As a certified F1 girlie, I was thrilled to get approved for this ARC - thank you to the publisher and Netgalley!

Slipstream follows Lilah, a documentarian, who is unceremoniously dumped when she moves to Texas to work with her boyfriend on an upcoming Formula 1 documentary. Oh, her boyfriend, Max, also fires her from the film. Left alone and jobless, Lilah runs into the Ignition team’s reserve driver, Arthur, and they strike up a plan. Revenge.

I absolutely ate this book up! Lilah begins as a sports hater but after watching her first F1 Grand Prix race, she quickly realizes the fun and exhilaration of the sport. And same, reading about the races and the glitz and the glam was perfection. Seeing “Lights out and away we go” in a contemporary romance book??!! So fun.

Lilah also starts off as a timid character who has always just followed what Max wanted to do. Her character was frustrating to read at times because I just wanted to shake her and tell her stand up for herself 😅 But by the end of the book, Lilah’s growth as a character was so satisfying. She learns to stand up for herself and go after what she wants. And Arthur..the man that he is! Charming and hilarious. He truly sees Lilah while also working through his own issues as a driver. I would’ve loved to see some Arthur POV chapters because the man was YEARNING!

I absolutely adored this book and Lilah and Arthur’s story! This is Madge’s debut novel and I can’t wait to see what else she writes.

🏎️ Fake dating
🏎️ Slow burn with YEARNING (spicy ch: 22, 23 @ 75%)
🏎️ Neurodivergent/anxiety rep
🏎️ He falls first
🏎️ Second chances

This was a disappointment. I was intrigued by the synopsis but the female main character is insufferable. Pacing was a bit off- we finally reached the peak of the book at 80% . Just a bummer. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is closer to a 3.5 than a 4, but alas, Goodreads won't let me rate it that way.

In my quest to find Great F1 Romance Novels, I have been granted an eARC of Slipstream. Slipstream follows Lilah as she makes an F1 documentary about Ignition Racing. Simple enough, right? WRONG. You have your shitty boyfriend, some cheating, fake dating, paparazzi scandals, mental health issues, family drama, and some SUPER tough feelings. Lilah is a mess, but the kind of mess where she's really trying and you end up really wanting her to succeed.

The F1 part, although a major part of the book, kinda just seemed like it could be swapped out for any number of sports. Well, except for the travel. Author did <i>fine</i> on the F1 aspects. Not enough glaring errors for me to be too picky about it.

There was one line that almost, <i>almost</i> dropped this all the way to a 2 star for me, and that's just based on personal preference. Spoilers for smutty stuff: <spoiler>at one point during the first time they actually get to it, he says he wants to get her pregnant and see her all round and full of his kids and oh my god that is the LEAST SEXY THING YOU COULD SAY. I HATE IT.</spoiler>

Thank you to author/publisher/netgalley for the eARC. I had a good time.

Thank you for the ARC, Simon & Schuster! I was intrigued by the synopsis, especially formula 1, but I could not get over Lilah's personality and behavior. This just wasn't for me, but I think readers will enjoy the he falls first trope, exploration of men's mental health, and fast-paced sports romance vibe.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced reader copy.

When Lilah Graywood is unceremoniously dumped and fired from a job, to document a Formula 1 racing team, by her boyfriend/business partner, she finds a way to get back onto the job by teaming up with the team's bad boy, Arthur, to exact revenge (for her) and freedom from a controlling uncle (for him) by fake dating.

I'm hoping this proliferation of racing and tennis romance novels is marking the end of hockey romances. SLIPSTREAM was a fun novel packed with information about the convoluted sport of Formula 1 racing--not quite Ali Hazelwood levels of explanation--that made the story feel grounded in some reality. Lilah is slightly unlikeable, just enough to make her interesting and to make her a compelling character to watch evolve.

I'll be curious to see what comes next from this writer.

Slipstream is out May 20, 2025

Slipstream by Madge Maril is a debut novel that absolutely delivers on the thrill of a great slow burn, all set against the backdrop of the fast paced, high drama world of Formula 1. As someone who is an F1 fan, I found this book to be top tier in its portrayal of the sport—engaging even for readers with little prior knowledge. It perfectly balances romance, revenge, and career driven ambition, making it an addictive and satisfying read.

The fake dating trope is usually a tough sell for me, as it often spirals into instant attraction without enough tension, but Slipstream pulls it off flawlessly. Lilah and Arthur’s relationship is built, layer by layer, with the kind of slow burning chemistry that keeps you teetering on the edge. By the time they finally come together, it feels like they are about to combust. Arthur’s feelings were clear long before Lilah realizes them, yet it never feels forced or contrived. Her obliviousness makes complete sense given her circumstances, and when everything finally clicks into place, it’s so worth the wait.

Arthur Bianco is the perfect balance of confident and vulnerable, and watching him navigate the complexities of his career and personal life while falling for Lilah is deeply satisfying. Lilah is strong willed, smart, and rightfully jaded. Their dynamic is electric, with sharp banter and underlying tension that never feels overplayed.

The one thing keeping this from a full five stars is the final stretch of the book. The last several chatpers felt a bit rushed and leans into melodrama in a way that doesn’t quite match the careful build up of the rest of the story. The conflict, while understandable, is a little too underbaked and resolves too quickly. Some moments are more cringey than compelling, and I found myself wishing the pacing had stayed consistent.

That said, Slipstream is still an incredibly fun, engaging, and emotional read that I’d recommend without hesitation. If you love slow burn romance, high stakes drama in the F1 sports world, and a fresh twist on fake dating, this one is definitely worth picking up. Madge Maril has set the bar high for herself with this debut, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next! 🔥🏎️💙

Thank you to NetGalley, Madge Maril, and Simon & Schuster for the eARC of this book.

The F1 stuff, while not incredibly specific, at least wasn't wrong, so points for that. Some of the plot motivators were a bit slippery, but the thing is well written enough that it doesn't become a huge problem.

I really wanted to like this book, but the FMC was unbearable for me. There’s being insecure and then there’s telling your boyfriend “I get why you don’t want to date me, I wouldn’t either” as he’s breaking up with her. She continues to pile on - “I get why he cheated, how could he not?” And “I thought when Max had taken me under his wing and made me as palatable as possible, I’d become less disposable.” I desperately needed her to stand up. She also had ADHD and refers to herself with self-hatred over traits from this disorder very, very frequently. It felt very insulting to read honestly, both as a woman and as a person with ADHD.

Despite not knowing (or caring?) much about F1, the blurb intrigued me. I was on board for the slow burn romance and found the first three-quarters of the story to be fairly engaging—Lilah’s job as a documentarian was interesting, as was learning a bit about F1.

The revenge/fake dating/trying to get the documentary pulled plot was convoluted and some of the dialogue was awkward. The last quarter of the story is where things fell apart for me. Thrilled for Lilah but I am not sure I understood why Arthur was immediately and completely head over heels for her. I might have preferred Lilah and Arthur as work colleagues/friends/collaborators rather than a as a couple. In any case, I think this will charm plenty of readers interested in a F1 romance.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Do I know anything about Formula 1? Nope absolutely nothing. Am I in love with this book? Yes. Absolutely yes. Like we have Formula 1 racing combined with betrayal, revenge, and a fake relationship that turns WAY too real that has me squealing in the middle of the night and kicking my feet? YEA this book was a wild ride from start to finish (pun intended).

Lilah, a serious documentarian, finds herself in the world of fast cars- fake dating Arthur Bianco, an F1 driver who happens to be far off her coaster. But you know what? It’s what made the relationship SO hot that I couldn’t even put the book down. Their chemistry was undeniable from the get-go. And the slowburn was absolutely DELICIOUS😋.

This book is a beautiful mashup of revenge, redemption, burning chemistry, high stakes, and did I mention a hot F1 driver that will have you clutching your pearls? Had me holding my e-reader like it was a steering wheel fr.

If you're into everything I said plus the fact that the romance your getting into is the kind where they are questioning if they’re pretending or not (spoiler: they’re definitely not), then you NEED to read this. A full-throttle, heart-pounding must-read. I’m not even joking when I tell you ITS WORTH IT.

Madge Maril's debut novel, Slipstream, offers a thrilling dive into the high-octane world of Formula 1 racing, intertwined with a heartfelt romance that explores themes of redemption, revenge, and unexpected love.

The story follows Lilah, a dedicated documentarian who, after a series of personal and professional setbacks, embarks on a project to film Arthur Bianco, a charismatic yet troubled F1 reserve driver. Together, they devise a plan to take control of a documentary orchestrated by Lilah's ex, aiming for both Lilah's revenge and Arthur's career redemption. As they navigate the glamorous and cutthroat circuits of Formula 1, their partnership evolves into a fake relationship that blurs the lines between pretense and genuine affection.

The novel's portrayal of the Formula 1 scene is both vivid and accessible, making it appealing to both racing enthusiasts and newcomers. The chemistry between Lilah and Arthur is palpable, with their slow-burn romance unfolding amidst high-speed drama and personal growth. Maril's writing adeptly balances humor and heart, delivering a narrative that's as exhilarating as a race to the finish line.

In summary, *Slipstream* is a compelling and fast-paced romance that masterfully blends the thrill of Formula 1 racing with the complexities of personal relationships. It's a testament to second chances and the unexpected turns life can take, making it a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and sports fiction alike.

This book was everything. I loved Lilah, I loved Authur, I loved everyone. Will definitely be looking out for more from this author!

This was such an unexpected delightful slow-burn romance. I know nothing about the world of Formula 1 racing, but I did not feel out of my element reading this book. It was an engaging and stimulating story, that just happened to be set in the world of racing. Lilah, the main female character, is such an intriguing person, she is just learning who she is in this book. Arthur, the main male character, is a multi-layered person who struggles beyond what we initially see. These two opposite people seem made for each other, which carefully and skillfully drug out through the book. This was my first story from this author, but I had such a good time I know I will look for more books going forward. This was a fabulous book, with a well-told story and I highly recommend it. Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

2.5. I'd give Arthur all the stars, but Lilah gets 0, so here we are.

I myself have ADHD that I take medication for, and I will never ever get over how some people portray ADHD in their books. I'm sure that Madge has it as well - but the way it's written here makes it seem like everyone with ADHD has the same exact symptoms and are always "weirdos" and "aliens" for just being normal people. To be honest, Lilah sounds more like she's on the spectrum vs. ADHD. She's like the Mary Sue of ye olde fanfic but has ADHD and anxiety which makes her SO weird, I mean just SUCH weirdo, and "I wear cargo shorts to the beach" because she's just soooo weird you guys. Big Jughead "I'm weird, I wear this hat all the time" energy.

Also, she's accepted filming this doc and says she's looked up stuff but doesn't know what free practice is? And how was Arthur's crash not mentioned in any of the articles she looked up? Sorry, this F1 girlie calls BS. Mostly, this does a better job portraying the politics and frenzy of F1 than most F1 books but reserve drivers don't take over *that* many times in a row, usually.

This could've been so, so much better if the author hadn't tried to make Lilah the manic pixie dream girl of ADHD and anxiety.

A slow-burn, fake dating, sports romance set in the dynamic world of Formula 1.

Fresh off of a breakup with her business parter and cheating ex, Lilah agrees to team up with reserve driver Arthur in a plot to ruin both her ex’s documentary and trigger the morality clause in Arthur’s contract.

I sped through reading this book because I was having so much fun. The timeline moves quick, but feels natural with the grueling travel schedule of the sport. In contrast, the romance is an excellent slow-burn filled with fantastic sexual and romantic tension.

Lilah is smart, driven, and at a crossroads in both her personal and professional life. Arthur is arrogant and clever, with a clear soft spot for those he cares for. They both mask their true personality around other people (Lilah to compensate for her ADHD and Arthur as part of his celebrity status), and it’s very satisfying when they see through and accept the other’s true self. You get fake dating with a hint of forbidden romance as they pretend to be coy and deny everything.

As someone who follows F1, I’m very critical of the details in F1 romance books and can often be distracted by inaccuracies. That wasn’t an issue with Slipstream. Lilah knows almost nothing about F1 which gives room to explain things without getting too in-depth. The races don’t get too technical and there’s a focus on the energy and excitement surrounding the sport, which is something every reader can relate to and gives actual F1 fans a chance to enjoy the story without picking it apart. There were one or two F1 things that felt improbable but were easily overlooked in the pursuit of building a good romance. Fake dating tropes already ask you to suspend reality so it wasn’t a stretch to apply that to the racing portion of the plot as well.

I have very few complaints. The romance isn’t quite insta-love because it IS a true slow-burn, but the obvious jealousy both characters experience early on feels a little quick and unearned. There were some time-jumps that felt like they jumped over the getting-to-know you portion of the relationship, and overall I don’t mind but I do feel like I missed out. I was pretty sure I could see where things were going early on but the plot did manage to surprise me a few times by doing something unexpected, and that’s always a delight.

Slipstream is a really solid fake-dating/slow burn romance in the world of F1 that will appeal to both fans and non-fans alike. I would absolutely recommend this to others and will be purchasing and rereading it in the future.

This is really lovely, and felt different from other F1 romances I’ve read. I don’t know if it’s Lilah’s grit and determination, or Arthur’s hidden vulnerability, but the writing here just spoke to me. A fantastic debut. Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

I really wanted to love this book but it just didn't. There wasn't anything necessarily really bad but it just didn't click for me.

Here's what I liked:
- MMC and mental health representation. I enjoyed that it was the male character that had mental health issues rather than the FMC since it's hard to find MMC's that have mental health issues they work through.
- fake dating is always a good one for me and this was done fairly well

What I didn't like:
- the entire FMC story line/arc. she was so annoying to me and I didn't understand why she kept being like "i'm not like other girls" which is a trope I really hate. it's never done well and I hate that it seems to be a common story arc for an FMC
- I thought the ADHD rep was done terribly. As someone who also lives with ADHD, I hate how she thinks she's so different and yet, people who live with ADHD just don't act like this.

So overall, this book was fine. The romance was meh and the FMC made me mad but the MMC is what made this book for me and is why I kept reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest opinion.

Madge Maril’s DEBUT novel is a slowburn F1 romance that I absolutely could not put down. She put me THROUGH IT! My heart broke, I teared up, but I also laughed and kicked my feet. Lilah is such a beautifully complex character that I deeply connected with. Arthur, on the other hand, is a man I need biblically. I’d risk it all for him!
 
Lilah is a serious documentarian, unfamiliar with the world of F1, who has recently relocated to Texas with her boyfriend and has no interest in filming races. Soon after, she’s dumped by her boyfriend and fired from what she thought was her own company. Enter Arthur Blanco, a charismatic playboy and F1 reserve driver for Ignition, who also has no interest in filming the documentary. Together, they devise a plan to take control of the project, seeking revenge for Lilah and redemption for Arthur. But their scheme complicates things not only for the documentary but for their feelings as well.
 
Lilah, my sweet, beautiful girl, I love you so much. She is one of the most relatable FMCs I’ve ever read. She struggles with ADHD (just like I do), and it was so healing to see how she experienced the world. Her emotions made me feel so seen. Lilah is incredibly intelligent and talented but also raw and complicated. I can’t thank Madge enough for the mental health representation in this book. My heart ached for Lilah and all I wanted to do was wrap her up in a big hug.
 
Arthur is equally incredible and complex. He’s so much more than his reputation, he hides behind the mask he presents to the world, and peeling back his layers was such a joy. If you loved Ryan Shay’s quiet love in The Right Move, you will fall head over heels for Arthur. He emulates nothing but pure, wholesome, quiet love. His love confession? Made me cry in my car. I wanted to rip my heart out of my chest!!! This man is too damn hot and amazing, I am SICK (complimentary).
 
After being in a horrendous reading slump, this book breathed new life into me. I was enchanted by the MCs and watching them fall in love, flaws,and all, was perfect. I feel like I could go on and on about how much I love this book. I cannot WAIT to get my physical book to add to my trophy bookcase. Get ready to be tired of me talking about this book, you need to read it!

This book took me through a roller coaster of emotions as someone who was adopted. It took me a minute to get engaged with it but overall ended up being a good book. I would highly recommend reading this!

Thank you to Net Galley and Simon & Schuester for the advance digital copy of this book. I did not receive any compensation for this review.

5 stars. OMG. this was absolutely unreal, especially for a debut. I was absolutely blown away by the story telling and the ADHD and anxiety rep in this book. This was an incredible romance that had me having visceral reactions to some of the characters... hint... Max's behavior. This is definitely one that I will need a paperback trophy of because the re-read capability of this is unreal. This comes out on May 20th, and I urge anyone who loves a good romance with heavy topics to get out there and read it.