Final Cut

The Crash Test Universe

by Amy James

Hollywood’s favorite actor. Nobody’s favorite Formula 1 driver. One life-changing winter break.

Quin McCarthy is Hollywood’s favorite actor. Cole Milton is nobody’s favorite Formula 1 driver. The two men have less than nothing in common, and when their paths briefly cross at the Singapore Grand Prix, it ends in mutual loathing.

Neither expects to see the other again, but when Quin moves to a remote Canadian ski town to film a thriller series, he learns that his deep-woods rental cottage has a single neighboring property, owned and occupied by none other than Cole.

Quin resolves to ignore him and spend his winter nights reading books by the fireplace. But when he stumbles upon a dead body on set—and glimpses the murderer making a run for it—his laid-back winter plans take an abrupt turn for the worse. As things grow more dangerous, he’s forced to turn to Cole for help—and in doing so, realizes Cole might not be the bad guy everyone thinks he is.

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Queer, Contemporary, Sports, Mystery, LGBT

396 pages, Paperback

Expected publication November 3, 2026

About the author

Amy James lives with her husband and dog on the east coast of Canada.

Find her on Instagram @amyjamesbooks.

Reviews

[Pauline]

The F1 driver everyone hates. The actor everyone loves. Newfoundland in winter. And two very lonely men who, for different reasons, have convinced themselves there’s something wrong with them.

This took me a little while to get into, but somewhere along the way it really got its claws into me.

Cole and Quin’s first meeting is a disaster and their sniping and verbal sparring in the beginning was SO good. These guys were mean to each other and made me go OOOHOHOHO out loud more than once 😅

When circumstances, an isolated cottage and a murderer on the loose throw these two together again, that initial hostility slowly and almost unwillingly turns into caring 🥹

Quin was definitely easier to like right off the bat (but also not as intriguing as Cole 😏). He feels somewhat out of place in his own life, convinced there must be something wrong with him because he’s dated great guys but has never actually fallen in love. But oh, he yearns for it..

Cole meanwhile, is one prickly guy. His walls are miles high, there’s this simmering anger and bitterness always beneath the surface and for quite a while he seems determined to make it impossible for anyone to get close to him.

And then we find out why.

God, my heart hurt for him.

I have such a soft spot for characters whose tough exteriors are hiding an enormous amount of vulnerability, pain and grief underneath and Cole ended up being my favourite by far for that reason. There’s something heartbreaking about how difficult it is for him to understand that he’s still worth caring for - and worth caring about. His grief has shaped so much of how he sees himself and what he thinks he’s allowed to want from life that watching those walls slowly, painfully start coming down became my favourite part of the book.

Especially because Cole starts caring for Quin without his brain’s explicit consent, better judgement and all in all very begrudgingly. He’s still telling himself he’s this cold asshole who doesn’t care for or need anyone while becoming the KING of acts of service, completely unable to say no to Quin and his puppy eyes. And the pleasure/contentment he gets from realising that he can soothe Quin when he’s scared? Gah 🥹

The cuddling and comforting and reluctant tenderness while Cole continues pretending, even to himself, that he doesn’t need the exact same thing just as badly. SO GOOD 😭

This is hurt/comfort galore, with both men on the receiving end for different reasons throughout the book. But Cole’s journey was what really made the book for me. His grief is complicated and heavy and has changed him profoundly and love doesn’t simply fix that. Quin helps immensely (and I loved when he essentially decides to drag Cole out of his dark hole kicking and screaming) but so do the people who have decided to be there for Cole. To be his friends, even if he makes it hard for them for a while.

The found family aspect in general was probably one of my favourite things about this book tbh. Kel, Jonathan and especially Trevor were wonderful and there was something so moving about watching Cole slowly realise that he has people around him who want to care about him. He just has to let them.

And Bandit, obviously, is the goodest boy, third MC and unquestionable MVP. God I want to put my nose in his fur and just inhale 🥹

The romance itself is a proper slow burn and it needed to be. Because of Cole’s past, falling for Quin isn’t something he can easily accept or act on. But that makes it so much more powerful when they finally get there and allow themselves that physical connection.
I also loved how the sex scenes were written. They’re much less explicitly worded than I’m used to (I don’t think there was a ‘dick’, ‘cock’ or ‘hole’ mentioned once!!) but somehow you can still see and feel everything!

And all of this unfolds against a setting that gets surprisingly unsettling once the story picks up: an isolated cottage in the snowy woods of Newfoundland, darkness, creaking floors, loneliness, past secrets and a murderer somewhere out there. I had wide eyes and goosebumps more than once 😳

This was my first book by the author, so I hadn’t met some of the characters who appear here, but I had no trouble following along.

Besides the slow-ish start, I feel like Quin as well as the mystery arc could’ve been fleshed out a bit more. But ultimately, this was a story about two people learning how to let others in even if it feels like the scariest thing in the world. And for me it was especially about Cole learning that grief and love don’t have to cancel each other out. That caring about someone again doesn’t erase what came before.

And that maybe he doesn’t have to carry all of it alone.

His eyes are dark and vulnerable, and I brace myself to say what I know I have to say. This was a mistake. We shouldn’t have done this. I’d rather saw my dick off than open my heart up to someone again.
“You’re perfect,” is what comes out instead.
🥹🧡

PS: if you fell in love with a certain gorgeous, sociopathic, uber-competent Russian ex-assassin like me, you’ll be ecstatic to hear that we apparently haven’t seen the last of him heheh 😏

PPS: love the author’s stance on AI, which is to say, love the author’s HATE for AI. I just appreciate knowing without a doubt that I’m reading a human’s work ✨


4,5⭐️


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc. This is my honest opinion!

[Gabby]

4.5 stars
Ahhhhhh are you KIDDING ME. It feels like this book was written just for me. A m/m romantic suspense that takes place in the Canadian wilderness with an F1 driver and an actor who's filming a spooky little tv series and their cabins are right next to each other in the snow in the middle of nowhere. YES PLEASE. This is a follow up to Crash Test, another m/m romance I absolutely LOVED, and this book is the sequel, we get to see some Travis/Jacob moments too which made my heart so happy. But GOD I LOVED Quin, the character who is an actor in this book. He's adorable and he needs to be protected at all costs, I loved himmmmm. Cole is a lovable grumpy douchebag who takes a long time to open up and show vulnerability, but when he does, my god it hitsssssss. These two were so beautiful together I was kicking my feet and screaming over some scenes.

And then on top of a great hate to love romance, and a wonderful snowy isolated small town setting, we get a murder mystery suspense on top of it! That element of the book was so fun for me, as a big thriller lover, and I love how it forced them closer together. The way Cole got so protective of him, I was SWOONING BITCH. Ugh they were so cute. Cole also has the cutest dog Bandit, who plays a big part in the story too and I loved that.

The only reason I held back from giving this 5 stars is because the thriller elements all felt very obvious to me, and I wish we got slightly less thriller stuff in the second half and that it was more focused on the romance, but I LOVED THIS. Like I'm already thinking about when I'm going to reread this haha. Amy James GETS ME.

Here's the reading vlog where I read this book and a few others: https://youtu.be/kg2nVMvRMsI

[Ginny]

This was such a cozy, heartwarming story that got me in the winter spirit ❄️

Quinn McCarthy is Hollywood’s sweetheart, Cole Milton is the F1 driver no one likes.
They met once in Singapore, which was more than enough for them, but when Quinn arrives in Canada to shoot his new series, Cole of all people is his neighbour…

Quinn is the kind of character you instantly like. He is charming and optimistic. He is not afraid of confrontation and doesn’t give up on Cole ever!

Cole is the total opposite. He is grumpy and doesn’t like people but we quickly learn, that there is so much more to him. He carries so much grief and hurt, that he doesn’t know how to process. Seeing him slowly (very, very slowly) open up melted my heart.

These two fit together so well, I was turning page after page because I needed more of them! The tension, the build-up was so good! I loved every second of it.

In addition to the delicious slow burn, there is also a murder mystery, a combination i didn’t know I needed. Suddenly the snowy small town didn’t seem so cozy anymore. I could feel the darkness creeping up on me!
Yes it was pretty predictable but I was entertained nonetheless.
Also I loved how it brought out Cole’s protective side!

Last but not least, I have to mention Bandit, Cole’s dog. He brought so much to the story and is my favourite side character in this book. He reminded me so much of my brother’s dog.

If you’re looking for a slow burn MM romance with a bit of a mystery and absolutely loveable characters, this is the perfect book!

It is set in the Crash Test universe but can be read on its own.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publishing Date: 3. November 2026

[Jill (readinginpjs)]

thank you the author, Amy James, for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

no surprise to me, I absolutely LOVED this book!

I was SO happy to be back in the Crash Test universe, and I was already so intrigued by Cole & Quin from the little tease we got at the end of Seven Points.

I LOVE the characters Amy creates, flaws (especially) and all.

I love to see them grow, & how they’re still not “perfect” in the end. They are loved for who they are, and love doesn’t just automatically “fix” everything, but gives them support & strength to do a little better every day 🥹

I was often smiling at my kindle, thinking “these silly boys” - so in denial of their true feelings as they’re going down rabbit holes watching hours of videos of one another 🤪

I cared so deeply for these characters, they felt so real to me. The suspenseful moments had me holding my breath, and the grief portrayal had me strongly in my feelings.

Another element Amy writes SO well is found family.
I adored every single side character, from Kel & her friendship with Quin, Trevor & Jonathan and the care they had for each other, especially Trevor forcing his way to best friend status for Cole 😅

I also HAVE TO mention BANDIT! 🐾 the best pup ever, and such an integral character in this story as well 🥰

✦ tropes & more:
🏎 F1 racer + actor
💔 hate to love
🏡 temporary neighbours
🔎 a murder mystery to solve
🙃 opposites attract
🐾 the best pup Bandit
❤️‍🩹 hurt/comfort + grief rep
🐢 slow burn
🫶🏼 found family
🌲 small Canadian town
🇨🇦 Canadian author
💞 dual 1st person pov

ebook | ⭐️: ♾ | 🌶️: open door |

📖 Final Cut by Amy James
📆 out November 3, 2026
📚 book 2 • Crash Test Universe
🖤: contemporary romance/romantic suspense (mm)

*Connect with Me*
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[Sofi]

Okayy, you know when you start a book and you just get this feeling that you're going to have a good time with it? Welll, this book gave me that feeling almost immediately, and I can happily say I really did enjoy reading it!!

It's this combination of mystery and suspense, an emotional storyline, subtle humor, and a growing romance between two characters who couldn't be more different from each other. And one thing I really appreciated was how, even though the story deals with some pretty heavy and emotional situations, the book itself never really felt that dark. There was always this lightness brought by the characters, their interactions, and the humor that made the whole experience so enjoyable.

We follow Quin, a Hollywood actor, and Cole, a grumpy F1 driver with a reputation that isn't exactly the best. And I have to say, I absolutely loved both MMCs.

In a way, I felt an almost immediate connection with Quin. I really enjoyed his POV, especially his internal thoughts, his humor, and those little moments when his love for movies and romance would come through. Because honestly, there were things he said about the effect rom-coms had on him that I related to sooo much.

He wasn't perfect, and there were definitely moments when I questioned some of his actions and the expectations that, in my opinion, he seemed to place on others. But I loved how understanding and supportive he was when it came to Cole. There was something really beautiful about the way he made room for everything Cole was carrying without expecting him to simply leave it all behind.

And then there's Cole, who I absolutely adoreee! I've always had a special soft spot for characters with a hard exterior but a soft heart, and Cole was no exceptionnn. Even though he starts off as this grumpy, distant character who doesn't exactly make it easy for people to get close to him, I knewwww there was so much more underneath that exterior, and as the story progresses, we slowly begin to see it.

So, of course, one of my favorite things was watching his walls start to come down, even when he was desperately trying to keep them up. The way he'd find himself doing the complete opposite of what he was telling himself he should do was so freaking endearing and honestly pretty funny. He'd be thinking, "Hell no," but somehow end up doing all these little acts of kindness for Quin anyway. It was like he was constantly fighting against his own feelings and slowly losing that battle.

But as cute and funny as those moments were, they also became a little heartbreaking once we started to understand the reasons behind that constant internal battle. Underneath all of that grumpiness, there's an emotional side to his story that genuinely broke my heart. And one thing I really appreciated was that, even as his relationship with Quin started developing, that emotional storyline didn't just fade into the background. It was still there, and I thought the way Quin supported him through it was really well portrayed. And honestly, I would've loved to have more chapters from Cole's POV, because there was so much going on emotionally with him that I just wanted to spend a little more time inside his head.

Now, when it comes to their relationship, I genuinely loved their dynamic. The banter was really good, and I loved how their completely opposite personalities played off each other. I do wish there had been a little more sexual tension between them, though. I could see the attraction was there, but personally, I just didn't feel that tension as strongly as I would've liked.

Still, what I appreciated most was how, underneath all that teasing and growing attraction, there was also this beautiful sense of understanding and support between them. Both were going through difficult situations, and I loved how they slowly became a source of comfort for each other. There was this sense of acceptance, of being there for someone even when things weren't easy, and I genuinely loved that.

That being said, I think one of my biggest criticisms of the book was that I wanted a little more emotional depth, both in the characters' individual storylines and in the relationship they were building together. While I could definitely feel the emotions behind what they were going through, especially with Cole, I never felt like we explored them quite as deeply as I would've liked. And that's not to say those emotional moments weren't there, because they absolutely were, and some of them genuinely moved me. I just found myself wishing we'd gotten to explore those feelings and connections a little more deeply.

As for the mystery and suspense, I have to admit that I went into this book expecting that side of the story to play a bigger role. And while the mystery is definitely there and never really forgotten, I would say this is much more of a relationship focused story than I initially expected. And honestly, I didn't mind that, because I really enjoyed Quin and Cole together.

I also really enjoyed how the mystery unfolded. I loved how the author would sometimes end chapters with these little cliffhangers to build anticipation for what was coming next. The moments of danger and action were really well done, and I especially loved how everything eventually came together. Even though I found certain parts of the mystery a little predictable, seeing how everything played out was still really entertaining.

The suspense itself, however, didn't quite have the effect on me that I was hoping for. I could see how the author was building it up, and I genuinely enjoyed the way she was setting everything up, but for some reason, I just wasn't feeling that same sense of anticipation myself. It never really gave me that "what the hell is going to happen next?" excitement, even when I could tell the story was building toward something. But that didn't take away from my enjoyment of those moments.

I also have to say that the side characters were absolutely amazing. They brought so much humor and warmth to the story, and I especially loved how supportive they were of both MMCs. They really were such a great addition to the book.

And more importantly, can we please talk about Bandit??? Because listen, give me a cute, cuddly, protective dog and you've already won me overrrr. I absolutely adored that doggg!! He brought so many adorable moments to the story, and honestly, he was one of my favorite parts of the book.

So, was it perfect? In my humble opinion, no. There are definitely things I wish had been explored a little more deeply, especially when it comes to the characters and their emotional storylines. But was it a good read? Absolutelyyy, and at the end of the day, I genuinely had such a good time reading this book. It had lovable characters, fun banter, emotional moments, a little mystery, and just the right amount of humor to make it such an entertaining and enjoyable read.

[Jenny Jo]

How does she do it? 🤯🥺

No seriously like how does this author have the ability to write romance that is so complex and deep and thought-provoking and heart wrenching that you truly feel like these are real characters in the real world and you are just a fly on the wall!!!!

I knew this book was going to be great before even getting approved for the ARC, but as I read the book, I found myself (even with high expectations) being baffled at how well the book was written and how well the grief was handled, AND how well the characters slowly fell for each other because let’s not forget they start off as enemies in the beginning. .OK, maybe that was a bit of a reach. They’re not true enemies, more so there’s this dislike for each other based off their first impression of each other. But regardless of that, just the entire book was SOOO good. It was soooooo good.

✨Also, there’s a suspense factor because there’s a murder that happened in the story and I found myself compelled to find out and do detective work about that and usually when you hand me a suspense romance, I’m more in the romance than the suspense or the mystery that they’re trying to throw at you and somehow this author made you genuinely have a balanced interest in both the romance and the suspense/mystery.

I truly don’t think this author can write a bad book and I do not say any of this because I was approved for the ARC. If you look at my previous reviews of her books which were not ARCs… (They were read on my own time). You will see how much I love her writing.

🌶️ Spice 2/5

Trope: MM, F1, Suspense, Hate to Love, Grief.

[Julia]

I have to admit, the beginning was a bit of a struggle for me. I felt like there was too much focus on the other couples, but the moment Quin arrived on set and crossed paths with broody Cole for the second time, I was hooked.

Quin is such a relatable character to me. The way he still can’t let go of that confrontation with Cole, keeps coming up with things he could have said to put him in his place, or dreams about going all the way to the middle of nowhere in Canada and somehow finding love there… Yeah, I saw myself in him way too much 😂

And then there’s Cole, who is basically a human version of “someone please give this man a hug and never let go.” He’s in such a terrible place mentally, and I really loved seeing Quin and his friends help him through it. That whole part was handled so well.

I also really liked that Cole is still in love with his late girlfriend. At first I was like, okay, but how does that work? But then I thought about it and realized Clara was right. There’s no first love and second love. You don’t just stop loving someone because they’re no longer here.

The mystery isn’t exactly the strongest part of the book, but there are definitely some scenes that had me on edge. My favorite was Quin running through the woods with someone chasing him and eventually finding shelter with Cole. That whole scene had me STRESSED.

I also loved the side characters. Jonathan and especially Trevor, Kel and Corbin, Candi and Porter (I am aggressively shipping them), but my absolute favorite is, of course, BANDIT!!! He is the best dog in the entire world and the sweetest cinnamon roll 🥹

I haven’t read the previous book in the series because I thought this was a standalone, and honestly, it didn’t affect my experience with this story at all. So if you’re not particularly interested in the racing aspect, don’t let that put you off. There’s barely any racing here anyway. What you get instead is a snowy little town, a TV show being filmed, some very lovable characters, and a really sweet love story.

And, obviously, Bandit. Did I mention Bandit?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Ally Bateman]

Although this book is in the Crash Test universe, the vibes are totally different. This story reads a bit more like a thriller with romance.

I liked how Quin and Cole’s relationship developed slowly and how Quin knew his worth and didn’t want to settle for a hookup. I enjoyed Quinn’s friends and in general the side characters were all well developed. Even Candi is more than meets the eye. It was also fun to see a book set in Newfoundland, Canada. You don’t see that every day.

I did feel like the book was trying to do a lot. Book one was all about the couple and getting to a place where they could be together. This one had almost no F1, and replaced it with a murder mystery or two. In book one, “body count” meant a very different thing.

I liked the story, but I definitely think it will be a bigger hit with readers who like more suspense/thriller subplots in their romance.

[Tippy]

This book is set in the Crash Test universe but really it has very, very little to do with F1. It's mostly set during the off-season, in remote Newfoundland, and is more focused on acting/filming. There is also a very sad subplot aside from the romance. I did really like Quin and Cole together. I love me a good enemies-to-lovers trope, though I was a little disappointed they never had hate-sex. Cole was a really complex character and I was very happy to see him have some redeeming qualities rather that just have Quin fall in love with an asshole who is magically saved by love, yuck. Quin's besties made great side characters and I wouldn't mind reading a book about them as well. Also, Bandit is the best boy. I kind of want to bury my face in his fur. I really only have 2 small complaints. First, why bother mentioning that Cole's mom was Thai and that Cole looks vaguely Asian if it's literally never going to come up again? It felt a little like forced diversity for a character who still ends up basically just being white. Second, the ending to the subplot was a little predictable.

[Helen]

I recently got my hands on an ARC of Final Cut by Amy James through NetGalley when I read the first book, I was hooked. Travis and Jacob had history, chemistry, and a backstory that immediately made me want MORE. I thought we were going to get this really compelling romance between two characters who had so much to unpack together.

The main issue with this one was that I just never was invested with the story or the characters as much. There was a murder, romance, plus a backstory of one of the characters that was to much for me. The murder element could have been completley taken out and would not have been missed by me at all. ] There was SO much going on, and at times I just wanted everyone to stop with the secrets and drama so Cole and Quin could actually have a moment. 😂

That said, I would absolutely read more from Amy James. Crash Test was such a standout for me, and I really loved that one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ❤️

[Emmaline Savidge]

🌟2.75 Stars🌟
I adored the first book in this series, Crash Test, but sadly the sequel just didn't hit for me. I do want to celebrate some of the good stuff that is present in this novel before I delve into critique. The thriller portions of the story were really fun and had some nice tension. I especially liked the scene of Quin realizing that the profile of the murderer basically applies to every man in town, as the reader you resonate with the worry that the killer may always be watching. I think the exploration of grief being cyclical was also compelling. Cole is understandably struggling with feelings of grief resurfacing even when he feels he should be 'over it.' Grief and the acceptance of loss is not a linear process and I liked seeing that represented. Also I liked Bandit, he's a very accurate depiction of all the malinois I've met in my life.

As for the stuff that just didn't work for me, the introduction of Trevor and Jonathan was utterly strange. Why were we doing this roundabout nonsense of Quin meeting them at the beginning of the book and becoming BFFs. For the amount of time he's known them their bond seems so strange and rushed. There's a very easy solution to this problem, just make them Quin's friends prior to the beginning of the story and say that they're the ones who invited him to the F1 race. Aside from our friend squad, I struggled to connect with Quin as a character. The way that he antagonized Cole at the beginning of the story didn't feel like good natured banter, it read as aggressive and cruel. Part of the problem with Quin for me is that I think James is far more competent when writing angsty little guys. Crash Test is grounded in the angst of homophobia and keeping a relationship secret, while Quin doesn't have any personal struggle aside from a murderer lurking around. I just found Cole's whole deal 1000x more interesting so the latter portion of the book which focused on his POV was more compelling. My final and greatest gripe is the wonky pacing at play. As mentioned previously, there are some great high tension moments but the middle of this story is basically a fluff filled void. I think all the relationship beats that we need to hit could have easily been executed while we're clue hunting and trying to find the murderer. Instead we're stuck with two high energy confrontations after which the plot grinds to a halt. I'm bummed that this didn't resonate with me like Crash Test, but I'll definitely give James' next book a shot.

CW: past death of a parent in a car accident, past death of a partner due to overdose, gun violence, murder

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Steph]

I finished this in one day. Had everything I was looking for enemies to lovers romance, lots of angst and trauma, isolated small town setting and murder.

Quin and Cole hate each other and don’t seem to have anything in common. When they become unexpected neighbors for the holidays. Quin bonds with Cole’s dog and sees that maybe Cole has some hidden depth. His curiosity pulls him into Cole’s orbit. Then Quin discovers a dead body in the woods.

Loved the two main characters. Cole is so unhappy but you can tell that he’s being cruel so that no one can tell he’s hurting. And he is so protective over Quin. The best character of all is Bandit the dog. Bringing people together is that dog’s specialty.

[Heather Lewis]

I loved this from start to finish! It starts off a bit slow but that didn't stop me from being hooked. A loved actor, a hated F1 driver, a small town mystery in the Canadian Wilderness, a slow burn romance. There's so much to enjoy!

I'd say the mystery isn't the main focus, but it was still enjoyable. It added tension and provided the opportunity for these boys to spend some much needed time together. Seeing all the ways Cole starts to look out for Quin, begrudgingly and without meaning to, was so cute. Quin learns pretty quickly that Cole can't say no to him. There's quite a bit of hurt/comfort and it was so heartwarming to see each time they took care of each other.

I think the romance is where this one shines. It's a proper slow burn that works perfectly for this story. Quin was so adorable. He was such an easy character to relate to. It took a little while for me to warm up to Cole. It seems obvious that he's being cruel to cover up that he's unhappy. But that cruelness still hurts. Seeing these two open up and build a relationship together was beautiful.

Cole takes a long time to open himself up but it's so worth it. Seeing how much his grief affected him is so heartbreaking. Underneath the broodiness and grumpiness is someone protective and caring. You see bits and piecing throughout but it really shines once he starts letting himself be vulnerable. I liked that he was still in love with Clara. We don't just stop loving someone because their gone. Seeing his love for Clara and his love for Quin exist together was touching.

It was also nice to see that falling in love with Quin didn't magically fix everything. That love gives him the strength and the support to work through his grief. He wants to be happy again and that love helps drive him towards that goal. As well as all his new friends. All of the side characters in this were amazing! I loved them all but especially Trevor and Bandit. Bandit is the best boy and deserves all the treats and pets.

This was a wonderful read! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my early copy! I can't wait to read the sequel to Crash Test! The enjoyed all the little snippets of Travis and Jacob in this one.

[Sof]

Quin McCarthy and Cole Milton could not be more different. Quin is Hollywood’s sweetheart, and Cole is the F1 driver everyone hates. And after a brief meeting at the Singapore Grand Prix, both are happy to never see one another again. But when Quin moves to a remote Canadian ski town to film a new TV show, he is unpleasantly surprised to learn that Cole is his neighbour. Resolved to ignore him, Quin carries on with filming - that is, until he stumbles upon a dead body and the murderer running away. Now, Quin is in danger, and Cole might be the only one able to help him.

I Loved loved LOVED this! 🩷 For the first 30% I was a little wary, because there were a few lines I didn’t like. For example, Quin describing a woman as “not even that pretty” and how she would probably be cast as “Average Girl” gave me the ick, and I think this should have been edited out. It felt misogynistic to me.

I did really love the rest of the book; the story, the characters, the romance, and the thriller aspect, AND OF COURSE BANDIT, were all amazing! Bandit is the best doggo ever!!! 🩷 Final Cut kind of feels like a few stories mixed into one, just because there’s so much that happens, and so many themes. Ultimately, the main theme is grief, and I thought it was well done and written about meaningfully. I liked the slow unravelling of Cole’s walls and how persistent Quin was with this lol. Cole’s grumpiness was hilarious, and the burgeoning relationship between him and Quin was so beautiful 🩷 I also just love when a grump is soft for their one person 😂 I appreciated the humour throughout and my GOD, I ADORED Trevor and Jonathan, but especially Trevor. That man has no shame and I love it lol.

I enjoyed the mystery of finding out who was behind the murder, and even though it felt a bit obvious, that didn’t take away from the story, at least for me! But honestly, my favourite part of the book was when Quin and Cole spent the holidays together. It was quiet and sweet and so lovely reading about them spending time together and falling in love 🩷🥺

In all, a wonderful book! 🩷 Besides the few lines that I didn’t like and felt were inappropriate, I enjoyed the rest of the book and I can’t wait for the Crash Test sequel, as well as Matty’s story 👀

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review 🩷🩷🩷

[sydney ☆]

Thank you to NetGalley and Amy James for providing an E-Arc of this upcoming release!

Amy James, you've done it again.

I went into this with very different expectations after loving the first book. The stakes felt a little higher here than in Crash Test, but it still felt grounded and emotionally resonant. I've said before that I'm burned out on dislike to lovers romance, but I actually found Quin and Cole's dynamic to be a lot of fun. Their banter felt natural, and I laughed out loud several times at Cole's grumpy antics.

I missed more of the focus on F1, but everything good about the first book is still very much present here. The character relationships felt real and engaging, and it was actually kind of hilarious how tuned in to Travis and Jacob's lives Quin was at the start of the book. Like yeah, me too, bud. I also appreciate the lack of a third act breakup. I cannot tell you how tired I am of those!

[Laura McAllister]

The first Amy James book I ever read (Crash Test) ripped my heart out so there’s no excuse for how shocked I was when she did it again. I read this entire book in one sitting and it’s easily one of the best books I’ve read all year.

I started Final Cut without reading the summary or reviews and I’m so glad I did; do yourself a favor and go in blind. Based on the epilogue from Seven Points, I thought this was going to be a cute little dislike-to-lovers romance, and boy was I wrong. I’m not going to tell you a single thing about it, I want it to be a surprise.

[Natalie C]

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
This book was so good! I absolutely loved Crash Test and I was so excited when this book was announced and I was able to get my hands on an ARC! I loved the characters so much! This book follows actor Quin McCarthy as he lives the life of a Newfoundland local while he shoots a mini series. Cole Milton is an F1 that Quin cannot stand. What happens when the two become neighbors? This book was actually so adorable. I was nervous because I had such high expectations from loving Crash Test, but this book was so good!

[allmy_booklovers]

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!!

I definitely recommend this book. I really enjoyed the relationship between Quin and Cole. It started out as antagonistic and ended in love.

This book takes the place mainly in Newfoundland and frankly that sold me!
Small town romance between an FI driver and the cute actor. Toss in a little mystery!

I did think the mystery aspect was easy to figure out ( literally from the very start) but I still enjoyed that aspect and how it forced Quin and Cole to be in close proximity!!

Coke’s grief over losing a loved one was very well done and I liked how Quin didn’t expect Cole to get over it. I think Clara would have been happy they found each other.

Things to expect:
-slow burn
-forced proximity
- banter
- the freaking cutest dog Bandit
- grief
- the northern light (seriously I’m jealous)

[Jane (whatjanereads)]

This had me on the edge of my seat in no time!
Murder mystery x sports romance? The perfect genre for me!
Ever since Crash test and watching f1 docuseries after I’ve been really into racing. The idea of the most hated racing driver, a rich boy with a bad attitude falling for Hollywoods sweetheart was such a fun premise.
Loved the characters and the story got me absolutely hooked in no time. I somehow didn’t expect this to be come sort of a murder mystery and I was so here for it!
This book has me reading very late into the night, I just couldn’t stop because I needed answers!
Loved the romance and the side characters a lot and wish we’ll see them again soon.

[Érica’s chapters]

Before anything else, let me preface that I was graced with this ARC from NetGalley. I am very grateful for it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨(4.5) /5

I have not read the other books in The Crash Test Universe yet, and instead jumped into this one the moment I saw it on Instagram and requested it as an arc. Obviously, that will change now that I've read this amazing, emotional, and so well-written story and got some glimpses of Travis and Jacob through a spectator's eyes. How their love shone even when hiding it from everyone was what made me want to know them more personally.

Tho I don’t know if they will be able to compare to the way Quin and Cole hold my heart in their hands after this book. And what a book!

Quin and Cole's first impression of each other could not be worse. Cole’s attitude and words are rude, and he is definitely no one's favorite driver or person to be with. And for months to come, it struck Quin. Until Quin travels to Canada to film a thriller series in a very isolated zone and meets Cole again at the property he owns, with two houses in it, one of Cole's and the other a rental place where Quin is living. And they fight over it and bicker the rest of the time, only having some kind of agreement on the use of the property.

Until Quin becomes the only eyewitness to the murder of a girl while he was shooting a scene in the woods. And quickly he becomes a target. His only safe escape? Cole, who both acts as if he despises Quin but whose actions show he is not the poster rude man everyone thinks he is.

The plot extends to way more than the synopsis shows you, and I definitely was not ready to discover some things in it. Meeting Cole's pain was painful for me in two ways: he was going through all that alone, and I could not rationalize and understand that the situation was not unfair for Quin. I feel like in a good part ot the book, I was failing and not being the bigger person cause I just thought how fucking complicated that would be for me if I was in Quin's position. And how I didn´t want to ever experience it.

But books have this amazing capability of making you experience things you will probably never go through, and it broadens your senses. And Quin never ONCE feels like he is competing or is less than what Cole had in the past. Instead of what I was feeling, Quin himself held both past and present together. And with the evolution of it, I was able to silence this thing that was bugging me in the book and understand its beauty. I have to say, I am very much excited to check people's comments about it in the future.

Quin was a character I deeply loved. His hopefulness and willingness to believe and make changes, and not be placated by fear, were very inspiring, and it reminded me of some things I went through in my life. Even when he was scared, instead of just locking himself in his house for security, he challenged his fears and knew that the only way to be stronger was to face them. So when fear froze him, he kept moving, to the point that he left the house to experience life or even check for himself that all was good, even when he was alone and isolated from everyone. I hope I can be like him when fear paralyzes me. Same thing when he makes his beliefs into actions and becomes a force for change. He is the definition of “Willing and able” by Noah Kahan.

And Cole… Cole is the definition of acting out of love even when all he wants is to not care. To be cold. To say no to everything. Everything about Cole, and surrounding Cole, is love. Even his pain is love. And I love how, in the end, he didn't just get hope; he also got a support system, the best type of support system possible: people who truly care for him and would help him move toward healing, to accept being helped. Props to the author for developing his character and his feelings, and how healing can be in such a realistic and respectful way!

Their romance, together with the crime subplot, was mixed perfectly. I was hooked from beginning to end. It was darn addictive, and even if they only kissed once and the story was a closed-door romance, I would still be VERY VERY in love with them. IT´S NOT THE KISSES AND SEX, OK? It's Cole holding Quin steady in his seat when his car skidded and only letting go when all was good, while he was still being cold and off-putting. He did that unconsciously, and it's one of my favorite scenes in the book, followed by when Quin ran to his house and… oh well. That was hot, just saying that. Oh, how excited I am for their novella. I need it now, yet this book isn't even out. I need to go back to the cabin again. I need to experience their story everywhere and every time.

To end my review (or otherwise this will be a long, long, long essay), I have to say how cool I found a certain woman to be. Definitely something I ADORED. Not everything people show you is the reality.

And obviously, I wish long walks and many, many toys to my favorite character ever! And for someone to always be there, in good memories and love.

[Ari]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of the book, in exchange I am offering my honest review here.

DNF @47% or ~ page 188.

Yeah, that book wasn’t exactly what I was looking for and some of the reasons might be personal taste, others have to do with the treatment of certain characters. I want to preface this review with the information that there are some shallow spoilers for this story and I restrained myself to give even more examples to still give readers a chance to experience it for themselves. Now that that is out of the way, let's start this, unfortunately pretty unfavorable review, I guess.

The story starts out with Hollywood star Quin watching a Formula 1 race in Singapore and falling in love with the sport, given the the world this takes place in and the characters involved I can’t fault the author for constantly mentioning F1. It’s not my thing and I was a little surprised how it was sometimes hammed up, how every person Quin meets is into F1 when the only person I know being into F1 is my aunt. That’s my personal problem though.

The writing itself is quite clumsy sometimes though, there is one specific scene that shows what I mean quite well. When Quin arrives at his holiday resort, his land lady tells him that the tires on his rental car aren’t made for driving in the snow, he should be careful about it. There is no answer to that or discussion what that should mean. Two pages later he is told the same thing by another character and all of a sudden he is surprised that he isn’t geared for driving through a snow storm, which is picked up on again at a later date and during all that time. Quin hasn’t taken care of it or asked someone for help. The book lives from conincidences and happenstances. It was frustrating to read.
Even though I consider the writing clumsy, it has to be highlighted that it was easily readable and I flew through the first 100 pages in a flash.

Now there is a lot to say about the characters.
One of the first things that struck me was how characters are described, especially women. The author goes into great detail to describe Quin’s Co-Star Kel, who is said to be „not pretty but unconventionally attractive“, „with a big nose, too thin lips and too straight eyebrows“ as characteristics highlighted. Another woman is said to be „not the kind of pretty that is expected of a F1 driver’s girlfriend“ and I felt very uncomfortable reading about it, because the author always immediately mentions how that is a good thing as all the other women are carbon copies and look the same. We don’t need this kind of fake feminism where we pit different kind of women against each other in this day and age.

> "Corbin might object to that. I think he’s kind of obsessed with you.“
> She snorts. "He is, isn’t he? Men like him love ugly, clever girls.“
> "You’re not ugly,“ I say, loyally.
> "Unconventionally attractive, then,“ she says.

Meanwhile men are only said to be hot, maybe their skin and hair colour. If they weren’t on the cover, I wouldn’t know what Quin and Cole were supposed to look like.
My biggest gripe though is Quin’s behaviour toward Cole. The first time they meet in Canada, Quin meets Cole’s dog, Bandit, for the first time and he starts petting, hugging and kissing him, even when Cole tells him to stop. For him it is a game to piss his nemesis off, even telling him that he “doesn’t deserve such a nice dog“ which hurts Cole deeply. Nonetheless Quin NEVER apologizes for his bad behaviour, instead it is treated as Cole stepping out of line, being a douchebag to his surrounding which mandates an apology.
Unfortunately, there is never really an explanation for Cole’s behaviour (in the amount of pages I read) and we barely get to see his inner world. There’s his hate for his father and that something happened in his past. What it was and what lead him to start act like that? I don’t know, in my opinion there should have been some revelations for the reader much earlier. But the way it is it seems like the author wasn’t interested to let us know anything about him, which made Quin’s behaviour even more outragous.
In another scene, Quin wants to go watch the Northern lights at night and is surprised by Bandit, he tells Cole he won't go alone but take bandit with him and when Cole forbids it, Quin takes the dog, anyway. He clearly disregards Cole’s boundaries and it made me really mad. When have we lost basic decency that it’s now okay to treat other people’s possession however you like?

The point where I decided to stop reading, though, was when one of the police men wasn’t able to stay professional during a homicide investigation because he held a personal grudge for Cole. Cole then goes on to spite said police man not five minutes later. Now I’m not here outing myself as pro-Police, I’ve had my fair share of problems with them but these are all grown men in their mid-twenties and they’re acting like children.

If you’ve read until this point and don’t see any problems with these points this story might be for you. It clearly has its fans and audience, unfortunately it didn’t touch me so I won’t continue and probably also won’t give it another chance.

[Brady]

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Ok I loved this so much! Quin is an actor who’s getting a little tired with all that comes with it, especially because he’s one off Hollywood’s favorite actors right now. He’s been offered the part in a new role that shoots in a remote town in Canada. It’s great he’ll stay in a Airbnb in the woods that’s close but not to close to where they are filming and he’ll get to spend some alone time. But first he was invited to attend the Singapore Gran Prix. He doesn’t know much about F1 but once he attends he’s hooked. Then at an after party he meets everyone’s least favorite F1 driver Cole. Their interaction doesn’t go well and they hope to never see each other again. Cole has a past that has left him pushing everyone away and trying his hardest not to care about anybody. The only thing he cares about is his dog Bandit, he likes racing but he’s not sure he cares about it either. Every year when F1 takes a break he returns to the small Canadian town he grew up in. The both holds to much of the past and is the place he can’t seem to let go of. It’s not long before Cole and Quin realize that their neighbors, and the only two people living in the area. Their interactions continue to be fraught and filled with tension but Quin adores Bandit and can’t get enough of him. Cole hates it but Bandit also loves Quin. Plus they more time they are around each other the more Quin starts to see pieces of Cole that don’t fit with the F1 driver everyone hates. Then Quin comes a cross a dead body while filming and see what is probably the killer in the distance. Soon he’s being stalked by a killer and the only person he can turn to is Cole. He knows Cole’s not what everyone thinks but Cole isn’t telling Quin everything. Cole wants to keep Quin at a distance like everyone else but something about him draws him in and it’s like he can’t resist trying to make Quin happy. Will Cole’s past keep him from being happy in the present? And what if the murderer catches up to Quin? This was so well done! Like I love the mix of rom com with elements of mystery! I think the book is mostly a dislike to lovers romcom but then it seamlessly weaves it these mystery elements to that bring in a little whodunnit! The wooded area creates some spectacular tension in all the right places! Amy James’s writes a romantic, thrilling, dislike to lovers, that’s full of grief, hope, love, mystery, heartbreak and heartwarmth! Plus it’s completely swoony! I enjoyed Quin but I absolutely loved Cole! Plus Bandit, I wanted to reach through the pages and hold him!

[Bryson Parker]

Review of an advance copy received through NetGalley, all opinions are my own and based in my true feelings.

I was so overjoyed to receive an advance copy of Amy James’ Final Cut from NetGalley after deeply enjoying her other book, Crash Test. I did not think a book could make me more emotional, but this book has proved me wrong.

Cole and Quin each had their hooks in me from the start. Cole, a brooding, F1 driver who’s so caught up in his own head that he can’t possibly make time for anything else. Quin, a sweet, good-hearted young actor who’s skyrocketed to fame and just wants real friends, real life, and real love. The dynamic between these two early on is so cat and mouse, grumpy/sunshine, and full of so much sexual tension you could cut it with a knife, but James doesn’t make the gratification easy.

James makes the characters and the reader work for the ending and that’s what I’ve loved about her work so far. She does not make her characters one dimensional tropes of people. She keeps them complex and interesting. Even through all of Cole’s asshole-ish attitude, you can’t help but know deep down inside he just needs someone to be his person and luckily Quin fits the bill. Cole’s journey and relationship with grief had me in tears by the final pages. James roots her love stories in truth and reality and it doesn’t come across as fleeting whimsy and easy no stakes love like so many other books in the sports romance genre.

Aside from a sweet love story, Amy James doesn’t stop there! This book is packed full from a thrilling murder mystery turned stalking situation, to a mysterious suicide that doesn’t quite add up, the best puppy in the world, and a cast of characters that keeps the reader laughing and smiling too. This book is a great balance of tears, laughter, swooning, and a few minor freakouts when things get tense. This book will keep you on your toes and is sure to win over a variety of readers

It is my hope that James continues to craft sports romances with heart, integrity, and truth. Crossing my fingers extra hard for a new story where Porter takes his rightful place as a main character after winning me over in this book!

[Gabriel Ribeiro]

Thank you Netgalley and the author for this eARC. These opinions are my own.

Quin is a Hollywood star who moves to a small Canadian town to film a series. His neighbor is Cole, a Formula 1 driver with whom he once had a disastrous first encouter. When Quin witnesses a murder, the two must put aside their animosity to stay safe and uncover the truth.

What I liked:
Cole’s journey is the highlight of the book. His attitude, often labeled "rude", is a common trope in "opposites attract" or "enemies-to-lovers" stories; however, in Final Cut, his motivation for acting this way is steeped in anguish and pain that is hard to leave behind, transcending the simple "bad boy with a heart of gold" archetype. Quin also undergoes careful character development, patiently and affectionately breaking down the walls Cole built up after years of solitude. Their relationship evolves organically and humanly, aided significantly by Quin’s friends. The suspenseful backdrop serves as an excellent vehicle for bringing the main characters closer together, allowing Quin to voice his fears without judgment—particularly given his status as a man and a public figure—while giving Cole the space to reveal his kinder side and gradually learn to trust Quin. The descriptions of the settings are flawless, effectively placing us inside Cole and Quin’s heads, whether they are in remote cabins, gazing at the sky by a lake, or strolling through the city. The supporting characters are also well-crafted, avoiding the cliché of merely serving as yes-men who agree with everything the protagonists say. And, of course: Bandit is simply the best character, and nothing will change my mind about that.

What I didn’t like:
I might be overanalyzing, but there was a detail, revealed relatively early on, that made me think, "They knew that. So why do it right there?" Admittedly, it wasn't exactly the same piece of information, but the similarity and correlation were enough to leave me a bit confused about the decisions made at that moment. Even so, it didn't detract from my overall reading experience.

Read if you like:
Hate to love;
Murder mystery;
Emotional damage;
Slow burn;
Found family;
Opposites attract.

[Katie]

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and Amy James for the ARC in exchange for honest review! This was my first book with this author and, for the most part, I very much enjoyed it. I will say that it was a heavier look at love and loss than I expected going into things and that’s probably my own fault for not reading the summary more closely. I saw actor and F1 driver and my brain thought: sports romance! Light and fluffy and smutty! This wasn’t that.

This was a poignant, deeply sad (at times) look at grief and loss and what it means to heal (and how that process is never linear, nor very often easy). It’s about friendship and love and the joys of being in community for our own mental health and the ways that friendship can heal pieces we didn’t know were broken. It’s also a cozy, small town murder mystery mixed in there and very minimal smut (not closed door but very much not open either; I’d call it door cracked smut maybe).

Quin and Cole were both lovely characters with fully-formed identities and flaws and pieces that made them special. The friends and supporting characters were also great and contributed heavily to the ambiance of the book. For being a later book in a series, it didn’t feel necessary to have read previous books in the series to understand side characters; that’s always a benefit. This one is truly a stand-alone.

I did feel the plot moved in strange directions a few times and there were some open-ended pieces at the end that left me very slightly dissatisfied. Maybe that makes it more true to real life but I would have appreciated more closure and a slightly longer timeframe for Quin and Cole. But that’s personal preference. Additionally, Cole is an F1 driver, yes, but that’s such a very small part of the story, it almost doesn’t matter. I would have loved to have seen more off-season training from him to sell the story being about a professional athlete.

All in all, it was an enjoyable, cozy, moving read. Perfect for moving into the holiday season and great for anyone who likes a small town whodunit story!

[Andree]

ARC review

Amy James does it again! A book I read in 2 days, only because I had to work and sleep!

We met Cole and Quin in Seven Points, the novella following Crash Test and it's 2 protagonists: Jacob and Travis. Las time we saw Cole and Quin, they were on an hotel rooftop. Cole was being an asshole and Quin was trying to protect Jacob and Travis secret relationship. What was pretty clear was their attraction to each other.

A few months later, we meet them again, in a little remote town in Newfoundland. Cole is there to spend his winter and Quin to shoot a series. Of course, they end up living next to each other (or minutes away as you do in a remote place in Canada!). With each meeting, Quin realize Cole isn't the ice cold man he wants to be seen as, and comes to trust him with his life. Cole isn't the same when he's next to Bandit, his dog. This lead Quin to try and figure out his neighbour. In the meantime, Cole's demons are strong and he tries to resist the attraction he feels for Quin. As many with traumas, he thinks pushing people away will protect them and himself.

In an intricate story between Cole traumas and griefs, and Quin own trauma after being mixed with a murder, what started as a rocky relation becomes love. Quin, who never felt in love before finally understand how you will do anything for the one you love. Cole who had one great love finally learn how to let go of the things you can't change to embrace what is in front of you. It's beautiful to see them work together and respect each other. For better and for worse.

We also have the chance to be reunited with Trevor and Jonathan, who became best of friends with Quin in Seven Points. Trevor's friendship with Cole is beautiful. Sometimes, you need a bit of tough love to see the light again. I hope we'll see more of Trevor and Jonathan! Their story seems to be an interesting one also.

[Phoenix]

This was a sweet romance with a fun murder mystery subplot.

I knew I was going to love Cole from his very first chapter – any grumpy character who turns soft for their dog is always going to immediately pull me in. His backstory was so heartbreaking, but once he decided to let Quin in and start living again... he was a sweetie.

I did have a few issues with this story, but I think it's mostly a me thing.

Firstly, as a slooow burn fan, if I'm told I'm getting slow burn, I expect that to be in terms of the time period in the book, not the percentage of pages. So although nothing really happened between the MCs until around 60%, that was only a few weeks and a handful of interactions from the start. Their interactions were great and it was well written, but to me, slow burn means yearning, fighting attraction and lots and lots of on page tension over months (plural)... or, even better, years. Not a few weeks.

Secondly, I adore a found family storyline, but Quin's friendship with Trevor and Johnathon felt so deep and longstanding for such a new friendship. Don't get me wrong, it was a great friendship and I'm so glad he had them. But these guys didn't know each other at the start of the book and within months they're flying across the world at the drop of a hat, missing work commitments and answering phone calls at 4am (happily?!). Again, I think this is a me thing. It's almost like an insta-friendship and, as someone who doesn't struggles with an insta-love plot (is this my demisexual, ND with low social skills, brain?!), it just didn't feel quite believable to me.

Those are my gripes.

But they didn't distract from a great read. I did guess [a plot point] fairly early on, but it was still interesting to see it unfold. I loved Cole's growth, and Quin was so good at knowing when to tease and prod and when to just respect Cole's feelings. They were a lovely couple.

I will definitely be reading more by Amy James in the future.

[Ander Ray]

When I saw the cover for this book I thought, 'That doesn't look like a sports romance, that looks like a murder mystery.' And that's a marketing win because that's exactly correct. I think it's really important that readers of Crash Test go in with the right expectation, because even though Final Cut is in the same universe, this book is a different genre from the first. I loved Crash Test and Final Cut both, but I worry that changing genres in the same series might upset readers if they don't realize it going in. So I repeat, this is not an F1 sports romance!!!

Okay, now that I've said that, let's proceed with the review.

What I love most about Crash Test is how the romance is a result of the characters' journeys, how they each have to grow and overcome their flaws before they can have an actualized romantic relationship. In Final Test, that's true for Cole as well. He comes across as a shallow asshole, but throughought the story we learn why he's erected these walls. And Quin is uniquely poised to smash them down!

You can absolutely read this without reading Crash Test. It functions well as a standalone. Characters from the previous book are mentioned and present in some scenes, but there's plenty of context here to function on its own.

Amy James does light-hearted moments, but she doesn't do light-hearted arcs. No, we go heavy on emotions here. I had to keep wiping my eyes because the screen was getting a little blurry past the tears. I knew Cole was going to win me over, and boy did he ever. I always love the grumpy one in a grumpy x sunshine.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it! I'm officially an Amy James fan and will read any MM book she writes, even if she decides to do more genre hopping in the middle of a series. 

[spacecamp]

“An unstoppable force meets an immovable object. That is Quin and me.”

So, this was emotionally devastating. That’s to be expected if you read Crash Test. Final Cut ties in to Crash Test with some small mentions of Travis & Jacob. Cole Milton is a F1 driver, coming off the season and heading into a long winter break. When he heads back to his small hometown for the winter, the last person he expects to see is Quin MCarthy. He met Quin briefly at a party and they pretty much hated each other on sight.

Quin is in Moose Lake to film a new tv show, and he’s hopeful for a cozy winter reading books by the fire in a snowy ski town. What he doesn’t expect is to find Cole as his neighbor. Throw in some suspect heating, an inability to drive in snow, and the world’s cutest dog Bandit, and you have the makings for a cozy Christmas romance.

Unfortunately (or fortunately?) this is not a cozy Christmas romance. Throw in some heavy angst, grief, a murder, and some meddling but beautiful new friends, and you’ve got a contemporary romance that’s reflective and moody.

Final Cut broke my heart a few times. Quin’s lonely and burned out, and starting to wonder if falling in love is a real phenomenon or just something for the movies. Cole’s an asshole - he’s twisted by grief and keeps up huge walls to prevent anyone from connecting with him and making him vulnerable.

Notes:

Quin’s friends Jonathan and Trevor are literally the best. They steal every scene they’re in.

Cole’s dog Bandit is a beautiful good boy.

You should go in blind.

F1 Driver x Actor
Small town at Christmas
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Slow burn
Dog dad
Really heavy grief

Thanks to Amy James & NetGalley for the ARC!

[Holly Deacon]

Quin McCarthy and Cole Milton are basically the definition of “there is absolutely no way these two are going to get along.” 😂

A famous Hollywood actor and a Formula 1 driver who already hate each other get thrown back into each other’s orbit when Quin heads to a remote Canadian ski town to film a show. Unfortunately for him, Cole just happens to live next door.

And then there’s a BODY. 👀

What I’m loving about this setup is that it isn’t just enemies-to-lovers—it’s enemies-to-lovers wrapped in murder, danger, secrets, snow-covered isolation and a whole lot of forced proximity. Quin starts out convinced Cole is someone he wants nothing to do with, but when things get dangerous, Cole becomes the person he has to rely on.

The chemistry between these two sounds absolutely delicious. That slow shift from mutual irritation and mistrust into something softer is exactly the kind of romance I love. And underneath all the banter and tension, there’s clearly a much more emotional story about grief, fear and learning to let someone see the parts of you that you normally keep hidden.

The murder mystery adds such a great layer to the romance. There’s this constant feeling that something isn't quite right, and as Quin and Cole start digging deeper, the danger around them keeps escalating. It gives their relationship something bigger to deal with than just their own feelings and forces them to actually trust each other.

Amy James gives us chemistry, suspense and plenty of emotional moments, while still letting Quin and Cole's relationship remain at the heart of the story.

Throughly enjoyed every moment!