I would give this book 3.5/5 stars. The story was good and the love story was cute. I didnt love their voices at first with the audio book but I did grow to love it. SPOILERS Now I will say it does annoy me when you have the 3rd act break up for commitment issues but I did enjoy the book. Also I loved that he told his father to leave like yes stand up for him!!!! Overall must read book!

4.25 stars. Pole Position was a super cute, bingeable romcom. I finished the audiobook in just 3 days and loved all 10 hours of it. The narrators, Joshua Chase and James Joseph were fantastic. They way they brought Harper and Kian to life was so well done. They were spot on and really made me love the story that much more.

There was a lot that I liked about this story. The pacing, the plot, and the characters were all well written and original. It wasn't a perfect story in terms of the F1 part but truthfully I never expect a fully accurate sports romance. The sport is always the background for the characters with some sort of goal for them to achieve so the pieces that don't quite match how it actually works in the real world aren't that big of a deal. The pacing is a little off in parts as well but overall, it made sense and flowed well!

My biggest complaint is that I wish we had gotten a little closure on some pieces of the story (specifically Kian's dad). While there are some plot holes throughout the story, I still enjoyed listening and found it to be a good balance of fun and dramatic.

Thank you to HarperAudio and Netgalley for the arc!

Book Review: Pole Position

Pole Position is a thrilling MM sports romance that takes the high-stakes world of auto racing and blends it with an enemies-to-lovers story packed with heart, humor, and heat. With a slight age gap between the leads, the story follows a party boy racer and a grounded family man who seem to clash at every turn—both on and off the track. Their banter is electric, making it just as enjoyable when they’re at each other’s throats as when they’re falling for each other.

The chemistry between the characters is undeniable, and their journey feels authentic as they each work through personal struggles to find common ground. The balance of tension, vulnerability, and sizzling romance is pitch-perfect, keeping you rooting for them even when they seem determined to sabotage themselves.

If you love well-written banter, flawed but lovable characters, and a romance that will keep you hooked from start to finish, Pole Position is a must-read. Whether you’re a fan of sports romance or just a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers dynamic, this one will rev your engine. Highly recommended!

This book was totally not what I expected it to be! While this did remind me a bit of Red, White, and Royal Blue because of the dynamics of the characters, this was definitely unique all on it's own! This MM Formula 1 racing romance got me in all my feels!

Kian and Harper couldn't be more different and in more opposite places in their lives. Kian is a seasoned professional racer who is on the brink of retirement, while Harper is the party boy who is in his first real professional season by luck.

The relationship dynamic between these two from the beginning to the end of the book was really wonderful. I loved how they went from disliking/hating each other to a mutual friendship that turned into so much more.

There was a bit of a push and pull that left us reeling whether they would be able to figure it out and be together.

Both narrators, Joshua Chase and James Joseph, are new to be narrators, but I am definitely going to be looking into more of their work! They both nailed these characters perfectly and gave me all the feels while listening!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins audio, and the author for the advanced listeners copy.

red white and royal blue meets f1? easy selling point but it fell just as flat for me.

harper fully drove me nuts this entire book. i get he needed therapy the entire time but the constant crash and burning he put himself through was ridiculous.

kian was mad around him constantly at the beginning and sometimes i didn’t even know the reason. i feel like i was missing something.

it was cute but just not amazing.

i’m grateful i listened to the audio instead of physically reading because it helped get through it so much quicker. the narrator did a good job.

Sports romance is quickly climbing the ranks as my favourite brand of romance novel, and Pole Position was testament to that. While I've read countless hockey romances, this was my first about professional race car driving, and I enjoyed every bit of it.

I absolutely loved this audiobook! It was the perfect thing to keep me motivated through the trials and tribulations of exam season. Harper and Kian aren't exactly enemies-to-lovers, but they are shoved-together coworkers (racing partners) who start off disliking each other. Their opposites attract dynamic was enticing from the beginning, with Harper being the fleeting, afraid of romance type while Kian was ready to lock someone down for life. The miscommunication between them was more entertaining than it was frustrating, and honestly added to the fun of this story for me. The audiobook narrators definitely added to my enjoyment as well! I always love having separate voices read each different POV; it really personifies each character, and brings the story to life.

I've seen a few people complain about the pacing, but I thought it was well done! There's a good deal of buildup and tension through the first half, and enough time with Kian and Harper actually in a relationship that I wasn't left wanting for more. Both characters had pretty well developed backstories, with Kian's sister and Harper's best friend acting as significant supports through most of the book. Things were wrapped up nicely, too! I had such a great time with this book, and will definitely be looking out for more from this author.

4 Stars! 🎉 Huge shoutout to HarperAudio, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the audiobook! "Pole Position" dropped on July 18, 2024, and WOW—what a wild ride! 🏎️💨 I gobbled up this 10-hour 2-minute audiobook in no time! 🕒

⧫ Enemies-to-lovers 🥊
⧫ Grumpy x Sunshine 💖
⧫ Forced Proximity 💗
⧫ Age Gap (25 vs. 33) 💓
⧫ Found Family 💕
⧫ Rivals-to-lovers ⚔️
⧫ Emotional Intelligence of Ducks 🦆

Okay, real talk, I didn’t expect "Pole Position" to grip me this hard, but WOW! I was OBSESSED. 🎧 I finished it in just three days (who needs sleep, right?). 💤

Now, let’s talk about Kian. He’s the brooding, emotionally-closed-off "golden boy" of motorsport, and while I kinda wanted to slap some sense into him (seriously, Kian, stop being so stubborn), I couldn’t help but feel for him. 😩 Kian needed to grovel a little more in the first half—he was a bit too emotionally distant. But the chemistry between him and Harper? 🔥 Off the charts! Watching them go from rivals to lovers had me living for every moment. 😍

And then there’s Harper. He’s all sunshine and chaos, but by the second half, he needed to grovel! 😤 He made a few missteps, and let’s be real—he had some serious explaining to do. I loved seeing him realize how much he messed up and step up in the emotional department. His growth? Everything. 😌

Now, the spice level—was it just enough to make me scream? Almost. 🔥 The emotional chemistry? Hotter than the sun. But when they finally got together, it felt like, "Okay, now we’re just going through the motions?" 😅 A little more exploration here would’ve made me melt even more!

Plot-wise, there were a couple of things that held me back from giving it 5 stars. The pacing was a tad off in places, and I would’ve loved to actually see some stuff instead of just hearing about it. Kian’s dad? Can we get some closure on that? 😤 But the sweet moments between Kian and Harper? Perfection. Seriously, those moments had me swooning so hard I almost forgot the plot holes. 🥰

The third act? Pure drama! And I was living for it. The back-and-forth tension was off the charts, even if it made me want to scream at them to stop overthinking! 😤

Also, Johannes? Give that guy his own book, stat! 👀👀

And let’s not forget the narrator, Joshua Chase and James Joseph! 🎙️ The voice talent totally brought these characters to life! Kian’s brooding, Harper’s sunshine—both were portrayed perfectly, making the whole experience even more immersive. Seriously, the narration made the emotional beats hit even harder and kept me hooked from start to finish. The pacing and character differentiation? Chef’s kiss 👏

CW:
- Parkinson's, dementia, parental death
- Family abandonment
- Minor sexual encounter before the MCs get together

Overall, "Pole Position" was such a FUN, emotional ride! If you love sports romances with tension, emotional baggage, and just enough spice, this one’s for you. 🏎️💨 I’m already counting the days until the next book—please, PLEASE give Johannes his own HEA! 😍

Pole Position by Rebecca J. Caffery is everything I want in a sports romance—fun, flirty, spicy, and full of tension! Harper and Kian? Absolute perfection. Harper is the kind of chaotic rookie you can’t help but love. He’s bold, hilarious, and always doing the exact opposite of what he’s told. I mean, “He can tell me not to do something stupid all he wants, but I’m going to do it anyways”—how can you not adore him?

Then there’s Kian, the serious, old-soul racer who totally needs Harper’s wild energy to shake up his life. His line, “Harper is an enigma I can’t resist. Now I’ve gone and burned myself,” had me swooning HARD. Their "teammates with benefits," "rivals to lovers," and "only one bed" moments? Literal perfection. The tension, the banter, the tension—it’s everything.

This book is packed with laughs, steam, and so much heart. If you love sports romances with broody heroes who secretly have a soft side, Pole Position is a total win.

Kian and Harper are such an emotional MM story. They’re enemies and teammates with top tier banter and tension. I loved their competitiveness and how Kian’s experience in F1 pushed Harper to be better at the sport himself. Both narrators do great bringing their connection to life. Both guys are damaged in their own ways and have to work through their own issues to really be ready for more and the author handles their growth with grace and care.

I was extremely won over by this. No matter the setting-- if you give me a romance between a repressed control freak and a little jerk who uses philandering to cover up deep feelings of self-loathing and abandonment, I will lose my mind every single time. The math will math.

I'm sure I liked this more because I know so little about F1 so the details could pass me by, but then aspect of looming danger really worked for me as well. The ending is SO neat, to the point where it was ALMOST too much, but at the end of the day that's not a huge deal.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review.

4.35 in honest
This was a fantastic and fun book. A fun and spicy enemies to lovers book amongst the fast pace world of f1 racing. The begining was a bit slow and was a bit hard to get through but when the book finds its footing it is truly a fantastic book. I highly recommend for a fun new sports romance.

I had a great time reading and listening to this book, but I have to start by saying I know absolutely nothing about F1 racing. Since I wasn’t able to pick on the things that didn’t make sense in relation to the actual sport, this was an entertaining read for me.
I liked the later chemistry between the two characters, I enjoyed getting to know them and the way Kian calls Harper on his shit at some point. However, the beginning of their relationship was rough and I was seriously doubting if they would manage to convince me in the end. The “sunshine” part of the “sunshine x grumpy” trope was actually more “annoying and inappropriate little sh*t”, to be honest. I think this was reinforced by the fact that I adored the narrator reading Kian’s chapters, but hated the one reading Harper’s. He made Harper so freaking annoying and the way he did other characters’ voices was terrible.
There were also a lot of clichés and the fact that homophobia doesn’t really seem to exist in this world was both refreshing at times but too unrealistic given the fact that the rest of the story tries to stay true to the real world.
I was a bit disappointed that so many plot points were left unanswered, though. I’m not sure of this is a way to prepare us for a sequel, but the ending made me feel like Harper and Kian’s story was over.
These elements are the reason I won’t go over 3 stars even though it still was a good time.

So cute! A must read for fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue. And I don't mean that just because the characters are gay, the dynamic and overall "feel" of the book are very similar. Rivals to lovers with a touch of trying (and failing) to resist their feelings.

I know next to nothing about motor racing, (I know it involves cars...) but you don't have to know a lot about the sport to enjoy the book. Its a unique backdrop that I really enjoyed. The characters all have depth, as they deal with issues much bigger than just growing romantic feelings.

Clear set-up for a sequel with the best friend, Johannes (hope I'm spelling that right, I listened to the audiobook) having "something" going on with a "mystery man." It was very obvious, to me, who the mystery man is, but none of the characters seemed to connect any of the dots- *shrug.*

Speaking of the audiobook, great narration! Love the duel voices and viewpoints.

I have mixed feelings looking back on this book. While listening to it, I was hooked and listened to the entire relatively quickly. However, the book itself wasn't great. It was a quick listen if you're in a reading slump and want something quick, but the more you think about it, the less you enjoy it.

Pole Position follows Kian and James, 2 drivers who are forced to be teammates and can't take a hint. Kian has multiple-time world championship titles and takes his career and passion very seriously. It is evident through Kian's actions and words throughout the story that everything he does is done on behalf of his family and those he cares about most, but he extremely hard on himself when it comes to getting through each race. James, on the other hand, is the young rookie who sees life as an adventure and rarely plans ahead (it's a character trait that gets brought up a lot by Kain). While having raced in the lower tiers and making him name for himself prior to joining the F1 circuit, James is extremely new to the reality Kian is familiar with, and he struggles to adapt to his new life, both personally and professionally.

Kian and James are the definition of opposites attract in the most stereotypical way. Kian is 33 and has been racing as an F1 driver for many years, James is a 22 year-old rookie. Kian comes from a loving family, James was part of the foster car system (a detail that actually could provided character development had it been touched on more). Kian is a quiet bi-sexual who follows a rigid routine to keep him mentally and physically ready to race at a moment's notice, while James is a very openly gay man who apparently has been racing for years but struggles to understand the definition and concept of routines and schedules.

I personally think I would have enjoyed Kian more as a character if James was not the romantic interest. James literally did not know how to take a hint. For someone who claimed to have idolized Kian Walker and Kian's famous racer father, James never really thought about the fact that Kian rarely ever brings up his father in interviews - or at all. James goes as far as to talk about how much he loved watching Kian's dad drive and how lucky Kian is to have this famous driver as a father in an interview without putting together that Kian only mentions his father few and far between, and credits his success to his own commitment and the support of his mother and sister. At the beginning of the story, Kian is just trying to get in the zone and focus on what he needs to do and James is following him around like a lost puppy. Even after directly telling him that he is just trying to rest and recover and do whatever else he needs to in order to remain a successful driver, James essentially goes, "well, he keeps ignoring me and trying to be alone, but I am going to continue takin out his earbuds and talking to him because I need to know more about him."

Something else that really bothered me was the half-assed attempt the author made to bridge the gap between fictional F1 and real F1. Some of the teams (like Henderson) and characters were obviously fictional and inspired by real teams and people, while McLaren, Ferrari, Haas, Redbull, and Fernando Alonso are mentioned by name. This is something that should have been caught and fixed by the editing team, and lowers the quality of the book in my opinion.

While I starting watching Formula 1 this year and know enough about it to read and review this book, I am not overall familiar with the rules and routines, so my opinion about how F1 is referenced in the book will not be backed up by facts or evidence. The entire topic of Formula 1 racing felt like a subplot of the book that came back every few chapters to remind people why they were reading the book in the first place. Very little racing terminology is used, and the details that are included in the story left me with more questions.

I would like to thank the NetGalley and the publishing company for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5/5. Out now.

The Vibes:

—Red, White, & Royal Blue flavored

—F1 (obvi)

—truly wild behavior when speaking to the press???

Heat Index: 6/10

The Basics:

Kian is one of the best Formula One drivers in the world. Harper is the rookie he hates, brought in to replace Kian's injured teammate. The problem? Kian hates Harper, but also wants to jump him. Oh, the horror!

The Review:

So, they weren't kidding when they said this was for the RWARB girlies (gender neutral). It definitely is, with all the snippiness and rivals to lovers (not enemies to lovers, to be clear—there's a difference) energy. I... am not a RWARB girly, but I respect the journey, and I found this cute harmless, if not quite as thrilling as Formula One. Or as thrilling as I imagine F1 is, as I've never watched it.

And a disclaimer: I have no idea how accurate or inaccurate this is.

Speaking of formulas... there definitely is one here. Kian dislikes Harper, Harper kind of idolizes Kian but is also rather irritated that Kian dislikes him, there's tension of the other kind from the jump. If you enjoy a formulaic read (and a lot of people do, that's not shade) I think you'll be pleased by the beats this follows. It follows them well. For me, it was a bit... well, I was comparing it to Heated Rivalry, my favorite sports romance. Which also happens to be M/M, and is also about rivals.

This didn't hit the emotional beats of that book, and I also found it was a bit harder to believe. Like I said, I'm not familiar with the Formula One landscape (and I'm honestly not a hockey fan either) so I can't speak to whether or not this is something that really happens... The baldfaced lack of media training both Kian and Harper seemed to have, especially Kian at thirty-three, sort of blew my mind and took me out of the story at points.

The Sex:

Milder than I expected! There are tidbits here and there, but I'd say one big scene.

It's light, it's cute. I don't think I'll remember it super well, but I would recommend it to people who enjoy that light rivalry and sports romances that are a bit less emotionally heavy than novels like Heated Rivalry.

Thanks to HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was soooo excited for this story!!I love a good MM sports romance! While I know nothing about F1, I wasn’t too worried about those details and was eager to focus on Kein and Harper’s relationship. Unfortunately, the romance didn’t quite hit the mark for me. We have the grumpy, seasoned driver in Kein and the frat-boy rookie in Harper, which had so much potential for great banter, but sadly, their chemistry felt forced. I struggled to really see the connection in their relationship.

On the bright side, the audiobook narrators were fantastic! They brought strong emotion to the heart-wrenching moments, and the production quality was excellent. However, the distinction between character voices when narrating each other’s lines within POVs wasn’t as smooth, which felt a bit off at first but I adjusted to it over time. That said, both narrators nailed their respective roles. Kein’s grumpy focus and Harper’s frat-boy energy came through perfectly, making their characterizations believable and enjoyable, even if the romance itself fell a little flat for me.

I received a copy of Pole Position on audiobook from HarperAudio Adult and I was so happy I did! The narrators were perfect for these roles and I found myself laughing at times and crying at times. This book was spicy and sweet and the narrators captured the emotions of the characters perfectly. It doesn't hurt that they both had a British accent either. Overall it was a great addition to the books set in the world of Formula 1 and I would definitely recommend listening to it on audiobook!

I was excited for this book and enjoyed it! Kian is grumpy and judgemental towards Harper. But he's fantastic with his family and I really felt for him regarding his mom's diagnosis.

Surprisingly, I really liked Harper and thought he really meant well and he wasn't as bad a Kian thinks he is. I felt bad for him in this regard. His idol just ignoreed him the whole time and then when he does speak to him, he speaks to him like a child he's scolding.

The chemistry is there and they are sweet to each other. I really enjoyed them getting to know each other and the deep talks they had. The way Kian comforts Harper after his 16th place loss was so sweet.

However, the reason I am giving it 4 stars is that the line of consent was blurred at best in some spots and I didn't love that. Harper is drunk and Kian kisses him anyways. "He's too drunk to consent." and then he kisses him? That's not it.

The cover is so cute.

Give me all the formula 1 romances! This was a quick and fun opposites attract story between two hot F1 drivers. Kian and Harper could not be any more different, but the chemistry was always there. Was fun seeing these two grow and figure out what was happening between them. The narrators did a great job with this audiobook.

Pole Position is the perfect storm of lighthearted fun, chaotic romance tropes (enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract, age gap, forbidden love, hurt/comfort—you name it) and soul-crushing angst. By the time I hit the last 30%, I was a wreck—crying, swooning, screaming into the void, and then doing it all over again.

Kian and Harper’s relationship was an emotional rollercoaster I couldn’t get enough of. But I won’t lie: half the time, I wanted to march into the book, grab a chair, and knock some sense into Harper. Sure, he’s painfully realistic—commitment issues and abandonment baggage galore—but wow, could he be insufferably insensitive. Kian? A literal saint. He had so much patience it almost hurt to watch, but let me just say: if Harper had pushed him to grovel just a little bit more, it would’ve been chef’s kiss. Where are all the grovel-worthy romances when you need them?

Despite Harper’s maddening moments, I couldn’t stay mad. His journey felt raw and familiar, and the way Kian grounded him was both heartwarming and incredibly satisfying. Kian, on the other hand, was everything I could’ve hoped for—anxious, guilt-ridden, tightly wound, and yet so deeply relatable. I loved watching him slowly find his footing and his happiness with someone who made him feel freer and stronger. Their dynamic—full of miscommunication, drama, and delicious push-and-pull—had me glued to the page.

Beyond the swoony romance, this book wasn’t afraid to tackle heavier themes, and it handled them with care. Some chapters had me sobbing so hard I had to put the book down just to breathe. It’s an emotional gut punch, but so worth it.

Ultimately, Pole Position was wildly entertaining and deeply moving, even with its flaws. I can’t wait to dive into book two and uncover the mystery of Johannes—he’s such a fascinating character, and I’m dying to see what’s been brewing beneath the surface. If you’re ready for some high-octane romance with equal parts laughter and tears, this one’s for you.