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!

This was a cute romance between a podcaster and a Formula 1. The romance feels a bit exaggerated but the characters have well developed back stories which makes them relatable and likable.