3.5

I received an ARC from Berkeley Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The first 60% is fun and then from 61% to 90% it kinda drags. The two characters had a great conversation about communication and then there was no communication between them. There was also an awkward situation where the MMC had to leave the FMC "immediately" for something that didn't feel urgent. I think if the "conflict(s)" didn't happen, the flow of the book would have been better.

This was an incredible read!! I love a good marriage convenience!! This story kept me hooked the entire time!!

Ride with Me by Simone Soltani is an absolute thrill! Stella Baldwin’s life is turned upside down after being left at the altar and a Vegas bachelorette party gone wrong. Enter Thomas Maxwell-Brown, a Formula 1 driver with his own set of problems, and suddenly, they find themselves married after one wild night. What starts as a marriage of convenience turns into something much more electrifying.

The chemistry between Stella and Thomas is off-the-charts, and their banter is just as sharp as their steamy moments. Soltani nails the “opposites attract” trope, giving us two characters who are impossible not to root for. The story is fast-paced, full of heart, humor, and passion, with just the right amount of drama.

If you’re looking for a fun, steamy romance with lots of twists and emotional sparks, Ride with Me is a must-read!

Thank you to the publisher for an early digital copy of this book to review!

I didn’t think it was possible, but I liked this book even more than the first one! Although there was a definite step back in the amount of the sport (F1) in this sports romance, there was a step up in the romantic connection between the characters.

In the first book, a lot of the chemistry from the main characters came from their shared history, which was mostly off-page, before the events of the book. However, in Ride With Me, the two main characters are strangers until their meet cute. We get to see all of their romantic chemistry develop on-page, which I think makes a difference!

While I don’t agree with all of the FMC decisions, one thing I loved throughout the book was how patient and understanding the MMC was with her. Him being an athlete and British were just bonuses for me!

I also feel like there were a few characters that were introduced that didn’t really add much to the plot, so they could have been condensed to make more of a meaningful impact.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and flew through it, and would love to continue reading more books in this world!

I'm a huge fan of Formula One and Simone and having the two combine is the best thing in the world! I was absolutely riveted to read this and LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT! These two characters were so loving and layered and I can't to see who she writes about next!!

Thomas is British and the first few times he called her darling, I was swooning. I always love reading about British characters bc I love imagining the accent.

Vegas weddings are always hilarious...especially even when I know what's going to happen next, but I still eat it up every time. However, I felt like it was an insta-love kinda scene at the start of the book. Now, I don't mind insta-love elements most of the time, but it just felt a little off given the context of everything that I knew about the both of them. I prefer the romance (tension) to simmer a little bit before the spice comes in. Again, there are moments when I might think differently, but in terms of this book, I would have preferred it to come a little later. I kind of also wish there was more Formula 1 stuff bc I was searching for it.

I would recommend you give this book a try if accidental marriage in Vegas leading to marriage of convenience is your style bc I think it could be enjoyable. Also, I kind of felt traces of a reverse grumpy x sunshine which I enjoyed bc why do men only get to be grumpy? 🌝

The cover is gorgeous btw and a huge motivating factor for wanting to read this book!

Thank you to Simone Soltani, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for this arc! 💕

I loved this one! This was my first race car driver romance and honestly I wasn’t sure if I’d get into it since F1 and NASCAR aren’t my thing but WOW maybe I should start watching them because this book was hilarious and sweet and spicy and overall just a really freaking fun read!

Bookstagram review to come soon :)

Thank you to Berkley Romance & NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review!

We are back in the F1 racing world with the second book in the Lights Out series by Simone Soltani. "Ride With Me" follows F1 racer Thomas and chef/entrepreneur Stella as they navigate their accidental Vegas Marriage. Instead of getting divorced they decide to “fake date”within their own marriage. Stella and Thomas realize they can benefit from using the other.

Now slight refresher, we did briefly meet both characters in book one and just that small introduction was enough to make me excited for this book. Let me tell you folks Simone did not disappoint. I enjoyed the continuation of this series and loved the slow burn relationship between Thomas & Stella. Thomas immediately was one of my favorite MMC. He literally screams golden retriever energy and he was gone for Stella from the start. Plus every-time he called Stella “my wife” had me swooning and wanting to switch places with a a fictional character. Now I have to admit Stella our MFC took bit more for me to warm up to. She was cold and standoffish at first. But once I learned more about her backstory I totally understood her behavior. And I loved watching her heal and come out of her shell with Thomas. The chemistry between them was off the charts and I loved watching the two of them have a healthy relationship throughout the entire story.

Overall, the second installment in this series is not one to miss. I highly recommend any and everyone check out this series. I can’t wait to own my trophy copy when it releases May 2025.

This book is a fun book that’s a journey of love, self-discovery, and adventure. Stella’s journey is not just a physical one, but an emotional and transformative experience that resonated with me. The author tied together an intricate, heartwarming relationship that adds an extra layer of authenticity to the narrative, making it impossible to put down. This book was exciting and had tender moments of love and companionship. The plot kept me engaged and eager to see where the road leads next. The vivid descriptions of the various landscapes and settings made me feel like I was right there, experiencing the journey alongside the characters. I loved both Stella and Thomas. Stella was such a strong FMC and Thomas was such a sweetheart. Together they were great.

This book is beautifully written and emotionally rich novel that leaves a lasting impression. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a soulful and captivating read.

I really enjoyed this one! I went in blind, without having read the first one, and didn’t feel like I missed out on anything as those two characters didn’t show up much. Overall I thought it was cute and a really great place to start dipping my toe into the F1 waters.

I am a huge fan of traditional romance, although there are certain “tropes” that I enjoy more than others. One of my favorites is “fake relationship.” Because of this, I was super excited to read this book. I was definitely nervous about reading the second book in a series that I had not yet read the first book of, but, thankfully, I was still able to read it as a “standalone.”

I liked that this book was told from alternate perspectives. Due to that, I was able to get to know both characters, and I found myself rooting for them both. Both characters were written extremely well, and the plot actually “made sense.” I loved one of the reveals at the end too! Not to be a spoiler, but I was glad to see that one of the side character’s motivations were not as sinister as once believed.

I absolutely hope that there is going to be a book three, as I could see some of the side characters in this book getting their own story. Also, although I read this as a standalone, I do plan to read “Cross the Line.”

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you Berkley for the ARC.☺️

Ahhh!!! I love a good slow burn.🔥🔥 and this was SLOWWWW. But, I very much enjoyed every part of it. The build up and all the TENSION!!! 💋 *Chefs Kiss* 😘 👩🏾‍🍳 Marriage of convenience and slow burn are two of my absolute favorite tropes so I really liked this one. Stella and Thomas had amazing chemistry. And I ate it all up. Thomas is one of my new favorites because he was so sweet, thoughtful and caring toward Stella I loved it. When he kept addressing Stella as her wife, it had me giggling and kicking my feet. I got to admit, I was a little frustrated with Stella denying her feelings at times, but I understand it was due to the trauma of her past failed relationship. When she finally stood up for herself to her ex and let him know what’s up, I clapped for her. 👏🏾 👏🏾 I loved how funny, bold and confident she was. This was such a good read, I recommend!!

Oh my gosh!!! I'm so in love with Thomas y'all I need help - he's perfect, I love obsessed men. I also did like our FMC, but wasn't absolutely in love with her and as much as I loved our MMC and I do wish the slow burn wasn't THAT slow... Of course this is personal preference, so if you think this is something you'll enjoy, I'm of course still going to recommend this to you! Just a fun, classic and reliable sports romance with an accidental wedding - which means, yes, we get a lot of "my wife" moments ;) "Whatever my wife wants, my wife gets," !!! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25⭐️
Their banter, the tension, it was just perfect! And if you know me, you know I LOVE the fake dating trope ! As well as the marriage of convenience trope. I really liked both of the main characters. Stella, fiery yet soft. And Thomas. I LOVED him!!! He was so sweet and understanding and just perfect!! This totally had 5 star potential.
But then in the middle to end of the story, it started to drag a little, and I was thinking CAN YOU TWO JUST STOP PRETENDING AND AVOIDING THE INEVITABLE AND GET TOGETHER FOR REAL. Obviously you have to hold out a little while to make the story interesting, but they just started to annoy me a little bit with how long they were taking to finally confess they truly loved each other.

my little synopsis:
Two weeks prior Stella had been left at the altar and then posted a drunken rant on her social media. Now like some sort of sick joke, she’s going to her cousins joint bachelor/bachelorette party.
Thomas is an f1 driver, who has recently been caught in a scandal after saying some not so nice things about a fellow driver. So when Stella & Thomas gets drunkenly married in Vegas, they decide maybe it won’t be such a bad idea to pretend to be married to shape up their reputations…

Thank you to NetGalley & Simone Soltani for the ARC🫶🏻

Thank you to Berkley Romance for providing me with an early copy!

"Ride With Me" is the second book in the Lights Out series by Simone Soltani. The story follows characters we briefly met in the first book. I enjoyed the romance in this installment and felt that the slow-burn development between Thomas and Stella was well executed. I love a good accidental drunk wedding combined with a fake marriage trope. From the beginning, Thomas was a goner right from the start, and I lived for the 'my wife' moments. The chemistry between the main characters was palpable, and I appreciated their healthy communication throughout the story.

However, I still have one complaint that carried over from the first book: we are told about their backstories rather than witnessing them unfold. This made it harder to deeply understand their motivations for continuing the fake marriage. Additionally, I noticed there was much less about F1 compared to the previous book, which I found lacking for a sports romance.

Overall, this was a solid read, and I can't wait to see who the next couple will be!

I love the drunken marriage in Vegas trope so I knew this book was going to be for me. Both Thomas and Stella really compliment each other really well. I love their interactions and just their entire relationship. I do think Stella could be a bit immature and it bugged me a bit, but I was able to overlook it because of how much I was enjoying the plot.

2.5 ⭐️ First off thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review! For those that know me, know that I love a good marriage of convenience and drunken accidental marriage in Vegas. There's just something about it that hits different for me.

This had a lot of potential and I really enjoyed Cross the Line, but this one took me a while to get into the story and by the time I was invested, that feeling didn't last long. I had started it and then put it down for a short period of time which maybe didn't help, I don't know. The burn was slooooow and most times I don't mind that, but this one felt a bit too long page wise and relationship development wise. And some of the dynamics between characters fell flat and I wished there was more depth or focus on certain characters.

All that being said, this could have been a me problem and the time I read it, but this could be for you if you like marriage of convenience and a little bit of F1.

Something about the way simone Soltani writes is going to do it for me everytime. As someone who loves the accidental/marriage of convince trope more than anything it was done so flawlessly in this book. We got to enjoy seeing Thomas and Stella’s romance blossom, while also getting to witness some of the challenges they had to face from their families and the outside opinions. This personally was my first F1 romance and often when reading sports romances it sometimes feels like the sport isn’t often touched on but soltani did it so tastefully and made sure the sport stayed at the focus of the story. I also really liked that the plot was more focused on their connections than spice, which I feel is often the case in sports romances. I truly had a blast getting to dive into Thomas and Stella’s world

Tropes:
- Marriage of convince
- accidental marriage
- slow burn
- F1 Driver X Baker
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

3.25⭐️
This was a cute sequel to Cross the Line! I wasn’t in love with it but it was good. The first half really hooked me because I love marriage of convenience, but the characters were annoying me towards the end. It felt like their relationship lacked depth. Overall was a fun read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free eArc

ride with me (arc) by simone soltani 💜💍🎰💒🏎️🏁🩵🎰💜💍🩵🏁🫧💒🫶🏻🎰💍🏎️🏁🫧🩵🏁

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🏁this is gonna be a long review so strap in:

if you know me, you know i absolutely ADORE simone’s first book in the lights out series, cross the line. so when i received the arc for ride with me i was THRILLED!!! AND BOY OH BOY!!!!!!! did she deliver. this book is absolute perfection.

💒accidentally married in vegas
💍fake marriage
💜girlboss bakery owner
🏎️hot british f1 driver
🩵interracial couple
🫧independent fmc
🎰obsessed down bad mmc
💍TONSSS OF “my wife”
🏎️open door spice!

💜stella:
god. i can’t even put into words how much i adore stella girl. she is so strong, confident, HILARIOUS, sexy, powerful, GOD I LOVE HER!!!!!!! she will go down as one of my favorite fmc’s literally ever. seeing her struggle with the aftermath of her breakup with her ex, and slowly gain back the confidence in herself that he stripped away is so special. i love you stella sooooo much 💜😮‍💨🫶🏻

🏎️thomas:
GODDDD WE LOVE A BRITISH BOYFRIEND!!!!!! okay he’s absolutely everything. sweetest little dirty talker in the whole world. he’s so so perfect. thomas is the sweetest, most caring mmc ive read in awhile!!!!! it’s the little things!!!!! (HE SPECIAL ORDERED ALL OF HER FAVORITE BAKING APPLIANCES TO HIS HOUSE IN HER FAVORITE SPECIAL ORDER COLOR SO SHE COULD BAKE AT HIS HOUSE.) seeing him ripped up over the lorenzo situation and seeing how stella helped resolve that not only to the media but to himself just ugh okay i have to stop talking or i never will.

🏁if you can’t tell by now, i loved this book. @simonesoltani you are a powerhouse my girl. i loved stella and thomas so so so much. this is one of my favorite books of the year!!!!!! so funny!!! so sweet!!!!! so sexy!!!!!! their chemistry!!!!!!!!! ugh!!!!!! i love stella and thomas. okay i have to stop or i will talk about them forever.

ride with me by simone soltani is out may 20, 2025!

thank you to simone, @berkleypub @berkleyromance @netgalley for the arc! a million forehead kisses for you!!!! 🏁🏎️💋🫶🏻🫧💍💒🏁