Formula 1 romance... YES PLEASE

It may have taken me a little while to get into the book but once I did, I was reading chunks of the books at once. There was the perfect balance of romance and sports for me but I felt like it needed slightly more drama.

This gave be fan x F1 driver vibes rather than enemies to lovers and I was so here for it. They cared so much for each other whilst trying to focus on both of their careers and future.

Having both people who agree with your job and doesn't is something that is very normal in every day life but isn't spoken about as much. However, this book showcases this aspect in the most effortless way.

More F1 Romances pleasee

The vibes!!

This is what I want come my sport romance books. It’s was so much fun and I loved the twist of an F1 fan getting with the driver she always loved! Great characters and a good amount of revenge where needed.

My only criticism is I wish it was a bit longer so parts could have been more fleshed out and maybe made my wait a bit longer for them to be together

She was an overthinker and I related to that a lot, and while it was a good depiction of what one goes through, it wasn't written in the best to read about. Especially since in the end it kind of seemed like all her stress and think was for naught. Maybe that was the point though? idk.

The drama surrounding her mother and aunt seemed important but actually wasn't. And was solved so quickly, I wondered how the two didn't get along for years. I appreciated the relationship between the two MCs. It felt very real and healthy.
The characters themselves though....It's surprising that characters that are so focused on their flaws, while also being competent, still somehow felt one dimensional. While this was slightly less the case for Xander. Nothing I read made me particularly attached to the characters, even if I related to Mia.

The writing left me wanting, and seemed like it tried a bit too hard to be British. It was also very weird to see the word "underpinnings" meant as a description of underwear.

She's depicted as plus size on the cover, which I loved, but I didn't actually find any reference to that in the text. A plus size body shouldn't have to be a main point of the plot, but it would be nice to have explicit text to back up the artistic decisions, even if it's just mentioned in passing. The "not-tiny" comment didn't really do it for me.

The story was so simplistic, there was very little real tension and not enough sweetness for it to be fluff. If you want something to pass the time while waiting for the next GP, then this is for you.

Thank-you NetGalley and Afterglow Books for allowing me to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed, and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I rated this 4.5⭐️

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was short, easy to read and also just really sweet. It was comforting as well, I think it had a lot of fairly classic tropes and I enjoyed that. The only slight negative for me is that it took me a minute to get used to it, because Xander (the MMC) is very stereotypically British. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and I did eventually get used to it, but I found as a British reader that at times it felt a little off. I loved the main characters and the side characters though; a racing romance (is this what it’s called? I’m not entirely sure) is somewhat out of my comfort zone in the sense I know nothing about racing and cars, but it felt accessible for someone with my limited knowledge. I also ADORED the use of the journal and how it helped me see more of Xander and Mia’s feelings, I thought that was really clever.

🏁I received an ARC of this book and am leaving an honest review voluntarily🏁

Firstly I want to say thank you to @netgalley and @karenbbooth for giving me the opportunity to read this
ARC
I absolutely ate this book up especially since the F1 season is only 20!! Days away the chemistry between Xander and Mia was and it got me kicking my feet like a school
girl, this was just a cute romcom set in the F1 world and I couldn't ask for me.... I need another one
5/⭐️

This is my first time ever reading a Formula 1 romance, and I really enjoyed it! 'Not So Fast' was such a fun read! I love the pairing of a sports podcaster and an F1 driver. It made for some great interactions, as well as a lighthearted take on 'enemies to lovers', as we begin this novel with Mia criticising Xander's driving technique. She really knew her stuff, and I was rooting for her podcast all the way!

I do wish we had got to see more of her recording her episodes, and of Xander listening in. I think it could have been a cool way for her to communicate with him and dance around their attraction for each other.

I don't know much about Formula 1 and what the environment around the race track looks like - for example the 'paddock' that Mia found herself in a lot - so I could have done with a bit more description of this area so I could set the scene in my head better. I also think it would have been nice to see them go on a few dates, as we do visit a lot of new places in this book.

There was plenty of tension and chemistry between our two love interests. I expected a bit more spice, but what we got was fantastic and super steamy. As well as the romance, Mia and Xander had a lot of heartwarming moments, where they showed each other their worth. Mia helped Xander to appreciate himself and see how far he's come in his racing journey, and to be proud of himself no matter what. She was his calm amidst the chaos. And Xander was great at encouraging Mia to follow her dreams, and to discover what truly made her happy. These two had such amazing communication, which was very refreshing to read! I also really loved Xander's family, and Mia getting to be a part of it and feeling so at home with them.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this!

*I received this book as an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) for free in exchange for an honest review*

I was really intrigued about this book as I liked the idea of the podcaster/F1 driver dynamic. The beginning of the book had a lot of promise, especially when it seemed like it might be an enemies to lovers vibe (as it’s one of my favourite tropes).
I liked both of the MCs as individuals but felt like the chemistry between them was lacking something. I think it was because it didn’t have as much tension as I liked.
I enjoyed the dual POV although it wasn’t always clear it was switching perspective but once I had understood the style it was being written in, it was a bit clearer. I did like how we didn’t have to wait until end of chapters to see another POV and that it switched POV quickly in some parts.

Ok so as an f1 girlie this book just made my day!!
I’ll admit I had to get used to the story being in 3rd person I’m more of a 1st person story however once I got my head around that I absolutely loved it!!

If you’re an f1 fan and a lover of sports romance books give this one a go!!

Well put together, structured nicely.

Found the content to be slightly lacking (for me) and the dynamic between the characters felt slightly forced. I liked the technical backdrop of the F1 world and the research.

The story is a lovely sports romance centered around the thrilling world of Formula 1 racing. The two main characters are endearing and create a connection that draws readers in. The pace of the narrative is brisk, maintaining a sense of excitement throughout. Unlike many romances that fall into the trap of unnecessary breakups, this tale stands out by showcasing the characters' excellent communication skills, allowing their relationship to evolve in a healthy and relatable way. With a level of spice that adds a touch of heat without overwhelming the story, this romance strikes a delightful balance that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

In "Not So Fast" by Karen Booth, Formula One, fandom, and feelings make for a whirlwind contemporary romance that shows off the thrilling aspects of professional racing combined with the rush of romance. The novel centres around Mia Neal, an enthusiastic F1 podcaster whose harsh but insightful critiques of British driver Xander Bishop lead to an unexpected reaction when they meet at the Miami Grand Prix.

I don't know anything about Formula One but the book never made me feel ignorant. It conveyed a strong understanding of the technical and social elements of the sport without info dumping. Mia is a complex character with real flaws, whose dedication and unique qualities (such as overthinking and striving for perfection) add depth to the romance while being relatable.

The chemistry between Mia and Xander evolves differently from the standard "enemies-to-lovers" storyline to explore a more intimate dynamic. The conflict is centred around managing the consequences of their choices rather than personal conflict. This made it so that Xander is never a toxic jerk, which was very sweet and something I would like to see more of in the genre. But as sweet as the romance is, the book isn't short on spicy scenes. I would rate it a 3.5/5 for spice.

This is a great pick for readers who enjoy any sports romance with thoughtful depth, but especially Formula One romances. It's an excellent choice for fans of sweet but spicy romance who are looking for solid character development and insight into the racing world.

Thank you to Afterglow Books and NetGalley for allowing me to review an eARC of this book!

First of all i would like to thank Mills and Bone and Afterglow Book for asking me to review this awesome spicy fun book i always love working with guys they are always publishing such amazing books i am never disappointed .
being a romance lover this book had me on my hands and knees dancing like beyonce .
Car racing
Enemies to Lovers
and lots of spicy and romance nothing here i did not love .

Mia character i loved her very quick witted and thinks outside the box in times of trouble and has a passion for F1 racing we definitely could be friends at times i thought she was pretty feisty loved that .

Formula 1 driver Xander Bishop well hello !! swoon worthy and a little cocky but Mia loves that about him i did to , watch it now get that out of you smutty heads lol !! with his hard working attitude and his banter you can see why they are both drawn together .and the tension is unreal .i thought they worked well as a time .

the plot it self Formula 1 lover here what is not to love , i thought the book had a great feel to it and totally had me giggling to myself ,the husband was totally giving me that look you know what i mean spicy readers . i read the book in a day. That does not always happen .

I really hope that Karen gives us more from these characters and more books from her please as i found this a wonderful feel good read ., i thought her writing was wonderful it was very fast paced just what i needed .and she put a smile on my face .
i will be looking out for more books by Karen.

this book will keep you petrol burning 5 blazing stars

- One of the better F1 romances I have read with a good amount of the sport featured.
- Mid/low level spice
- No stupid miscommunication trope and 3rd act break up which is greatly appreciated.
- They were good enemies to lovers and had great banter with eachother.
- The pace is very fast (like an F1 car) which does mean that the relationship feels at times like the romance is sacrificed and there is not enough depth. If there are further books in an interconnected romance series this may allow for all the characters to be more developed as the series goes on.

Lovely sports romance around the sport of F1. The 2 main characters are sweet and the pace of the story is fast. No silly break up in the middle, in stead the characters have good communication. Level 2 spice.

Wonderful, feel good romance . Mia has no idea where she wants to work, despite having 2 degrees Her love of Formula 1 racing leads to a podcast which takes off momentously and leads to her meeting Zander, a driver who is finding no success. Enthralling , perfect holiday reading.

Funny, charming formula 1 romance! The banter between the main characters was amazing and the comments she made about him on her podcast were so real. Mia was easy to relate to and was dealing with issues that can be quite common. The author made both of the characters have flaws that they had to overcome thought the book. Xander was a lovable character who I could help but cheer on, he struggled with the stress and responsibility of his job and had some mental health issues to overcome.

The fierce competition both on and off the track was great to experience, I liked that the female character was involved in the F1 profession by having her own podcast about the races. She was determined to show that she had a deep understanding of the sport even though she hasn’t driven a race car.

Overall it was a quick, entertaining read with interesting characters. The book has enemies to lovers, work romance and covers mental health issues.

The premise for this book is a really great one. Mia is working on her up and coming podcast, a true passion project. She is upfront and truthful, especially about Xander Bishop and his current performance. But when they meet, sparks of a whole other nature fly.

I found that the book sadly did not live up to the premise for me. I wonder if being British is a bit of a downside reading these books as there are things that just do not make sense. I’m not sure I am the intended audience and that’s fine with me.

The love story was quite fast, and sweet, but just lacked a little depth, I wasn’t really sure of the couple.

It was a quick read for me, I loved the settings and the descriptions, and I loved that it was more about the atmosphere than it being race heavy.

Thank you for the ARC and I sincerely hope this finds the right audience.

I know nothing about F1, but I was glued to this book all day!

Mia and Xander had me smiling!

I would absolutely love more from this world.

I'm off to find more by Karen Booth!



https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7197897951?book_show_action=false

3.5 stars

As an F1 girly I’m always up for an F1 romance and I really enjoyed this story. This was a super easy read and I found as soon as I started the book I was into it. There’s no third act breakup which is always a win for me.

I did find that the ‘enemies’ to lovers felt a bit rushed for me as I prefer more of a slow burn but if you want a cosy, spicy F1 romance this is definitely the book for you.