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Be Quiet and Drive
Not yet published
Expected 3 Nov 26Giulianna Gardella, heir to the Hollow Point Brotherhood, has had one hell of a week.
Between calling off her wedding and faking her own death, she can at least look forward to a Texas road trip with her brother. But when Giulianna finds herself trapped in the passenger seat with Gage, her former high school lover turned rival gang leader, her week goes from bad to worse.
Navigating together through highway shoot-outs, words left unspoken, and high octane fueled drama, will these two be able to set aside their differences for a common goal, or will their tumultuous past lurking in the rear view mirror slam the brakes on a second chance?
Suspenseful and strangely hilarious, BE QUIET AND DRIVE is a dark romance with a touch of tender puppy love about untethering ourselves from the damaging trauma of our past and begging the question, how far would you go for the ones you love?
Between calling off her wedding and faking her own death, she can at least look forward to a Texas road trip with her brother. But when Giulianna finds herself trapped in the passenger seat with Gage, her former high school lover turned rival gang leader, her week goes from bad to worse.
Navigating together through highway shoot-outs, words left unspoken, and high octane fueled drama, will these two be able to set aside their differences for a common goal, or will their tumultuous past lurking in the rear view mirror slam the brakes on a second chance?
Suspenseful and strangely hilarious, BE QUIET AND DRIVE is a dark romance with a touch of tender puppy love about untethering ourselves from the damaging trauma of our past and begging the question, how far would you go for the ones you love?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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August 7, 2026I'm so incredibly excited to finally share my very first novel, Be Quiet and Drive, with you all.
What started as a late night nagging idea about two enemies forced into very, very close proximity with one another, ended up becoming an exploration of learning the difference between blood-family and chosen family, learning to stop giving chances to those who don't deserve it, while also learning how to forgive yourself.
Writing Be Quiet and Drive was one of the most fun and heartbreaking journeys of my life and I hope readers can enjoy the wild ride for what it is. If you like angst, a killer playlist, and women hellbent on revenge, I think you'll really enjoy this story.
Lots and LOTS of love,
Chelsea
What started as a late night nagging idea about two enemies forced into very, very close proximity with one another, ended up becoming an exploration of learning the difference between blood-family and chosen family, learning to stop giving chances to those who don't deserve it, while also learning how to forgive yourself.
Writing Be Quiet and Drive was one of the most fun and heartbreaking journeys of my life and I hope readers can enjoy the wild ride for what it is. If you like angst, a killer playlist, and women hellbent on revenge, I think you'll really enjoy this story.
Lots and LOTS of love,
Chelsea
August 5, 2026
ARC read - 5🌟 I love it!
This debut from a Chelsea T. Reed left me wanting more. The dual timeline giving us the present day and history between Giuliana and Gage helped me to really understand the characters and what they get themselves into. Minor characters turn out to be not so minor in the grand scheme of things and holy moly I did not expect the twists and turns she takes on during the journey. Super well paced and kept my attention from the very beginning. This book leaves me wanting more from Giuliana, Gage, Nico and Samiyah. Truly a well developed plot and mind blowing ending.
This debut from a Chelsea T. Reed left me wanting more. The dual timeline giving us the present day and history between Giuliana and Gage helped me to really understand the characters and what they get themselves into. Minor characters turn out to be not so minor in the grand scheme of things and holy moly I did not expect the twists and turns she takes on during the journey. Super well paced and kept my attention from the very beginning. This book leaves me wanting more from Giuliana, Gage, Nico and Samiyah. Truly a well developed plot and mind blowing ending.
August 20, 2026
ARC review - This was a solid read, especially for a debut and an influencer novel!
I think the writing was phenomenal and flowed really well. Never a dull moment, I was very eager to keep reading!
I think the faults I have with the novel are more centered on the plot itself. For starters, it’s a very trope heavy book. I understand what tropes are used for, but instead of a plot that flows well from one trope to the next and actually makes sense of the tropes it utilizes, this novel felt like it was *insert trope here* to *insert trope there* with very little flow in between. There wasn’t really any lead up to most of these plot lines used and were imo thrown in just to have the trope.
I also found a few plotholes/story bits that weren’t expanded on that left me a little disappointed. For example, I think a major plot line or point of contention could’ve been how Gigi’s father was in the brotherhood for a reason. He must’ve done some horrendous things to be a member, and that wasn’t even brought up until the end of the book, and was only brought up for like one sentence.
Gigi’s brother, when describing Amos’ behavior, mentions how horribly Amos treats their mother, which was surprising to me since Gigi never mentions this at all. Not surprising in the sense that Amos treats her badly, because it’s very clear from the start that Amos is a dick, but surprising that Gigi never really brings this up.
Finally, I think the one-liners used throughout the book fall really flat and ruin the immersion of the novel. Like, we are in this serious mafia-esque business meeting and we’re making fun of each others dick sizes?? Like what?? The furry convention thing was also just really weird and did not fit the tone of the novel like at all. Look at my vigilante group dog I’m going to jail!!
All in all, a decent debut from an influencer. I think the author has some real potential and I’d be interested in exploring future novels from her!
I think the writing was phenomenal and flowed really well. Never a dull moment, I was very eager to keep reading!
I think the faults I have with the novel are more centered on the plot itself. For starters, it’s a very trope heavy book. I understand what tropes are used for, but instead of a plot that flows well from one trope to the next and actually makes sense of the tropes it utilizes, this novel felt like it was *insert trope here* to *insert trope there* with very little flow in between. There wasn’t really any lead up to most of these plot lines used and were imo thrown in just to have the trope.
I also found a few plotholes/story bits that weren’t expanded on that left me a little disappointed. For example, I think a major plot line or point of contention could’ve been how Gigi’s father was in the brotherhood for a reason. He must’ve done some horrendous things to be a member, and that wasn’t even brought up until the end of the book, and was only brought up for like one sentence.
Gigi’s brother, when describing Amos’ behavior, mentions how horribly Amos treats their mother, which was surprising to me since Gigi never mentions this at all. Not surprising in the sense that Amos treats her badly, because it’s very clear from the start that Amos is a dick, but surprising that Gigi never really brings this up.
Finally, I think the one-liners used throughout the book fall really flat and ruin the immersion of the novel. Like, we are in this serious mafia-esque business meeting and we’re making fun of each others dick sizes?? Like what?? The furry convention thing was also just really weird and did not fit the tone of the novel like at all. Look at my vigilante group dog I’m going to jail!!
All in all, a decent debut from an influencer. I think the author has some real potential and I’d be interested in exploring future novels from her!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2026
Be Quiet & Drive by Chelsea T Reed
319 Pages
The Passenger Duet
Oh my, where to start, this book quite literally takes you on a trip one I wasn't ready to end, I am completely besotted with Guilianna and Gage from the very first moment we meet them but also when they meet each other,
With every chapter that passed I was eager to know what was coming next whether that was in the past or the present it didn't matter I was so invested in what made them well click, the events which shaped them into the individuals we see is the present,
I am excited to see where we go next and see more into what happens beyond the epilogue if that is what will come next.
I would highly recommend this book to honestly anyone looking for a wild ride! For fans of Dark Action Romance, Dual Timeline, Friends to Lovers to Enemies, Right Person Wrong Time, Forced Proximity and some Delicious Spicy Goodness.
319 Pages
The Passenger Duet
Oh my, where to start, this book quite literally takes you on a trip one I wasn't ready to end, I am completely besotted with Guilianna and Gage from the very first moment we meet them but also when they meet each other,
With every chapter that passed I was eager to know what was coming next whether that was in the past or the present it didn't matter I was so invested in what made them well click, the events which shaped them into the individuals we see is the present,
I am excited to see where we go next and see more into what happens beyond the epilogue if that is what will come next.
I would highly recommend this book to honestly anyone looking for a wild ride! For fans of Dark Action Romance, Dual Timeline, Friends to Lovers to Enemies, Right Person Wrong Time, Forced Proximity and some Delicious Spicy Goodness.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"I had all, and then most of you, some, and now none of you. Take me back to the night we met."
Giulianna Gardella is running from her past - for a crime syndicate heiress, the endless skies of the Texas plains are surely wide enough to hide her forever. But her plans to disappear are cut short when the vigilante ex who broke her heart reappears to personally ferry her to her next destination - and he's not taking "no" for an answer. Across hundreds of miles and the echoing tides of their shared past, these two star-crossed enemies will uncover that which is best left unsaid; the betrayals which shape us; and - if they're lucky - a love smoldering begging for a spark to reignite.
One of my gripes with books that promise witty banter and tension and "dark romance" is that they end up feeling formulaic - girl meets guy, there's very little that actually makes them enemies/creates conflict, and over and over they fall into insta-love (really, insta-lust) and things are perfect. None of it feels human, and even stories with a good premise turn into a reskin of the same tropes - "sassy [profession] FMC X dark/brooding [profession] MMC".
"Be Quiet and Drive" takes convention and leaves it in so much octane-tinged dust baking under a southern sun - yes, at the end of the day it's a slow-burn romance, but it's also brimming with bright sparks of dark humor forged in the furnace of an elder millennial god; the fresh and nostalgic yearning of young discovery tinged by the bitterness of doors forever closed with the passing of years; the heart-pounding anxiety of living up to expectations internal and external; the cliff of a life carefully curated against the backdrop of the unknown; and the fragile and cautious hope curling towards the light of discovering that life may be offering you a second chance.
It's easy to try and pare down a book to tropes that people can pick and choose from when making a selection in what can sometimes feel like a saturated market. For me, "Be Quiet and Drive" takes this convention and makes its own roads - it's dark romance without the cringe and cliche; the underbelly of a crime syndicate that isn't run by GQ models who want to make Y/N their mafia princess; little moments of sunburn and funnel cakes and used-car-smells that make falling in love feel real; and the gut-twisting tension that you hope gets picked up by the likes of an A24 studio because it's destined to be the next cult classic.
I can't write an unbiased review of this book - Chelsea has been my best friend for the last decade (#DeleteItOld), and I've been lucky beyond belief to get to watch and help edit "Be Quiet and Drive" from its start as a rough outline in Microsoft Word to a fully-fledged manuscript in the final rounds of polishing before being debuted to the public. This book is the labor of all that she is - an eldest daughter with a healthcare career; a charismatic force of literature; a friend who puts others first to her own detriment; and genuinely one of the funniest, most caring people I know. It is the honor of my life to be her friend, and I can't wait for readers who've loved her online - and those who may be finding her for the first time - to fall head-over-heels into her debut novel (and many more to come).
Giulianna Gardella is running from her past - for a crime syndicate heiress, the endless skies of the Texas plains are surely wide enough to hide her forever. But her plans to disappear are cut short when the vigilante ex who broke her heart reappears to personally ferry her to her next destination - and he's not taking "no" for an answer. Across hundreds of miles and the echoing tides of their shared past, these two star-crossed enemies will uncover that which is best left unsaid; the betrayals which shape us; and - if they're lucky - a love smoldering begging for a spark to reignite.
One of my gripes with books that promise witty banter and tension and "dark romance" is that they end up feeling formulaic - girl meets guy, there's very little that actually makes them enemies/creates conflict, and over and over they fall into insta-love (really, insta-lust) and things are perfect. None of it feels human, and even stories with a good premise turn into a reskin of the same tropes - "sassy [profession] FMC X dark/brooding [profession] MMC".
"Be Quiet and Drive" takes convention and leaves it in so much octane-tinged dust baking under a southern sun - yes, at the end of the day it's a slow-burn romance, but it's also brimming with bright sparks of dark humor forged in the furnace of an elder millennial god; the fresh and nostalgic yearning of young discovery tinged by the bitterness of doors forever closed with the passing of years; the heart-pounding anxiety of living up to expectations internal and external; the cliff of a life carefully curated against the backdrop of the unknown; and the fragile and cautious hope curling towards the light of discovering that life may be offering you a second chance.
It's easy to try and pare down a book to tropes that people can pick and choose from when making a selection in what can sometimes feel like a saturated market. For me, "Be Quiet and Drive" takes this convention and makes its own roads - it's dark romance without the cringe and cliche; the underbelly of a crime syndicate that isn't run by GQ models who want to make Y/N their mafia princess; little moments of sunburn and funnel cakes and used-car-smells that make falling in love feel real; and the gut-twisting tension that you hope gets picked up by the likes of an A24 studio because it's destined to be the next cult classic.
I can't write an unbiased review of this book - Chelsea has been my best friend for the last decade (#DeleteItOld), and I've been lucky beyond belief to get to watch and help edit "Be Quiet and Drive" from its start as a rough outline in Microsoft Word to a fully-fledged manuscript in the final rounds of polishing before being debuted to the public. This book is the labor of all that she is - an eldest daughter with a healthcare career; a charismatic force of literature; a friend who puts others first to her own detriment; and genuinely one of the funniest, most caring people I know. It is the honor of my life to be her friend, and I can't wait for readers who've loved her online - and those who may be finding her for the first time - to fall head-over-heels into her debut novel (and many more to come).
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my god I get to review my friend's book. How many people ever get a chance like this?
I'm a very lucky ARC and beta reader. I'm an even luckier developmental editor who got to see just how much love, pain, and hard work went into this story with each draft, each edit, each revision.
I have watched my friend fall in love with reading over the last several years and know how much it has become a piece of her heart and joy in life. I've watched her chase that dream for a full year and now get to celebrate all her efforts come to fruition.
Please forgive me for being biased. How could I give such a wonderful person anything less than five stars? (especially with the inescapable vanity of contributing edits)
Chelsea knows storytelling. You don't read hundreds and hundreds of books and become a fantastic source of recommendation without it burrowing into you.
What doubts she had when she first started writing, oh boy, they're still there. I've sat on the couch during the very long imposter syndrome fueled rants, and then wiped the tears from my eyes as I share how deeply this story hit me emotionally.
She set out to write something to make people smile, laugh, and be vulnerable about the reality of life, and of love. She hit the mark, dead center.
Her banter is quick, witty, comical, and charming. She knows how to lead you into the scene without you feeling the pull of the author, but guides you gracefully with loveable characters. They're awkward, they're kind, they're rude and crude. They're playful. They are real.
There are twists and turns -- not just the car ride either -- that still give me a sinking feeling of just how afraid I am things won't turn out the way I hope, I dream, I want, them to. Whether you are a Gage or a Gigi, you will find yourself quoting one incessantly for weeks, if not months.
Be Quiet and Drive is a debut that does not feel like a debut, but the work of a devoted and lovestruck writer finally finding her voice and sharing the stories swelling inside her.
I could not be more proud of what she worked so hard for, and how cinematic her vision is.
Chel, congrats. You did it.
I'm a very lucky ARC and beta reader. I'm an even luckier developmental editor who got to see just how much love, pain, and hard work went into this story with each draft, each edit, each revision.
I have watched my friend fall in love with reading over the last several years and know how much it has become a piece of her heart and joy in life. I've watched her chase that dream for a full year and now get to celebrate all her efforts come to fruition.
Please forgive me for being biased. How could I give such a wonderful person anything less than five stars? (especially with the inescapable vanity of contributing edits)
Chelsea knows storytelling. You don't read hundreds and hundreds of books and become a fantastic source of recommendation without it burrowing into you.
What doubts she had when she first started writing, oh boy, they're still there. I've sat on the couch during the very long imposter syndrome fueled rants, and then wiped the tears from my eyes as I share how deeply this story hit me emotionally.
She set out to write something to make people smile, laugh, and be vulnerable about the reality of life, and of love. She hit the mark, dead center.
Her banter is quick, witty, comical, and charming. She knows how to lead you into the scene without you feeling the pull of the author, but guides you gracefully with loveable characters. They're awkward, they're kind, they're rude and crude. They're playful. They are real.
There are twists and turns -- not just the car ride either -- that still give me a sinking feeling of just how afraid I am things won't turn out the way I hope, I dream, I want, them to. Whether you are a Gage or a Gigi, you will find yourself quoting one incessantly for weeks, if not months.
Be Quiet and Drive is a debut that does not feel like a debut, but the work of a devoted and lovestruck writer finally finding her voice and sharing the stories swelling inside her.
I could not be more proud of what she worked so hard for, and how cinematic her vision is.
Chel, congrats. You did it.
August 19, 2026
What an absolutely fantastic debut! I don’t even know how to describe it to be perfectly honest. Gives off mafia vibes, but more so like motorcycle club, in actuality a gun club. Moderate violence throughout the book until it gets way more heated. If you’re a fan of the Raven Hood and what that group is to its community, and I feel like the HOB is similar vibes? I don’t know, I’m speechless and having trouble finding words because I just loved it so much and it just sucked me right in. Most important thing to know in my opinion is it is a debut novel written by a reader, very active in the book community, and truly understands what fellow readers enjoy. She took her knowledge and understanding of the community and poured it into a book and executed it in such a fantastic way. I am assuming it is set up to add more to the series with our side characters and I am so here for it if that’s the case. Pick up the box, go in blind, and just enjoy the ride.
August 21, 2026
I was absolutely engrossed in this book and could not put it down. I absolutely adore the chemistry of the main characters Gigi and Gage. I love how Chelsea intertwines their history and past in to the story so it doesn't just feel like a lot of lore and history being dumped on you. Instead it feels like you are remembering the last events with Gigi as they happen. This book had me laughing, crying, and giggling and kicking my feet in happiness. This had all my favorite aspects in one book, friends to enemies, enemies to lovers, the one who never stopped caring. The main female learning she is a badass and can save the day. I would 100% recommend this book to anyone, and will probably become extremely annoying about wanting to talk about this book. I can't wait for book two.
August 11, 2026
so like can i get book two yet? i had such a fun time reading Be Quite & Drive, it was fast paced, funny, steamy, sexy, and just an overall good time. Gage & Giulianna have the best amount of tension and yearning and want. I loved all the little philly easter eggs (wawa is superior) as someone who just moved to the south jersey/philly area it’s always so fun to see places in books that I’ve seen/been to in real life. I cannot wait for book two to see how all of this wraps up. Thank you to Chelsea for the early copy!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my god this book was a freaking wild ride *pun intended*
This was such a thrill from start to finish, it actually now holds the position of the fastest I've read a book all year!
I loved the dual timelines and the multiple POVs, I feel like it really added to the thriller aspect of this book.
Chelsea, thank you so much for letting me read this early and thank you for proving me wrong that I can love a blond MMC. 🖤
This was such a thrill from start to finish, it actually now holds the position of the fastest I've read a book all year!
I loved the dual timelines and the multiple POVs, I feel like it really added to the thriller aspect of this book.
Chelsea, thank you so much for letting me read this early and thank you for proving me wrong that I can love a blond MMC. 🖤
August 17, 2026
I got the ARC, and it was her debut book. I can honestly say, this book was great. The chemistry between the MMC and FMC is absolutely perfect, the tension is great. The plot was amazing. Its a duology and I hope to get the ARC on that one too.
SPOILER:
Gigi's revenge was great!!! I loved the fact that her anxiety was so relatable and her insecurities as well. I love that she got to find out things on her own time. I also liked that she didnt go into details on their frist time sexually but she does when its present time, age does matter.
SPOILER:
Gigi's revenge was great!!! I loved the fact that her anxiety was so relatable and her insecurities as well. I love that she got to find out things on her own time. I also liked that she didnt go into details on their frist time sexually but she does when its present time, age does matter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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