I couldn’t finish this book. Both of the main characters were awful and the dialogue was cringe. The spicy scenes were weird. The book also felt oddly dated? Just overall a no. Stopped around 35%. Disregard star rating.

I struggled with the MMC who did not seem to take no for an answer. It felt uncomfortably like lack of consent and I did not enjoy reading.

This one was not for me, but I hope it finds its audience.

I unfortunately have some mixed feelings about this book. While I enjoyed the sports aspect and the forbidden/workplace romance trope is always fun, there were a few things that didn’t quite land the way I feel like they were intended.

I love a flawed, unlikeable main character with good intentions and bad execution. Phaedra had all the makings to be just that, but she missed the mark just a bit by letting her emotions drive her words and actions despite a constant internal reminder to do the opposite. She often hit below the belt in arguments with others, and her relationship with her best friend was leaning towards frenemies.

The relationship dynamic between the two leads was hot and cold, and it worked sometimes. They were both very passionate and a little hotheaded, so their conflicts always made sense, but it did make me wonder whether they were actually supposed to be together. In a lot of ways, they were able to meet each other in instances other people couldn’t, but their fights were toxic and even got violent. I wish we got to see more of the good stuff that they talked about (shared interests and domestic situations), but we mostly got some good banter, spice, and arguments.

Cosmin’s backstory was so interesting and I loved how Phaedra helped him achieve some character growth throughout the book. I just wish it went both ways as her development fell short to me. There was definitely some there, but the pacing felt off and the ending was rushed, kind of robbing her of the opportunity to fully show some growth.

Overall, it was fine. I’d definitely recommend if you’re looking for an F1 romance with a feisty FMC and an MMC who speaks multiple languages and falls first (and harder). I enjoyed myself and laughed and swooned over lots of moments, but I’m not sure this was fully for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this arc!

Double Apex, written by Josie Juniper, follows the captivating tale of a brilliant engineer and a cocky racecar driver who find themselves in a forbidden arrangement in this fiery enemies-to-lovers romance. This must-read novel is sure to enthrall F1 enthusiasts and STEM aficionados alike with its thrilling storyline and dynamic characters. As they navigate the high-stakes world of Formula 1 racing, tensions rise between the engineer's meticulous attention to detail and the driver's daring, risk-taking nature. Their forbidden romance adds an extra layer of complexity to their already intense relationship, making for a gripping read that will keep me on the edge of my seat until the very last page. Double Apex is a must-have for anyone who loves a good love story set against the backdrop of fast cars and fierce competition.

Formula 1 race engineer Phaedra Morgan has an intense dislike for her team's star driver, Cosmin Ardelean, who the team hired over her push for a new, upcoming female driver. After a weekend of forced proximity to improve team camaraderie and communication, the two realize their dislike is hiding a sizzling attraction.

Unfortunately this was a miss for me, and I ended up skimming most of the second half of the book. The characterization of the main characters felt pretty flat and inconsistent, and I didn't feel like I really understood why Phaedra hated Cosmin so much--and then, why they started up a relationship so quickly. I felt like I got whiplash trying to keep up with their changing feelings, especially Phaedra's. The relationship developed so quickly that I didn't really understand why they started liking each other at all. There was also a side plot revolving around Phaedra's strained relationship with her friend, in which Phaedra really comes off as a bad friend. Just all around, neither of the main characters was particularly likeable (lots of other reviewers have commented on Cosmin's sexist comments and Phaedra's borderline verbal abuse and general shitty behavior), and I didn't feel like they had enough chemistry for me to want to root for their relationship.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Made it 21% in but wasn’t feeling it. Didn’t like the Hero at all. I appreciate the backstory the author was building for him but the disrespect for a woman in authority and the sexual harassment was not coming across in any way charming or flirtatious. It was. Sexual. Harassment.
And the Heroine seemed to abandon her convictions incredibly quickly and just switched to lust motivated faster than the F1 vehicles on a straightaway. I had no desire to continue.

Double Apex was my second F1 romance and it didn't miss! What did miss was the writing. I think for a debut author, Josie Juniper did well and I think with more experience and refinement, she's going to be a future powerhouse. Unfortunately for me, the poor writing really took away from the story. No tension was built. There were a lot of opportunities to build tension and each opportunity fell flat. I struggled for the first 50% of this book to get into it. I found the FMC, Phae, to be very pretentious and I really struggled to like her. I wasn't getting STEM FMC, I was getting pretentious, spoiled, genius kid. Cos as the MMC was more relatable, but his POVs were also a struggle to get through. I don't want to list out my issues because I don't want this review to be a rant, I want it to be positive. There is absolute room for growth and I can't wait to see it in future books.

I sooo wanted to like this. How often, after all, do we get a rom com with a female character like Phaedra-an engineer- set in the world of F1? Well, we haven't. Unfortunately, it is the behavior of Cosmin that turned me away. I know his persistence is meant to be attractive but it's really harassment and very inappropriate workplace behavior. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Over to others.

Cute romance for F1 lovers and F1 newbies alike. Myself being a Formula 1 fan, I enjoyed the actual F1 talk about the rules, the tracks, pit times, etc. But it was also done well enough that if you know nothing about F1, you'll understand what's going on and it won't be overwhelming.

Phaedra and Cosmin had the best banter, and it was even better that she was his race engineer. My only complaint is the fact that even on their drive to the airport to Santorini at the beginning of the book, they end up liking each other and getting along after practically being at each other's throats. It just felt too insta love and I wasn't vibing with that. But as the story progressed, it's hard not to fall in love with Cosmin and Phaedra.

The banter was exquisite and I loved the emotions. I did feel there was a bit too much that happened off page, but I still had a great time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

While the book has a fun premise surrounding F1 , its execution was less than ideal. It felt like reading a fan fiction at times with verbiage thrown in to capture a young girl’s attention. I truly wanted to enjoy it for the premise alone but ultimately it fell flat for me.

I really loved this a lot, and I’m not afraid to admit I was worried because it was totally different to any other F1 romance I’ve read, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Phae is not the perfect FMC and I feel like this book really tests you. She has such a strong inner voice, she’s abrasive, shocking, and kind of insane…but you can’t help but love her. She really does have her faults and she doesn’t end up perfect at the end of the book, but she had the perfect ending that she deserved and I LOVED that.

The POVs are so unique and distinguishable, both MCs had unique voices and styles with their own deep and complex backgrounds.

Cos was such an angel. Again, not perfect by a long stretch, but less of a shock to the system than Phae. He learns a lot and you really root for him.

In summary, Double Apex is bold, and loud, and hilarious, and might not be everyone’s cup of tea…but I promise the characters will stick with you and will make you feel things. ALL the things, actually. I cried like an infant at the end of this. I wanted to throw my kindle across the room. I wanted to grab a fictional character by the shoulders and give her a good old shake because she was SO hard for me to like, but I still forgave her.

If you’re looking for an easy ride for a few hours, Josie Juniper isn’t going to give you that. She’s going to challenge you.

She will give you difficult characters that you want to throttle but also want to hug, drama you roll your eyes at but can’t stop reading, racing knowledge only an F1 fan of several years could provide, and a whole lot of heart.

4,5

Ok so at first I was unsure of this one. But as it went on, i fell more and more in love with these characters and their relationship. This was the first book I have read that involves F1 racing. I loved the workplace romance aspect of this book, as it gave much more meaning to their relationship. As a driver, Cosmin really has to trust Phaedra's feedback and strategy although during this time they don't have the best relationship. I think it provides such a good base for their relationship to become more though. There is this tension between them that leads to layers being pulled back and them seeing each other past their work positions and getting to know the person underneath. Other than the romance, I found Phaedra and her father's relationship to be touching. It definitely brought tears to my eyes, which I wasn't expecting to happen. This was a great first book in this Frontrunners series, and I am excited to read more in this universe and from this author.

I unfortunately did not connect with this book and had to dnf at 60%. The writing isn't bad, the story itself just wasn't for me. I may try again in the future but as of right now, I have to move on.

⭐⭐⭐💫

TROPES
🛞 Rivals to Lovers
🛞 Forbidden Workplace Romance
🛞 He Falls First

My in-laws watch a ton of Formula 1, so I am trying to get more into it, and I’m doing that through books. As someone who knows the bare minimum, this was a great read in that it gave me exactly what I needed to know and all the points and such made sense.

I had a lot of fun reading this book. It’s fast paced and because it followed the season, the characters were constantly in new places and having new experiences, which made for a quick read. I liked the dynamic between Phaedra and Cosmin, especially as they finally leaned into it. Both are going through some intense situations in their personal lives, and it’s nice that they let themselves have moments of happiness with each other.

That said, as much as I enjoyed reading this book, I think the needed character development was shafted to the end of the story. When something came up with 5% left, I was confused because it could’ve been utilized and addressed much earlier in the story. It could’ve made a real impact, and instead was more of a parting note, which I think was a detriment to the character. Honestly, considering the ideas he’s grappling with, it was a bummer not to see more growth in Cosmin.

F1 romance is a yes for me! Just struggled with the female main character. It took too long for me to understand her attitude. But I truly enjoyed the writing style and would read more in this series based on other characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a complicated one for me to write a review on. I liked it but certainly didn't love it and definitely didn't hate it. I think what I struggled with most was liking Phaedra's character. She just was not it for me. That being said, I did love Cosmin's character. His story intrigued me and I loved his chapters. I did not enjoy Phaedra's chapters until she FINALLY started to change after her dad passed. There are plenty of stories I've read where a parent dies for seemingly no reason; however, it needed to happen in this one. I loved her relationship with her dad and his ability to still help her even after he passed. I will say I am extremely curious about book two because I want to know what happens with Nat and Klaus. Like I said, I liked this one. Cosmin definitely saved the story for me on this one.

3.5/5 stars

This is a spicy sports forbidden romance about Formula One racing. This is the first book in the Frontrunners series. The next book will be about a different couple.

The book alternates between the male and female POVs. The Romanian hero (Cosmin) is a race car driver and the heroine (Phaedra) is a race engineer.

I really like sports romances. And I absolutely love the sport in this book. I think that this is the first race car driving/Formula One book that I’ve read. I also really liked that each group of chapters take place in a different location (following the Formula One season around the world).

I also really liked Phaedra's job. I love reading about women in STEM.

The book was a quick read. The characters were unlikeable at times, which made me not love the romance as much as I wanted to. However the forbidden aspect of the romance was so fun. There were definitely some darker subjects that made this book more serious than I was expecting. Overall, I think that this book has made me want to look for more Formula One sports romances.

Thanks, Forever, for the arc!

(3.5 stars) This book review is a two-fold review for me. I liked it, but it had a lot of problems. The two big things to take away from my review before you read it are to check your content warnings. And would I read this author again? Yes. And now on to the main event - the review:

I’ve read another Formula 1 romance book and kept thinking while reading DOUBLE APEX by Josie Juniper: "Why have I not read more?!?” Fast cars. Exotic locals. Sexy men. Intelligent and gorgeous women. Please tell me what more you could want? Plus, in this novel, Cosmin and Phaedra add a nice amount of witty banter and chemistry to all that.

First and foremost, I must say that I had a big issue with the book and almost DNF’d it right at the beginning. Cosmin calls Phaedra nicknames and makes sexual innuendos when they work together as driver/race engineer. When asked to stop, he doesn’t. He also doesn’t take no for an answer. And Phaedra is told, “That’s just how he is.” I can handle a jerk MMC, but not a douchecanoe who doesn’t understand consent. But everything wrong isn’t all his fault because Phaedra has issues, too: with consent, anger, and physical abuse. They have an interesting love story, but it’s not easy. So, please, again, check your triggers.

You’re probably wondering, “Katie, why did you finish this book when you are known to DNF?” When I read a sports romance, I like to learn about the sport, feel like I’m cheering for that team, and have a story with characters on the side. Juniper has written a story like with DOUBLE APEX. Also, I was on a plane and told myself I would wait until food service came by before I decided to quit. I reached a point where Phaedra and Cosmin talked - no sexy teasing, yelling about cars, or witty banter - they talked about life, and I realized there was more to the story, and it hooked me in.

Besides having a fantastic name, I liked Phaedra. She was smart, and seeing her do a typical man’s job was awesome. I don’t think Cosmin will ever be a book boyfriend for me, but he has his moments that I like. I also liked his Romanian representation. And the ending of the book does make me smile.

Check your triggers first, then follow your heart. Experience an F1 racing romance book.

Content warnings: (per author in the book) the illness and death of a main character’s family member during the story, moderated mentions of past child abuse, sexually explicit content, profanity; (from my reading observations) cancer, physical abuse, emotional abuse, gaslighting

I enjoyed this one a lot. It made me laugh and swoon. I don’t read many racing romances but this one knocked it out of the park! The cover drew me in and I loved the sweet story!