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!

What a fun, easy read. I had a great time reading this one, and also I think this might be the first book I’ve read where someone was a race car driver. So this was a different type of story than I’m used to. The spice in this and the romance was perfection. It was exactly everything i needed. To get me out of a slump, plus the friends to enemies aspect to it is something out of my comfort zone since I don’t love the back and forth but I’m glad they were more “cordial” i guess I could say. But this book was such a hit in my book. I think I’m going to be rereading this one pretty soon.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

F1 and podcasting come together in this romantic book by Karen Booth.

The characters are fascinating, authentic, and entertaining. The moods of the races and the peaceful areas for Mia's podcast recording provide the backdrop and rhythm for the novel, which has a moderate yet slightly rapid pace that will make you want to read it in one sitting. The book is well-written, entertaining, humorous, authentic, and informative. The author provides insights into how worry, stress, obstacles, and media coverage may affect drivers, their fans, and teams alike. The book's detailed descriptions of races, drivers, and F1 history demonstrate the author's extensive research prior to writing the novel. I appreciated the book's representation of mental health, from Mia's tendency to overthink everything to her and Xander's concerns about not being good enough at their respective occupations as F1 fan podcasters and drivers. The tale was well-crafted, yet it seemed rushed at moments. The relationship was beautiful and realistic, yet it felt insta-lovely at moments, which I believe may have been remedied if the book were longer. The only downside was that the points of view changed frequently and without notice, which made things a little confusing at times. I appreciated how the author included the diary prompts that the characters were filling out as the novel proceeded, as it provided a deeper understanding of the characters' thoughts and feelings. Not So Fast by Karen Booth is a short romance novel that intricately merges the realms of F1 drivers, their fans, and teams, showcasing the challenges, pressures, highs and lows, as well as the behind-the-scenes aspects of life on and off the track, potentially leaving readers exclaiming "not so fast" due to the book's short length and heartwarming conclusion.

In conclusion, Karen Booth's "Not So Fast" successfully intertwines the exhilarating world of Formula 1 racing with a heartfelt exploration of love and personal growth. The dynamic between Mia and Xander, set against the backdrop of high-speed races and the intricacies of podcasting, provides a refreshing perspective on romance in a competitive environment. While the narrative captures the essence of both the racing world and the emotional struggles of its characters, it also highlights important themes such as mental health and self-acceptance. Despite some pacing issues and occasional confusion due to shifting perspectives, the book leaves readers with a satisfying and poignant conclusion that resonates long after the final page. "Not So Fast" is a delightful read for anyone seeking a blend of adrenaline and romance, making it a worthy addition to the contemporary romance genre.

In November I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin - Romance. and I’m upset it took me so long to dig and read Not So Fast by Karen Booth. Not So Fast is a fast paced (no pun intended) read with our characters Mia and Xander falling hard for each other from the start! It’s a solid plot with enough action and romance to keep readers satisfied.

This was such a cute fast paced (ha!) F1 romance and I am here for it! I loved the banter between Xander and Mia and I loved how their relationship progressed in a way that was fast but not too fast. I love a good racing book and this one really had a lot of good information about F1 itself which was nice. I found this book to be highly entertaining and I found myself smiling while reading this quite frequently. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a racing romance with some spice and some snarky banter.

Mia Neal is a Formula One fanatic!! She has a podcast all about racing that is just getting off the ground! The fans love her snarky remarks about one of the drivers Xander Bishop!! Xander is a the hot new driver who just can’t seem to keep up. When Xanders race nemesis hires Mia to come out and watch a race in real life will sparks fly?

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for the digital arc! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I really enjoyed this! I love a sports romance but I don’t know anything about F1 so I was worried I might miss something important. Despite my lack of F1 knowledge l was able to understand and enjoy the book. I’m not sure if Karen Booth is a huge F1 fan or did her research but either way I fell like I learned something. It was so fun, once I started I could not stop! Mia is smart, sarcastic, genuine, and a massive fan girl of F1 podcast included. Xander is a hot, mysterious, F1 driver that is struggling with the transition from F2 to F1. Name a better duo! Not So Fast was a quick and entertaining read for me. If you are looking for something cute and fun I recommend picking this one up!

This was an amazing F1 romance!

Mia and Xander are amazing characters! They had such an amazing connection together since the first moment they met. I highly enjoyed reading this story!

This is definitely a must-read book for fans of F1 romance!


Thank you Harlequin and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

3.75/5

Mia is a huge Formula One fan who decides to start a podcast to share her opinions and thoughts on each race. Xander is the unlucky driver who’s been underperforming and is the target of Mia’s criticism. However, when Mia gets invited out to a race and she comes to see Xander as a real person with struggles of his own, sparks begin to fly.

It’s apparent the author knows a lot about F1, and as a fan I appreciated the authentic descriptions of race weekends and use of proper terminology. Mia and Xander are both likable characters and their friendship grows organically into something more. I found the third-person POV and constant switching of narration within chapters to be annoying. Additionally, I’m never usually a fan of “insta-love” after the MCs have known each other for only a few weeks. I think their relationship could’ve stood on its own without their love declarations.

Overall if you’re looking for a light-hearted sports romance that features discussions of mental health, this book is for you!

Thank you to Harlequin Romance and Afterglow Books for this ARC.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. The FMC was too immature for me at times but I enjoyed their relationship.

Thank you to Afterglow by Harlequin, Netgalley, and to the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this story. There were some parts that had me thinking to myself "really?" but they were little things that I could overlook. Overall, the characters chemistry was undeniable. They clicked and went for it, Neither had set unrealistic expectations for one another,

This book is a cute light F1 romance at its finest! The chemistry between the two main characters is sizzling. The spice is spicy and used sparingly. I think this book is just absolutely adorable and such a good little potato chip book. I love seeing both characters dynamics with their family and the way these dynamics grow throughout the book. Overall, definitely enjoyed this book and would recommend two others looking for a light cute F1 read!

Thank you, NetGalley for the arc!

THIS. BOOK.

Look, there have been a lot of F1 romances. They're the new hockey romance, and I think we can all agree that the market is getting a touch saturated with both sports.

BUT THIS BOOK.

I picked it up because, besides my F1 love, I try to read every book i can with a curvy/plus-sized heroine, and this one did NOT disappoint. It's escapist, it's fun, it's flirty, it's sexy, it's swoony, it's sporty. I couldn't put it down and I loved every second I got to spend with these characters. An absolute delight.

Look, I'm a simple gal. I love books where the hero is turned on by how much the heroine bullies him. Not So Fast delivered my favorite trope and then some - in absolutely pitch-perfect form.

Lighthearted is the best word to describe this book, so if you’re looking for that, this one is perfect! This book follows the story of a Formula One driver and a Formula One podcaster. She gives a criticism on her podcast, ends up being invited to a race, attraction ensues, the end. It’s formulaic, but that’s not always a bad thing! As an F1 fan myself, it was nice to have something related to the sport to help fill the weekend now that the season is over for the year.
I loved the attention given to mental health in this book, although it always seemed to be easily dealt with through one journal entry or one conversation - as was all conflict over in one conversation. The emotion of it all kinda fell flat for me.
With all that being said, I still enjoyed the book. It was good, lighthearted, motorsport-related fun!

Thank you #NetGalley and #Harlequin for the ARC of #NotSoFast.

This book was so adorable, start to finish, even the smut. I don’t have a lot to say about this book. It was a cute sassy little read. I did absolutely love it, it just wasn’t life changing.

I sometimes find myself annoyed when the FMC is “different” and that’s her whole thing, but Mia had real genuine concerns like a normal person. 2/3 of the way through the book the couple had some turmoil and you know what they did? TALKED IT OUT LIKE ADULTS. I love when characters communicate instead of jumping to conclusions.

I did occasionally feel like the longer bits of dialog were a bit dry, but it was never so bad that I gave up or needed to sit the book down.

As someone who grew up around dirt track racing and not actually knowing anything about F1 besides my fiancés bestfriend being obsessed with it. I honestly the character Heather is pathetic and imo a creepy. I like the story although I don't get why everyone is freaking out about who a podcaster is dating.

I am loving all of the new racing books, and this was my first read from Karen Booth. This book was fun and fast, and a thrill to read. I enjoyed it a lot!

This story was a fun entertaining read. I stuck around for the MMC and hopeful redemption of the FMC. She tended to get on my nerves. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the E-ARC.

This is a cute, quick F1 romance read! I've never read an F1 romance before, but I really enjoyed this! Mia and Xander start off as enemies, but that quickly turns into flirting and then lovers and they were just so cute! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!

Not So Fast follows Mia, a podcast content creator, and Xander a F1 driver. Mia harshly criticizes Xander on her podcast, but then gets to meet him face to face. Personally, I am a big F1 fan and really enjoyed this book. There was quite a bit of F1 insight in addition to the romance and with the F1 season over, it was what I needed. In my opinion there were some good life lesson type discussions throughout the book as well and the romance between the characters was spicy, but sweet. If you aren’t as familiar with F1, some parts may be a little hard to follow. I definitely would recommend this book.