
Member Reviews

"Head Over Wheels" by Leonie Mack is a heartfelt, chemistry-filled sports romance that delivers on every level.
With fake dating, secret identities, and a sunshine/grumpy pairing, it hits all the right tropes. Seb, a golden-retriever of a cyclist in his final season, and Lori, a fierce, no-nonsense heroine on a comeback, are perfectly matched. Their tension is electric, and the emotional depth gives every moment weight.
Seb’s genuine respect for Lori’s career is refreshing—he’s not just swoony, he’s supportive in all the right ways. The spice is a solid 3–4 peppers: steamy but never over the top.
If you love sports romance with emotional arcs, strong heroines, and golden-hearted heroes, this one’s a must-read.

I loved how the two main characters were a little quirky. They weren’t your typical main characters for other stories I have read
For someone who hasn’t got a clue about Cycling I loved how it gave me a little bit of insight and knowledge about the sport

Head Over Wheels by Leonie Mack
My sincere thanks to Bedford Square Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read Head Over Wheels. I give my unbiased opinion of it in the following review.
Lori and Seb are both elite cyclists. There is an age gap between them, Lori is just starting to shine in her career and Seb is phasing out of his. Lori is also coming back from a serious injury. While she was recovering, she joined an online cycling community I assuming is something like Peloton where you train in your own home and make friends in the community. When she starts getting too close to her training partner, she ghosts him. When Lori meets Seb, she almost immediately knows that he was her online friend. Their connection is still there, but should they recognize and act on it? Would it be too much of a distraction for them to be in a relationship? Can they indulge for just the time being? Neither is having the best of luck lately so what could it hurt?
Let me start out by saying that Leonie Mack is one of my new favorite authors. I was really excited to read this book because I knew it would be different. The closest to a cycling book I've ever read was Breaking Away years and years ago. This book was different. I liked how Lori, the female rider, was the star and I love how Seb supports her. I found the whole world they were a part of very interesting. The work cyclists put in is beyond my imagination. While I liked a lot about this book, I wasn't as sold on the romance. I liked that they found each other in an anonymous situation, but I just didn't feel their connection like I wanted to. I would recommend this book to other readers who enjoy sports romance and want something a little different, and I will continue to watch for Leonie Mack's upcoming books.

Despite having read several of Leonie Mack's books before, the writing style here didn't work for me. The book struggled to keep my attention. Maybe the issue is that I don't care about cycling enough, but I do tend to enjoy sports romances when I don't enjoy watching sports in real life. I hope I enjoy her next book more!

I loved how the two main characters were slightly quirky. They weren’t your typical main characters. They were both elite cyclists but she at a younger age was overall more successful which was fantastic to read. I though the author interwove the technical information to do with cycling really well so that is kept the excitement levels up. The push and pull between Seb and Lori was fun and but a lot of tension. Also if you are a big Taylor Swift fan you are going to love the ending!

Head over wheels has a gorgeous cover and it’s a sports romance outside my normal read. I signed up for an ARC as this is an attending author of Rare. This book gave me You’ve got mail vibes.
Lori has been on the road cycling circuit for a while but after a break she needs something extra special to re boast her career. She turns to an app where she makes an anonymous ’friend’.
Once’s she’s back in the road she leaves the app without saying goodbye to the guy that got her through her tough spot.
Now she’s back on the circuit with her family where she meets Seb. There’s something so familiar about him, although they haven’t met before.
Head over wheels touches on metal health; worry and doubts. The characters have good chemistry and shows an insight into cycling. Hockey romance is my favourite and this cycling romance had a completely different vibe. Lori is the lead in the sport and she’s the one which the achievements. Seb is kind of a newbie. He’s struggling to find his feet and Lori is just what he needs.

The story of Lori and Seb, set in the world of professional cycling. A great read, and I liked the setting and the different worlds they lived in. Looking forward to more from this author.

📚Head Over Wheels📚
Arc review
Rating 4🌟
Release date: 19th June 2025
I was so happy to be accepted to read this book before it came out
This book was different from my normal reads, but it was interesting to see women sports (needs to happen more often). I don't know how cyclists can do it must be hard work 😂. The characters have good chemistry and overall the book was a good read

I love Leonie Mack's books and feel this one is the best I have read. Wonderful narratives and descriptions. Highly recommend.

Happy release day to Leonie Mack for her new cycling themed sports romance, Head Over Heels.
Lori Gallagher should be in the most successful phase of her career. However, she is recovering from injury so she needs to stay focussed and get back to peak condition. At home in Australia, she joins a training app called ZSpeed and there she teams up with a guy who calls himself LoonieDunes. They don't share personal details like their names or career history but they spend a lot of time together online and soon they are sharing favourite movies, music, feelings and the like. However, realising that she does not need distractions Lori eventually ghosts him.
In contrast, Belgian rider Sébastien Franck is at the end of his career. All the years of training, and being the rider who helps out the main riders in the team are coming to the end, and he is okay with that! He did very much enjoy the time he spent with Folklore99 on ZSpeed so he was very shocked when she just disappeared.
Unexpectedly, Seb gets one final chance to ride in one of the big professional teams. The star rider, and star prankster of that team is Lori's brother Colin. Her dad is also the team manager which gives Lori the perfect chance to train at high intensity with the men.
At first, Seb and Lori don't realise that they know each other, but the spark of attraction is definitely there. It's the last thing either of them need! It doesn't take long though for them to realise who they each are. Seb and Lori decide that maybe it will help them both get it out of their system if they just sleep together once. Does that ever work in a romance?
Even though they are both professional athletes, they both have very different approaches when it comes to dealing with the pressures of elite sports at different points in their respective careers and with publicity and social media. Lori is a win at all costs kind of girl and this attitude is reinforced regularly by her ambitious parents, whereas Seb is more than happy to do his role, support his leader and let them take the win. Except, this season, Lori seems to be beset by bad luck and Seb is ironically in the best form of his career.
There was so much that I enjoyed in this book. I loved the dynamics not only between the couple but also the whole team. Some of the strange superstitions among sports people are explored here again both as individuals and whole teams. And the book was funny. There were a number of scenes that made me laugh out loud and share with the people around me.
I also loved all the pop culture references that are sprinkled liberally through the book from Star Trek, to Taylor Swift, rom com movies and so much more!
I don't mind watching a bit of cycling although to be fair I do watch the Tour de France more for the chateaux, cathedrals, scenery and the 5 minute cooking show which showcases the areas that the riders are racing through. I have, however, picked up some of the more technical terms which helped. However, if you don't watch any professional cycling, there is no need to worry. You can still read and love this story! Yes, the cycling frames the story, but really it is about two very different people who find each other and need the balance that they can give each other.
This is my eighth book by Leonie Mack and I have rated all of her full length books as either 4 or 4.5 star reads, with more at the higher end of the scale. I am definitely at the point where I will happily call her an autobuy author. Leonie Mack is originally from Australia, but has lived overseas for many years. I felt like I could see the Aussieness more in this story than in other books, although it isn't the first Australian character living overseas she has written.
If you follow her on social media, it is clear that Mack has had a lot of fun with the marketing of this book from character art to playlists and so much more. I am looking forward to watching this unfold as we get closer to the second book, which will feature Lori's brother Colin.
I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy.
Rating 4.5/5

Well I wasn’t expecting to fall head over heels in love with a new book boyfriend but I definitely did with the sumptuous Seb!
This was such an adorable spicy (at times) fast paced love story and I was absolutely entranced and entertained by the cycling aspects, it was a fascinating way to share the build up of their romance.
Some great romance tropes used, forbidden love, friends to lovers, enforced proximity, fake romance and second chance.
I loved how Lori gradually found herself letting Seb into her life, making her appreciate the other aspects to her life that she was rejecting or missing out on by being so consumed with her cycling career. Seb was a refreshing presence in her life and it was uplifting to see his support for her make a difference to his own career at the same time.
This gorgeous story definitely gave me Wimbledon vibes ( the film) where the underdog exceeds unexpectedly and a romance blossoms between two people in the same sport, one in the spotlight, the other on their last try. It’s a wonderful feel good story with brilliant characters, amazing settings and plenty of excitement with the racing and romance.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.
We meet Lori, who is a professional road cyclist and is coming back following having time away after she has recovered from an injury. She and Sebastian meet when he’s involved in a practical joke goes wrong with a blow up doll.
But, it seems they’ve met before, they were both part of an online forum using different names..
Lori so much wants to be back to where she was before, whereas this is the last race for Sebastian as he’s retiring. But, Lori feels that he’s making the wrong decision as he can go much further, he’s that good.
It was lovely to see what sort of relationship Lori had with her family and how she stood up for what she does and her way of life. She was brought up with the belief that “in a relationship someone always loses”. It was interesting to see her interactions with Sebastian.
I highly recommend this book.

This was a perfect summer read and I enjoyed it so much. The characters were so much fun to follow and I adored them. I have no interest in cycling and I still adored this book.

I really enjoyed the journey of Lori and Seb’s season of love. It was so fun to be immersed into the world of cycling from both sides and how they navigated their friends-to-lovers relationship.
I was hooked in the beginning, got lost in the middle and right back in for the end. Loved the Star Wars and Taylor references.
I do wish there had been a glossary for the cycling terms 🫣
Thanks so much to Bedford Square Publishers for the ARC.

I have no objectivity here - I LOVE romance books and I LOVE pro cycling, and I was honestly giddy throughout this book. The romance was cute, the cycling calendar as points where the two cyclists can come together and are forced apart [by the lack of women's races compared to men's grrrr]. The FMC battling her love and dedication to her cycling career with the possibility that the absolutely PINING MMC might be a good thing and not just a distraction...
As i said - giddy with delight. Gonna make this the first romance book my cycling-loving partner ever reads.

4.4 ✨This book was such a breath of fresh air.
I have never read a book by Leonie Mack but I think that is going to change!
Lori is an Australian cyclist recovering after a very bad cycling accident. She connects with Sebastian(Belgian) online as they train together on the cycling coaching app Zpeed. After many hours of training, chatting Lori Ghosts Seb when she realizes that she may be a little too invested in their online friendship. She doesn't have time for this and needs to focus on her training.
While at training camp she thinks she recognizes HIS voice.. This turns out to be very distracting!
When they discover their identities the tension is hard to deny.
They both agree to one time to break the tension and move on.
As they part ways and prepare for the tour Lori is plagued by bad luck at every turn and Seb is suddenly breezing through and that for someone who plans to retire..
Seb falls first for Lori and feels awful that she's had so much bad luck. He tries to be there for her as best as he can as her friend.
Lori finds it hard to deny what Seb does to her. He calms her, gives her peace of mind, cheers her on but shes determined to focus on her sport and not her feelings.
This denial and tension made for a very, very enjoyable need.
There is so much growth on Lori's part as this story covers months of their interaction ( and sometimes lack of).
I felt bad for Seb because he was really taken by her and was also dealing with his decision to retire after this tour.
The texting and banter was funny, sweet/cute the spice was perfect!
The camaraderie between Seb and his team and the way the author described the races and the utter exhaustion after a race was 🤌🤌.
There was a tiny bit of fake dating and honestly if this romance played out in real life during the tour de France I would be a dedicated follower of the sport!
Absolutely recommend this book!
Many thanks to Netgally, Bedford Square Publishers and Author for the opportunity to read and share my thoughts.

"Head Over Heels" by Leonie Mack was a book I picked up, and it was... fine. It's one of those romance novels that takes you to a pretty cool location—Venice, in this case, which is always a nice escape. The main character, Didi, is there for work and determined not to get caught up in the romantic clichés, but of course, things happen with Piero, the handsome, artsy guy.
The story has that classic "opposites attract" kind of vibe, with Didi being pragmatic and Piero being more of the brooding artist type. There's some development as they slowly become friends and Venice starts to work its magic. It's a pretty straightforward contemporary romance, and if you're looking for something that's easy to read and set in a beautiful place, it checks those boxes. It didn't totally blow me away, but it's a solid choice if you're just looking for a pleasant read without too much unexpected drama.

World-class cyclist Lori’s had a tough year. Injuries forced her from the road and a broken heart made everything worse. Training at home with an anonymous online partner brings her back to life and showcases a new side to this intensely competitive woman. But with family pressure mounting and Lori worrying about distractions, she cuts off all contact and focuses on the racing season.
Then it turns out her anonymous partner is none other than the newest member of her brother’s cycling team and journeyman, Sebastien. He’s here for one last season before moving on to something else, namely running a farm and B&B in Belgium. Definitely not Lori’s style.
They try to stay away from each other but….
I am OBSESSED with this book!
First of all, thank you for a sports romance with an FMC athlete. It’s always the MMCs getting to be the athletes in romances, but what about the FMCs and all the women out there who love sports? There are women all over the world who are killing it on the field, pitch, court, ice, pool, and in this case, the roads. We need more, and Head Over Wheels delivers!
Second, the characters were so real and the feelings and mentalities so genuine. I could feel not only their chemistry, but the longing, the angst, the competitive drive, the family pressures, the debates going on in their heads, all of it. And Seb? Adored him, the thought he puts into everything, his sincere concern for Lori and his grounded nature. Finally, the steamy scenes were hot and full of feeling too.

“He tasted like summer sunshine and lazy mornings, with a shot of adrenaline, like my first coffee of the day.”
Head Over Wheels follows Lori and Seb. Lori is the ‘most ruthless rider in the women’s peloton’ and Sébastien’s career is fizzling out. When she’s recovering from a bad accident she joins an online training community, the two meet and become training partners. She bails when the tensions rise because she needs to get her head in the game, her career has to be her main focus. That’s until she hears his voice again, at her team training camp no less! Their online chemistry turns into real world attraction and they decide to get it out of their systems before the season begins - one night, no strings attached. But as their feelings grow, they are each faced with a dilemma - what’s more important to make sacrifices for, love or wins?
After their encounter, their roles reversed - he cycles some really good races and she has spectacularly bad luck. He feels like he’s a bad luck charm. I really liked their friends to lovers evolution - he seemed completely besotted with her and was so eager for her to win. He was her ultimate cheerleader.
“Go and fight. You deserve it – everything. I’d love to be your consolation prize, but you have to go for your main prize – right? Look to the future? You didn’t want any distractions this year and this… whatever we’re doing…’”
Tropes - Dual POV Sports Romance, cycling, friends to lovers, fake dating
Overall a cute, but spicy, romance that I’d recommend if you’re looking for a unique sports romance that’s an easy read. Perfect for summer!
ARC copy provided by Bedford Square Publishers & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Lori Gallagher is returning to her career as a professional road cyclist after an injury. She meets Sebastian, when a prank with a blow up doll goes wrong. We quickly learn that Sebastian & Lori have met before through an online forum & developed a friendly relationship. Lori is fighting to get back to her previous ability, while Sebastian is headed towards retirement. This shift frustrates Lori, feeling like he is wasting his talent.
I really enjoyed this book, even though I had no knowledge of professional cycling going into it. I loved seeing the relationship Lori had with her family, and watching her learn to set some boundaries and stick up for herself. Lori had been raised to believe that “in a relationship someone always loses” and watching her explore that vulnerability with Sebastian was satisfying. I’m a suck for good banter and you see that both in Lori & Sebastian’s present conversations, as well as flashbacks to their previous online relationship.
“Thank you, Bedford Square Publishers, for providing me with an advance copy of this book!”