Love the story line premise. However, I’m not the biggest fan of books told in third person. So it was hard to get into. DNF at 25%. Would recommend to others! Will try reading again when an audiobook version comes out for immersive reading.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Mia can’t seem to find her footing in her professional career, until her best friend encourages her to start a podcast on the thing she’s most passionate about - F1 racing. When her podcast blows up after she insults her favorite driver, she can’t believe her luck. She finds herself invited on a fully paid pass to attend the next F1 race. There she meets Xander and has to face her consequences of insulting him, but instead finds an intense spark between them.

This was a short, easy romcom. It’s nothing special, the characters are pretty superficial and there’s not a whole lot of growth. I never read an F1 romcom before but It definitely got me curious for more as I was more invested in his racing storyline than their connection.

Not So Fast by Karen Booth is a captivating and exciting contemporary romance that perfectly blends the world of Formula 1 racing with love, personal growth, and second chances. The novel follows Mia, a successful F1 podcaster who has built her career on candidly critiquing drivers, including the very talented and infamous Xander, an F1 driver with a lot to prove. When Mia is invited to an F1 race after her podcast gains popularity, she finds herself face-to-face with Xander, the driver she criticized—setting the stage for a fiery and unexpected romance.

Mia is an engaging protagonist—smart, ambitious, and confident, yet vulnerable in her own way. Her love for the sport is evident, but her professional success has been built on speaking her mind. When she meets Xander in person, the tension between them is palpable. Xander, a determined and charismatic F1 driver, has dealt with public scrutiny and criticism, and his chemistry with Mia is undeniable, even as they initially clash over her harsh opinions about his racing. Both characters have their own emotional baggage and fears that they must confront before they can give in to their feelings. Xander’s vulnerability as a driver who is often misunderstood, paired with Mia’s desire to be taken seriously in her career, creates a rich dynamic that adds depth to their relationship.

Karen Booth does a fantastic job of weaving in the high-energy, high-stakes world of F1 racing, making the sport feel like an integral part of the story rather than just a backdrop. The scenes at the races are well-written and full of tension, showcasing the thrill of the sport and the pressures that come with it. The chemistry between Mia and Xander mirrors the intensity of the race tracks, adding excitement to the romance.

While I enjoyed reading this book, it just didn't impress me much. It was not bad, but didn't threw me overboard either. Hence the 3 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy - all thoughts and opinions are my own!

Did I think that I would ever be convinced to care about racing? I grew up in Speedway, IN and was around Indy 500 racing and Formula 1 for a lot of my youth, but I have not thought much about it until reading this book!

I am a sucker for sports romance and just love when a unique story comes out of left field like this one. "Not So Fast" follows fan podcast superstar Mia after she critiques he favorite driver on her podcast. She winds up in person at a race and comes face to face with Xander, her favorite driver, that she said some colorful things about on her recent podcast episode. She doesn't back down when confronted with her comments and Xander cannot stop thinking about her after their interaction.

This book had tension, it had humor, heart, and a HEA, what more could you want in a romance?

I love the fact that Xander was British and although Mia is American, she loves to throw in random terms or slang to keep Xander on his toes during their interactions and this but the COM in RomCom for sure. You will laugh and blush quite a bit throughout this story.

I highly recommend you see how slow or fast (I had to!) Xander and Mia or Miander (iykyk) fall in love.

Mia is the host of an up and coming F1 Racing podcast, Not So Fast, and after running into the man she badmouthed on her show, she realizes there’s more to him than she thought. Xander Bishop isn’t having a great season, but he doesn’t need a so-called influencer breathing down his neck to remind him of it. He should hate her, but he’s not quite sure how to feel about the pretty podcaster who’s nothing like he thought she’d be.

I wouldn’t necessarily call this an enemies to lovers or even a rivals to lovers, simply because it’s quite clear that neither of them truly dislikes the other. If anything it may be more of a 'should be' rivals to friends to lovers. I really enjoyed the journal entries at the beginning of the chapters, I thought they were cute, and I love the mental health rep. Mia has this thing where she tends to overthink basically everything, and as someone who also does this, it was nice to see it represented in her mental health journey. The smut scenes unfortunately felt very much like a narrative and were a bit cringy. I felt like I was supposed to be into the 'dirty talk' or the way the scene was set, but I honestly felt nothing aside from wanting to skip through it. Both the characters are just so awkward in some of the scenes, and it's not in a cute way. Mia and Xander lacked on page chemistry which translated to dull and flat characters in my opinion. There was some growth and character development for both of them, for which I can appreciate, but even then it felt like something was missing and I was left wanting more from them as both individual characters and as a couple. I also didn’t like the multiple times that emphasis is placed on Xander needing to work off the calories in the food that he’s eating. I understand that he needs to stay fit, but the mindset his character has is a very unhealthy one, and it almost felt like the book in a way is almost promoting that unhealthy mindset even though the fmc is portrayed as a plus size/curvy character. While the book has its cute moments here and there, ultimately this book was not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an ebook copy of this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Not So Fast tells the story of Mia, a Formula 1 podcast host, and Xander, a professional F1 driver. After a comment on one of her podcasts about Xander goes viral she ends up getting an invitation to attend a race and meets Xander. Despite they're rocky start, Xander starts to realize that having Mia at the races and having someone to talk to about the pressure he's under is helping his performance on the road. Their relationship progression was really sweet to read and I enjoyed this book a lot. I will definitely be picking up more from this author in the future! I loved the growth that we saw both characters go through and the way their relationships with their families improved throughout the story. I also had a fun time reading about a story centered around F1. I think for sports romances, you tend to see a lot of the same (hockey, basketball, football), so it was refreshing to read about something different!

While romance novels are often predictable, I found this one to be on the extreme end of predictability and would have liked a bit more unexpected angst and tension before things were resolved. I think what ultimately happened made sense, but was perhaps a bit less interesting to read.

Overall, I really loved their story and relationship and would definitely recommend this book!

This was short, cute, and fun!

There’s some inconsistencies with F1, but overall it was an interesting perspective to read - a podcaster megafan dating an driver she formerly bashed on her podcast.

There wasn’t a ton of plot, and some of the conflict felt manufactured, but for a short book it managed to pack some punches!

I’d recommend to anyone looking for a quick and easy read.

Not so fast roars out of the gate but kinda sputters over the finish line. It is not a particularly steamy book. Mia and Alexander both have overthinking brains. Which I was like oooh these people are going to be complex. And I guess they are, but they is a pretty big “believe in yourself push” that made the book feel too much like a teen book, teach us all how to celebrate ourselves. There is nothing wrong with that as a book. It’s just not my cuppa. But the characters are fun enough and supportive of each other. Honestly I want the enemies to lovers story of the aunt and her mysterious driver (which should be Dirk).

This was a super easy and quick read! As an F1 fan, I was excited to read the book because there are not many F1 sports romances. The book was super engaging from the start, but I wish we saw more character depth as the novel progressed. Overall, an enjoyable read for anyone who loves sports romances and wanting to get into F1!

I liked it! Rounding up to a 4 star. You do need to have some knowledge of F1 to follow the semi-technical descriptions of the race weekends but it wasn’t too hard to follow along. The premise was cute and it was a quick love story. I personally wish it had a bit more on the Dirk working relationship and Xander becoming confident again in the car? Maybe I read the tone wrong but it felt like there was an air of sabotage when he was describing his issues with the car. I also wish there was therapy rep! He was struggling with his mental health and it would have been great to see that as a suggestion and ultimately as a next step, other than the journal prompts. With the page count everything seemed a bit too quick for me but all the plot points were tied up. But what happened to her best friend, Jasmine? I guess I wanted to see her once more?

I really liked this book. Just like the title, Mia and Xander fell in love all too fast, but in the best way. It was a very light and fun romance with a load of spice in some sections. I really enjoyed the f1 romance and Mia’s overwhelming love of the sport. Really shows that there are tons of fans of the sport and this book really highlights the different kinds of fans. Very cute romance.

I love Formula One, so I was really excited to read this book, however, I wasn’t a huge fan of the characters themselves or the format in which this was written. It’s still a fun romance for anyone wanting to learn a little bit more about the sport and immerse themselves in it, But for huge fans of the sport, I can think of other titles I would lean towards instead.

really enjoyed this book! I don’t know much about Formula One racing, but I was quickly drawn in by the exciting race descriptions. I even found myself wanting to skip ahead to see where Xander placed. Xander and Mia were great together, though I wish their snarky banter had lasted a bit longer. The supporting characters—Oliver, Freya, and Claudia—added so much to the story. I’d happily read another book by this author!

Not So Fast follows Mia, a Formula-1 fangirl and podcaster known for her quick wit and occasionally brutally honest takes on the drivers. Her podcast is reaching new heights thanks to some especially shall we say, “direct” feedback she aims at driver Xander Bishop. Mia suddenly finds herself invited to races, meeting the athletes and seeing inside the sport she loves. Among those athletes is (you guessed it) Xander Bishop! The subject of her most famous ridicule…. Awkward… But never fear, he’s sexy, tall, broody, British and something is weighing on him on and off the track…. You can see where this is going.

I am the first to admit that I have literally no knowledge of F1 racing. I mean we are talking zero information in the tank to start this book. This book was easy to read and follow even without any background info so that was helpful. When I read the synopsis for this I was so excited for an enemies-to-lovers trope romance. This didn’t quite do that trope justice. I would maybe call it more rivals to lovers if I could even get there. Each chapter starts with a little journal prompt and response from Mia, I thought that was adorable and unique. I had a feeling this would be a super fun read and it definitely was.

Now I like some emotional depth and character growth and development to really feel connected with and invested in the characters and this book didn’t really give me that. It stayed a bit more “surface-level” than I prefer. That said, it was entertaining and kept me interested. If you are looking for a fun, modern romance with a good bit of spice, give this one a read.

Thank you to Afterglow Books by Harlequin for offering this title for review consideration via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Such a cute read! I was honestly a little caught off guard by the way the book started and quickly got why it was almost like a haters to lovers situation. I was so entertaining and I think it’s worth the read.

This was second book I read about F1 racing/driver as the MMC. Based on the cover I figured it was just another romance novel. Mia is a reporter/podcaster wanting to follow along a F1 racecar driver. She has loved F1 racing since she was little. Xander F1 driver cant get Mia of his head. He falls in love first. That's so cute. Overall very cute romance story 💗💗

I've been looking for F1 books ever since I read the Dirty Air series by Lauren Asher. Safe to say, there aren't many GOOD books with this setting. So I greedily grabbed this ARC opportunity in hopes that it'd be similar! This book has a lot of tropes I like, dislike to love is a CLASSIC in my opinion. This was a quick and easy read but I wanted more from the characters. I was hoping we would get more complexity and depth from them, and I wanted more from the plot as well. I still wanted more when the book ended. Overall, I liked it but I didn't love it.

This book was such a delightful read! From the very first page, I found myself completely immersed in the story. The writing was so approachable and warm, making it easy to connect with the characters and the plot. I loved how the book felt both inviting and engaging, without ever being too complex or hard to follow. It was just the right mix of comfort and intrigue, and I truly enjoyed every moment of it. It’s a wonderful read that I’d happily recommend to anyone looking for a heartwarming escape!

Not So Fast is a charming romantic comedy centered around Mia Neal, an enthusiastic Formula One podcaster known for her sharp opinions and insights (as a regular fan) into the sport. Mia's explosive take on the handsome British driver, Xander Bishop, garners unexpected attention, leading to a viral moment that thrusts her into the spotlight. When Xander's teammate invites Mia to the Miami Grand Prix, she hopes to gain a deeper understanding of Xander's racing style. Their first meeting did not go as expected, but there was definitely some chemistry! As they navigate their contrasting personalities, Mia's neurodiverse traits and Xander's struggles with his racing career create a suspenseful and fun dynamic. The story balances humor and emotion, exploring themes of self-awareness, mental health, and personal growth, all while keeping readers engrossed in the thrilling world of F1 racing.
Like many of the reviews are stating, I also did not/do not have much experience with the world of Formula 1 racing. So, I enjoyed learning about some of the terminology and realized that the author has to have a pretty good depth of knowledge to write all the details. I love the enemies-to-lovers storyline and the sizzling tension between Mia and Xander. The witty banter and genuine connection between the characters create an engaging reading experience. Mia's journey of self-discovery, coupled with Xander's vulnerability as a professional athlete, adds depth to the story. The book intertwines humor with heartfelt moments, making it a perfect choice for those who enjoy light-hearted yet meaningful narratives. Additionally, the exploration of mental health and family dynamics adds authenticity to the story, allowing readers to connect with the characters on a personal level. With its fast-paced plot and relatable themes, Not So Fast is a must-read for fans of feel-good romances that leave a lasting impression. I’m glad I went out of my reading comfort zone with this book. It was a lot of fun and I could not put it down once I started it.

Mia knows everything there is to know about F1, and she doesn't shy away from giving her hot takes about the drivers on her podcast. Her opinions of hotshot driver Xander go viral, and they end up meeting. Of course, when she thinks she will hate him, they end up having an unexpected connection. I really enjoyed their banter throughout and how genuine both characters were. This was an overall entertaining and easy read. I have really enjoyed learning more about F1 racing in the books I've read because admittedly, I don't actually watch the sport lol.