*Not So Fast* by Karen Booth is a fast-paced, flirty rom-com that’s equal parts thrilling and swoon-worthy. Mia Neal, a quick-witted Formula One superfan and podcaster, finds herself toe-to-toe with Xander Bishop, the British racing star she’s been roasting online. When their worlds collide at the Miami Grand Prix, the sparks fly—both on and off the track.

Mia’s overthinking and Xander’s smooth confidence make for a fiery, fun dynamic. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry electric, and the high-stakes world of Formula One adds a unique, adrenaline-fueled backdrop to their romance. It’s a wild ride of misunderstandings, passion, and personal growth. Whether you’re an F1 fan or just love a good enemies-to-lovers romance, *Not So Fast* delivers the perfect mix of humor, heart, and heat. Buckle up—you won’t want to put this one down!

Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 3/5

Mia is Formula One podcaster and Xander is her favorite driver yet that doesn't stop her from ripping him a new one when his Formula One showing leaves much to be desired. One viral clip later and Mia is being invited to see a race in person by none other than Xander's teammate just to mess with his head.

Formula One romance books seem to be popping up left and right in the past year so I was pleasantly surprised when I realized we weren't getting the same fake relationship trope as with so many others (don't get me wrong I love those wholeheartedly but it's nice to have a change of script). I had some much fun reading it! The chemistry was great! The romance was sweet! And the spice was spicy!

This book felt like a romance were two souls connect not with big flashy romance but with total understanding of each other. Both Xander and Mia are so mature and healthy in this relationship. They give each the space to feel ugly emotions and help each other improve themselves. This was like the opposite of a dark romance which can be fun but sometimes you just need some MCs with minimal red flags!


Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy of this arc! All thoughts in this review are my own.

F1---that stands for finishing a book in one day, right? Ok, I may have never watched Formula One, but I know romance and this book had a podium finish. Karen Booth brought the speed, spice, and sassy banter in this 5-star F1 romance!

Mia is an intelligent woman who has gone viral for her bold podcast about F1 called 'Not So Fast'. Although she has many degrees and has had many jobs, she has never found the perfect job for her. That is until now. Maybe she can turn this podcast into a career because it is something she is passionate about and loves to do. But with anything worthwhile, she faces backlash from an F1 driver that she criticized. Xander. He is a Brit who is trying to get his footing in his F1 career. The pressure is on and it doesn't help that his shortcomings have been put on blast because of the podcast. When he meets Mia in person, thanks to his not-so-friendly teammate, they don't get off on the right foot. Xander doesn't think Mia should talk about a sport she doesn't seem to know much about and Mia is standing her ground on her critiques. They didn't expect was to actually see each other again, but that is coming sooner than they thought.

During the season, they get to know each other and see how similar they actually are. Xander recognizes the passion she has for the sport, is amazed at how smart she is, and he can't help but be attracted to her. And Mia is feeling the same way. But they want to keep things professional because neither needs bad publicity right now. But the sexual tension breaks...more like explodes. And being together begins to take precedence.

Can they commit to each other and tackle the spotlight? Or will they stay in their own lanes and move on?

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. I admit that I have never seen F1 or read a book featuring the sport, but I have gone down a rabbit hole attempting to catch up on the sport. Karen Booth writes for readers like me. Readers who enjoy a romance with heart, banter, and steam. Mia and Xander's chemistry was top-notch; they literally had me staying up till 3 am just so I could finish the book! Totally worth it! Above all, I enjoyed how relatable these characters are. Yes, they are both famous in their own ways, but they each have their insecurities. Mia was so good at making Xander see his worth and he helped her see hers too. I already want this book to be released so I can chat about it with everyone. BTW think this book would make an awesome movie! As I was reading I could picture it coming to life in my head. That's how I know when a book is great in my eyes!!

4.5 stars!
As an F1 girlie, I ate this up. I loved Mia and definitely related to her. I was incredibly jealous of her, like let me create a podcast and get invited to the races?? A dream come true.
Xander was initially serving one of the current drivers and j was like hmmmmm… but then ended up being all his own character. This was a great Formula One romance for anyone, not just F1 fans!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own!

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

This was an easy to read romance that revolved around F1 racing! For lovers of quippy podcasts, sports romance books, and quick reads, this one is for you! It was my first formula one romance, and definitely won’t be my last!

The cover of this book is so cute I absolutely adore the cover. This book was a pretty quick read for me but I enjoyed it. I’ve been looking for an F1 romance to read and I think this one was really nice. Romance books in 3rd person aren't usually my favourite but for this most part it was written pretty clearly. However, there were a few places in the book where the POV was switching back and forth between the two main characters a lot which was a little bit confusing. I think Mia and Xander's relationship was very cute and they helped each other with issues in their lives that they weren't dealing with very well on their own. There was a bit of insta attraction/love/lust, Mia was a fan of Xander already and even though Xander "hated" her for talking about him on her podcast he was still thinking about her all the time. I loved that Mia knew what she was talking about and could put any man in his place in the sport. There was a lot of growth in this book for both the characters. Admittedly I didn’t love Mia at first because I felt like she wasn’t considering anything other than growing her podcast but I love that she realized her mistakes and I really liked her more throughout the book especially the way she supported and helped Xander without losing track of her own goals. I adored Xander, he was a little prickly the first time they met but once their relationship started progressing he was so sweet and I loved that he respected her and knew how to support her and what she needed. I also really enjoyed the amount of racing and romance in this book it was very well balanced. Overall this is a very cute F1 romance and I liked it!

This romcom was my first by Booth, but it certainly won’t be my last! This was a quick, spicy, flirty read that had me actually wanting to learn more about racing.

Karen Booth does a fantastic job in writing this book, it had that romance element overall and was engaged with the overall feel of the romance. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the sports element to this. It left me wanting to read more in this type of book and enjoyed the way Karen Booth wrote this.

This was an amazing book and it was cute yet romantic. I would read again! The characters relationship was adorable and hot.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this book!!

What a great book! I enjoyed this one a lot!!! I had a hard time putting it down. I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters. Great writing style!! This was a first by this author for me but will not be my last!

Super fun quick read! I read it after my journey through several F1 series and it’s just as good as the tops ones. I really enjoyed this one!

This was a cute and short F1 romance between a struggling popular F1 driver and a podcaster who talks about F1 on her show. They start off not liking each other because she comments negatively about his bad performance in the races. To settle everything between them the mmc flies her to the UK for a race and there when they finally get to spend time with each other she realizes that he is not what she expected and is a nice guy she's rooting for and attracted to.

I liked how both characters tried to navigate getting to know each other long distance with the texting and steamy over-the-phone scenes. The romance was adorable, and I liked the back story for the book's mcs and the podcast element. You should read this if you're looking for a quick steamy sports romance.

🏎️ Not So Fast by Karen Booth is the Formula 1 rom com I didn’t know I needed! As a massive F1 fan (Ferrari and Charles Leclerc forever ❤️), this book hit all the right notes: the thrill of the paddock, the drama on and off the track, and the crackling chemistry between Mia, a snarky F1 podcaster, and Xander, the dreamy Brit driver she loves to roast.

Mia’s viral commentary lands her in the heart of F1 at the Miami GP, and let me tell you—sparks FLY. Their banter is electric, the tension is chef’s kiss, and the slow burn is just fast enough to keep your pulse racing. 🚦

It’s flirty, funny, and fast-paced, but honestly, I wish the checkered flag didn’t come so soon. 288 pages? Karen Booth, why stop when we’re just getting revved up?! I wanted MORE!

If you love Formula 1, sweet and steamy romance, enemies-to-lovers vibes, or just need a read that feels like watching a Netflix Drive to Survive romance, this one’s for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Karen Booth, and Afterglow for the eARC of this book.

I generally like sports romances and was excited to be able to read this one, but sadly it just didn’t click for me. It’s a good addition to the genre and will definitely be enjoyed by those that like these types of romances, but perhaps I’ve grown out of them.

All’s fair in love and pit lanes. 🩷

Mia started a formula one racing podcast on a whim. It seemed like the perfect thing due to her love for the sport. What she wasn’t expecting? Xander Bishop. An incredibly hot racer and Mia’s favorite driver who’s been down on his luck lately and her vulgar commentary of just that propelled her podcast, Not So Fast. When Xander’s teammate and frenemie invites Mia to qualifiers, she’s whisked into the world she loves so much. Small issue though: Xander can’t stand her and the feeling is mutual. Soon, she finds herself in the middle of an ego match with the drivers and it turns out there might be more to Xander than she thought. Can Mia get through the circus and possibly to Xander’s seemingly cold heart?

Do I know anything about formula one racing? Absolutely not. However, I am a sucker for a sweet sports romance. Initially, the back and forth third person writing style threw me, but it was easy to get into after a while.

This ended up being super cute and I love how it taught me a bit of something that I knew nothing about going in. It was a little spicy and a lot flirty. This will make you say “awe” as you race to the finish line!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC in exchange for my opinion. As an F1 fan who has not loved a lot of other formula one romances I was pretty nervous starting this book, but was pleasantly surprised. Unlike other books I could tell that this author was a genuine fan of the sport and I liked how it accurately showed what being an influencer/podcaster in the sport is like.

I think it also did an amazing job portraying the struggles of what it’s like not only to be a female fan in formula one, but to be a woman working in formula one. I thought Mia was an incredible character and really enjoyed following her story through the world of formula one.

Overall I really enjoyed this story and give it 4 stars. My only qualm was that it felt like they went from not being close to suddenly very interconnected very fast. I wish there had been more build up or tension to really show that transition. I’d still recommend this and think it’s been my favorite formula one romance I’ve read so far.

The spice factor was super! The pacing, perfect. I enjoyed this story and actually learned more about F1 which is helpful since my teenage son is a big fan! Mom wins! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Not So Fast by Karen Booth is a fast paced, Formula One romantic comedy with all of the elements to become a fan favorite. Fans of romance, and fans of racing! Karen Booth is a new to me author, but I can see from her bio that she is a midwestern gal living in the South. I identify with this background, and in learning this fun fact about her, I can see where she gets her multifaceted perspectives.

Have you ever been a superfan of a sport that seems impenetrable and completely out of reach? The female main character is a Formula One podcaster who thoroughly enjoys the sport and being completely honest with her opinions. One such opinion went viral, and soon Mia Neal was thrust into the spotlight of the glitz and glamour of the luxurious sport. In doing so, she meets her favorite driver, Xander Bishop, and the natural chemistry between the two is off the charts, despite her foot in mouth disease regarding his recent poor performance. Mia is a jack of all trades, however, and applies her background in psychology to Xander's mental health getting better in a vulnerable moment. Things grow from there, and fast! But is it too fast for either one of them?

This was a really cute romcom that I enjoyed immensely. It met and exceeded my expectations, with the representation of a sport that is not included in a lot of American books, and of course, the incorporation of all things mental health and self-care; bravo to the author for her handling of these subjects. Xander's family in particular and the dynamics in Mia's family were all to familiar to me, and it was all managed beautifully.

Mia and Xander were easy characters to root for. They both matured and grew individually and together throughout the progression of the book. Besides the utter fantasy of a celebrity falling for a "normie," I found it to be what I would think is realistic in that crazy world. The story did grip me, and I found myself returning as soon as I had a free moment to continue reading. The ending was wrapped up nicely and I left the book feeling satisfied. I would say the overall feeling I got after I put the book down was just general happiness. The writing style of the author was easy to follow and the story itself was pretty fast paced - I would recommend this to anyone looking for a feel-good romantic comedy!

Thank you to the Harlequin Publicity Team for reaching out and giving me access to the galley on NetGalley for my honest opinions and review!

I’ve never read a Formula One storyline before (don’t follow the sport), but the romance was really good. Fun, quick read. Perfect for fans of the sport… but also good for people like me who know nothing about it haha

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Not So Fast to come out May 27, 2025.

This rom-com is pure adrenaline-fueled fun, delivering sizzling chemistry and sharp banter with the thrill of Formula One as its backdrop. Mia is an endlessly relatable heroine and her dynamic with Xander is nothing short of electric. The high-octane world of racing adds a fresh, vibrant energy to their slow-burn romance, with tension revving higher at every turn. Equal parts hilarious, steamy, and heartfelt, this story captures the rush of falling in love while chasing dreams at full speed. A total winner!