
Member Reviews

Reading this book was a quick fun experience! You could feel the attention to detail when it came to F1. I do wish it was a little longer so we could have expanded a little more on the problem with Aunt Judy and Mia's mom for better conflix resolution. Overall I loved the pacing and the characters and think this book will appeal to F1 fans.

Not So Fast was soo fun. If I’m looking to read a sports romance, I almost always go for hockey romance. This cover caught my eye, though. I know next to nothing about F1 but I was enthralled by this couple. I loved the characters voices, their families dynamics and the discussion around what it costs to be a public figure. I really enjoyed the writing. I’m so excited to hear that there will be another book! I have another book by this author (Swap and Smell the Roses) on my shelf that has just been moved up higher on my tbr.
4 stars, thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for giving me a chance to read and review an eARC!

An F1 driver and the podcaster who criticizes him on air find love in Karen Booth’s Not So Fast.
Read this one for the banter, the mental health representation, the family dynamics, and the heat between Mia and Xander.
I like how they discuss finding the right fit when it comes to occupations, especially for neurodivergent individuals, how the mental component to racing is portrayed, and how Mia and Xander are adept at identifying each other’s struggles.
This is a dual POV novel with a single narrator for the audiobook. I enjoyed Talon David’s narration. I feel like she captures Mia’s personality well and enjoyed the accents she uses.
3.75 stars
I received an advance copy of the ebook from Harlequin and an advance copy of the audiobook from Harlequin Audio. All review opinions are my own.

This was a cute romance for casual reading by the pool. I did have a hard time getting into the 3rd person narrative (not typical for the contemporary romance books I read). But then I was approved for the ALC and listening to the book really helped. The narrator did a great job altering her voice just slightly between Mia's thoughts and dialogue vs. the 3rd person narration. And then obviously she would alter her voice for Xander as well.
Another issue I had with this book is that there really was no issue. It was just kind of meh in that sense. They are enemies for about as long as it would take Xander to do one lap around the track and then it went straight to insta-love. There really was no other big test for their relationship. The author tries to ramp up some drama with the press and Mia's podcast, but honestly that drama feels so forced. I needed this to be a bit more juicy.
Thank you to NetGalley, Afterglow Books, and Harlequin Audio for the ARC and ALC in exchanged for my honest review.
Tropes:
formula 1 romance
driver x fangirl/podcaster
hate to love
forced proximity
insta-love
secret dating
curvy FMC
3rd person POV

Mia has always had a hard time sticking with things, but once she finds her groove with an F1 podcast she goes all in. When she’s called out for being particularly hard on one driver, she tries to mend things for the PR of it all. She never expects to fall for him, especially knowing what that could do to her fledgling career.
This one was unfortunately just okay for me. I didn’t really buy the instalove between Xander and Mia. The conflict wrapped up almost unbelievably neatly. I did really enjoy being in the F1 world, though, and the spice was definitely spicing!

The one time the audiobook may have hindered my enjoyment of the book. The narrator was easy to listen to but this is dual pov with one narrator. Sometimes it works but this book changed pov mid chapter a lot so the transitions between the FMC to the MMC just felt kind of weird. There wasn’t enough distinction to recognize immediately whose pov you were in. I liked her voice and would still be happy to listen to her narrate something else in the future though.
The actual book was cute. The ‘enemies’ to lovers trope was fun. It’s my first F1 book! I really liked that aspect of it so it definitely won’t be my last. I liked the FMC, Mia, a lot. She was a smarty pants and I love it. Xander and his family were really sweet too. This was a fun and quick read! I can’t wait to read more from this author 🩷
Book: 3.5 ⭐️
Audio: 2.5 ⭐️

This was a fast and fun read (similar to F1? lol), and I really enjoyed it! I think this is my first F1 book and I'm lowkey tempted to start watching Formula One now, the writing about it was so immersive!
I also loved the beginnings of each chapter with the answer to a mental health aimed question, it was so cool!
-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Thank you to Harlequin Romance and NetGalley for the copy of Not So Fast by Karen Booth.
Have I ever read a romance book with Formula One? No. Would I read another romance book with Formula One? Absolutely, yes. What a cute, fun, and super quick read! (Less than 300 pages)
This book follows Mia Neal (FMC), as she develops a podcast about Formula One. She quickly rises to fame when she calls out a famous driver on her podcast, Xander Bishop (MMC). A teammate of Xander's quickly invites Mia to a race to try to get into Xander's head, but instead, Mia becomes just what Xander needs.
Xander is such a great book boyfriend. He totally falls first and finds so much comfort in Mia. Mia is kind of a mess, but she provides stability for Xander.
I wasn’t a fan of the third person POV, but that is my own personal preference.
Overall, I had fun with this book. I also loved that Mia was from Austin, TX and being a born and raised TX girl myself, I loved the relation! 4 out of 5 stars.

If you love a good sports romance with chemistry, banter, and a whole lot of speed, Not So Fast delivers on all fronts. Mia Neal is a Formula 1 superfan with a growing podcast and some strong (and not-so-flattering) opinions about driver Xander Bishop. When one of his teammates invites her to a Grand Prix to rattle him a little, the last thing either of them expects is sparks flying—off the track and fast.
Mia is sharp, funny, and constantly in her own head, which made her feel incredibly relatable. She’s also passionate about F1, and I loved that she got to live every fan’s dream—attending races and ending up in a slow-burn (but also spicy) situationship with a driver she’s criticized more than once. Xander, on the other hand, is trying to find his footing after a rough season, and watching him balance pressure, performance, and his growing feelings for Mia gave the story a great emotional edge.
The romance kicks in quickly, but the chemistry is strong and the banter is great. It’s sexy and fun, but also has some deeper themes like self-worth, mental health, and the pressure to succeed.
Whether or not you know much about Formula 1, this is an entertaining read with heart and heat. Perfect if you’re into flirty rivals, podcast girlies, and supportive love interests who don’t back down. Quick, spicy, and full of fast turns—this one’s worth the ride.
᪥ F1 Driver x F1 Podcaster
᪥ Dislike To Lovers
᪥ Curvy FMC
᪥ Insta-Love
᪥ 3rd Person Dual POV
Big thanks to After Glow Books by Harlequin Romance for the early copy of this one! I got to read it ahead of time, but all opinions are totally my own.

Not So Fast is a sweet and spicy romance with lots of emotions and all the Formula One you could ask for. I devoured this book in one sitting—to the detriment of my sleep schedule—and I know I'll be thinking about Xander and Mia's relationship for days to come. They are each other's biggest supporters, and that unconditional love and support gave them the space and courage to grow.
I recommend NSF to fans of quick spicy reads and everything F1-related.
Thank you to the publisher for the e-copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. Initially I was nervous I wouldn't get into as easily because I have absolutely no knowledge of Formula 1 racing, or any racing. But the characters were so endearing and I was rooting for the FMC and MMC right from the moment they met. I loved their story and it was the perfect mix of slow burn, spice and romance.

Thank you to Harlequin Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review. Not So Fast by Karen Booth is a short and relatively light romance between a Formula 1 racer who is struggling with his season after switching teams and a podcaster who’s star is on the rise for being overly critical of said racer.
I enjoyed this book enough for being a short and relatively spicy romance. Some of the dialogue writing was a bit cheesy and took me out of the story. And for a book about Formula 1 I would’ve liked to see more racing (the book covers multiple races and most are summed up in a sentence or two). The spicy scenes were pretty steamy so I enjoyed that but the rest of the story didn’t do a ton for me. This felt like the author wanting to take advantage of Formula 1 being popular in the US right now and not actually born out of a love for the sport.

Still in my F1 era - both in books and real life. It’s Imola GP day and I’ll be tuning in and cheering on Lando 🧡
Thanks to @harlequinbooks and @netgalley for an ALC.
If you love enemies to lovers with a healthy dose of sexual tension that could ignite a racetrack, this one’s for you. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorites so this was a hit for me!
Mia Neal is the overthinking queen we all secretly are, turning her F1 obsession into a wildly entertaining podcast complete with unfiltered (and now viral) opinions on British heartthrob driver Xander Bishop.
Cue the Miami Grand Prix, where Mia’s sassy commentary collides with real-life Xander, and sparks fly harder than an engine on overdrive. What starts as shade-throwing and witty banter turns very quickly into scorching chemistry. Talon David nails every moment of heat, humor, and heart. The narration brings Mia’s sharp wit and Xander’s reluctant charm to life in the best way.
Fast-paced, flirty, and flaming hot, this audiobook is a joyride of steamy tension, racing passion, and surprising emotional depth.

Not So Fast was my first F1 romance and it did not disappoint. The banter was bantering and the spice was spicy. My only wish was that it could have gone on for longer. I wasn’t ready to put it down when I turned the last page. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more of Karen Booth’s books and more F1 romance.

Well done! A perfect blend of spice and F1 content for the F1 girlies! I enjoyed the characters and their growth. I listened to audiobook and really enjoyed it! Ready for the next in the series.

If you’re looking for a light-hearted romance that is humorous and easy to read, this book is for you.
My only qualm is that the romance felt rushed. These two had a lot of animosity for each other and it just seemed to instantly disappear.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/4)
Strap in—Not So Fast is full-throttle romance at 220 mph!
Karen Booth drops us straight into the high-stakes world of Formula One, pairing an unflappable podcast host with the sport’s resident storm cloud. Mia Neal’s sharp commentary has made her a rising media star; Xander Bishop’s tire-skidding reputation has his team on edge. From their first combustible interview, the sparks fly faster than a pit-lane tire change.
Enemies-to-lovers is tricky—too much hostility and you lose sympathy, too little and the trope fizzles. Booth nails the balance. Mia’s on-air clapbacks and Xander’s dry British retorts had me grinning, but underneath the bite is undeniable pull. When they finally admit what the rest of the paddock can already see? Fireworks.
If you crave scorching tension, whip-smart dialogue, and a grand-prix backdrop that feels tailor-made for romance, add Not So Fast to your pole-position TBR. I’m already hoping Booth will give the rest of the grid their own stories—there are plenty of teammates and rivals begging for a tango in parc fermé.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Karen Booth for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a new F1 fan, and only because of this book. I have no idea how Karen did it, but I actually liked Mia's character. I I usually don't like the whole 'influencer' and smart person who keeps changing their minds person but she was endearing. I felt for her and felt like I was her with all of the overthinking and small freakouts.
I LOVE Xander, and not just because I love the name. His unwavering support for Mia was amazing. I love that they both give beneath the surface when they got to know each other.
The laundry scene definitely reminded me to put a load in!

Xander and Mia, from their first interaction the reader is rooting for these two. Both are wrestling with their own personal issues. They have great banter and I enjoyed the racing aspect of this story.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book early for my honest review. I really enjoyed this cute rom com. I loved the characters and l loved that the male main characters name was Xander because that’s my sons name. I wish they would have not been a secret couple for so long and just made it a known thing but it didn’t make me not like the book. I definitely look forward to ready more from this author.