reese is affecting everything.
Fast paced story and overall a sweet enjoyable read. And there will be a book two following Sloane n Reese on their journey.
We have Reese the young rookie trying to prove herself. Sloane the veteran who was forced out by a bad crash and suffers ptsd.
When they both join the same team Sloane becomes Reese's mentor but they both want something more. The chemistry, banter and spice is really well developed.
The other characters, fellow drivers helped add to the storyline. But always in the background is the tension and danger of race day. Sloane's fear for Reese is affecting everything.
Fast paced story and overall a sweet enjoyable read. And there will be a book two following Sloane n Reese on their journey.
June 18, 2026
I always enjoy Melissa Brayden's novels and Make Your Move is a fun and romantic tale.
I learn something in all of her novels, but usually it is about wine or baking or something like that lol. Make Your Move is all about female racecar drivers and I know nothing about the racing sport! But Brayden makes it all fun and interesting. And, of course, she peppers the whole book with spice and attraction and seriously hot FF romance.
Fans of Melissa Brayden will like this one.
an advanced readers copy of Make Your Move was provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
I learn something in all of her novels, but usually it is about wine or baking or something like that lol. Make Your Move is all about female racecar drivers and I know nothing about the racing sport! But Brayden makes it all fun and interesting. And, of course, she peppers the whole book with spice and attraction and seriously hot FF romance.
Fans of Melissa Brayden will like this one.
an advanced readers copy of Make Your Move was provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
June 22, 2026
wish I could blame it on my depression but I fear this was just boring as hell.
May 4, 2026
I’m not into motorsports at all, but I do love Melissa Brayden’s books, so I was really curious to see how this reading experience would turn out.
In the end, it was solid but not outstanding. The story worked, the characters were enjoyable, and although I was a bit worried about the racing aspect, it never felt overwhelming or off-putting. Still, the overall experience came across as somewhat average. I love it when a book pulls me completely into the flow—when I just can’t stop reading. Not always practical, I know, but incredibly satisfying. Unfortunately, that never quite happened here.
My rational side says this deserves a solid 4 stars, but emotionally I can’t quite go beyond 3.5. Rounded up, though, it still lands at 4 stars.
In the end, it was solid but not outstanding. The story worked, the characters were enjoyable, and although I was a bit worried about the racing aspect, it never felt overwhelming or off-putting. Still, the overall experience came across as somewhat average. I love it when a book pulls me completely into the flow—when I just can’t stop reading. Not always practical, I know, but incredibly satisfying. Unfortunately, that never quite happened here.
My rational side says this deserves a solid 4 stars, but emotionally I can’t quite go beyond 3.5. Rounded up, though, it still lands at 4 stars.
May 18, 2026
4.25 stars
May 4, 2026
4.5
from now on, i'm going to need every sports romance to be sapphic, thank you so much.
this was SO GOOD! i love the setting that was created, the academy for women drivers, making space and opportunities for them to join f1. i love reading about ambitious women, especially when they're passionate about something that's male-dominated, and this story gave it to me tenfold.
reese and slone were both amazing main characters, individually and together. the pacing of their love story felt so natural and so good to read—even when they got together and there were still some struggles to overcome. it was beautiful, fun, emotional, sexy, everything you might need in a romance.
but my favorite part was the starting grid. from the soho loft series, i knew melissa brayden could write a friend group like nobody's business, but getting to read about this friend group being formed and growing close, and creating that bond we seek in found family stories... oh it was the absolute best.
i grew attached to all of these characters so much (including ronnie, of course!) and so fast i'm honestly feeling a little bit empty inside that everything about these people available to be read, i've already done it. if this whole series was out already, you bet i would've binge-read it in a week.
i'm counting down the days where i will be able to revisit this world and these girls and get to see more of the crew getting their own happily ever afters. i can't wait to see what story is coming next!
(cassidy, you are my favorite! you're my baby! i've adopted you!)
ARC kindly provided by luna literary.
from now on, i'm going to need every sports romance to be sapphic, thank you so much.
this was SO GOOD! i love the setting that was created, the academy for women drivers, making space and opportunities for them to join f1. i love reading about ambitious women, especially when they're passionate about something that's male-dominated, and this story gave it to me tenfold.
reese and slone were both amazing main characters, individually and together. the pacing of their love story felt so natural and so good to read—even when they got together and there were still some struggles to overcome. it was beautiful, fun, emotional, sexy, everything you might need in a romance.
but my favorite part was the starting grid. from the soho loft series, i knew melissa brayden could write a friend group like nobody's business, but getting to read about this friend group being formed and growing close, and creating that bond we seek in found family stories... oh it was the absolute best.
i grew attached to all of these characters so much (including ronnie, of course!) and so fast i'm honestly feeling a little bit empty inside that everything about these people available to be read, i've already done it. if this whole series was out already, you bet i would've binge-read it in a week.
i'm counting down the days where i will be able to revisit this world and these girls and get to see more of the crew getting their own happily ever afters. i can't wait to see what story is coming next!
(cassidy, you are my favorite! you're my baby! i've adopted you!)
ARC kindly provided by luna literary.
Read
April 27, 2026F1… definitely not my sport. To be honest, no racing or driving really holds my attention. I couldn’t care less.
That being said, I did like this book, despite all the racing.
If we look at the F1/ racing as just a job and forget about the noise it makes, how irritated I get by it, this is a very nice love story. It has many strong female characters, all different, all layered and big personalities. I like it. Our romance starts with a VERY poor pick up line and it is funny. It’s great how these characters, both mains and secondary, help each other grow and evolve. They give each other perspective, room to grow, and lo and behold communication. The thing that’s so rare in these sapphic books, glad to see it in this book. We’re all grown women, we do know how to communicate.
Even if you don’t like F1, like me, this is still worth picking up. I’m looking forward to book 2 in the series.
That being said, I did like this book, despite all the racing.
If we look at the F1/ racing as just a job and forget about the noise it makes, how irritated I get by it, this is a very nice love story. It has many strong female characters, all different, all layered and big personalities. I like it. Our romance starts with a VERY poor pick up line and it is funny. It’s great how these characters, both mains and secondary, help each other grow and evolve. They give each other perspective, room to grow, and lo and behold communication. The thing that’s so rare in these sapphic books, glad to see it in this book. We’re all grown women, we do know how to communicate.
Even if you don’t like F1, like me, this is still worth picking up. I’m looking forward to book 2 in the series.
May 9, 2026
What a fabulous book! I knew nothing about F1 racing, but now I'm intrigued! We meet Reese an up and coming F2 driver who meets Sloane an F1 legend. Sloane has been hired by Formula Next Academy as a mentor to all the up and coming female drivers. Which includes Reese. When Reese and Sloane are together they can't help the feelings they both get! But also, Sloane is helping Reese's driving. They're attraction to one another grows as Reese's star rises.
I really LOVE THIS BOOK! The intimate scenes are intense and HOT! Whether you love F1 racing or not this book will hold your interest and you'll learn something too. Definitely 5 stars!
I really LOVE THIS BOOK! The intimate scenes are intense and HOT! Whether you love F1 racing or not this book will hold your interest and you'll learn something too. Definitely 5 stars!
Did Not Finish
April 28, 2026So sad that I DNF'd this one - the premise was amazing (I'm totally in my F1 era, and throw sapphic into the mix?!), but something fell flat with the execution for me.
I think for me, too much telling, not enough showing, in need of a possible extra edit, and just... idk. Did not tick any of the boxes I had hoped it would.
I think for me, too much telling, not enough showing, in need of a possible extra edit, and just... idk. Did not tick any of the boxes I had hoped it would.
April 21, 2026
While I was reading this book, I literally turned to my wife and told her in an alternate universe, I’m a driver and she’s an engineer.
I finished Make Your Move last night and can’t stop thinking about it. I already wish I could go back and experience this book for the first time again.
As usual, Melissa’s writing is immaculate. I’m not sure I can think of another author who writes banter so well—and not just between the main characters, but a room of four or more of them.
The meet-cute had me laughing so hard. I think it’s probably my favorite book meet-cute to-date. Reese is as goofy as she is sexy and it shows. Sloane is a simp who sucks at pretending to be an ice queen. The tension between these two is insane and while it’s a slow burn, it didn’t take the entire book (thank god).
If you love spice, this one definitely has you covered. I loved the spicy scenes as much as I loved the racing scenes…which, by the way, will have you holding your freaking breath.
Then, of course, the friendships throughout this book are top freaking tier. I cannot wait for the rest of the books in this series.
Needless to say, I’m obsessed and it may only be April, but this is my favorite book of the year.
I finished Make Your Move last night and can’t stop thinking about it. I already wish I could go back and experience this book for the first time again.
As usual, Melissa’s writing is immaculate. I’m not sure I can think of another author who writes banter so well—and not just between the main characters, but a room of four or more of them.
The meet-cute had me laughing so hard. I think it’s probably my favorite book meet-cute to-date. Reese is as goofy as she is sexy and it shows. Sloane is a simp who sucks at pretending to be an ice queen. The tension between these two is insane and while it’s a slow burn, it didn’t take the entire book (thank god).
If you love spice, this one definitely has you covered. I loved the spicy scenes as much as I loved the racing scenes…which, by the way, will have you holding your freaking breath.
Then, of course, the friendships throughout this book are top freaking tier. I cannot wait for the rest of the books in this series.
Needless to say, I’m obsessed and it may only be April, but this is my favorite book of the year.
April 24, 2026
This book had me hooked from the first lap 🏁
Make Your Move delivers everything I want in a sapphic sports romance. Ambition, tension, and a relationship that walks a very fine line between professional and personal. Reese is all confidence and instinct, while Sloane is controlled and closed off, and watching those walls slowly come down was so satisfying.
The mentor and mentee dynamic adds that perfect forbidden edge, and the chemistry is there from the start. Every interaction feels loaded, especially in those quieter moments away from the track. The racing world adds intensity, but the emotional stakes are what really pull you in.
I also loved the friend group and the sense of community around Reese. It balances out the pressure and gives the story warmth alongside the angst.
If you are into sapphic romance, age gap dynamics, and high pressure settings with real emotional payoff, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Already need book two 😭
Make Your Move delivers everything I want in a sapphic sports romance. Ambition, tension, and a relationship that walks a very fine line between professional and personal. Reese is all confidence and instinct, while Sloane is controlled and closed off, and watching those walls slowly come down was so satisfying.
The mentor and mentee dynamic adds that perfect forbidden edge, and the chemistry is there from the start. Every interaction feels loaded, especially in those quieter moments away from the track. The racing world adds intensity, but the emotional stakes are what really pull you in.
I also loved the friend group and the sense of community around Reese. It balances out the pressure and gives the story warmth alongside the angst.
If you are into sapphic romance, age gap dynamics, and high pressure settings with real emotional payoff, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Already need book two 😭
May 5, 2026
A huge thank you to Melissa Brayden for providing an ARC of Make Your Move in exchange for review.
First of all: wow. I will have to admit I was a little hesitant going into this book - I absolutely love watching Formula 1 with my friends, and over the past few years have developed pretty strong opinions about the sport. I need not have worried! It is so, so obvious just from the first few chapters that the author really did her research with regard to racing, the different series, and how her main character Reese Maddox could move up into the world of F1.
I absolutely loved Reese as a character. She's fiery, a little hotheaded, and extremely competitive, which all make her compelling - and she has the bravado to match it, which makes her a fantastic romance protagonist. While this book doesn't go into the small details of superlicence points and the like, Reese has a very believable career progression: she goes from karts, to working her way through the feeder series, and then after some drama in F2 ends up in Formula Next, which is this universe's answer to the F1 Academy. Reese is so passionate about racing that it is so obvious that on the track is where she belongs, and this makes for some nice conflict with her love interest, Sloane.
I enjoyed the exploration of trauma and mental health that this novel did with our other protagonist, the driver-turned-mentor Sloane Foster. Sloane is driven, practical, and a little bit of a perfectionist. So when she can't control her anxiety when it comes to racing...well, there's a bit of a clash. But Melissa Brayden handles it with such care and compassion, it really makes Sloane and her struggles feel real. At no point is Sloane judged or brought down by her very real ordeal in being trackside again.
This book has quite a few laugh-out-loud moments (especially when The Starting Grid, Reese's best friends from Formula next, are involved) and also some incredibly heartwrenching, edge-of-your-seat moments. It was exactly what I'm searching for in a sapphic romance: a nice balance of actual plot while still containing the perfect romantic elements. Honestly, the plot involving Reese's racing career was so good, sometimes I wanted a little less of the romance! Okay, I'm kidding about that, mostly. But this is a damn good story, and it's so well told.
The final pages indicate this is the first in a series. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book. I want to know what else The Starting Grid are getting up to, I want some more peeks in at Reese and Sloane's life together, and I really, really want to see how Cassidy is doing in future books. She was easily my favourite character.
I loved this and I cannot wait to pick up more of Melissa Brayden's books.
First of all: wow. I will have to admit I was a little hesitant going into this book - I absolutely love watching Formula 1 with my friends, and over the past few years have developed pretty strong opinions about the sport. I need not have worried! It is so, so obvious just from the first few chapters that the author really did her research with regard to racing, the different series, and how her main character Reese Maddox could move up into the world of F1.
I absolutely loved Reese as a character. She's fiery, a little hotheaded, and extremely competitive, which all make her compelling - and she has the bravado to match it, which makes her a fantastic romance protagonist. While this book doesn't go into the small details of superlicence points and the like, Reese has a very believable career progression: she goes from karts, to working her way through the feeder series, and then after some drama in F2 ends up in Formula Next, which is this universe's answer to the F1 Academy. Reese is so passionate about racing that it is so obvious that on the track is where she belongs, and this makes for some nice conflict with her love interest, Sloane.
I enjoyed the exploration of trauma and mental health that this novel did with our other protagonist, the driver-turned-mentor Sloane Foster. Sloane is driven, practical, and a little bit of a perfectionist. So when she can't control her anxiety when it comes to racing...well, there's a bit of a clash. But Melissa Brayden handles it with such care and compassion, it really makes Sloane and her struggles feel real. At no point is Sloane judged or brought down by her very real ordeal in being trackside again.
This book has quite a few laugh-out-loud moments (especially when The Starting Grid, Reese's best friends from Formula next, are involved) and also some incredibly heartwrenching, edge-of-your-seat moments. It was exactly what I'm searching for in a sapphic romance: a nice balance of actual plot while still containing the perfect romantic elements. Honestly, the plot involving Reese's racing career was so good, sometimes I wanted a little less of the romance! Okay, I'm kidding about that, mostly. But this is a damn good story, and it's so well told.
The final pages indicate this is the first in a series. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book. I want to know what else The Starting Grid are getting up to, I want some more peeks in at Reese and Sloane's life together, and I really, really want to see how Cassidy is doing in future books. She was easily my favourite character.
I loved this and I cannot wait to pick up more of Melissa Brayden's books.
June 17, 2026
Make your move is, on paper and summary, a beautiful and amazing book concept/plot/premises. what’s not to love and be excited about, when it comes to a book about fantasy F1 Academy with romance, which by the way, the all woman f1 racing league in this book exist, and it’s somehow even more iconic in real life, especially with their partnerships, please go check it out.
Sadly however and truly sadly to slowly find out, that this book falls short in just about every aspect, with the exception for smut and those are great, but with the rest of the book, characters, plots and more being so mind-boggling and hair pulling tedious! It’s honestly hard to come to the conclusion this is a 1-star given how much I wanted to love this, but my two-star books are honestly more interesting. I did want to really love this book, being a huge Formula One nerd and big on woman literature, in the end the book did not hold up, I was dredging and dragging reading it almost every page. It’s 400 pages, and it mostly only uses race day as setting? Not enough moments happening outside race days, there are some in bed and between intimate moments, but we can’t have only the sex or driver POV being the interesting part. Perhaps the book is meant for a different person, but for me, it failed to engage and felt boring for pretty much all of the book. I need to bring a special attention at how awful and more cringy than a hallmark movie and tumbler post rolled together that epilogue was, holy cornball that was awful, a little cringy but fell good moment can easily be done right, but there’s a limit, and we passed it 100 miles ago.
Hard to recommend just for the f1 stuff with this being so long, but if you’re a diehard fan of racing and insist on reading, the race moments are at least written well and the romance has its moments, on top of the very cute friend group moments, just be ready for a lot of boring pages.
Thank you so very much for both NetGalley and Brayden StoryWorks for allowing me the privilege of reading it early.
Sadly however and truly sadly to slowly find out, that this book falls short in just about every aspect, with the exception for smut and those are great, but with the rest of the book, characters, plots and more being so mind-boggling and hair pulling tedious! It’s honestly hard to come to the conclusion this is a 1-star given how much I wanted to love this, but my two-star books are honestly more interesting. I did want to really love this book, being a huge Formula One nerd and big on woman literature, in the end the book did not hold up, I was dredging and dragging reading it almost every page. It’s 400 pages, and it mostly only uses race day as setting? Not enough moments happening outside race days, there are some in bed and between intimate moments, but we can’t have only the sex or driver POV being the interesting part. Perhaps the book is meant for a different person, but for me, it failed to engage and felt boring for pretty much all of the book. I need to bring a special attention at how awful and more cringy than a hallmark movie and tumbler post rolled together that epilogue was, holy cornball that was awful, a little cringy but fell good moment can easily be done right, but there’s a limit, and we passed it 100 miles ago.
Hard to recommend just for the f1 stuff with this being so long, but if you’re a diehard fan of racing and insist on reading, the race moments are at least written well and the romance has its moments, on top of the very cute friend group moments, just be ready for a lot of boring pages.
Thank you so very much for both NetGalley and Brayden StoryWorks for allowing me the privilege of reading it early.
June 18, 2026
Overall, I have mixed feelings about this one.
I was excited about it since it's the first sapphic racing romance I've come across. I liked the premise so I was looking forward to it.
At first, I didn't love Reese but she grew incredibly well as the story went along. I liked Sloane and I enjoyed that MB added some history with her in the sport, it did make the depth of the characters feel realistic.
The racing stuff was a little hit and miss for me. Some of it worked and some of it didn't. Which feels like the norm for me at this point. (I think a lot of these feel like authors who watched Drive to Survive and used that as their only research to the sport)
The romance wasn't my favorite, I didn't feel the connection very strongly between them, more like it was a forced thing sometimes. Then there was a lot of sex once it happened the first time, and I think it kind of took away from the story a little bit once we shifted focus to just having sex. There didn't seem to be much on page depth growth for the couple, more just telling us they did.
That said, it still went well and I did enjoy it.
I was excited about it since it's the first sapphic racing romance I've come across. I liked the premise so I was looking forward to it.
At first, I didn't love Reese but she grew incredibly well as the story went along. I liked Sloane and I enjoyed that MB added some history with her in the sport, it did make the depth of the characters feel realistic.
The racing stuff was a little hit and miss for me. Some of it worked and some of it didn't. Which feels like the norm for me at this point. (I think a lot of these feel like authors who watched Drive to Survive and used that as their only research to the sport)
The romance wasn't my favorite, I didn't feel the connection very strongly between them, more like it was a forced thing sometimes. Then there was a lot of sex once it happened the first time, and I think it kind of took away from the story a little bit once we shifted focus to just having sex. There didn't seem to be much on page depth growth for the couple, more just telling us they did.
That said, it still went well and I did enjoy it.
June 7, 2026
Thank you, Luna Literary, for the arc! Sorry for being late!!
I adore the depiction of a healthy relationship in this novel. This book spends the necessary time to build up the emotional connection necessary for a relationship to work. Rather than just being some tropes in a trench coat, this sapphic pairing is treated with the same amount of effort and dedication hetero pairings get.
I also love how both characters have their own friends and support network, thriving because of the love they give and receive to those around them.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for anything else Brayden will write.
I adore the depiction of a healthy relationship in this novel. This book spends the necessary time to build up the emotional connection necessary for a relationship to work. Rather than just being some tropes in a trench coat, this sapphic pairing is treated with the same amount of effort and dedication hetero pairings get.
I also love how both characters have their own friends and support network, thriving because of the love they give and receive to those around them.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for anything else Brayden will write.
May 31, 2026
(rounded up from 4.5)
As expected from Brayden, this was a fantastic and low-angst romance with compelling characters and a great emotional arc for both main characters.
I don't normally care about racing, but Brayden does an excellent job of conveying the excitement of the races and the drive (heh) behind the young hopefuls and also the more experienced people organising the Formula Next program. The side characters are also delightful and fun and I'm pretty sure Cassidy is going to be the next one getting a story in this series and I am very much looking forward to it!
As expected from Brayden, this was a fantastic and low-angst romance with compelling characters and a great emotional arc for both main characters.
I don't normally care about racing, but Brayden does an excellent job of conveying the excitement of the races and the drive (heh) behind the young hopefuls and also the more experienced people organising the Formula Next program. The side characters are also delightful and fun and I'm pretty sure Cassidy is going to be the next one getting a story in this series and I am very much looking forward to it!
May 4, 2026
i like that we keep it real and don’t have a rookie miraculously getting p1s but the angst was not up to speed (pardon the pun)
May 30, 2026
Okay this book is feeling in the 3 star range for me but that’s probably because I read it at a time when I was too busy and kept having to read it inch by inch which always makes the story feel disjointed, SO I’m marking it as 4 stars and one day I’ll do a re-read and who knows maybe it’ll be 5!!
May 28, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and Melissa Brayden for this fantastic ARC. I am happy to share my honest review.
I was beyond excited to get my hands on an early copy of Meliissa Brayden’s newest book! I've become a huge fan and this book is another example of why. The cover of this book caught my eye right away! Great cover art with adorable characters and one is wearing racing gear! I've never read a sapphic romance that centers around car racing and jumped at it. Truth be told, I don’t know a thing about racing but I just had a hunch that the high octane adrenaline filled world of racing would be a fun world to visit…I was right. Make Your Move was full of fast cars, inconvenient feelings and one very sweet sapphic romance. I was glued to each and every page from beginning to end. I fell in love right along with Sloan and Reese and was absolutely charmed by their story.
I really don't know anything about Formula 1 racing but this book enthralled me so much that I have to say I am eager to learn more about the sport and specifically about women racers. The racing components were just a blast and done to perfection. Brayden teaches just enough about racing to keep interested and describes the races in such a way that I felt totally engrossed in it. The story really is a love story at its core and that is what I wanted and expected. We meet Reese, a hot shot race car driver on her rise to total stardom. She is good and she knows it. So maybe she is a little cocky and sort of arrogant? Life has a way of knocking you down a peg or two. But Reese is also charming, sweet and full of ambition. She was a hoot and it was really satisfying to watch her grow into a better racer and a better person. Sloan is a former F1 car racing driver and she was among the best to drive. A crash has forced her from behind the wheel and into coaching but she remains a legend. She is kind and a bit guarded. Her traumatic rash is more than just her backstory, it shapes how she lives and definitely her relationship with Reese.
Reese and Sloan initially meet when Reese doesn't recognize Sloan for the racing legend she is and attempts to shamelessly flirt with her at the bar. She uses her good looks and charming smile to school Sloan about the world of racing only to discover she is talking to the woman who could teach her a thing or two. It was very fun to read and had me smiling wide. They embark on a coach and driver relationship but it's clear to see they are destined for so much more. The power dynamic is tricky because technically Sloan is in charge and can have a huge influence on Reese's future racing career. I loved this delicious push and pull dynamic that adds a forbidden aspect. I very much enjoyed the tension between Sloan and Reese as it just made every lingering look so much more loaded. The romance builds slowly and that works so well within the storyline of the book. I went in thinking that Sloan would be the one to help Reese excel and she definitely does. But the even more rewarding part of the story is to see how Reese helps Sloan to lower her defenses and allow herself the possibility of more. Their quieter moments when they are more real with one another are the ones that truly made the story for me. I just love steamy romantic interludes and I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the spicier moments were done to perfection.
Melissa Brayden delivers a wonderful character driven romance full of wonderful world building. I just loved the racing aspect and how Brayden immerses us in it so much more than I thought I would. The writing is clean, satisfying and straightforward which results in an entertaining read. I loved the dialogue so much. The banter and conversation between Reese and Sloan felt so natural and made me believe in them. Brayden created characters that I liked and grew to really care about. They are deep and complex women with so much love to give. What Sloan and Reese find within each other is what we all strive to find, joy, peace, unconditional acceptance and love. I enjoyed the use of humor to create levity while never shying away from the deeper emotions. This book focuses on the electric chemistry and deep connection that follows. The writing style Brayden employs makes for a book that I couldn't put down.
Make Your Move was so good! I would recommend it if you are looking for a really great sapphic romance with so much to love. A fantastic foray into the world of women's racing with a sweet and sexy love story to boot.
I was beyond excited to get my hands on an early copy of Meliissa Brayden’s newest book! I've become a huge fan and this book is another example of why. The cover of this book caught my eye right away! Great cover art with adorable characters and one is wearing racing gear! I've never read a sapphic romance that centers around car racing and jumped at it. Truth be told, I don’t know a thing about racing but I just had a hunch that the high octane adrenaline filled world of racing would be a fun world to visit…I was right. Make Your Move was full of fast cars, inconvenient feelings and one very sweet sapphic romance. I was glued to each and every page from beginning to end. I fell in love right along with Sloan and Reese and was absolutely charmed by their story.
I really don't know anything about Formula 1 racing but this book enthralled me so much that I have to say I am eager to learn more about the sport and specifically about women racers. The racing components were just a blast and done to perfection. Brayden teaches just enough about racing to keep interested and describes the races in such a way that I felt totally engrossed in it. The story really is a love story at its core and that is what I wanted and expected. We meet Reese, a hot shot race car driver on her rise to total stardom. She is good and she knows it. So maybe she is a little cocky and sort of arrogant? Life has a way of knocking you down a peg or two. But Reese is also charming, sweet and full of ambition. She was a hoot and it was really satisfying to watch her grow into a better racer and a better person. Sloan is a former F1 car racing driver and she was among the best to drive. A crash has forced her from behind the wheel and into coaching but she remains a legend. She is kind and a bit guarded. Her traumatic rash is more than just her backstory, it shapes how she lives and definitely her relationship with Reese.
Reese and Sloan initially meet when Reese doesn't recognize Sloan for the racing legend she is and attempts to shamelessly flirt with her at the bar. She uses her good looks and charming smile to school Sloan about the world of racing only to discover she is talking to the woman who could teach her a thing or two. It was very fun to read and had me smiling wide. They embark on a coach and driver relationship but it's clear to see they are destined for so much more. The power dynamic is tricky because technically Sloan is in charge and can have a huge influence on Reese's future racing career. I loved this delicious push and pull dynamic that adds a forbidden aspect. I very much enjoyed the tension between Sloan and Reese as it just made every lingering look so much more loaded. The romance builds slowly and that works so well within the storyline of the book. I went in thinking that Sloan would be the one to help Reese excel and she definitely does. But the even more rewarding part of the story is to see how Reese helps Sloan to lower her defenses and allow herself the possibility of more. Their quieter moments when they are more real with one another are the ones that truly made the story for me. I just love steamy romantic interludes and I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the spicier moments were done to perfection.
Melissa Brayden delivers a wonderful character driven romance full of wonderful world building. I just loved the racing aspect and how Brayden immerses us in it so much more than I thought I would. The writing is clean, satisfying and straightforward which results in an entertaining read. I loved the dialogue so much. The banter and conversation between Reese and Sloan felt so natural and made me believe in them. Brayden created characters that I liked and grew to really care about. They are deep and complex women with so much love to give. What Sloan and Reese find within each other is what we all strive to find, joy, peace, unconditional acceptance and love. I enjoyed the use of humor to create levity while never shying away from the deeper emotions. This book focuses on the electric chemistry and deep connection that follows. The writing style Brayden employs makes for a book that I couldn't put down.
Make Your Move was so good! I would recommend it if you are looking for a really great sapphic romance with so much to love. A fantastic foray into the world of women's racing with a sweet and sexy love story to boot.
May 12, 2026
This book was disappointing. If you're looking for romance, it's been replaced with hookups. If you're looking for racing, it's more of a setting. This is a work place story where HR doesn't care that someone in a supervisory position is hooking up with someone they are supposed to mentor.
Reese and Sloane's romance is more insta-lust than romance. Their romance consisted of them realizing the other was hot, then impulsively kissing while stuck in an elevator for a very short time, and hooking up after a corporate event. And then hooking up whenever they are near each other, even in the driver's room on a race weekend. Eventually they declare love for each other, but it's hard to tell why other than the hot sex with someone they find hot.
The racing aspect of the book was also disappointing, because Reese is a Mary Sue in the car. She starts the book as a rogue brash driver, basically so she can get fired from F2. But after one session with her hot mentor, she proceeds to win every single race in this development racing series. Zero struggles.
Reese wins her first race while passing while the safety car was deployed, but she doesn't get the 10 second penalty or two points on her license. (The author places a convenient accident that requires a safety car near the end of the race so Reece can get a cheap pitstop for fresh tires. But she doesn't end the safety car, so Reese breaks a big driving rule and should've been penalized.) After the first win, the racing scenes are relegated to the background as the rest of her races are mentioned basically only to tell us that she won.
Because she has to win a lot so that she can be pulled up to F1 to be a reserve driver after FIVE races in an academy series that is most similar to Formula 4. We see a little more racing here, but mostly to show us that even though Reese is feeling challenged in F1, she's still Mary Sue in the car.
In terms of characters, the MCs were boring and their voices were too similar to tell apart. Several times I had to backtrack to the start of the chapter to see which character was the focus. Sloane was likeable, and the more interesting of the two MCs. She had a complicated background and was dealing with demons that unfortunately, we didn't get to experience her purge, because the book is mostly about Reese.
Reese was the most unlikeable character in the book. Behind the wheel, she is level headed 100 % team player. Out of the car, she's a fifteen year old. She cannot have a serious conversation without making a weird, inappropriate, or snarky comment. Maybe her jokes were meant to be charming but they just come off as immature, bad pick-up lines. And she is so bad at flirting. Cringe bad. She knows it, but continues with the unfunny commentary, even when the situation would welcome a serious conversation. She basically makes no emotional growth until almost the very end of the book.
But when it comes to Sloane, she becomes a red flag. When a fellow driver says something about her sleeping with Sloane to get in her head, Reese reacts like a cavewoman:
“You don’t get to say her name.”
- Before almost getting into a fist fight with the other driver.
And later, when recalling the incident with Sloane, she delivers a high school worthy line...
“But when she said your name? No. Not gonna happen.”
-After getting berated by her team principal for almost getting into a physical fight. Were they deep into their 'relationship'? No. Both of these incidents happened after they hooked up the first time.
This could've been less cringey is Reese had been a stubborn hot head throughout the book. But she's not. She uses immature humor to deflect criticism and to avoid conflict and to avoid talking about her feelings, and a Mary Sue in the car.
Sloane is supposed to be over a decade older, but for some reason finds all of this acceptable. Whatever. Sloane is dealing with her own issues. She has serious PTSD from a crash where she was trapped in her burning race car and has never had therapy to deal with it. Thank goodness Reese is there to teach her calming breathing techniques to help calm her down when she has panic attacks.
The 3ABU was no surprise, neither was Reese's fall from Mary Sue status while they were separated. Sloane finally goes to therapy and is cured after 3 weeks because Reese cannot drive without Sloane at the track. Sloane reunites with Reese, who transforms back into Mary Sue.
Reese and Sloane's romance is more insta-lust than romance. Their romance consisted of them realizing the other was hot, then impulsively kissing while stuck in an elevator for a very short time, and hooking up after a corporate event. And then hooking up whenever they are near each other, even in the driver's room on a race weekend. Eventually they declare love for each other, but it's hard to tell why other than the hot sex with someone they find hot.
The racing aspect of the book was also disappointing, because Reese is a Mary Sue in the car. She starts the book as a rogue brash driver, basically so she can get fired from F2. But after one session with her hot mentor, she proceeds to win every single race in this development racing series. Zero struggles.
Reese wins her first race while passing while the safety car was deployed, but she doesn't get the 10 second penalty or two points on her license. (The author places a convenient accident that requires a safety car near the end of the race so Reece can get a cheap pitstop for fresh tires. But she doesn't end the safety car, so Reese breaks a big driving rule and should've been penalized.) After the first win, the racing scenes are relegated to the background as the rest of her races are mentioned basically only to tell us that she won.
Because she has to win a lot so that she can be pulled up to F1 to be a reserve driver after FIVE races in an academy series that is most similar to Formula 4. We see a little more racing here, but mostly to show us that even though Reese is feeling challenged in F1, she's still Mary Sue in the car.
In terms of characters, the MCs were boring and their voices were too similar to tell apart. Several times I had to backtrack to the start of the chapter to see which character was the focus. Sloane was likeable, and the more interesting of the two MCs. She had a complicated background and was dealing with demons that unfortunately, we didn't get to experience her purge, because the book is mostly about Reese.
Reese was the most unlikeable character in the book. Behind the wheel, she is level headed 100 % team player. Out of the car, she's a fifteen year old. She cannot have a serious conversation without making a weird, inappropriate, or snarky comment. Maybe her jokes were meant to be charming but they just come off as immature, bad pick-up lines. And she is so bad at flirting. Cringe bad. She knows it, but continues with the unfunny commentary, even when the situation would welcome a serious conversation. She basically makes no emotional growth until almost the very end of the book.
But when it comes to Sloane, she becomes a red flag. When a fellow driver says something about her sleeping with Sloane to get in her head, Reese reacts like a cavewoman:
“You don’t get to say her name.”
- Before almost getting into a fist fight with the other driver.
And later, when recalling the incident with Sloane, she delivers a high school worthy line...
“But when she said your name? No. Not gonna happen.”
-After getting berated by her team principal for almost getting into a physical fight. Were they deep into their 'relationship'? No. Both of these incidents happened after they hooked up the first time.
This could've been less cringey is Reese had been a stubborn hot head throughout the book. But she's not. She uses immature humor to deflect criticism and to avoid conflict and to avoid talking about her feelings, and a Mary Sue in the car.
Sloane is supposed to be over a decade older, but for some reason finds all of this acceptable. Whatever. Sloane is dealing with her own issues. She has serious PTSD from a crash where she was trapped in her burning race car and has never had therapy to deal with it. Thank goodness Reese is there to teach her calming breathing techniques to help calm her down when she has panic attacks.
The 3ABU was no surprise, neither was Reese's fall from Mary Sue status while they were separated. Sloane finally goes to therapy and is cured after 3 weeks because Reese cannot drive without Sloane at the track. Sloane reunites with Reese, who transforms back into Mary Sue.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews