Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

I was really excited to read a sports romance focussed on cycling, as it sounded different and not a sport that many choose to write a romance about. I enjoyed the Swiftie references throughout the book, not often folklore gets a lot of rep in books. Overall, I just felt the romance and chemistry between the characters was a bit lacklustre for me. I think there was so much emphasis and the characters saying how they felt in their POV but when they were together, the chemistry just didn't really shine through. I recommend to romance readers who love a sports romance to try something different. Especially if you like forced proximity, age gap sports romances. I think for me this was just wrong time when I picked it up as I am such a mood reader so maybe if I try again I'll have a higher rating :)

swoony and fun romance with some very cool characters and plotlines. would definitely recommend this book. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

4 stars

this was so good!!!
the banter was great. the romance was fantastic.
the found family was chef's kiss.
the fact that the story kept me at the edge of my seat with every race day *kicks feet in the air* so good!!!
I definitely recommend this one even if you are not a cycling fan. Trust me, you'll stay for the romance alone.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The moment I saw the title, I had a gut feeling this book would be right up my street, and I was completely right. I know nothing about competitive biking, but that didn’t matter one bit. This story was such a joyful, dorky delight from start to finish!

Lori is the daughter of two elite athletes and a cycling prodigy in her own right, still recovering from a major injury. Her slow climb back to form is helped along by an anonymous online friend, someone who’s supported her through every tough moment. But reentering the racing world comes with a twist: that friend isn’t just real, he’s suddenly right in front of her.

Sebastien is in the final year of his cycling career and has made peace with retirement. Spending time training and chatting with his mysterious online pal has been a bright spot, until he discovers she’s not just any cyclist, but Lori. One of the best in the world. Cue emotional whiplash.

As their friendship turns into something more, a fake dating scheme becomes the perfect cover, but real feelings aren’t so easily faked. With Lori just hitting her prime and Sebastien preparing to bow out, their timelines couldn’t be more out of sync… and neither of them knows what to do about it.

This is a laugh-out-loud, friends-to-lovers romance with just the right amount of heart and chaos. If you’re into sweet banter, a little emotional tension, and a whole lot of charm, you’ll have so much fun with this one.

ive been loving seeing books with more varied characters lately. they arent cookie cooker but neither are they clearly cliched or over trying. and this book gives us two more of those "real" kind of people. they are cute, a bit dorky and just good folks.
sports romances seem to be becoming quite a big thing and im always cautious but again this one was done really well. so the sports didnt become a "bro" camp and just made the story better.
Lori was really relatable as she had talent and passion but was also weighted by others expectations. her meeting of her training partner online was really cute. and him helping her get back into the swing of it after injury was a smart addition to a unique plot. but aha what happens then when she meets this online friend offline, not only that but hes on her training camp.
that online person who is now there in person is Sebastian. hes also got lots of pressures in his cycling world although he feels alot more comfortable with how and why his career is going. but when he meets Lori for real things start to feel a lot more complicated both on and off the tracks.
but how will this ever work off the bikes, off the circuit? are they both riding off into different futures. or can their two wheels each turn to the same path alongside each other.

Such a unique concept for a sport romance but I’m starting to think this author just isn’t for me.

Her characters felt one dimensional and the chemistry/romance was lacklustre and unbelievable

There’s nothing that says summer quite like a sports romance and this cycling romance absolutely delivered!

We follow Lori, a rising star in the pro cycling world recovering from a serious back injury, and Seb, a seasoned racer in his final season, who connect anonymously through an online cycling app. Their friendship blooms over virtual training sessions, movie nights, and dorky in-jokes until one day one of them deletes their account. Joining their team’s training camp they crash into each other, quite literally, and the the penny drops that this stranger is someone who they’ve been racing (and flirting) with online for months.

The chemistry between Lori and Seb is fantastic, full of witty banter, mutual respect, and emotional depth. I loved how the story explored both the glamour and grind of professional cycling, with stunning European backdrops from Italy to France that made the race scenes feel vivid and exciting.

Lori’s family dynamic added heart and complexity, and Seb’s quiet confidence made him an endearing counterpart. Their romance is a slow burn, full of tension and timing challenges, but so rewarding to watch unfold.

A refreshing, heartfelt, and summery read, I’m definitely bumping Leonie Mack’s other books up my TBR!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yet another fabulous story from this talented author.

I have read every one of Leonie Mack’s books and loved them all. This sports romance is different from what I normally read. I have no interest in sport or in people who are involved in competitive sports- and yet! Leonie manages to engage my interest and make me love the hero and heroine as they work, train, compete and focus on their cycling performances - as well as fall in love.

Absolutely delightful.

I love sports romances and was so excited for my first cycling romance. It was interesting to read about Lori and Seb’s individual cycling journeys, and I loved the bit of fake dating. I was really looking forward to reading about their online relationship development, but it fell a bit flat for me. I wish there was more “show don’t tell”, since I didn’t feel much of the chemistry.

Overall, give this book a read if you like the following:
-sports romance
-forced proximity
-third act breakup

I had such high hopes going into this book, I enjoy a sports romance so much and thought a cycling romance would be so different to any other book that I’ve read.
While I loved the sport aspect the romance just fell short for me. I didn’t feel any chemistry between the main characters, I felt like Lori was just using Seb to get over her bad luck streak and that they were more friends than partners.

Thank you netgalley for the arc!

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I requested it because the title was quite funny and the plot seemed interesting and I can confirm it was such a fun and cute read. Even for someone who isn’t interested in bikes and cycling whatsoever.

Thank you to netgalley for providing this arc!

Unfortunately I decided to DNF at 18%. I was so excited to receive this arc as the cover was so cute and the blurb sounded so fun but I just didn't click with it the way I thought I would.

I liked the idea of the book as I was curious since it was different from the usual sports romances I've read, the cycling was a nice change from football, basketball or hockey and I was actually enjoying that aspect of the book. The writing style was ok, it was easy to read and follow which was nice as it wasn't hard to comprehend. The format change in some chapters in terms of messages being exchanges was a good addition to the story. From what I got from just less than 100 pages in the characters were decent, I didn't feel negatively towards them but also I didn't feel any attachment towards them or their story. I loved how it was easy to tell the Author was a Swiftie and as a folklore girlie I enjoyed that aspect along with the Barbie movie reference.

There was nothing glaringly bad about this book, I just didn't click with it. When I get nearly 100 pages in I at least want to feel drawn to picking the book up but I just had no desire to. I would recommend other readers to try it for a different sport romance as it had potential, I just don't think it was the book for me. Maybe I'll pick the book up again later and see if its right book, wrong time but for now I don't have any desire to continue or find out what happens.

I knew as soon as I read the title of this book that it was going to fit my vibe. My intuition was exactly right! For someone who knows absolutely nothing about biking, this was an absolute delight to read! The characters are deeply likable (with realistic flaws) and the situations are so fun!

Lori is the daughter of elite athletes who is known for her skill on a bike. After a major injury, she met a friend online who helped her work back into top shape. But going back to the race circuit has been tougher than she thought when that online friend is suddenly there in person.

Sebastien is a cyclist in his last year of his career. He is at ease with retirement and happy to have spent his training time with his new online friend. But when his online friend turns out to be one of the best cyclists in the world, he is thrown off.

As these two navigate a budding friendship and feelings, a fake relationship proves valuable for both of them. But with one person in the height of her career and another at the end, they struggle to see a path to the future.

This book is a hilarious, dorky, friends to lovers read! If you’re looking for something lighthearted and fun, this book is a fun adventure!

Pre Thouhts
- romance + sports

Overall
- A story with great twists and turns. The FMC and MMC great characters grew and developed over the course of the book. the book also touched on the complexities of cycling, how it impacts the person in the sport and the amount of pressure one can be under.

Stars 4/5
Spice 3/5

Tropes
- forced proximity
- Fake dating
- Sports romance
- MMC Falls first
- Dual pov

Thank you to Bedford square publishers, net galley and Leonine Mack for the opportunity to review this arc. All thoughts are my own xx

I was in my own personal reading rut when I read this, and let me say it helped pull me out. Firstly, if you love any sort of sport romance books this is one to not skip. I felt myself rooting for both Lori and Seb throughout the entire book. Their relationship had the balance of any good romance story: competitors, secret romance and just the right amount of tension between it all. The side characters (while varying in level of involvement) gave me hope of more in the series, as I found myself wanting to hear more on their stories - I need more Colin! And would be remiss to not mention the Taylor Swift string throughout that led to the best ending, that had me smiling ear to ear while I read it. Overall, I loved it and would recommend. Hopeful for a series as I just need more from the other characters next!

Secret identities, fake dating (always a favorite), and grumpy-sunshine = just to give you a few tropes you get with this book.
We have our FMC, Lori, who is a bit prickly and rough around the edges. Think black cat and highly focused. She is trying to get back to riding after an injury left her initially struggling.
Then, we have Seb, MMC, think golden retriever. That is all I could think every time I read more, and as the plot progressed, just major golden retriever vibes.
Seb and Lor = crash. BOOM.
Seb is such a good guy. He is so respectful of the work that Lori does to do her sport.
Both characters had development in this book! They faced challenges, frustrating times, and then fell in love with one another.
The plot was well structured, and the pace was exactly right for this book.
Again, characters are well developed. They are written sort of connectedly around one another. Initially a two-lane road, merges to one lane, back to a two-lane road, and then ends on a one-lane road. I hope that analogy makes sense... lol.
I know NOTHING about bike racing/riding, and I still enjoyed the book. Now I feel like I need to learn more! So if you like sports romance, this is a great book for you.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Leonie Mack for the opportunity to review this ARC!
Happy Reading.

Head Over Wheels by Leonie Mack is an absolute delight—equal parts swoony and sincere, with a healthy dose of yearning and heart.

This one hits so many of my favorite tropes: secret identities, fake dating, sunshine/grumpy. Seb, the male lead, is the human embodiment of golden retriever energy. As a road racing domestique, he’s spent his career making sure others shine, and that generous, self-effacing nature extends into his personal life. He’s got one last season before retirement, and he’s determined to go out without shaking up the status quo—until Lori crashes (literally and metaphorically) into his world.

Lori, the female lead, is a classic black cat heroine: prickly, focused, and fighting her way back after an injury and a rocky start to the season. The tension and chemistry between her and Seb is palpable. The fake dating setup is used perfectly to bring them together while keeping their goals and vulnerabilities front and center.

One of the things I loved most about this book is how deeply Seb respects Lori’s career. He’s hesitant to agree to the fake relationship because he doesn’t want Lori to be sidelined or defined as “someone’s girlfriend”—he knows she’s an elite athlete and wants the world to see her as such. (This was a breath of fresh air, especially after reading Heavy Hitter, where the MMC was noticeably less supportive of the FMC’s career.)

The spice level is a solid 3–4 peppers—enough to turn up the heat without ever feeling gratuitous. Every moment of intimacy feels earned and emotionally charged.

Mack draws both the characters and the cycling world with impressive clarity and heart. If you love sports romance, emotional arcs, and men who genuinely lift up the women they love, this one’s for you.

Head Over Wheels was such a fun read!!! I love sport romance books, and I was so excited that this one featured professional cycling, so original! I now need more books with smaller, less popular sports on them because the cycling parts of this book were amazing and some of my favourites! They also made me realise that my knowledge on professional cycling was very basic despite growing up watching the Tour de France, although that's not much of a surprise I guess! Leonie Mack captured the excitement of the races perfectly and made those scenes thrilling to read!

I liked the setting of the story, the writing and pace were good, and it felt realistic that the story expanded over a few months - it gave time for the relationship and feelings to develop! I liked Seb immediately, and although it took me a couple of chapters to warm up to Lori, I ended up being her biggest fan! I was constantly rooting for her, and alth0ugh she had the worst luck, it was entertaining to read and so satisfying when she got back to her top form! I loved how Seb and Lori had a previous connection and relationship through Zpeed before they ever met in person, it helped make the romance more realistic, and added an extra level of intimacy between them because they shared that "secret". I liked how they were so silly to think that they could just get it out of their systems (of course they couldn't!) and every time they were drawn to one another I wanted to squeal with glee. Seb was down soooooo bad for Lori and he was just adorable. I liked the relationship development and loved the scenes wandering around Italian towns and getting to know one another. The yearning and tension kept building up throughout the story and I loved when they finally gave in!

My only negative point about this book was that, although I like fake dating, I was not expecting that trope in this one and I wasn't the biggest fan of how it was done. I honestly don't think it was necessary and it didn't bring that much to the story.

The character development was great, they both learn things from each other and fought to have a future together. I was very happy that they both got what they wanted from the start and none of them had to give up something for the other, but rather worked together to make their relationship strong. Their communication game was strong throughout the book, which I loved! The ending was so fun and I really enjoyed reading it, I kept giggling and kicking my feet!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bedford Square Publishers, and Leonie Mack for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What to expect:
🏅Professional Cyclists
Online Friends
Cinnamon Roll MMC 💕
❤️‍🩹 Competing After Injury
Age Gap
Yearning & Tension
🔥 Dating Arrangement
Insecurities

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

‘Besides, I know when it’s you texting him because he turns into a puppy and he can’t stop smiling.’

Lori Gallagher is coming back from a serious injury. She’s got to focus, because this year, nothing can go wrong. It’s why she abruptly exited the online Zpeed chat with her friend LoonieDunes. Nothing was going to get in her way, except maybe Sébastien Franck.

The new starter on the Harper-Stacked team literally knocks Lori off her bike when they meet, and it’s not long before she sees LoonieDunes in everything Seb says and does.

Seb doesn’t know why FolkLore99 suddenly left Zpeed, But suddenly she’s right before him, a beautiful spitfire that takes his breath away and leaves him weak in the knees.

Head Over Wheels was such a great read. It drew me in straight away, and I devoured every word. I loved the relationship between Lori and Seb, where it started and how it developed. I loved the new sides of themselves these characters explored, and I really loved the cycling aspects, which made for a thrilling read, as did the romance!

I received this advance review copy from NetGalley to provide an honest review.

"Head Over Wheels" was thoroughly enjoyable! I have never read a romance novel about professional cyclists before, but I genuinely appreciated that unique aspect of the story.

The book follows Lori, who is struggling with self-doubt after a significant injury. During her off-season, she begins a pen pal relationship with a man but abruptly ends it when her feelings become too intense. Back in training, a new teammate reminds her of her pen pal, leading to a question of whether it could be him.

I particularly enjoyed the character development and the realistic portrayal of communication between the characters.

Sebastian's feelings develop first and intensely, a dynamic I found quite appealing.

Overall, this is an excellent romance novel, and I highly recommend it.