**CURRENTLY READING**

*Crash Test*
by Amy James
It’s lights out and away we go! We’re embracing the high-speed not-so-straights of F1! The drama is intoxicating, the heartbreak is brutal, and the romance is unforgettable.

We’re leaning full tilt into the Heated Rivalry mania with an MM sports romance.

This might be my favorite F1 romance yet! And I’ve been on a racing kick. The drama is intoxicating and addicting, the heartbreak is brutally frustrating. The friendships are heartwarming and inspiring. The sport politics are somewhat believable, if not aspirational. But the romance is memorable — full of fear, anguish and hope. If you’re in the mood for a heart squeeze and a little cry, this one’s a good pick.

⚠️ TWs: homophobia, death, emotional abuse / manipulation from a parent, grief

Get your copy of Crash Test (Amazon) and read with us!

What Victoria Loved

VICTORIA’S RATING: 4.25/5

As someone who has grown up watching the sport, I’ve always been drawn to the adrenaline rush that comes with high speeds and unfortunately that means being familiar with the unpredictable and terrifying aspects of the sport as well.

The opening scene and the moments that unfold in the first 50% of this book are exactly what I imagine the behind-the-scenes might be for families, drivers and their teams during the most horrific tragedies that could occur in this sport. You could feel the exhaustion, the helplessness, the heartbreak, the weight of everything on the line in Travis’ POV… and honestly, it sets up the second sector so beautifully because you’re left wondering what on earth Jacob’s POV is (and if his family is truly as horrible as they come across).

And to that end, the next 40% of the book are not quite as heart wrenching, but it’s still quite heartbreaking. I couldn’t put this book down eager to cheer on Jacob, determined to get these two back on the right track and safely squared away (I may have even read through while a qualifying session played in the background because I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the page too busy rooting for these fictional drivers over my IRL F1 drivers).

I think it’s the biggest compliment to the author / the story to say that I didn’t want this book to end. I wanted to know what happens next for Travis and Jacob! And honestly, I was surprised to glance down to notice I was already 92% of the way through the book… we went through such emotional turmoil to make it that far and I was disappointed that the end of the book came so soon. There’s still so much story to explore!!

Set the mood. Listen to our F1 Sunday Morning playlist (Spotify). Want more F1 before the season? Catch Drive to Survive on Netflix!

What the Book Club Loved

FIREWORKS & STEAM: 1/5
If you’ve been following our club’s reviews, you know we live for the build-up—and honestly? The tension in this book was everywhere. The pining? Top-tier. The chemistry? Off the charts. We went into this one expecting a total firework show. Jacob is over here in his internal monologue describing this absolutely mind-blowing physical connection, and we were so ready to be right there with him. We had our bookmarks ready, people! The consensus at the meeting? Our minds were... decidedly not blown. While the emotional connection was definitely there, the actual spicy scenes felt a little "blink and you’ll miss it." We found ourselves wishing for a bit more—well, description. It’s one thing for a character to tell us it was the best night of their life, but as readers, we kind of wanted to see the receipts! If you love a "slow burn" where the tension is the main character, you’ll probably be obsessed. But if you’re looking for a read that really leans into the heat, this one might leave you wanting just a little more seasoning.
WRITING STYLE: 4/5
Going in, we expected your typical, high-heat sports romance, but the author took a different route. Instead of being "raunchy" for the sake of it, the writing stayed laser-focused on the couple, their journey with their queerness, and the actual heart of their relationship. It’s a "relationship story" first and a "sports story" second, and we were totally here for it.
To that end, we were impressed by how author handled the heavy stuff— trauma, grief, and real-deal pain and heartbreak. We never felt like we were drowning in the sadness. We felt their hurt, but the writing has this resilience to it. The characters don’t let their pasts hold them back or keep them from actually living. It’s emotional without being exhausting, which is a really tough balance to strike!
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 4/5
From the opening chapters, we found ourselves fiercely rooting for the protagonists. There was an immediate, magnetic pull to understand the "why" behind their current circumstances. As the layers were peeled back, the dynamic of their relationship felt earned and authentic. We didn't just want them to be together; we believed in them as a unit. And that may be because of how refreshing we found the portrayal of therapy. Too often in fiction, we find ourselves shouting, "These people just need to talk to a professional!" In this story, they actually did. Seeing these characters embrace the therapeutic process added a layer of maturity and groundedness that made their romantic milestones feel all the more significant.
THE LOVE STORY: 4.5/5
Okay, can we just take a second to talk about the absolute emotional rollercoaster this love story put us through? As a group, we usually have some feelings about the second-chance trope—it’s a tough one to get right—but this book totally won us over with that top-tier yearning. The way the author handled the perspectives was a total mind game for us:
- When we were in Travis’s head: Honestly, we were spiraling. We were constantly questioning if he was "worthy" or if the spark was even still there. It was that classic, heart-aching worry of: "Is he even into this? Is he into me?" The tiny, heartbreaking details in his chapters had us reaching for the tissues.
- When we switched to Jacob: Everything just... clicked. Reading from Jacob’s perspective is where you finally see the "why" behind their dynamic. It’s where the relationship actually starts to make sense.
Even when our hearts were hurting for Travis, we couldn't stop rooting for them. There’s just something about the way they fit together that makes you want to fight for them.
The real "aha!" moment for the club was realizing that Jacob wasn't just some stoic figure on the sidelines—he was struggling just as much as Travis was. Seeing two people who are both a bit of a mess try to find their way back to each other? That’s the good stuff.

“I was expecting vroom vroom, fast cars, sexy-time… let’s go! But that wasn’t this book. Instead it was really heavy, but I still really enjoyed it.”

- CHRISTINA

If You Loved Crash Test, You’ll Love These

A FORBIDDEN F1 ROMANCE - TEAMMATES: Pole Position (Pole Position #1) by Rebecca Caffrey (Amazon)
For my fellow F1 fans, Kian Walker gives Lewis Hamilton vibes, but with fewer WCs. Meanwhile, Harper James gives more of a Ricciardo vibe (or even a young Lewis), but amplified on the party boy front. Read my Sneak Peek. Ultimately, the balance between on-track coverage and off-track romance was nicely done. It was fun to ride-along with the drivers during GPs and to listen in on their radios as we do when watching a GP from the comfort of our own homes. And the off-track coverage provided a nice glimpse into what it's like to travel from country to country during the grueling season.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
A FORBIDDEN F1 ROMANCE - PRINCIPLE x DRIVER: Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent (Amazon)

Inspirational! An F1 romance with a handful of pop culture references and inside jokes from within the paddock. A great read for those new to the sport as it describes the rules, team dynamics, inner workings of the sport, and features some glass-shattering within a historically patriarchal sport.

VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.75/5

A SECRET RELATIONSHIP: Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid (Amazon)
Prepare yourself for a very spicy first period of this hockey romance. The TV adaptation is so well done! The characters, the tension, the spicy scenes were magnificent, and I thoroughly enjoyed my binge. Lucky for you, there’s so much to dive into in the books between the stolen moments and years of yearning / depriving each other. See my full review of the series and similar reads.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5/5
A SECRET RELATIONSHIP - TEAMMATES: Everything for You (Bergman Brothers #5) by Chloe Liese (Amazon)
In our Haus, when we say “football” this is what we mean (aka soccer). If you aren’t a fan of the sport but you have seen Ted Lasso and loved it, look no further. These two teammates couldn’t be more different. They are ice cold on the field, but their chemistry burns hotter than fire off-the field. Oh, and if you like this one, you’ll be glad to know this is #5 in the Bergman Brothers series.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5

BY THIS AUTHOR: A Five Letter Word for Love by Amy James (Amazon)
A Wordle romance. Currently reading; review to come!
VICTORIA’S RATING: TBD/5