Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK - One More Chapter for this ARC e-copy of Pole Position by Rebecca J. Caffery.

Kian Walker, an elite F1 racer, is looking forward to taking home the championship yet again in this, his last season before retirement. It should go off without a hitch… that is, until Kian’s regular teammate breaks his leg, effectively disqualifying him from the racing season. Enter his unexpected replacement, Harper James. Seemingly arrogant, entitled, cocky, and utterly infuriating, he represents everything that Kian simply can’t stand for. But what if the tension between them turns into something else…?

The book follows dual first-person perspectives, alternating between Kian and Harper. As in most multi-perspective novels, some narrators are weaker than others. In this case, Harper’s chapters are leaps and bounds more entertaining than Kian’s, at least at first. It’s worth suffering through Kian’s early assholery to get Harper’s side of the story, though, if you’re set on reading this. Essentially, it’s as if Jamie Tartt and Roy Kent were F1 drivers—that’s the character dynamic here.

Pole Position is not a prose masterpiece by any means, but it’s serviceable for what it is: a contemporary sports romance novel. Are you looking for a flirty, steamy romance? Check. Descriptions and action-packed scenes of F1 racing? You got it. The book delivers on its basest promises, and I can’t issue a complaint to that department at all. I actually liked it better than RW&RB, the book marketing compared this one to. Overall, I enjoyed this story. If there was a sequel, whether about these characters or any others, I wouldn’t hesitate to read it.

☆ ☆ ☆ - GOOD

3.5 stars

I really appreciated the queer representation in this F1 romance, specifically because Formula 1 is a very heteronormative sport in the "real world." In a sport that is constantly letting down their non-male/cishet/white fans, Caffery was able to create an accepting and affirming community. Talk about escapism in this romance! I also really enjoyed the tension between Kian and Harper due to them being teammates, opposite personality types, and having an age gap.

I did find this book to be repetitive at times, and also struggled with the choices the characters made at some points. While I understand that Harper was the younger driver/character in this story - he tended to act out like a toddler rather than 25 year old professional - but real F1 fans know this is sometimes the norm with these grown men in the sport *cue a lance stroll complaining for no reason on the team radio* so I can't really complain too much about that.

Overall, this is a lovely read and I am super excited to see a M/M F1 romance hitting the traditional publishing scene!

This was pitched as "Formula 1 meets RWRB" which intrigued me, I've never read a story set in this world before. I can't speak to the accuracy but I thought the author did a good job with world building and making the reader feel the exhilaration of racing. The two main characters, Kian and Harper, have a dynamic that reminded me of Jamie Tartt and Roy Kent in Ted Lasso. Older, grumpy driver considering retirement and the younger party animal upstart driver who grew up idolizing him. Kian's grumpiness towards Harper was somewhat understandable but also came across as unprofessional and rude at times. In terms of their relationship the scenes where they opened up and gave each other comfort were lovely but there was a bit too much telling and not showing, it felt like we were missing a few key scenes as their love grew. And I kept expecting some kind of drama or betrayal from Johannes, why was he acting so shifty and weird? I'm assuming this is a set up for a sequel but I think novels should stand on their own so it was frustrating not to resolve that plotline. Overall this was an enjoyable and sexy romance but not without flaws. I would certainly read a sequel if one happens.

Okay, okay, okay... let's talk about f1 romance books! (But let's give it a gay twist).

In Pole Position we meet Kian and Harper, two f1 drivers (and team mates) that couldn't be more different... Kian is kind of like a "grandpa", he's been racing in f1 for so many years now and is tired not to be home for his sister, his mom and his niece and nephew. Whereas Harper is younger than him, and it's his first year in f1 (and he's team mates with his hero!), he's the party boy, always with a scandal on his back and he's the one that drives the PR team nuts! so... what will happen when these two have to share a space? It could go down (pun intended) sooooo quickly ;)

First, I would like to thank netgalley for giving me an arc beause they've really made my month.

I have read many f1 romances at this point, but I'd never read one where the main couple were gay and I really enjoyed the relationship between Kian and Harper. However, there were some things that took me out of the story at times. First, the relationship was weird at times. I know there's the age gap and all that stuff but sometimes I felt that they weren't behaving as 30 something men but as 15 year olds... And the main problem with their relationship could've been solved in less than half a book, I'm sorry. The second thing that I didn't enjoy had to do with f1. As a huge f1 fan I would've loved if all the teams were real teams or if they all were made up, but not the mix, I'm sorry, it is a huge mess... and I don't get why they refer to that racing as championship racing like????? Idk. Didn't like that.

To sum up, if you liked Red, White and Royal Blue... SIMILAR VIBES!!!! Totally up your alley. I really enjoyed Harper and Kian's love story up to some extent and, all in all, it was an enjoyable read.

FORMULA ONE MEETS RED WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE


ARE YOU KIDDING ME THIS IS SO CUTE

Meet Harper and Kian and their story.

There’s a few flaws in this book however the gist of it overall is a sweet book.

I often have trouble with the enemies to lovers trope because the chracters can be SO MEAN to each other, and I can't imagine anyone forgiving that and falling in love in real life. This book was exactly that. The two men disliked each other so strongly to start with and treated each other so crappy, it doesn't seem realistic that they would fall in love. However, it was kinda funny how despite disliking each other they were attracted to each other and annoyed by that attraction.

I enjoyed the look into F1 racing, it's not a sport I'm familiar with. I'll also say I enjoyed the last 20% of the story much more than the first 80%. It dragged and the writing was repetitive. I was like, "they hate each other, I get it!!"

While it didn't quite land for me, I'd still recommend this book for readers of queer and/or sports romances.

Described as Red, White and Royal Blue meets Formula 1 - I knew I had to read this one and I ATE this up. Kian's teammate gets injured so they have to call someone else up...and its the last person Kian expected or wants to have around. Harper’s reputation is less than stellar, making headlines for all the wrong reasons, while Kian is the experienced good guy.

Read if you like:
- grumpy sunshine
- age gap
- forced proximity
- found family
- LGBTQIA+

I know nothing about F1 so I couldn't tell you if its realistic or not but I loved getting to read about a different sport. Also, sometimes its really nice to read a book about LGBTQIA+ characters without there being so much HATE.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. Once I picked it up I didn't want to put it down and basically read it in a day. I am hoping we're going to get a book about Harper's friend!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader. All thoughts are my own.

Rating: ★★★★
Started: 02 May 24
Finished: 14 May 24

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:

I loved the concept.
I also really liked that there were openly queer people in F1 because you don’t normally see that happen and I thought it was a great way to normalise queer people in these jobs.

Really liked the side characters, but I still have so many questions about Johannes and what was going on with him behind the scenes.

I really liked Kian as a character, he has a really great heart. His relationship with his sister and her family as well made me melt. I wouldn’t of minded reading more about their family.

Harper I was a bit unsure of. I think him doing what he was doing was on brand for his age and status but I also really liked Kian and didn’t want to see him hurt, so that left me unsure on if I liked Harper or not. I did really enjoy reading about his destructiveness from the trauma he’s been through in his life. It was written and portrayed really well to show it’s not always all sunshine and rainbows. I think that’s what I liked most about his character, was that he was flawed and he did try to work on himself to help himself be a better person for who he wanted to be.

I so wish there was a bit more romance between the two characters so I didn’t feel like he found out something bad happened in Kian’s life and then bam he was all in for a relationship. I wish there was just a little bit more build up between them, not just us finding it out through dialog with secondary characters.

Overall, the writing was good and I enjoyed reading about a queer couple in F1.

Thank you One More Chapter, Rebecca J. Caffery and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC of Pole Position in exchange for an honest review.

.Rivals/enemies to lovers
.Motor sports
.Age gap (8 years)
.Hurt/comfort
.Opposites attract

I read the blurb and it called to me, but I never expected to have such a great time with it. I devoured it in under two days, it was so much fun! I think I need to start picking up more books set in the motorsport industry. Could this replace my love for hockey romance now?

I've always liked F1 from afar. I wouldn't necessarily watch a race, but I appreciate the engineering behind it, the absolute skill of the drivers, and even the danger. And this book captured all of that perfectly.

Both Harper and Kian were very well developed characters. They each have their own pasts and presents to deal with, apart from being in a highly competitive sport. Despite being total opposites, they complement each other so well. The chemistry was there, the spice was hot, but what I loved most was all the cuddling and snuggling. They were so sweet and affectionate.

I do wish there wasn't so much miscommunication, but I understand it's part of Harper's trauma affecting the relationship. Elise's character made me want to cry for her; she shoulders so much. Maybe it's the big sister in me that empathised with her hard.

This author is completely new to me, and I will definitely read more from her in the future. I hope we get more books in this world. I'd love a story about Johannes, maybe even a book about Jackson. Or better yet, the two together? If it ever happens, I’m in!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I absolutely love it! i think it will win Book of the Month for me!

Formula 1 + mm romance + enemies to lovers + coworker + messy vs tidy? I meeeean! What could I need more?

By chapter 2 I was completely hooked and I finished it in two days (just because of work (otherwise I would have finished in one sitting).

What sucked me in were mainly the characters. Harper was so all over the place and I loved his energy, but also 'Kian, the caretaker, was worth swooning over.

The plot was entretaining and I loved the F! aspect of it, but also all the back stories were well developed.
Maybe I would have liked a conversation between the two about Kian´s father, since in the beginning of the book Hartper idolizes him. But other then that I don´t really have any critiques.

It was light, it was fun, it was deep, it had angst, spice, and so many things more!
Loved it!

early DNF. The writing style was immature for the age of the characters, and I would have expected there to be SOME explanation of f1 terms and positions given. Apparently, if you aren’t already versed in f1, this book isn’t for you.

This is the second book I've read by Rebecca J. Caffery and the first one 'Olympic Enemies' sadly did not live up to expectations, this one exceeded them.

I really enjoyed this story, Kian and Harper were incredibly frustrating at times but they were relatable and I got easily attached to both of them. I bought the romance and the connection and the writing and plot were solid. The pace was good and kept the story moving. I know basically nothing about F1 but was able to follow along with the story and the sport easily enough as it was laid out well and concisely.

Pole Position was a lot of fun, packed full of feeling and was just a great ride from start to finish. I really liked this one.

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 I had never even heard of Formula 1 racing before two years ago and now you will be hard pressed to find a Sunday that it is not streaming in my house. I was beyond thrilled to get the chance to read this book! Kian Walker is the cream of the crop of the racing world and when his teammate and friend is out due to a broken leg, he is not thrilled with who he has to share the podium with- enter Harper James. Luckily, Kian’s got the most wonderfully supportive family that reminds him that he can power through and have a successful season. This was a delightfully fun and flirty read that will entertain readers who are seasoned Formula One fans or novices!

Review is posted to Goodreads and final review will be posted on Instagram ahead of the publication date!

This F1 romance had me hooked from start to finish! 🏎️🏳️‍🌈 Harper and Kian's rivals-to-lovers dynamic had me swooning, especially with the forbidden aspect of being teammates. Their opposite personalities made their connection even more intriguing.

But what stole my heart was the beautiful portrayal of queerness in the story. Harper and Kian's comfort in their identities, along with the support they received from their friends and team, was heartwarming. 🌈💕

The balance between on-track and off-track stories was perfect, and the racing scenes were thrilling! 🏁✨ And don't worry about the 'erotica' trope—it's just the right blend of spice and fluff. 😉

Despite the age gap, I couldn't help falling for both Kian and Harper and witnessing their growth throughout the book. And yes, I might've shed a tear or two at the end. 🥲

If you're into sports/F1 romance, this book is a must-read—even if you're not familiar with F1! 📚💖

This was so so so good! I devoured it. MM F1 romance, enemies to lovers, teammates, age gap, great chemistry and banter, dual POV. Brilliant. AND my first F1 romance! This is out in October, but you should definitely add it to your TBR! Thanks to @rjcafferyauthor + @netgalley + @onemorechapterhc for the ARC 😊

Pole Position was described as Red, White and Royal Blue meets Formula 1, which immediately seemed like a combination that was right up my street! This book is a very cute, fluffy, queer romance, and I enjoyed it for what it was. The characters were quite, I liked their stories and how they connected, and what Formula 1 content we got was enjoyable.

For me, the appeal of Pole Position was the Formula 1 setting, and it was nice to see little pockets of the sport scattered throughout the narrative. I was a bit disappointed not to see more of the story revolving around F1, and the mentions are quite limited. However, that does mean that the story is quite accessible to readers who don't know anything of the sport.

The story itself felt a little basic to me, and it was predictable in the way that all traditional romance books are. Boy meets boy, there's a bit of an enemies-to-loves vibe going on, and then there's a (spoiler alert) happily ever after. It was sweet and I enjoyed the build-up, but it didn't leave me with any oomph.

I think what really shines about this book is the drawing of the central characters: Kian and Harper. They are very different characters, but are equally well described, and had a lot of depth. The author clearly put a lot of time into creating their back-stories and making them endearing to the reader. The connection between them did feel a little forced at first - all the right components were there, but it seemed to go from 0 to 100 very quickly, and their relationship probably could have benefitted from more growth. I also would have really liked to have learnt a little more about the secondary characters too. They're all there and are just waiting to jump into the story, but they're kept at arms length. It's a shame, because the little glimpses we get of Anders, Johannes, and some of the other characters really elevate the story.

Overall, I enjoyed Pole Position. It's a cute queer romance that has some really fun nods to Formula 1. I really wanted to love it, and all the elements were there; the story, the characters, and the tropes were all there. It just didn't quite have the oomph that I would have wanted to see in the connection between the characters, and in the secondary storylines and characters. There was nothing really wrong with the book, but it just didn't blow me away. I think there's probably a lot of readers out there who would enjoy this one a lot! I'd read more from the author as well, as I think all the potential is there!

I was so excited for Pole Position but unfortunately it fell flat for me. The writing was hard to get into and I didn’t connect with the MCs straight away.. in fact reading the first few chapters were a bit of a chore. I’ll definitely try and read this though again in the future for a different perspective but it just wasn’t for me.

As an avid formula one fan this book had absolutely everything I was looking for. Formula One drama, drama in general, spice, enemies to lovers, everythingN I couldn’t recommend this enough, I absolutely loved it from start to finish!!

I love a good combination of sports romance and MM romance. I liked the F1 racing aspect of the story and it was not too much. Kian and Harper’s romance was sweet and passionate. I loved Kian’s character, I think he was amazing and quite real life-like and relatable. Compared to him Harper felt a bit childish, but when he cared and was affectionate it was sweet. I hope this book becomes part of a book series, because the potencial is in there.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of the book.

A F1 racing MM sports romance sounded like so much fun when I started this book. Unfortunately, the writing and the story just weren’t for me. The writing style was a lot of telling, and not enough scenes where the reader was shown the characters actions in those moments.
The research that went into F1 felt really basic, especially when F2 was constantly called “lower level” instead of by any name. The tone and vocabulary of the characters in contrast to their lengthy internal monologues felt disjointed. Even the pacing of the story was full of starts and stops.
When the story starts we are introduced to Kian and Harper. Kian is the veteran driver and is very set in his ways and routines. Considering half the book is told in his POV, he does not mention anything relating to a sexual interest in his counterpart and until a few pages before their first sexual encounter, he read as an asexual character. Him suddenly announcing he was Bi felt forced and awkward. There really was never any romance between Kian and Harper, and when the story tried to go down that path, it felt forced. They weren’t even able to talk to each other about what each of them was comfortable with doing in intimate moments.
Harper is described as being this party boy who can’t handle a relationship due to major abandonment issues. He becomes distraught when someone threatens blackmail over scandalous photos of him. So what does Kian do, he kisses him and then the next scene they’re cuddly on an airplane and they just kind of gloss over what was happening in his life. It felt like a chapter was missing between those two scenes.
I honestly didn’t like the character Kian. He was selfish and repetitive. I get it, you feel bad about not being there to help your sister with your sick mom, but you make a lot of money so instead of whining about it every other chapter, pay for a live in nurse to help your sister out and provide some respite care.
The crash scene could have been this big moment for their relationship development, but it fell flat.
Hopefully this book resonates better with other readers. The tone, the grammar, and even the punctuation, was not for me.