Not so fast follows Mia, a Formula-1 fangirl and podcaster known for her occasionally brutally honest takes on the drivers. Her podcast is reaching new heights thanks to some especially “direct” feedback she aims at driver Xander Bishop. Mia suddenly finds herself invited to races, meeting the athletes and seeing inside the sport she loves. Among those athletes is, of course, Xander Bishop! Awkward…
But never fear, he’s all, broody, British and something is weighing on him on and off the track...

I have only mild knowledge of F1. So I can't do much speaking to how accurate the sport or media involvement in the story is. Other, than I know there has been a lot of commentary about the amount of celebrities and tiktokers/social media peeps in the garages. But this book was easy to read and follow even without much background info. When I read the synopsis for this I was so excited for an enemies-to-lovers trope romance. This didn’t quite do that trope justice. I would maybe call it more rivals to lovers if I could even get there. There's frankly a bit of instalove.

Now I like some emotional depth and character growth and development to really feel connected with and invested in the characters and this book didn’t really give me that. It stayed a bit more “surface-level” than I prefer. That said, it was entertaining and kept me interested. If you are looking for a fun, modern romance with a good bit of spice, give this one a read.

Wow, Karen Booth really hit it out of the park with her book, Not So Fast! She has made a new fan! I loved Mia and Xander, their chemistry was amazing!
Without giving too much away, Mia started a podcast about F1 Racing which started to take off when she made some not so nice comments about a British driver, Xander. From there she gets invited to a race, where they meet and things start to get interesting.
This book was a fun, quick read. Had some spicy moments that weren't too graphic and didn't take away from the story. The only complaint I had was the book was too short and I felt like the end was rushed, but overall I wouldn't change anything about the story. Thanks, ##netgalley , for allowing me to give an honest review!

Not So Fast stumbled in a few places as most insta-love stories do, but overall it was a quick, fun read.

I really enjoyed this book but had a difficulty time with it being it third person. The banter is great and the formula one knowledge was amazing. I really enjoyed seeing a spotlight of females within the formula one space and the importance of female voices. I loved the podcaster dynamic with her hating on her favorite driver. I enjoyed seeing a MMC going through trials and mental challenges. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and it’s a quick read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶🌶🌶
Not So Fast was such an adorable read! Xander and Mia started off with an enemies-to-lovers vibe, but their undeniable chemistry quickly melted any lingering tension. I loved watching them realize they’d misjudged each other, leading to genuine growth and understanding.

Mia introducing Xander to journaling was such a thoughtful touch—it gave him an outlet to express the immense pressure he faced in his career. In return, Xander helped Mia recognize her worth, pushing her to stop second-guessing herself and embrace her full potential. Their dynamic was filled with sweet and uplifting moments that made me root for them both individually and as a couple.

Now, let’s talk about the steam—because whew, it was delicious! I low-key wished there was just a bit more (don’t judge me!), but what we got was definitely satisfying. Overall, this was a charming, feel-good romance with great character development, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was my first F1 themed, dislike to lovers rom com and my first by Karen Booth. The theme and mental health aspects of the book made the reading experience more engaging for me. I genuinely love when books have mental health representation. Mia and Xanders relationship was a little too insta love for me, but overall it was an enjoyable easy read.

The book had a good story but lack of formatting made me dislike it. Hopefully it’s just my e version. I like the characters that were built but I don’t feel like there was a big enough emphasis on xanders new clarity to help him perform better. The situation between her mom and aunt seemed like it was half thought out. And I’m not a fan of insta love which is what the book became. And a silly thing : no one gets jet lag?

After jumping from career to career, Mia has set her sights on something she's emjoyed for some time. She is an outspoken F1 podcaster, and Xander is a driver who has been the focus of some of her critical comments. Xander has always felt a little on the outside, having had a different path towards F1. When they meet in real life, how will they get along? The type of tension they experience shifts pretty quickly.

Not So Fast is described as an enemies to lovers romance, but they honestly are not enemies for very long. Any negative tension is basically resolved after a handful of conversations. I think it would be better described as a secret relationship romance, as they keep their involvement quiet due to concerns about how their relationship will be perceived in relation to her job as an F1 podcaster, which is actually pretty understandable. It is by no means a slow burn, but in under 300 pages, things need to get moving. It is a quick and easy read!

Thanks to Afterglow Books by Harlequin and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

I was nervous to start this book because of some not so great reviews. However, I am so glad I gave it a chance! It was a fun, lighthearted romance and I appreciated the characters. I felt like they were well developed, you could get a good sense of who Mia and Xavier were and I loved their interactions. If I had a critique it would be that I wanted more of Mia's friend, Jasmine. There were some great interactions at the beginning and then it really fizzled out as the story went on. The story itself was really fun to read and really took me on an adventure through the racing circuit which was enjoyable. I hope that in the final version there is some tweaks to the formatting because, at times, it was hard to differentiate between text messages and regular dialogue. I did love how the POV switched during intense scenes, it felt like I was really there in the moment. I'm hopeful that there will be more to Mia and Xavier's story! I would definitely recommend this book!

Thank you, NetGalley, Karen Booth and Harlequin - Romance for the ARC!

I received an eARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was okay. It was short and the spicy scenes occurred very quickly. I also don't feel like we got to really know the characters individually very well before they were intimate/in a relationship. I also feel like the plot was not as well developed as it could be. If you want a book that is just fun vibes than this is the book for you. If you prefer well developed characters, relationships, and plot than I would choose something else. I also didn't really learn a lot about racing but honestly I'm not upset about that as I have no real interest in it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Afterglow Books by Harlequin for an ARC of Not So Fast by Karen Booth.

I have no idea what drew me to this book. I have never read a book about Formula One. I do love a good sports romance, although I tend to read hockey romances (no idea why). I know nothing about car racing, however that didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the story.

Mia is obsessed with all things Formula One and has created a successful podcast where she speaks her mind, including about Xander, the driver she has had a crush on for awhile. Mia is invited to one of the races by Xander’s teammate who is trying to get into Xander’s head by having Mia there. Mia definitely gets into Xander’s head but not in the way the teammate hoped. Sparks fly immediately between Mia and Xander.

I loved how quickly Mia and Xander fell into coupledom. Is it realistic? Probably not, however it was wonderful to read about. Can a person really go out of town for a few days and then continually extend their vacation for 2 more weeks? I don’t think so but maybe someone who works remotely like Mia does? I loved how easily Mia fell in with Xander’s family and how she was able to see what was important and fought for what she knew she needed and wanted. I really enjoyed this story and while this was the first book I have read by her, it won’t be the last.

I loved Mia and all her wannabe quirks. She was a fun character and the little details with her family drama, while maybe not necessary, sweetly added to her awkwardness. It made this such a fun read and then add in Xander's family and you have a match for the finish line!

Not So Fast follows Mia Neal, a F1 super fan. After making some tough critiques of British driver Xander Bishop, Mia’s F1 podcast begins to gain the attention of both listeners and the racing community. This attention leads to Mia being invited to the Miami Grand Prix and subsequently coming face to face with Xander himself.

While I know absolutely nothing about Formula One, I didn’t feel lost throughout the book during the races. That being said, I do wish that there had been some more descriptions of the locations within the race to help set the scene a bit better. I also didn’t really buy the chemistry between the two main characters and felt like their relationship was a bit too instalove-y for me.

Overall, Not So Fast was a cute, quick read, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression.

I loved this book, I love any type of racing and this book was a fast and easy read for me. It had me hooked from the beginning and I wanted more after finishing it. If you love any type of racing or even love formula one racing you will enjoy this book.I'm thankful to get this early and leave an honest review on this book. Karen did great at writing this and can't wait to hopefully see some more.

So, I liked the fact that it was set in the world of F1 racing, as I know very little about that world. And I learned a lot and felt like the author made it interesting and exciting. I also liked the information about podcasting. I have never been a devotee of podcasts, but maybe I should give one a try.

However, the plot was way too predictable and the characters were just too simple, too stereotypical, too one-dimensional. I didn’t even really find myself rooting for them like I usually do. Too bad, too, because the subject had the potential to really carry a great read.

Love the story line premise. However, I’m not the biggest fan of books told in third person. So it was hard to get into. DNF at 25%. Would recommend to others! Will try reading again when an audiobook version comes out for immersive reading.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Mia can’t seem to find her footing in her professional career, until her best friend encourages her to start a podcast on the thing she’s most passionate about - F1 racing. When her podcast blows up after she insults her favorite driver, she can’t believe her luck. She finds herself invited on a fully paid pass to attend the next F1 race. There she meets Xander and has to face her consequences of insulting him, but instead finds an intense spark between them.

This was a short, easy romcom. It’s nothing special, the characters are pretty superficial and there’s not a whole lot of growth. I never read an F1 romcom before but It definitely got me curious for more as I was more invested in his racing storyline than their connection.

Not So Fast by Karen Booth is a captivating and exciting contemporary romance that perfectly blends the world of Formula 1 racing with love, personal growth, and second chances. The novel follows Mia, a successful F1 podcaster who has built her career on candidly critiquing drivers, including the very talented and infamous Xander, an F1 driver with a lot to prove. When Mia is invited to an F1 race after her podcast gains popularity, she finds herself face-to-face with Xander, the driver she criticized—setting the stage for a fiery and unexpected romance.

Mia is an engaging protagonist—smart, ambitious, and confident, yet vulnerable in her own way. Her love for the sport is evident, but her professional success has been built on speaking her mind. When she meets Xander in person, the tension between them is palpable. Xander, a determined and charismatic F1 driver, has dealt with public scrutiny and criticism, and his chemistry with Mia is undeniable, even as they initially clash over her harsh opinions about his racing. Both characters have their own emotional baggage and fears that they must confront before they can give in to their feelings. Xander’s vulnerability as a driver who is often misunderstood, paired with Mia’s desire to be taken seriously in her career, creates a rich dynamic that adds depth to their relationship.

Karen Booth does a fantastic job of weaving in the high-energy, high-stakes world of F1 racing, making the sport feel like an integral part of the story rather than just a backdrop. The scenes at the races are well-written and full of tension, showcasing the thrill of the sport and the pressures that come with it. The chemistry between Mia and Xander mirrors the intensity of the race tracks, adding excitement to the romance.

While I enjoyed reading this book, it just didn't impress me much. It was not bad, but didn't threw me overboard either. Hence the 3 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy - all thoughts and opinions are my own!

Did I think that I would ever be convinced to care about racing? I grew up in Speedway, IN and was around Indy 500 racing and Formula 1 for a lot of my youth, but I have not thought much about it until reading this book!

I am a sucker for sports romance and just love when a unique story comes out of left field like this one. "Not So Fast" follows fan podcast superstar Mia after she critiques he favorite driver on her podcast. She winds up in person at a race and comes face to face with Xander, her favorite driver, that she said some colorful things about on her recent podcast episode. She doesn't back down when confronted with her comments and Xander cannot stop thinking about her after their interaction.

This book had tension, it had humor, heart, and a HEA, what more could you want in a romance?

I love the fact that Xander was British and although Mia is American, she loves to throw in random terms or slang to keep Xander on his toes during their interactions and this but the COM in RomCom for sure. You will laugh and blush quite a bit throughout this story.

I highly recommend you see how slow or fast (I had to!) Xander and Mia or Miander (iykyk) fall in love.