Ride With Me by Simone Soltani is an absolute gem of a romance novel that had me hooked from the first page. The story follows Stella, a strong, witty entrepreneur, and Thomas, a swoon-worthy British Formula 1 driver, who end up in a marriage of convenience after one wild night in Vegas. What happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas, and their journey to navigate their unexpected marriage is nothing short of electric.

The banter between Stella and Thomas is laugh-out-loud funny, and the chemistry? Off the charts. Their push-and-pull dynamic is so addicting, but what really stood out to me was how deeply they respect and care for each other. Thomas is the ultimate book boyfriend—supportive, charming, and swoon-worthy—and Stella’s resilience and humor make her the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for.

The backdrop of the Formula 1 world adds a unique and exciting twist to their love story. Even if you don’t know much about racing, Simone Soltani makes it feel glamorous and accessible without overshadowing the romance.

This book has everything I love: humor, heartfelt moments, and characters who ride for each other (literally and figuratively). It’s the kind of story that leaves you with a smile and a happy heart. If you’re a fan of smart, romantic comedies with top-tier banter and swoon-worthy heroes, this one is a must-read!

Beautifully written story that pulls at your heartstrings while delivering a perfect mix of romance and self-discovery. The characters are so authentic and relatable that you can’t help but root for them from start to finish. Their chemistry is palpable, and the emotional depth of their journey feels both genuine and moving. Soltani captures the complexities of love, personal growth, and taking risks with such grace and charm. This book left me smiling, swooning, and completely satisfied. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves heartfelt romance with plenty of emotional payoff!

I really thought that this is a very good story! I really loved the plot and all of the characters! I would recommend this book to anyone who would read sports romance!

This was so enjoyable and diving back into this world of F1 and romance was just what I needed.

This was the perfect balance of f1 without being too much, and as an f1 fan was perfect to read on the current f1 break!

I adored our MMC Thomas so much like if he wanted to he would!!! Stella and Thomas made such a perfect Match, and this marriage of convenience story was such a fun way to keep them closer than they maybe would have been without it!!

Highly recommend thank you Berkley and netgalley for the arc.

3.75/5⭐️

🥂🏎️"She could burn me, and i'd fan the flames."🏎️🥂

This one was cute. The start of the book drew me in immediately, Stella and Thomas's characters were both so entertaining. The build up to their "accidental" marriage (bc this is a marriage of convenience situation ofc) had me hooked from the first 5 chapters. And I was expecting the somewhat classic fake relationship romance with the tension, and all the "my wife" moments, and the drama. And while all of that and more was in this book, I can't help but feel that the second half of the book ran a bit slow for me. Especially after the 70% mark. Tension is one thing, but the utter lack of communication from Stella had me wanting to tear my hair out😭. The time that they were "friends" robbed us of any cutesy scenes between them and, for me, it lacked the connection growing between them. I was just left wanting more I guess.

I also was hoping for some more family drama, especially with Figgy's character.🧍🏽‍♀️

I will always support Simone's work and her writing bc in the end, I truly do love her writing style. But this one just fell flat for me.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc!!🫶🏽

I am a HUGE fan of Cross the Line but sadly this one just didn't work for me. All the good stuff was there: marriage of convenience, obsessed MMC (we love to see it) and spice too. But Idk, something about this one just didn't click for me. I will try again with her next read because Simone Soltani definitely delivers on the humor with her books!

3.5/5

This is my first book that I have read of Simone Soltani, but it will not be my last, The cover was the first thing that really caught my eye. I love all sports romances and this was my first F1 racing one. Throw in a left at the altar, fake marriage and you have a winner. This story was easy to read. Stella, a business owner, and Thomas, an F1 driver, were adorable together. They meet in Vegas after Stella is left at the altar, Their chemistry was instant and combustible, like a high-speed race on the Formula 1 circuit:! full of twists and turns. I enjoyed learning about being a formula 1 racer and their life style. This was a slow burn heartwarming story. Would definitely recommend adding it to your TBR list. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this.

I didn’t expect to like this one as much as I did. I thought the wedding they didn’t remember added with a formula 1 romance was so fun!

A race car driver meets a driven business owner and they find themselves linked together after their individual internet meltdowns tarnish their reputations. Can they help each other out without falling in love or is this a purely business transaction.

✨ARC REVIEW✨

5 ⭐️’s
2.5 🌶️’s

Thank you to Simone Soltani and Net Galley for letting me read this ARC.

This is my first 5 star read of the year and it deserved every star. I absolutely fell in love with this book and this couple. I’ve been wanting to get in to F1 romances and I’m glad that this was my first one and now I have to read book one in this series!

You meet our main characters Stella Baldwin and Thomas Maxwell-Brown at a mutual friend’s joint bachelor and bachelorette party and fun hijinks ensue that I don’t want to spoil, you just have to read for yourself!

I will say that Stella is such a badass FMC and I love everything about her and even though they talk about how strong she is she has her flaws that she owns as well!

As for our MMC Thomas he has now entered my top boyfriend’s list. He was the absolute sweetest and spoiled Stella to no end but he also paid attention to her to things she said and didn’t say!

You will absolutely love this book, check it out when it releases in May!!!

3.5

I received an ARC from Berkeley Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The first 60% is fun and then from 61% to 90% it kinda drags. The two characters had a great conversation about communication and then there was no communication between them. There was also an awkward situation where the MMC had to leave the FMC "immediately" for something that didn't feel urgent. I think if the "conflict(s)" didn't happen, the flow of the book would have been better.

This was an incredible read!! I love a good marriage convenience!! This story kept me hooked the entire time!!

Ride with Me by Simone Soltani is an absolute thrill! Stella Baldwin’s life is turned upside down after being left at the altar and a Vegas bachelorette party gone wrong. Enter Thomas Maxwell-Brown, a Formula 1 driver with his own set of problems, and suddenly, they find themselves married after one wild night. What starts as a marriage of convenience turns into something much more electrifying.

The chemistry between Stella and Thomas is off-the-charts, and their banter is just as sharp as their steamy moments. Soltani nails the “opposites attract” trope, giving us two characters who are impossible not to root for. The story is fast-paced, full of heart, humor, and passion, with just the right amount of drama.

If you’re looking for a fun, steamy romance with lots of twists and emotional sparks, Ride with Me is a must-read!

Thank you to the publisher for an early digital copy of this book to review!

I didn’t think it was possible, but I liked this book even more than the first one! Although there was a definite step back in the amount of the sport (F1) in this sports romance, there was a step up in the romantic connection between the characters.

In the first book, a lot of the chemistry from the main characters came from their shared history, which was mostly off-page, before the events of the book. However, in Ride With Me, the two main characters are strangers until their meet cute. We get to see all of their romantic chemistry develop on-page, which I think makes a difference!

While I don’t agree with all of the FMC decisions, one thing I loved throughout the book was how patient and understanding the MMC was with her. Him being an athlete and British were just bonuses for me!

I also feel like there were a few characters that were introduced that didn’t really add much to the plot, so they could have been condensed to make more of a meaningful impact.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and flew through it, and would love to continue reading more books in this world!

I'm a huge fan of Formula One and Simone and having the two combine is the best thing in the world! I was absolutely riveted to read this and LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT! These two characters were so loving and layered and I can't to see who she writes about next!!

Thomas is British and the first few times he called her darling, I was swooning. I always love reading about British characters bc I love imagining the accent.

Vegas weddings are always hilarious...especially even when I know what's going to happen next, but I still eat it up every time. However, I felt like it was an insta-love kinda scene at the start of the book. Now, I don't mind insta-love elements most of the time, but it just felt a little off given the context of everything that I knew about the both of them. I prefer the romance (tension) to simmer a little bit before the spice comes in. Again, there are moments when I might think differently, but in terms of this book, I would have preferred it to come a little later. I kind of also wish there was more Formula 1 stuff bc I was searching for it.

I would recommend you give this book a try if accidental marriage in Vegas leading to marriage of convenience is your style bc I think it could be enjoyable. Also, I kind of felt traces of a reverse grumpy x sunshine which I enjoyed bc why do men only get to be grumpy? 🌝

The cover is gorgeous btw and a huge motivating factor for wanting to read this book!

Thank you to Simone Soltani, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for this arc! 💕

I loved this one! This was my first race car driver romance and honestly I wasn’t sure if I’d get into it since F1 and NASCAR aren’t my thing but WOW maybe I should start watching them because this book was hilarious and sweet and spicy and overall just a really freaking fun read!

Bookstagram review to come soon :)

Thank you to Berkley Romance & NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review!

We are back in the F1 racing world with the second book in the Lights Out series by Simone Soltani. "Ride With Me" follows F1 racer Thomas and chef/entrepreneur Stella as they navigate their accidental Vegas Marriage. Instead of getting divorced they decide to “fake date”within their own marriage. Stella and Thomas realize they can benefit from using the other.

Now slight refresher, we did briefly meet both characters in book one and just that small introduction was enough to make me excited for this book. Let me tell you folks Simone did not disappoint. I enjoyed the continuation of this series and loved the slow burn relationship between Thomas & Stella. Thomas immediately was one of my favorite MMC. He literally screams golden retriever energy and he was gone for Stella from the start. Plus every-time he called Stella “my wife” had me swooning and wanting to switch places with a a fictional character. Now I have to admit Stella our MFC took bit more for me to warm up to. She was cold and standoffish at first. But once I learned more about her backstory I totally understood her behavior. And I loved watching her heal and come out of her shell with Thomas. The chemistry between them was off the charts and I loved watching the two of them have a healthy relationship throughout the entire story.

Overall, the second installment in this series is not one to miss. I highly recommend any and everyone check out this series. I can’t wait to own my trophy copy when it releases May 2025.

This book is a fun book that’s a journey of love, self-discovery, and adventure. Stella’s journey is not just a physical one, but an emotional and transformative experience that resonated with me. The author tied together an intricate, heartwarming relationship that adds an extra layer of authenticity to the narrative, making it impossible to put down. This book was exciting and had tender moments of love and companionship. The plot kept me engaged and eager to see where the road leads next. The vivid descriptions of the various landscapes and settings made me feel like I was right there, experiencing the journey alongside the characters. I loved both Stella and Thomas. Stella was such a strong FMC and Thomas was such a sweetheart. Together they were great.

This book is beautifully written and emotionally rich novel that leaves a lasting impression. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a soulful and captivating read.

I really enjoyed this one! I went in blind, without having read the first one, and didn’t feel like I missed out on anything as those two characters didn’t show up much. Overall I thought it was cute and a really great place to start dipping my toe into the F1 waters.