What do you think?
Rate this book
Away We Go #1
Upgraded
If your ex can’t get you across the finish line, his dad probably can…
I’ve always been “too much.”
Too sensitive. Too picky. Too clumsy. Too dramatic.
As a result, I’ve mastered the art of masking.
But that doesn’t stop Alaric Steele from truly seeing me when he finds me flat on my back in his driveway, mid-meltdown.
As Team Principal of Granata Racing, Alaric is control personified. He’s almost twenty years older than me and happens to be my ex-boyfriend’s dad.
Out of desperation, I accept a new job with Granata.
Which means Alaric is also my new boss.
The most surprising part of my role working in Formula 1 isn’t the intense travel schedule or the fear of seeing my ex around the paddock: it’s navigating the surprise encounters and secret rendezvous that launch Alaric and I into a high-speed forbidden romance neither one of us ever saw coming.
But with Alaric’s career on the line, and my fear of being too much growing louder by the day, is the risk of crashing and burning worth falling for my ex-boyfriend’s dad?
Upgraded is book one in Away We Go, a brand new series of interconnected standalone Formula 1 romances from USA Today bestselling author Abby Millsaps.
I’ve always been “too much.”
Too sensitive. Too picky. Too clumsy. Too dramatic.
As a result, I’ve mastered the art of masking.
But that doesn’t stop Alaric Steele from truly seeing me when he finds me flat on my back in his driveway, mid-meltdown.
As Team Principal of Granata Racing, Alaric is control personified. He’s almost twenty years older than me and happens to be my ex-boyfriend’s dad.
Out of desperation, I accept a new job with Granata.
Which means Alaric is also my new boss.
The most surprising part of my role working in Formula 1 isn’t the intense travel schedule or the fear of seeing my ex around the paddock: it’s navigating the surprise encounters and secret rendezvous that launch Alaric and I into a high-speed forbidden romance neither one of us ever saw coming.
But with Alaric’s career on the line, and my fear of being too much growing louder by the day, is the risk of crashing and burning worth falling for my ex-boyfriend’s dad?
Upgraded is book one in Away We Go, a brand new series of interconnected standalone Formula 1 romances from USA Today bestselling author Abby Millsaps.
Paperback
Published June 24, 2026
About the author
Abby Millsaps
38 books1,225 followersAbby Millsaps is an author and storyteller who's been obsessed with romance since middle school. She's best known for writing unapologetically angsty romance, and prides herself in crafting authentic characters while weaving mental health, chronic illness, and neurodiverse representation into the fabric of her stories.
When Abby isn't writing she can be found reading, watching Formula 1, attending a Broadway show, riding rollercoasters with her kids, whipping up a batch of buttercream, or cheering for the Cleveland Browns with her dad. She lives in Northeast Ohio with Mr. Abby, their three kids, and a wiggly dachshund pup named Frankie.
Connect with Abby
Website: www.authorabbymillsaps.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AbbyMillsaps
Instagram: @abbymillsaps
TikTok: @authorabbymillsaps
Newsletter: https://geni.us/AuthorAbbyNewsletter
Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/authorabbymi...
When Abby isn't writing she can be found reading, watching Formula 1, attending a Broadway show, riding rollercoasters with her kids, whipping up a batch of buttercream, or cheering for the Cleveland Browns with her dad. She lives in Northeast Ohio with Mr. Abby, their three kids, and a wiggly dachshund pup named Frankie.
Connect with Abby
Website: www.authorabbymillsaps.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AbbyMillsaps
Instagram: @abbymillsaps
TikTok: @authorabbymillsaps
Newsletter: https://geni.us/AuthorAbbyNewsletter
Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/authorabbymi...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 680 reviews
June 28, 2026
Evangeline Bennett spent more than two years as Luca Steele’s dirty little secret. Reeling from their breakup, she’s left questioning her worth and wondering if she’ll ever be enough. When Luca puts her belongings in storage, he conveniently neglects to mention that the unit is located in his father’s garage. Meeting your ex’s father while retrieving your things is awkward enough. Having a full-blown meltdown in his driveway makes it infinitely worse.
Fortunately, Alaric Steele is nothing like his son. Genuine, compassionate, and ridiculously attractive, he steps in to help after Luca did her dirty yet again. In an effort to make things right, Alaric offers Evangeline a job. Though hesitant at first, she quickly realizes the opportunity is too good to pass up - not only financially, but because it allows her to travel the circuit with the Even Better Eleven as she had planned all along.
As they spend more time together, neither Evangeline nor Alaric can deny the connection growing between them. But with Evangeline’s history with his son and the fallout from the Granata Racing scandal still threatening the organization's public image, acting on their feelings could cost them both more than they’re willing to risk.
Gah! Upgraded was all that and a box of chocolates. While it’s a departure from Abby’s previous books, it was every bit as consuming. I loved the way Alaric recognized and cared for Evangeline’s emotional needs just as much as her physical ones. For a girl who gravitates toward red-flag heroes, I found myself sprinting toward Alaric’s green flags like there was a hellhound on my ass.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): New Adult
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
Length: 📚📚📚📚📚
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 😩🫠🤫🫠😍
Darkness: 🩶
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
✨ Tropes: Age Gap (18), Billionaire, Forbidden, Forced Proximity, Secret Relationship, Single Parent, Workplace
💫 Microtropes: Caretaker/Protective MMC, Caveman/Bridal Carry, Forehead Kisses, “Good Girl”, Grovel/Grand Gesture, Neurodivergent FMC, Panty Thief, Pet Name (Angel), “You Take Me So Well”
🔆 Character: Creator, White Collar
💋 Kinks: Finger Licking Good, Praise
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Dominant MMC, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive
⛔️ Safety Squad: There are potentially triggering elements. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: Formula 1 Circuit
📣 Type: Upgraded is the first book in the Away We Go series of interconnected standalones.
⚠️ Warning: The angst in this slow-burn will edge you to the point of combustion!
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
Fortunately, Alaric Steele is nothing like his son. Genuine, compassionate, and ridiculously attractive, he steps in to help after Luca did her dirty yet again. In an effort to make things right, Alaric offers Evangeline a job. Though hesitant at first, she quickly realizes the opportunity is too good to pass up - not only financially, but because it allows her to travel the circuit with the Even Better Eleven as she had planned all along.
As they spend more time together, neither Evangeline nor Alaric can deny the connection growing between them. But with Evangeline’s history with his son and the fallout from the Granata Racing scandal still threatening the organization's public image, acting on their feelings could cost them both more than they’re willing to risk.
Gah! Upgraded was all that and a box of chocolates. While it’s a departure from Abby’s previous books, it was every bit as consuming. I loved the way Alaric recognized and cared for Evangeline’s emotional needs just as much as her physical ones. For a girl who gravitates toward red-flag heroes, I found myself sprinting toward Alaric’s green flags like there was a hellhound on my ass.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): New Adult
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
Length: 📚📚📚📚📚
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 😩🫠🤫🫠😍
Darkness: 🩶
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
✨ Tropes: Age Gap (18), Billionaire, Forbidden, Forced Proximity, Secret Relationship, Single Parent, Workplace
💫 Microtropes: Caretaker/Protective MMC, Caveman/Bridal Carry, Forehead Kisses, “Good Girl”, Grovel/Grand Gesture, Neurodivergent FMC, Panty Thief, Pet Name (Angel), “You Take Me So Well”
🔆 Character: Creator, White Collar
💋 Kinks: Finger Licking Good, Praise
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Dominant MMC, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive
⛔️ Safety Squad: There are potentially triggering elements. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: Formula 1 Circuit
📣 Type: Upgraded is the first book in the Away We Go series of interconnected standalones.
⚠️ Warning: The angst in this slow-burn will edge you to the point of combustion!
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
November 3, 2026
Esto fue tan MALO. Lo terminé por pura terquedad.
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.
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.
Read
June 23, 2026
Upgraded is book one in Away We Go, a brand new series of interconnected standalone Formula 1 romances.Blurb
If your ex can’t get you across the finish line, his dad probably can…
I’ve always been “too much.”
Too sensitive. Too picky. Too clumsy. Too dramatic.
As a result, I’ve mastered the art of masking.
But that doesn’t stop Alaric Steele from truly seeing me when he finds me flat on my back in his driveway, mid-meltdown.
As Team Principal of Granata Racing, Alaric is control personified. He’s almost twenty years older than me and happens to be my ex-boyfriend’s dad.
Out of desperation, I accept a new job with Granata.
Which means Alaric is also my new boss.
The most surprising part of my role working in Formula 1 isn’t the intense travel schedule or the fear of seeing my ex around the paddock: it’s navigating the surprise encounters and secret rendezvous that launch Alaric and I into a high-speed forbidden romance neither one of us ever saw coming.
But with Alaric’s career on the line, and my fear of being too much growing louder by the day, is the risk of crashing and burning worth falling for my ex-boyfriend’s dad?
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
https://bit.ly/41jhoVK
June 28, 2026
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Hello age gap. I absolutely enjoyed the hell out of this book. Abby MIllsaps can write any trope (even ones I don’t typically gravitate towards) and make me fall in love with it.
Alaric and Evangeline proved that because now I think I like the exes dad trope. 🤣 or at least I like it when Abby writes it.
Also we need to talk about how well the neurodivergent rep was done in this book because I felt so deeply seen by Evangeline and how she navigates through her neurodivergent needs. I feel likens loved this part of the story just as much as I loved the romance and the sexy times.
✨ Formula 1 Racing
✨ Ex Boyfriend’s Dad
✨ Age Gap
✨ Workplace Romance
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Found Family
Can I just say how happy I am that Abby is writing formula 1. You can tell with this book that she loves this world and understands it fully, but also that she makes it really easy to follow long even if you know very little.
Alaric and Evangeline were great characters to start out with and I really loved both their dynamic together and who they were on their own. Alaric is older, emotionally intelligent and an absolute caretaker. I loved that he never made Evangeline feel like a burden or too much. I also loved that Evangeline understood the lifestyle of F1 and what Alaric needed as well. They were such a great match.
Noe this was a slow burn for Abby but when the spice hit it was so good. Like really good. I was sweating at the “yacht scene“ IYKYK 🥵
Put this one one your TBR now because this whole series is going to be amazing
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Hello age gap. I absolutely enjoyed the hell out of this book. Abby MIllsaps can write any trope (even ones I don’t typically gravitate towards) and make me fall in love with it.
Alaric and Evangeline proved that because now I think I like the exes dad trope. 🤣 or at least I like it when Abby writes it.
Also we need to talk about how well the neurodivergent rep was done in this book because I felt so deeply seen by Evangeline and how she navigates through her neurodivergent needs. I feel likens loved this part of the story just as much as I loved the romance and the sexy times.
✨ Formula 1 Racing
✨ Ex Boyfriend’s Dad
✨ Age Gap
✨ Workplace Romance
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Found Family
Can I just say how happy I am that Abby is writing formula 1. You can tell with this book that she loves this world and understands it fully, but also that she makes it really easy to follow long even if you know very little.
Alaric and Evangeline were great characters to start out with and I really loved both their dynamic together and who they were on their own. Alaric is older, emotionally intelligent and an absolute caretaker. I loved that he never made Evangeline feel like a burden or too much. I also loved that Evangeline understood the lifestyle of F1 and what Alaric needed as well. They were such a great match.
Noe this was a slow burn for Abby but when the spice hit it was so good. Like really good. I was sweating at the “yacht scene“ IYKYK 🥵
Put this one one your TBR now because this whole series is going to be amazing
July 7, 2026
I knew I was going to love this and it didn't disappoint! This book was surprisingly and tender and I loved every minute of it. Alaric is Evan's ex boyfriend's dad, but they couldn't be any more opposite. He appreciates Evan for the amazing woman that she is and does everything in his power to show her love and support. Add in his absolutely filthy and spicy mouth and I was swooning for him hard. Evan reeeeeeally did upgrade with her ex's dad. Evan was also the perfect FMC and I loved the representation of her autism and how her everyday life differs because of it. She is so self-aware and I loved her growth and unwillingness to settle for less than what she deserves from a partner. She was pretty inspirational.
I'm loving Abby's move into the world of formula 1 and all of its extravagance. I love a formula 1 setting in general and this was a new take on the trope since neither of the main characters were drivers! I'm definitely excited to get to know the other drivers more though and I can't wait to see where this series goes next!
I'm loving Abby's move into the world of formula 1 and all of its extravagance. I love a formula 1 setting in general and this was a new take on the trope since neither of the main characters were drivers! I'm definitely excited to get to know the other drivers more though and I can't wait to see where this series goes next!
June 17, 2026
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
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
July 9, 2026
What an amazing book, with a mental health rep, an amazing age gap.
Daddy Alaric is 10/10
And Evangeline… so so so perfect 🥹
Daddy Alaric is 10/10
And Evangeline… so so so perfect 🥹
July 1, 2026
4🌟, 3🌶️
My heart is still full after finishing this incredibly tender and well-crafted romance.
Watching Evangeline navigate her neurodivergent needs and chronic health struggles while finding someone who finally embraced her for exactly who she is was deeply moving. Alaric is the ultimate green flag, providing the kind of care and genuine understanding that made it easy to leave behind the mess her ex-boyfriend caused.
The tension between them was palpable from the start, and I loved the forbidden nature of the ex’s father trope. While their connection felt like a delicious slow burn for a long time, the shift into their full-blown relationship was intense and passionate. I really appreciated that they communicated like adults, choosing honesty over unnecessary games. It was a refreshing dynamic that made their emotional bond feel just as significant as their undeniable physical chemistry.
Overall, this was such a satisfying and heartwarming read, perfectly capturing the healing power of found family. It does a fantastic job of making the world of professional racing feel personal and accessible, even if you are not a die-hard fan.
It was a wonderful journey through heartbreak and growth, and I am already looking forward to seeing how the rest of this group finds their own happy endings.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Abby Millsaps and Valentine PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
My heart is still full after finishing this incredibly tender and well-crafted romance.
Watching Evangeline navigate her neurodivergent needs and chronic health struggles while finding someone who finally embraced her for exactly who she is was deeply moving. Alaric is the ultimate green flag, providing the kind of care and genuine understanding that made it easy to leave behind the mess her ex-boyfriend caused.
The tension between them was palpable from the start, and I loved the forbidden nature of the ex’s father trope. While their connection felt like a delicious slow burn for a long time, the shift into their full-blown relationship was intense and passionate. I really appreciated that they communicated like adults, choosing honesty over unnecessary games. It was a refreshing dynamic that made their emotional bond feel just as significant as their undeniable physical chemistry.
Overall, this was such a satisfying and heartwarming read, perfectly capturing the healing power of found family. It does a fantastic job of making the world of professional racing feel personal and accessible, even if you are not a die-hard fan.
It was a wonderful journey through heartbreak and growth, and I am already looking forward to seeing how the rest of this group finds their own happy endings.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Abby Millsaps and Valentine PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
June 25, 2026
What's even hotter than an age gap romance? Make him her ex-boyfriend's dad!
The book's tag line says it all: if your ex can't get you across the finish line, his dad probably can.
Set against the backdrop of Formula 1 racing, Evangeline is offered a job by Alaric, her ex-boyfriend's dad. And there is a crazy amount of chemistry between them from the moment they meet.
Alaric is driven and work focused, until he meets Evangeline. He is captivated from the very beginning, and couldn't stay away if he tried.
Evangeline is such a warm, beautiful soul, and her ex-boyfriend is the absolute worst.
Yes, the book is as spicy and sexy as you would expect, given the trope. But it is a beautifully crafted story with heart and tenderness.
I feel the Autism and ADHD representation is respectful, informative, and makes me love Evangeline even more. She carries herself with such strength, openness and understanding.
Evangeline and Alaric's story is beautiful and I'm so happy I was along for the ride.
You should read this book if you love:
- Open door romance (plenty of spice)
- Age gap
- Ex boyfriend's father
- Forced proximity
- Protective MMC
- Formula 1 racing
- Sports romance
- Dual POV
Upgraded is available today, including on KU!
Thank you to Abby Millsaps and Smuthood for the complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The book's tag line says it all: if your ex can't get you across the finish line, his dad probably can.
Set against the backdrop of Formula 1 racing, Evangeline is offered a job by Alaric, her ex-boyfriend's dad. And there is a crazy amount of chemistry between them from the moment they meet.
Alaric is driven and work focused, until he meets Evangeline. He is captivated from the very beginning, and couldn't stay away if he tried.
Evangeline is such a warm, beautiful soul, and her ex-boyfriend is the absolute worst.
Yes, the book is as spicy and sexy as you would expect, given the trope. But it is a beautifully crafted story with heart and tenderness.
I feel the Autism and ADHD representation is respectful, informative, and makes me love Evangeline even more. She carries herself with such strength, openness and understanding.
Evangeline and Alaric's story is beautiful and I'm so happy I was along for the ride.
You should read this book if you love:
- Open door romance (plenty of spice)
- Age gap
- Ex boyfriend's father
- Forced proximity
- Protective MMC
- Formula 1 racing
- Sports romance
- Dual POV
Upgraded is available today, including on KU!
Thank you to Abby Millsaps and Smuthood for the complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
June 24, 2026
Upgraded by Abby Millsaps was such a fun read! I especially loved the AuDHD representation and thought it was handled thoughtfully throughout the story. The relationship between Evangeline and Alaric felt genuine and well-developed, making it easy to root for them. I read this one over a few sittings and had a great time from start to finish.
Tropes:
🏁 F1 Sports Romance
🏁Forbidden Romance
🏁Ex-Bf Dad
🏁Workplace Romance
🏁Found Family
🏁Age Gap
🏁Neurodivergent Representation
✨ Thanks to Valentine PR for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion! ✨
Tropes:
🏁 F1 Sports Romance
🏁Forbidden Romance
🏁Ex-Bf Dad
🏁Workplace Romance
🏁Found Family
🏁Age Gap
🏁Neurodivergent Representation
✨ Thanks to Valentine PR for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion! ✨
June 19, 2026
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
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
June 25, 2026
Thank you to the author and The Smuthood for the gifted e-copy.
I debated posting my personal thoughts but it really hit me how much I personally have been struggling to feel seen. So, this review might be a little different. I enjoyed this book; but, the most profound thing I took from it was that I personally felt seen. This is a quote about a side character, “she suffers from migraines and POTS, and [it] was too much for her chronic pain.” As someone with multiple chronic illnesses including the two listed it meant so much to me to be represented and also to know someone out there understood.
“There’s no way I can spend my life not loving you.”
Tropes:
Formula One
Ex’s Dad
Age Gap
Found Family
Neurodivergent Rep
Coworkers
I debated posting my personal thoughts but it really hit me how much I personally have been struggling to feel seen. So, this review might be a little different. I enjoyed this book; but, the most profound thing I took from it was that I personally felt seen. This is a quote about a side character, “she suffers from migraines and POTS, and [it] was too much for her chronic pain.” As someone with multiple chronic illnesses including the two listed it meant so much to me to be represented and also to know someone out there understood.
“There’s no way I can spend my life not loving you.”
Tropes:
Formula One
Ex’s Dad
Age Gap
Found Family
Neurodivergent Rep
Coworkers
July 4, 2026
Upgraded is a heartfelt F1 romance , age gap, ex Bf dad, found family , slow burn with emotional depth, wonderful neurodivergent representation and an unconventional love story that completely won me over.
Evangeline is a small business owner with ADHD and Autism who is trying to move forward after discovering her BF Luca cheated on her. Wanting to let go of him and what he putting her through she takes her grandmas sofa … the very couch where she caught him cheating on to what she believed was the storage unit he was renting for her. Instead she discovers it’s actually his father’s Alaric garage. Alaric has no idea everything his son as put Evangeline through, but once he realizes she’s been deeply hurt, he feels responsible and offers her a job with his F1 team. From there, an unexpected friendship slowly grows into a heartfelt romance.
One of my favorite things about this book was Evangeline. Her ADHD & Autism are portrayed with care and authenticity, showing both the challenges she faces and the strengths that make her who she is . She’s determined, creative , hardworking and incredibly easy to root for as she navigates her heartbreak, runs her small business and begins to slowly build her confidence.
Alaric completely stole my heart. What made him stand out wasn’t grand romantic gestures . It was the way he paid attention. He noticed when Evangeline was over, respected her boundaries, anticipated her needs , and most importantly made her feel safe, supported and understood. He never tried to change who she was. Instead he embraced every part of her . Those quiet moments of thoughtfulness made their relationship feel so genuine and were what truly made me fall in love with him.
Their relationship develops naturally, build on trust , patience and mutual respect. Watching them slowly move beyond the complicated connection of being her ex Bfs father and form something real was my favorite part of the book.
Only reason why it was 5 stars was because I wanted more of theses character and their story . Maybe we will see them more in the rest of her friends books !
If you’re looking for a romance with thoughtful neurodivergent representation, emotional healing, an incredibly attentive hero, and a love story that blossoms in the most unexpected way, I highly recommend Upgraded.
Thank you again @valentine_pr_ and @abbymillsaps for the ARC ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5
Evangeline is a small business owner with ADHD and Autism who is trying to move forward after discovering her BF Luca cheated on her. Wanting to let go of him and what he putting her through she takes her grandmas sofa … the very couch where she caught him cheating on to what she believed was the storage unit he was renting for her. Instead she discovers it’s actually his father’s Alaric garage. Alaric has no idea everything his son as put Evangeline through, but once he realizes she’s been deeply hurt, he feels responsible and offers her a job with his F1 team. From there, an unexpected friendship slowly grows into a heartfelt romance.
One of my favorite things about this book was Evangeline. Her ADHD & Autism are portrayed with care and authenticity, showing both the challenges she faces and the strengths that make her who she is . She’s determined, creative , hardworking and incredibly easy to root for as she navigates her heartbreak, runs her small business and begins to slowly build her confidence.
Alaric completely stole my heart. What made him stand out wasn’t grand romantic gestures . It was the way he paid attention. He noticed when Evangeline was over, respected her boundaries, anticipated her needs , and most importantly made her feel safe, supported and understood. He never tried to change who she was. Instead he embraced every part of her . Those quiet moments of thoughtfulness made their relationship feel so genuine and were what truly made me fall in love with him.
Their relationship develops naturally, build on trust , patience and mutual respect. Watching them slowly move beyond the complicated connection of being her ex Bfs father and form something real was my favorite part of the book.
Only reason why it was 5 stars was because I wanted more of theses character and their story . Maybe we will see them more in the rest of her friends books !
If you’re looking for a romance with thoughtful neurodivergent representation, emotional healing, an incredibly attentive hero, and a love story that blossoms in the most unexpected way, I highly recommend Upgraded.
Thank you again @valentine_pr_ and @abbymillsaps for the ARC ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5
June 23, 2026
Abby Millsaps is an auto-buy, auto-read author for me, so when she announced her new Formula 1 series, I jumped at the chance to ARC read the first book.
I have really mixed feelings about this one. As someone with ADHD, and as a parent to a child with both autism and ADHD, I was excited to see neurodivergent representation. I did enjoy the story overall, but there were a few things that held it back for me.
My biggest issue was that the book relied a lot on telling instead of showing. We’re told that Evan struggles with sensory sensitivities, food aversions, and other aspects of being neurodivergent, but throughout points of the story those traits seemed to fade into the background. I found myself wanting to actually experience those moments with her rather than just being told they existed.
The romance also leaned much more insta-lust/insta-love than I was expecting. I went in hoping for a relationship that had a little more time to develop, so the pacing of the romance didn’t quite work for me.
That said, I still enjoyed the book and I’m absolutely sticking with this series. The side characters were fun, the Formula 1 backdrop was entertaining, and Abby’s writing is still one of the reasons she’s an auto-read author for me. While this one didn’t quite live up to my expectations, I’m excited to see where the rest of the series goes.
I have really mixed feelings about this one. As someone with ADHD, and as a parent to a child with both autism and ADHD, I was excited to see neurodivergent representation. I did enjoy the story overall, but there were a few things that held it back for me.
My biggest issue was that the book relied a lot on telling instead of showing. We’re told that Evan struggles with sensory sensitivities, food aversions, and other aspects of being neurodivergent, but throughout points of the story those traits seemed to fade into the background. I found myself wanting to actually experience those moments with her rather than just being told they existed.
The romance also leaned much more insta-lust/insta-love than I was expecting. I went in hoping for a relationship that had a little more time to develop, so the pacing of the romance didn’t quite work for me.
That said, I still enjoyed the book and I’m absolutely sticking with this series. The side characters were fun, the Formula 1 backdrop was entertaining, and Abby’s writing is still one of the reasons she’s an auto-read author for me. While this one didn’t quite live up to my expectations, I’m excited to see where the rest of the series goes.
September 26, 2026
I get she's setting something up, but that was way too many characters for me to try to keep track of. Introducing just a few of them so we could see stronger connections with Evangeline would've made a huge difference.
For how long the book was, it felt very insta-love. They decide they like each other, and with almost no interactions start a professionally risky relationship.
There's a lot that felt like a stretch for me. This massive inter-team driver friend group, the team principal requesting all of these upgrades for a low level employee and no one bats an eye, and the fmc building a successful business out of fidgets.
There was a lot of interesting intention, but I think a lot of pages were wasted on things that don't serve the central relationship and it suffered for it. Could've used sharper editing.
For how long the book was, it felt very insta-love. They decide they like each other, and with almost no interactions start a professionally risky relationship.
There's a lot that felt like a stretch for me. This massive inter-team driver friend group, the team principal requesting all of these upgrades for a low level employee and no one bats an eye, and the fmc building a successful business out of fidgets.
There was a lot of interesting intention, but I think a lot of pages were wasted on things that don't serve the central relationship and it suffered for it. Could've used sharper editing.
June 23, 2026
“I want you now. I want you forever.”
Buckle your seatbelts and start your engines because Abby is coming in with your next favorite F1 romance book! Evangeline has just gone through a break up. Her ex boyfriend was cheating on her. She goes to take some of her things to "storage" and meets her ex's father, Alaric. Fast forward and she's working for Alaric in the F1 circuit. Alaric and Evan grow close and have feelings for each other. But since they work together they can't openly date. There is some sneaking around. Alaric treats Evan like the queen that she is.
I fell in love with this authors why choose romance first but I am in love with this new F1 world. I need all of the racers books immediately! I loved how she describes each character so thoroughly and plants plenty of Easter eggs that make me want the next books.
Buckle your seatbelts and start your engines because Abby is coming in with your next favorite F1 romance book! Evangeline has just gone through a break up. Her ex boyfriend was cheating on her. She goes to take some of her things to "storage" and meets her ex's father, Alaric. Fast forward and she's working for Alaric in the F1 circuit. Alaric and Evan grow close and have feelings for each other. But since they work together they can't openly date. There is some sneaking around. Alaric treats Evan like the queen that she is.
I fell in love with this authors why choose romance first but I am in love with this new F1 world. I need all of the racers books immediately! I loved how she describes each character so thoroughly and plants plenty of Easter eggs that make me want the next books.
June 23, 2026
In true Abby Millsaps fashion, this was fun, flirty, spicy, and angsty! So happy to see a different direction and tropes in this new series! So excited that I got a chance to read this as an ARC and that there’s more to come!
4.25⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Ex boyfriends dad
Age gap
F1 romance
Mental health rep
4.25⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Ex boyfriends dad
Age gap
F1 romance
Mental health rep
July 15, 2026
As far as ex-boyfriend's dad trope is concerned, it wasn't bad. Not too cringe worthy, but the ex was awful and I don't know why Evangeline would have stayed with him for two years!
Also, the ex's miraculous change in behavior by the end was a bit unbelievable.
Also, the ex's miraculous change in behavior by the end was a bit unbelievable.
August 27, 2026
Personally this is not the plot for me, I tried to like it but I couldn't.
October 7, 2026
This was really good. Love the neurodivergent rep and finding a partner who genuinely accepts you for who you are. I was annoyed at Luca and the resolution there but parts of it worked.
Read
May 19, 2026Beta reader - full RTC after reading finished copy, but I'm already OBSESSED!!! 😍
July 6, 2026
This book completely exceeded my expectations! I went in intrigued by the Formula 1 setting and the forbidden romance, but I stayed for the incredible characters.
Alaric is mature, patient, and endlessly supportive without ever trying to "fix" Evangeline. The way he truly sees her and accepts every part of who she is made my heart melt. Evangeline was such a refreshing heroine. Her journey of learning that she isn't "too much" was emotional and beautifully written. The neurodivergent representation felt thoughtful and authentic, and watching her slowly find confidence in herself was just as satisfying as the romance.
This was my first book from this author, but I'll be digging in to her other books immediately!
Alaric is mature, patient, and endlessly supportive without ever trying to "fix" Evangeline. The way he truly sees her and accepts every part of who she is made my heart melt. Evangeline was such a refreshing heroine. Her journey of learning that she isn't "too much" was emotional and beautifully written. The neurodivergent representation felt thoughtful and authentic, and watching her slowly find confidence in herself was just as satisfying as the romance.
This was my first book from this author, but I'll be digging in to her other books immediately!
June 15, 2026
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!
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!
June 17, 2026
🏎️💨 ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────
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!!! 🏁💨
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!!! 🏁💨
June 24, 2026
Upgraded by Abby Millsaps was definitely an emotional ride. This was not the usual Formula 1 romance where the male main character is the racer, and I actually liked that twist. Alaric being the Team Principal of Granata Racing, her new boss, and also her ex-boyfriend’s father made the whole setup feel extra forbidden, complicated, and full of tension from the start.
What really made me feel for the heroine was everything she had already gone through emotionally. She has spent so much of her life being told or made to feel like she is “too much” — too sensitive, too dramatic, too clumsy, too emotional — and that kind of thing hurts. I understood why she had learned to mask parts of herself and why she carried so much fear about being fully seen.
So when Alaric comes into the picture and actually sees her during a vulnerable moment, it felt like the start of something that could have been really healing. He sees her when she is not perfectly put together, and that made their connection feel intense right away.
But oh my god, the emotional back and forth was a lot.
For almost half the book, it felt like Alaric was playing with her emotions, even if that was not always his intention. The whole “I want you, but we can’t be together” situation was so frustrating because she was already dealing with enough. She did not need someone making her feel wanted one moment and then impossible the next. It gave me emotional whiplash.
The forbidden romance aspect definitely worked because the stakes were high. He is older, he is her boss, he is her ex’s father, and his career is on the line. There were so many reasons they should not cross that line, which made the tension stronger. But at the same time, that tension also made the story feel confusing and gut-wrenching because the push and pull was intense.
I did feel for her a lot. She deserved softness, consistency, and someone who made her feel chosen without constantly making her question where she stood. The romance had moments that were swoony and emotional, but it also hurt because you could feel how badly she wanted to be accepted as she was.
Alaric was complicated for me. There were moments where I understood why he was holding back because the situation was messy and risky, but there were also moments where I wanted him to stop making things harder for her. The chemistry was there, the attraction was there, and the emotional connection was there, but the constant hesitation made it painful.
That being said, the angst is definitely strong in this book. If you love forbidden romance, age gap, boss/employee tension, secret romance energy, and messy emotional conflict, this book has all of that. It is not a light and fluffy romance. It has confusion, heartbreak, longing, and a lot of “should we or shouldn’t we?” moments.
The Formula 1 setting also added a glamorous, high-pressure backdrop. The travel, the paddock, the team politics, the career stakes, and the fear of seeing her ex made everything feel more dramatic. It gave the romance that fast-paced, high-risk feeling even though the emotional side was very much a slow burn.
Overall, Upgraded was messy, angsty, romantic, frustrating, and emotional. I am happy there was a happily ever after, but the journey to get there was definitely not smooth. It had me stressed, confused, and hurting for her, but also still curious to see how everything would finally come together.
If you love forbidden romance, Formula 1 settings, ex’s-dad drama, age gap, boss/employee romance, emotional tension, secret rendezvous, and a messy road to happily ever after, this one might be for you.
For me, this book was gut-wrenching in parts, romantic in others, and definitely full of drama. It made me feel for the heroine so much, especially because she deserved to know that she was never “too much” for the right person.
What really made me feel for the heroine was everything she had already gone through emotionally. She has spent so much of her life being told or made to feel like she is “too much” — too sensitive, too dramatic, too clumsy, too emotional — and that kind of thing hurts. I understood why she had learned to mask parts of herself and why she carried so much fear about being fully seen.
So when Alaric comes into the picture and actually sees her during a vulnerable moment, it felt like the start of something that could have been really healing. He sees her when she is not perfectly put together, and that made their connection feel intense right away.
But oh my god, the emotional back and forth was a lot.
For almost half the book, it felt like Alaric was playing with her emotions, even if that was not always his intention. The whole “I want you, but we can’t be together” situation was so frustrating because she was already dealing with enough. She did not need someone making her feel wanted one moment and then impossible the next. It gave me emotional whiplash.
The forbidden romance aspect definitely worked because the stakes were high. He is older, he is her boss, he is her ex’s father, and his career is on the line. There were so many reasons they should not cross that line, which made the tension stronger. But at the same time, that tension also made the story feel confusing and gut-wrenching because the push and pull was intense.
I did feel for her a lot. She deserved softness, consistency, and someone who made her feel chosen without constantly making her question where she stood. The romance had moments that were swoony and emotional, but it also hurt because you could feel how badly she wanted to be accepted as she was.
Alaric was complicated for me. There were moments where I understood why he was holding back because the situation was messy and risky, but there were also moments where I wanted him to stop making things harder for her. The chemistry was there, the attraction was there, and the emotional connection was there, but the constant hesitation made it painful.
That being said, the angst is definitely strong in this book. If you love forbidden romance, age gap, boss/employee tension, secret romance energy, and messy emotional conflict, this book has all of that. It is not a light and fluffy romance. It has confusion, heartbreak, longing, and a lot of “should we or shouldn’t we?” moments.
The Formula 1 setting also added a glamorous, high-pressure backdrop. The travel, the paddock, the team politics, the career stakes, and the fear of seeing her ex made everything feel more dramatic. It gave the romance that fast-paced, high-risk feeling even though the emotional side was very much a slow burn.
Overall, Upgraded was messy, angsty, romantic, frustrating, and emotional. I am happy there was a happily ever after, but the journey to get there was definitely not smooth. It had me stressed, confused, and hurting for her, but also still curious to see how everything would finally come together.
If you love forbidden romance, Formula 1 settings, ex’s-dad drama, age gap, boss/employee romance, emotional tension, secret rendezvous, and a messy road to happily ever after, this one might be for you.
For me, this book was gut-wrenching in parts, romantic in others, and definitely full of drama. It made me feel for the heroine so much, especially because she deserved to know that she was never “too much” for the right person.
October 24, 2026
⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: Major plot spoilers ahead!
As a big F1 fan, I was genuinely looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, Upgraded kept hovering between god-awful and almost decent, and I have THOUGHTS.
First, Evangeline has absolutely no self-respect when it comes to men. Spending THIRTY OR FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS on a man who couldn't give her the bare minimum, only to repeat the same patterns in her next relationship? Girl, WHERE is your self-preservation instinct?
I initially liked Alaric. He seemed to understand respect, boundaries, and the importance of demanding better. Unfortunately, that impression didn't last.
Their relationship was already a minefield: he was her boss's boss's boss, twenty years older than her, and her ex's father. Both knew sneaking around wasn't fun, yet they chose to do it anyway. And when the consequences finally caught up with them, Alaric suddenly remembered he had a career and a son to consider. Rather than have an honest conversation, he broke up with her in the most hurtful way possible.
Apparently, respecting a woman means respecting her wishes right up until doing so becomes inconvenient.
And his failure to hold Luca accountable was infuriating. He knew his son had drained Evangeline of tens of thousands of dollars, put her in debt, and left her struggling financially. And what did he do? Got her a job. A JOB.
Getting her a job isn't reparations! He should have confronted Luca and demanded that he pay her back. If he wanted to help discreetly, he could have found a way to ensure she got her money back without making her feel indebted to him. Respecting her boundaries didn't mean letting his son get away with everything.
Then there's Evangeline, who STILL begs Alaric to take her back. Somehow, the news that Luca got another woman pregnant finally makes her snap, despite the fact that she'd ALREADY CAUGHT HIM CHEATING ON HER ON HER OWN COUCH. What more did she need?!
At least she finally calls Alaric out for how brutally he treated her when things got difficult. And she's absolutely right. Anyone can be a wonderful partner when everything is going well. What matters is how they treat you when the relationship becomes inconvenient.
But naturally, we get a grand apology tour involving money and gestures, followed by Evangeline APOLOGIZING TO HIM and asking him to take her back.
WHY ARE YOU APOLOGIZING? YOUR REACTION WAS JUSTIFIED!
Alaric should have been the one to come back, acknowledge how badly he'd treated her, and make a genuine effort to rebuild her trust. Instead, Evangeline second-guesses herself when she had every reason to stand her ground.
And the found-family aspect? I didn't buy it. The book kept pushing the sweatpants-after-races hangouts and the whole Eleven thing, but these people barely felt like a group, let alone a family. The book kept TELLING me they were close, but I rarely FELT it. Mia was the only person whose connection with Evangeline felt genuinely meaningful.
This book had the potential to be SO much better. F1, a complicated forbidden romance, a heroine learning her worth, and a hero who supposedly understands respect? All the ingredients were there.
Instead, I got frustrating character decisions, a heroine repeatedly abandoning her own boundaries, and a hero whose principles disappeared whenever doing the right thing became inconvenient.
For a book called Upgraded, I expected a little more character development.
As a big F1 fan, I was genuinely looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, Upgraded kept hovering between god-awful and almost decent, and I have THOUGHTS.
First, Evangeline has absolutely no self-respect when it comes to men. Spending THIRTY OR FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS on a man who couldn't give her the bare minimum, only to repeat the same patterns in her next relationship? Girl, WHERE is your self-preservation instinct?
I initially liked Alaric. He seemed to understand respect, boundaries, and the importance of demanding better. Unfortunately, that impression didn't last.
Their relationship was already a minefield: he was her boss's boss's boss, twenty years older than her, and her ex's father. Both knew sneaking around wasn't fun, yet they chose to do it anyway. And when the consequences finally caught up with them, Alaric suddenly remembered he had a career and a son to consider. Rather than have an honest conversation, he broke up with her in the most hurtful way possible.
Apparently, respecting a woman means respecting her wishes right up until doing so becomes inconvenient.
And his failure to hold Luca accountable was infuriating. He knew his son had drained Evangeline of tens of thousands of dollars, put her in debt, and left her struggling financially. And what did he do? Got her a job. A JOB.
Getting her a job isn't reparations! He should have confronted Luca and demanded that he pay her back. If he wanted to help discreetly, he could have found a way to ensure she got her money back without making her feel indebted to him. Respecting her boundaries didn't mean letting his son get away with everything.
Then there's Evangeline, who STILL begs Alaric to take her back. Somehow, the news that Luca got another woman pregnant finally makes her snap, despite the fact that she'd ALREADY CAUGHT HIM CHEATING ON HER ON HER OWN COUCH. What more did she need?!
At least she finally calls Alaric out for how brutally he treated her when things got difficult. And she's absolutely right. Anyone can be a wonderful partner when everything is going well. What matters is how they treat you when the relationship becomes inconvenient.
But naturally, we get a grand apology tour involving money and gestures, followed by Evangeline APOLOGIZING TO HIM and asking him to take her back.
WHY ARE YOU APOLOGIZING? YOUR REACTION WAS JUSTIFIED!
Alaric should have been the one to come back, acknowledge how badly he'd treated her, and make a genuine effort to rebuild her trust. Instead, Evangeline second-guesses herself when she had every reason to stand her ground.
And the found-family aspect? I didn't buy it. The book kept pushing the sweatpants-after-races hangouts and the whole Eleven thing, but these people barely felt like a group, let alone a family. The book kept TELLING me they were close, but I rarely FELT it. Mia was the only person whose connection with Evangeline felt genuinely meaningful.
This book had the potential to be SO much better. F1, a complicated forbidden romance, a heroine learning her worth, and a hero who supposedly understands respect? All the ingredients were there.
Instead, I got frustrating character decisions, a heroine repeatedly abandoning her own boundaries, and a hero whose principles disappeared whenever doing the right thing became inconvenient.
For a book called Upgraded, I expected a little more character development.
June 17, 2026
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.
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.
June 29, 2026
As a long-time Formula 1 fan, I really enjoyed this. Ms. Millsaps has accurately captured the sport without letting the intricacies of it bog the story down.
I really enjoyed getting to know our main characters, Evangeline and Alaric, and loved the nature of their relationship, him being so much older than her and, of course, her ex's dad!
Evan is a very complex character and I felt her AuDHD was well explained and represented. While some characters saw her as being too much or too whatever, to those who mattered she wasn't especially to Alaric.
“Electricity sparks between us, the sensation quickly transforming into a tingling warmth that spreads through me.
On top of that a sense of security envelopes me. It's unlike anything I've ever experienced with another person. In his arms, I am safe. I'm considered. I'm respected and wanted and revered. I wish I could bottle this feeling and keep it with me always.”
Ms. Millsaps has formed a great friend group in this with the Even Better Eleven, a mix of drivers and other paddock personnel and friends. The found family nature of their relationships and traditions gives them all the stability they need as they travel to 24 races per year. I look forward to exploring more of the F1 calendar with them and getting to know them all better with the coming books in the series.
There are a lot of characters to get to know in this, but the introductions are well-handled and set the background scene perfectly for the romance at the centre of this to shine.
I loved it!
I really enjoyed getting to know our main characters, Evangeline and Alaric, and loved the nature of their relationship, him being so much older than her and, of course, her ex's dad!
Evan is a very complex character and I felt her AuDHD was well explained and represented. While some characters saw her as being too much or too whatever, to those who mattered she wasn't especially to Alaric.
“Electricity sparks between us, the sensation quickly transforming into a tingling warmth that spreads through me.
On top of that a sense of security envelopes me. It's unlike anything I've ever experienced with another person. In his arms, I am safe. I'm considered. I'm respected and wanted and revered. I wish I could bottle this feeling and keep it with me always.”
Ms. Millsaps has formed a great friend group in this with the Even Better Eleven, a mix of drivers and other paddock personnel and friends. The found family nature of their relationships and traditions gives them all the stability they need as they travel to 24 races per year. I look forward to exploring more of the F1 calendar with them and getting to know them all better with the coming books in the series.
There are a lot of characters to get to know in this, but the introductions are well-handled and set the background scene perfectly for the romance at the centre of this to shine.
I loved it!
June 30, 2026
✨This was one of those books where I picked it up for the trope but stayed because of the characters. The connection between Alaric and Evangeline felt genuine, and I found myself rooting for them pretty early on.
Evangeline was easy to root for. 💕She was sweet, independent and chaotic in the best way. It made her feel relatable, and seeing her slowly let her guard down with someone who accepted every part of her was so rewarding. 🫶🏽Also loved she finally stood her ground and some more respect for herself
Alaric was everything!❤️ He was supportive, patient, and made Evangeline feel accepted in a way she clearly hadn’t experienced before. The way he made her feel seen instead of judged was honestly one of my favorite moment.🥹The little moments between them honestly hit harder than the big dramatic ones.
The chemistry between Alaric and Evangeline? So good.🔥The F1 backdrop gave the story energy and made the stakes feel higher, especially with the secrecy surrounding their relationship. 🤭I also appreciated how much the story focused on Evangeline self-worth.🥹It made the romance feel more meaningful because it wasn’t just about falling in love but it was about learning to believe she deserved great kind of love.🫠
⭐️Overall, this was a really enjoyable romance that surprised me in the best way. It had great chemistry, emotional moments, plenty of steam, and a hero who proved that sometimes the real upgrade isn’t the younger guy… it’s his dad.🤭🙌🏽
Thank you to the Author Abby Millsaps and Smuthood for the opportunity to read this ARC!❤️
Evangeline was easy to root for. 💕She was sweet, independent and chaotic in the best way. It made her feel relatable, and seeing her slowly let her guard down with someone who accepted every part of her was so rewarding. 🫶🏽Also loved she finally stood her ground and some more respect for herself
Alaric was everything!❤️ He was supportive, patient, and made Evangeline feel accepted in a way she clearly hadn’t experienced before. The way he made her feel seen instead of judged was honestly one of my favorite moment.🥹The little moments between them honestly hit harder than the big dramatic ones.
The chemistry between Alaric and Evangeline? So good.🔥The F1 backdrop gave the story energy and made the stakes feel higher, especially with the secrecy surrounding their relationship. 🤭I also appreciated how much the story focused on Evangeline self-worth.🥹It made the romance feel more meaningful because it wasn’t just about falling in love but it was about learning to believe she deserved great kind of love.🫠
⭐️Overall, this was a really enjoyable romance that surprised me in the best way. It had great chemistry, emotional moments, plenty of steam, and a hero who proved that sometimes the real upgrade isn’t the younger guy… it’s his dad.🤭🙌🏽
Thank you to the Author Abby Millsaps and Smuthood for the opportunity to read this ARC!❤️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 680 reviews