Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Intimate Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: third person from both hero and heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: It takes a little bit – about 10% in, or chapter 2
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 4 months later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley. I started with the e-book version but switched to the audiobook
Why I chose this book: The cover and title were cute
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
I think this one stands alone.

Basic plot:
Mia loves Formula 1 so much, she decided to start a pod cast. She creates waves by criticizing Xander and comes face to face with him when invited to a race.

Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- heroine has a podcast covering Formula 1 racing
- heroine has dual master degrees in psychology and journalism (and massage therapy)
- American heroine / British hero
- formula 1 racer hero
- size difference – she’s 5’2” and he’s 6’3”
- celibate hero – it’s been over a year since he’s kissed someone
- medium steam – I think 3 full scenes, I might have missed something

Ages:
- didn’t catch either mentioned

My thoughts:
This novel is soooooo cute. I think my expectations were a bit lower because my last racing theme book I was disappointed in. But this was just adorable and I loved it.

Mia is a podcaster, and has been gaining fame by criticizing Xander’s racing. When they meet, he has no idea he’s actually her favorite racer. There’s some fun banter, light animosity and ego rears its head to pull these two together.

This book was funny and when they were together, I loved the evolution of their relationship. It had a great mix of character depth for each main with their respective careers, race page time, relationship and a family focus. I don’t usually pursue many contemporary authors (just occasionally read what posts/tropes grab me), but Karen Booth is one I will be checking out again...

This was overall a really cute book! I think the humor wasn’t my favorite but the general vibes felt like a hallmark movie which I do love! It was a little too insta-lovey for me with very low stakes who isn’t necessarily bad if you’re looking for a cozy rom-com!

Yes, it was predictable but I still thoroughly enjoyed this book! I feel like a lot of romances have one main character that really annoys me but honestly both of them were so refreshing to read about. I loved Xanders family dynamic and the resolution between Mia and her mom. And of course, all the F1 stuff was just icing on the cake for me. I'm not much of a spice reader so I could do without that, but I think most readers will enjoy Xander and Mia's relationship, it felt cozy. I wish the epilogue would let a little more time pass because I would love to see where these characters are a year or two later instead of just 4 months!

Mia Neal's most recent job is hosting a podcast about Formula 1 racing. She's attempted many careers, much to her mother's chagrin, but this podcast combines her passion for racing with her talent of speaking the truth. She gets the opportunity to go to a race as guest of one of the drivers and ends up face to face with her favorite driver, who she also happened to epically roast on her last podcast. As Mia gets deeper into the Formula 1 world, she needs to figure out who she is, what she wants, and what she is willing to give up to get it.

This book is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. I loved the two main characters so much. They are both good people just trying to do their best so I rooted for them throughout. This is a great quick read if you're looking for a little spice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin - Romance for the ARC of Not So Fast.

I'm sorry but this reads like self insert WattPad fan fiction. It was readable, I'll give it that, but there really wasn't any part of this book that sold me much.

Mia is the classic fan fiction protagonist who doesn't know that she's pretty until validated by the male lead. She's not like other girls... she's a Formula 1 fan. How could someone like a Formula 1 driver ever want someone like her??? Xander, meanwhile, is just a regular guy! (Despite being a professional athlete and multimillionaire). Why these two are into each other I don't really understand.

All of the drama in this book felt manufactured and fake. It seems unrealistic that Mia's journalist mother doesn't respect her career as a very successful podcast host. Audio journalism is not a new medium. It also doesn't make sense that Mia's fanbase is upset that when her podcast becomes successful enough that she is able to attend races and interview drivers.

A few other rapid fire cringey things in this book: Mia self published a self-help planner, which I guess is what she did with her Masters in Psychology? Both characters utilize this planner and it somehow works like therapy for Xander. Additionally, despite the F1 teams being made up, real life drivers are name dropped, which felt odd to me.

I definitely think this could be enjoyable or even nostalgic for some, but it just wasn't for me, unfortunately.

2 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Afterglow for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Mia is a podcaster, obsessed with Formula 1 racing. When she makes a crude comment about one of her favorite racers, she goes viral and gets invited to the next major race. Xander hates that he's been having a rough race year, and is even more frustrated when the ridiculous comment about him goes viral. He tries to avoid Mia, but when they meet at the race, and sparks fly, he decides he can't let her go.

I had some fun with this one. I'm not a big F1 fan, but my son and husband have been getting into it a bit, so I enjoyed learning a LITTLE about the race world through this book.

Mia is a little too stolid in her "I need time to think" mentality, but I guess the author decided that would be how someone might act who goes through jobs like a swimmer through water. Xander is a touch too perfect, but it's a romance novel. What else would he be, right?

The book is cute. I had fun reading it. Can't ask much more than that.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!

I could get into romances with F1 (Forma One racing)! Mia, an up-and-coming podcaster, has the opportunity to feature Xander, a successful race car driver. They were first rivals from afar but quickly developed an insta-list romance that was sweet and spicy. The plot moved quickly, the banter and chemistry off the charts, and the HEA ending very satisfactory! 3.75 stars

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

This was a bit of a slow start for me. At first I had a hard time being pulled into the story, mostly because I felt like I couldn’t get an idea of who Mia was. I’m glad I ended up sticking with it because it ended up being a fun, and sweet romance with some wonderful mental health representation. Both Mia and Xander put an enormous amount of pressure on themselves, and it was incredibly relatable to see how easy it is to recognize that in others, but be blind to it when it’s yourself. For being a quick transition from enemies to lovers, the relationship was based on communication and encouraging your partner to do what is best for them, and learning to not let yourself stand in your own way.

I finished this is one day - it’s short and it’s fun, and there’s HEALTHY COMMUNICATION!! That’s a win in my book!

Mia is a podcaster who carries the weight of newfound internet attention as she navigates her place in the F1 community. Xander is a hotshot driver who is going through a rough patch in his races, and Mia’s negative comments don’t help at all.
But when they meet, both of them begin to understand each other better and they soon become each other’s biggest support. It’s just too bad they have to hide their relationship from nosy reporters and even fans who might see what they have together as a ploy to drive views and fame.

Mia and Xander are two very fun leads. I love that they can have such opposite lives or foundations and come together to be a strong force for each other as they both find themselves deeply enveloped in the Formula One world.

As far as the relationship goes, I felt like the conflicts and dynamics were very realistic and believable, as navigating life in the spotlight would be something that requires more intentional discussion. Their communication was INCREDIBLE and truly there’s nothing better than healthy communication in a romance.

Thank you to Afterglow / Harlequin Romance for the gifted copy of this title. My review is completely voluntary, completely my own, and always completely honest.

Not So Fast is a fast-paced rom-com set in the thrilling world of Formula One. Mia Neal is a snarky, overthinking F1 superfan whose podcast hot take on British driver Xander Bishop suddenly goes viral. When she gets invited to a Grand Prix event to stir the pot, she ends up connecting with the driver she’s been dragging online. The chemistry is instant, and the tension is electric.

I loved how passionate both Mia and Xander are about racing. Their shared love for the sport adds depth to the story and their relationship. The first time they meet is hilarious and one of my favorite moments. I did wish for a bit more time with them building trust and friendship, but the story still works well as a quick read.

The audiobook, narrated by Talon David, was a highlight. Their performance brought the characters to life with great accents and strong delivery. I am picky about narrators, and this one really impressed me.

If you enjoy sports romances with smart characters and sharp banter, this is a fun listen worth checking out.

I loved this book! Great sports romance featuring a F1 driver and a podcaster. I loved their chemistry and banter and how they brought out the best in each other

Not so fast is an enemies to lovers story. Mia is a podcast host and get invited to an event that xander is racing at. Xander is a race car driver not having the best season and when he meets mia he is instantly not a fan of her. The tension and the banter “chefs kiss”!
I loved every part of this book! If you are looking for a good enemies to lovers this one is for you!

Mia is an F1 podcaster, and Xander is her favorite driver who joined a new constructor after a breakout year on a midfield team. While I appreciated the discussion on mental health for both characters, I do think they flipped too fast for me into too whirlwind-y of a romance for me to have time to start rooting for them; there was no time for the yearning… no time for them to really confide in their individual circles of support before really diving into being hot, heavy, and essentially in a serious relationship. Besides the mental health storyline, something else I did really like about this book was the positive female representation in the F1 community.

Not So Fast by Karen Booth was such a blast to read. I picked it up because I love a good enemies-to-lovers story, and throwing Formula 1 into the mix made it even better. The rivalry between the two main characters was fiery right from the start, and honestly, the tension was half the fun.

I really liked how the racing world was part of the story without it being too technical. It gave the book a fast-paced vibe, but the real focus was the chemistry between the characters. Their banter was sharp, the slow build was super satisfying, and yes, the spicy scenes definitely delivered.

If you’re into romance with a little edge, lots of heat, and that classic "I can’t stand you but I can’t stay away from you" energy, this one’s a great pick. It’s fun, flirty, and had me turning pages way too late at night.

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 ⭐️