This was a DNF for me at 54% - I enjoyed the fact that the FMC, Senna, is the team owner and seeing her try to balance her responsibilities while generally having challenges with being a woman in F1. However, I struggled with the pacing of the book and wished things were a little tighter. I also didn't enjoy the Antoine/Connor dynamic of the feuding team drivers and the general dialogue between the two of them.

You may enjoy this book though if you like dual POV - Senna and Connor both have chapters from their POV, the forbidden brother's best friend romance with a side of second chance romance, and enjoy F1 romances.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for the advanced copy.

Actually enjoy seeing more and more f1 romances out there as an f1 enthusiast!

The overall plot was easy to follow and the characters felt believable. There was quite a lot of in depth explanations which took you away from the story itself.

I’d definitely read the next one and would recommend it to people who enjoy romance and sports romance.

And what would a romance book be without a little sprinkle of tension and angst!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this!

Let me preface this by saying that I absolutely love Formula 1 and not just the cars going round and round but the entire political and economical side of it. Team Principals are fascinating almost mythical figures in the sport and getting to know the internal management ways of an F1 team is a dream of mine.

So... a book about a female F1 team principal? Sign me up inmediately!!!

Senna —yes, after Ayrton Senna — is the daughter or Mr. Coulter, owner of Coulter Racing, and the new F1 Team Principal of the team. A former racer herself, and having had a very successful run as the communications manager and director for the team, she takes the position after her brother Niki —yes, after Niki Lauda — forfeits the position after a driving accident.

Senna is strong, decisive and a boss through and through. Her asertive ways and good people managing quickly show her excelent work... if only everyone noticed. Besides a run-down team, the economics, political and management of things, she'll also have to deal with her new drivers. One might be an absolute *bleep*, the other is her childhood and teenage crush, brother's best friend... and the cause of the accident that ended Senna's racing career.

Meet Connor Dane. Formula 1 driver, with a lot of issues and a very interesting personal image. Having caused the accident that ended Senna's career, but still being her brother's best friend, he's definitely more than meets the eye. He carries a few secrets but got to the team to help in the quest of bringing Coulter Racing back to the top. What is he hiding ? and most importantly, can he help Senna overcome her difficulties while battling his own internal demons?

I enjoyed this book. I thought the beginning was very good and a great look into the whole "woman in motorsports" difficulties and challenges. Senna felt like a rounded character with backstory, dreams, plans. However I felt like the main story got a bit side tracked by the romance part... or well by the sexy bits.

Hey, I like a good smutty book as much as any girl, but not when it gets in the way of my very interesting book about an amazing woman trying to make it. And I wanted, prayed for, needed Senna to make it, you have no idea how much I liked this girl and her dream. So yes, I love you Connor, but you were kinda in the way.

It was good overall, a little lighter on the motorsport side of things than I would've liked but it was a romance, I get that. Extra kudos because the F1 part was very well done and researched.

Overall it was good, maybe a bit lioke all the other F1 romances, but don't we read them because we like them like that??

Senna Coulter’s dreams of becoming a race car driver ended after a crash; now, she’s the head of her family’s failing Formula One team. Her team’s only chance of survival is her brother’s best friend and her teen crush, Connor Dane. He’s also her team’s new arrogant hotshot driver.

I haven’t had the opportunity to read many F1 romances but after reading this one, I definitely feel like I need more in my life. This book was so fun and fast paced I had the toughest time putting it down at night. One of my favorite parts of the story was not only is the FMC a strong female lead, but she was a racer herself and is actively involved in her family's business.

This is a great book for anyone interest in:
🏁Brother’s best friend
🏁Sports romance
🏁F1 romance
🏁Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
🏁Found family
🏁Strong female lead

This book was just the right balance of sweet and spicy to definitely be added to the reread list.

A very special thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A delightful F1 romance, great book to get you out of a reading slump. It's a quick read, the chemistry is great, the dynamic between the characters is entertaining and the world feels believable!

Start Your Engines by Rebecca Chase was a thrilling, steamy ride from start to finish! 🏎️💥 Senna and Connor’s chemistry was undeniable, and their slow-burn relationship kept me hooked the whole time. 🔥 I loved the tension between them—she’s determined to save her family’s F1 team, while he’s carrying guilt over the crash that ended her racing career. 😔

The sports setting added an extra layer of excitement, and I really enjoyed how the book balanced romance with the high-stakes world of Formula One. 🏁 Senna’s character was strong and determined, and I found myself rooting for her success, both personally and professionally. 💪

The secret relationship and forced proximity tropes were done really well, and the anxiety representation felt authentic without overshadowing the romance. ❤️‍🔥 Overall, I’d give this a solid 4 stars. It’s a fun, spicy read with just the right amount of drama to keep things interesting! ✨📚

This book is a top tier formula one romance. Rebecca Chase has written very likable characters, Sienna is a strong woman who knows what she wants, whilst battling in a very male dominated world.

I love the childhood friends to enemies to lovers trope and Rebecca has delivered exceptionally well with this one - Connor and Sienna's relationship was so much fun to read about. Even though Connor came across as cocky, we get to see a deeper side of him as he slowly opens up.

Overall a great sports romance, probably one of my favourite formula one romances and I can't wait to read what Rebecca Chase conjures up next.

In this book we follow along with Senna Coulter and Connor as they navigate their new work reality. Senna is the new boss of Coulter Racing and also Connor’s new boss. This book is definitely a slow burn and a second chance romance. I absolutely love the brother’s best friend trope and this was right up my alley!
I’m a huge lover of Formula 1 and “Start Your Engines” was a great book to kick start the 2025 Formula 1 season. I rate it 4 stars.

A refreshing take in the F1 romance genre. You don't get many F1 romances that are a driver x principal story but this ones does it. Overall I love the story and the idea of the romance. The F1 is mostly believable unlike others I have read in the genre and the trauma and trials the characters face seem like something that could happen. I do with that some of the relationships were fleshed out a bit more and not just quick tied up in a neat bow, but I get that doing so can make a book longer then necessary but I would have liked to see more drawn out growth from certain characters and not just an immediate turn around.

Thank you @netgalley , @victoryeditingngc and @rebeccahchase for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was my second ARC from Chase, and it absolutely didn’t disappoint!

Star Your Engines is a fantastic cozy sports romance that deepened my love for Formula 1 even more.

I really enjoyed Senna’s journey as she fought to thrive in a male-dominated industry, and the representation of strong women was truly refreshing.

Connor was an incredible character—cocky yet deeply vulnerable, and his devotion to Senna was everything. His care for those around him, despite having so few people to truly care for him in return, made his character even more compelling. His dirty talk was obviously another great quality of his!

As always, the side characters (including the kitties!) added so much to the story, and I’m beyond excited that another book is coming.

If you’re looking for a hot yet cozy romance with great characters, this one is a must-read!

3.5 rounded up - Thank you, NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the eARC of Start Your Engines by Rebecca Chase.

I say this in every F1 romance review: I love F1 romance books… but I have never watched an actual F1 race. Will that stop me from devouring every single one I can get my hands on? Absolutely not.

Start Your Engines follows team leader Senna and her ex-best friend, Connor—who just so happens to be the lead driver on her team. There is a lot more to their story, but I recommend just going in blind and enjoying the ride. This book is packed with tropes: brother’s best friend, best friends to lovers, and even a hint of second-chance romance. I especially loved how it uplifted women and showcased their strength in a male-dominated sport.

That said, I did struggle with the believability of some plot points, but this could be from my lack of real life experience with the sport. And if you’re not a fan of heavy pop culture references, be warned—there’s a lot of Taylor Swift in this one. Even as a dedicated Swiftie, I found the mentions a bit over the top at times, pulling me out of the story.

Since I’m not an F1 expert, I can’t say how accurate the racing elements are, but I think fans of the sport will still enjoy this one. Just a heads-up—it’s very British, so be prepared for some UK slang (which I love) along the way.

Overall, I had fun with this book and can’t wait to see where the series goes next!

Check out my review of Start Your Engines also on Goodreads and Fable!

This story delivers a thrilling mix of F1 drama, romance, and redemption. Once a promising racer, Senna Colter now fights to save her family’s struggling team. Her only hope? Connor Dane, her brother’s best friend and the man responsible for her career-ending crash. Their chemistry is undeniable, but their relationship is a dangerous secret that could cost them everything. I loved the balance of tension, ambition, and emotion. Senna is a fierce, determined heroine, and Connor’s guilt and protectiveness make him a compelling lead. The slow burn kept me hooked, and once things ignited, it was pure fire! Perfect for F1 fans, this book is a must-read. I can't wait for book #2!

“You’re the one woman I desire, and everyone else fades into fiction.”

Okay hear me out, whilst I really enjoyed this book and the characters and I would absolutely read the rest of the series, I just feel like there’s something holding me back from rating it higher.

I am a huge f1 fan and I think because I know a decent amount about the sport I was put off by the over explanations and some parts were just so far fetched. Like I get that it’s fiction but I also want it to be somewhat believable.

That being said, I did find this a really fun read with a plot that was easy to follow and had tension, angst, spice & romance that I loved!

🏎️ f1 romance
🏁 brothers best friend
🏎️ boss x employee
🏁 secret romance
🏎️ childhood friends to enemies to lovers


3.5 ⭐️

I really loved them together and I really liked the progression and character development that both characters had! It was also really great to see someone like Senna who had a career ending injury not let that define her! I will say that I still have mixed feelings about her dad cause that fact that he never believed in his daughter still runs a little deep for me! I don’t know anything about F1 so I can’t speak to the sports aspect in the book being accurate, but I can say that they were pretty important moments and not just added in there for the effect.

Connor Dane! I liked you, you were the perfect match for Senna. Your backstory was so enduring, the actions you take for family are unparalleled and it needs to be said that what you did, everyone and I mean everyone will thank you for it after they realize it!

I had the pleasure of reading this book early thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing!! 🩷

I got this book as my first ARC and I have to say I love it! It’s a good story, Very easy to read , good sports romance and a brothers best friend to lovers plot. The struggles of a Woman I a man’s world and themes as mental heath in sports are in this book.
I will recommend these to my bookish friends

I really enjoyed this book! I went in with no expectations, but found it much more enjoyable than I thought it would be. I haven't read many F1 romance books yet, but this book will go into the 'very good' pile of the genre. I saw that there's a second book coming and I'll be sure to check it out because I'm quite attached to the characters in this book and want to see what happens next with them. I also plan on reading more from this author because I enjoyed this book so much.

I went in expecting a bad boy, but Connor? He’s loyal, caring, and impossible not to love. And then there’s Senna. In a sport dominated by men, she’s out there proving she belongs, pushing limits, and always putting her team first. I admire that about her, and honestly, I hope we see more women like her in racing.

We get smut (the good kind), character growth, a conflict that actually gets resolved, and a well-earned happy ending. Oh, and did I mention there’s a kitten? Because there’s a kitten.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC! I was so happy when I got approved for this, especially since I’m a huge F1 fan! Reading this just before the new season starts was perfect.

Main characters named Senna, Niki, and Ralf? This one’s for the real fans, haha. Also, Taylor Swift? Count me in!

This was pretty much the perfect book for me. I really enjoyed reading it. Women in motorsports is a topic that’s very close to my heart—I know from firsthand experience that most people won’t take you seriously. All the women in this book have my heart. I love that Senna is the first female team boss, Jacs is a female lead engineer, and of course, Tawny, the first woman in the sport. The representation was much appreciated, and I genuinely hope real Formula 1 can look like this in the (near) future! Another thing this book did really well was the mental health rep.

I had so much fun reading this! I went in without any expectations, but apparently, Rebecca Chase knows how to write a good F1 romance. It was very accurate regarding the sport itself. I liked that the book mentioned real-life Formula 1 drivers as well as Grand Prix races. The plot was solid, and I really appreciated that it wasn’t just about the romance—Formula 1 actually played a big role. However, it did drag a bit in the middle, especially once the characters started sleeping together. There were also some pretty big time jumps that confused me. And honestly… they were a little too horny in public for my liking. Don’t come for me.

Connor was a cinnamon roll, so I don’t quite understand how he was supposed to be marketed as a "playboy"—he’s far from that. The dirty talk didn’t match his character at all. I really enjoyed the first 50%, but I found myself cringing quite a bit through the last half. Connor’s character felt like it did a complete 180. I also didn’t love that Senna’s love essentially "healed" him… that’s not how this works. That said, their chemistry was still fun at times, especially in the beginning. I just wish his character arc had felt more consistent.

And okay, I’m sorry, but ew—why does Senna walk around the office barefoot… even to the bathroom?

Final thoughts: If you’re an F1 fan, you’ll probably love this one! The writing was engaging, and despite a few issues with pacing and character development (and cringing sometimes), I still had a great time reading it. I’d absolutely recommend it and can’t wait for book two—aka, Niki’s book! So excited to find out what he was up to when he disappeared.

🌟🌟🌟.5 STARS

ARC provided by netgalley. Thank you so much for the opportunity to review 🤗

RACING ONTO YOUR BOOKSHELVES THIS FRIDAY MARCH 14

Tropes:
❤️ friends to lovers
🏎️ f1 romance
❤️ found family
🏎️ badass FMC/women in motorsports rep
❤️ brothers best friend.

This book handled these things well: women in motorsports and having to prove themselves (you have a comms director turned boss, lead mechanic, and drivers). The mental health of drivers, especially after a crash. Family expectations and dealing with family who doesn’t believe in you like you want them to.

I was so excited to read this one based off the description and it had so much potential but I feel like I was just let down a little. I loved the first 35-50% of the book but it felt like the first half and second half were disjointed and the writing felt cringey? I’ve read a lot of F1 romances over the past two years so I’ve maybe become more picky with them but I just couldn’t get into this one as much as others.
Also the references/mentioning of Taylor Swift will date this book (this coming from a Swiftie) 💖

The whole last bit with the Taylor swift concert and shoutout were very unrealistic but overall it was a great time. I appreted Senna not needing a protector and Connor respecting that. The switch from them not liking each other to having an amiable relationship to lovers was a little abrupt for my liking but overall I enjoyed the book.