Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was cute!

Given that this is Simone Soltani's debut book, this had some sweet components. The characters were great and I loved the interactions + relationships between the characters. Excited to see more about them in the future? ;)

Cross the Line is such an exciting F1 romance, and proves the point how much we need of the sport in romance books. What made this book better was the POC rep in F1 sport. I seriously need more POC F1 romances PLEASE!!!!

Willow and Dev are characters that will make you smile, I hope you end up falling in love with them because they are truly precious.

Some part of the book that I believe I should highlight is that this book has a pretty rushed ending and a little confusing timeline.

The last chapter has a combined POV that splits the chapter, and we are hit with a LOT to unpack. Plot and Ending wise, I wish that the author would have incorporated this earlier into the book, just so that the reader wouldn't be overwhelmed in the end.

Like it was mixed with a TWIST and your typical sweet epilogue material so it was hard to point out exactly how I felt about the ending.

As for the timeline, you'll see what I mean if you chose to read the book. In one of the chapters, there's a confusing time flashback but it's not clarified that it's a flashback until later on.

It was also kinda hard to pinpoint what exactly was the plot of the book, so I consider the book to be more of a filler kind then one that really has a sense of direction.

Apart from that, it was a cute book! I am excited to see and read more of Simone's work!

Overall I really enjoyed the book!! It has enough content for the people obsessed with F1, as well as enough pining to satisfy the lovers of the slow burn trope. It has the friends to lovers trope as well as the brother’s best friend trope all rolled into one book! It’s definitely a book I would recommend!

I stopped after chapter 3 but the prose is strong, the diverse cast is stellar, and overall this feels like a solid 3-4 star with 5 stars for the right readers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

This is really a 3.5 star rating

Thank you to Berkeley Romance, Simone Soltani, & Net Galley. I was so excited for this book. I love sports romances & this was my first F1 romance. I typically don’t love interracial couples but I was excited for this because it involved two POCs instead of a POC & a WP. I think the book was very culturally diverse & touched on some social issues (misogyny & racism/discrimination in the work place & even the mention of SW).

The book was a cute, solid romance novel. I enjoyed the flirting between Dev & Will so, so much. I liked how considerate Dev was of Willow’s job/reputation, & I loved how everyone around them could see how head over heels Dev was for Willow. I also enjoyed the side characters (I hope Oakley & all the friend group get their own books).

I didn’t love how hard it was keeping track of all the drivers. I feel like I was constantly misplacing who drive for what team & who we as readers were supposed to like/dislike. I also think keeping the secret from Willows brother was a little dramatic. And I feel like the crush Oakley had on dev’s sister was a useless fact (UNLESS he’s getting his own book).

There’s nothing wrong with this book it just wasn’t amazing. It’s definitely enjoyable & if you want something light & easy to read I’d recommend this. Can’t wait to read more by this author.

The most perfect debut F1 romance novel from Simone Soltani! Loved every single second of it and I never wanted it to end!

An incredibly satisfying, fun, and accurate romance set in F1. I loved seeing the parallels between the characters and current teams and drivers, the diversity was incredible and so authentically written, and I absolutely loved this book (and stayed up too late/woke up too early) to finish it.

There is SOMETHING about a sunshine girl and a sunshine boy that makes my heart so HAPPY!! And this was PERFECT! I’m in F1 romance era right now!! And I HOPE this is just the beginning for these characters! Everything about Dev and Willow was perfect! The brothers best friend so we can’t ever act in our feelings which then turns everything into a poorly kept secret since they both have literal hearts in their eyes?! The forced proximity, the slow burn, the caretaking, the fact that she falls first but he falls SO MUCH HARDER?! I loved it all so much!

I love Willow with my WHOLE HEART. She’s just a girl who loves sports but isn’t able to fulfill her dreams the ways she wants because of her chronic illness but finds a way to make it happen!! I also love the way she loves Dev. She knows the real him, who he was before F1 and the way she works to make sure everyone can see that side of him because he deserves it!!

And DEV. He is THE SWEETEST! I love his love of Bollywood movies and that’s why he wants to shoot from the rooftop that he loves Willow?? And the way he loves Willow?? The way he makes her feel so seen!? And taken care of? The way he conducts himself at work where he’s treated poorly?? When he could just act up?? It was tough watching him struggle at work, but watching him get everything he deserves at the end was so good!

The epilogue was long!! And i LOVED it!! It was a little fast paced but I really loved the last minute wrap up!! And the VERY end was my favorite! I can’t wait for what’s next from Simone!!

Thank you to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I absolutely love F1 romances! This one did not disappoint. I was initially drawn to the cover of this book because of how cute it is.

The romance between Willow and Dev was super cute. I love the brother’s best friend trope. It will always be one of my favorites. I also loved the dual pov and chronic illness representation.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

This is a great f1 book. The side characters were great, main characters were great. All in all, I can’t criticize it, it just didn’t give me the wow factor of a five star rating. I would recommend it!

Cross the Line follows Willow who is hired to be a social media manager for her brother's best friend, Dev, an F1 player.

This book was so endearing! Willow and Dev have off-the-page chemistry, and their friendship turned romance made my heart ache. I loved how invested they are in one another and how much they complement each other. Dev is definitely the perfect book boyfriend, and I loved reading about his passion for Bollywood movies! This book converted me into an F1 fan!

I would recommend this book to fans of Sarah Adams and Lauren Asher.

I can't wait to read more books by Simone Soltani! I absolutely loved Willow and Dev. I loved the casual aspect of the disability representation with Willows condition. I really enjoyed their love story and also getting to know other characters in this universe

Don’t mind me, just entering my F1 romance era 🤪

I’ve been in such a weird reading funk lately, but this book didn’t let me down and I was invested in every page!!

I loved how smoothly we jumped into Willow and Dev’s story and learned about their shared kiss a year prior. The tension and forbidden workplace romance was phenomenal between the two and I ate that up!! Siri, play I Can See You by Taylor Swift. The whole reason they were scared to tell Willows brother, Oakley, was because of a past relationship she had with one of his friends that split up the group (but like, we didn’t like him anyways so).

Dev is the absolute sweetest and is constantly looking out for Willow and he’s just so sappy with his Bollywood movies. To some, this may seem like an instant-love romance, but with the years of friendship they have and the kiss they shared, it felt like the perfect friends to lovers romance.

The side characters were amazing as well and I’m so excited to see who’s book we get next! Also, I was NOT expecting that epilogue and my jaw dropped to the floor.

Look, I know nothing about F1 racing, but this was written so well that I actually want to start watching it?? Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an arc in exchange for my honest review!

Some tropes:
-brothers best friend
-forbidden workplace romance
-fantastic banter
-no third act breakup
-friends to lovers

"Cross the Line" by Simone Soltani is an exciting and steamy romance novel that will leave you breathless. The story follows Dev Anderson, a Formula 1 driver whose career is in jeopardy after a social media disaster. Desperate to save his image, he turns to Willow Williams, his best friend's little sister who he kissed last year and hasn't been able to forget.

Willow is a recent college graduate looking for a job, and when Dev offers her a temporary solution, she can't resist. While they both try to keep things strictly professional, the chemistry between them is undeniable. As they navigate the high-stakes world of Formula 1, they must decide whether to cross the line and risk everything for love.

Simone Soltani has created a thrilling and captivating story with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The romance between Dev and Willow is steamy and realistic, and readers will find themselves rooting for them as they try to navigate their complicated feelings for each other.

Overall, "Cross the Line" is a must-read for fans of sports romance and steamy love stories. Simone Soltani has crafted a world that is both exciting and romantic, and readers won't be able to put the book down until they've discovered whether Dev and Willow can make it work.

I thought this was such a fun read! It was cute and fun and I mostly enjoyed it. Some dialogue and scenes felt a little cringey but the characters are young so that was minor. I do wish we would have gotten to know more about willow beyond surface level and I especially wish the racism in Dev’s team would have been discussed a little more. I feel like it would have added more depth to the story but I enjoyed it overall

It’s simple; I adored CROSS THE LINE, and I’d bet you will, too. Both sweet and saucy all at once, Simone Soltani offers readers the best kind of escape here. A great summer read.

I have definitely been in my Formula 1 feels for a while now, so I was excited for a new F1 romance. However, this one really fell flat for me. I thought that the “social media scandal” that Dev faced (fake STD?) felt unrealistic and mildly cringe…and easily fixable? I don’t really think that Willow did anything deserving of getting his social media management role, but I can chalk that up to doing it for the plot.

I did like that it was brother’s best friend trope and that they pretty much grew up together. It also had some cute moments. Overall, I had a lot of trouble feeling invested in this story and caught myself skimming a lot and rolling my eyes. I think this had the bones to be a good book, but ultimately the story just didn’t really hit the mark for me.

Oh my gosh I had so much fun reading this book! I am delighted to share that my first ever experience with F1 romance was a success!

"Cross the Line" delves into the story of Willow and Dev, who have been acquainted since childhood, with Dev being the best friend of Willow's brother, Oakley. Despite a secret kiss shared in the past, their communication dwindled until they cross paths again. Dev offers Willow a job as his social media manager to help improve his image and manage any potential fallout. This story includes various tropes such as brothers' best friend, forced proximity, a South Asian male main character, a Black female main character, representation of chronic illness, a boy obsessed theme, dual points of view, and the central theme of sports romance.

I particularly enjoyed the gradual development of Willow and Dev's relationship and found their interactions endearing. Willow's supportive nature towards Dev, and his reciprocation of care, were heartwarming. Dev's sense of humor added depth to their conversations, showcasing their compatibility. The portrayal of Willow's hypermobility and the F1 element were well-executed, providing insightful information on both subjects. While it took me some time to connect with the characters initially, I eventually found myself immersed in the story and appreciated the absence of a typical third-act breakup due to the forbidden nature of their relationship. Oakley's reaction to their secrecy was realistic, adding a layer of authenticity to the narrative.

Overall, "Cross the Line" is a charming romance with a hint of passion, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. I eagerly anticipate Simone Soltani's future works!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

i looooooveed this book. i literally couldn’t put it down which made it a quick read for me! i appreciated how the author was able to tie in the FMC’s condition into the story line and turn into a form of empowerment rather than something to set the character back in life. it was also super cool to read all the little cultural tidbits associated with the MMC and his family — it made the book so fun! this book is a blend of brother’s best friend x workplace romance but when you throw in fact that they’ve known each other since they were kids?? PERFECTION. and don’t even get me started on the fact that it takes place in the F1 world…everything just fit together so well!!! i really really enjoyed this read & cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy!!

Willow and Dev 🥹🥹 I absolutely loved how well they fit together. Like two puzzle pieces, they were absolutely made for each other.

The slow burn of their relationship was done so well, their love for each other was so tender. Willow was so supportive of Dev and vice-versa. The way Dev treats Willow made my heart so happy!!!

If you’re looking for a sweet read with a little bit of spice, this is the book!! I will definitely be on the look out for all of Simone Soltani’s books!! Definitely recommending this to all of my friends.

Cross the Line ARC review:
⭐️:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶:🌶🌶
Review:

I had the absolute privilege to read this as an ARC read, and I am glad that I was able to read this. This was my first Formula 1 romance, and I love that it was easy to understand. After reading this, I am now obsessed with Formula 1. It was a slow burn, but it definitely did not disappoint. Dev is now on my sports romance book boyfriends roster. I mean, how could he not be! He bought Willow 200 macarons just because she loves them! I love that Willow had a chronic illness representation. Willow was definitely Dev's cheerleader and biggest supporter who understood him at his core! Now, I am not familiar with the Bollywood references, but I did like that there was culture in it. While reading this ARC, I did tell my friends to read this as soon as its released, and they are excited about it!

Favorite Quote: "All the bullshit. All the drama. All the worry. It's gone, and all I know is her. My sunshine. My moon guiding me in the darkness. My Willow."