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Flawed Formula: A Forced Proximity F1 Romance
She's the variable he never accounted for. He's the crash she can't walk away from.
Victoria
Asher Lawrence has two hostile and viciously hostile.
I’m the lucky intern who has to deal with both.
I’m building an algorithm that could put him on the podium, but Asher’s a driver who’d rather place last than admit I’m right. My work could save his career, but he doesn’t want saving; he wants me gone.
Somewhere in the middle of our war, Asher’s cruelty fades. His grumpiness softens. And the man I find underneath his prickly armor is so much more dangerous than the one who wants to get rid of me.
Now, I’m faced with the one variable I never accounted I’m falling for the surly driver with a heart of gold. He’s the flaw in my formula, and the one factor that could cost me everything.
Asher
Victoria’s a mouthy intern who won’t leave me alone. Unfortunately, she’s also completely off-limits. My career’s already hanging on by a thread; she’s a complication I can not afford.
She’s also the first person who’s ever stood in my corner without wanting something in return.
I try to keep my distance, but I can’t stop putting myself her path, and I’ve run out of excuses for why. She’s under my skin in a way I don’t have a name for and can’t seem to fix. The worst part isn’t wanting her, it’s knowing exactly what it’ll cost us both—and still not having the strength to stay away from her.
We were never supposed to happen. But in F1, the most dangerous moment isn’t the crash. It’s the split second before it, when you know it’s coming…
…And have already blown past the point of no return.
Victoria
Asher Lawrence has two hostile and viciously hostile.
I’m the lucky intern who has to deal with both.
I’m building an algorithm that could put him on the podium, but Asher’s a driver who’d rather place last than admit I’m right. My work could save his career, but he doesn’t want saving; he wants me gone.
Somewhere in the middle of our war, Asher’s cruelty fades. His grumpiness softens. And the man I find underneath his prickly armor is so much more dangerous than the one who wants to get rid of me.
Now, I’m faced with the one variable I never accounted I’m falling for the surly driver with a heart of gold. He’s the flaw in my formula, and the one factor that could cost me everything.
Asher
Victoria’s a mouthy intern who won’t leave me alone. Unfortunately, she’s also completely off-limits. My career’s already hanging on by a thread; she’s a complication I can not afford.
She’s also the first person who’s ever stood in my corner without wanting something in return.
I try to keep my distance, but I can’t stop putting myself her path, and I’ve run out of excuses for why. She’s under my skin in a way I don’t have a name for and can’t seem to fix. The worst part isn’t wanting her, it’s knowing exactly what it’ll cost us both—and still not having the strength to stay away from her.
We were never supposed to happen. But in F1, the most dangerous moment isn’t the crash. It’s the split second before it, when you know it’s coming…
…And have already blown past the point of no return.
553 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2026
About the author
Rose Gravestone
10 books69 followersRose likes to write about complex, oftentimes twisted main characters who grow stronger together on whichever journey they take. Watch out for sexy morally grey heroes and sharp, intelligent heroines within settings ranging from fantasy to academia to the underworld of organized crime.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 24, 2026
Rose Gravestone did fantastic work with this F1 racing novel. While it is a romance (and a great one), it also treats the sport with respect and a high level of knowledge. It's not just fluff. I like when we have incredibly brilliant FMCs (see Ali Hazelwood) and they are not dumbed down for a romance!
Victoria is fantastic in this one. MIT grad and intern with her mechanical engineering background and data analysis programming at the forefront of what she brings to the sport. I loved the crossover of competent (and fierce) nerd and damaged goods, angry athlete. It was very well done.
Looking forward to the next interconnected standalone in the series!
Victoria is fantastic in this one. MIT grad and intern with her mechanical engineering background and data analysis programming at the forefront of what she brings to the sport. I loved the crossover of competent (and fierce) nerd and damaged goods, angry athlete. It was very well done.
Looking forward to the next interconnected standalone in the series!
May 14, 2026
**ARC REVIEW** I have only ever read one other F1 book and although I liked it, it wasn’t like a top favorite for me. Now THIS book…I LOVED! The characters’ development and just the depth of both Asher and Victoria had me in a chokehold. Plus who doesn’t love a strong and smart FMC who gets to dominate in a male dominant career. The slow burn between Asher and Victoria kept me on my toes because their bantering was so intense you could feel the tension through the pages. And the spice? Whew did it not disappoint. I just knew that Asher was going to make my girl feral and that he did. Ultimately they both brought out the best in each other even with the baggage and insecurities that they both had.
May 19, 2026
Victoria who’s a MIT grad is now interning for the worst team on the grid. She’s an engineer - a woman in STEM is always doubted in male-dominated fields. She gets assigned to Asher - great driver, at least he used to be - resident hard ass and nobody likes him. He tried to fire her on day one.
Asher was VERY hard to like. I still didn’t really like him by the end lol. He had some issues that he needed to seek therapy for but somehow Victoria fell in love anyway. If you want something that’s gonna piss you off but keep you interested because the eventual romance was so good? This is yours.
Asher was VERY hard to like. I still didn’t really like him by the end lol. He had some issues that he needed to seek therapy for but somehow Victoria fell in love anyway. If you want something that’s gonna piss you off but keep you interested because the eventual romance was so good? This is yours.
April 5, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ I have always loved F1 romances and to find a truly good one has been harder for me. The one was definitely more enjoyable than some out there. However, certain parts just fell a little short for me.
What I loved:
- The FMC, Victoria, was a smart, capable lead. Her perspectives offered me good insight on the engineering/algorithm aspect of her job and a closer look at the behind the scenes of F1.
- The best friends— I thought both Delilah and Keith were well written and actually added to the story. They were amazing friends to Victoria and added some comic relief when needed.
- Other side characters—Hunter, Amanda, Elio. Although their parts were smaller, I’m excited to see them in other books.
What I didn’t like:
- Asher—unfortunately, he had way more negatives about him than positives. His attitude in the beginning towards Victoria was over the top and he was just an asshole. He didn’t seem to actually change throughout the book, except for the very end.
- the third act breakup— Asher continues to show he didn’t change much with the unnecessary third act breakup. I wish he didn’t act and say the things he did. I also think he didn’t grovel enough and Victoria took him back too easily.
Overall, i would recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable F1 romance. I would definitely read more from this author and this series. I’m excited to see who could be next.
I received an advanced copy of free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What I loved:
- The FMC, Victoria, was a smart, capable lead. Her perspectives offered me good insight on the engineering/algorithm aspect of her job and a closer look at the behind the scenes of F1.
- The best friends— I thought both Delilah and Keith were well written and actually added to the story. They were amazing friends to Victoria and added some comic relief when needed.
- Other side characters—Hunter, Amanda, Elio. Although their parts were smaller, I’m excited to see them in other books.
What I didn’t like:
- Asher—unfortunately, he had way more negatives about him than positives. His attitude in the beginning towards Victoria was over the top and he was just an asshole. He didn’t seem to actually change throughout the book, except for the very end.
- the third act breakup— Asher continues to show he didn’t change much with the unnecessary third act breakup. I wish he didn’t act and say the things he did. I also think he didn’t grovel enough and Victoria took him back too easily.
Overall, i would recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable F1 romance. I would definitely read more from this author and this series. I’m excited to see who could be next.
I received an advanced copy of free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 5, 2026
Thank you to Rose Gravestone and IRIS for the ebook of this story. These are my honest opinions.
Wow! I know nothing about Formula 1 racing, so I have no idea on the technical aspects of this book, but I felt like I understood at least the basics of the sport. I really loved the details of the drivers exhaustion after hours on the simulator or race track. Racing is one of those sports that people do not see as sports and I appreciated the way the author portrayed the physical strength and conditioning that the drivers complete to stay at the top of their game. This was a very fun and easy read. I finished it very quickly.
The technical data collection was also way over my head. I can only imagine the amount of research that went into making this book. Victoria was a very intelligent FMC with an amazing work ethic. I loved how much of her self she poured into her project. Anyone who has been dedicated to a goal and given it everything they had will be able to relate to her. She was a little insecure, but I loved see her friendships and how she had a support system outside of her family.
Asher (MMC) was a jerk. He was one luck dude that Victoria put up with his crap. I really did enjoy seeing his character growth and how it was imperfect. His attitude mixed with Victoria's worrying and stressing about her project made for a very entertaining read. Asher's possessive attitude was probably my favorite character trait for him. It made him feel darker and more dangerous, which was exciting. The two MCs had great chemistry and I loved how they had a consistent banter "intern" and "A**hole" were some of my favorite moments. I am a sucked for some great banter and this one definitely delivered on it. The spice was well done and I really enjoyed the "good girl" moments especially with the power imbalance.
There were two "you'll be the death of me" lines, but for me these fell very flat. There was no real risk of the MMC dying, so this line felt as if it was just to meet the desires of the readers for those moments. There were also a few typos and lines where I did need to reread for clarity. I think this one could have used one more read through, but overall this was a very enjoyable story and I enjoyed trying a different sports romance than my typical hockey stories.
Tropes:
Sports Romance
Forced Proximity
Workplace Romance
Banter
He's a jerk, she's a nerd
Quote:
We live in a rapidly evolving world, Asher. You either change with the time or get crushed by it."
"You promised to Ruin me."..."Sweetheart, it would be my F*ing pleasure"
Wow! I know nothing about Formula 1 racing, so I have no idea on the technical aspects of this book, but I felt like I understood at least the basics of the sport. I really loved the details of the drivers exhaustion after hours on the simulator or race track. Racing is one of those sports that people do not see as sports and I appreciated the way the author portrayed the physical strength and conditioning that the drivers complete to stay at the top of their game. This was a very fun and easy read. I finished it very quickly.
The technical data collection was also way over my head. I can only imagine the amount of research that went into making this book. Victoria was a very intelligent FMC with an amazing work ethic. I loved how much of her self she poured into her project. Anyone who has been dedicated to a goal and given it everything they had will be able to relate to her. She was a little insecure, but I loved see her friendships and how she had a support system outside of her family.
Asher (MMC) was a jerk. He was one luck dude that Victoria put up with his crap. I really did enjoy seeing his character growth and how it was imperfect. His attitude mixed with Victoria's worrying and stressing about her project made for a very entertaining read. Asher's possessive attitude was probably my favorite character trait for him. It made him feel darker and more dangerous, which was exciting. The two MCs had great chemistry and I loved how they had a consistent banter "intern" and "A**hole" were some of my favorite moments. I am a sucked for some great banter and this one definitely delivered on it. The spice was well done and I really enjoyed the "good girl" moments especially with the power imbalance.
There were two "you'll be the death of me" lines, but for me these fell very flat. There was no real risk of the MMC dying, so this line felt as if it was just to meet the desires of the readers for those moments. There were also a few typos and lines where I did need to reread for clarity. I think this one could have used one more read through, but overall this was a very enjoyable story and I enjoyed trying a different sports romance than my typical hockey stories.
Tropes:
Sports Romance
Forced Proximity
Workplace Romance
Banter
He's a jerk, she's a nerd
Quote:
We live in a rapidly evolving world, Asher. You either change with the time or get crushed by it."
"You promised to Ruin me."..."Sweetheart, it would be my F*ing pleasure"
May 20, 2026
Flawed Formula honestly made me even more obsessed with F1 sports romances 🏎️✨
As someone still newer to Formula 1, I really appreciated how this book felt knowledgeable and respectful toward the sport while still keeping the romance and emotional tension front and center.
Victoria and Asher had SUCH a good dynamic from the beginning.
Victoria is an MIT graduate and engineer interning for one of the worst teams on the grid, and I loved how intelligent, determined, and capable she was throughout the story. She never felt weak or overshadowed even while working in such a high-pressure environment.
Then there’s Asher…
A driver everyone seems to dislike, emotionally closed off, grumpy, and immediately trying to fire Victoria on day one 😭
Which obviously made the tension between them even better.
Their relationship development felt really natural because underneath all the hostility and resistance, there was chemistry building the entire time. Watching Asher slowly soften while Victoria continued pushing back against him made the emotional payoff so satisfying.
I also loved that the side characters actually stood out because it made the world feel bigger than just the main couple. Honestly, I’d love interconnected stories or future books featuring some of them.
The racing atmosphere, team dynamics, pressure of the sport, and emotional tension all blended together so well.
If you enjoy:
🏎️ F1 sports romance
✨ Grumpy x sunshine vibes
🤍 Forced proximity
🔥 Workplace tension
🖤 Smart & capable FMCs
🌙 Slow emotional softening
🏁 Competitive sports settings
then I definitely recommend this one.
⭐️ 4.5/5
🔥 4/5
🌶️ 3.5/5
💧 3.5/5
Thank you to Iris Influencer Society and Rose Gravestone for the ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own.
As someone still newer to Formula 1, I really appreciated how this book felt knowledgeable and respectful toward the sport while still keeping the romance and emotional tension front and center.
Victoria and Asher had SUCH a good dynamic from the beginning.
Victoria is an MIT graduate and engineer interning for one of the worst teams on the grid, and I loved how intelligent, determined, and capable she was throughout the story. She never felt weak or overshadowed even while working in such a high-pressure environment.
Then there’s Asher…
A driver everyone seems to dislike, emotionally closed off, grumpy, and immediately trying to fire Victoria on day one 😭
Which obviously made the tension between them even better.
Their relationship development felt really natural because underneath all the hostility and resistance, there was chemistry building the entire time. Watching Asher slowly soften while Victoria continued pushing back against him made the emotional payoff so satisfying.
I also loved that the side characters actually stood out because it made the world feel bigger than just the main couple. Honestly, I’d love interconnected stories or future books featuring some of them.
The racing atmosphere, team dynamics, pressure of the sport, and emotional tension all blended together so well.
If you enjoy:
🏎️ F1 sports romance
✨ Grumpy x sunshine vibes
🤍 Forced proximity
🔥 Workplace tension
🖤 Smart & capable FMCs
🌙 Slow emotional softening
🏁 Competitive sports settings
then I definitely recommend this one.
⭐️ 4.5/5
🔥 4/5
🌶️ 3.5/5
💧 3.5/5
Thank you to Iris Influencer Society and Rose Gravestone for the ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own.
May 2, 2026
I love the FMC in Flawed Formula. Victoria is smart, willing to work super hard, and is determined to not take any handouts or cave to the pressure to use her family name and clout to get ahead. Her algorithm is brilliant and a fun way to talk about women's success and brilliance in STEM, especially computer science and engineering while also giving her an in-road into Formula 1. Both are traditionally male-dominated fields that the author pushes boundaries in with Victoria's confidence and determination.
Asher was a typical egotistical, adrenaline fueled driver. He needed help and to adapt, but refused. The immediate anger from Asher at having Victoria on his team set up for a good rivals-to-lovers trope, especially with their forced proximity of the team with practices and events. Victoria standing up to Asher and showing him why she earned her place on the team was exactly what he needed.
I enjoyed Victoria's friends as support characters for her and the encouragement they gave her to pursue something with Asher and branch out socially. The family dynamics for both helped them bond and see how each could support the other beyond attraction and actually partner in all aspects of life.
I wish there hadn't been toxic elements to their relationship, and I'm not really a fan of insta-love. I'm glad other characters put Asher in his place for her negativity and anger, but overall, Victoria was better than him for sure. There was quite a lot of language and more spice than anticipated so choose accordingly!
Thanks to Iris Influencer Society and the author for this review copy in exchange for my honest review.
Asher was a typical egotistical, adrenaline fueled driver. He needed help and to adapt, but refused. The immediate anger from Asher at having Victoria on his team set up for a good rivals-to-lovers trope, especially with their forced proximity of the team with practices and events. Victoria standing up to Asher and showing him why she earned her place on the team was exactly what he needed.
I enjoyed Victoria's friends as support characters for her and the encouragement they gave her to pursue something with Asher and branch out socially. The family dynamics for both helped them bond and see how each could support the other beyond attraction and actually partner in all aspects of life.
I wish there hadn't been toxic elements to their relationship, and I'm not really a fan of insta-love. I'm glad other characters put Asher in his place for her negativity and anger, but overall, Victoria was better than him for sure. There was quite a lot of language and more spice than anticipated so choose accordingly!
Thanks to Iris Influencer Society and the author for this review copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 11, 2026
Set against the high-stakes, intensely political backdrop of professional racing, Flawed Formula by Rose Gravestine follows Asher, a driver dealing with a seemingly vindictive team and a rocky rivalry, alongside Victoria, a strong-willed intern who becomes his crucial ally.
This book is a bit of a slow burn and definitely tests your patience in the beginning. Early on, Asher is an incredibly difficult protagonist to root for, and his hostility felt a bit unearned and shallow to me. Combined with some frustratingly unfair team politics (which I know happen in real life, but still made me mad!) and a few pacing lulls, it took me a minute to fully get invested.
However, if you stick with it, the story gets so much better. The author does an amazing job weaving in the technical side of F1 without making it an overwhelming info dump. Victoria is an absolute standout and a fantastic representation of women in motorsport, bringing much needed strength to the plot. The realistic progression of the team, the eventual truce between the teammates, and Asher's character development in the second half really won me over.
It’s a bumpy but highly rewarding ride that truly does justice to the world of Formula 1. I bumped my rating up simply because the sheer enjoyment of the second half completely captured my heart!
Many thanks to IRIS and the author for the ARC! All thoughts are my honest reaction to the story.
For my full review, check out pagesofyue.com
This book is a bit of a slow burn and definitely tests your patience in the beginning. Early on, Asher is an incredibly difficult protagonist to root for, and his hostility felt a bit unearned and shallow to me. Combined with some frustratingly unfair team politics (which I know happen in real life, but still made me mad!) and a few pacing lulls, it took me a minute to fully get invested.
However, if you stick with it, the story gets so much better. The author does an amazing job weaving in the technical side of F1 without making it an overwhelming info dump. Victoria is an absolute standout and a fantastic representation of women in motorsport, bringing much needed strength to the plot. The realistic progression of the team, the eventual truce between the teammates, and Asher's character development in the second half really won me over.
It’s a bumpy but highly rewarding ride that truly does justice to the world of Formula 1. I bumped my rating up simply because the sheer enjoyment of the second half completely captured my heart!
Many thanks to IRIS and the author for the ARC! All thoughts are my honest reaction to the story.
For my full review, check out pagesofyue.com
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 ⭐️ 😁 Truly one of the best F1 romances I have read. I stayed up until 3 A.M. reading it because I just could not put it down! I loved how the relationship grew between Victoria and Asher. The F1 references and scenes may be fictional, but I truly felt like I was on the track at times with Asher and the rest of the team. I feel like this is one of the very few F1 romances out there that had women breaking barriers in the world of F1 and I loved how it was STEM focused - creating a predictive algorithm to help make racing decisions is so unique and eye opening. This book…it’s just so good. Delilah and Keith are fantastic friends to Victoria and I really liked Amanda, Elio, and Hunter even if they were in the book sparingly. The fact that there is a second book coming after this one is extremely exciting!
If you’re looking for a F1 or workplace romance with forced proximity, groveling, banter, yearning, spicy on page scenes, and grumpy vs sassy pairings, Flawed Formula is the book for you. I also highly recommend to fans of STEM centered romances such as those by Ali Hazelwood.
Cannot wait to continue this series! 🏎️💨
Thank you IRIS Influencer Society and Rose for the gifted review copy. All opinions are my own.
If you’re looking for a F1 or workplace romance with forced proximity, groveling, banter, yearning, spicy on page scenes, and grumpy vs sassy pairings, Flawed Formula is the book for you. I also highly recommend to fans of STEM centered romances such as those by Ali Hazelwood.
Cannot wait to continue this series! 🏎️💨
Thank you IRIS Influencer Society and Rose for the gifted review copy. All opinions are my own.
March 22, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author and
IRIS Influencer Society
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars
What to expect
🏁 sports romance 🏎️
🏁 forced proximity
🏁 jealous/possessive MMC
🏁 she falls first
🏁 he falls harder
🏁 great banter
This book was fantastic. I’m finding I’m really enjoying formula 1 books. They seem to hit different.
Our FMC Victoria is an intern who’s building an algorithm that could help put the drivers on the winning podium.
She gets assigned Asher our MMC he’s a grumpy, hostile and thinks he doesn’t need any help.
The tension between these two! 🤌🏽I loved watching their relationship grow. I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.
This author writes so well, very descriptive you feel like you’re in the car feeling all the feelings and just how high the stakes are for the drivers. I really loved that!
I got to chapter 29 and giggled 😉 I knew the next chapter was going to be soo good!! And boy it did not disappoint. 🔥
There were parts in this book I was on the edge of my seat reading like a mad woman trying to find out what was going to happen.
I cannot wait to continue reading more books by this author and continuing this series with the next book.
Highly recommend 😊
IRIS Influencer Society
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars
What to expect
🏁 sports romance 🏎️
🏁 forced proximity
🏁 jealous/possessive MMC
🏁 she falls first
🏁 he falls harder
🏁 great banter
This book was fantastic. I’m finding I’m really enjoying formula 1 books. They seem to hit different.
Our FMC Victoria is an intern who’s building an algorithm that could help put the drivers on the winning podium.
She gets assigned Asher our MMC he’s a grumpy, hostile and thinks he doesn’t need any help.
The tension between these two! 🤌🏽I loved watching their relationship grow. I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.
This author writes so well, very descriptive you feel like you’re in the car feeling all the feelings and just how high the stakes are for the drivers. I really loved that!
I got to chapter 29 and giggled 😉 I knew the next chapter was going to be soo good!! And boy it did not disappoint. 🔥
There were parts in this book I was on the edge of my seat reading like a mad woman trying to find out what was going to happen.
I cannot wait to continue reading more books by this author and continuing this series with the next book.
Highly recommend 😊
March 30, 2026
Let me start by saying I know nothing about F1 racing, nor am I a fan, but I am a fan of this book!
The author took something I know nothing about and made it interesting. I was on the edge of my seat during the races in the story, both for the outcome and because I was so invested in both characters.
Victoria is the new intern, brought in for the predictive racing algorithm she is building. She is smart, capable and has worked her way up through grit and determination. She has a challenging family situation that leaves her with a feeling of being unwanted and not good enough.
Asher is the bad boy driver who is set on tanking his career. But through the help of Victoria he begins to see that maybe it’s not all over for him after all.
Okay, these two are great characters. They have intensity, passion for what they do and bring raw emotion and depth to the story. This was heart tightening and gut clenching. Victoria and Asher have a great connection you can feel, sharp banter between them and a slow burn enhanced through forced proximity.
I definitely recommend this one, fan of racing or not!
Thank you to the author and Iris Influencer Society for the electronic ARC to read and review.
The author took something I know nothing about and made it interesting. I was on the edge of my seat during the races in the story, both for the outcome and because I was so invested in both characters.
Victoria is the new intern, brought in for the predictive racing algorithm she is building. She is smart, capable and has worked her way up through grit and determination. She has a challenging family situation that leaves her with a feeling of being unwanted and not good enough.
Asher is the bad boy driver who is set on tanking his career. But through the help of Victoria he begins to see that maybe it’s not all over for him after all.
Okay, these two are great characters. They have intensity, passion for what they do and bring raw emotion and depth to the story. This was heart tightening and gut clenching. Victoria and Asher have a great connection you can feel, sharp banter between them and a slow burn enhanced through forced proximity.
I definitely recommend this one, fan of racing or not!
Thank you to the author and Iris Influencer Society for the electronic ARC to read and review.
April 20, 2026
ARC Review
I love an F1 read. Fast cars, high stakes, the precision, the technical chaos, and paddock drama 🙄😅
Flawed Formula delivered, and then some with an enemies-to-lovers dynamic done well. Asher and Victoria clash immediately, and with a bang everyone hears. He’s a raging asshole. She’s a brilliant force. The tension between them? Absolutely delicious.
This is a slow burn with high heat. What I loved most? Victoria doesn’t win him over with charm. She does it with her brain. Her algorithm proves her worth, forces him to listen, and slowly dismantles his ego piece by piece. And when he finally gives in? Oh…he falls hard.
There’s a lot of technical F1 detail, but that just made it better for me. Victoria being the queen of the analysis HQ made all the data, strategy, and racing lingo feel immersive instead of overwhelming. It added another layer to the story that I genuinely enjoyed.
If you love high-stakes tension, sharp banter, and watching an arrogant man get absolutely wrecked by a brilliant woman.. Flawed Formula is for you.
Tropes:
🖤 enemies to lovers
🖤 workplace romance
🖤 forced proximity
🖤 grumpy AF MMC
🖤 nerdy but lethal FMC
🖤 F1 romance
🖤 rooting for the asshole
🖤 he falls first—and crashes hard
Thank you Rose and Booksiren for this amazing arc.
I love an F1 read. Fast cars, high stakes, the precision, the technical chaos, and paddock drama 🙄😅
Flawed Formula delivered, and then some with an enemies-to-lovers dynamic done well. Asher and Victoria clash immediately, and with a bang everyone hears. He’s a raging asshole. She’s a brilliant force. The tension between them? Absolutely delicious.
This is a slow burn with high heat. What I loved most? Victoria doesn’t win him over with charm. She does it with her brain. Her algorithm proves her worth, forces him to listen, and slowly dismantles his ego piece by piece. And when he finally gives in? Oh…he falls hard.
There’s a lot of technical F1 detail, but that just made it better for me. Victoria being the queen of the analysis HQ made all the data, strategy, and racing lingo feel immersive instead of overwhelming. It added another layer to the story that I genuinely enjoyed.
If you love high-stakes tension, sharp banter, and watching an arrogant man get absolutely wrecked by a brilliant woman.. Flawed Formula is for you.
Tropes:
🖤 enemies to lovers
🖤 workplace romance
🖤 forced proximity
🖤 grumpy AF MMC
🖤 nerdy but lethal FMC
🖤 F1 romance
🖤 rooting for the asshole
🖤 he falls first—and crashes hard
Thank you Rose and Booksiren for this amazing arc.
April 28, 2026
I've been a huge F1 for along time now but I've never read a Formula 1 (F1) or any type of racing romance before and I must say Rose Gravestone did not disappoint.
This felt as if you are behind the scenes in the paddock with our FMC and MMC. The technical aspect I was surprised with. It will help those that may not know anything about F1 understand the inner workings of the field but not dive too deep into it. The balance between technical part of it and the romance is spot on.
I love a good enemies-to-lovers dynamic, forced proximity and lots of good banter. I was immediately pulled into their world. Victoria is a STEM genius trying to make her place in a man dominated sport. Asher is our grumpy F1 driver who is not so nice when you first meet him but will fall in love with his character growth as the story progresses.
I highly recommend Flawed Formula to any F1 fan and even those that may be new to the sport. All I want to do now it watch some F1 races and imagine Victoria and Asher out there on the track. :)
I can't wait to see what else Rose Gravestone has in store for us and need to check out her other works.
This felt as if you are behind the scenes in the paddock with our FMC and MMC. The technical aspect I was surprised with. It will help those that may not know anything about F1 understand the inner workings of the field but not dive too deep into it. The balance between technical part of it and the romance is spot on.
I love a good enemies-to-lovers dynamic, forced proximity and lots of good banter. I was immediately pulled into their world. Victoria is a STEM genius trying to make her place in a man dominated sport. Asher is our grumpy F1 driver who is not so nice when you first meet him but will fall in love with his character growth as the story progresses.
I highly recommend Flawed Formula to any F1 fan and even those that may be new to the sport. All I want to do now it watch some F1 races and imagine Victoria and Asher out there on the track. :)
I can't wait to see what else Rose Gravestone has in store for us and need to check out her other works.
May 11, 2026
I was on the fence with this for the first few chapters but I stuck with it and ended up liking it.
Asher the MMC is a total you know what. Right of the bat he’s rude and obnoxious, demanding, possessive and not liked at all. He’s not happy with anything or anyone and gets enjoyment out of being mean to people. He is on a losing streak in driving and blames everyone but himself.
Victoria the MFC becomes a target early on after opening her mouth about his driving. She’s interning with the team to implement a program that is supposed to help the drivers. She gets put on Asher’s team but he doesn’t want her any where near him or the track.
Victoria though is a stubborn, determined workaholic out to prove she knows what she is doing.
Sparks definitely fly between the two but they dislike each other. Until they finally stop running and realize they have feelings for each other.
This is a very slow burn where the relationship is built over time, and when things go side ways it’s not instantly I’m sorry and everything’s dandy. Which I liked. Characters have to actually work at things and not just fall back into place with an I’m sorry.
This is very much Formula 1 geared with a lot of racing talk, tech terms racing itself and the romance is probably 2nd til about half way through. But the build up is ok and makes it worth it.
The characters, mostly Asher show they can change and become more likeable the more you get to know him.
I do recommend this one, it’s got spice, family drama, racing drama and things in between.
Asher the MMC is a total you know what. Right of the bat he’s rude and obnoxious, demanding, possessive and not liked at all. He’s not happy with anything or anyone and gets enjoyment out of being mean to people. He is on a losing streak in driving and blames everyone but himself.
Victoria the MFC becomes a target early on after opening her mouth about his driving. She’s interning with the team to implement a program that is supposed to help the drivers. She gets put on Asher’s team but he doesn’t want her any where near him or the track.
Victoria though is a stubborn, determined workaholic out to prove she knows what she is doing.
Sparks definitely fly between the two but they dislike each other. Until they finally stop running and realize they have feelings for each other.
This is a very slow burn where the relationship is built over time, and when things go side ways it’s not instantly I’m sorry and everything’s dandy. Which I liked. Characters have to actually work at things and not just fall back into place with an I’m sorry.
This is very much Formula 1 geared with a lot of racing talk, tech terms racing itself and the romance is probably 2nd til about half way through. But the build up is ok and makes it worth it.
The characters, mostly Asher show they can change and become more likeable the more you get to know him.
I do recommend this one, it’s got spice, family drama, racing drama and things in between.
May 17, 2026
I went into Flawed Formula really unsure what to expect, and by the end I had very mixed feelings about it. This is definitely one of those books where the writing leans heavily into technical language and detailed explanations, and honestly, a lot of it went completely over my head. There were multiple moments where I felt lost trying to keep up with what was being discussed, which made it difficult to stay fully immersed in the story at times.
That being said, the parts I did understand? I absolutely loved. Beneath all the complexity was a story with so much potential, emotion, and intrigue. The characters and the overall atmosphere kept pulling me back in, even when I struggled with the more technical aspects. There were scenes and ideas that genuinely stood out to me and made me glad I kept reading.
I think this book will really work for readers who enjoy highly detailed, technical storytelling and don’t mind having to concentrate to piece everything together. For me, it was a mix of confusion and fascination at the same time. Even though I didn’t connect with every part of it, there was still enough that I enjoyed to make the experience memorable.
That being said, the parts I did understand? I absolutely loved. Beneath all the complexity was a story with so much potential, emotion, and intrigue. The characters and the overall atmosphere kept pulling me back in, even when I struggled with the more technical aspects. There were scenes and ideas that genuinely stood out to me and made me glad I kept reading.
I think this book will really work for readers who enjoy highly detailed, technical storytelling and don’t mind having to concentrate to piece everything together. For me, it was a mix of confusion and fascination at the same time. Even though I didn’t connect with every part of it, there was still enough that I enjoyed to make the experience memorable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Before diving into this review, I want to preface that I was very fortunate to receive this book as an ARC from the Iris Influencer Society.
When I first picked this book up I have to admit that I wasn’t loving it, the atmosphere felt very hostile and I was not a fan of any of the characters apart from our FMC. However, continuing the book made me realise the reason behind this and how it showcases the often brutal reality for women working in male dominated fields such as formula 1. Furthermore, as the plot progressed I started to really enjoy the main characters and had a great time reading from their perspectives. Asher definitely got on my nerves at time but diving into his backstory explained a lot of his behaviours and getting to see some real character development from him was needed and beautifully done.
Overall I had a fun time reading this book but wasn’t obsessed with it. It was a spicy sports romance that I would definitely recommend for fans of this genre and smut, and I would definitely consider continuing the series if Dahlia is going to have a book. Thank you so much to Iris and the author for giving me this opportunity to read and review this book.
Before diving into this review, I want to preface that I was very fortunate to receive this book as an ARC from the Iris Influencer Society.
When I first picked this book up I have to admit that I wasn’t loving it, the atmosphere felt very hostile and I was not a fan of any of the characters apart from our FMC. However, continuing the book made me realise the reason behind this and how it showcases the often brutal reality for women working in male dominated fields such as formula 1. Furthermore, as the plot progressed I started to really enjoy the main characters and had a great time reading from their perspectives. Asher definitely got on my nerves at time but diving into his backstory explained a lot of his behaviours and getting to see some real character development from him was needed and beautifully done.
Overall I had a fun time reading this book but wasn’t obsessed with it. It was a spicy sports romance that I would definitely recommend for fans of this genre and smut, and I would definitely consider continuing the series if Dahlia is going to have a book. Thank you so much to Iris and the author for giving me this opportunity to read and review this book.
March 31, 2026
This was my first introduction to F1 Romance and boy was it a wild ride (pun intended)!
Rose does a wonderful job at bringing you straight into the pit of F1 races and all the drama that happens there. Victoria is a sweet new addition to the team that is trying to carve her place in the world of F1, while Asher is the broody driver that has all but given up on the sport. Victoria and Asher are practically opposites of one another and now they have to work together in a place where emotions are heightened and careers are at stake. What could possibly go wrong?
Flawed Formula is an amazing forced proximity workplace romance that immediately pulled me in. Once you start you just can't put it down. The banter in this book is top tier as I've come to expect in Rose Gravestone's novels, and as always, Rose delivers character that are loveable and the character development makes this book worth reading. And for those of you that like your romance books with some spice, that's also being delivered here.
Altogether, 5 star read!
Rose does a wonderful job at bringing you straight into the pit of F1 races and all the drama that happens there. Victoria is a sweet new addition to the team that is trying to carve her place in the world of F1, while Asher is the broody driver that has all but given up on the sport. Victoria and Asher are practically opposites of one another and now they have to work together in a place where emotions are heightened and careers are at stake. What could possibly go wrong?
Flawed Formula is an amazing forced proximity workplace romance that immediately pulled me in. Once you start you just can't put it down. The banter in this book is top tier as I've come to expect in Rose Gravestone's novels, and as always, Rose delivers character that are loveable and the character development makes this book worth reading. And for those of you that like your romance books with some spice, that's also being delivered here.
Altogether, 5 star read!
March 31, 2026
This series takes a detour from the style of characters I’ve known from this author’s previous books. The MMC is not unhinged and is not committing major bodily harm to those who are a problem. However, Asher does become obsessed and extremely protective of the FMC, Victoria. He is moody, rude, and cusses with reckless abandon, which is a triad of favored male characteristics in the books I read. Victoria is smart, determined, and starts on the wrong foot with Asher from the very first glance. These two clash heads in fabulous fashion, are not prone to backing down, and the tension buildup is great. Though this is not the majority focus of the storyline, you still get all the smexy scenes. I loved how much they both changed and evolved because of each other, but thankfully, Asher never lost his smolder. Their relationship is truly a fight to the finish line. The side characters are so funny! We could all use a modeling drag queen best friend like Keith in our lives.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 31, 2026
I'm normally not a fan of sports, but Rose does an amazing job of keeping the story accurate while not alienating readers who might not be familiar with how F1 works. Terms are explained as necessary, but not overused that it becomes a textbook of F1 terminology.
As for the actual story... I fell in love quickly with Victoria. Her intelligence and spirit drew me in, and her fight to be respected as a woman in a male dominated sphere was all too real. But she never lets it bring her down, instead focusing on not just doing her job, but being SO good at it that the rest of the world has to take notice. As for Asher, he has a tough exterior, but that just made me want to dive deeper into the story to figure out why he was acting the way he was. Their romance is explosive and compelling, and I found myself rooting for them even when I wasn't sure why.
Overall, this novel is full of spice and witty banter, and I absolutely could not put it down!
As for the actual story... I fell in love quickly with Victoria. Her intelligence and spirit drew me in, and her fight to be respected as a woman in a male dominated sphere was all too real. But she never lets it bring her down, instead focusing on not just doing her job, but being SO good at it that the rest of the world has to take notice. As for Asher, he has a tough exterior, but that just made me want to dive deeper into the story to figure out why he was acting the way he was. Their romance is explosive and compelling, and I found myself rooting for them even when I wasn't sure why.
Overall, this novel is full of spice and witty banter, and I absolutely could not put it down!
April 5, 2026
Asher is an F1 driver with a horrible attitude. Victoria is a genius MIT graduate with an algorithm that could change everything about how Asher races. If he could stop being a jerk long enough to listen to her. In fact, the whole team could benefit from what she's created if they all stopped being misogynistic jerks and listened to her. But a woman in a 'man's world' and all.
Of course they're attracted to each other, and of course they end up together and his temper messes it all up. What would an enemies-to-lovers be without that conflict. Where it lost me was how absolutely horribly he treated her the entire time and she still allowed it.
This wasn't all bad. There were moments of character growth that were fun to read, and the look inside F1 racing was cool too. But the 'romance' side just wasn't for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Of course they're attracted to each other, and of course they end up together and his temper messes it all up. What would an enemies-to-lovers be without that conflict. Where it lost me was how absolutely horribly he treated her the entire time and she still allowed it.
This wasn't all bad. There were moments of character growth that were fun to read, and the look inside F1 racing was cool too. But the 'romance' side just wasn't for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 7, 2026
This book was so different from any I have read. I loved how it focused on racing and the back end of what goes in for F1 racing.
Victoria is passionate about F1 racing and ensuring racers can get better with the help of her program.
Asher has a lot of childhood trauma that he let get the best of him and make him just go day by day, lash out at everyone, and to loose his passion and drive for the career he used to love.
The pull these two have is instant and they do their best to ignore it but being forced to work together has them crossing the line.
When another racer sabotages one of Asher’s races he lashes out and cuts Victoria out. Her own trauma sends her into a spiral but she still advocates for Asher and tries to ensure he isn’t overlooked.
Asher realizes he’s a dummy and does everything he can to make up for what he did to Victoria. The ending was perfect and I can’t wait to see who is next or if there will be a next book.
Victoria is passionate about F1 racing and ensuring racers can get better with the help of her program.
Asher has a lot of childhood trauma that he let get the best of him and make him just go day by day, lash out at everyone, and to loose his passion and drive for the career he used to love.
The pull these two have is instant and they do their best to ignore it but being forced to work together has them crossing the line.
When another racer sabotages one of Asher’s races he lashes out and cuts Victoria out. Her own trauma sends her into a spiral but she still advocates for Asher and tries to ensure he isn’t overlooked.
Asher realizes he’s a dummy and does everything he can to make up for what he did to Victoria. The ending was perfect and I can’t wait to see who is next or if there will be a next book.
May 5, 2026
•A sweet and sexy racing romance•
I am revved up.
Flawed Formula by Rose Gravestone is the first in a new romance series centered around the exciting and fast-moving world of Formula 1 racing. When a smart and ambitious new intern gets assigned to the sport’s grumpiest driver, the tension between them is immediate. Victoria sees something in Archer beyond what his team and the racing world expect, and she gives him a push.
Now that his passion is reignited, just how far will the sparks fly?
As a Formula 1 fan, it was fun to read a lot of strong references to the sport. The spice between Victoria and Archer hits just right, and the author introduced side characters I know we will see more of in future books.
This is a fun, romantic read, and I think it deserves a spot on the podium.
Thank you to IRIS Influencer Society and the author for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars⭐️
I am revved up.
Flawed Formula by Rose Gravestone is the first in a new romance series centered around the exciting and fast-moving world of Formula 1 racing. When a smart and ambitious new intern gets assigned to the sport’s grumpiest driver, the tension between them is immediate. Victoria sees something in Archer beyond what his team and the racing world expect, and she gives him a push.
Now that his passion is reignited, just how far will the sparks fly?
As a Formula 1 fan, it was fun to read a lot of strong references to the sport. The spice between Victoria and Archer hits just right, and the author introduced side characters I know we will see more of in future books.
This is a fun, romantic read, and I think it deserves a spot on the podium.
Thank you to IRIS Influencer Society and the author for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars⭐️
May 21, 2026
I'm going to tell you I seen this book and automatically was like yes. I am a huge formula One race person I love watching it and I really have been wanting to read a book like I like in this. So F1, Force proximity, and two amazing characters just the best. Then I read the blurb and the very first little bit caught me and I was completely blown away. "She's the variable he never accounted for. He's the crash she can't walk away from." Once I read that I was like yep this is for me. And let me tell you Victoria & Asher were absolutely phenomenal. I loved both of these characters they were such amazing characters they fit well together everything about this book just fit so well together. I enjoyed it more than anything I'm kind of excited to see where the series goes. Overall, putting my favorite racing, my favorite trope forced proximity and everything together this is just a dream come true.
May 20, 2026
Flawed Formula by Rose Gravestone
5 out of 5 stars
ARC
Thank you, Rose and IRIS, for this early copy. All parts of this review are of my honest opinion 💚
This was my first F1 book and I was not disappointed. I loved every part of this book and became OBSESSED with Victoria and Asher. Their relationship may not have had the best start with Asher's behavior towards literally everyone, but Victoria was able to reel him in and show everyone just what the both are made of. Their growth was fantastic, their banter hilarious, and their skills top-tier 👏
Anyone looking for a F1 and/or workplace romance NEEDS to pick up Flawed Formula. You have an amazing mix of sports and STEM that will satisfy your every want, including some spice 🥵🔥
Definitely pick up your copy... like right now! 😍
5 out of 5 stars
ARC
Thank you, Rose and IRIS, for this early copy. All parts of this review are of my honest opinion 💚
This was my first F1 book and I was not disappointed. I loved every part of this book and became OBSESSED with Victoria and Asher. Their relationship may not have had the best start with Asher's behavior towards literally everyone, but Victoria was able to reel him in and show everyone just what the both are made of. Their growth was fantastic, their banter hilarious, and their skills top-tier 👏
Anyone looking for a F1 and/or workplace romance NEEDS to pick up Flawed Formula. You have an amazing mix of sports and STEM that will satisfy your every want, including some spice 🥵🔥
Definitely pick up your copy... like right now! 😍
April 22, 2026
Finally! A book about F1 that actually includes the F1. I truly appreciate the author for her research and how close she got to the accuracy of the F1 world and rules. Good job! For such a long time I was looking for a F1 romance but every damn time all I got was a mid romance with the only element of F1 being that the MMC is a F1 driver. Here I got bolids, races, tracks, team rivalry, the PR game, engineering and much more!
And the romance was so smooth! Everything made sense and the choices made by the characters were not only logical but also mature. The build-up, the tension and the spice... AMAZING!!!
I found some minor plot holes and errors but honestly I had such a good time with this book that I simply don't care.
I'm a very satisfied F1 book girli.
Thank you, ma'am!
And the romance was so smooth! Everything made sense and the choices made by the characters were not only logical but also mature. The build-up, the tension and the spice... AMAZING!!!
I found some minor plot holes and errors but honestly I had such a good time with this book that I simply don't care.
I'm a very satisfied F1 book girli.
Thank you, ma'am!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Damn it: I finished it.
This is the sort of book you just want to keep reading. I know this one is not even technically published yet, but... where is book two??!?
Right... to the point:
Awesome character chemistry. Amazing tension throughout - plot, characters, stakes, sexual. High degree of X-factor on the one-more-page pull.
Chapter 29 had me laughing out loud for *a while*. IYKYK.
Disclaimer: I don't like F1 all that much, yet this kept me hooked. The technical aspects were easy to follow and embeded naturally into the story.
Disclaimer: I don't like sports romances all that much, yet this *still* kept me hooked.
100% recommend this book.
This is the sort of book you just want to keep reading. I know this one is not even technically published yet, but... where is book two??!?
Right... to the point:
Awesome character chemistry. Amazing tension throughout - plot, characters, stakes, sexual. High degree of X-factor on the one-more-page pull.
Chapter 29 had me laughing out loud for *a while*. IYKYK.
Disclaimer: I don't like F1 all that much, yet this kept me hooked. The technical aspects were easy to follow and embeded naturally into the story.
Disclaimer: I don't like sports romances all that much, yet this *still* kept me hooked.
100% recommend this book.
May 12, 2026
Flawed Formula by Rose Gravestone is about a F1 racer with major brooding wrapped in a beautiful package and a stunningly gorgeous genius woman with high emotional levels. And it’s the best thing ever! What a mix of amazing characters, I loved everyone!! The story is so well written I kept wanting to read this book throughout the day! The emotional and mental challenges the characters go through to understand their worth separately and collectively is wonderful! If you’re looking for a book filled with amazing characters in a delicious high stakes environment filled with adrenaline and some amazing sexual tension, this one is for you!
May 15, 2026
4⭐
I didn't know I needed this until I did.
So good! It was genuinely the book I was missing, the mix of layered characters and Formula 1 is spectacular. I'm not a fan of sports romance, but I devoured the book. The romance flows naturally, and the smut, besides being delicious, isn't excessive!
I love Victoria, she's so much like me and I'm so much like her, I love it when authors bring STEM characters into their books...
I already miss them, I NEED A BOOK ABOUT DELILAH! PLEASE I BEG
(Thank you so much for the ARC, and the opportunity to read this work of art, it was a pleasure to get to know these characters and this story. ❤️)
I didn't know I needed this until I did.
So good! It was genuinely the book I was missing, the mix of layered characters and Formula 1 is spectacular. I'm not a fan of sports romance, but I devoured the book. The romance flows naturally, and the smut, besides being delicious, isn't excessive!
I love Victoria, she's so much like me and I'm so much like her, I love it when authors bring STEM characters into their books...
I already miss them, I NEED A BOOK ABOUT DELILAH! PLEASE I BEG
(Thank you so much for the ARC, and the opportunity to read this work of art, it was a pleasure to get to know these characters and this story. ❤️)
May 20, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
It has been so long since I read a romance set in racing and I’m so glad I picked this one up. While I may not have understand some of the technical aspects of this book they honestly made it better for me as it created a plot outside of the romance. Both characters instantly drew me in. They both grew so much throughout the book. Yes Asher is a certified jerk but you can really see how much he loves Victoria in his POV chapters. Their banter and Victoria’s sass was so good. The side characters were lovable and I cannot wait to see them have their own books later on hopefully.
Thank you to Rose Gravestone and IRIS for an ARC copy. All opinions are my own.
It has been so long since I read a romance set in racing and I’m so glad I picked this one up. While I may not have understand some of the technical aspects of this book they honestly made it better for me as it created a plot outside of the romance. Both characters instantly drew me in. They both grew so much throughout the book. Yes Asher is a certified jerk but you can really see how much he loves Victoria in his POV chapters. Their banter and Victoria’s sass was so good. The side characters were lovable and I cannot wait to see them have their own books later on hopefully.
Thank you to Rose Gravestone and IRIS for an ARC copy. All opinions are my own.
March 28, 2026
I TOTALLY fell in love with this book!
I will reread it multiple times just to experience the world again. The main leads, the supporting characters both are written so so well!
The plot is chaotic, beautiful and also incredibly stressful because the author doesn't give them easy wins so I have to read with tension...are they going to win? or lose? No one knows till the end. It's just how I like it.
The enemies to lovers part is also extremely wonderful.
It doesn't feel lagged anywhere and the story paces perfectly.
My rating is 4.8/5 ⭐
I will reread it multiple times just to experience the world again. The main leads, the supporting characters both are written so so well!
The plot is chaotic, beautiful and also incredibly stressful because the author doesn't give them easy wins so I have to read with tension...are they going to win? or lose? No one knows till the end. It's just how I like it.
The enemies to lovers part is also extremely wonderful.
It doesn't feel lagged anywhere and the story paces perfectly.
My rating is 4.8/5 ⭐
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