Upgraded

This was my first F1 romance book and I ate it up! And it was a forbidden, age gap yes please😍 I love Abby’s books and this one did not disappoint! This is the first book in her new away we go series. With the first book there’s alot of characters being introduced (there’s a lot in this one) and world building. It can feel overwhelming but she did a good job with the writing leaving me excited to see whose story is next.

I loved Evangeline so much. She always felt like she was too much and not enough. Watching her growth throughout the story was so heartfelt. Alaric was literally perfection and was exactly who she needed. He accepted her for her and made her feel seen. Their connection was so genuine and you could not help but root for them! I absolutely loved them!

My only very small complaint is that it was too long almost 500 pages😩I don’t think romance books need be more than 350 pages tops. I still absolutely loved it! This was a great start to this series and I’m fully invested in this world and can’t wait for the next book!

Thank you to Valentine pr and Abby for this advanced copy! This releases on June 24th!

4.5⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Formula 1
Ex boyfriends dad
Forbidden
Age gap
Found family
Slow burn

Kassie Bates

187 reviews4 followers

I LOVED THIS ONE! Alaric is literally IT.

Ex boyfriends dad, formula 1 racing, the mental health reps as well as awarenesses.

How Evan explained how she’s never felt seen and always feel like she was too much or her brain was a problem literally had me sobbing. I feel so much connection to her character this one was way cute and hit close to home. I CANT WAIT FOR MORE!
EVEN BETTER ELEVEN 4EVER

Yimmie♡

37 reviews1 follower

Currently Reading

🏎️💨 ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────

𓆩⚑𓆪 𝙥𝙧𝙚-𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𓆪⚑𓆪

˚₊‧꒰ა 🏁 ໒꒱‧₊˚

my first formula 1 arc is finally starting
and i feel a little bit like everything is aligning at once

if you’ve known me long enough,
you know how deep my love for f1 runs

𓂃 ࣪˖ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ˖ ࣪𓂃

so with that being said…

≡≡≡≡≡≡

lights out and away we go!!! 🏁💨

Danie Y. | BohoBookMama

455 reviews19 followers

Read

May 19, 2026

Beta reader - full RTC after reading finished copy, but I'm already OBSESSED!!! 😍

Jess

245 reviews9 followers

3.5

Thank you so much to Valentine PR and the author for the ARC of this one!

I was really excited to start this because it's basically a combination of some of my favourite tropes. I haven't actually read loads of Formula 1 romances before, I think maybe one or two, but I love a sports romance and I'll happily read about any sport even if I know absolutely nothing about it. And trust me, I know nothing about Formula 1.

What really drew me to this one, though, was the forbidden romance aspect. Forbidden romance is one of my favourite tropes and ex boyfriend's dad? Right up my street.

The book opens with Evangeline discovering that her Formula 1 driver boyfriend has been cheating on her for basically their entire relationship. To make matters worse, he'd convinced her to sublet her flat because they were meant to move in together, and then after she finds out about the cheating, he arranges for her furniture to be moved. She thinks it's going into storage, but it actually ends up at his dad's house. That's where she first meets Alaric.

There are sparks immediately. He's dark, mysterious, moody and has proper Dad vibes. He works on the management side of the Formula 1 world as Team Principal rather than as a driver, and I was immediately invested in where this was going.

I absolutely adored the first half of this book. The tension between Evangeline and Alaric was so good. The will they won't they had me completely hooked and I ate it up.

I also really loved the neurodiversity representation. It was handled in such a positive way. Yes, Evangeline has struggles and sees the world differently, but it was never portrayed as something that made her less than. It's part of who she is and actually makes her stronger. Her ex, Luca, never accepted her for who she was, whereas Alaric is open and understanding from the very beginning, even before anything happens between them. He helps her navigate things without trying to change her, and that was genuinely really refreshing to read.

My only issue came in the second half. Once they actually got together, it felt like the book went from zero to a hundred almost immediately. There was so much lovely slow burn build up and then suddenly it was just massive feelings, declarations and complete devotion. It felt a little bit rushed and not entirely authentic to me.

What I did really appreciate, though, was the communication. There was no unnecessary miscommunication or silly drama. There's an age gap here, Alaric is 44 and Evangeline is 26, but they're both adults and they actually communicate like adults. They talk about their feelings and are honest with each other, which I always appreciate in a romance.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one, especially the first half and all that delicious tension. I'm just not sure I fully believed that they fell quite so hard and so fast. But if you love forbidden romance, ex boyfriend's dad, age gaps and Formula 1 settings, this is definitely worth picking up.

Ciarra Rodriguez

42 reviews

Thank you to Valentine PR for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Upgraded by Abby Millsaps is a forbidden ex boyfriend’s dad romance. Evangeline has just gotten out of an extremely toxic relationship with Luca Steele who repeatedly cheated and used Evangeline’s money to fund his expensive lifestyle, even though he had plenty of money himself. As she arrives at the address Luca gave her to store her couch along with her other belongings already in “storage”, she finds that it was not a storage facility but Luca’s dad, Alaric’s house.

I had mixed feelings about this book. First, I absolutely loved the neurodivergence representation! Evangeline’s character was hands down my favorite part of this book. In the beginning I was convinced I would be obsessed with Alaric as well, but his character ended up falling flat for me. He is great to Evan and she definitely upgraded with him, but we didn’t get much else from his personality. Their chemistry was great right off the bat, but my favorite part of forbidden romances is the tension and slow burn. This was just too fast for me to really enjoy the yearning.

Jessica

463 reviews

I’m going to be honest, this wasn’t for me. I love a good age gap when done well and this just wasn’t.

Ric and Evan felt incredibly mismatched and she seemed very immature to be in an age gap romance with this man. They truly didn’t feel like two people who would fall for each other and this made the small amount of spice exceptionally cringe.
Their love story wasn’t in the least bit believable and moved at the speed of an F1 car. They dated secretly for 12 seconds and then couldn’t see a life without each other.

The story’s pace did move along nicely, too fast at times, but I just wasn’t invested in them so it did take me a few days to get through the book.

I love some neurodivergent representation but this book felt like an info dump. It was very tell and not show. We were told how Evangeline has all these diagnoses but we weren’t really shown how they impacted her. Instead, we’re given WebMD explanations.

This was my first book by this author. I would try another and see if I enjoy it more. Perhaps different tropes?

Alayna Kipp

99 reviews3 followers

ARC REVIEW!

I LOVED this book! My review now will be spoiler free until it’s released and then I will update. This book was everything. I related to Evangeline more than any other fmc I’ve ever read. I love the meaning behind the title of the book and the message it portrays. This book was full of fun, laughs, steamy moments, and tons of sinful smut 🥵 I cannot wait for this book to come out into the world and for you all to love it as much as I did!

Nadja

529 reviews172 followers

Review of advance copy

I genuinely do not know where to begin with this one because every time I think I've identified the biggest problem, another one jumps out from behind a bush and punches me in the face.

This book was bad.

Not "this wasn't for me" bad. Not "I can see why other people might enjoy it" bad.

Bad bad.

The kind of bad where I spent most of my reading time staring into the distance wondering how every single decision made during the writing process ended up leading us here.

What's frustrating is that it actually started somewhat interesting. Not amazing. Not groundbreaking. But interesting enough that I thought maybe it would find its footing.

Instead it immediately drove off a cliff.

The writing was terrible. Everything is tell and absolutely nothing is show. The author aggressively explains every single thing instead of allowing readers to experience it naturally through the story. Characters don't reveal themselves through their actions, conversations, or relationships. They simply stop what they're doing and dump information on the reader.

Evangeline is probably the biggest victim of this. Instead of feeling like an actual person, she often feels like a walking medical file that gained sentience... We get endless explanations about her diagnoses, her symptoms, her thought processes, and why she behaves the way she does. And before anyone misunderstands me, I have absolutely no issue with her having multiple diagnoses. The issue is that the book spends more time explaining them than actually showing how they impact her life.

The autism, sensory issues, eating disorder, ADHD—everything feels incredibly inconsistent. The autism and sensory-related struggles only seem to appear when the plot needs them to. Other times they might as well not exist. The ADHD gets mentioned constantly, yet I genuinely cannot think of a single moment where it actually manifested in a meaningful way. It's like the diagnoses exist because the author wants credit for representation without actually committing to writing them consistently.

And speaking of consistency...

Let's talk about this romance.

Dear God.

I need someone to explain to me how these two supposedly developed this earth-shattering, life-changing love story because based on what I actually read, they barely know each other.

By the timeline of the races, this entire relationship seems to take place over roughly two months. During those two months we're only present for three race weekends before they already hit their dramatic breakup. And we're not even present for the entirety of those weekends. We get random snippets here and there.

They take a nap together in Japan.

They hook up in Barcelona.

She arrives early in Monaco and they spend most of the week having sex.

Then suddenly they're deeply in love.

Then suddenly they can't live without each other.

Then suddenly we're expected to believe they're soulmates.

I felt like I was being gaslit. No, they are not deeply connected. You have simply informed me that they are. Repeatedly.

The book keeps telling me they have this incredible connection, but at no point does it actually show me one. They don't spend enough meaningful time together for me to buy any of it. It's insta-love on steroids, and every time the book tried to convince me they were desperately in love I wanted to roll my eyes into another dimension.

The emotional development isn't undercooked. It isn't even raw. The ingredients are still sitting in the grocery store.

And then there's the Formula 1 aspect...

This book was clearly written for people who know absolutely nothing about Formula 1 because anyone who actually follows the sport is going to spend half the book questioning reality.

Everything is painfully overexplained. The book constantly stops to explain how Formula 1 works in ways that feel unnatural and clunky, yet somehow manages to get so much of it wrong that it becomes laughable.

Apparently in this universe there are twenty-two drivers on the grid and NINE of them are best friends who constantly hang out together after races.

Nine.

NINE.

Are you kidding me?

I'm not saying drivers can't be friends. They absolutely can. Some are genuinely close. But nine drivers from nine different teams constantly hanging out together and acting like one giant friend group? In Formula 1 of all sports?

Absolutely not.

These people are direct competitors. They're fighting each other every single weekend. You're telling me they spend two hours battling on track, potentially costing each other points, podiums, positions, and championships, and then they're all casually grabbing drinks together afterward?

Sure.

And maybe next week Max Verstappen and George Russell will open a bakery together.

The whole thing feels ridiculously unrealistic.

It somehow gets worse because apparently every single member of this friend group has won a championship. Every team is competitive. Everyone is constantly scoring points. Nobody struggles. Nobody sits at the back. Everyone's successful all the time. It's Formula 1 written by someone who decided competition was optional. It's like the author looked at the concept of competitive sports and said, "No thank you."

The drama isn't any better. This book is absolutely addicted to conflict for the sake of conflict.

Luca in particular was one of the most insufferable characters I've read in a long time. Not because he's a good antagonist. Not because he's morally grey. Not because he's complex.

He's just an asshole.

For absolutely no reason.

We're told he and Alaric had a perfectly fine relationship growing up. Then one day he joins Formula 1 and apparently decides his entire personality is going to be being miserable and rude to everyone around him. Suddenly Alaric isn't "Dad" anymore. Now he's "Ric." Suddenly he can't stand him. Suddenly they're constantly fighting.

Why?

Who knows.

The book certainly doesn't.

There's a family panel scene at like 80% where Luca randomly decides to be awful once again despite absolutely nothing happening to trigger it. Every single interaction feels like the author remembered there hadn't been drama for three pages and needed Luca to start acting up again.

Then we get the breakup.

Leslie essentially pressures Alaric into breaking up with Evangeline because she doesn't want Evangeline risking her Formula 1 career. Fine. Whatever.

But the execution is ridiculous.

The breakup happens before Monaco qualifying. Then after the race Leslie immediately tells Evangeline what happened. Evangeline decides she's going to resign because she never really cared about working in Formula 1 anyway.

Then she accidentally overhears Luca confessing he got someone pregnant nine months ago.

Then she runs away.

Then Alaric finds her.

Then we get this dramatic speech about how completely shattered she is.

And I'm sorry, but the eye rolls I was doing during that scene could've powered a small city.

Because girl.

You dated for approximately twelve minutes.

Please be serious.

Then, within what feels like a couple of hours, Luca and Alaric suddenly have a heart-to-heart. Everything is forgiven. Leslie shows up. Alaric declares his love for Evangeline. Luca overhears. Everyone magically becomes reasonable.

The family drama disappears.

The breakup drama disappears.

The resentment disappears.

The pregnancy drama disappears.

Every conflict that consumed the book is solved by the incredible power of convenient timing and love.

I genuinely sat there wondering if I'd accidentally skipped several chapters.

Nothing feels earned. Nothing feels satisfying. Nothing gets the resolution it actually needed.

And that's kind of the biggest issue with this entire book.

We're given paragraphs upon paragraphs describing what people are wearing. We're given detailed explanations about diagnoses. We're given Formula 1 lectures. We're given endless descriptions of how attractive everyone is.

What we're not given is actual character development.

We're not given believable relationships.

We're not given meaningful emotional connections.

We're not given chemistry.

We're not given reasons to care.

The romance is painfully insta-love. The emotional development is practically nonexistent. The Formula 1 aspect is wildly inaccurate. The drama is manufactured. The spice scenes are constant and somehow still managed to make me cringe.

By the end I felt like I'd spent hundreds of pages being told things happened rather than actually experiencing them.

A genuinely painful read and one that somehow got worse the longer it went on.

Alexia Gauthier

218 reviews10 followers

age-gap arcs ex-boyfriends-dad

The formula I didn’t see coming

4.5 ⭐️ | 2.75 🌶️

Upgraded was my first Abby Millsaps book, and consider me officially intrigued by what she does next.

I went into this expecting a fun Formula 1 romance with an age gap and a forbidden twist. What I got was so much more layered, emotional, and surprisingly tender than I anticipated.

Evangeline is one of those heroines who immediately grabs your heart. She’s autistic, has ADHD, and has spent most of her life feeling like she’s “too much” for everyone around her. Too emotional. Too sensitive. Too difficult. Watching her navigate a world that constantly asks her to shrink herself was both heartbreaking and incredibly relatable. Abby Millsaps handles Evangeline with so much care, respect, and authenticity that she never feels reduced to a diagnosis: she feels fully human.

And then there’s Alaric.

The man is competence wrapped in a tailored suit, carrying enough emotional intelligence to make half the romance genre nervous.

As Team Principal of a Formula 1 team, Alaric is used to control, precision, and structure. Yet from the moment he crashes into Evangeline’s chaotic orbit, the dynamic between them becomes impossible to look away from. Yes, there’s a significant age gap. Yes, he’s her ex-boyfriend’s father. Yes, he’s technically her boss.

And somehow… it works.

Not because the book ignores those complications, but because it leans into them. Their connection develops through understanding, patience, trust, and mutual respect. For perhaps the first time in her life, Evangeline is seen exactly as she is and not as someone who needs fixing. That emotional foundation made every romantic moment hit so much harder.

The Formula 1 backdrop adds plenty of excitement without overshadowing the romance. The travel, the paddock politics, the pressure, the constant movement; it all creates the perfect environment for a relationship that feels both thrilling and dangerous.

What surprised me most was how raw this story became at times. Beneath the forbidden romance and swoony tension is a deeper exploration of self-worth, masking, acceptance, and what it means to be loved without conditions. There were moments that made me laugh, moments that made me ache, and more than a few that had me smiling like an idiot.

My only reason for not giving it a full five stars is that there were a few places where I wanted just a little more development, but honestly? This was still an incredibly strong start to the Away We Go series.

Sexy, heartfelt, funny, emotionally intelligent, and refreshingly respectful, Upgraded delivers a forbidden romance that feels far more meaningful than its premise initially suggests.

Thank you to Valentine PR for the eARC, and congratulations to Abby Millsaps on the upcoming release (June 24th)!

If you’re looking for:
🏎️ Formula 1 romance
💼 Boss/employee tension
🔥 Ex-boyfriend’s dad romance
📈 Age gap done right
🧠 Neurodivergent representation
❤️ Emotional intimacy over unnecessary drama
✨ A hero who truly sees the heroine

…then Upgraded deserves a spot on your TBR.

The Millennial Mood Reader

219 reviews7 followers

age-gap-romance billionaire-romance forbidden-romance

🏎️ARC Review🏁

Ex-Boyfriend’s Dad
Formula 1 Racing
Age Gap (44/26)
Close Proximity
Forbidden Love
Found Family
AuDHF/ARFID Rep (FMC)
He SEES Her
He shows up for HER👏🏼
He cooks for her
Slow Burn

4.5⭐️
2.5🌶️

Upgraded is Abby’s first book in the new Away We Go series in her new formula 1 racing world! I’ve always enjoyed Abby’s writing and this book is a great start in her new series!

Evangeline is a 26yr old who runs her own business and has been supporting her (ex) Luca while he crushes through life as a formula 1 driver. Evan catches Luca (in the act) which leads to ending their 2 yr relationship. He was a horrible bf to her. Let just say Luca is not a lovable or redeemable character for me. Luckily his Dad Alaric is able to step in and step up! Alaric is the team Principle for Granata and after his and Evan’s meet cute (which I loved) he offers her a job for the team.

I loved how the story flows, it doesn’t feel rushed or quick. They travel to different countries for the races and are on the circuit for weeks allowing this forbidden chemistry to play out! The exes dad, age gap and forbidden romance burns soooo good!
Alaric “Use me, angel” Steele!!!🔥🔥🔥

| We’re two puzzle pieces, clicking into place. Two weary souls, disarmed and vulnerable, trusting each other enough to lean in despite all the unknowns and potential consequences. |

| Alaric’s like gravity, and I’m free-floating matter. All I want is to be anchored by his personal brand of care.|

Abby did a phenomenal job with representing Autism and ADHD along with (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. You can tell the care she put into this and it’s so informative and enlightening. Alaric is one of the most supportive MMCs I’ve read lately. THIS MAN!! All the green flags! He wants her to feel seen and supported! He cooks for her, he cares for her.. he wants to give her the world. Evan is vocal about her needs and is direct which I really appreciated. Both MCs at mature and appreciate clear communication. There is a third act b/u due to miscommunication and someone trying to do what’s best for the other but not really listening to what they want (despite meaning well) luckily that is quickly worked through and they come out stronger than ever.

I absolutely LOVED the EVEN BETTER ELEVEN friend group!! There are a lot of characters introduced but I never felt overwhelmed! I love Evan and Mia’s friendship. This group supported Evan after the Luca debacle and showed how much she means to them in such little ways. I can’t wait to see what happens with the rivals to lovers trope that has to be Mia and Prince!
If you enjoy formula 1 romance with a slow burn, add in an age gap and he’s her exes dad who is a major upgrade the you’ll want to add this to your TBR!!

Thank you to Samantha at The Smuthood and Author Abby Millsap for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

BookishMarineMama03

254 reviews5 followers

Review of advance copy

June 13, 2026

Upgraded by Abby Millsaps is book one in the Away We Go series. I LOVE F1 racing and this one has it all! My favorite spicy age gap, forbidden ex-boyfriend's dad! The perfect found family and so much heart and emotion as only Abby writes. Every book I have ever read by Abby, I truly love how she writes characters that are so real and raw, she doesn't shy away from the pain or the true things people go through. She gets us down deep to the heart. She always shows that we are not defined by what the world would say are things “wrong” in us. And I love how she always brings together friends and family and a love to guide you through it all. You need this book!

Alaric and Evangeline. These two were absolutely inevitable from day one. He’s the Team Principal of Granata Racing. This man is the definition of a controlled man. In charge, takes care of business, protective of those he loves. This woman, she is everything. She is strength despite how the world has labeled her as “too much”. I so cheered for the fierce woman she was and at the same time my heart broke for the world treating her as it has. She’s kind and funny, but so vulnerable and truly never been treated as a woman should. (His son, her ex was absolutely horrible!) Altering herself at times to fit in broke my heart. At times reading the cues in those around her to truly understand and the absolute exhaustion her body and mind faced was heartbreaking. BUT THIS MAN, this man SEES HER! He accepts her exactly as she is, loves her unconditionally without her having to hide who she is and does all he can to make her feel comfortable and loved. And they try to fight it, with so many things saying the them being together is wrong, including that she works for him. But when they finally fall, there are no words for the passion, the heat and this man’s mouth and care of her was everything!

Add in a great cast of characters. The Eleven friends, I LOVED their support for each other, how they stood by Evan period. And I can't wait to get to know them more!

I probably drove Abby crazy continually messaging here as I read, but I couldn't help it! This book touched me in so many ways. It was so true to life between the heartbreak and absolute healing. You must add this book now. I can't wait for the next one, I have couples I have already picked out!

Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

❤️‍🔥 Ex-Boyfriend’s Dad
🏁 Formula 1 Sports Romance
❤️‍🔥 Forbidden Romance
🏁 Age Gap
❤️‍🔥 Found Family
🏁 Slow Burn

🦋Thank you Abby Millsaps and Valentine PR for my arc!

Annie

41 reviews

This was my first Formula 1 romance ARC as I know very little about Formula 1, but I’ll read anything Abby writes so I knew I had to give it a try! This is the first book in a series of interconnected standalones so there was a lot of characters introduced and world building, but it wasn’t too overwhelming and almost all of the characters are super likable.

Evangeline and Alaric’s story is sort of an insta-love disguised as a slow burn that begins after Evangeline’s ex Luca cheats on her. Alaric—who happens to be her ex-boyfriend’s much older dad—falls hard and fast for her and the tension and buildup of their forbidden relationship is so much fun. They not only have great chemistry, but Alaric goes out of his way to understand and support Evan in any way he can, which makes him a total dreamboat. We also get to meet Evangeline’s extensive found family (the Even Better Eleven) who are all so lovable and unique, I’m really looking forward to diving into their individual stories in future books in the series!

Huge huge huge appreciation to Abby for the AuDHD FMC in this book, and for such a positive representation of someone who deals with the struggles of sensory issues, ARFID, overstimulation, masking, etc. and can still be a bad ass woman, business owner, and friend. There are a few inconsistencies but I also know that everyone’s lived experience of this is different, so I give that some grace in writing. I also loved the honest, clear communication (even through the tough stuff) between Evangeline and Alaric as someone who despises a miscommunication trope and loves when adults act like adults should!! (Not counting Luca’s behavior).

The romance did feel a little fast for me, which makes the story slightly less believable, and once you get to the second half things ramp up in a way that does not feel realistic and loses you a bit. Apart from some parts feeling rushed and some inconsistencies, it’s a really fun and worth it read.

Overall the story was super enjoyable and fun, and makes you want to dive into the other characters stories. Worth a read for anyone who likes F1, forbidden, or age gap romances!

Thank you so much to Valentine PR and The Smuthood for the early copies of this one!!

Kayla

748 reviews7 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

Upgraded by Abby Millsaps is the first book in the interconnected standalones in the Away We Go Series. This is an adult sports romance that is set in a fictional Formula 1 racing universe. This book follows the story of 22-year-old Evangeline and 44-year-old Alaric. Evangeline's life has just went into a tailspin when her boyfriend of two years, Luca, is caught cheating, breaks up with her, and then sends her to store her things at his father's house without her or his father knowing. Alaric is Luca's father and the new Team President of Granata Racing after the previous one was caught up in a scandal. When the two meet, there is a pretty instant connection that they both fight due to their almost 20 year age gap. When Alaric sees Evangeline floundering due to his son, he feels he must step in to help and hires her as part of the Granata Team. As Evangeline travels with the racing team, the tension between her and Aalaric starts to rise and grow. You'll have to read to find out if these two can overcome all the challenges thrown at them.
This book has some of the best representation I've seen of someone who lives with neurodivergence and how they navigate their daily life. It shows really well how they navigate the world differently and some of the struggles they face. Evangeline does have struggles she has to face, but in this book, it is never portrayed as something that makes her less than. In fact, I would say it makes her more as she learns to accept who she is and becomes stronger.
I really enjoyed this book; every time I found a spare moment in my day, I was reading to find out what would happen next. I personally didn't feel like the story was rushed and did feel like the story flowed well. For anyone who lives with Autism, ADHD, ARFID, or neurodivergence, I hope the representation in this book makes you feel seen and that you know you are not too much and your needs matter.
As with everything I've read by Abby, I was not disappointed. I got all the swoony heartfelt moments I've come to love from Abby. I can't wait to see what she brings/creates in the next book of this series.

Tropes you can expect from this book are:
🏁 Small Town
🏁 Ex-boyfriend's Dad
🏁 Age Gap
🏁 Close Proximity
🏁 Forbidden Love
🏁 Found Family
🏁 Slow Burn

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.

Cigi cini

765 reviews53 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

June 12, 2026

💚 Formula 1 Romance
🏎️ Workplace Romance
🖤 Forbidden Romance
🔥 Age Gap Romance
💼 Boss/Employee Romance
💔 Ex-Boyfriend's Dad
💞 Secret Relationship
✈️ Forced Proximity
❤️ Protective Hero
✨ He Sees Her
🌶️ Spicy Romance
🥹 Emotional Healing
💘 Opposites Attract
💕 He Falls Hard
🛡️ Supportive Hero
⚡ High Stakes Romance
🏁 Interconnected Standalone Series
💋 Slow Burn Romance
❤️ Happily Ever After

Star: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

Upgraded by Abby Millsaps is a spicy, emotional, and completely addictive Formula 1 romance that had me hooked from the very beginning. Combining a forbidden relationship, workplace tension, and an age gap romance with plenty of heart, this story delivers all the angst and chemistry I could ask for.

I absolutely loved the connection between Alaric and Evangeline. Despite their unconventional circumstances, their relationship felt genuine and beautifully developed. Alaric is the ultimate composed and protective hero, but beneath his controlled exterior is a man who truly sees Evangeline and accepts her exactly as she is. Their chemistry is undeniable, and every stolen moment between them had me eagerly turning the pages.

What really stood out to me was Evangeline's journey. Her struggles with feeling like she is "too much" added an extra layer of vulnerability that made her incredibly relatable. I appreciated how the author handled those emotions with sensitivity while showing the importance of being loved and accepted without having to hide parts of yourself.

Set against the exciting backdrop of Formula 1, Upgraded perfectly balances romance, emotion, humor, and plenty of steamy moments. The racing world added an extra layer of glamour and intensity without overshadowing the relationship at the heart of the story.

If you enjoy forbidden romance, ex-boyfriend's dad tropes, age gap relationships, workplace romance, and protective heroes, Upgraded is definitely one to add to your TBR. Evangeline and Alaric's story is heartfelt, swoony, and full of unforgettable moments. I cannot wait to see what Abby Millsaps has in store for this series next.

arc

BookishAlexia

156 reviews3 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

2026-anticipated-releases agegap-romance arc-reads

Rating: 4.5⭐️

I absolutely adored this book!

Alaric and Evangeline were so beautiful together! The way they communicated and took care of each other was amazing to experience. Alaric was so incredibly attentive, kind and understanding in all that he did and how he interacted with Evangeline. I really liked the way Evangeline's struggles and diagnosis were handled with care. Abby was not joking when she said that "If your boyfriend can't get you across the finish line, maybe his dad can". This was a perfect slow burn romance, and when that spice hit, my god I needed a fan or something. I also really enjoyed how the hurt/comfort elements of their relationship were incorporated into their romantic and sexual relationship.

Alaric "Use me Angel" Steele!!! The filthy-mouthed man that you are. I love a man that can be incredibly soft, kind, and caring, and also be filthy AF in bed. When I hear "You look so pretty on your knees" and "Good girl", I am done for!

This book hit close to home for me and made me very emotional at times. I could really relate to Evangeline as a person and the issues that she struggles with daily. I think that aspect really helped me to connect deeply with her and truly appreciate the care with which her story was told. And the found family in this book was amazing and added so much to the story. A special shoutout to Mia!

The third-act breakup is always something I struggle with, and that I usually don't enjoy in books. However, the way it was written and told in this story made it feel real. Instead of feeling forced, it felt like the third-act breakup came from a place of normal human emotions and split-second reactions. I think it was handled really well.

If you enjoy...
✨ Formula 1 sports romance
✨ Ex-boyfriend's dad
✨ Forbidden romance
✨ Age gap
✨ Found Family
✨ Slow Burn
✨ AuDHD/ARFID Rep (FMC)
✨ Elements of hurt/comfort

... then I would highly recommend this book!

Thank you to the Smuthood and the author for the ARC

Nicole

659 reviews7 followers

Evangeline had her whole year planned out, she was going to travel the Formula 1 circuit with her boyfriend, and spend time with her closest friends. So when she caught him cheating a few weeks before they were leaving, all her plans fell apart. When he told her he arranged to move her stuff in storage, she wasn’t expecting to drive up to a mansion, and even less have his father walk up to her and ask what she was doing at his house. When he realizes how badly his son wronged her, he offers her a job working with his team, and soon she’s boarding a plane to travel the world. As she gets to know her new boss, she realizes how much he notices her, and soon she’s swept into a love affair that could threaten everything.

When Alaric’s son entered the F1 circuit, he distanced himself from his father, wanting to earn his place outside of his father’s shadow. From the moment he lays eyes on Evangeline, he is affected in a way he hasn’t felt before, and all he wants to do is fix what his son has broken. As he gets to know her, he sees a side of her he can’t help but wanting, and is determined to do whatever he can to keep her close. When she joins his team, he tries to mask his attraction, given their working relationship as well as her past with his son, but neither is able to resist the pull, and soon they’re putting everything on the line.

I received an early copy of this book from The Smuthood and Valentine PR and I absolutely loved it! I honestly shouldn’t be surprised, given how much I’ve loved the author’s books in the past, but there was something extra special about this one. I appreciated how Evangeline’s neurodivergence was featured but not stereotyped, and that Alaric not only saw every part of her, but supported her in whatever she needed, rather than forcing her to mask. While the dynamic with his son made things tricky, he didn’t let a sense of familial obligation stop him from pursuing Evangeline, and made it clear throughout the book that she was a priority. Their story gave me all the feels, and I can’t wait for the rest of the series.

Chasity

4 reviews

First! Thank you to Valentine pr and Abby for this advanced copy! Run dont walk on June 24th to get yours!

AND AWAAAAAY WE GO!

🏁 Exs dad ✔️
❤️ F1 racing✔️
🏁 Forbidden Romance✔️
❤️ Age gap✔️
🏁 Slow burn✔️
❤️ Found family✔️

If your an Abby reader then you're probably use to all the cohorts 😏 BUT she's changed direction with this one and we have a slow-ish burn, no cliff hanger THANK GOD (this girl hates a cliffy) lol.

Slow-ish burn...we still get sexy tidbits along the way

The first thing you need to know about Mrs. Abby is she always represents mental health in all her books, I belive its one of the things that make her so special, and she doesn't stray away from it in Upgraded either, AudDHD, food sensory, over stimulation...she hits quite a few in this one 💜

Evan we love her and all of her "quirks". She's in her head a lot but i loved watching her grow. I always seem to love the FMC in Abby's books. Don't get me wrong the MMC are always delicious but I really connect with the girls and their trauma and how they grow with it.

Now I dont know squat about F1 racing and had no problems following this story so dont let that hold you back.

Alaric we love, hate, and love some more. I love that she gave Evan someone that see her, the spice is great, but the fact thay he sees her is the ABSOLUTE FREAKING BEST, and he cooks for her!!! Yeah I said it he cooks for her and not just cooks but takes care that she will love it. He's not lacking in the mental health department and watching him grow to was beautiful. Choosing yourself as a parent can be very hard.

The found family with all the friends in this one is one for the books! This a big family and they all stick up for each other. You're left wanting more of them BUT I think they're gonna get their own books EEEEK!

The breadcrumbs for book 2 are great! And I CANNOT wait to read more about this group

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.

Bari (justbookedup)

909 reviews43 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

I absolutely ate this book up! Literally devoured overnight & have no regrets about the loss of sleep.

Going into this one, I knew the F1 setting & the ex-boyfriend's dad trope would be right up my alley, but what really made this book stand out was Evangeline. She completely stole my heart. Watching her navigate a world that has spent so much time making her feel like she needed to be less of herself was both heartbreaking & inspiring. Her growth throughout the story felt so earned, & I found myself rooting for her from the very first page.

I also appreciated how thoughtfully Abby Millsaps handled ARFID. It's not something I was familiar with before picking up this book, but it was clear a lot of care & research went into portraying it. Evangeline's experiences felt authentic, & that added so much depth to her character & journey.

Alaric was exactly the partner Evangeline needed. What I loved most about their relationship was how naturally he accepted her for who she was. He paid attention, listened, & showed up for her in ways that mattered. Their connection felt genuine, & it was impossible not to root for them.

As the first book in a new series, there's a lot of world-building & quite a few characters introduced along the way. Normally, that can feel overwhelming, but I never found myself wishing for less. Instead, it left me excited to see where the series goes next & whose story we'll get to follow.

This was such a strong start to the Away We Go series. Between the characters, the emotion, & the racing backdrop, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I'm officially invested in this world & already looking forward to what's next.

🏁 F1 romance
❣️ Ex-boyfriend's dad
💋 Age gap romance
🏎️ Workplace romance
🚫 Forbidden romance
🫶 Found family
🔥 Slow Burn
✌🏻 Dual POV

Heather

1,626 reviews26 followers

Review of advance copy

Upgraded by Abby Millsaps is the first book in the Away We Go series. I am a lover of sports romance, so I was happy to be immersed in the world of F1.

Evangeline has just found out her boyfriend of two-years has been cheating on her. He offers to help her store her belongings, but little does she know she's going to be storing her things at his father's house! She encounters Alaric, her ex's father, at her very lowest when he shows up after she and the movers have arrived.

Alaric is the team principal of Granata Racing and he realizes immediately upon meeting Evangeline that his son has not done right by her. He wants to fix the wrongs, but he also finds himself quite taken with the twenty-something young woman. He realizes there are almost two decades between them, but he can't help the pull towards her.

Alaric helps Evangeline by hiring her on at Granata Racing which further complicates what is happening between them. Not only is he the father of the ex, he's older and now he's her boss too! Will it all be too much for them?

One of the things I absolutely loved about this story is how understood Evangeline was by Alaric. He realized that she was dealing with things that not everyone does, but it didn't make her less than in any way. He saw her for who she was and he accepted her. It was so wonderful to see this play out on the pages while watching their story unfold. I also really loved the found family that Evangeline had with the other drivers.

I'm squarely in this series and I can hardly wait for the next one to be released! This was a fantastic way to start this series!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**

Jakara ✨

124 reviews6 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

You best believe as soon as I see a book pop up available for arc request with “ex boyfriends dad” as a trope - I’m requesting it 🤗

This was a great read! I absolutely loved both Alaric & Evangeline’s characters. The AuDHD representation with Evan was absolutely phenomenal and I take my hat off to Abby Millsaps because as an ADHD girl, it was portrayed very accurately. Alaric was such a breath of fresh air and the ultimate “love you in the streets….f you in the sheets” man 😉

“𝐌𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈’𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜.”

The only reason this book wasn’t a 5 star for me, was I felt the second half was slightly 0-100. I felt like they lacked some important conversations - like with Alaric being 44, does he want more kids? The first 50% had great tension and great relationship building, but I felt like we then kind of jumped straight in and lost all resistance very quickly.

In saying that, I will pick up every single book in this series, because it was a GREAT read. Give me every book of the even better eleven & I’ll read it. Abby did a phenomenal job of introducing us to them all in this book and I really appreciated the list of characters at the start (although I do feel like for this particular book the list of the elite eight, wasn’t completely necessary).

Found family is one of my all time favourite tropes and it was soooooo good in this book! The way they all supported her and showed up for her was heart warming 🥹

You should read this if you love:
🏎️ f1 boss x his employee
🏁 ex boyfriends dad / age gap
😇 AuDHD representation
🏎️ golden retriever mmc
🏁 found family big friendship group
😇 standalone interconnected book series

Massive Thankyou to Valentine PR for allowing me to arc read this!

Kirsty

711 reviews18 followers

Review of advance copy

I am absolutely OBSESSED with this book!! Upgraded completely stole my heart and I devoured every single page. Abby Millsaps took a trope combination that should have me clutching my pearls and somehow had me kicking my feet and grinning like a fool instead. 😂❤️

Alaric Steele? SIR. Where do I even begin? This man is competent, protective, patient, and just the right amount of possessive. The fact that he’s older, her boss, AND her ex-boyfriend’s dad should not work this well, but wow did it WORK. I was gone for this man from the start.

What I loved most though was how seen and understood the heroine felt with Alaric. As someone who’s always been told she’s “too much,” watching someone love every part of her instead of trying to make her smaller hit me right in the feelings. Their relationship felt so tender and supportive while also being packed with chemistry and tension. Every secret moment and stolen glance had me squealing.

And can we talk about the Formula 1 setting?! I ate that up. The fast-paced world, the travel, the drama around the paddock, it all added so much excitement and made the romance even more addictive.

The banter was fantastic, the emotional moments hit hard, and the spice was perfection. I seriously could not put this book down and found myself thinking about these characters long after I finished.

Alaric Steele has officially entered my book boyfriend hall of fame and I don’t see him leaving anytime soon. If forbidden romance, age gaps, workplace romance, and an ex-boyfriend’s dad are your thing, RUN to this book. Abby Millsaps absolutely crossed the finish line with this one and I loved every glorious second of it!

Kelly

168 reviews5 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

My 3rd time into the world of F1 but 1st by this author...first book ever by her and I'm a fan!!! The way she wrote these characters, so raw, compassionate, caring...you just felt it!

This book has family drama, found family, friendships, strong fmc, Evangeline, overcoming the life she was dealt with strength and confidence. She has a group of friends who accepts her for who she is, a girl who's always been "too much, too picky, different"

When she and her boyfriend of 2 years breakup, she finds herself in his dad's driveway where her ex has arranged for her to keep her things.

Our mmc, Alaric, her ex's dad is right off the bat amazing, golden retriever who starts out just wanting to right his sons wrongs. He finds himself so entranced by Evangeline. He sees her for who she is and is accepting, even intrigued. He falls head over heels for her and becomes very protective over her.
It's not surprising she isn't far behind with her developing feelings for him.

The obvious age gap, while brought up, never is a concern. Its more of the career paths that are the concern, and due to that, there is a 3rd act break up....UGH! But they have a pull that brings them back together. He's so patient, respects her boundaries and waits for her. She doesn't take long. She knows she belongs with him.

The side characters who will be main characters in future books had such wonderful supportive roles. I loved their bond and support for each other.

I'll definitely be continuing with the Away We Go Series!

Thank you, Abby and VPR for this ARC!

✨️Formula 1 Romance
✨️Workplace Romance
✨️Age Gap Romance
✨️Ex-Boyfriend's Dad
✨️Forced Proximity
✨️Protective Hero
✨️Spice🌶🌶🌶🌶

Chantal

436 reviews2 followers

This book had me hooked from the start and I refused to put it down.

Formula 1? ✔️
Forbidden romance? ✔️
A slow burn that had me completely invested? ✔️✔️✔️

I don’t usually read racing/Formula 1 books. Mainly because I know nothing about it! But Abby made sure she served up formula 1 EDUCATION. I am now semi pro, or maybe comparable to Formula 4 realm 😂
And can we talk about the ARFID representation for a second? This is the second book I’ve read recently featuring ARFID, and I love seeing it represented on page. As someone who works with individuals with ARFID, so much of Evangeline’s experience felt authentic and familiar. Now, would I typically encourage some of the accommodations featured in the story? Maybe not. But as grand romantic gestures from someone who genuinely wants to support and care for the person they love, I absolutely understood the intention behind them! These accommodations are definitely a-typical and social eating is usually a major stressor for people with ARFID.

Back to Alaric…

HE COOKS FOR HER.

Sir, please. I love a man who cooks. I love a man who cooks to her preferences more.

One of my favorite parts of this book was seeing so many women thriving in traditionally male dominated spaces. Whether on the racing side, the business side, or behind the scenes, there were so many capable, intelligent women represented here and I was absolutely here for it!

As for Luca… 🚮
Straight in the trash.

Evangeline and Alaric completely stole my heart. The chemistry, the tension, the emotional connection … it all worked so well. I felt every moment of their story, from the frustration to the vulnerability to the joy.

And the animal print obsession throughout? Iconic!

Overall, this was an easy five star read for me. Emotional, engaging, and impossible to put down.

Rebecca Rae

20 reviews1 follower

Review of advance copy received from Author

Thank you to Smuthood Inc for the ARC!!

Upgraded was such an entertaining start to a new series, and I was hooked from the very beginning. The Formula 1 backdrop added an exciting layer to the story, even for readers who are not familiar with the sport (I've never read an F1 book before).
The chemistry between Evangeline and Alaric, her ex boyfriends dad, them was undeniable from their first meeting, and the anticipation leading up to their relationship kept me turning the pages. Abby Millsaps created a fascinating cast of characters and a vibrant world that left me eager to see which characters will take center stage in future books.

Evangeline was easily my favorite part of the novel. Her journey of self-acceptance felt genuine and emotional, especially after spending so much of her life feeling misunderstood. I loved the neurodivergent representation and how it was woven naturally into her character. Alaric offered the support, patience, and understanding she had been missing, and their relationship was built on honesty and respect.

My only minor criticism is that the story felt longer than necessary at times. While I enjoyed the romance and character development, some sections could have been tightened to maintain the pacing. I also would have liked a little more time spent developing their relationship after they got together, as the emotional intensity escalated quite quickly. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it is a strong introduction to the series.

Fans of age gap romances, forbidden relationships, and Formula 1 settings will definitely want to add this one to their reading list.

Sax and Romance Reads

43 reviews4 followers

Review of advance copy

Evangeline was having a very rough day. She had been dating a Formula 1 driver who cheated on her, left her with a mountain of debt, kicked her out of his apartment, and “rented” her a storage space for her belongings to “help out”. The storage space turned out to be his dad’s garage - which wasn’t rented at all. And you guessed it, his dad didn’t know she or her moving truck were coming to his house.

Alaric hasn’t been the world’s best dad, but he is a caretaker, so when Evangeline shows up in his driveway, his caretaker vibes kick in. Alaric offers Evangeline a job with his F1 team to help her with the debt (since she refuses to take his money), and because he is a caretaker, Alaric ensures his employees are very well taken care of. One teensy problem - his son’s ex-girlfriend is now his employee, and he finds himself falling for her. Slightly larger problem - Alaric is responsible for cleaning up his team’s reputation after a sexual harassment scandal, and he is trying to repair his relationship with his son not make it worse. Forbidden romance - doubled.

I appreciated the neurospicy and disordered eating representation. Evangeline is a delightful character living her life whether it fits into “normal” or not. I also appreciated that the third act break up wasn’t an epic disaster and tied up some extra loose ends. I would have liked some of the side character info to be woven into the story in more digestible chunks. However, if you love the details of Formula racing - you will LOVE this romance!!

Thank you to Abby Millsaps and Smuthood for the advanced reader copy of this book!

Caylee T.

1,137 reviews16 followers

Review of advance copy

Alaric & Evangeline were an absolute treat to read about.

Evangeline has just found out her boyfriend was cheating on her & had sent her things to "storage" but it is in fact not storage....but his father's garage.

And that is how she meets her now ex's father for the first time. Having a moment in his driveway. She was not prepared for him to be so sweet or caring, so it definitely threw her off.

But when he offers her a job after hearing a small portion of how badly his son treated her, she's hesitant to take it, but then she also realizes exactly how much her ex screwed her over.

She ends up taking the job & trying her best to avoid Alaric. But it seems fate has other ideas & keeps having them run into each other. Eventually, the feelings become a bit too hard to deny & they give in. Only for reality to smack them in the face.

Alaric thinks he's doing the best thing for her but quickly comes to terms with how strong his feelings are & that he made a mistake in ending things between them. I can see where he was coming from, but Evangeline told him that the racing job wasn't her dream & she had a no problem leaving

It was all a bit of a mess for a hot minute, but they work things out & man was it perfect. They were prefect together. He actually listened to her & cared for her which was beyond sweet that he went over the top with caring for her.

I absolutely loved these two together & was so happy for their happiness.

This was absolutely amazing! Fantastic job!

MN Book Lady

2,467 reviews7 followers

Review of advance copy

Evangeline definitely upgraded!

After catching her boyfriend cheating, Evangeline followed a truck to ensure her items made it to storage safely, she was surprised to find out ‘storage’ was actually her ex’s father’s garage and he knew nothing about it. Not that Alaric had that great of a relationship with his son over the past two years and knew nothing of Evangeline. The connection is immediate between them and the things that her ex complained about or belittled, Alaric accommodated or saw as a non- issue. They start working together as Evangeline won’t take money from Alaric to pay back was her ex owes her but know they should stay away from each other. That is, until they can’t. But what happens when Alaric’s second in command notices something and reminds him of the scandal of last season?

Alaric and Evangeline get their happy ending in this standalone book in a series.

I know noting about F1 racing, but I don’t feel that detracted from my enjoyment of this book. I love how Alaric immediately wanted to help Evangeline and never made her feel bad about what accommodations she needed. I do wonder how many of her friends knew how deep her condition goes, or if they just picked up on enough over the years to try to make things easier. It will be interesting to see if the group welcomes back Luca in the future, or if they’re all still going to be Team Evangeline and leave him out.

I received an advance review copy from The Smuthood Promo, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Briana Scott

552 reviews18 followers

ARC Review ✨
First I would like to say a big thank you to Abby for letting me be a part of this ARC Team!
Rate: 4/5⭐️
Spice: 2/5🌶️

What to expect when reading ;
-Slow Burn
-Ex Boyfriends Dad
-Formula One Romance
-Found Family
-Forbidden

This is book one of the Away We Go Series! You get to follow Evangeline and Alaric! In a world that sees Evangeline as a chaotic mess, Alaric finding her intriguing. Alaric, team principal for a formula one team, decides to try and right some wrongs and offer her a job. What these two didn’t expect was the chemistry that tries to pull them together.

If it’s a formula one book you better believe I’m going to read it! Abby did such an amazing job with this book! There were just so many little details she incorporated throughout the story that really melted my heart, like I was a literal puddle lol I think one of my favorite things was how even though there was so many side characters. It wasn’t overwhelming to the story if that makes sense they didn’t overpower our two main characters. Alaric is all around that man. He is the definition of if he wanted to he would. The softness he had with Ev, it was like he figured out her love language. This book shows loving your partner the right way will help y’all thrive.

What I was wasn’t expecting was a plot twist at the very end and I’m on my toes now if that leads up to book two, because if it does, I need it ASAP lol

Fav Quote:
•”Your idea of regrouping involves laying. The ground?”

Make sure you get your copy of the book when it releases 🤍
#bookstagram #romance #review

Diagnosed Bookaholic

182 reviews

Review of advance copy