This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and let me tell you—I was not disappointed! 🤭 Simone Soltani seriously knows how to write a fun, accurate F1 romance, which is so hard to find. You can just tell she actually gets the sport, and I love how effortlessly that knowledge is woven into the story.

Now, let’s talk about Stella and Thomas because whew. The chemistry?? Off the charts. I loved them together so much! They both had strong, distinct personalities that made them feel like real people, and watching their relationship unfold was just so satisfying. It starts off awkward (as expected for a fake marriage situation), but their attraction and feelings for each other grow in such a believable way.

And Thomas?? My sweet angel baby. I have zero notes. He’s soft, sweet, a little insecure in the most relatable way, but also has this slight attitude with others—except when it comes to Stella, and then he’s just melting. And the jewelry comment?! I was down BAD. He knew Stella like the back of his hand and wasn’t letting her go. He’s officially on my book boyfriend list, no question.

Stella was also amazing. She had so much going on—trying to move on from heartbreak, building her business empire, and just figuring herself out. Even when she was struggling, she was still kind and supportive to those around her, which made her so easy to root for. I loved how she and Thomas really balanced each other out and actually supported each other. Their relationship just felt so real.

Now, let’s get into the slow burn. And oh boy, was it a slow burn. I love a good slow-burn romance (Mariana Zapata owns my soul), but this? At 90% we were still questioning if it was real. The setup had me waiting on the edge of my seat for so long that by the time something finally happened, it almost didn’t even matter anymore. Like, come on, just kiss already!

And then…the third-act drama. Oh my GOD, Stella. I was eating this UP until the last third, and then she dragged out the conflict and her inner turmoil to the ends of the earth. Like yes, girl, be realistic in real life, but this is a romance, and you’re ruining everything!! 😭 The concept of the conflict wasn’t even bad, but the lack of communication was infuriating. Yes, I get that her phone wasn’t working, but Thomas just sitting there not knowing? Stella not calling ahead or waiting as long as she did? Yeah, not my favorite. I was screaming at my book.

Pacing-wise, things felt a little off. The first 30-40% covers just a few days, while the rest of the book skips through months. It made things feel a little insta-lovey, which I don’t usually love. I also wish they had at least known of each other before getting married—like, give me one prior conversation to make it feel a little more natural. Their “friendship” phase was nice, but I feel like it robbed us of some of those cute, flirty moments I needed.

On the plus side, I loved some of the side character arcs—especially the mini redemption one. And can we please get a Lorenzo book?? I feel like that would be so much fun. I also wish we got more family drama (Figgy, I’m looking at you 👀), and I expected way more tension with Thomas’s brother and the whole company situation. It had so much potential but kinda got brushed aside.

But honestly? Despite my gripes, I ate this book up. It was fun, fast-paced, and just so addictive. Even when things frustrated me, I still couldn’t put it down. Simone Soltani has such an effortless writing style, and I can’t wait to read more from her! Huge thanks to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan, and Simone Soltani for the ARC.

Now excuse me while I go daydream about Thomas some more. 😌✨

Screaming, crying, throwing up. I do not have the words to describe the emotions this book evoked. A new hole was torn in my heart every time I picked this book up and the tension had my blood pressure through the roof. This book absolutely deserved the title of “most anticipated release of 2025” from me because OH MY GOD! No spoilers because I need from now (March 15th) until release day to process what happened. So grateful for the ARC, but also keeping THAT quite for two months is gonna be hard.

This balanced out Cross the Line so well. It wasn’t that spicy and what spice there was was well placed and felt like it had a purpose rather than just being there for the sake of it. I had such a fun time reading. It felt so different to other marriage of convenience books. The pining!! The twists!!

I’m so glad I didn’t have to wait until the end of May to read this, but not having a physical copy in my hands until the end of May may end me.

I was sadly disappointed by this book. Billed as an F1 romance I just don't think there was enough F1 in the book to justify this. There's only one race weekend in the book (and one in the epilogue), and it takes half the book to get there. Yes, there it is set during the off season and there is some behind the scenes chapters and the gala, but I wanted more racing.
On the other hand, stella was a great, well-written, independent women, and Thomas was the perfect gentleman. I enjoyed watching their relationship evolve through the book.
Soltani is a great writer, and her characters always have such depth but I can't help but be disappointed by the misleading blurb.

This was a highly anticipated release for me as I read Cross The Line last year and loved it and, as someone who really likes F1, I was excited to see where else the series would go. I'm pleased to say it lived up to my expectations!

This book follows Stella and Thomas, both of whom are going through difficult times in terms of their reputations. When they accidentally get married in Vegas, they make a deal that could help them both improve their image. I loved the accidental marriage of convenience and it was execso well in this book. All the times Thomas referred to Stella as 'my wife' were just wonderful! The progression of their relationship from strangers to friends to eventual lovers was developed so well throughout the book and seeing them navigate this while also being husband and wife was sweet, funny, and realistic.

The characters themselves also felt very realistic. Stella was both confident and vulnerable and the combination of these was portrayed very well and you could see how her experiences had shaped her as a person. Thomas was also such an amazing character. You could see how he truly cared for Stella and he was such a loving and caring partner.

I was a bit disappointed with the third act conflict as, after all the growth that the characters had shown, I didn't really like how it played out. It wasn't awful though and I can see why the main thing was needed for the plot, it was just the execution I didn't love. I do also wish we git to see more of the side plots develop throughout the book as they seemed to just be quickly resolved at the end and felt a bit rushed.

Overall, though, this was a sweet and funny F1 romance and I cannot wait to read more from this author!

The slowest of slow burns, that started out with such heat and passion, it had me blushing!

I enjoyed Cross the Line by Soltani, and I loved this one a lot too. Truly a top notch romance, the chemistry between the characters was off the charts and their relationship progressed in such a satisfying way. The accidental marriage of convenience was delicious, and all the "my wife" moments had me swooning.

I could have done without Stella running off without communicating with Thomas towards the end, but I guess I understand the reasoning behind it based on her past experiences.

The partial London and Cotswolds setting was my favourite, I really love reading about England from an American perspective when it's done in such a fun and respectful way.

Oh wow! I cannot wait for others to fall in love with Thomas (and Stella) the way I did!

An absolutely stunning sequel to Cross The Line.

My thanks to Simone, their publishing team and Netgalley for the chance to read this arc!

4.5 stars

I read the first book in the series last year and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to jump into this one — and as an F1 fan, I have to say, this was such a fun ride.

Stella is still reeling from being left at the altar, and Thomas is trying to avoid his own PR mess when they end up at the same party in Vegas. One wild night (and a lot of drinks) later, they’re married — and decide to stay that way, at least for now. What I loved most was how easy they were together. The chemistry was there right away, but their respect and support for each other made me root for them even more. Thomas might just be the ultimate green flag, and Stella’s mix of confidence and vulnerability made her feel real. The F1 parts added a nice touch without ever feeling too technical, and I really liked how the sport naturally fit into the story without taking over. It felt like the perfect balance.

4/5 stars — if you love F1, marriage of convenience, and two people falling for each other hard, this one’s for you.

Read this book for:
🧁Marriage of Convenience
🏁Obssessed MMC x Independent FMC
🧁F1 Driver x Entrepreneur (bakery)
🏁Slow Burn
🧁Forced Proximity
🏁Both Millionaires

Synopsis
Stella Baldwin’s luck has officially hit rock bottom—or so she thought. Left at the altar and humiliated online, she reluctantly tags along to Vegas for a bachelorette party that only makes her heartache worse. Enter Thomas Maxwell-Brown, a scandal-ridden F1 driver looking to escape his troubles for the night. One drunken mistake later, they wake up married. Their impulsive vows might just be the key to fixing their lives, but as sparks fly, their convenient arrangement becomes anything but simple. Could this reckless decision be exactly what they both needed?

My Thoughts
This book is the second installment in the Lights Out series, and I have to say—it was a pleasant surprise! So far, this is my favorite book in the series.
Stella Baldwin was left at the altar, having completely lost herself in her past relationship. So when she finds herself in Las Vegas for her cousin’s joint bachelor and bachelorette party, she decides it’s time to rediscover the fun, confident version of herself. She wants to let loose, embrace the moment, and prove to herself that she still has it.

Thomas Maxwell-Brown, on the other hand, isn’t exactly thrilled to be there. The only reason he’s attending is because Ron—the groom—is a friend of his brother’s, and since his brother had to bow out due to his wife’s pregnancy, Thomas was roped into filling in. But the moment he steps onto the party bus, his mood shifts. He immediately notices a stunning woman in a white dress, legs for miles, exuding effortless confidence. She could easily be a model.
Their first stop is a casino, where Stella sits with her back to the bar, scanning the crowd for some harmless flirting. That’s when she unknowingly hooks Thomas. Drawn to her, he strikes up a conversation, and from that moment on, they’re inseparable. Even as the night unfolds—with activities that range from a strip club to an extravagant eight-course dinner—they remain wrapped up in each other. The drinks are flowing, the chemistry is undeniable, and one thing leads to another. Before they know it, they’re waking up in Las Vegas, married. Drunk. Married.

Now, they have two choices: stay married or get an annulment. On paper, the obvious decision would be to part ways. But in reality, things are more complicated. Stella is already reeling from her very public heartbreak, with a viral video of her drunkenly ranting about men making waves online. Meanwhile, Thomas is dealing with his own PR nightmare—a video of him wishing death upon his Formula 1 teammate, who later ended up paralyzed from the waist down due to reckless driving. Neither of them can afford another scandal. So, they agree to stay together.
And honestly? I love them together.

Thomas is exactly what Stella needs—someone who allows her to be herself without judgment, who lifts her up when she needs support. Their relationship is built on mutual respect, care, and understanding. The way they prioritize each other and encourage personal growth is beautiful to watch. The slow burn is just right, and Thomas? He’s a walking green flag. I love that Stella not only finds love but also discovers an even stronger version of herself. She gets the closure she deserves, and it’s so satisfying to witness.

Another highlight was Willow’s involvement in their love story, which added even more depth to their journey. The friendships in this book were also a standout, especially the interactions with Mika—they were some of my favorite moments!
There aren’t any hints about a third book yet, but if there is one, I’ll be more than happy to continue reading this series.

I received an e-ARC from NetGalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was pretty flawless.
I loved the buildup to the wedding.
The tension was palpable and I thought they had great chemistry. I loved the banter and the combo Stella's brattiness and Thomas' quiet dom vibes.

I did get a little frustrated at how Stella would swing back and forth with her feeling, and ignore the issue at hand, but it wasn't as annoying as other stories I've had the same issues with.

Stella is such a badass but also vulnerable and I adored her being shown as both. She totally deserved how devoted Thomas is to her. Though it seems he's pretty perfect and I would like /some/ flaws...

It's well written and just so enjoyable.

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

I really enjoyed these characters and their chemistry together.
Thomas is an absolute cinnamon roll I LOVE HIM. My man and his ACTS OF SERVICE I was obsessed. He is a man with a kind heart.
Marriage of convenience and ‘MY WIFE’ gets me every single time!
Loved how obsessed they were with each other and this one was definitely a slow burn so we didn’t end up seeing them together a lot at the end.
The pace of the story just felt a bit off at some points and I would’ve loved to have a bit more of F1 involved even though I did enjoy all the storylines with the drivers and their drama.

4.25 ⭐

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Simone Soltani for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

I'm so happy that I got to read Ride with me early, it was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and I LOVED it.

After being left at the altar, Stella finds herself in Vegas for her cousin's bachelorette party and that's where she meets Thomas, who's there for the same party (but on the groom's side) and also for his F1 race. They hit it off almost immediately, and we know how Vegas is, one things leads to another and they end up married.

First of all, I want to say that Simone Soltani writes F1 romances in a beautiful way. They are accurate, detailed but never too technical or boring. I always have trouble with sports romances about sports I'm actually a fan of, because I focus too much on how the sports is portrayed and then I get annoyed. But with Simone's works, I know I'm not going to have that problem.

I really enjoy her writing style and I love her characters. Stella and Thomas are amazing, and they are perfect for each other. They understand each other perfectly, have nothing but respect for each other and for each other's dreams. It's truly amazing to see them get to know the other and grow together.

This is one of those books that is hard to put down - I found myself inhaling it at a rapid rate. It's such a sweet, steamy, funny story. I loved the accidental marriage and forced proximity tropes, and the slow burn.....SO SO good! I loved Stella's personality, and the lengths Thomas went to for Stella is something everyone deserves.
I haven't read the previous book in this series and I never felt confused because of that. If anything, I now know I am definitely going to pick up the first book and most likely love it too!

Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan for the ARC via NetGalley and for giving me the opportunity to share my honest thoughts on this book.

Many thanks to PanMacmillan and Netgalley for letting me read this pre-publication!

Stella and Thomas are both dealing with their own PR nightmares when they meet during a combined stag and hen party in Las Vegas. He's there to drive in the Las Vegas Grand Prix, she's just there for the wedding. Neither of them are having a good time, but they hit it off and get very drunk. Long story short: what happened in Vegas does not stay in Vegas, and they decide to stay married for a bit to help their images.

I love (sports) romance and I love F1, but sadly when they meet I usually end up screaming "THAT'S NOT HOW THAT WORKS" into the void. While knowing anything about F1 is absolutely not necessary to enjoy this book, I adore Simone Soltani for actually understanding the sport she's writing about. I read this ARC the day before preseason testing to get ready for another season of F1, and I'M READY. (If you too enjoy timing your reads: like the previous book in the series, this will be released the Thursday before the Monaco Grand Prix)

Anyways, the romance was pretty cute too. I love a drunk Vegas wedding turned marriage of convenience. Thomas is entirely unrealistic as the posh Englishman in touch with his emotions who is the perfect husband despite having never dated before. Stella is an unapologetically strong woman finding herself again after a shitty Frenchman left her at the altar. The attraction feels real, the banter is entertaining, and I enjoyed myself immensely. It's just very fun!

this was such a fun, exhilarating, and emotionally charged read! i’ve officially declared F1 romances a personal favorite, and simone soltani did such an amazing job balancing the thrill of racing with the heart-fluttering romance.

plot ―୨୧⋆ ˚
i loved the dynamic between the high-stakes world of F1 and the slow-burn, tension-filled romance that unfolded throughout the book. the pacing was just right—never too rushed, never too slow—making it impossible to put down. the setting felt so vivid, from the intensity of the race tracks to the behind-the-scenes drama, and it all added such a rich backdrop to the romance. this book had just the right amount of angst, banter, and swoon-worthy moments, keeping me completely hooked!

the romance ―୨୧⋆ ˚
one of my favorite things was how the relationship felt so earned—the push and pull, the undeniable chemistry, and the emotional depth between the characters made their journey so satisfying. i adored how they navigated their growing feelings while balancing their careers and ambitions, adding so much depth to their story, especially their fake marriage/ marriage of connivence which Soltani wrote spectacularly!
the tension? the longing? the stolen moments? absolute perfection.

this was such a well-balanced romance, blending humor, passion, and emotional depth in the best way. simone soltani has a way of making her characters feel so real and layered, and i loved every second of it.

What a sweet, steamy story about really brilliant characters! I enjoyed this story. I loved that the characters were really well rounded before they meet and although they have struggles, I was shipping them throughout.

I definitely preferred this to Cross the Line and I think the author is really getting into their stride. I would read more most definitely.

Thank you for the ARC, I’m so glad I could read this

Many thanks to Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this eARC before the release date. This marriage of convenience book was truly one that I can say I thoroughly enjoyed. Both characters Stella and Thomas had very distinct personalities and could understand what each of them needed. The fact that they are both in Vegas for a double hen/stag do was hilarious. The MMC Thomas was honestly so obsessed with Stella the moment he met her not to mention him saying 'MY WIFE' all the time gagged me.

The writing of this book was so good and honestly made me read the whole book in a day.. Not to mention that this book had me cracking up at so many funny moments. The book was so engaging andd the FMC finding herself again and her confidence after such a traumatising experience for her. There was some times where I wanted to scream at her to wake up and see the man standing in front of her eyes.

I enjoyed this book and can't wait for her next book. I rate this book a solid 4.5 stars.

Having read Simone Soltani's other F1 book I was looking forward to another F1 based sports romance. I particularly enjoy series where there are some familiar characters who interact with each other time and time again, and this one is no different. A high-speed (sorry for the pun), fun, yet reflective novel based around the high risk world of racing and the highs, but especially the lows, of that.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks so much to Pan MacMillan, Simone Soltani and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is one fo the best marriage of convenience books I've read in a while. Stella and Thomas are absolutely delicious. The open communication in this book is what makes it great, and I love the characters in their own right. Thomas is the perfect husband, and he treats Stella with so much respect, and Stella is so self-assured and confident, and I love how this feeds into their dynamic.

The best part of this book is the comedy, there were so many one liners, and small moments that had me in giggles, truly don't think I could listen to anything by Ed Sheeran ever again without thinking about this book.

The writing is good, I absolutely adore Soltani's style, and whilst it features an F1 driver, I appreciated that it didn't form as part of the major reason of their marriage (I love how Stella is equally successful too.)

A really fab read, I would highly recommend.

Stella & Thomas
Formula 1 Driver x Bakery Owner
Accidental Marriage
Marriage of Convenience
Slow Burn

This one is set in the F1 off season and follows on from book 1 in the timeline.

Stella and Thomas meet in a bar, and what should have been one night of passion, leads to an accidental wedding 🤣🤣🤣

I freaking love this one!!!! The accidental wedding turns into a marriage of convenience and the tension between these two is 🔥🔥🔥

I was so giddy reading this one!

I can't wait to see what Simone writes next 😍

Ride with Me by Simone Soltani is the perfect late-night read—fun, flirty, and full of heart. This take on the classic “Vegas Mistake” trope delivers a delightful mix of romance and self-discovery.

As an F1 fan, I loved the racing backdrop and how both Stella and Thomas had distinct personalities that made them stand out. Their chemistry is instant and sizzling, and while their post-wedding encounters are awkward at first, their slow-burn romance develops in a believable and rewarding way. Their dynamic—flaws and all—kept me hooked.

Thomas: Absolutely perfect. No notes. His relationships with those around him made me swoon, and his insecurities made him feel human and relatable. He’s sweet, kind, and his journey toward finding a sense of home was so satisfying to watch.

Stella: A force to be reckoned with! From her bold flirtation with Thomas to her ambition in building her career, she was exciting to read about. Even when I didn’t always agree with her choices, her kindness and growth made her feel real and relatable.

The writing was fluid and engaging—I flew through the book. That said, the slow burn felt too slow at times. Their love was obvious throughout, so waiting until the very end for them to truly come together left me wanting more of their happiness. Some of the miscommunication was also a bit frustrating.

Overall, I had a blast reading this and can’t wait for more from Simone Soltani!