Excellent romance. The chemistry and relationship between these two was 5 stars. The pacing was totally off in the story though. The first night they meet is the first 30% of the story, so it takes 30% to get to the actual conflict and plot of the book. I wish that first meeting was 15% and then we got another 15% throughout the story of an additional scene or to of the two of them being together.

4.

“I think I'm falling for my wife”

WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ fake marriage
✨ forced proximity
✨ one bed trope
✨ jealousy scenes
✨ tension & yearning
✨workplace/relationship scandals
✨ spice 🌶️🌶️
✨ 3rd act drama


Quick Thoughts:

I have been dying for a very good Formula One romcom, and this filled that bucket for me. The banter and tension built as the book went on, and I just couldn't set it down. I read the series out of order and now I must go read the first.

I loved:

Accidental Marriage
When this trope is done well, I am thrilled. This was done so good. The build up to the moment, and the realization. I love how the author made the build up appear as something spicy for BAM, marriage. A good little moment.


Stella
I loved Stella. I know this will be a hit/miss character especially because of her 3rd act but I think it's somewhat important for her growth. Stella was in a power dynamic relationship for years that ripped her confidence and idea of love to shreds. She wasn't even sure if she didn't love her ex anymore because she didn't trust herself. I see her rationale for everything she did. Do I wish she had better communication skills? Yes, but I do think it was realistic for her to be used to not communicating.


Thomas
Add him to my book boyfriend list asap. This man is a simp, and I love it. He has a slight attitude to him , especially with others, but then lights up with Stella. The jewelry comment?! Oh I was DOWN for this man. He knew Stella like the back of his hand, and he wasn't giving her up for anything.


The thing I disliked
3rd act
I know not shockingly to dislike the third act especially when it has drama and miscommunication. As always I will try my best to be vague with no spoilers. The concept of this third act wasn't what I hated, it was the lack of communication. Yes it was explained with her phone wouldn't work, but Thomas just sitting there not knowing and her phone not working?! Her not calling ahead of time, and waiting as long as she did. Yeah it just wasn't my favorite.


Overall, I am buying this book when it comes out. I am thankful for this ARC, and the opportunity to explore a new author for me. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a quick, fun sports romance with accidental marriage!

Thank you Net Galley for this arc! I absolutely ate this book up! I love a good slow burn and I really believe in the love and rooting for this couple. I was smiling and giggling the entire time.

This engaging romance novel offers a fresh take on the marriage of convenience trope, set against the glamorous backdrop of Formula 1 racing. When Stella Baldwin, recently left at the altar and dealing with the aftermath of a viral social media rant, meets Thomas Maxwell-Brown, an F1 driver facing career challenges, their Vegas encounter results in an unexpected marriage that might solve both their problems.

The strength of this novel lies in the characterization. Both protagonists are successful in their own fields, bringing equal weight to the relationship. Thomas's dedication to making their arrangement work feels genuine rather than forced, and their chemistry develops at a believable pace.

The author handles the Formula 1 setting well, incorporating enough detail to create atmosphere without overwhelming readers unfamiliar with the sport. The supporting characters, particularly Figgy and Janelle, add depth to the narrative, though some of these relationships could have been explored more thoroughly.

While the romance itself is satisfying, the resolution feels somewhat rushed. The conflict between Thomas and Andrew would have benefited from more direct resolution, and Stella's need for closure with her ex-fiancé Etienne seemed unnecessary given her established feelings for Thomas.

Overall, "Ride with Me" is a solid contemporary romance that balances steamy moments with emotional development. It's an ideal choice for readers looking for a well-crafted romance with a unique setting. The novel avoids making race a central conflict, focusing instead on the characters' professional and personal challenges.

4/5 stars - Recommended for fans of contemporary romance, sports romance, and the marriage of convenience trope.

The author's knowledge of F1 racing was apparent in the novel, it appears well researched and written to me, someone who has no F1 knowledge. I liked the character's chemistry and relationship.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of this e-arc!
(3.75 rounded up)

I was really excited to read this book! I had a really fun time towards the beginning. The chemistry and banter between Stella and Thomas was so good

It felt more like a slow burn so around 60% through it started to drag a little bit. I wish there were more moments where they communicated with each other and their chemistry was shown. It felt like a constant back and forth of whether they wanted to be together or stay friends so I started to lose patience/ interest because they obviously liked each other and were telling everyone else except each other 😭

But I did enjoy the ending of book and the side characters. I loved the full circle moment Stella has with one of her family members at the end

📖 Book Review 📖 Fake marriages and Formula 1…it does not get better than this!!! Stella’s been down on her luck since her fiance broke off their marriage but there isn’t anything she won’t do for her cousin, including show up for her bachelorette and wedding in Vegas. Things certainly start to look better when she meets handsome F1 driver Thomas…until they wake up after their big night out married by an Elvis impersonator. Obviously the farce they stumbled into during their drunken mishap benefits them both and boy are we in for a real treat when they keep it up! This deliciously fast-paced romance is full of so many laughs, lots of chemistry, and just the right amount of car F1 talk. Ride With Me is a green light for a must-read that shows that through it all, maybe there is hope for healing and a finish in the points.

I didn't like anything about this book. The plot points, the characters, the relationship dynamics, the portrayal of F1 and racing, to name a few. It felt like nothing was properly developed, from storyline to relationships; a fact which wasn't helped by the characters being highly unlikable.

thank you netgalley and berkley for the e-arc in exchange for a honest review!

as brutal as this sounds, what initially started as a fun and entertaining read very quickly became something i strongly disliked and almost dnf'ed. which is very unfortunate because i loved the first book in this series and i really do like the author's writing style. i feel like this book had so much potential with tropes like marriage of convenience to slow burn to obsessed MMC x independent FMC, but it was so lackluster and it fell very short for me.

i think my biggest issue is i started to dislike both main characters once i reached 30%. i feel like their chemistry as a couple flew out the window at some point early on. once that happened i did not enjoy the romance at all and and i was no longer able to root for them. and if i’m not rooting for the couple to be together (which is the whole point of a romcom book) then it becomes extremely boring and hard to read. at that point, what am i even reading it for? i really wanted to like this, but it just wasn’t the book for me.

I was expecting a lot and that’s exactly what I got! This was a treat when I needed it most. Can we acknowledge the amazing start this book had? Immediately YES. Give me 14 of them right now please. I had no idea that accidental marriage was such a fun trope but since this book I’ve been searching for more. I love the dynamic of the main characters from the start and how as they continue to grow and foster their relationship, their chemistry just builds. It had been a while since I read cross the line so sometimes I couldn’t remember the connections between the riders and teams but that didn’t really hinder my enjoyment. Literally no notes and cannot wait to see this book hit shelves!

If you have not read an F1 Sports romance, THIS is where to start!

Let's be honest Stella Baldwin has hit rock bottom. Just when she thought she would be getting her "back blown out" by the love of her life, she instead finds her self at a Jack and Jill party for her cousin. That's right, Stella was left at the altar by her husband to be. So the best option? Party in Vegas. Because what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas... Right?

Thomas Maxwell-Brown is your F1 heartthrob. British, wealthy, good looking, but what is he missing? Oh! That's right a good reputation... After a leaked video exposing some, choice words, Thomas is now the number one HATED driver in F1. Needing a break from the hatred, he agrees to go stag to a Jack and Jill party for his best mate.

Both have the idea to let loose, have a night of fun, but what happens when that night turns into waking with a doughnut on Stella's ring finger and a signed marriage certificate?


Absolutely adored this book. Thomas is a character that I will love for AGES! He is a puppy dog, but in all the right ways. Respectful, caring, funny and lets not forget BRITISH! These two characters develop together and change each others lives.
This is the kind of book that makes you WISH these things happened in real life...
Seriously though.. . F1 Sports Romances just may be my new favorite genre....

This is the most romantic book I have read in ages. I loved Stella and Thomas both and enjoyed the dual point of view this novel is written in to gain insight into each character. The chemistry and banter sizzles. I am a huge F1 fan and loved having a book to read featuring a competing driver. I can tell the author is also very knowledgeable about the sport and I can't wait for the season to begin in March.

The loyal friendships Stella and Thomas had showed me how vulnerable both were as well as their capacities to love and give to others. My only complaint was how long Stella and Thomas took to finally realize and admit to their true feelings and decide to take the chance of being hurt again.

I enjoyed this book so much that I bought the first book by this author in her F1 series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital review copy.

omggg so so so cuteeee!

simone you diva, i adore you! i love a good marriage of convenient story, and this one is amazing. The main character Stella is a black girl, and y’all know I love to see black women loved out loud and this book gives me everything I need and more. I absolutely adore Stella and Thomas together, they’re everything they needed to be with each other. I loved the pacing of the story, the progression of the story, the plot and all the characters we got. I was really happy to see one of the side characters kind of have almost a redemption arc, because I had a feeling they weren’t a bad person and I was proven correctly. Overall, I really enjoyed this story, I’m kind of in a slump and this book took me out of it a little bit so I respect and appreciate it for that as well.

I liked this book a lot. I loved the slow burn, and the MCs chemistry is fire. But this was either a really long book, or it failed to keep my attention at times because it took me twice as long to read as normal. I don’t understand why because I really enjoyed it! Thanks to Berkley for the ARC.

This romance novel is a tender and deeply emotional journey that captures the beauty of love, growth, and resilience. The author’s writing has grown, showcasing a refined balance of heartfelt storytelling and genuine emotion. The characters are richly developed, with remarkable depth that makes their struggles and triumphs feel incredibly real.

This book has my heart! Fun, adventurous, with a touch of emotional depth. Her writing has grown and the characters are really developed. I’m very excited about the next book already

I thought the timeline of the story was compact and tight which led to a good story. It was a good fast to slow burn which I appreciated. There isn’t an overdoing of the “my wife” statement, that happens in marriage of convenience tropes. The reason for them to stay married felt right. Also I like that they are both working through their struggles together with communication and that there was no breakup rather a battle of head over heart for the FMC.

this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and i was not disappointed🤭 simone soltani is fab at writing really fun and accurate f1 romances - which i have struggled to find in the past. i feel like she is very aware of the f1 space and funnels that perfectly into her books, which i really appreciate. the chemistry between these characters also felt extremely real and fun, and i adore how quickly i can fly through her books. this one has a sprinkling of:
- marriage of convenience
- forced proximity
- f1 romance
- both millionaires

Stella woke up in Vegas next to an infamous racecar driver with a donut on her finger after being left at her own wedding 2 weeks ago. The last thing she remembers was that her and Thomas were having a great time at a bachelor-bachelorette party. Next thing, Stella knows is that now she’s married to Thomas, after a drunk Vegas wedding. Stella and Thomas agreed to keep a marriage of convenience to help both of their careers but can they keep their feelings out?…

I LOVE THIS!! I love this wayyy more than Cross the Line! ❤️ Thomas is such a golden retriever and so so cute and gentlemanly. This is super sweet with just enough spice! I had a great time!

Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️/5

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for this ARC ❤️

This book was so fun, and a great continuation of the world of F1 from Cross the Line. Thomas and Stella are both likeable characters who definitely have some skeletons in their closets and issues in the past, but they each care about and support the other. The timeline of their romance definitely didn't feel rushed, in fact, it almost felt too slow. By the time they realized and discussed their feelings, there was a chapter and a half left in the book, and it felt like there was some missed opportunity with that.

Stella's character growth with her ex fiancé and how the relationship changed her was truly amazing, and it felt entirely realistic. I think Thomas also had good character growth within the story, not reacting when he found out who released his video. Cannot wait for more of this world to come to light in hopefully a future book.