Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

There is a new book boyfriend in town and his name is Arthur Bianco!!! 5 stars. Easy.

Wow! Every time I had to step away from this, I wanted to come back. Not only do you have two incredibly fleshed out, emotional characters, you also have a really great starting point for jumping into the F1 of it all. As someone who is a casual viewer and doesn't really know the ins and outs, I found myself completely wrapped up in the racing scenes. They are beautifully executed.

In this book we are following Lilah, a documentarian and Arthur, an F1 racer who is less than thrilled to film a documentary and refusing. When Lilah gets fired from her company and dumped all in the same day, she finds herself hatching a plan for revenge with Arthur that will get them both their happy ending.

Lilah, oh my god. I can't even write a proper review for her without spoiling so much. She is to me the most relatable FMC I have ever read. She is so complex and skilled and also hurt and deeply stuck in her past. Madge wrote her so incredibly well, I will be shocked if the world does not adore her.

Arthur I also loved from the jump. I did a buddy read of this ARC and we both were screaming "QUIET LOVE!!!!" the entire time. His love confession? Give it a Pulitzer prize rn, I'm so serious. I will say, I'm a sucker for dual POV, I would have loved to be in his head but I think seeing him from Lilah's point of view was a big part of the story. This man, who seemingly has it all, missing so many little pieces.

I think overall this story flowed really well! A nice fast paced plot, really likeable characters throughout the book, a twist that will have you wanting to commit crimes yourself, and so much love within Arthurs team. Those little moments before the race on the headset? That's love.

10/10. I can't wait to return to this and yap some more upon release day <3

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

Solid 4.5 stars out of 5 stars!

Summary of the plot:
In this book, we follow the relationship between Lilah and Arthur. Lilah is a documentary-film maker who is hired to make a documentary about Arthur, a F1 racer who doesn't want to be filmed. She gets fired from her own company (that wasn't legally hers though she thought it was), dumped by her boyfriend (co-owner/sole owner of the company) for another woman, and is stranded in Texas, far away from home. Arthur sees her as a way to get himself out a contract so that he can race for another team. Together, they work to make a documentary that will put them in the spotlight. But feelings run fast in this book.

Thoughts:
This book was almost perfect for me. We get to see Lilah in her natural habitat (filming), as well as Arthur's. There is enough context to understand the world, but it's not too info-dumping, nor do you get lost about what's going on in the world of car racing and documentaries. I also thought the relationship between Lilah and Arthur was balanced pretty well. Arthur is kind of a playboy while Lilah is awkward, but it's not too cringey where I have to stop reading. They're both really soft with each other and take the time to understand the other person. (Reminds me of my own relationship, sighs). The dislike-to-love timing also felt well paced.

The only thing that I wish we got more of was the family aspect. Lilah seems to be close with her adopted parents, but only calls them maybe once or twice through the book. Also, because Lilah struggled with friends growing up (hence why her ex was her best friend), I wish there was more emphasis on Lilah creating more friendships. But those are really minor things that I can live without.

Overall, I loved this book and would recommend it to people!

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Lilah films documentaries, and during one summer, an assignment brings her to Formula 1 racing. This environment is out of her playbook, as she usually prefers more "raw" settings, but she agrees to the company's shift after her co-owner (and secret boyfriend) Max shifts the company's focus. Once the team starts their work, however, Max breaks up with/fires Lilah as she starts to document the work of Arthur, an F1 reserve racer with a bumpy career. Eventually, Arthur and Lilah team up to take back control of the documentary - so Lilah can seek revenge and Arthur can claim some redemption for the course of his career. This new partnership winds up having the two enter into a fake relationship, but they cannot deny that their chemistry is real.

I loved the backdrop of this book - I thought Formula 1 racing was a very unique setting to incorporate a storyline. I also enjoyed that even though the careers in this book were not your typical jobs, the experiences of Arthur and Lilah within their respective careers were relatable to anyone. I appreciated that with Arthur and Lilah, even though they had a relationship that, when together made the other person better, it did not detract from their individualism, but rather enhanced it. Also a special thank you to this author for incorporating mental health as a part of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While I do not know much about F1 or making documentries, after reading this book I certainly want to know more. I was sucked into this book from the start! Both of these characters had so much much growth and complexity fit into these pages. It truly had me rooting for them becuase they did not lose their identity when they became a couple, you could see the individual growth and how they made each other better.

I also loved the take on fake dating! Trying to keep people guessing but not having anything confirmed. It helped that this was a slowburn where he fell first for sure!

ARC review from NetGalley 💕 This was a super cute F1 romance featuring a blonde golden retriever MMC and a neurodivergent FMC who really grows into herself through the book. I read this book so quickly it was such a good fun quick palate cleanser. I hated how unsure of herself she was the first half of the book and sooooo nice to see her grow into a confident, loved, magnet! This book was lol funny, and had a lot of mental health advocacy as well that I appreciated.

- forced proximity
- fake dating
- forbidden workplace romance
- found family
- pining & banter
- he falls first
- billionaire bf
- F1!!!

“You give me air”🩷✨

TW from author: ableism, abuse, homophobia, anxiety, classism, discussion of pregnancy/childbirth, and non-graphic violence.

What do you mean I finished this book in two days, and now I feel like I’m missing the rest of their lives?? :’)) Slipstream by Madge Maril is a must read for anyone who loves romance, yearning, banter, slow burn, and formula 1! The writing was absolutely exceptional, wow just wow!! The story easy to follow, never felt dragged, and so fast-paced that I really couldn’t put it down. Each time I said ,“one more chapter” I just HAD to keep reading ,and it messed up my sleep schedule the past two nights! Worth it though!! 😅
Lilah and Arthur were amazing, and Lilah immediately tugged on my heart strings when being cheated on and being removed from the project her cheating man Max and her were doing I was routing for her HARDCORE. As someone who has lost some control of her life and has let others have that control, I felt so less alone there. My heart severely ACHED for her, for both characters really..and their pasts/ struggles..Lilah being abandoned by her mother and going through foster care as a teenager is a hard story, as an outsider who’s heard stories and seen it happen…I couldn’t imagine..along with her struggling with immense anxiety and ADHD to add to her struggles of day to day life. Watching her really grow and have confidence was so lovely, and something I love seeing in female characters.
As for Arthur, our strong, quiet, patient, and really in control of himself MMC, had struggles too! It’s so nice and refreshing to see authors also putting emphasis on men’s mental health, as well as how the characters go about supporting each other during those times. Arthur and Lilah’s support for each other when in desperate times of needing each other was so important, and really added that cool down moment in such a fast paced book, I loved/ needed that. I love having those deep emotional moments with characters, and I think it really made the book more comforting/ relatable.
My only complaint is I really do wish that we had Arthur’s POV, maybe even as a bonus chapter in the end!! It’s my own opinion when I say this but I prefer not feeling so limited to one characters feelings, thoughts, and how they process things differently…I would’ve loved to see who Lilah is to him in his mind, be in his head for a little bit even for a chapter! This nevertheless affected the book at all, as I thought that it would before reading, and I still really really enjoyed Lilah’s perspective! I cherished every page, every small moment where I could see them falling for each other SLOWLY..the little touches and small flirtatious feelings just had my heart fluttering so many times, butterflies in my stomach feeling constantly! And it gets steamyyyyy😮‍💨
Anywaysss as much as I could yammer on about this book, this review is already all over the place, and I will run out typing space eventually, so 4 stars for this fantastic read!! Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for sending me this read, and thank you to the author Madge Maril for writing such an amazing book! Cannot wait to read more of your work, and this was a great impression into your writing for me!

This was so much more than a typical romance. This read like literary fiction against a backdrop of Formula 1 racing. Don't get me wrong, though: the yearning, the banter, and the slowest of burns made this romance top tier.

Lilah's character was so relatable to anyone who has struggled with being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world. Her need for acceptance was so real and her back story was so raw.

Then there's Arthur...he should be the blueprint for all book boyfriends. I really loved the inclusion of his own mental health struggles.

I almost passed on this one, because I thought it was just another sports romance. I'm so glad I gave it a chance and found one of my favorite stories because of it. Also, I'm an F1 girly now.

Thank you to Danielle from Simon&Schuster for sending me the BEST description of this book (WARNING - a blond man), causing me to add it to my alarmingly full NetGalley folder: because I am a changed woman.

I expected fun and drama and fast cars (and I got them all), but I was actually blown away by how much more it was than that.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The YEARNING in this book is off the charts. Arthur for Lilah, Lilah for Arthur, each of them for a specific kind of connection that has always found itself out of reach. They are both feigning a sense of belonging in the worlds they’ve made for themselves, hoping nobody notices them drowning but also wishing someone finally would.

And they do - they each see each other and make each other a life raft. Arthur notices everything Lilah says, does, or thinks - and does his very best to understand it so he can support her. Lilah, though hard on herself beyond measure, pushes Arthur to let someone in and then gives it her all when that person is her.

There were times when I saw so much of myself in Lilah that it almost stung - the slowness to warm up and welcome someone in, the need for closeness but the thrumming fear of it all the same. And, wonderfully, the way she grew into herself once she was surrounded by people who cared about her and wanted her happy.

(Also, the painfully overpowering cluelessness about Arthur’s affection for her. Ope.)

They are both capable and intelligent and kind, and they remind each other of that constantly. They celebrate each other’s successes and they face each other’s hardships unblinkingly.

They choose each other. And what a sweet choice it is.

What a delightful read! Really loved the formula 1 backdrop, the will they won’t they tension, and the unexpected sexiness from Arthur. looking forward to more from this author.

Lilah Graywood never imagined she’d be spending her summer amidst the roaring engines and adrenaline-fueled world of Formula 1 racing. As a serious documentarian, her passion lies in capturing the raw, unfiltered truth. But when her best friend, business co-owner, and secret boyfriend Max decides to pivot their documentary company to film the Ignition Energy Drink Racing team, Lilah is thrust into a world she despises. Her disdain turns to fury when Max blindsides her, not only ending their relationship but also threatening the company she painstakingly built.



This wasn't really my cup of tea. I do think others would enjoy it.

This was a very cute romance that takes place in the F1 world. I also learned so much about Formula 1 and thought the high-intensity of driving fit perfectly as the setting for this book. Max was the absolute WOAT and I was already gunning for her to be with the hot Formula 1 driver since the second chapter. Lilah and Arthur were super cute and their chemistry was immediate. I loved that even though they had reservations about having such a public relationship, it still didn't stop them from giving it their all once they decided this is what they wanted. Their romance was definitely a slow burn. With Arthur's conflict with his partners and Lilah reeling from her past relationship and past traumas, it takes a while for their relationship to get to that point.

I would have loved to see Lilah deal with her self-admitted issues with being alone and abandonment stemming from her birth mom. It definitely affected who she was and how she approached her relationships, but it got kind of let go without any resolution as she ramped up her relationship with Arthur.
There were also times that the plot lost and confused me, especially in the beginning with the set up of their "Fake dating" arrangement. There was a time where Lilah got jealous of Arthur flirting with a reporter, but I don't think they had agreed to be in a fake relationship yet...so it seemed like she was just randomly unjustifiably jealous. When they did agree to be in a fake relationship, there wasn't a lot that they did that bolstered that image before they decided they were past that and into the real relationship status, so I'm not sure if the "fake dating" qualifies as a trope here.

Overall, I thought it was a cute romance. There were plenty of great moments between Lilah and Arthur.
Favorite quotes:
"My future is all over your face."
"You give me air." ("I burn for you" vibes, ifykyk)

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

You may not know my husband is actually a race car driver (open wheel), so when I see any race car romance, I have to read it (in my experience they're not that common). F1 is on a different stratosphere from our weekend racing, so I have almost no more context for this book than any other Jane Schmane out there, but man, I sure liked it!

Lilah just packed up everything and moved to be a part of a new F1 documentary with her long-time boyfriend slash business partner, Max, only for him to dump her and reveal that he never put her name on the business paperwork. So in a nutshell, she's screwed. But their subject, world famous Arthur Bianco, strikes up a deal with her that will benefit them both. It is Lilah's chance to have full creative control and stick it to Max, and will help Arthur on his mission of redemption.

For me, the gimmick bringing the two leads together was a little wobbly and I never fully understood what it was or how the mechanics of it worked exactly, but it wasn't unforgiveable. In every scene it was clear what needed to happen, and what the consequences might be if it didn't.

But the romance! Oh, the romance makes it all worth it.

Arthur is the strong, silent, restrained type who is constantly in control of himself. He has to be, it's his job. But it's to the point where he doesn't let himself indulge in thoughts of what else he might want in his life except in his most indulgent moments. He wants to win. He wants to be the best. He wants to redeem himself. That's it. There's no room for more.

Juxtaposed with Lilah, who has ADHD and is an anxiety-ridden, more spontaneous personality. She realizes once she's on her own that she's let others in her life control her far too much, and she's ready to take the reins back and prove herself. She's also learning that it's okay to be herself, that nothing is wrong with needing what she needs, a lesson I think far too many women can relate to.

Together, I think their instincts played well against one another. I loved how patient and understanding he was with things she thought (and had always been told) were too much, and how she saw the slivers of vulnerability in him others never noticed. They felt like a good match, and more importantly, they had a common respect for one another and their professions.

I'm so happy to see motorsports represented in a major summer release this year, and I think that though this book doesn't get much into the nitty gritty of the sport of F1, it will hopefully create enough intrigue for readers to tune in and learn more about it. Four stars from me!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

3.5 rounded up⭐️ this had a lot of things that I really liked but also fell flat and some aspects. Definitely enjoyed the F1- cars, travel, PJs, all of the ritzy vibes of that. I enjoyed the slow burn and the female friendships a lot. I was craving one or two chapters of his POV. the thing i struggled most with was that FMC did give off “i’m quirky, weird, and no one understands me” energy. the middle third of the story was extremely frustrating to get through bc of the self talk and thought processes.

slip·stream (noun)

1. a current of air or water driven back by a revolving propeller or jet engine.
2. an assisting force regarded as drawing something along behind something else:

The title encapsulates this read beautifully. It's also an apt metaphor for the trajectory of Lilah and Arthur's love story. Her childhood years were beset with an unreliable parental figure. By her teen and college years, her neurodivergent diagnosis was given little to any support from her peers and then love interest. Arthur had his own challenges. At the pinnacle of his career, he faced an enemy from within (read the book for more on this).

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The way I stayed until 2am reading this book because it consumed my mind and I was unable to put it down. This stunning debut novel completely knocked it out of the park. The characters were so uniquely written I feel as if I was written into this book with how much I related to Lilah and a lot of the things she felt. She was such a beautiful character that I feel needs to be written about more. This author made these complex characters feel as if I’m their best friend getting to experience these things along with them.

I love Arthur and the big push on men’s mental health and how both Arthur and Lilah are there for each other in moments when they need someone. I love how beautiful he’s written from Lilah point of view. I would have lived to get his POVs but I know the story was meant to only be told from one and how much I ADORED that. My heart hurt at various times for both characters and their past but all their small little moments where I could see them fall for each other. The small glances, touches and phrases that had me squealing and giggling my feet late into the night.

This was written so so well. The plot was clear and easy to follow along. So fast paced I felt that I couldn’t put it down for fear I would miss out on its beauty. The addition of the side characters really made it a well rounded book and I love that they were their own found family at the end of the day.

If there is one thing I love in this world, it’s a romance novel. If there’s one sport I love, it’s Formula 1. The fact that this novel married these two things together so beautifully, so effortlessly—well, it immediately made this story one of the top novels I’ve read this year.

This novel proved one thing to me: you can have a Formula 1 romance, but you can also have the story mean something more. You can open the story up to talk about acceptance, to talk about putting yourself first, and to explore what it truly means to wield confidence as power. This story captured what makes romance novels and Formula 1 popular with so many people—it reminds the reader of the human element behind both forms of entertainment.

As a Formula 1 fan, I was kicking my legs over how well this novel explored and explained the sport. If you’re not familiar with Formula 1, this book is a great introduction to it. Maril does an excellent job of explaining the basic foundations of this fast-paced Motorsport in a digestible manner. Those explanations were a strength of this novel, and another reason why I recommended it to my romance-loving friends.

Of course, my favorite part of this narrative was our main character, Lilah. While her set-up was tragic—abandoned by her birth mom as a teenager, she was adopted by her foster parents, and then used by her best friend and (ex) boyfriend, Max—and fed deeply into her view of the world, I loved seeing her world-view challenged throughout her relationship with Arthur. I also appreciated what diversity she brought to the page. Our main character has ADHD, is confirmed bisexual, and may be demisexual? (That last trait wasn’t as clear. There were moments where she did come off as demisexual, but others where she did not. Her demisexuality was something I wished had a little clarity.) I adored watching Lilah come into her power and confidence in the face of the male-dominated world of Formula 1. It’s empowering stories, such as this one, that I hope we see more of in this sports-romance sub-genre.

And the thing about the romance with Arthur, our Formula 1 driver, is that the plot did what all great romance plots do: it showed two characters growing into better versions of themselves because they found the person who understood them the best. But, the relationship did not distract from their individualism, but expanded on it. The romance also supported the idea that above anything or anyone else, you have to put you first. It was a poignant message that truly resonated with me.

While a smaller plot to the story, I have to touch on the mental health elements. There is no denying that Formula 1 is an intense sport the asks a lot of its athletes and all those involved. I found Maril handled both Lilah and Arthur’s mental health journeys with attention and care.

Needless to say, this is my new favorite Formula 1 novel. Maril deftly married together the romance with the politics, action, and behind-the-scenes action of the motorsport. I loved watching the characters work through their personal journeys and come out stronger for it. This novel was a celebration of human resilience, whether looking at it from a romance or Formula 1 lens. I absolutely cannot wait to reread this book again in the future, and look forward to seeing what other stories Madge Maril has up her sleeve.

TW: ableism, abuse, anxiety, classism, discussion of pregnancy/childbirth, homophobia, and non-graphic violence.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This was a cute F1 romance I liked the documentary aspect that brought the fmc to it. The fmc Lilah is getting into F1 because of her boyfriend and after finding out that he cheated on her she realizes that the company they founded together is not hers and her boyfriend breaks up with her and fires her from the documentary. In comes the mmc Arthur who is an F1 star who needs some help with his career. They partner up to get the documentary from Lilah's ex to get revenge and boost their careers.

I enjoyed all the f1 stuff and learning about it through the lens of photography. The romance is a slow burn and it does get a bit steamy. I also liked the personal journey of the MCs and the mental health rep, career horrors, and all the side plots. Overall it was a cute read. Thanks to the publisher for this arc.

One of the best things about this website is getting the chance to preview new romance novels from debut authors. Especially when those novels are just so darn good. “Slipstream” is a must read by debut author Madge Maril.

Grab and read if you love:
***Fake dating
*** Self acceptance theme
*** Slowwwww burn but oh so good when you get there
*** He falls first
*** An protective, patient, gorgeous MMC
*** Non-perfect characters that are perfect for each other

Who thought I would have any interest in reading about Formula 1 racing?! Not me! But this novel had me hooked from the first chapter. The story, the writing style, the chemistry - I loved it all. The dance floor scene? So HOT.

I am preordering my copy right now for May, and I’ll absolutely be looking out for future writings from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

Slipstream by Madge Maril is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that keeps you engaged from start to finish. The story is beautifully written, with a perfect balance of emotion. Maril’s storytelling is rich and immersive, offering readers a unique and memorable experience. A highly recommended read for those who enjoy a blend of intrigue and depth.

madge maril struts in with a tenderly beautiful debut that will render you soft and mushy. set in the backdrop of the F1 world, this book does not hold back in showing you the reality of it, but that doesn't mean you won't fall in love with it nonetheless. a documentarian filming the fallen legacy star after a pretty rough betrayal from her long time business partner and boy friend has no business getting a rebound with the said subject racer, and she doesn't want to either. but the F1 racer has his own secrets, and situations, that lead up to a series of events where they work together to make and break the documentary and along with it, the people they want to take down.

best way to do it? very much to lilah's dismay, to act like a couple. don't ask how, just trust the process and read it. you'll fall in love with both lilah and arthur, and their professions too, simply because how much they love it. and what greater thing can a book hope to achieve than that? slipstream is one of the best books in 2025 and I'm so excited for everyone to read it in may!!