The Fast Lane was a very easy breezy read - the writing is bountiful, vibrant and so easy to get into from the get-go. The short chapters definitely helped but I highly commend Sharon Peterson's writing style and the story for The Fast Lane being a complete page-turner!

Ali and Theo are the most loveable characters. Where Ali is confident, unhinged, quirky and relatable - Theo is calm, composed, sweet, thoughtful- and resolutely supportive (side note: all the supporting characters are beautiful, in fact, with one obvious exception being Ali's ex, Alec) - the moments Ali and Theo share and the direction of the story too was unpredictable and so fun (Ali, and therefore the reader, being "introduced" to Theo's flirting - wowzas!) The equation between these two was electric!

At points, we revisit the past to show the history behind Ali and Theo's friendship which were lovely to read and did not confuse the storyline which was a relief. Everything just unfolded gracefully and I was invested in finding out more. The narrative is a mix of all your favourite tropes - think brother's best friend/friends to lovers/forced proximity - again, in the most bizarre setting (nudist (non descriptive) spa retreat) - if you enjoy those, then The Fast Lane is one for you! P.s. Theo's profession is another reason to read this!

The story is not just about the budding romance between Ali and Theo though - many major themes are dealt with and handled with sensitivity (almost effortlessly) by Sharon Peterson - I have to credit Sharon again, especially after reading the author's note at the end of the book, as representation really does matter. I hope many readers will feel seen when they pick this book up.

From what I understand when I finished the book, The Fast Lane is a part of a series however it can definitely be read as a standalone (I have not read the other books and did not find any issue in following this story....given how much I loved this book though, I will definitely be picking up the others!) What I would say is that the first few paragraphs do name drop alot which almost did put me off as I thought we were going to be dealing with multiple characters without context but the leads do become obvious as you get into the book - Peterson helpfully reminds us, where necessary, of the background within the story too if a character makes an appearance after a break, which I found helpful.

In summary, what you can expect:
- Friends x Lovers/Brother's best friend trope
- Epilepsy representation
- Loveable characters (Mains/Side)
- Engaging writing/pageturner
- Banter and wit galore!
- Wild road trip adventures
- “I am not your brother” (Just wait for it - Lord, have mercy).
- Dysfunctional/Functioning family - perfectly imperfect in every way.

Trigger warnings: minor reference to car accidents, injury detail, seizures, nudity (nondescriptive), and death of a family member.

Spice: kissing-only

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Sharon M Peterson for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest, unedited review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all I’d like to thank the publisher and net!galley for granting me a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

If you would like to enjoy this book as much as I did, it gets published June 19th.

✨NOTE TO SELF: Next time I chained myself to a tree in protest, consider how in the world I was gonna be able to pee. ✨

It was in that moment I knew I would like Alicia’s character. She’s witty, sarcastic, but totally lovable. I loved how the authorgave her epilepsy, but also gave us background info about. It wasn’t an “oh I have to give my character something, but I’m not gonna talk more about.” moment.
She portrayed how family, friends would feel about having a beloved one with epilepsy, but also portrayed how the person felt about the whole situation.

Cue in Theo; the boy next-door, Brothers best friend type of guy.
Alicia loved him since forever, he found out quite recently he’s in love with her aswell.
But she has a boyfriend, nothing he can do about that.

I love how he remembers every single detail about Alicia. How his penname is A.N. (You know named after a special someone)
How he is so respectfully towards her.
I need a Theo in my life 🥹

About Alec, i hate his guts. Totally hate his guts.
I hate everything about him, how he treated Alicia, how he broke up with her, how he thinks they can reconnect. Nope nope nope.
(Which means amazing job miss Sharon Peterson, you made him perfect for the story)

I totally loved how everyone except the to main characters saw how they were perfect for each other.

It was an amazingly, easy to read, feel good book. The note to self’s were brilliant.

10/10 would recommend 🥰

I’m not a big romance reader. I basically don’t read that genre at all BUT I would read anything Sharon Peterson writes, even if it’s just a shopping list.
I inhaled this book. I read it far too quickly and then kicked mysef for not slowing down just so I could savour it a little more! It’s got humour, a sweet friends-to-lovers romance and enough tear jerking moments to make your eyes water just because you relate to the characters so much. Sharon Peterson delivers another gorgeous read and I cannot tell you how much I adore it.

Thank you to Bookouture and Sharon Peterson for this ARC.

If I could describe “The Fast Lane” in one sentence, I’d say: Hilarious road trip romcom where childhood friends (one happens to be the FMC brother’s BFF) start communicating their true feelings for one another.

Doesn’t that sound like such a fun, cute, happy premise? Well, “The Fast Lane” definitely lived up to its tropes, and Sharon Peterson is quickly becoming an author I want to read more from.

I fell in love with Ali and Theo, our MCs in “The Fast Lane.” Ali has crushed on Theo since childhood. It was hilarious to see her try to reign in her feelings after being devastatingly rejected when she professed her love to Theo during her teenage years.

I also loved the whole road trip theme. It kept the plot moving steadily, introduced some hilarious side characters, and allowed Theo to be his flirty self.

Lastly, there are two huge plot lines around forgiveness and independence when living with a disability. I loved these additions, and they certainly added to the authenticity of the novel. Peterson struck the perfect balance between cute, light rom-com moments and real, heavy issues.

While I always love spice in my romance books, I actually didn’t miss it with “The Fast Lane” because I was so invested in Theo and Ali’s relationship. Peterson expertly weaves in flashbacks so the reader can understand the foundation of the two MC’s relationship and truly understand their connection. It felt authentic and made me want to root for these two even more.

YES! This is the romcom you need, and if you have KU, you can grab it for free! I’m already starting to read the other book set in this universe (also on KU) and cannot put it down. Peterson is certainly becoming one of my go-to romance authors, and I hope you enjoy her writing as much as I did.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this poignant book

meeting the main character of ali in this book is very enlightening and at times very funny.... shes the girl we all would love to be with her witty comebacks and her needs for revenge which always has very cunning ideas

but ali has a crush ..one that wasnt very secret when she was younger... she went all out for him to the embarrassment of everyone who told her to get over it... poor theo but he handled it with great humility

but now they are older and they are both on their way to alis brothers wedding and with no room in the car for ali with her parents she has to share a car journey with theo.... and boy is this journey a fun read....

but ali is on a mission set by one of her brothers....to bring back to the family the brother that walked away all those years ago and boy is this a journey fraught with tension.....

man there are some laugh out loud moments and there are times when there are tears running down your face....

this was a journey of discovery for me reading this book loved it... cant wait to read more from this author

The hilarious and swoony-sigh (it’s a thing, trust me) inducing story of Alicia and Theo.

He’s her brother’s best friend and childhood crush. Like, major crush. As in write cheesy love poems kind of crush.

She’s on a love sabbatical after her last boyfriend broke up with her and refuses to acknowledge any current feelings of the love variety toward Theo.

Her brother is getting married and by a turn of events, Theo and Alicia will be road tripping together.

Can Alicia admit her feelings for Theo? Does Theo feel the same way or is he just a big flirt? Will they make it to the wedding?!

Throw in Mack- Alicia’s grandfather and his dog. Wild family dynamics and surprises. And some interesting destinations along the way.

This is by far my favorite road-tripping romcom. I was laughing, I was crying, and I was squealing with joy.

It was another late night as I kept promising myself, "Just one more chapter." Sharon M. Peterson's books are always filled with humor, quirky characters, and surprises. This one did not disappoint. A dog named Karen with a lazy eye? Yep. Grandpa who sings Taylor Swift? He's here in this story. And don't get me started on the practical jokes and acts of revenge that Ali carries out. I'd watch my back if she was my friend or enemy. But deep down, this is a heartwarming story of a woman with epilepsy, her childhood crush and reuniting family.

Are you in the mood for a slow burn, hilarious and heartwarming book that would be perfect for your summer/beach reading list? If you are, you have to add The Fast Lane to your list!
The main characters, Ali and Theo, are so endearing. They have been friends for most of their lives. Each has hidden feelings they are scared to admit about. As they head off on a road trip the fun begins!
I have to say the author had me laughing and crying more than a few times.
I am so ecstatic to have found author, Sharon M. Peterson. I just added the rest of her books to my tbr list.
Definitely pick up The Fast Lane as soon as you can! You will not regret it.
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Fast Lane is the first book by this author I have read, and I absolutely adored it. You will now find me stalking her back list to be sure I'm completely caught up! The second in a series, this book absolutely can stand alone without any issues - you'll be drawn into the lives of the small town of Two Harts without any problems. I love a book with a lead female with a lot of spunk, and Ali absolutely delivers that. I love good dialogue and verbal sparring, and Theo and Ali have that in spades.
This book is good for laugh out loud moments, emotional tear up moments, and everything in between. From unexpected pit stops along the way on their road trip, to meddling family members, last minute wedding planning team meetings, and family drama and interventions, The Fast Lane has it all and then some. Do yourself a favor and move this book to the very top of your TBR pile today!

DNF at 40%. As soon as they talked about going to a nudity place , I zoned out. I know the author included it to be funny put I couldn't picture it without being weird and gross.

This road trip friends to lovers romance is full of humor, charm, and hilarious escapades as Ali and Theo make their way to Texas to Portland for a wedding, collecting relatives, animals, and memories along the way. A humorous just-kisses romance! 4.5 stars.

This cute Rom-Com is the perfect summer road trip read. Theo stole my heart from the start and I was willing him to flirt just that bit more than he did.
Ali the FMC has been trod over by her ex and is clearly holding onto his final words via his dumping text, what a loser. Theo is almost part of the family and Ali has always had a crush on him, he’s off limits in her eyes.
A road trip to her brother’s wedding forces them to spend days and nights together, lots of giggles and swooning moments to be had in this fun flirty read.
The epilogue is the perfect ending, cementing Theo into my book boyfriend catalogue.
Thank you NetGalley, Sharon M. Peterson and the Bookouture for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

This book was so good!!! I just finished it and I have the biggest smile on my face!!

Ali & Theo, ugh, they're disgustingly cute, in the best way imaginable! The author found a way to not make their love story dumb, and simple, even though they came from a small town.

I'm impressed with the authors ability to write so many characters, but to never lose track of them. Everybody played their part, and added to the story.

I would recommend this book!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

By the first few paragraphs of The Fast Lane by Sharon Peterson, I was already laughing. I kept laughing through most of the book – except for the various times I had to pause to have a good cry over something sweet or touching that happened.
This book was a fun and wild ride.
There was a lot going on and sometimes I felt like there was a bit too much going on but I just decided to hold on for the ride and enjoy myself.
It wasn’t hard to enjoy myself with delightful main characters like Theo and Alicia (Ali).
There were moments when things would slow down a bit for me and then pick right back up again, making it impossible for me to put the book down.
Our story kicks off with Ali getting herself in trouble – again. We learn that stirring up trouble in her small town isn’t something new for Ali, though this might be the first time she’s chained herself to a tree and then needed help from her friend (and longtime crush) Theo to unlock her. It is not, however, the first time she’s needed him to help her.
What can I say about Theo? Sigh.
He’s handsome, charming, sweet, mysterious, funny, complex and once you meet him you won’t be able to forget him, that’s for sure.
That’s probably why Ali carried a torch for him – her brother’s best friend – for so many years, embarrassing herself many times when she was young trying to capture his attention.
She’s an adult now, though, and her childish crush is . . . Nope. Not gone. She tries her hardest to pretend it is, though.
It doesn’t help that Theo is always rescuing her – including that time a few months ago when she had a seizure alone in our house, fell and hit her head, bringing back her fear of the epilepsy she’s dealt with since she was a teen. He was even nice enough not to tell her over-worrying and protective mother.
Once you throw her and Theo in a car alone for a cross-country trip to attend Ali’s brother’s wedding, with a few pitstops along the way, you’ve got the perfect, swoony setup.
What is great about this book is that you also have the perfect setup for absolute hilarity to ensue and leave you holding your side from all the laughter.
As if the situations Theo and Ali find themselves in aren’t hilarious enough (is that camper naked?), they pick up Ali’s grandfather, Mack, who is still grieving the loss of his wife Grace and has adopted a frighting little mongrel named Karen to help him feel less alone. Karen is possibly a chihuahua, possibly the devil, and she hates Ali, which slaps yet another layer of potential side-splitting situations onto the story.
There were times I felt like there was a bit too much going on in this book and would have loved some of the side stories to have been held back for a future book, but, as I said above, I just held on for the ride and enjoyed all the extra storylines and craziness.
As I said when I started this review – this book was a fun and wild ride. I loved it. I’d be willing to take a ride like this with Sharon again in the future.

Brother’s best friend AND a road trip?! Count me in.

Alicia needs a ride to her brother’s wedding, and the only person available is Theo, her brother’s best friend, and of COURSE she has always liked him.

A six-day road trip together will bring all kinds of funny moments in this entertaining book!

Alicia and Theo were so quirky and you could tell they both had feelings immediately. Hint hint: “I’m not your brother.”

This story had me laughing and rooting for them. The witty banter between the characters kept me engaged and their chemistry was chefs kiss!

The author did a fantastic job of blending humor and romance, making the story both heartwarming and entertaining.

“Note to self: If home is where your heart is, I know exactly where to find mine.”

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

-brothers best friend
-road trip
-epilepsy
-slow burn

Every time I start a new Sharon M. Peterson book, it becomes my favorite! The way Ali sticks up for her people is who I aspire to be in life. While I personally have no experience with epilepsy, I felt like I got an inside look at what it’s like to deal with the weight of everyone’s worry and concern hanging over you when you do have epilepsy. While the family drama did mean less time with Ali and Theo on the page, Peterson handled it so realistically (and not cheesily).

I realize this review makes this book sound heavy, but not so! Theo’s flirting had me squealing out loud (and swooning a little bit as well). I laughed out loud at least a minimum of five times per chapter. I am here for Ali and Theo’s flirting and banter ALL DAY LONG, and I couldn’t wait to get back to this book when I had to take a break!

If you’re looking for hilarity combined with swoon, this book is it!

I liked the convoluted plot and family in this book a lot. There were definitely plot holes and issues that didn't get addressed in the book and probably should have (the brother, the dramatically and entirely inappropriate overbearing mother, the main character's past antics) but I didn't notice them while reading and everyone was fun enough that it didn't matter. 4.5 rounded up.

I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly put off reading The Fast Lane because I was so excited for it and KNEW I would love it. As always, Sharon Peterson does NOT disappoint!

Calling all rom com lovers, this is a must read for you this summer!!! The Fast Lane was a witty fun read that had me smiling from ear to ear and giggling at all the fun of this road trip. The side characters? Amazing. The relationship between Ali and Theo? Perfect. THE EPILOGUE?! I love love love an epilogue and this one was the SWEETEST.

The best thing about the characters in this book was that I could see myself fitting right into their family/being friends with all of them! They were realistic and funny and flawed and lovely. Every piece of their roadtrip was perfectly written and I couldn’t wait to see what other adventures our friends were going to get into! Ali was a perfect, mischievous, caring FMC. I love stories that are just happiness wrapped up in a book and that’s exactly how I felt about The Fast Lane!

Thank you NetGalley and Sharon Peterson for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

read if you love…
friends to lovers
her teenage crush
epilepsy rep
the best written rom coms
brother’s best friend
road trips full of laughs and adventures
happily ever after

This is such a funny and sweet slow burn road trip romcom. Author Sharon sets the scenes, creates the jokes and makes us fall in love with her delightful characters. It’s all in the first person point of view of our FMC Alicia, who has epilepsy. She is a queen of a pranking and has been in love with neighbor Theo for most of her life. She is really the heart of this novel as she brings us all along on the (literal) trip. She is so mischievous and funny and clever – I adored her! Alicia is a lot though. She talks a lot (and probably very quickly😂) and generates ideas and plots and plans and manoeuvres. She’s absolutely fearless in terms of pranking people and giving them their comeuppance. She was just a tiny bit exhausting, though not for Theo...

Theo we only see through her eyes and he’s a little bit more opaque, but such a golden retriever. This is a closed door romance, and so author Sharon has to work hard to show us the chemistry and connection between these two as Theo slowly lets Amelia see how he feels. It's all there though. She’s obtuse, of course, and this is where the complications lie. There is lots more, and so many running jokes - with a road trip, family wedding complete with Bridezilla, snarly pooch called Karen, an estranged brother, a secret child, a run for mayor… all neatly and hilariously resolved.

I’m giving this five stars because it’s just so cheery and warm. It’s Sarah Adams funny or Katherine Center without the heartbreak. Just fabulous!

Thank you NetGalley, Sharon M. Peterson and Bookouture for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

I loved this book so much. The story is entertaining and funny, it made me laugh and tear up and had me rooting for Ali and Theo from the start! Ali might just be one of my favorite characters of all time. I loved how she was the queen of revenge, never ever backing down and caring so much for the people she loved. And Theo is just the perfect book-boyfriend. I also loved the quirky supporting characters like Mack and Ali's internet famous mom - I would love to see those candles.
I finished the book in one day and then I went one to read "The Fake Out" by the same author because I wanted to spend more time with the ficional people of Two Harts