I really enjoyed the audiobook! I think the narrators did such a great job bringing the story to life. I will definitely be recommending the audiobook along with this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Adult Audio/One More Chapter, and Harper 30 for providing me with an egalley an audio arc of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I've been looking for a good F1 book. I'm a huge fan and follow pretty closely so I know a lot about the sport, the teams, some of the technology and engineering, even. This is not my first F1 book and so far they have all let me down in one way or another. I picked this one as it made sense to me to read a book in a male dominant field with the main characters as two males. Sadly, this book did not live up to my expectations, either.

Let's start with the audio part of the book. I'm unsurprised the narrators use British voices but I will say Joshua Chase and James Joseph were similar enough that it was sometimes hard to tell them apart. This was annoying if I missed the title of the chapter saying who it was. I could usually pick it out once it got going as the narrators did make the voices of the characters unique enough with tone and inflection, plus the author definitely showed each personality of the characters. The narrator that did Harper's voice had a very low quality of his voice. Almost a whisper at times and I found myself having to rewind to hear what he said.

If the narrators not being to my liking wasn't enough, the entire story and plot line just fell short. I feel like the author needed to do a lot more research into F1. You can see some if it there, while at other times it's severely lacking. It's not believable that two F1 drivers would share a trailer for weeks on end while touring. It's not believable that a reserve driver is brought up and has zero understanding about how to talk to the media; he's getting his first trainings now? Seems highly unlikely. Finally, F1 is an expensive sport. You don't really see poor, orphaned kids who have zero support racing. Where is the money coming from? it just makes zero sense.

As I said above, the author did a good job making the two characters distinct. Kian as the stuck up, regimented driver who doesn't want to deviate from his schedule or be friends and Harper who is carefree and not caring who thinks what of him. He does as he pleases and has no inkling of how his actions hurt or injure others. This was truly the only part of the story that might be believable.

Did I feel the chemistry between these two? Not at all. Was their relationship (love/hate, I guess?) believable? Not really because the attraction they talk about (what the author tells us, rather than shows us) just didn't feel like it was really there. And, since this was the entire premise of the book, the growth of the characters felt stunted and overall underdeveloped. I felt zero connection or empathy for either of these characters. Even when the author gave us a bone and look into the background of the characters, which I would hope would help me connect, I just didn't care enough to feel badly for them in any way.

And the pacing was so slow! I just kept waiting for something to happen by even by 60%, when the characters have finally gotten together in some capacity, it was still just stunted. It dragged and I had to push and push and push to even care to finish it. Once I got annoyed enough with the narrators, I switched to Kindle version. But it did nothing to improve the story.

Overall, I'm completely underwhelmed with this title. There is a lot wrong and I feel like it needs another round of edits to point out where pacing could be picked up, characters could be developed, and story line could use some tweaks.

4⭐️ 2.5🌶️
Contemporary Sports Romance
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Grumpy/Sunshine, Dislike to Lovers, Found Family

Text-
This was a fun read. I haven’t read much formula 1 racing romance and to be honest I know nothing about the sport. I heard there’s some plot holes but I was here for the vibes so I didn’t notice. 🤷‍♀️

The attraction going back and forth between these two was pretty entertaining. They both have family issues/hangups that they needed to deal with.

Audiobook-
I love a duel narration. I thought both narrators did a good job. It looks like James Joseph is based in London so a win with the authentic accent!

The plot itself is so interesting but the narrator’s tongue kept sticking to the roof of his mouth as he read and I just couldn’t get past it. The mouth sounds and my misophonia were not vibing. Giving it three stars because I loved the plot but couldn’t get past the mouth noises.

This is a cute MM romance set with the backdrop of F1 racing with teammates/rivals-to-lovers. The character development both Kian, the reserved veteran, and Harper, the swaggering rookie, go through is wonderful. The audio is incredibly well done and both voice actors do a great job emboding their characters.

You don't need to know F1 racing to understand that aspect of the story. The author does a fine job giving you enough information to understand the implications of the sport. The story contains a great mix of sport and romance.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Adult Audio for the advance audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is would hit the sweet spot for someone who loves romance and has a casual interest in F1; as someone who loves F1 and has a casual interest in romance, it was fine. There were some great little F1 tidbits, like reference to Alonso's age, and a team principal calling someone "the muppet", but there was more that took me out of the story to put my "um, actually" hat on. The initial antagonism that underlines the enemies to lovers trajectory wasn't well established enough for me, we just have to trust that it's there, but it lowered the stakes of the turn around; what I assume is the teaser for a second book also wasn't developed enough for me to feel invested. The relationship arc hits the standard plot points, but there was enough that was a twist on the usual that the romance plot felt solid.

Probably one of the steamiest books I’ve read all year. Definitely the best F1 romance. There are some minor plot holes and a few minor “ick” moments. Overall, it’s a heartwarming and spicy read!

Plot - 3
Writing and Editing - 3
Character Development - 4
Narration - 5
Personal Bias - 4
Final Score - 3.8

3.5 stars. While I loved the premise of this book, it fell a bit flat. Kian was just so nasty to Harper for so much of the book. Then it just flipped so fast. It is not a bad read by any means but I think could have been polished just a bit more. I would definitely read this author again as I think the writing has a lot of potential! Thank you so much for this ARC in return for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

If you can believe it, I wanted to read this book because I really enjoy F1. I also thought one of my friends read it, but I don’t think she has.

Thank you HarperAudio Adult, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for letting me listen to the audiobook. If you want to read this book, I absolutely recommend going audiobook. Both MCs are narrated by British narrators and they are FANTASTIC 🥵 They both sounded very similar though; would have loved a narrator with a French or Italian accent…

I think I had a difficult time with this book because it felt like the author got her background information of F1 from Netflix’s Drive to Survive. There are just discrepancies that would bring me out of the story sometimes. Also, I felt that the tension, drama, and Kian’s family issues were just not… compelling enough for a story. I could not be bothered to care. I almost wish Kian’s family wasn’t in the story at all.

This story between two F1 teammates, Kian and Harper, was fine. The spice was SPICY 🔥, but I somehow could not feel genuine connection between our MMCs (and from our author). It felt like I was reading a story of the author’s desires, instead of a realistic relationship between two men.

Loved the title name, but did not love the story. Could only recommend if you were looking for something spicy (4 🌶️) set in F1, but you better do that audio. 2.5 ⭐️ rounded up because the prose is good, and the audio helped to redeem it.

If the story is about Formula 1, I will be the first person to pick it up!! I will say this has to be one of the best F1 fiction stories I’ve read next to Throttled, purely because of how spot on the F1 knowledge & research is. However, the part that I wish I knew before going into this story blind, that it was about two male drivers being into each other. I should have realized from the cover, but it honestly it didn’t click until about 10-15% into the story. I also listened to the audiobook version of this story, which I enjoyed. My only issue is I had never read a M/M story before especially not with the 2 males being the drivers & being into each other, which there is nothing wrong with that it just wasn’t for me. If I would have read the story myself instead of listening to the male narrator reading the story I might have liked it more, so that would be my only downfall because I just wasn’t into that part of the story. If that is not an issue for you at all then you’ll definitely enjoy this story especially if you’re looking for an F1 romance!

Pole Position
Written by Rebecca J Caffery
Narrated by Joshua Chase and James Joseph

⭐⭐⭐✨

Big thanks to HarperAudio, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the audiobook!

Honestly, the narrators—Joshua Chase and James Joseph—were the real MVPs here. Their performances kept me hooked and brought so much energy to the story.

As for the book, I liked that the characters weren’t just defined by their romance. That said, Harper’s backstory felt a bit underdeveloped. There are hints about his past, but they don’t really go anywhere or feel relevant most of the time.

Kian and Harper’s enemies-to-lovers arc was fun to watch unfold, even if their shift from hating each other to being together felt a little sudden.

The F1 setting was relevant to the story, but it stayed in the background for a majority of the time. I’ve seen people call out inaccuracies with the racing details, but honestly, I was here for the romance, so it wasn't a focal point for me.

My main issue was the chemistry between Kian and Harper—it just didn’t totally click for me. The third-act breakup, combined with a grief subplot, felt a bit off, and the resolution left me feeling weird about it all. I think Harper needed more development earlier on to make his growth feel more natural. Instead, it all felt a bit rushed.

Overall, the narrators absolutely nailed it and made this an enjoyable listen, but the story itself fell a bit short for me. While it had its moments, it could’ve benefited from more character development and a smoother flow, especially toward the end.

First things first, I don't know much about F1 racing. That being said, I really enjoyed this book! The audiobook narrators were perfect and so fun to listen to.

Harper made me want to throttle him sometimes. A goos kick to the shin might have been satisfying, but his issues came off as very real and I loved seeing his character growth!

The rivals to lovers pipeline was also fantastic. I loved the banter and how put off Kian was at first. I do wish they would have included more longing looks, small touches. and sweet tension in the build up to their relationship. It would have been much more satisfying when they got together. Once they got together, it moved really fast. I understand there was the forced proximity element, but again, I think more angst and tension would have pushed the story over to a higher rating for me.

Pole Position by Rebecca J. Caffery and Narrated by Joshua Chase; James Joseph was a fun, enemies-to-lovers sports romance with witty banter and chemistry from the beginning! I enjoyed the dual POV and dual narration; this is one of my favorite ways to read romances where we get both views, and having the audio mirror that POV was fun. I was excited about the angst and banter between these two. However, they each made it so hard to route for them. Harper gave off as a party boy with no dedication or sense, and Kian, being the golden boy but having zero personality or sense of familiarity and grace for his team, was wild. I found both of them annoying for the first half of the book, and when they finally started acting like adults, it made them much more likable! At times, it felt like the pacing of this book was off. Kian and Harper spent more than half of the book hating each other, and then all of a sudden, one moment of passion changes their personalities and opinions towards each other. It didn't seem believable. Overall, this book is quick and easy to read. I love a good gay sports romance and think there should be more of them! Despite the issues, the book was fun and silly, and I enjoyed reading it.

This is a great high-angst, high-sports romance between the season's rookie and 15-year golden boy. For the genre, it delivered rich detail and was easy to follow as someone unfamiliar with the sport. You understood what was at risk with both of their careers.

James Joseph from "A Thief in the Night" (KJ Charles) and "A Spell for Heartsickness" (Alistair Reeves) voices the clear, strong, always-in-control, Kian Walker. As the child of a former F1 legend and pop music sensation, Kian is familiar with fame and pressure. He has perfected his routine of meditation, self-discipline and isolation to keep up his high performance.

Joshua Chase narrates the POV of Harper James, the young driver who has dominated the lower division but is too reckless in his personal life to be chosen by F1 teams. He sounds softer than Kian, not prone to anger but so chronically unattached because he refuses to trust in anyone but himself. When he finally gets his chance to race as Kian's new teammate, his relaxed attitude makes Kian think that he doesn't care enough. On the flipside, Kian's self-isolation comes off as unwelcoming and leaves the unexperienced Harper out to dry with the press.

But even as the (sexual) frustration rises, their performance just gets better and better as they push each other to the top of the competition. It's their personal lives that suffer. I enjoyed the scenes where Kian finds Harper's flirting totally baffling. He's so cute when he gets flustered. And Harper's coping/flailing mechanisms definitely had me worried alongside Kian. However, the forced proximity trope gives them both an excuse to test the waters.

I think the RW&B comparisons are because there's emotional growth without severe triggering. And the epilogue is so classic HEA, I was really happy for them. If you like the hurt/care trope, opposites attract, established queer characters (not a coming out story), you're going to enjoy this romance.

Content Warning for alcohol use, parents in long-term care, Parkinson's disease, parental neglect and death.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (2.5/5)

Pole Position had potential with its promising setup: motorsport drama, enemies-to-lovers tension, and the thrill of high-stakes racing. Unfortunately, while it was easy to read, the story felt flat in several key areas.

One of the biggest drawbacks was the lack of chemistry between the leads. Kian and Harper’s romance felt rushed, with little build-up or emotional depth. Their transition from rivals to lovers happened so suddenly that it lacked believability, making it hard to root for their relationship. Instead of swooning over their connection, I found myself indifferent to whether they ended up together at all.

Harper, one of the male leads, was especially frustrating. His childish and annoying behavior made it difficult to see him as a compelling romantic interest, let alone a worthy rival to Kian. The tension between the two often felt more grating than engaging.

On the plus side, the writing style was accessible, and the motorsport backdrop added some excitement, but the story never quite hit its stride. The tropes—enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, and forced proximity—felt underdeveloped, and the emotional payoff was lacking.

If you’re looking for a quick, spicy sports romance with minimal investment, Pole Position might fit the bill. But if you’re after a well-developed romance with compelling characters and emotional tension, this one might leave you spinning your wheels.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio Adult for the copy of Pole Position.

Let me just start by saying that the narrators for this book were pretty good! You could tell that Kian’s character was more grizzly and older while Harper’s sounded fun and goofy - kind of reminded me of Jack Whitehall.

I have mixed feelings about this book. In terms of the story itself, it was cute but at times, a bit too unbelievable.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Queer love story, but I find it hard to believe that there are simply that many openly gay and bi men in the F1 circuit. That little tidbit kind of took me out of it - I was hoping for more of a “Red, White and Royal Blue” vibe between the two MMCs.

I did appreciate that Harper struggled throughout the story to come to terms with Kian’s feelings and that the story ended with them engaged but not blissfully married with children living their HEA.

There’s a good mix of sports content (them during races/ on the road) and romance content and there are some spicy chapters.

Overall, it was a cute read and I enjoyed listening to it but it didn’t grip me as much as I hoped it would.

If you enjoy Queer Romance stories, definitely check this one out.

Alright I'm rating this one based on the romance and the vibes and my overall enjoyment.

I know nothing about racing and even I could tell that the author was a little shaky on the specifics. There is hardly any mention of the actual racing or terminology. We get "qualifiers" and "P2" etc and "cockpit" and one mention of the specific tires that I had to look up and thats... pretty much it. There are a few qualifiers and one, maybe two races on page. The focus is for sure on the romance with racing vibes for flavor.

As a grumpy x sunshine romance, this works well. Kian is so uptight and regimented, and Harper is so... not. He's kind of a dick and a playboy and every time he tries to get Kian (his idol) to notice him he shoots himself in the foot. It's kind of hilarious.

They do eventually work out their issues, which is fun, although I was disappointed to find certain scenes inexplicably missing that were imo really needed. Like when Harper finds out about Kian's dad and goes from worshipping him to hating him? That needed to be on page.

There's an obvious set up for a sequel about Harper's friend Johannes which I don't know if I'll read or not because it was so obviously left hanging? But I probably will check it out since I enjoyed this one.

I was happy that the author chose not to include too many spicy scenes, and the ones that are there are mercifully brief. I realize I'm in the minority but I read for the romance - not the spice.

I did appreciate the overall lack of homophobia in the book. Wasn't expecting that, and it was nice.

The audiobook was well done and the two narrators did a great job voicing their characters. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.

*Thanks to Harper 360, HarperAudio Adult and One More Chapter for providing an early copy for review.

Rebecca J Caffery's racing romance was an unexpected and lovely surprise.
Harper and Kian's story starts off illustrating how dramatically different the two men are and I am always wary when the animosity is this palpable from the start. Harper is cocky and antagonistic and Kian is strong-willed and immovable in his disdain for Harper's lifestyle and reputation. It can be tough for an author to make the transition from enemies to lovers feel believable here. But Caffery kicked all of my preconceived notions' a**es clear across the room. I loved the way Harper grew so much throughout the book and Kian supported him without really even knowing how impactful his actions and his presence were. The chemistry between the two is visceral, but the emotions are tender amidst the spice. I absolutely loved the characters and the story. Even without knowing an ounce about racing, I was cheering for the couple both on and off the track. And yeah, I found myself tearing up a few times. But that isn't really unusual for me. I love big feelings.
The narration in this book was more than perfect for the couple and I'm hoping to hear more work from the two voice actors in the future and I'll definitely be on the lookout for more from Rebecca J Caffery.

Thanks @netgalley
and @harperaudio for the ALC of @rjcafferyauthor 's Pole Position.

First, I would like to thank Net Galley and Harper Audio for gifting me this book in an exchange for my honest review.

I must premise this by saying I am an F1 fan and I have not yet read a book written about F1 that I actually enjoyed. It has been very difficult because I really love sports romance I would love to read an F1 book that I rate more than 3 stars. With that being said, I cannot lie and say that I enjoyed this book.

Good things: It's very lighthearted. I enjoyed Kian's relationship and his moments with his family. In some parts, racing was described well and it was actually engaging to listen to.

However, I did not find myself connecting with Harper or Kian. These two have no chemistry and the situation that they found themselves to be connected in? Make no sense. You cannot tell me that Harper was promoted from lower league with so little media training. Max has more media training than this guy and FIA loves to scold Max for everything that he says and does. Kian, who is a 4 times world championship winner was told by team principal to be nice to this new kid? It is no secret in F1 than Gasley and Ocon are not besties besties and they are teammates. If you want to reference Brocedes (Lewis and Nico) and how they were forced to be civil with one another, it was due to a CRASH in Spanish GP that caused Mercedes millions. Otherwise, that whole season they absolutely hated each other guts. I am not even going to talk about the budget issue in this book.

I understand that this is fiction but it is also sport fiction. To me, I like it when my sports fiction make some senses with the real life situation, not a completely made up fantasy.

It might sound harsh but I think if you are looking for a cute quick read and do not care so much about the F1 aspect, you can definitely check this book out.

I was excited to receive this as an ALC! I knew I had to get my hands on this book as soon as I saw the cover.

As a NASCAR fan, I loved the fun and thrill of the racing elements added with the romance between the two MMC! So spicy!