✨ Review ✨ Crash Test by Amy James; Narrated by Gary Furlong; Patrick Zeller

Thanks to Avon, Harper Audio, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Is racing sports romance my new jam? Maybe!

This starts with Formula 1 driver Travis Keeping realizing that his secret F2 driver boyfriend Jacob Nichols got into a terrible crash. The book alternates between the present and their past together, building up the story of their attraction and love with each other. Travis has never dated before, and Jacob, even while bi, has typically gravitated toward women, and both feel a lot of fear around being outed in the non-queer-friendly world of racing.

This is full of emotion and coming to terms with identity / self-growth. Travis grapples with his loneliness as he finds new friendships, and Jacob has to deal with his family and internalized shame (etc.) around his queer identity.

I really enjoyed the dual timeline and organization of the dual POV (first Travis, then Jacob, then a mix), though this won't be for everyone.

Overall, I thought this made a great summer read -- light enough to read at the beach, but with enough depth to keep me engaged!

🎧 I actually struggled to get into the audio for this one. The accent/speed wasn't working for me. I admit I only tried for a minute though!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: m/m sports romance
Setting: all around the world + London and New Mexico
Reminds me of: Pole Position
Pub Date: Jul 01 2025

Read this if you like:
⭕️ formula 1 racing
⭕️ m/m sports romance
⭕️ affirming individual growth
⭕️ globe-trotting athletes

Huge thanks to Avon and NetGalley for an eARC copy of this story in exchange for an honest and unbiased review!

If you want pining and angst: here's a story with all that in spades. This is just as much a character exploration as a romance, and I loved the structure of having one POV character, then switching to the other POV halfway through the story just at the moment where you really start to hate said character (I actually cheered that we might be getting more insight into Jacob's mindset at that turning point). There were strong secondary characters as well - always something I look for in a romance that makes the fictional world feel more real.

I do wish more time was spent in the end getting the characters back together - after such stories of healing and self-discovery, I wanted to linger a little on them healing together as a couple. But I read this story in just a couple of sittings, and thought it was very well done.

Crash Test by Amy James is the perfect mesh up of sports romance, angst, pining, and therapy. I loved the way the story was told though a combination of Travis’s current fears and anxiety following the crash along with the flashbacks and then a pivot to Jacob’s development as a character beyond Travis’s initial infatuation. It really allowed for each character to shine and acknowledge their own flaws as they continued to tell their story.

As someone who’s never watched F1 or really any motor sports, there wasn’t a barrier to understanding the story as told through the sports part.

Jacob Nichols and Travis Keeping are dating. Secretly.
They are famous F2 and F1 drivers respectively, and then Jacob gets in a serious crash that upsets their relationship.

I really loved this at the beginning! I was giggling and kicking my feet for sure. Jacob and Travis compliment each other so well. Jacob has a tense relationship with his family, but they put him through racing. Travis has no family, and he's very reserved. Jacob's parents suck. He eventually gets into this big argument with his parents about Travis, and I was applauding. It would've been nice to know what happened with their relationship after. I like the dual point of view, and I liked both characters. I do think that Travis and Jacob got back together really quickly. Maybe it should've taken more time.

I read this book in one sitting and could not put it down…even when the clock went from 11 pm to 4 AM. The last thing I expected when I started this F1 romance was to be so emotionally invested. The only thing this book needed was more groveling. The story and the growth of the characters was so incredible.

The POV of this book was really unique. The entire first half of this book is in one MMCs point of view (present day & flashbacks) and then at 50% the 2nd POV takes over for a bit until switching back & forth until the end. I think this worked really well for the plot, but it made me prefer one main character over the other. When the POV switched, I immediately thought "How is this book going to make me like or forgive him?!" By the end of this book I didn't hate him anymore but I do still have some issues with both MMCs. Jacob had a lot of internalized homophobia and definitely could use some more therapy, but I appreciate his progress & growth throughout the book. Travis was honestly boring and had little to no personality. He also could use therapy to gain a backbone but I still liked him.

This is a really unique romance book because a lot of the build up happened before the book and most of the plot is spent physically & emotionally apart. I am always a big fan of drama & angst, so I still enjoyed this a lot. This book is basically a warning for what happens when men don't have good friends and the lesson being, even queer men can't survive without women in their lives.

I am calling this one a "happy for now" instead of a "happily ever after" because I think they will have a few more major obstacles to overcome, but I really enjoyed this book cover to cover.

The first two-thirds of this book are a definite 5 stars. The way the author captured the inner life of these two men is so well done…and the yearning is so incredible. The last one-third is really rushed and not as satisfying as I wanted. Still, this is a really good romance. Received through NetGalley.

"Crash Test" by Amy James offers a fun blend of high-speed racing and heartfelt romance, centering on Travis, a rising Formula 1 star, and Jacob, his secret boyfriend caught in a devastating crash. The tension between love, family drama, and the pressure of the racing world keeps things engaging. That said, the story felt a bit familiar and predictable—while the Formula 1 setting is a fresh backdrop, the romance and conflict hit many well-worn beats. Plus, there was a bit too much drama for my taste, which sometimes weighed the story down. If you’re a fan of sports romance or books like Red, White & Royal Blue, you’ll probably enjoy it. But for me, it was more comfortingly familiar than groundbreaking.Still, Travis and Jacob’s journey through hardship and self-discovery has enough heart to make it worth a read.
Thanks to the publishing house, the author and Netgalley for the chance to read the book in advance.

Thank you, Avon and Harper, and NetGalley, for this ARC!

This book got me hooked from page 1! In the first part of the book, we get to know the quiet, loner, and socially awkward F1 pilot Travis Keeping. Author Amy James does an incredible job getting the reader to empathize with Travis' feelings after a devastating F2 accident leaves his secret lover/boyfriend, pilot Jacob Nichols, in the hospital. Their love story is told through flashbacks while Jacob is fighting for his life, and folks, the angst is real.

The growth arc of the characters, not just the main but also some of the secondary, is beautifully executed. And while the story has some spicy scenes, that's not the main focus, so it's perfect for readers who enjoy light spice reads.

As an F1 fan and an avid mm romance reader, I must say I truly enjoyed this story. So much so that I've already pre-ordered a paperback copy.

Kudos, Amy James! (and here's to hoping this standalone turns into a series <3)

I don’t know that this book is like, objectively good, but it most certainly worked on me. Every line was written exactly how I wanted it to be and all of the romantic miscommunications and misunderstandings played out exactly like I wanted them to. Travis Keeping… I will be putting you in my pocket and keeping YOU. I was also thrilled because at one point I thought to myself, “Hm, this would be a great moment for [x] to happen” and then it did literally on the next page. Amy James is perfectly on my level.

Once again, I know nothing about F1 so I can’t speak to the accuracy of the narrative, but I found the elements of secret relationship vs. injury really compelling. I was really skeptical at first that they could actually keep their relationship THAT private but that actually became a plot point at certain parts which helped.

I ended up taking a ton of highlights which I rarely do with NetGalley books, and not just for the romance. Even the side characters were so well done and had such pithy lines that made this all feel very lived in. I really enjoyed myself! I barely put it down all day. I wish it was longer!

This book was a bit heavier than I expected, but drew me in right and I found myself really needing to know what happened and what will happen to this broken relationship. I felt like the feelings on both sides were valid and I was hoping for the best for both of them whatever that may be. The audiobook was a great way to enjoy this contemporary romance and the narrators did an excellent job bringing life to the story.

I’ve never watched F1 before, but after reading two incredible F1 romances this month, I’m hooked! This story is emotional and raw, with characters forced to grow and fight for themselves. Each one trying to figure out their own issues. I absolutely loved Travis, what an incredible character.
The only downside? I wanted more at the end! The narrators made the audiobook experience unforgettable. Definitely one of my top reads of the year! 🎧📖

Crash Test is emotional from the first chapter thru its final words. Tension laps through the story as the F1 / F2 love interests navigate the raw emotions of what it means to love.

James has created two men so desperately in need of each other, but worlds apart. It takes a tragic accident for them both to understand the "what" it takes to race back into each others heart.

I throughly enjoyed Travis and Jacob, their level of sexiness and the banter to make their engines roar. Sign me up for ALL the race car romances!

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon

This book made my heart ache in the best way. A gay F1 driver experiences all his firsts with a bisexual F2 driver in a closeted relationship in Amy James’s Crash Test.

Oh my heart.

The book opens with a massive F2 crash that puts Jacob in the hospital and Travis in a tailspin. No one knows about their relationship, so Travis has no one to turn to as he deals with his worry and emotions and inability to be constantly by Travis’s side. We get flashbacks to milestones in their relationship as Travis tries to muddle through what to do with himself during Jacob’s hospital stay.

And then Jacob finally wakes up, and instead of a joyful reunion, they have a painful separation.

It’s definitely an emotional ride.

I loved the found family, the growth we see in both main characters, and how the story had my heartstrings in a vise grip.

I just loved it so much.

Honestly, I recommend this one in either print or audio. At the end of the audiobook, instead of “read by,” the narrator says, “performed by,” and I 100% agree that a performance is what I listened to. Gary Furlong and Patrick Zeller capture the emotions fueling the characters and their decisions, the tears, the teasing, and the hesitancy. I actually slowed this one down (for me) on audio to better experience the nuance. I listened at 1.5x speed.

I received advance copies from Avon and HarperAudio. All review opinions are my own.

I sobbed my way through this book in one sitting. Travis is an absolute darling who must be protected at all cost, and the way he expresses his genuine emotions despite his social struggles is so so darling.

"You don't have any family?"
I open my mouth to answer, then close it again. The truth sounds stupid, even in my head. But again, Matty surprises me.
"Jacob is your family," he says, answering his own question.

Oh, Travis. Oh, my heart.

I absolutely hated Jacob when I got to his half of the book. He definitely has a lot of growing to do. I had to keep reminding myself that for all of his racing and world traveling and experience, he is still only 23 years old and has really only known racing. His interactions with his family and his internalized homophobia/biphobia is so so hard to read, but I'm ultimately so glad we got to see his journey.

As a disabled person, I did have some issues with how Jacob's injury is treated. [ Jacob's rehab is entirely glossed over, and he makes an absolutely miraculous 100% recovery in record time. It felt very much like the miracle cure trope. ] Was it essential to his character's journey? Maybe not. But it definitely felt like a missing piece.

This book absolutely destroys you in the best way. I'm so glad there's a guaranteed HEA because I don't think I could've survived it otherwise 😭😭

Starting a book with a devastating crash and having dual timelines flashing back to the relationship and the current situation? Diabolical. I did eat it up though. The writing had me absolutely hooked. It’s been a while since I couldn’t put a book down, and this one had me staying up throughout the night because there wasn’t a safe place to stop. I can’t attest to the accuracy of the Formula 1 parts, but I can attest to this book making me cry. Both characters had their own individual growth arcs, which is unusual in typical romances. The role of therapy and surrounding yourself with supportive people was instrumental. For me, this book was a 5/5.

If you like a stoic man who is instantly obsessed, families you choose, or have ever thought to yourself, “What if two race car drivers were in love?” this one's for you.

Thank you @avonbooks for an advanced copy to review!

I am not much of a racing girl, as in I have no idea what any of it means. But I didn’t really need to know too much to enjoy this love story. (Some spoilers below)

It definitely starts off with a bang, and high stakes emotion. I was reeling in the beginning, feeling everything with Travis. My heart was beating erratically in my chest during some of the more tense moments too. I felt Travis’s fear in my core, and his heartbreak was crushing.

I LOVED the friendship in this book. Between Matty and Heather, Travis was really well taken care of and I throughly loved the support he received. And from Matty and Anthony’s parents!? 🥹🥹😭😭

I really liked how it went back and forth between Jacob and Travis’s first interactions and the present day. I also really enjoyed the POV switch, and being inside each character’s head.

Jacob did a lot of growing in the second half of the book. I loved his therapy sessions and his realizations of what Travis means to him. (How cute was it that they both were desperate to see each other after 10 months!?)

I loved so many small moments, like the secret smiles, stolen days, the pictures in Jacob’s wallet, how he reached for Travis when he woke up, Travis’s shelter love, and so many more. I wish I had the audio cause it’s duet!!

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH
Its four in the morning right now, and im exhausted, but this was incredible. by the fifth chapter i was absolutely SOBBING, which is rare for me, and by the twentieth i was in love with all of the characters.
im unwell and need to go to bed now, but easily five stars.

I didn't want to put this one down! Between the F1 setting, the complexities of the MCs relationship as well as their individual internal struggles, and the writing style that sucked me in, I was eating up Travis and Jacob's story from page 1. With the POV set up to spend so much time with one of the boys first before switching to the POV of the other, I was really nervous that the book would lose me - but I appreciated the switch to better understand what was going on in Jacob's head and to see his emotional journey, which I thought was really well done. This is a deep story of accepting oneself, found family, and healing in more ways than one. Highly recommend!

🏎️🚦❤️‍🔥🏁⛽️🛞

I’ve been trying to write a review for 3 days now since finishing this book and still feel like I can’t quite find the words to adequately describe how I feel but here I go lol.

I love this story, and Jacob and Travis so incredibly much. This book deals with some very heavy topics, but I thought they were handled well throughout. After waking up in the hospital following a horrific car crash and breaking up with his secret, race-car driver boyfriend, Jacob starts a grueling recovery process, moves back in with his (horrendous) parents and attends therapy for the first time. He starts out angry at everyone and frustrated with the obstacles he has to overcome (understandably), but over time with the help of his therapist, he decides to dig in, work through his trauma, and do whatever it takes to get back into racing. Meanwhile, Travis returns back to the racing circuit on the other side of the world. Feeling devastated by his out of the blue breakup, and alienated from the rest of his team, he immediately isolates himself from everyone around him. Eventually, both men begin to let people back in and each develop their own supportive community. They both undergo a tremendous amount of personal growth before finally reuniting, and while the journey to get there was painful, it made the ending all the more beautiful. I love Jacob’s perseverance, I love Travis’s softness, and I love their ending. Adding this to my favorites shelf immediately 💙💙

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!! 🫶🏼