I liked this a lot more than I expected with my limited knowledge of Formula 1 racing (at least that’s what I think this is.)

Kian is an experienced racer with fifteen years on the circuit and 4 championship cups. He enters this season wondering if it may be his last. Before leaving for his first race, he learns that his teammate had a season ending accident and will be covered by rookie hotshot Harper James.

Harper is newer to racing, but he has been killing it at his level. He has spent his share of time in the clubs, and the tabloids have never been shy when it comes to his pictures. He is ecstatic to move up to the top level and prove himself racing alongside his hero, Kian Walker, only to learn that the old saying, “never meet your heroes,” has a ring of truth to it.

Kian and Harper couldn’t be more different characters, so their chemistry really is surprising, but the relationship they build is a beautiful one. This story is heart wrenching and sweet. I enjoyed every minute.

3.75/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC of this novel.

This book is about two Formula 1 drivers who end up on the same team. One is a legend, with many seasons under his belt. The other is a rookie in F1, but had been good in lower racing.

I love F1 and racing, so give me two hot men who go from enemies to lovers?! SIGN ME THE F*CK UP!!! I ate up every interaction and touch between these two. And the spice was 🥵.

If you love a good MM and sports/racing romances, I recommend you read or listen to this one!

Audio: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book itself: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5

Honestly, James Joseph could read me his grocery list and I would hang on every word. The narrator casting for this was fantastic, and I could not stop listening.

As for the story itself, I didn’t like Kian’s character or treatment of Harper for a good 30-35% of the book. He just made assumptions about Harper based off what he thought he knew about him, and was a massive asshole. Sure Harper was wild at times and had a lot of growing up to do, but his character was actually really funny and sweet too.

The banter and chemistry between the two was great though once Kian got over being a twat, but the constant hot and cold from Harper (thanks to his major abandonment issues) and his inability to really communicate with Kian became a bit repetitive. Once they work all their shit out though, their relationship is very sweet and I would have liked to seen more of it than what we got.

Overall though I can’t really complain, Pole Position was a steamy and fun listen!

3.5 stars. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes so while this was nothing revolutionary, I really enjoyed it. I know nothing about Formula 1 racing but it was definitely something new to set this book apart.

Pros: The narration of this audiobook was great. I loved Kian's character a lot and the banter between both MMCs was great.

Cons: I hated Harper on and off the whole book. Both characters had trauma but Harper handles his in such an immature way it was hard to get past. Also, I do think there was missed opportunities for more spice!

Overall, I really liked this and would definitely check out more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Pole Position is about two Formula 1 drivers—an experienced champion and a reckless rookie—who have to team up, and it’s full of drama. It’s a quick, fun read that kept me hooked, even if I couldn’t stand James at first. His personality in the beginning was such a turn-off that I struggled to empathize with him later on. That said, the Grand Prix scenes and team dynamics were so well done that it made up for it and kept me entertained.

The audiobook was especially impressive—the voice actors did an amazing job bringing the characters to life.

4 ⭐ 3 🌶️ 4 🎧

I'm going to start this review by saying I know nothing about F1 racing outside of what K Bromberg and Lauren Asher have taught me, which is to say nothing. I know nothing about F1 racing and really racing in general. Most of the bad reviews on this story are surrounding that, which makes sense because as someone who knows next to nothing about this sport, I absolutely loved this story. While Harper made me irrationally angry sometimes and the third act breakup was a mess, I loved these characters and their story.

The audio was great. I really enjoyed both Joshua Chase and James Joseph and loved this listen.

This was a cute story, but somehow missed the mark for me. The F1 plotline fell a bit flat and the behavior of the drivers wasn't very believable. Drinking the night before race, blowing off required publicity training and somehow being confined to a single camper for weeks at a time were all things that just don't happen in this sport.
I also had a hard time finding out why Kian and Harper actually liked each other aside from physical attraction. Their chemistry just didn't jibe for me.
Aside from that, it was an easy read and a good palette cleanser.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️.5

🏁F1
🏎️MM Romance
🏁Age Gap
🏎️Rookie and Veteran
🏁Grief
🏎️Enemies To Lovers
🏁Namter

I enjoyed this book. This is my second F1 romance.
I think that the author did a good job talking and introducing the reader to the F1 world.

Both narrators did an amazing job. I would listen to more book by both narrators.

4.5!

Pole Position has filled my F1-loving heart! I had such a blast with listening to this and I could definitely tell that Caffery is a big fan of the sport. Also, I thought the narration here was really well done!

Pole Position features Kian and Harper as they become teammates right before the start of a new Formula One season. Kian is the son of a racer legend but his father mysteriously left the sport abruptly a long time ago and Kian has never talked to or about him in Kian's own years of racing. Harper is the new rookie in town and gets called up from the Formula 2 (lower level) teams last minute when Kian's original teammate suffers an injury before the season begins. Kian is not happy about this change and Harper's attitude and off-track behavior mean they immediately don't get along.

I had such a fun time both with Kian and Harper as well as with the wide range of side characters. I loved seeing some traits and characteristics of people that *might* have come from some real Formula 1 adjacent people. Kian and Harper's fictional team felt real and seemed to be pretty fleshed out. For people who are aware of the sport, we see the various types of people that would hang out in the Paddock, Team Principals, Race Engineers, PR Managers, etc.

Kian was probably my favorite of the two main men mostly because I was super endeared to his personal life and his mental habits. Kian's mother has Alzheimer's and his twin sister is taking care of their mom while he is away. He faces guilt and worries over not being a part of the care process and his anxiety around his career was one of my favorite parts.

Harper was definitely a young twenty-year-old. He hadn't really needed to grow up before getting brought up to the F1 team and his growth is pretty visible. Harper has issues of his own in regards to relationships and that comes into play when Kian and Harper start fooling around. I think I was just mostly frustrated at a lot of Harper's actions and that made him a little less likable.


There were some plot points that were briefly mentioned throughout and then never really expanded that I wish were. There's a small thing for each of the main characters that seemed like it would play a MUCH bigger role than it did and I think the overall plot was lacking because of that. I expected more external conflict and instead, I feel like we see more internal and interpersonal conflicts.

This book is advertised as a Red, White, and Royal Blue-esque F1 romance; and that's definitely what it felt like for me! Kian and Harper were sooo dang cute together! They both have so much from their own lives that they struggle through and while Harper is a wildin' party boy, Kian is reserved and quiet. But together they are the perfect grumpy x sunshine pairing and I just loved their character growth together and apart (loooove Kian's positive take of mental health treatment).

Final Rating: 4.25⭐, 2.5 🌶️

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Audio, for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I thought this audiobook was enjoyable overall, but it did not have a plot. I liked the F1 spot setting because it is not a sport featured in romance novels often. Most of the conflict comes from a lack of communication and past trauma. Which I understand does get in the way of a healthy relationship. But the book relied on it too much and therefore exhausted these obstacles. I also wished the relationship between the two protagonists was more developed romantically instead of just physically.

I honestly loved this one so much.

This is the perfect rivals to lovers and I really enjoyed listening to this one on audio!!! I thought that Kian and Harper's journey from dislike to lovers really made sense for the novel and gave a natural flow to the plot. I am so glad that this was in dual pov; it helped form an understanding of their respective character traits while also aiding the tension further.

I liked that there were heavier topics throughout with Kian's mother being diagnosed with Parkinson's, Harper's struggle with anxiety, and feelings of abandonment.

This makes me want to get into more F1 romances!!! I truly just had such a fun time and I felt that the audio was fantastic. These narrators truly killed it!!!

I really enjoyed this and I cannot wait to read what Rebecca writes next!

Thank you Rebecca J Caffery, Harper Collins, and Netgalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

A fun ride. I was impressed with how entertaining this was. Car racing doesn't scream romance to me, but I loved this story. I haven't been this shocked/impressed about a car racing story since the movie Cars. Enough heart and spice to keep any romance lover reading.

Imagine if you took the characters Roy Kent and Jamie Tartt, changed their names, made them gay and/or bi, and made them F1 drivers. That is essentially Pole Position. The banter is on point and the spice is HOT.

The relationships were fantastic, especially between Kian and his family, and Harper and his bestie.

There is a miscommunication trope but it can be seen as more of a self-sabotage and it worked in the story.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Audio Adult for the ALC! All opinions are my own.

A romance book with F1 racing it's about time!!!!! What do you do when you are brought up to the big show in racing and get paired with your childhood idol? You get treated like crap by him that's what! In this cute grumpy meets sunshine racing story you feel the pressure not only from the G's the racers fell turing corners but the pressure to keep your feelings underwraps and the feeling of intense desire. While the story is predictable its still worth the quick ready to see the happy ending, goats and all.

This was a solid 3.5 star book for me. I enjoyed the story and thought the narrators did a good job. I wasn't overly amazed with the book, but it was enjoyable and I don't regret having read it. I'd be interested in reading another book by this author, especially if the next book is Johannes' story.

This was so good! Like Red, White, and Royal Blue mixed with F1 romances and the characters were cute. I loved it and would read it again if I could read it for the first time again.