I would say this one is a 3.5/5 for me. The reason being twofold. 1.) I listened to this via audiobook curtesy of NetGalley and unfortunately, I think I would have enjoyed it more as a physical read. The voice for Cosmin just did not do it for me. And on the subject of Cosmin we get to my second reason 2.) I did not like him. Some of his actions, especially given his backstory just felt a little…icky to me.

All of that being said I really loved Phae and as always, Juniper’s writing was very good, this just suffers from a personal taste preference on my end because Cosmin just wasn’t it for me and in a romance if you don’t click with the love interest(s) the whole story unravels.

Thank you to Josie Juniper, Hatchett Audio, Forever and Netgalley for an advanced listening copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book had it all! Workplace romance, race cars and spice with communication! While some may argue that the relationship was "insta-lovey" the author did an incredible job of laying the ground work to show that the characters had a long history of working together and building a professional relationship before the emotional and physical relationship ever became part of the picture.

As a (nearly) 40 year old reader, I loved how much deep communication happened between these characters. You often don't see proper communication in a romance novel but I was happily surprised with this one! This book tackles some heavier topics and they were handled very gracefully and tactfully that gave the readers enough information to the situations while being sensitive to the topics and the readers possible triggers.

I absoultely loved having two seperate narrators for the MMC and FMC! Hearing a male and female voice actor for each character made it much easier to connect to the characters in the book making it more enjoyable overall. I will be looking to reading more books in this series and other books from this author in the future!

When I saw this stunning cover up on NetGalley I requested it so fast. I'm a huge F1 fan and it's been so fun reading romances centered around the sport. I originally tried reading this with my eyes and made it about 35% before I couldn't take it anymore. Decided to try it on audio a couple months later just to see if it was maybe a timing thing or a mood thing. Nope. It wasn't. I still didn't like it. The audio itself is well done and I liked the narrators. It's the story I have an issue with, which I am so bummed about. Immediately these two characters hate each other. cool I'm down with that, I love a good hate to love. But the rate at which these two are suddenly over their shiz and ready to be together is astounding. And that's after she's is being prickly (again, fine with that) and he is borderline too pushy. But here's my thing, I couldn't route for the fmc at all. She was horrible. To him, to her friend, to pretty much everyone. And I wanted to love her because her role in F1 was seriously so cool. But nope. Even with the little bit of character growth she has I still couldn't stand her. And Cosmin was okay, but overall lacked something I can’t quite put my finger on. I did like his character and his journey as a driver but wasn't wowed. I'm bummed this one fell so flat.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the early access.

DNF @ 26%

I am so sad I didn't like this.

I normally like to give characters the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their thoughts and actions but OH MY GOD. This FMC was so insufferable and totally anti woman. Her dialogue was incredibly cringey and I hated the way that she treated the people around her.

I will say that I did enjoy the MMCs narration, but it could not make up for the incredibly unbelievable love story that was occurring between the two.

Honestly the premise was great and could have been such a fantastic read; however, the execution was extremely fumbled.

Thank you Netgalley and Forever Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to read this book but I struggled to really get into it. I don't know what it was but it has all the things to make a good enemies to lovers romance story with the Formula 1 twist to it. But in the end I DNF the book.

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book started out a little dubious for me, but ended up being very addicting. Not going to lie - having a cover blurb from Abby Jimenez really gave me hope in the story overall and got me really excited to read it.

Read this book if you enjoy:
> Workplace romance (forbidden)
> F1 driver MMC/engineer FMC
> Strong FMC
> Reformed playboy MMC
> Settings around the globe
> Dual POV
> Open door spice

This is my first F1 racing romance - and I really enjoyed that part of the plot line. F1 is fast-paced by nature, and this book definitely delivered a fast-paced storyline. There are some aspects of the story that felt a little choppy as a result, but in the context of the nature of racing and the different races being anchors of the storyline it makes a lot of sense. I struggled a bit with Phaedra being a bit unlikeable for a FMC, but at the same time, being a woman in STEM and in a very male-dominated industry her entire life, I understand where she's coming from and why she would act and behave a certain way.

The chemistry between the two MCs was definitely front and center and the portrayal of Cosmin as a play boy in public, but a teddy bear in private was an interesting facet of his personality that grew on me. Phaedra had a lot going on in her backstory and her personal relationships - watching her work through all of that was well done from the perspective of character growth. I'm also definitely looking forward to book two in the series focused on Klaus and Natalia.

The audio narration of this book was excellent. It got to the point that I didn't want to put it down, mainly because I enjoyed the narrators so much. There are a lot of accents that the narrators brought to life - and I thought they did an amazing job. The narrator for Cosmin's POV was just a delight to listen to and brought an incredible accent to bear in the narration for Cosmin. Overall, very well done and definitely added an additional layer to the experience beyond just reading the physical book (which I read in tandem with the audio for part of the time). Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ALC of this book!

Big thanks to the author, @hachetteaudio, and @netgalley for the free advance listening copy! Here’s my honest review.

Phaedra Morgan is the brilliant lead engineer, and Cosmin Ardelean is the superstar driver for their Formula 1 team. Sparks fly between them—not just because of their clashing egos but also because of a simmering attraction. After the team steps in and demands they resolve their differences, their heated rivalry transforms into a passionate, forbidden romance. As Cosmin grapples with a troubled past and Phaedra faces the weight of her present losses, their love is as turbulent as the F1 world they inhabit.

The book really shines in its portrayal of the high-speed, jet-setting Formula 1 lifestyle, immersing the reader in its adrenaline-fueled world. The latter half of the book, where Phaedra and Cosmin work through their personal challenges, felt particularly strong and emotionally resonant. I also enjoyed the early friction between them; their conflicts were well-developed and added depth to their characters.

However, I struggled to fully connect with them as a couple. At times, Phaedra’s dependence on the approval of the men in her life felt inconsistent with her otherwise authoritative role on the team, which detracted from her strength as a character.

The audiobook was a solid listen, with the narrators doing a great job, especially in capturing Cosmin’s Romanian accent, which added an authentic layer to his character.

I’m not into alpha males that can’t take no for an answer. This made me dislike it from the get go! Seemed very toxic!

What an absolute gem of a book. Josie Juniper reminds us that no matter how smart or successful we are, deep down we deserve to be loved. Fay wrestles with being a genius, navigating messy friendships, loss of hero mentor, and accepting you're worthy of love. Cosmin is at the top of his have, he is adored by women. Cosmin struggles with a difficult past and trying to be literally the best driver in the world. They're attraction is combustible from the beginning. Although Fay and Cosmin have to work hard their HEA is worth the drive

There were some aspects of this that I enjoyed in the beginning, although I thought the main relationship was a bit toxic. I decided to DNF at 45% once it became physically violent.

I was captivated by the thrilling blend of romance and suspense from the very first page. The journey of Khin and Tyler is the ideal fusion of intense emotional connection and heart-pounding excitement. Their chemistry and developing trust create a captivating dynamic as they negotiate the dangerous situation of covering up a murder. Their story gains depth from the complex plot's deft turns and moral quandaries. Every page is delightful because of the exquisite way their relationship develops amidst the peril and secrecy. It was enjoyable to read, and I would highly recommend it.

I couldn't put down Double Apex. I loved the relationship between Phaedra and Alexi. The enemies-to-lovers trope, which is my favorite, was alive and well in this novel. It had a lot of steamy scenes, which were enjoyable. Although Double Apex dealt with heavier matters, I thought Josie Juniper did it with a swift hand not making them a quick plot point that is easily forgotten. The trauma each character faces shapes them, much as it does us IRL. I'm glad to see this won't be the last we see of these characters as it's the first book in an upcoming series.

My first F1 romance and I think I've found a new favourite sub genre to immerse myself in. I adored the protagonists; Phaedra, a STEM feminist, and Cosmin, a playboy (but is he really) with a heart of gold. And getting a peek into the fast paced world of racing was so intriguing.
I must admit, I did a little squeal at one of the many settings being Melbourne, a place I love and which holds much racing nostalgia for me. The frequent travel in this book honestly felt like I was on holiday myself!
A modern day forbidden romance that has thrills that'll get your heart racing. I'm looking forward to the next installment of the Frontrunners series from Josie Juniper.

This book was so good! I haven't read any Formula 1 romance yet and I think this was prefect introduction to the sport. Phaedra being super smart and a race engineer was a great way to show to the ins and out of the back end of the racing world and a little bit more background into the sport. She was such a strong female main character and I really loved her snark and wit and the way she wasn't afraid to hold back or stick up for herself and women in the sport. Cosmin is the younger flashy rookie that is a bigger personality and goes after what he wants. I really enjoyed the narrator's Romanian accent and felt it really portrayed Cosmin's big feelings and passion for Phaedra so so well. The way he talks to her and about her made me want to melt so often and the accent only made it that much better. I throughly enjoyed the snark and banter between the two of them and their chemistry was off the charts!

I absolutely love that F1 has finally started to make its way into literature. This is the second book I’ve been able to find with an F1 driver as one of the main characters and it is superior in my opinion. I enjoyed the characters, pacing and the authors style. Overall it was a fantastic read.

to say i was disappointed would be an understatement. It's not the lack of spice even though the trigger warnings said there was some (i'd say a 1 on a spice scale). It was how drawn out the storyline was (not even slow burn). it dragged on. It cou have had a 1/3 cut and I wouldn't have lost anything.

I have recently found myself quite obsessed with Formula 1 racing and even recently read and loved an in-depth historical account of the sport. So, I was more than excited to dive into this F1 romance, especially one featuring a female race engineer. Unfortunately, that excitement wasn't long-lasting.

It's not a good sign that only after reading a few pages I reluctantly sought out the book synopsis to make sure that the "cocky" driver Cosmin, who was just introduced in a most unappealing way, wasn't going to be the male MC. Sadly, this is the case, and the story only gets even harder to get through when the female main MC, Phaedra, quickly becomes something much more than grumpy or prickly. It ended up being an easy decision to DNF this one.

The great thing about romance is that there is a book for every reader and a reader for every book. This would likely work best for someone who relates to Phaedra's challenges working in a male-dominated field and likes a brash male main character who masks unresolved issues with combative banter.

This audiobook is a tall order for any narrator. One of the main characters has a strong Eastern European accent which has to be performed for much of the novel by both the male and female narrators. Both Jonathan Lake and Mackenzie Cartwright do an excellent job and are probably the reason I was able to make it so far into this book. I hope to hear them narrate other books in the future.

As an F1 fan, I'm always on the lookout for romances that do it justice. I enjoyed the story overall and appreciated that it did F1 justice by including details about racing team hierarchy/staff, engineers, and racing strategy. I enjoyed Phaedra and Cosmin as a couple, and I can say with certainty that I didn't know Romanian was hot until now.

This book came onto my radar because the author is having an event at Annie Bloom bookstore. I saw that the audiobook was available on NetGalley and was very excited to receive an advance copy for review. I liked the dual narration from Mackenzie Cartwright as Phaedra and Jonathan Lake as Cosmin. This book is great for fans of Formula 1 racing, tough and brainy lead ladies that are a bit rough around the edges, and a leading guy who is a reformed player with an accent. This book packs a lot of punchy turns of phrase but overall I thought the romance was a bit unevenly paced and I didn’t connect to the characters. I did like this exchange:
- You are not the right person.
- That’s true, but I am the right now person.

I know absolutely nothing about cars or racing or F1, but I freaking loved this book!! I was a little nervous I would have trouble connecting with the story, but that was absolutely not the case. If you are on the fence, READ IT.

This book had a really interesting storyline and complex characters and kept me engaged the entire time and both of the narrators were absolutely fantastic!

The romantic sh** Cosmin would say had me swooning. The EMAILS! Ahhhh! He was so gone for her and I loved it all! Jonathan Lake’s Romanian accent had me absolutely melting.

Phaedra is a strong, take no shit character! She’s definitely what some might describe as unlikable and she’s very prickly, but I really loved her character and as a fellow black cat, I felt like I could relate to her a lot.

While this book was very funny, it definitely deals with some heavier topics so please keep that in mind!

⚠️The content warnings might accidentally be spoilers, so please be aware of that and don’t read below this if you want to avoid spoilers⚠️

CW: cancer, death of a parent during the book, death of a parent (past), abusive family member (past), mentions of sexual assault on a minor (past).

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC.