thanks so much to berkleyromance for the ARC!

how lucky am i to read two books in a row where the man is absolutely <b>down bad.</b> thomas said “rules” and then proceeded to break every single one of them while staring at stella like she hung the moon. and listen, i love a slow burn, but 80% in and y’all are still playing pretend? give me the “my wife” energy earlier next time, please. that said, the yearning? exquisite. the english breakfast references? elite. the vacation braids? a cultural reset. and stella? an icon. my queen. the only thing stopping her from getting her man was her ex and a few misplaced boundaries.

and thomas? thomas is him. i don’t know what kind of man just quietly waits with open arms and rationalizes being left as character growth, but it’s giving <i> olympic-level patience.</i> personally, i would’ve liked to see stella grovel a bit more…just a sprinkle of “i’m sorry for making you suffer in silence, king” but alas, i still ate it up. it’s insta-curiosity, it’s interracial romance, it’s f1 racer fantasy, and it worked. four stars because while i wanted more “we’re married now” moments, what we did get was swoony as hell.

✨ Synopsis: Ride with Me by Simone Soltani is a romance novel following an entrepreneur named Stella who finds herself in a marriage of convenience with a Formula 1 driver by the name of Thomas after a crazy night in Vegas. ✨

Review:

As this was both my first Formula 1 romance and novel by Simone Soltani, I had no idea what to expect. And what I received in return was everything. ANGST! PINING! YEARNING! This is all I needed, and Ride with Me delivers.

Ride with Me effortlessly blends themes of romance, independence, strong friendships, and complicated family dynamics. As the book unfolded, I couldn’t help but become attached to Stella and Thomas. Stella is a feisty, boss woman who I found myself relating to at certain points, while Thomas is a wealthy Brit with golden retriever energy. Thomas, specifically, has quickly emerged as one of my favorite male love interests. He was sweet, kind, and understanding of Stella. As the book unfolded, you can truly feel the genuine love and admiration he develops for Stella. The pining and yearning was another LEVEL, and was probably my favorite thing about the book.

In addition, another thing I really enjoyed was how the love interests were crafted as their own characters with their own interests and identity. Stella and Thomas both didn’t change themselves as they found themselves in a marriage of convenience, but adapted. Soltani did a great job in crafting complex characters who happened to fall in love. Reading Stella’s healing journey from relationship trauma was inspiring to watch. It was like Stella got her groove back (lol).

The only critiques I have of the book is the slow burn WAS VERY SLOW and I wished it included more extended moments between the two that weren’t driven by lust.

SIMONE YOU BRILLIANT BRILLIANT GAL, you took me out of my reading slump. I looooved Stella! And don’t get me started on Thomas. I love me a simp who can whisper good girl as he has me against a wall. I needed this romance. Also F1? Sounds hot.
Big thank you to #berkleyromance & #netgalley for this e-arc bc I’m such a fan of Simone’s. Ride With Me is book 2 but it’s also a standalone. BUT, I 100% think everyone should read CTL too bc it’s cayuuuuute.

So, a fun little factoid about me before we proceed with this review is that I read a lot of sports romances but I don't actually follow a lot of sports. I've read a metric ton of football and hockey romances and I know next to nothing about football and even less about the NHL. But I enjoy the romances and don't really know how accurate the sports stuff is...nor do I care!

Another little factoid about me: my husband is a massive F1 fan and so is our 14 yo daughter. They talk about the races and the teams and the drivers all the time and so, it stands to reason that just by virtue of being around them for any length of time, I have started to absorb some of this information. I may even, on occasion, sit and watch a race or 2.

You might be able to see where I'm going with this now. It's a lot easier for me to enjoy a sports romance the less informed I am about the sport featured in the romance. Sadly, I think I may know too much, or just enough to be dangerous when reading a F1 romance.

This is my first F1 romance and more than likely, my last one as well. There's a lot that didn't work for me in this story so let's start with what DID work for me. I really liked that the book was dual POV because I think it really helped to have a glimpse at both Thomas and Stella's inner thoughts.

However, the rest of the book was a miss for me. There were some pacing issues early on (ironic, considering that this is a F1 romance) and I really wished so much of the book didn't focus on Stella trying to heal from the trauma of being left at the altar 6 months earlier. I wish this book had taken place after more time had passed since that incident. So much of her hesitation is influenced by this horrible event and I can understand that she has trust issues and doesn't fully believe that Thomas won't leave her the same way her asshole ex fiancé did. But there's a big part of her that needs closure from what Étienne did to her and even at like the 70% mark, she admits to Thomas that there's a part of that that thinks she's still waiting for Étienne to come back to her and tell her he made a mistake. It's hard to root for a couple when the FMC is still stuck on a past relationship. That's not to say she's still harboring feelings of love for Étienne but I never quite believed that she was really and truly ready to let her heart belong to another man again either. And that makes it hard to root for the relationship and the HEA.

Secondly, let's talk about Thomas, the upper crust Brit F1 driver from a very posh and wealthy family. He's struggling with some terrible publicity that has turned a lot of F1 fans against him and he needs to clear his name, although that seems weird phrasing for what's actually happening here. Also, the team he drives for, it's implied that he's got that position because of his family's wealth and they are his main sponsor and his team doesn't want to lose that sponsorship. (His family owns a chain of luxury hotels). A lot of revelations come to light about what/who actually caused his publicity nightmare and it's implied that one of the people that can help fix his image will be giving an interview to do that but...the book ends and there's no mention of whether that happened or how it all turned out. There's even a scene towards the end of the book that implies that Thomas isn't happy with his current team and might be looking to make a change and then there's an epilogue that takes place months later and still, we get ZERO resolution about Thomas' future in F1. It's a bizarre way to leave us hanging and if the argument is that these answers will be revealed in a future book in the series (I'm guessing there will be more books about more drivers introduced in this series) then that also makes no sense because THIS is Thomas' book and his story should have been fully resolved at the end of it. If we get an epilogue that's months after the final chapter, there could have been some clue as to what ended up happening with his career. That feels like a reasonable ask.

I'm not going to talk too much about the actual F1 aspect though I will say what I mentioned to a friend of mine, that the top two drivers in this book are both American and one of them ends up winning the Drivers Championship and of the 20 F1 drivers currently racing in the actual F1, not a single one is American. Sorry, that just made me LOL. Also, Thomas' toxic family (mainly his asshole brother and father) make it clear they won't be sponsoring him anymore and thus essentially ending his career but then a last minute email from his sister towards the end of the book (but before the epilogue) fixes that and it's such a weird way to fix it. I guess, like Stella, I needed more closure about Thomas and his professional future and just did not get it.

All these words really boil down to the simple fact that I didn't really like the story. The characters really frustrated me with their behavior and decisions. Despite the fact that it was dual POV, there were times that I just couldn't get a handle on either of these characters and while this is obviously a book where the hero falls first and falls hardest, all of their shared angst made it hard to believe in the HEA.

ARC from publisher, review is all mine.

Content Notes: FMC gets left at the altar, MMC has a toxic family dynamic, someone recorded the MMC saying problematic things about another driver and then released it to the public, FMC also has complicated family dynamics

This was cute!
I really enjoyed this book!
It was a slow burn fake marriage troupe!

What happens in Vegas, don’t always stay in Vegas….

Stella was absolutely stunning! She was so sweet and kind with a feisty personality.

I love the chemistry that Stella & Thomas have from the beginning. Their attraction to each other grows slowly but becomes so strong later in the storyline!
It will have you gushy over them two. So freaking adorable!


I knew nothing about race cars or F1, but I would love to attend a race in the future. Maybe I’ll find my future husband.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc! Great book!

I absolutely loved this book so much! The characters complimented each other well and I loved their story and watching them overcome the things they were dealing with. The way they fought for each other and watched out for each other was perfect and there were so many swoony moments. I loved every minute of it!

This was my first F1 romance and I think I am hooked!

This book was funny, filled with banter, and perfectly paced. It also had an element of “who done it” as you waited to find out who betrayed each of our mcs.

Here are the things that I loved most about this book:
- Strong female character who is successful and a force to be reckoned with (even if she’s faking it sometimes)
- Kind and observant and SMOKING male lead with a dirty mouth who sees how amazing the fmc is and will literally bend to her will and worship her
- Amazing cast of friends and family who call out the mcs on their bullshit

Enjoyable, swoony, and I can’t wait to read more!

Whoa, the tension in here was through the roof, and my goodness, I was living for every second of it. Fake marriage/marriage of convenience is my all-time favourite trope, and it was so well done in this book. I loved their banter and the growth of their relationship. I did feel like the pace of the book was a bit slow at times, but overall, I had a fantastic ride!

I love F1 books and this was delicious! I've been waiting to read this one and it was soo good! I definitely recommend this book!

Not a sports romance girl but this was an enjoyable and surprising one for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this arc.

Ride with Me is a gorgeous romance that learns to trust again, to takes risks, and dares to pierce the heart faster than any racing car. This is a love story that will have you giggling, laughing, cheering, screaming, and swooning throughout every single turn of page. Stella and Thomas, take a bow!

After Stella is left at the altar by her fiancé, she finds herself at the last place she wants to be: a joint bachelorette-bachelor party. Wanting to support the bride, her dear cousin, she attends and decides perhaps she should go against expectations and find herself some fun. Enter scandal-riddled Formula 1 driver Thomas. Thomas is attending the joint party and, much like Stella, wanting to be anywhere but there. But one conversation together turns into a hazy night spent together (not quite how you may think!) and a morning filled with questions...and a marriage certificate. With recent controversy storming them both, Stella and Thomas decide to pretend their accidental marriage is quite real...and along the way, it may become just that.

Arghh! I just loved this one. I adored Stella and Thomas- they're an explosion of electric chemistry! Whewww! I swooned, I curled my toes, I twirled my dress in glee (wasn't wearing one, but oh boy, if I had been!), I blushed constantly, and I sighed oh so dreamily and happily. If romances were made of bones, this one has a spine of steel, because there simply is no denying how fabulous the chemistry is between our leads. For me, it elevated this entire story in magnetic fashion. I could not take my eyes off Stella and Thomas' dance of feelings.

I love how they become smitten with one another. I love how Thomas eventually and brazenly leans into this, seeking more, to claim those words "my wife" (screams!) in truth. Stella is much more reluctant and does her best to drive out any of those pesky feelings. And I appreciated how Thomas made himself clear without ever pushing any boundaries or testing limits, he always left the ball in Stella's court, to ensure any decisions made were all of her own. He reads her so well in such little time. The level of consideration Thomas' places for Stella is something she is so deserving to experience. While she may guard her heart steadfastly, she sees Thomas beyond the controversy that surrounds him and places herself on the line to help him see through the storm. She stands at his side with such inspiring strength and conviction. The heart just needs to follow suit. And when it does? Fireworks!!!

This is the story of two wounded hearts finding healing together. To take the chance, make that leap of faith, run the risk, that what they have - however shakily it may have started - can take root in the most powerful of ways.

Ride with Me is the second installment of Simone Soltani's Lights Out series, but if like me, you haven't read the first, fret not- this is very much a standalone! While it does interconnect with the the first book, Soltani does a lovely job in ensuring we understand any prior connections and characters. If anything, by book's end I was clamoring to go read the first book! Not because I felt my reading experience for Ride with Me was missing anything, rather I felt I'm missing out on more rich storytelling from an author I have become instantly charmed by! Gimme more!!!

I loved every bit of this one!

Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for this fabulous advanced complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily. 4.5

Read This Book If…you love a Vegas wedding!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Ride with Me by Simone Soltani

Genre: sports (F1) romance
Series: Lights Out # 2
Spice Level: 3/5🌶, 1-2 explicit scenes
Setting: Las Vegas, London, and around the globe
POV: dual, 1st person, present tense
Tropes: woke up married, marriage of convenience, one bed, just one time, “good girl” “my wife”

My Thoughts:
I love a romance where a significant chunk of the book is their first meeting/date, so this started off amazing! The first 20% is their night out in Vegas, with the classic woke-up-married trope in the morning.

These two had so much chemistry and I loved how their personalities brought out the best in each other. I was expecting a bit more spice based on their swoon-worthy first night, but overall I still enjoyed this.

I loved how down bad Thomas was from the beginning, and he really put in the work to make Stella feel safe and secure again. They are both fiercely independent, but stronger together. I will definitely be continuing with this series!

Memorable Quote: “Acts of service are my weakness, and he keeps throwing them at me like grenades.”

Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy!

Thanks so much to @berkleypub @berkleyromance or @acebookspub for the free book!

I’ll give this one a 3.5/5. While I did read it pretty quickly…I don’t think I particularly liked the main characters as people? Thomas at times seemed immature to me and I found it hard to believe that Stella really liked him in the end. I also thought the miscommunication/the other can’t know my true feelings lasted way too long into the book - to 90%! There was also not enough time spent in reconciliation; it happened so quickly. Overall the story did keep my interest but felt rushed in places.

This was a fun sports romance in a new (to me) sport. I suspect there were some details about F1 racing that went over my head but that didn't diminish my enjoyment! A little too will they won't they towards the end but all in all a super fun, easy read. Would definitely read more by the same author.

Ride With Me was such a surprise! I didn’t know what to expect going into this book, but Thomas and Stella stole my heart.

This was such a fun book! Both of our main characters were so well written, and their chemistry was off the charts. They held so much care for each other, and that was evident throughout their relationship.

Read this book if you love
🩵 Sports romance (Formula 1) where you don’t need to know how to sport works
🩶 Accidental marriage of convenience
🩵 Strangers to lovers
🩶 “My wife” in every imaginable context
🩵 Only one bed
🩶 So much love and care

I do wish there had been 5-10 more pages of resolution and seeing Stella and Thomas’s relationship thriving, but what we *did* get makes me want to read more of Simone Sontani’s books! 4.5 stars!

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the ARC and the opportunity to leave an honest, voluntary review. Ride With Me is out May 20, 2025!

Awwww this was such a cute story. I was just captivated by everything that was taking place. It was just so easy to get into these characters lives and you just can't help but fall in love with them. I can't wait to see what's next from this author.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for a chance to read an arc of this book! 🖤

5⭐️ I need a man to be this obsessed with me! They really rode for EACH OTHER! |
tropes: Marriage of Convenience, F1 Driver MMC, Slow burn | medium steam | digital

Overall Thoughts 💭:
Where do I even start... I loved this book so much. This was one of my most anticipated reads this year! I enjoyed Cross the Line, but this was somehow even better! I loved Stella and Thomas individually and even more as a couple. The core of this book is two people who have made very public mistakes, trying to do better while healing each other. I loved how much Thomas supported Stella and how she supported him in return. Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes, and mixed with their intense attraction not only to each other physically but a deep emotional yearning for the other as people was perfection. While their love was the focus, it was a bit of a slow burn, but I liked how the story juggled the F1 plot, the almost-wedding, familial problems, and them both being public figures in different countries. It was all done very well. I procrastinated finishing it because I didn't want Stella and Thomas's story to end! I can't wait to see what Soltani has in store for us next!

Thank you to Berkley Romance for this free e-ARC
I absolutely loved the writing of this book it was purely fantastic, which made this book an enjoyable read. I rated it four stars.

Stella and Thomas meet at a party in Vegas, and instead of a drunken hookup, they drunkenly get married. They decide to stay married for a year for PR reasons, appearing together in public.

Thomas was the perfect character. He was all in from the start, and his commitment was genuinely sweet.

Stella, on the other hand, was more complicated. She was smart, confident, successful, and undeniably a badass. She would have been easy to love, if only she didn’t treat Thomas the way she did.

I get that she had been hurt in the past and was wary of commitment, but her constant back-and-forth was frustrating. Her rules and barriers kept putting their relationship in jeopardy, and I just wanted to smack her with my Kindle. Thomas truly deserved so much better.

That being said, I see a lot of potential in this author’s work, and I’m excited to read more from them.

Stella was such a strong independent confident character I loved her dynamic with Thomas!
she
drove me mad after a while because girl, THAT MAN LOVES YOU! But I understood where she was coming from. Still love my girl Estelle Margaux Wilhelmina Tyrell Baldwin Maxwell-Brown! (Baby that name was a mouthful-praying for their future kids lol)
Thomas "If He Wanted to He Would" Maxwell-Brown the man that you are. I loved him & how down bad he was for his QUEEN!
• His brother and me were
about to throw down, but literally he was the only family member that irritated me. (Not included she who shall not be named)
I did find it extremely wordy in some parts, but it didn't take away from the story for me honestly.
Sometimes, for me, simpler is more.
It was great fun. I love being in the F1 world & Simone makes it so digestible that even if you don't know anything about the sport you can still have an understand of what's going on!
Thank you to Berkley for an opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review!
Read from: Apr 04, 2025 - Apr 08, 2025

This book was just so much fun!! I absolutely loved book one in this series (so much that I now regularly wake up at 6am to watch little men drive around a track and high speeds!) and I was foaming at the mouth to read book two, and it definitely didn't disappoint.

In this installment we follow Stella and Thomas who meet at a combined bachelor/bachelorette party, get the major hots, get majorly drunk, and wake up the next morning to find out they have gotten married. Since they both really can't take the PR hit, they decide to stay married for a year - a tale as old as time!!

Both Stella and Thomas were gems. Stella is this powerful woman with a heart of gold who is afraid to get her heart broken again. Getting to slowly watch her open up and trust again was simply lovely (did I throw in a Max Verstappen quote? I absolutely did!). Don't even get me started on Thomas. He is a dream boat! We love a mild mannered man with a filthy mouth!

I also really loved having a hefty amount of spice right at the beginning before we get that delicious slow burn! Absolutely perfection. Also the strip club scene is burned into my brain. It's never going away and I wouldn't want it to!

So yes, this was wonderful and I'm so excited I got a chance to read it early, but I guess that just means I have to wait even longer between books, because Simone is definitely an auto-buy author for me at this point!