I devoured FURIOUS by Jamie Pacton & Rebecca Podos. The movie franchise "Fast & Furious" is a big inspiration point for this book; however, I have never seen one of those movies and I didn't feel like it diminished my enjoyment of this novel at all. The characters of Jojo and El each have depth and well-developed stories of their own as well as a story together. Both of them felt refreshingly new in the YA field, especially Jojo with her daring and skill in fixing cars. I was all in for this novel, for the characters achieving their goals, and connecting with each other. I also loved the character Jolene: what a grandmother! She owns the garage where granddaughter Jo works; is quite the femme fatale; and is very much in love with her partner Florence. A wonderful example of strong adult character in a YA novel. Overall, I highly recommend this book!

And, if, by some chance, there's any thought of sequel, count me in.

A sapphic YA Story with Fast and Furious Vibes? GIVE IT TO ME NOW!

This book was actually my first motor sports romance and I was a little bit skeptical at first because I am not a huge car / bike / whatever motor girly. So imagine my surprise when I actually really enjoyed the motor sports talk!

I thought the characters were all really well crafted and lovable, which made the love story between Jojo and El so precious. I had so many "laugh out loud moments" and was honestly giggling and kicking my feet the whole time.

The only thing that wasn't really my cup of tea was the pacing. I thought the story was dragged out a little bit, especially in the middle part of the book, which made it difficult for me to really focus and keep my attention span going.

If you are looking for a sweet queer YA romance with a little bit of action and a lot of humor, you will definitely enjoy this book!

If you like cars, or racing, or the “Fast and Furious” franchise then this book is for you! This book has some very deep undertones with family issues. Jojo lost her mom and El lost her sister. The grief in this book is very present. Both of these characters had different journeys of grief and I felt like they were both handled with so much care and delicacy. I loved the way they both expressed their grief, the way they could talk to each other, and the ways that they reassured each other. El and Jo are sweet together, and the glimpses of their respective worlds are fun to see. I loved their yearning for each other, flirty banter and a willingness to go out on a limb for someone you just met. They embody the “you ride; I ride” mentality that is so prevalent in the Fast franchise and what makes it so great. I loved that this was a dual POV romance. It was great being able to get both Jojo and El’s thoughts and feelings. It really made the book so much better getting both perspectives. Thanks to Jamie Pacton, Rebecca Podos, Netgalley and Page Street Publishing for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts. I look forward to their next book.

While I know nothing about racing, I HAVE watched at least three Fast&Furious movies and all of Swell Entertainment's racing reviews, so I'm basically an expert (jk!) That all to say, there were no barriers to entry and I devoured this one in only a couple days. JoJo and El were such a cute couple, with flirty banter and a willingness to go out on a limb for someone you just met. The two also parallel one another in the way they experience grief and loss, and while they may deal with it in slightly different ways, it was great to see them find the answers they needed to begin their healing process.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4 ⭐️

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
🌻 Fast & Furious vibes
🌻 YA Sapphic Romance
🌻 Carabiner-Wearing Tomboys
🌻 Fun, Fast Pace
🌻 Coming of Age

Jojo Emerson-Boyd was supposed to be on her way to being a F1 racer, but after the death of her mom on the track, her father sends her to the sleepy town of Dell’s Hollow where she starts working at her grandmother’s mechanic shop. There, she meets local motorcycle racer Eliana “El” Blum and as the two become friends, a slow summer begins to brew.

Furious is a wonderful sapphic, ya romance between two girls grieving different things in their lives. Through a shared love of the Fast and Furious franchise and racing, these girls develop a great friendship that leads to a precious first love.

As a tomboy who loved the F&F series, this story made me…happy. I also had a deep crush on Michele Rodriguez so it made me giggle reading this story. And as my first official sapphic romance, I was blown away.

𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦: June 11, 2024
𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣.

I think this is a really nice Ya sapphic book i just don’t think the topic was necessarily for me! not a bad book by any means but a little too heavy on the driving/ racing content. I did absolutely love the representation of grief throughout

4.5 stars
A fast and fun story that tackles grief and loss.

After JoJo's mom dies in a car race, she's back in a small Carolina town working in her grandma's garage. El, missing her older sister, is on a mission to retrieve her jacket. The two girls bond over a love of fast vehicles and a plan to get the jacket back.

If you grew up watching Motorcrossed or Fast & Furious, you'll enjoy this Sapphic YA novel. El and Jo are sweet together, and the glimpses of their respective worlds are fun to see. I'm not a big Fast & Furious fan, but it's cute how they reference the movies. I think the last few chapters were not quite as impactful as the rest of the story, but I liked the candid conversations between the parents and the girls.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Thank you for allowing me to read an early copy!

Where you ride, I ride.

A whirlwind summer sapphic romance between a car girl and a motorcycle girl that pays homage to the Fast & Furious franchise and Disney's Motorcrossed. Jojo Emerson-Boyd recently moved from Charlotte, NC to small town Dell's Hollow, NC after the tragic death of her mother. She was a famous Formula 1 driver, who died in a car accident on the last lap of a race. Jojo now lives at her grandmother's while her and her father navigate life without her. Jojo's new life is changed when Eliana "El" Blum, aka Motorcycle Girl, shows up at Grandma Jolene's auto shop looking for her missing sister's, Max, motorcycle jacket. Their relationship is sprung on the same love for Letty Ortiz, and the mission of locating Max's jacket and Max.

Where you ride, I ride.

The story is dual POV from our main MCs. As a huge fan of Fast & Furious (RIP Paul Walker), I loved every F&F Easter egg. When El described her and Max's racing days, I couldn't help but compare to Disney Channel's original movie Motorcrossed. So for a story to have a mash of influence from these movies that I love, I was immediately hooked; you can definitely sense the inspiration of the story with every page. Aside from the romance and car/bike action, the story is about grief. Jojo is grieving a dead mother. El is grieving a lost sister. While there are differences between the two, grief is grief. El and Jojo stumble into each other's lives in a time of their life where they don't realize they need each other to overcome their grief and move forward.

If you're looking for a story with sapphic romance, car races, summer fun, and family drama, then this is for you!

Where you ride, I ride.

Thank you Page Street and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I know nothing about cars, bikes, racing or Fast & Furious and I did get a little lost on some of the terminology and references, but I had also expected that and it in no way ruined my overall enjoyment of the story.

The shining star of this book is absolutely the romance. I LOVED Jo and El together so, so much. Their banter, their shared passions, their flirting and yearning, the brave first moves and the absolute stupidly endearing “you ride, I ride” mentality. All of it was so lovely and so vivid and it made me absolutely giddy.

Both of these characters had different journeys of grief and I felt like they were both handled with so much love and care and delicacy. Jo’s grieving the death of her mother and El’s grieving her sister after she left and mostly lost contact, and both types of grief felt so palpable and raw. I loved the way they both expressed their grief, the way they could talk to each other, the ways they reassured each other.

(Minor spoilers ahead)

The events after Richmond felt incredibly rushed and honestly more formulaic than serving any real narrative purpose, which was kind of disappointing, and is my only real criticism of this book. I’m a little tired of the third act breakup, and it’s doubly bad when neither the breakup nor the makeup feel deserved.

Still, a sweet, easy romance to read this summer (or winter if you’re in the southern hemisphere like me).

3.8 rounded up to 4/5

"Furious" by Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos is a YA romance that races into the hearts of readers with its dynamic characters, thrilling plot, and heartfelt themes.

At the center of the story are Jojo Emerson-Boyd and Eliana “El” Blum, two young women brought together by fate and a shared love for racing. Jojo's passion for speed and racing is palpable, despite the tragic loss of her mother in a racing accident. El, on the other hand, is determined to find her missing sister and idol, Maxine, leading her to Jojo's grandmother's mechanic shop in Dell’s Hollow.

The authors expertly weave together themes of grief, family, and love, creating a narrative that is as emotionally resonant as it is exhilarating. Jojo and El's budding romance is portrayed with sensitivity and authenticity, as they navigate their feelings for each other while confronting the complexities of their respective pasts.

Pacton and Podos capture the spirit of the Fast and Furious franchise, infusing the story with nods to the beloved films. Fans of the series will delight in the references.

While the romance between Jojo and El is sweet and heartfelt, some readers may find themselves wishing for more development in certain aspects of their relationship, particularly leading up to their first kiss and official dating status. However, the chemistry between the two protagonists is undeniable, and their bond grows stronger as they face challenges and chase their dreams together.

Overall, "Furious" is a captivating and uplifting read that will leave readers cheering for Jojo and El as they navigate love, loss, and the thrill of the racetrack. Pacton and Podos deliver a winning combination of action, romance, and heart in this exhilarating YA novel.

I want to thank Netgalley for an e-arc of this book.

I saw another review saying this book didn’t reinvent the wheel, but it was fun nonetheless. And I feel like that describes my opinion on the book quite well. It wasn’t ground breaking, but it was a very nice read, with a good pace and fun characters.

I’m not a big fan of the fast and the furious franchise, so the mentions of those movies (and there are a LOT) sometimes felt a bit to much. But Michelle Rodríguez is very hot, so we can agree on that.

Overall it was a fun book about family and how that can have different shapes and sizes and I feel like it would be a good summer read.

This book was cute. It didn't reinvent the wheel, but it has all the ingredients of a contemporary YA. If you're looking for a sweet rom-com, this is it.

Both girls are unsure of what they are doing in town and struggle with their families as well as growing up.
Like with most romance heavy books I wished there was more build up towards the first kiss and the dating, but I still liked them together.
I watched a few fast and furious movies, but I don't remember any of it well enough to get most of the references, but I don't think you have to know what the car specifics are to enjoy the book. It is more about the girls' personal lives.

I was really looking forward to this one with the references to Fast and the Furious. Overall, it kept me interested but wasn't quite as exciting as I hoped. It was NOT a bad book at all, but I was just hoping for a little more action. I really loved Jojo and her humor fits in alot with my own. Both main characters go through grief with the loss of their family members so those parts can be a little heavy but I thought they were presented well. Good romantic read for fans of sports romances/sapphic love.

I thought based on the premise of this book, I'd enjoy, but I had hard time finishing it. If it wasn't for being an ARC, I wouldn't have bothered.

JoJo moves back to Dells Hollow with her dad after her mom passes in an accident. JoJo wants to get her license but her dad won't let her until the end of summer after she fulfills the tasks he set for her. All she wants to do is get into the F1 academy to one day be a NASCAR driver like her mom was. She meets El when she comes by looking for her older sister's jacket.

El works hard and volunteers in order to get into a good college, but with her sister being gone, she sets out to find her after she receives a postcard from her. JoJo agrees to help and they set out to find her together.

This was predictable and honestly, a little boring even with the fast and furious theme. Overall, not a bad book, but not for me.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️ A super cute story and characters, basically a sapphic YA Fast and furious.
Pretty simple with an easy tone, I would have loved this as a teen, lots of important themes woven in subtly, making it a great coming of age story. Really uplifting and wholesome and sweet.
Reminiscent of John Green and David levithan style of writing, massively reminds me of Paper towns in particular.
I get it’s the whole theme and title but the obsession with the Fast and furious franchise was a bit irritating.
A quick, easy summer read.

“Your loss is so much bigger than mine."—
"Grief is grief, El," I say, leaning my cheek on her hand for just a moment. "It's not a competitive sport. It's not a race. You can lose someone even when they're still alive, and you can still feel close to someone, even when they're gone."

‘All I know is that if I keep moving fast enough, my grief doesn't have a chance to catch up with me’

I know nothing about racing, but I chose to read Furious because I need more sapphic books in my life.
The budding romance between Jojo and El is sweet. Their transition from friends to something more is quick, but it still seems realistic. It's not too serious too soon.

In general, I appreciated the diversity of the characters. This is a small-town story that includes lots of LGBT+ representation and religious diversity. It's the little details like these that made Furious a fun and entertaining read.

That being said, the mystery element of this book is pretty predictable. I was not as interested in El's relationship with her older sister. I am a fairly unsuspecting person, but I guessed the ending right at the start.

There are heavy themes but, at its core, Furious is a feel-good novel.

Bottom line: If you're a car / bike person, definitely pick up a copy of Furious.

I love the Fast and Furious movies, so I was so excited about this one. Unfortunately it just did not live up to it for me. It was just okay, nothing special.

Thank you NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for accepting my request for an ARC of this book!
Some people are born fearless, but most of us think if we keep running fast enough, we’ll stay ahead of whatever scares us.
3.5/5
I am a sucker for Pacton and her writing. I loved Jo and El and how their relationship grew and the reader got to go on this journey with them. The story itself read like a movie, though there were so many F&F references that I sadly didn’t get. (I’ve never seen F&F) but that didn’t help me from having a good time.

Super fun! As a queer fan of the Fast and Furious movies myself, I could not wait to get my hands on this book. It did not disappoint. It was a lot of fun, just the right number of homages and references. It will be fun for fans of sporty sapphic romance (not just F&F fans or racing fans), too.

I do hope a man editor takes a look at this - not sure if it was the co-writing, but there were a couple of small details that were inconsistent throughout.

While I loved the romance between our two characters as well as the details of their lives outside of the romance, I did think some of the plot was a little thin. In particular, El's relationship with her sister (and the fact that she wanted her to come home) seemed predictable and fell flat for me. On the other hand, I really enjoyed the details about JoJo's grief and having to re-evaluate her dreams in the light of her mom's death.

The ending was definitely a "happy for now" - realistic but also didn't feel too neatly tied up. Excited to see what these two come up with next.

Honestly this gave me paper towns by john green vibes. Which is one of the first books i remember reading and loving.

Jojo is such a goofball and I honestly love it. Her humor is very similar to my own and I’m hilarious. Max is good girl. Wears her retainer, volunteers for things, straight A’s. She puts all of it on the line though for her sister.

This book has some very deep undertones with family issues. Jojo lost her mom and El lost her sister. The grief in this book is very present. They are both constantly fighting it. Their pain.

I was invested in Jojos grief but El’s… no. I like El. I think shes a great character but I didnt care about her finding Max. Mostly because what I thought would happen is exactly what happened. It is the main plot and I like the way it ended but I just wasnt too interested in it.