Love a good F1 romance and this was a fun addition to that world! I enjoyed the characters and the romcom laughs. It flowed easily and was a quick read for me, it's great to pick up for a lower angst read.

A Spicy Enemies-to-Lovers Formula 1 Rom-Com

“When the curves are this dangerous, only a race car driver will do…”

Mia Neal knows how to fixate—especially when it comes to Formula One. Her passion for motorsport fuels her popular F1 podcast, where she rants (and sometimes raves) about everything from high-stakes rivalries to iconic drivers. Her latest target? British racing sensation Xander Bishop, who just might be the biggest jerk on the grid—or so Mia claims.

When Mia’s hot takes go viral, she’s invited to the Miami Grand Prix to see if she can ruffle Xander’s feathers in person. But what was supposed to be all-out war morphs into something entirely unexpected: smoldering, crackling chemistry that neither of them can resist. Suddenly, Mia’s busy fighting off more than her usual overthinking—she’s battling an attraction that’s barreling toward her at one hundred ninety miles an hour.

Why You’ll Love It:
• High-Octane Setting: Get an adrenaline rush from the world of Formula One—complete with roaring engines, lightning-fast cars, and cutthroat competition.
• Enemies-to-Lovers Sizzle: Mia’s relentless commentary meets Xander’s pride on the track and off, fueling intense banter and scorching chemistry.
• Laugh-Out-Loud Moments: Mia’s spiral of thoughts—plus Xander’s witty comebacks—deliver comedic gold.
• Unforgettable Characters: A gorgeous Brit driver with a reputation to defend and a champion overthinker-turned-podcaster who can’t help but stir the pot.
• Perfect for Fans of: Rush (the film), The Hating Game (the tension), and any romance that blends sports with scorching attraction.

Strap in for Not So Fast, where ego clashes burn as hot as a racing engine, the sexual tension is flat-out explosive, and only the bravest hearts can handle the ride.

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This was my first Formula 1 romance and as a fan of the sport, I absolutely loved this book, it was adorable and had the perfect amount of F1 elements in it. None of it felt forced. It flowed really well and was just a pleasant read.

Not so fast follows Mia, a woman that has a hard time finding where she belongs and a job interesting enough to make her stay. In that search for a perfect job she settles down making a podcast about one of her favorite things f1 racing.

This is a cute enemies to lovers f1 racing romance, admittedly I’ve been a bit obsessed with romance books about f1 racing lately so every time I see a new one I just have to pick it up.

This book did not disappoint, I really enjoyed the story and the characters and there was just enough spice to keep it extra interesting.

I recommend this book for anyone searching for a cute enemies to lovers romance and people who enjoy sports romance.

Thank you Netgalley Harlequin - Romance | Afterglow Books by Harlequin for the arc

i am an avid f1 & romance book fan, so when the two come together - i jump at any opportunity to read them. this is a VERY niche sub-genre of romance and i EAT them up.

booth definitely did their f1 research because the knowledge of f1 in the story was really well done. you can absolutely believe that mia understands the sport and isn’t “faking it until she makes it”. the f1 racing scenes did capture the adrenaline of racing perfectly.

now - separately, i loved mia and xander, but together i had a hard time believing they were in it for the long haul. i feel we weren’t given much information outside of f1 that showed any mutual interests. who wants their entire relationship to only be their career? i feel this was just an under-sight. sometimes it’s hard to expand your characters’ interests past the biggest part of the story. this just made their chemistry seem off for me, even with the forced proximity (my favourite)! i still did enjoy their relationship in the end and the build up to it was great. you can definitely see a connection between the two when it comes to helping each other grow, i just would of loved to see more dimension to these characters.

this book was incredibly fun. it was short and sweet! the beginning was a bit slow, but when it heats up, it really heats up! i loved all the subtle nods to the real f1 world. this definitely has me excited for more f1 in the romance genre!

This was a pretty enjoyable book considering there is not a lot of F1 romance books out there. This was a fun, quick and easy read and I would recommend it to those who are looking for a palette cleanser or a book you can read even after turning your brain off. However, I like my books with a little more slowburn, tension and a more complex plot in it. So unfortunately this book did not work out for me the way I wanted it to.

Cute and quick read ( i read it in one day, and couldn't put it down). That hits all the perfect rom com points The characters are have an enemies to lovers vibe with a hint of instalove.

It barely held my attention, it was too easy to continually put down and walk away from. Being the most critical about your favorite driver doesn’t make it seem like he’s actually your favorite. So being surprised when he doesn’t like you when meeting is absurd

I loved this book! A hot British F1 driver, Xander, and F1 podcaster, Mia, are the perfect couple! I loved this story and I'm glad that F1 was at it's center. Bringing this sport to the romance sports genre! The pacing was great and we learn about the sport in the process. Xander also sounds extremely hot and I'm glad Mia finally gave in! 4.5 Stars for me!

This book was so good! I loved the cuteness in this book so much. The cover is so cute and the romance was so cute!

This was such an interesting formula 1 book and i actually really enjoyed it for the most part except for the miscommunication trope. but other than that it was really refreshing and kept me entertained the whole time!

“Not So Fast" by Karen Booth was a good take on a F1 themed romance, but the storyline moved fast. Beyond Mia's expansive F1 knowledge, there are no real details that show they'd be interested in each other. It feels quick and manufactured. While the racing scenes capture the adrenaline and technical aspects of Formula 1 well, the chemistry between the leads lacks the same attention to detail. The forced proximity trope could have been better utilized to build genuine connection rather than relying on instant attraction.

i'm not big into F1 racing, so this was different for me. the romance was cute, a bit slow for my taste but decent. i think anyone who loves racing would be a huge fan of this one.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.
Goodness I enjoyed this one! I read this book in one day while wearing my Formula 1 shirt, which made it that much better. The story was sweet and fun, perfect amount of spice, & great settings. Loved it!

Mia, an F1 podcaster, is invited to a race by a driver—who happens to be the teammate and rival of her F1 crush, Xander. What happens after is a quick, steamy romance.

As a huge F1 fan, I was excited but cautious, having read mixed F1-themed books before. This one pleasantly surprised me, with the author showing clear knowledge of F1 beyond just the drivers' looks. Xander gave off strong George Russell vibes—tall, blue-eyed, British—and I appreciated the subtle F1 references, like using Max's middle name for a character.

The book reads like a novella—short and sweet. The pacing is slow at first, but the romance heats up quickly. While I’d have liked more tension and pining, overall, it was an enjoyable read.

A fun, spicy f1 romance! It’s a fast read (all puns intended) with a relatable FMC and tons of passion.

I know some people don’t particularly care for third person pov, but I absolutely loved Karen Booth’s writing style. I really enjoyed switching between Mia’s and Xander’s perspective within the same chapter, and was able to easily connect to both characters. I am a chronic over-thinker, like Mia, and it was nice to see it represented in a book character. I could also relate to the feeling of not being good enough and always second guessing yourself.

The relationship between Mia and Xander was precious. The way they communicate and understand each other is so refreshing and beautiful. Also, their texting is (so) hot!

I really enjoyed Not So Fast! At just under 300 pages, the story was well-paced and didn’t feel rushed. The character development was satisfying, and the narrative kept me engaged throughout.

The book is written in third-person POV, which initially took me some time to get into since it creates a certain distance from the characters, but it suited the story well. However, I think first-person narration could have made it a little easier to connect with Mia and Xander on a deeper level.

Speaking of the characters, they were truly a highlight of the book! Mia, a Formula 1 fan with her own F1 podcast, is such a strong and inspiring character. As a woman in a male-dominated field, her voice stood out, and I loved the representation she brought to the story. While real-life concerns were tackled—such as the backlash she faced for being with a driver—she remained confident and resilient. Mia’s strength and determination make her a fantastic role model.
I also loved Xander’s vulnerability and openness about his struggles. The author did a great job portraying the immense pressure he faced as a driver and his insecurities in a way that felt very realistic and heartfelt. I especially appreciated how Mia and Xander navigated their individual challenges together, with a relationship that was both healthy and supportive. Even without the romance, their friendship was so genuine and uplifting.
Their banter was another highlight—it was fun, witty, and created a great dynamic between them. The romance developed naturally, and I was rooting for them the entire time.

I would have liked to see more inclusion of side characters, like Mia’s best friend or the other drivers, but I did appreciate how their families were woven into the storyline. Karen has built an amazing sense of community in this book, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

As a Formula 1 fan, this book was an absolute delight. It filled a void I didn’t even realize I had, and it really made me feel like I was at the races. The setting was accurate, and it felt like getting a behind-the-scenes experience of the F1 world. That being said, if I wasn’t familiar with Formula 1, I might have been confused by the lingo. Perhaps more explanations or even a glossary could help make the story more accessible to non-F1 fans.

Overall, I really liked this book and am excited for more from the author! It’s also inspired me to explore more Formula 1 romance, as this trope is so fun and unique.

The Hating Game meets Formula 1 with Not So Fast by Karen Booth!

Mia is an F1 girl with a podcast that loves to hate a certain F1 Driver. Driven into the lore and opulence of F1, I love seeing the world of motorsport and seeing how an F1 driver is challenged beyond the WDC and cars with a spunky girl that doesn't make it easy for him. Enemies and hate to love go hand in hand with these two. Their dynamic is fiery, tension and chemistry filled. If you've dreamed about having an F1 podcast and falling for a driver, then this book is for you!

- He falls first
- Mental health awareness
- Disabilities / health issues
- Curve love
- English boys
- Fan x athlete
- Big romantic gestures
- Healthy coping
- Forbidden romance

4.5 stars!

This book was so cute! We love a girl who is going after what she wants, doesn’t need a man, but finds one she WANTS and who supports her! Mia helping dig Xander out of his mental hole and showing him healthy coping mechanisms was so healing. ❤️‍🩹 I love the language used in this book when being gentle about mental health and disabilities. This book was so fun and such a good intro into the world of F1. I would definitely recommend this to those looking for steamy romance where he falls first, bit of enemies to lovers, millionaire F1 Athlete, British boy, need I say more. Karen Booth, you had me at flying her out to Monaco!!

This was a really sweet book! I really enjoyed the FMC and her knowledge of racing. I absolutely loved the ending and this book was a quick read, feel good, slightly steamy delightful read with a wonderful ending. Thank you for the ARC!