Ok yes I will become a formula 1 fan, thank you to Ms. Maril for encouraging that to happen. This book was SO MUCH FUN!!!! Some serious good girl // bad boy vibes, nerd vs. jock, all the things you want when you're reading a fun novel that takes place all around the world. I loved loved loved the character development in this book, and the way that both the FMC and MMC came out of their shells at the end.

Absolutely recommend this book!

Famously I am super picky about my F1 romances because I love the sport so dearly. Everyone seems to be writing one these days, but this is the best one since the Dirty Air series by Lauren Asher. This is everything I could have wanted and more in a book. Definity one for the fans.

I absolutely loved this book. I had never read a book about racing and am not a big formula 1 fan but this inspired me to maybe watch some!! I loved the storylines with their respective families. Their love story was beautiful.

“𝑷𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒂. 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆.”

After taking a couple of days to stew over this book, I can happily say I love it just as much as when I finished it! This book is FUN!!! Slipstream serves as my intro into the world of F1 and it’s safe to say I’m obsessed. Catch me scrolling through countless TikTok edits of F1 drivers and the races…oops! But seriously, this book was addictive for me.

I found the pacing to be done well, the romance was top notch, the concept of F1 was explained well (considering I’m a newb), and the spice was well worth the wait! I constantly found myself needing to put the book down and squeal because of how damn giddy the banter was making me!! That’s truly how I know a book is doing it for me tbh.

I thought Lilah was a likable main character and enjoyed the neurodivergent representation! While she had irritating moments, I knew that it was for the greater good of character development. As for Arthur…HOT DAMN!! Madge Maril had me salivating with how she was describing this man 😩. Aside from looks, I throughly enjoyed the exploration into men’s mental health representation and how that played out throughout the plot. Especially with it tying back into b the pressures of family and being a professional athlete. This was truly a book where I was rooting for both the main characters!

I’m so ready to dive into other F1 romances and will be keeping an eye out for more books written by Madge Maril!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the wonderful opportunity to read this eARC!

Adore this book! I loved the representation of neurodivergence and mental health with both main characters. The writing was a bit confusing at times but overall Slipstream was easy to read and such an enjoyable ride. I can’t wait to recommend this read to others to yap all about it!

For someone who knew nothing about F1, the author did a great job explaining it and it had me really invested (in real life also)! I felt the first half was fun and I enjoyed the slowburn, but the FMC kinda of bothered me, and it might be becuse I couldn't relate to her... I think this is a great easy read, especially for those who enjoy racing!!

This was a great debut novel, featuring well-fleshed-out characters and excellent romantic chemistry.

I adored Lilah—neurodivergent, a bit prickly, great taste in t-shirts. As an AuDHD woman, I always appreciate well-written, neurodivergent protagonists. Characters that feel natural, rather than some kind of forced representation. I think what I related to most in Lilah was the weird dichotomy of being unapologetically herself, in a quiet sort of way, while also fighting against the need to make herself “convenient” for other people, something she did in her previous relationship with the absolutely abhorrent Max.

Arthur had a surprising amount of depth. The initial impression is that he is brash, cocky, and self-absorbed when he is really anything but. Yes, there is a certain amount of confidence that comes with being a professional athlete but Arthur, at his core, is much more complex than that, and a whole lot softer. The way this man went ALL in on Lilah. Oh, my word. Book boyfriend material.

I think where this book truly shines is in the romantic tension between Arthur and Lilah—that slow transition from enemies to tentative friends to romance. And Lilah’s cluelessness when it came to Arthur—oof. That’s my favorite take on the enemies-to-lovers trope: when the “enemy” part is one-sided, and the MMC is totally smitten but the FMC doesn’t see it. Seriously, SO well done here.

Though I’m not usually a fan of sports romances, I enjoyed entering the whole F1 world. It’s something I would never be interested in under normal circumstances but I love learning about new things, especially when they are well-researched and represented. Seeing F1 through the literal lens of Lilah’s documentary was a great introduction to something that would otherwise hold no draw for me.

My one fault with this book is that some of the shifts in Lilah’s logic were jarring, especially Lilah’s strong reaction to Arthur’s choices near the end of the book. I wasn’t sure if they were a product of Lilah’s ADHD or the author’s writing. Still, even with that one little nitpick, I’d highly recommend this book.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing the advanced copy of this, offered in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

- Lilah, documentary filmmaker & Arthur, F1 driver
- When Lilah gets dumped and fired on the same day, she partners with Arthur to make a documentary that serves both their needs
- Fake dating: still not sure why they needed to fake date, but just go with it
- neurodivergent rep
- F1 rep is legit and the BTS is believable
🌶️: slow burn

The tension was dreamy, the characters were yummy. I had fun reading it.

Lilah at some points hurt my heart, in the most satisfying of ways. The ADHD representation at times had me wanting to shut the book and sob in the way that I felt seen. I would've liked more of it, perhaps, just to see how Arthur would have worked with it and with her through it if that's what she'd needed, but regardless, Lilah showed growth and development and it was really great to read through.

Arthur. I appreciate that he wasn't a perfect specimen of a MMC. He was flawed, incredibly so and although with reason to be flawed, it didn't feel forced. He felt legitimate in his mistake-making and genuine in his apologies. I liked that he was selfish and complex and I liked what Lilah did for him, how she would humble or uplift him.

Overall they make me very happy, I'm so pleased with the ending and so happy to have been able to read it.

This was a FUN debut novel.

Lilah is a documentarian who wants to show her worth. Thanks to her ex-boyfriend, she is now spending the summer helping F1 Reserve Arthur Bianco get out of his contract.

The SLOWBURN in this book is so good! Arthur is down bad for Lilah and it's so lovely to see Lilah discover Arthur's love for her on her own, and also recognizing her own feelings for him. Arthur is so soft hiding under a tough exterior. Lilah just wants the best for him - especially when he can't see what that is. All of their moments together are so endearing, I love the care that came into these two. Also, I'm a sucker for a fake dating situation.

I'm usually really picky when it comes to F1 books, as someone who follows the sports, because I always try to figure out what drivers they're trying to emulate - but this book was SO well done in terms of the sport. If you're an F1 rookie - this is a great book to learn the ins and outs of the sport. You fall in love with the sport right along with Lilah.

Thank you Madge Maril, Simon and Schuster, and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 ⭐️
First F1 romance in the books for me.
And I ain’t mad about it.

Lilah x Arthur
Documentary woman x F1 racing superstar
Enemies to lovers
Fake dating (ish)
American x Italian
European travel

Do you like Mariana Zapatas single POV where she’s clueless the man likes her?
If yes this might be for you.

Do you like Ali Hazelwood type FMCs, where a woman has a non typical job and non typical personality?
If yes this might be for you.

Netgalley arc review ✨

5 ⭐️ Madge Maril's debut novel Slipstream is one of my favorite reads of 2025 so far. It was such a fun, quick read that I enjoyed from start to finish. After the first 25%, I was constantly thinking about Lilah and Arthur when I wasn't reading, counting down until I could jump back into their story. Now don't get me wrong, I don't think Slipstream is a masterpiece or a perfect piece of literature but it had the best vibes and I had fun reading it so that is all that matters to me.

As a big F1 fan, I appreciated the accuracy with the sport as well as the bits of information that was including while Lilah was getting to learn about F1 through Cameron, Delaney, and Arthur.

My favorite part of this story was absolutely the characters. It was so easy to see from the beginning that Arthur was developing feelings for Lilah and while it took her a little longer to catch up, once she did admit her feelings and their relationship started it was clear to see how well they worked. All of the characters were so well written and multi-dimensional. They each had their own flaws and positives that added to each scene they shared. I especially adored our minor characters that ended up in on the scheme, Sarah, Cameron, and Delaney.

AND I can't begin to tell you how satisfying each and every minor plot was wrapped up (Max, birth mom, Holmes) ((even the villains were so well written I hated them immediately).

All in all, Slipstream was a big win for me and I cannot wait to see what Maril writes next! Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys a sports romance or just looking for a fun romcom pallet cleanser.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the arc!

it's not the book, it's me.

maybe i just wasn't in the mood for an f1 romance like this, maybe i need a break from contemporary romances, maybe i'm just feeling a little slumpy, i don't know. like, this isn't a bad book at all and i would absolutely recommend it to anyone who wants a fun sports romance, it's a little bit of a slow burn and the characters are likeable and there's honestly not much to complain about. a little basic and cliche at times, but that doesn't bother me. it just found me at the wrong time.

thank you to netgalley & simon and schuster for an arc! all opinions are my own <3

Review:
This book was fun. I love F1 and a revenge story. I loved that while the romance was a big plot, it wasn't all there was to it. There was drama, plot twists, and of course, F1.
I loved the focus on mental health from both parties. The highlight and conversations around men's mental health were refreshing and important.

I loved this book. I read it QUICK, I was sucked in early and couldn't stop thinking about it. I HIGHLY recommend it. A winner for sure, and her debut novel? I can't wait to see what else Madge Maril produces.

OUT MAY 20th!

Thank you, Simon & Schuster, NetGalley, and Madge Maril for the ARC in exchange for my review.

I'll be making another post on Instagram May 6th

F1 romance is THE NEXT THING, YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST! Maril's debut is a steamy, propulsive (hah), heartfelt, and witty ride. The chemistry is relentless, the pacing page-turning, and the growth arcs for these characters truly heartwarming. Cannot wait to see what she does next!

*4.5

I wasn't completely sure about this book at first but I kind of fell in love with it. It was a really endearing. slow burn and I really like Lilah and Arthur. He was obsessed with her and she just had idea, it was cute. The fact that she made a whole movie about them falling in love makes me want to scream, it's adorable.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I absolutely loved this book! It was so much fun! I was captivated by the F1 aspect, and I am truly obsessed with Arthur and his big, soft heart.

There were moments in the book, especially the banter between the characters, that made me genuinely laugh and giggle with a goofy grin on my face. I read it so quickly because it hooked me right away, especially as I began to see the interactions between the two main characters. I appreciated the author’s detailed descriptions of emotions and atmosphere throughout the story. However, at times, I felt that some sections were a bit too explanatory and came across as preachy. While you do have to suspend your disbelief and accept some unrealistic elements, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the feelings it evoked in me! It was CUTE, CHEESY, and a COZY little romance.

Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for gifting me a copy in exchange for my review.

And it’s lights out and away we go! Madge doesn’t waste any time introducing us to our antagonist and ramping up our emotions. Within the first page, I instantly became weary of Max, and before the first chapter was over I was ready to toss my Kindle across the room with pure dread and anger towards him… I just knew I had to buckle in and get ready for a bumpy ride.

And it just kept getting worse — no, I don’t mean the book (because the fact that I was so emotionally invested right off the bat demonstrates just how engaging this story was). While you can’t say you didn’t see this crash happening Max’s AUDACITY will set the competitive fire within you ablaze and honestly, warm you up for the adrenaline rush packed in this story. You’ll truly be running on all cylinders from the get-go, and it’s exhilarating.

From the “tension” between Arthur and Lilah (IYKYK re: scare quotes) to the race track, Madge does not hold back — she paints a glorious picture of F1’s glitz, glam and grandeur and introduces us to two characters you’ll want to root for. She’s a black cat and he’s the King — the rebellious superstar with a long-list of model exes and a reputation for partying. But there’s so much more to their surface-level appearance, and with each Grand Prix and each new country, you’ll quickly find they’ve won your heart over.

That said, Madge did an amazing job capturing the atmosphere of a GP. I’ve had the privilege of attending Zandvoort (and yes, it makes an appearance in this book!) and I can say that she’s captured the thrill of the event magnificently. It’s magical, exhilarating— you can feel it pulsing through your veins, the excitement and adrenaline. It’s an incredible feeling. I was on the edge of my seat awaiting each turn, riding along the speed of the straights. It felt just like I was trackside and cheering on my favorite drivers.

If you’re looking for a quick summer read, this is it!

I'm a sucker for a good F1 romance and this did not disappoint. This was such a fun read and although I am a fan of F1, I do think it would be easily understood by someone who has never heard seen F1 as well, maybe even more than someone who does. The overall pacing felt a bit off for me but the way Arthur was obsessed with her made me giddy the whole time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC!

This book had my butterflies fluttering all over the place. I just loved both the main characters and the chemistry between them. All the little nuances—how they looked at each other, touched each other, and talked to each other—were just perfect.

I am not a fan of F1, and I feel the same way Lilah did before entering this world, but on some level, it made me understand it better and even Google little different things about this sport.

Plus points for not bringing in a lot of extra intimate scenes once they experienced their first one.

I can't give it a full 5 stars because in some cases their scheme got confusing to me - not sure if it's a language barrier or my mind wasn't there for it or something else.

But overall, I could not put the book down and was cheering for Lilah and Arthur since the beginning. One of my favorite book couples 💞

Thank you, @atriabooks and @netgalley for providing this ARC in return for honest review 😊