I guess I’m not a big fan of F1 romances. Or it just wasn’t my time with this one.

Although this seemed to be fast paced, it was a bit too quick to be believable. Maybe executed differently, I’d feel different.

While I will say this was not one of my favorite reads, there were definitely moments where I got drawn into Cos and Phae’s story. I may have almost DNF’d it though after a few of those steamy scenes…the wording at times was just a bit gaggy, without trying to yuck somebody’s yum. Phaedra also may be one of my least favorite characters in this story before her eventual growth. To me it was difficult to imagine someone growing up with a caring family, everything you could pretty much need, and a high IQ, but blaming your constant cruelty on being homeschooled basically…Other than that, the side characters were decent, but I wish there had been more time spent on them, as they felt incomplete. I loved the racing aspects and def would’ve enjoyed more of that as well. It wrapped up alright in the end! I’d give it a 2.75.

✨ Publication date: October 8, 2024✨

Double Apex is the first in a new F1 romance series by Josie Juniper. This is my first by this author and I enjoyed it so I’m looking forward to the next instalment.

Phaedra Morgan is the daughter of Emerald Racing’s owner and one of the best (and few female) race engineers in the business. She is a math prodigy and good at what she does but feels she is constantly trying to prove herself in a mostly male industry and as the bosses daughter.

This would be easier if the newly signed ace Cosmin Ardelean wasn’t part of the team. He’s cocky, has an attitude and his performances on and off the track are typically in the news. Their radio communication is at odds and the race manager forces them to spend some time together to build a better professional relationship.

Their chemistry is off the charts and after a few encounters they agree to a “no strings attached” relationship. Neither of them expected to fall in love and they certainly didn’t expect to be caught breaking the “no dating coworkers” rule.

When Phaedra’s father and team owner falls seriously ill, she misinterprets some of his final worlds to her. She breaks things off with Cosmin in hopes of keeping a professional relationship. Neither of them can handle the break up.

After discovering a letter her dad left for her after he died, Phaedra begins to realize that sometimes love is more important than everything else. Is it too late for her to salvage a future with Cosmin?

This was a good steamy F1 racing story. It was a bit slow at times and dragged a bit in certain parts but the chemistry and spice were on point. This is a 3.5 star rounded to 4.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #josiejuniper #doubleapex

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wish I liked this. I wanted to like this. I was looking forward to an F1 themed romance to try it out and this let me down.

The MMC just has so many behaviors that gave me the ick and would absolutely be considered sexual harassment.

I also didn’t like the FMC. She basically acted bratty the whole time.

This is a no from me and should have been a DNF.

Double Apex was my first by Josie Juniper and it won’t be my last. This was also my first racing romance, and I learned a lot along with enjoying the story, so I appreciate that too!
While the relationship seemed to occur pretty quickly, despite them working together and the lead Female Character asking him to not make comments / sexually harass her at work…. once the story progressed I was super into it. A lot of the flaws of their relationship were miscommunication, which is one of my least favorite tropes. However, the author handled it well and the way the characters grew from it was handled well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever/Grand Central for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

IT was good until it wasnt. I couldn't stand both the FMC and the MMC. DNF at around 30% so I'm generously giving this 3 stars

30% - DNF

Unfortunately, I could not finish this book. I tried to give time to connect with the MCs, but just found them both to be awful. This spice scenes I found to be...uncomfortable. It felt very much like the MMC would not take "no" for an answer. And with a cover that is undoubtedly cute - it just did not work for me, which is disappointing and the potential was there!


*disregard star ratings for DNF

Yikes. Definitely read the trigger warnings for this one, but then also know there's a few more bits beyond the TW... like sexual harassment in the beginning by our MMC and abuse of sorts between our FMC and MMC (I'd call it abuse, but others might not). Regardless, make sure to take care of you when reading this one.

Was so excited to find another F1 book with the female lead on the track in such a male-dominated real life field. But it just was.. nope. Phaedra was MEAN. Cosmin was MEAN. They were both so juvenile in their actions and rather than using words, they often used their bodies and this was something I just couldn't ignore. We use our words, people. Also - spice was meh. Cringy at best. Overall, not my favorite read and I had higher hopes! Thanks for the opportunity to read.

3.25

As someone who loves sports romances I was excited to expand my horizons and try and F1 romance. While I enjoyed this one, I wasn’t blown away and fell a little flat for me. Both main characters came off as immature through large chunks of the story. Phaedra started off really immature, she did grow on me more throughout the story and I liked her by the end but I struggled with her at the beginning of the book. Cosmin, the male main character I also struggled with. He made multiple sexist remarks that I didn’t feel like were necessary. Similar to Phaedra he grew on me more by the end but I just didn’t love either of the main characters. I am glad that I pushed through and finished because I still enjoyed it but this one was definitely forgettable for me.

I enjoyed the book more by the end but honestly just didn’t really vibe with this one.

This book got me out of my months long reading slump! It was definitely a fun and quick read. It made me a new F1 fan which is something I didn’t expect to happen!

I tried this book because I felt like I needed to expand my horizons & try different kinds of romances. That was not a good idea, or rather this book wasn’t the right book to try it with.

Phaedra was so annoying. She was in her 30’s but felt more like a teenager. Cosmin was so rude & sexist I couldn’t stand it.

This book was just a no go for me on all sides.

The story is there and I love some of the moments between the characters. I love Cosmin and his unsent emails to Phaedra. However, sometimes the dialogue was way too cringe for me. These characters appear to be in their 30’s and talk as if they’re in their 20’s. Still, I don’t hate the storyline and I would love to read the second book in this series

DNF @32%

Huge thank you to @readforeverpub @netgalley @hachetteaudio for an advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Such a fun start to a new series! Enemies to lovers but set at the race track! She’s an engineer and the boss’s daughter. He’s a cocky formula one racer but there’s way more to their dynamic. Phaedra and Cosmin have what it takes to make their relationship last outside of a race car! I can’t wait for the next one in the series.

This was such an unexpected book, in the best way. I went expect sexy F1, funny banter… which is all there 100%, but what I didn’t expect was the depth of the storyline for the FMC. I did not expect to be crying my eyes out over this book, but I did. I was very emotionally invested in the story and truly enjoyed it. I look forward to more from this author.

forever pub let me have this book on netgalley after the pub date so i had to push it 😬

however…dnf @ 35%

the mmc, cosmin gave me such an ick, i can’t really explain it but i’ll try my best to describe why i had to put the book down for good. phaedra told him to stop flirting with her and to tone down the sexual remarks and he just DOESN’T. she’s fed up and i’m fed up but she goes ahead and breached the no fraternization part of their contracts anyway. and that part kept coming up in the 35% that i did read. guys pick a side. i’m over it.

I did not finish this book and usually would not review it but I need to express why and give it the rating it deserves. The characters were immature and horrible. I was looking forward to the formula one aspect, but the MMC makes multiple misogynistic comments towards the FMC, the only woman in his male dominated field, and it was just icky. If someone tells you to stop making sexual jokes in the work place and you continue to do so, you are the asshole. Yes this is fictional, so why would you write a love interest that does things like that? The bar is on the floor. Ultimately the choppy prose, the time jumps, and the lack of good characters made this a no go for me.

Double Apex by Josie Juniper is a Formula 1 romance and the first book in the Frontrunners Series. This is the story of Phaedra and Cosmin.
 
Phaedra‘s father owns a Formula 1 team and she grew up in this world and wants part in it as well. She became one of the best race engineers and that was so cool to see. But a lot of people don’t take her seriously and that was so sad because Phaedra is just amazing and strong and so dedicated to her work.
 
Cosmin is a Formula 1 driver, and he lives and breathes this sport. He is charming and a totally bad boy and I immediately fell for him as well. I also liked seeing his Romanian roots and the terms of endearments he used were so romantic. With each page I fell in love more with him and he’s a total bookboyfriend.
 
If it’s a Formula 1 romance, that’s reason enough for me to pick up a book and this story was such a phenomenal one. Both characters absolutely love this sport, and it totally captures the reader as well. These two work together and they have such great banter and don’t like each other much. But behind the scenes they got closer and closer, and their secret relationship was such a great start. Phaedra and Cosmin have the perfect grumpy sunshine dynamic and they become a great team. Absolutely obsessed with this book and I’m already so excited for more from this world.
 
If you like Formula 1 sports romances, Double Apex is a must-read. 5 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

i had to dnf this one. i just did not meld with the fmc and i couldn’t get past it. thank you for the review copy of this book!

this is my frist racing romance, I dont reallly understand teh draw of the sport or why it makes the drivers hot so I didn't love this but I liked the leads

I’m sorry this just wasn’t for me. Less than 50 pages in and they go from hating each other to making out. The way she verbally berates him is borderline abusive. His constant sexualizing of every woman and his comments to her in the workplace is borderline abusive. I couldn’t get past 35% , and I had to force myself to get that far.