I always love an F1 romance, but an MM?!? Yes please!
I had a great time with this one and the audiobook was done really well too.

This book was absolutely amazing. I loved every minute of it.

Harper James is the new rookie on the racing team, and Kian Walker, a legend in the sport, has no patience for is irresponsible partying ways. They don't get along at all from day one. But over time, they help each other and start to see the good in each other which of course leads to feelings! This is a romance novel ;)

Each character had their own journey and personality. The author does a great job at developing these characters. I loved that they had to go through some stuff separately before they could end up together.

The racing aspect of the book was also very interesting. I don't have a lot of knowledge or experience with this sport, but the author did a great job at writing it in an understandable way without drowning you in the details. It was a great backdrop for the story and didn't overwhelm the character development that I was the most invested in.

I LOVED the narrators. Both of their voices were amazing and I will be looking up more audios by them in the future.

I love the premise of this book, but it did not hit the mark for me.

I liked Kian's background story and family and how it contrasted with Harper's upbringing. I feel like there was more emotional depth with Kian, maybe because he was older, than with Harper which made me sad because I feel like we could have seen more growth in him throughout the second part of the book instead of what felt like all at the end.

One thing that took my out of the story some were the inaccuracies regarding F1. I do not know all the details about the sport, but from what I have watched with my brother somethings seemed off such as passing on a yellow flag. The set up of them bring forced together because of the change was also a good set up of the story, and I liked seeing them travel and live together.

I wish the pacing of the book felt more consistent, and I felt like we were randomly getting side characters that did not always add to the plot and move the story along. Is this going to be part of a series? If so, I could see why we had an increased inclusion of the owner's (can't remember if that is what he is called) son and Harper's best friend.

I enjoyed the narration for the book, and I think that kept me a little more engaged than I think I would have been if I read this in print. While I did not love the book as a whole, I saw potential in the story telling and will probably give this author another chance.

I received a digital review copy from NetGalleyof this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

F1 and romance have quickly become my new favorite genre, and this story perfectly showcases why! The plot centers around two Formula 1 drivers who are thrust into an unexpected partnership after an injury sidelines one of their teammates. This setup leads to a compelling enemies-to-lovers dynamic that drives the narrative.

Kian, a seasoned F1 champion with multiple titles under his belt, is known for his composed and methodical approach to racing. In contrast, he’s paired with Harper James, a rookie known for his cocky demeanor and fiery temper. Harper's reputation precedes him; he’s often seen as the wild card on the track, drawing both admiration and criticism from fans and fellow drivers alike. As these two very different personalities are forced to share a motorhome during the European leg of the season, tensions rise and the stakes become even higher.

Throughout the season, Kian and Harper initially clash as they navigate their conflicting racing styles and personalities. Their attempts to keep their emotions in check become increasingly difficult as they spend more time together, and the competitive atmosphere only adds to the tension. Despite their differences, a compelling chemistry begins to brew, leading to moments of vulnerability and unexpected connection.

While I enjoyed the overall narrative and character development, I found myself wishing the enemies-to-lovers aspect had been more pronounced. There were times when I craved additional suspense to heighten the stakes of their budding relationship. Nevertheless, it was an engaging and quick read, and you know I’ll never turn down an F1 romance!

Pole Position is a story about identity, pressure, and learning to embrace who you are. Kian wrestles with the shadow of his father’s reputation, struggling to separate who he wants to be from who he thinks he has to be. Harper, on the other hand, hides his vulnerabilities behind a devil-may-care attitude, refusing to let anyone see past the confident exterior. Their journey is one of self-acceptance, trust, and the courage to take risks—not just on the track but with their hearts.

James Joseph and Joshua Chase deliver phenomenal performances, bringing Kian and Harper’s dynamic to life with incredible chemistry and emotional depth.

James Joseph captures Kian’s quiet intensity, his controlled demeanor cracking just enough to show the raw emotion beneath. His delivery of Kian’s internal struggles makes you feel every moment of doubt, longing, and frustration.

Joshua Chase is Harper—his cocky charm, his sharp wit, and the underlying vulnerability that seeps through when he least expects it. The way he balances Harper’s bravado with his more tender moments makes for a truly compelling performance.

Together, they make this audiobook an electrifying listen. Whether it’s the adrenaline of the race or the slow burn between Kian and Harper, Pole Position keeps your pulse pounding from start to finish.

The narration for this book was great! I love when a book has two POVs and then they use two different narrators in the audiobook. This was the first F1 romance book I've ever read, and I really enjoyed it. I watch F1 with my husband, so I think having knowledge about the sport definitely helped but wasn't necessary to enjoy the book. I love a good enemies-to-lovers story, and this one was perfect. I loved the chemistry between Harper and Kian. The spicy was pretty great too! I do wish that there had been more on Kian's father and Harper's realization that Kian's father was not a very good guy. This book was an emotional rollercoaster, but I was very happy with the ending. Now I just need to know what's up with Johannes!

Cute MM F1 romance! If you’re a fan of Red White & Royal Blue or Boyfriend Material - this will be in your lane! The balance of the sport & the relationship just made sense! The narrators were so good - such a fun listen!

This was so cute I loved it!! Just the right amount of spice with a great plot. I don’t know much about F1 but this book made me want to dive into the world more. It was refreshing to see a different sport portrayed. It’s also nice to read a queer romance that’s not focused on coming out and more just every day life and falling in love.

Looking forward to the next book to see what’s up with Johanas!

3.5 stars! I really enjoyed this one. I loved the romance and the racing talk. I do wish there was more talk of the sport but it was very good. I loved Kian and Harper.

The audio narrators did an amazing job as well. They both captured the voices and attitudes of the characters perfectly.

Thanks for the arc! This audiobook was really well produced, but unfortunately, the story itself made me feel awkward and out of touch with reality. Like, there’s this line in the book: "That Harper James can just waltz in here, treat all the careful training, scheduling, and clear instructions from the team principal like a joke, and still get on the podium." And I was like, "Yeah?? so the heck why?? why should that be okay??😰" So I’m giving it three stars overall—one for the book itself and two for the audiobook production. The narration deserves a better story, but the plot just felt too childish for me.

This was such a good book and audiobook. I loved the characters and cannot wait to put this on display, especially because I think there need to be more f1 romances.

What a ride—literally and figuratively! This book delivers a high-speed blend of Formula 1 intensity, sizzling romance, and just the right amount of angst to keep you hooked from start to finish. The enemies-to-lovers tension crackles on every page, making each interaction between the characters feel electric. There’s a perfect balance of heart-pounding racing action and deeply emotional moments, with a touch of heartbreak that makes the story all the more compelling. If you love a romance that brings the heat both on and off the track, this one is an absolute must-read.

The narration of the audiobook adds so much depth, making the characters feel even more alive and the emotions hit even harder. The layered performances truly enhance the drama, tension, and passion woven throughout the plot. Whether you read or listen, this book is completely binge-worthy, and I can’t wait to see what this author does next!

I enjoyed reading this book! This was my first F1 romance and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I really enjoyed that aspect of it, and F1 fans seem relatively please with the representation of the sport in this book.

I thought this was one of the best renditions of the “I’m too damaged for you” trope that I’ve experienced

This was such a great story! I loved the racing aspect and that is a very masculine field and these two very masculine men find each other and help each other better them selves mentally and in their profession. Both main characters are in new waters with this relationship and where that cause a riff or two they communicate and resolve their issues.

If you liked Red, White, and Royal Blue you’ll eat this book up.

A cute MM F1 romance! I absolutely loved this ALC. the narration was perfection!

Enemies to lovers
Grumpy/sunshine
Forced Proximity
Spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️/🌶️
Sports romance 🏎️

This book is not new or original, but sometimes you just want to read about some smutty racecar drivers. The audiobook was really delightful to listen to, their accents were delicious. Their dynamic was great, you could really see how they evolve over time. You can 100% think someone as annoying as Hell, but think they are attractive - and I think that describes Kian and Harper's relationship perfectly in the beginning. They do have a "third act break-up" type situation, which feels perfectly natural for their characters, but I still hate when it happens in books. However, I love that they were able to talk about it and come out stronger on the other side. I know nothing about formula 1 or racing and still found this to be an enjoyable read. There were so many moments in this book that I found myself laughing out loud, squealing, or blushing. The story really drew a lot of emotion from me, and while the plot wasn't prize worthy - not every book out there needs to be.

The author's style reminds me a lot of Alexis Hall - specifically Boyfriend Material. If you liked that, I like you'll like this. I would say that is a better comparison than Red, White and Royal Blue. I've had this book on my list for so long and I'm annoyed it took so long to finally get around to reading it.

Thanks to #NetGalley for an e-copy #PolePosition to read and review.

{ 🎧 Pole Position }
by Rebecca J. Caffery

★ ★ ★.5
Narrator(s): Joshua Chase | James Joseph
Length: 10h 3m
Source: ALC - NetGalley, Harper Audio Adult, One More Chapter
Release Date: July 2024

•••••••
Kian Walker and Harper James—pretty much hate each other. The first 35% of this book is HARD to get through because of it. It’s rough. They’re childish. And I almost DNF’d it.

Then they really hit it off and I was like FINALLY. We get a few hot scenes and then more drama drama, y’all. I mean, it was good, but this is not a happy story. It’s emotional and really delved into the complications of abandonment and grief.

I feel like we got more plot development than relationship development and because this is market as a queer romance, that was a bit of a bummer.

While I didn’t really enjoy the story as a whole(because I thought this book would be more light hearted) the writing is pretty good! I wish we had a little better ending as well, and I’m not sure I’ll continue this series, but it was quick enough to not really matter.

NARRATION:
Joshua Chase and James Joseph did a really good job, although I couldn’t really tell their voices apart until the end. I was able to listen at 2x speed though and whoever did Harper’s character would talk way too low at certain times that really threw me off.

𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
🏁 queer sports (formula 1 racing) romance
🏎️ enemies to lovers
🏁 grumpy x sunshine
🏎️ forced proximity

{I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. All reviews are my own.}
•
•
•

A quick a fun read! As a F1 fan, I loved listening to his book because it kept me sucked in with Kian and Harper. Kian, the principle, is paired with Kian, the wild rookie, when his teammates is sidelined with an injury. Sparks fly! With enemies to lovers/forced proximity tropes, the F1 season becomes the background to teammates romance.

3.75⭐️

🏁Pole Position, by Rebecca J. Caffery
⭐ 4.5 stars

Finished Reading: January 31, 2025
Reading Challenge: 19/100 books read in 2025

** Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook arc, I’m thrilled to review this book.

Kian Walker is a champion Formula One driver who wants to defend his title for a fifth season running, but when his teammate is out on an injury and they bring in an arrogant hot shot rookie with a penchant for getting into trouble, it starts looking like Kian might be headed for trouble too.

From the jump it was clear that Kian was going to be different from the typical cocky athlete type, his commitment to family, his mother, sister and niece and nephew waa admirable, and his work ethic was clear. Harper James is of course, everything that Kian isn’t, young, cocky, obnoxious and reckless.

Their dynamic was clear from the beginning: a younger driver who idolizes his hero and an experienced driver who sees everything he hates about his absent father in who should be his protege. I loved the rivalry between Kian and Harper and was so glad that they didn’t lose that banter and competitive spirit even when they became lovers instead of just rivals.

There were so many moments to love about this book, but my personal favorite was when Harper called Kian when he got food poisoning. It was adorable to watch Kian give into Harper and draw out a side of himself that Harper hadn’t ever seen before. Daddy!Kian is so hot, and watching him take care of Harper was honestly so swoonworthy.

Pole Position is extremely heavy on the spice, but there was so much heart infused into this book, Harper dealing with his abandonment issues and learning to trust someone else, letting someone else show him he’s worthy of love was honestly beautiful, and Kian’s relationship with his family was wonderful. What really had me sobbing was the ending, when Harper shoes up for Kian in a big way, I felt such an emotional reaction when I was reading the scene at Kian’s mother’s wake.

I was provided with an audiobook arc of this book, and I loved the narrators. They provided two really distinct voices and told the story really convincingly. I would highly suggest checking this out in audiobook form, because it was a great, really easy listen.
1 like

The audiobook version of Pole Position delivers an engaging listen but leaves room for improvement. The narrators do a solid job, bringing energy to the story with clear, expressive delivery. The men reading are skilled and able to capture the excitement of the high-stakes world of racing, adding intensity to the moments when needed.

However, the characters in the story come across as a bit over the top at times, making it hard to always connect with them in a realistic way. The dramatization of certain events and personalities feels exaggerated, which may detract from the authenticity of the narrative, especially for fans who are familiar with Formula 1. The portrayal of the sport itself is not always entirely accurate either—some aspects of the racing world are simplified or distorted for the sake of the plot.

For those who aren’t die-hard F1 fans, these discrepancies may not be as noticeable, but for purists, they could be a bit distracting. That said, the pacing of the story keeps things moving, and the voice performances definitely help to maintain interest.

In conclusion, while Pole Position offers an entertaining listen, especially for those who enjoy the drama and thrill of motorsport, it’s not the most realistic or nuanced take on Formula 1 racing. Fans of the genre may enjoy it for its fast-paced nature, but others may find the characterizations and accuracy lacking.