🏁 Not So Fast by Karen Booth 🏁

Mia Neal is a fierce, funny Formula One podcaster known for her sharp critiques—especially of British racing star Xander Bishop. When one of her viral episodes catches his attention, Mia is unexpectedly invited to the Miami Grand Prix for an insider’s look. What starts as professional curiosity quickly turns into something much more complicated.

This slow-burn romance perfectly captures the tension between two very different people thrown together by fate and public scrutiny. Mia’s wit and honesty bring humor and heart, while Xander’s vulnerability shines through the high-pressure world of racing. Beyond the romance, the book thoughtfully explores mental health, self-worth, and the challenges of living in the spotlight.

If you love enemies-to-lovers with clever banter, emotional depth, and a sports backdrop that’s more than just a setting, Not So Fast will pull you in and keep you hooked.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A smart, sexy, and heartfelt read that hits all the right notes.

#NotSoFast #KarenBooth #SportsRomance #EnemiesToLovers #SlowBurnRomance #MentalHealthInRomance #Bookstagram #RomanceReads #F1Romance #BookReview

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title, but unfortunately it didn’t quite capture my interest. While the premise was promising, I found it difficult to stay engaged. That said, I’m sure it will find its audience with readers who connect more strongly with the writing style or pacing.

Super cute romance palate cleanser romance if you will. Nothing happened that I couldn’t predict, but I still enjoyed it!

3.5 stars

Not So Fast was a fun take on an F1 romance. As someone who is a big fan of Formula 1 and romcoms I enjoyed this read.

Many of the F1 romances I have read, the FMC is somehow involved in the F1 world, but not typically has a fan or podcaster. It created a fun dynamic. I liked the MMC and his family as well.

What I struggled with was how surface level everything felt between the characters. I would have loved more depth not only to each of the characters individually but to their relationship. It felt like it relied heavily on physical attraction and less on who they are.

I think adding this level of depth could have really elevated the story in general. I also think that the third person writing, contributed to the fact that I didn't feel like I got a good grasp on who the characters were. We didn't get into their mindset in the same way as I feel we would have if it were written in first person. There felt like a lot of flip flopping back and fourth between perspectives mid scene because of the third person writing style.

Talon David delivered a great audiobook performance. It was enjoyable to listen to even though I would prefer multiple narrators for multiple POVs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Afterglow/Harlequin & Harlequin Audio for the ARC/ALCs.

Not So Fast is a cute romance between podcaster Mia Neal and British F1 racer Xander Bishop. Mia's had some things to say about Xander on her podcast, and there's plenty of tension and animosity between these two, until they meet in person.

There are no big surprises here, just a sweet romance set against the backdrop of auto racing. There's an immediate attraction between these two and things progress from their with a low level of conflict provided by Mia with issues that may impact the longevity of their relationship. After all, she's been bashing Xander on her podcast -- how could she fall for him?

Overall, this was a quick romance with steamy scenes and entertaining main characters.

Thanks to Harlequin for this e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion! I devoured Not So Fast in one sitting - what a delightful, feel-good read! First, the chemistry between Mia and Xander was palpable and I loved seeing the sparks between them. Second, this book had so much heart - the depth of both characters figuring out what was best for their mental health and who they wanted to be and the way they supported each other to get there was really fun to see; I also loved how their families played into that too. I found Mia to be incredibly relatable - the curse of curiosity and knowledge making you jump from thing to thing really resonated with me and I loved seeing her find a way to harness that power! An F1 setting is always a fun way to incorporate elements of glamour and romance around the world and that did not disappoint in Not So Fast. This would be the perfect book to devour at a beach club in Miami or Monaco!

Mia Neal is an F1 fanatic! She watched with her aunt since she was a kid. She channeled all that love for F1 by starting a podcast about the sport. She loves talking all things F1 especially giving opinions on drivers. When one of the drivers invites her to a race in Miami she jumps at the opportunity. Xander Bishop is the typical British F1 driver. He’s confident but facing some struggles in the racing world. He hasn’t been winning as many races and Mia has been talking about it on her podcast. When they finally meet instead of clawing each other’s eyes out, they have an instant connection. Mia is nervous and throwing out caution flags when it comes to relationship territory but it’s worth it for Xander.

This was a quick and fast paced read! I loved the passion Mia had for her podcast and trying to move up in her career. I also enjoyed that Xander never tried to make light of her podcast or tear her down. These two were so cute together and I liked how they balanced each other out. This book was a fun way to get introduced to the sport of F1 and a classic rom com read!

A huge thank you to Karen Booth, her team, and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book!

This was my first time diving into a F1 romance. I did enjoy the quick chapters, but I did not connect well with the main characters' chemistry. I am not a big fan of insta love and I didn't feel the romance was as well developed as it could have been. This book was quick and a easy read, but it didn't stand out for me. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received a ARC copy with Netgalley for my honest review.
Mia has a podcast for formula 1 racing, while she is voicing her review on one of the drivers, Xander, she goes viral. She is at invited to watch in person and continue to give her opinions of the races and drivers. Once Xander and her come face to face and he confronts her of her detailed negative review of his performance, they did not realize there would be an instant connection. First if starts innocent and just talking, then he makes the first move and kisses her.
The lines start to become blurred when they spend more time together...

It was a fun read, and recommend it to readers who want a romcom.
3.75 stars

Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ahead of release and congrats to the author on a successful pub day!

Formula One romances? Fantastic, give me 14 of them!! This was such a mindless, fun, and cozy read. It doesn’t have much of an emotional impact and it may not be a contender for a 5 star read for me, but I loved the ride anyways! Insta-love isn’t my favorite trope, but the FMC and MMC were hilarious and their dynamic was very well executed.

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

I really wanted to love this title. I liked Xander, and there was racing. Unfortunately, Mia fell really flat for me and while I did finish it, I never really liked her or even found myself hoping for them to be a couple.

I am unable to recommend this title.

This was a fun and different kind of read! You don't see many romance novels in this setting, so it was refreshing. I liked the characters and was really rooting for them! I loved how the characters communicated and there wasn't a lot of miscommunication in this book. I'll definitely read more!

I truly enjoyed this book! This is such a cute romance book. I loved Mia & Xander.
The storyline was entertaining & the characters were likable.
The development of the relationship between the main characters felt natural and fun, and I loved how they worked on their own journeys as well.
This book was a fun read with a bit of that enemy to lovers feeling and the writing put you right there along side the characters cheering on the drivers.

This story was such a fun ride! With international races, constant travel, and a high-energy backdrop, Mia and Xander’s connection unfolds in a way that feels both playful and grounded. The romance does lean into insta-lust territory, but it works within the fast-moving pace of the plot. Their banter, chemistry, and emotional vulnerability really shine, and I especially loved how supportive they were of each other’s careers. The steam is very much present throughout the book, although the spicy scenes themselves walked a strange line—somewhere between being vague and oddly constant. While I do enjoy spice in a romance, this element felt slightly out of balance with the rest of the story’s tone.

One of the standout aspects was Mia’s neurodiverse-coded characterization. Her overthinking, perfectionism, struggles with intimacy, and inner critical voice made her incredibly relatable and authentic. I appreciated that she was portrayed as both flawed and brilliant in ways she wasn’t always aware of. Xander was equally endearing—genuine, imperfect, and easy to root for. Their individual growth arcs added a lot of heart to the story, especially with the underlying themes of mental health, boundaries, and self-care, which brought a refreshing layer of depth.

I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a light but meaningful sports romance read!

This book was such a fun, fast-paced ride—perfect for a one-sitting binge! Mia is the kind of overthinking, overachieving heroine you can’t help but root for, even when her self-doubt gets a little overwhelming. Her love for Formula One is infectious, and the podcast angle adds a fresh twist to the rom-com formula. Xander? Total swoon. British, broody, and surprisingly sweet—he’s definitely boyfriend material (and yes, I’d let him take me to every race too). The chemistry between Mia and Xander is off the charts, with plenty of steamy moments to keep things spicy. There’s also a surprising amount of emotional depth, with therapy and personal growth woven into the drama. If you’re into sports romances with a side of sass, speed, and sexual tension, this one’s worth the pit stop.

Great enemies to lovers book. Mia has a podcast about Formula One. It’s her favorite sport and she’s not afraid to let her opinions on the drivers, the competition and the sport in general be known. Her opinions on driver Xander Bishop go viral and she meets him face to face at the Miami Grand Prix. Sparks fly in both bad and good ways. Quick and interesting read even if you’re not an F1 fan.

I would rate Karen Booth's *Not So Fast* between 2.5 and 3 stars. While I'm not a huge Formula One fan, I do enjoy romantic comedies. Unfortunately, this book didn't resonate with me, and I believe it's mainly due to the Formula One aspect. The writing style is fine, but I just couldn't connect with the story overall. It's unfortunate for me, but I believe this will be a fantastic read for those who love both romantic comedies and Formula One.

This was a fun, fast-paced read that totally drew me in. I loved Mia, a witty, overthinking F1 podcaster whose jabs at British driver Xander Bishop turn into unexpected chemistry when they meet at the Miami Grand Prix. Their enemies-to-lovers arc was full of snark, slow-burn tension, and genuine emotional growth. I especially appreciated how both characters were flawed in ways that felt real and relatable, and the story avoided the cliché third-act breakup. The mental health themes were handled well, adding depth to the romance. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Talon David, who brought Mia’s spiraling thoughts and sass to life. Her accents and emotional range brought the characters to life. Highly recommend!

A really fun and quick read! Nothing dramatic or super deep, but still managed to create likeable characters and a good story.

I enjoyed Xander and Mia's progression from somewhat enemies to somewhat friends to more. It was very honest and they both approached the whole situation like adults. I was dreading the 3rd act breakup because they both were already struggling with other things, but they handled it exactly as I'd expect logical, loving people to handle it.

Mia was very funny and relatable (with her rambling thoughts and overthinking) and Xander was charming, but also very sweet. Their families made good foils to each of them and the added struggles of Mia's growing celebrity status was very honest.

Overall, I'd recommend if you want a quick palate cleanser or just something sweet to read.