Maril’s writing is fast-paced yet emotionally grounded, offering readers an immersive dive into the glitz, pressure, and intensity of the racing world. But what really stands out is the emotional honesty of the characters. Lilah and Arthur are both dealing with their own baggage, and their dynamic feels authentic, with witty banter, quiet vulnerability, and a connection that builds beautifully over time.

Whether you’re a fan of F1 or not, Slipstream is a compelling romance that stands out for its fresh setting, complex characters, and heartwarming payoff. It’s not just about speed on the track—it’s about the risks we take for love, and the courage it takes to start over.

Highly recommend for fans of sports romance, fake dating tropes, and emotionally satisfying love stories with a dash of adrenaline.

thank you netgalley and simon & schuster for the ARC ❣️as someone who loves f1 and banter and romance, this was a great time for me!! a solid 3.5 rounded up because i had fun!!!!

the ‘he falls first’ and ‘male yearning’ of it all always hit. i love king arthur so big, i wanted a chapter from his pov so, so badly — i just loved his characterization and what he brought to the story and think that would’ve provided some necessary depth to their back and forth. this is a hot man and certified wife guy!!!!!

lilah is complex and my opinion on her changed constantly. the mental health rep is well intentioned, but leaned in to a little too hard in a battle of quirkiness — but i kind of think that was the point?? she is constantly evolving throughout the story. would’ve loved to have seen a bit longer of an epilogue so we could really enjoy her growth.

the bones of this story are good and i followed most of the storyline without complaint. the only real issues i had were that the scheming was a bit messy and didn’t feel properly flushed out. and that the slow burn wasn’t Showing, because we only had lilahs pov — so when it came time for the release the emotions felt sudden and i felt like i had missed a step.

all in all i had fun and would absolutely come back and read more from this universe if the author expanded out to our other 3 team members!!

Great story, I absolutely love the book. I really enjoy NASCAR and this made me want to watch racing. I love the this story much it gave me happy feelings thanks for letting me read this book

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Slipstream in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, I DNF’ed this book at 40%.

I decided to DNF this book because I couldn’t understand why the main characters hated each other (I felt like they had no reason to? They were literal strangers) or how they landed on having to fake date. It seemed like such a stretch & I couldn’t enjoy the story because it wasn’t realistic to me. I also didn’t connect with the FMC Lilah & since the story is told from her point of view, that made it harder for me to enjoy too.

Even though this one wasn’t for me, there were still some things I really enjoyed about it. I liked the MMC Arthur and felt the most invested in his character. The scene of the first race was so exciting and I feel like the writing really shined there. The F1 parts of this book so far were well done!

Wanted to really like this because I liked the F1 aspect but it fell short. Lilah felt like a pick-me for most of the book. I didn't understand the documentary storyline and why she’d go along with fake dating Arthur, it didn’t make sense career wise. Also she has ADHD and she’s quirky because she doesn’t know pop, we get it. No notes for Arthur - he was great.

Slipstream is a fun, fast-paced F1 sports romance with plenty of banter and high-speed tension, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The highlight of the book was Arthur—the calm, collected love interest who balanced out the chaos of the story. I only wish we had gotten his POV because seeing everything solely through Lila’s eyes didn’t always do him justice.

Lila, the female main character, had her moments, but she was also a bit frustrating at times. Her ADHD representation, while well-meaning, sometimes leaned into exaggerated quirks rather than feeling fully integrated into her character. As someone with ADHD myself, it was more distracting than relatable at points.

The fake dating setup—while always a fun trope—felt a little too contrived. The reasoning behind it wasn’t quite strong enough, which made it hard to fully invest in the stakes. That said, the romance itself had its sweet and entertaining moments, with solid chemistry between the leads. The F1 setting was a fun backdrop and added some unique elements to the story.

Overall, Slipstream was an enjoyable read but not a standout. If you love F1, fake dating, and opposites-attract romances, it’s worth picking up, even if it doesn’t quite break away from the pack.

I'm sad that I didn't enjoy this book more than I did! The second half did redeem the first half just enough to get 3 stars instead of 2.

I realize that the premise hinges on Lilah being the weird, not cool girl who falls in love with Arthur but I did not like her at all from the start. I feel like her character could have been just a little more likeable while also being the odd girl out and it would have made this story so much more enjoyable!

The thing that I loved the most was the character development of the side characters and the found family at the end. I wish they could have involved them more from the start and grew that friendship prior to the relationship developing.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of Slipstream!

what a debut, no notes!!! thank you to netgalley + the publisher for the arc, during the first race weekend of 2025 was such a perfect time to read this. i can’t wait to see everyone reading this book this summer!!!

I loved this!!!! My first F1 romance and did not disappoint! I loved the MCs and the supporting side characters as well!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

"I lied when I said I didn't think about you enough to hate you. Even then--I already knew. It was like sinking, meeting you, but it was like breaking out of a cage, too."

4.25 stars

F1 romances are starting to be a weakness for me, and I'm not mad about it.

This was another entertaining read that had some surprising weight to it. Everyone seems to be trying to expand off of what Lauren Asher did with Throttled; the documentary/social media take on an F1 romance seems to be a storyline that hits every time. And throwing in a neurodivergent character added some more substance that I wasn't expecting but thoroughly enjoyed.

Lilah was a great and unique FMC for this type of story. Very introverted, a little awkward, but very good at her job and also very good at not taking the MMC's crap. I think she did a pretty good job of navigating everything that was going on and then dealing with the inevitable conflict toward the end.

And Arthur was 🤌 He was your standard cocky driver but had some hidden depths that were addicting to keep unraveling. He paired really well with Lilah, especially with understanding her personality and doing his best not to spook her.

I'll say the relationship and little side of jealousy that developed was FAST. Almost out of nowhere and so I was confused for a bit. And there wasn't really a third act break up, though it was pretty close. But I had some issues with that as it seemed the emotional responses were again, kind of out of nowhere when what happened was essentially the outcome they were looking for and there were some communication issues, stuff that should have been discussed but never really was, so that may have been a writing miss.

But definitely recommend for F1 girlies 🧡

This was the perfect read to celebrate the start of the F1 season! I will definitely be getting a trophy copy of this one for rereads.

Each of the MCs were so unique and their growth alongside the strong mental health rep was absolutely beautiful. And the vocabulary used to describe my favorite sport was just a perfect cherry on top.

Even if you are not a big F1 girlie (like me) I still think you would enjoy this book. The F1 setting is easily understandable and works into the story incredibly well. I cannot recommend this enough, especially if you are looking for a cute, heartfelt sports romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to give my candid feedback.

3.5 ✮
2/5 🌶️

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Before this, I had not read an F1 romance. I'd been interested but the general premise never really grabbed my attention. The things that put this on my radar, aside from a gorgeous cover, were the subplots and character development. Lilah is a highly relatable character, with her sarcastic wit and tendency to overthink just about everything (me too girl, me too). I thoroughly enjoyed watching as she started opening up and learning the why and how the people around her acted, and her realization of her feelings toward Arthur was downright hilarious.

I went into this with a very base knowledge of Formula 1 racing, and was pleasantly surprised by the simple but realistic explanations of various aspects of the sport. It was really easy to understand and made comprehension much smoother.

I would recommend this book for anyone looking for F1 romance, neurodivergent rep, queer rep (in passing mentions), and a truly amazing end game.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this digital ARC. I’m a big F1 fan and find a lot of books about the sport don’t cover the feel of it the way this book did. I also loved seeing the different career for our female lead, instead of an influencer for example.

At first I had a hard time getting into this book, it felt rushed and fast, but as time went on I fell for our characters. I loved the mental health representation and the encouragement for men to express their emotions and process their trauma externally. I also loved the neurodivergent representation throughout the book.

I thought this book had a good balance between the fake dating trope and the actual sport of F1. Neither over powered the other and I appreciate that the racing wasn’t just sprinkled in there. My only big wish is I would have loved Arthur’s perspective for some chapters.

IM SORRY… this is a debut romance novel?! There’s no way. Absolutely loved this one.
Arthur is a blonde man I can get behind (or he can get behind me.)
Tropes:
- (Actual) slow burn
- she falls first; he falls harder
- fake dating
- forced proximity
- Neurodivergent Rep!!!
I’ve never watched an actual formula one race, but give me fast cars and pretty men in a book and I’m there. 🫣 I have read upwards of 15 F1 romances and this is now one of my top tier ones (up there with Cross the Line by Simone Soltani for me.) Madge makes the sport seem accessible and writes about it through Lilah’s experience in such a poetic way that you can’t help but *want* to watch a race yourself.
The glove scene plays like a movie in my head all the time now.
I highlighted so much in this book and I really was never an annotation girly so that’s gotta tell you something…

🏎 Slipstream 🏎

(?) what is the last book you finished? // tell me a sport you enjoy reading about!

I finished my ARC of Slipstream yesterday & I think the F1 girlies are going to be raving about this one!!

check this one out if you like...
🧡 workplace & sports romance
🧡 neurodivergent rep
🧡 fake dating & slow burn
🧡 he falls first
🧡 banter & humor mixed in
🧡 he takes care of her

I definitely had a fun time reading this one! I was *dying* for a POV for the MMC because that man was YEARNING! I think that would have kicked this book up just the extra notch for me 🫶 check this one out May 20th! thanks @simonandschuster and @netgalley for the e-ARC!

I've never been into f1 but I thought this book was a fun concept. It helped me understand the world and was fast paced and not too over the top with details.

He falls first
My wife
Shitty real family but amazing found family


I wish we could have had Arthur's POV but overall well written and I devoured it in one sitting.


Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

One of my new favorite F1 romances!

This was a delight to read. I loved seeing a normal and even slightly nerdy gal in the role of F1 FMC, Lilah. I love that she wore glasses. I love that she was against the patriarchy. She had trauma, she had quirks, and she had heart. She is neurodivergent and so so relatable. Shaking on airplanes? Yes it’s me. She overcame so much and learned to see herself through the loving, kind eyes of Arthur Bianco and her newfound friends.

I loved the banter between these two - the cat and mouse chase. This is a clear he fell first AND he fell harder romance, which I am totally here for. There is fake dating, “MY WIFE”, and a revenge plotline.

I also think this book is super friendly to both new and experienced F1 fans. We are learning about F1 through Lilah, who has never seen a race, but it’s not dumbed down in any way for my OG F1 girls.

This was the perfect book to read into the first F1 Grand Prix weekend of the 2025 season! Madge is definitely a voice to look out for. Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this digital ARC :)

Honestly I keep going back and forth on the rating but I think I landed on 3.25 stars.

Slipstream hooked me from the start and I was here for vibes!
I loved the action and suspense associated with F1 as well as picturing Arthur in his racing suite and helmet….hello there *swoon*
Arthur, the MMC. I won’t lie, I wasn’t sure how I felt about him at first but man did this man grow on me. He’s sweet, patient, thoughtful, understanding, protective, and hot. You won’t regret saying hello to him.
Lilah, the FMC. She’s…okay. Overall I really liked her and while both MC’s had character growth, I think she grew the most. I also appreciate the ADHD representation she brought to the story and her different ways of thinking. However, she did get quite annoying here and there with the constant complaint about being different and wanting to be normal. While I think that complaint is completely a justified feeling and one that I think a decent amount of people do feel, I think the consistency of the subject was a bit too much.
I enjoyed and appreciated the mental health representation that was throughout the book for both MC’s - especially with Arthur who showed the same emotions that I imagine real life men feel…like they aren’t supposed to show their “less manly” feelings. I liked what this added to the overall plot of the story.
However, as I mentioned in the beginning, I was here for the vibes….and mainly the vibes. I enjoyed the overall story and plot, but I think some of the events and the strategy or “scheming” to overcome the plot was confusing and I didn’t fully understand what exactly they were planning on doing or why there were going to be doing it despite trying to go back and reread to get a better understanding.
The story was overall faced paced while the relationship development was slow burn, which I liked! However there were parts of it that, despite coming off as a slow burn, felt a little rushed, weird, and downright kinda cringy, in my opinion, after remembering and actually thinking about the fact that all this happens only in a three month timespan.
Overall I did really enjoy the story!

Release Date: May 19th, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Quotes I loved:
“It takes a team to win the race.”

“Most people go their entire lives without anyone else wanted to record that they existed.”

“Failure only sticks if you let it.”

“Smartest woman in the world, and she’s mine.”

“If you got me talking about what I feel about you, I’m gonna keep you up all night”

“Life doesn’t need to be painful to make it meaningful.”

“You changed me. You showed me a world outside my camera, a world where I want to be.”

OMG! It's so good! Can I give it 10 stars?

This is was my idea of the perfect romance. Flawed characters just trying to make it thru life. A hot hero with Darcy-vibes. A strong heroine who knows herself and doesn't bend to become what everyone else wants her to be. Ugh. It was just so good!

I WILL be grabbing a copy of this one to keep for rereading. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

This story really has all the makings of a great slow burn romance—from enemies to lovers, to a man who ~yearns~, to the “she falls first, he falls harder” troupes. Lilah and Arthur team up to enact “revenge” but that “revenge” plot almost instantly turns into the start of their romance. While the two are pushing each other away, the use of the documentary filming ties them together.

As an F1 fan I was a little nervous about the general premise of this story and feared it may have edged a little too close to being a fanfiction of a driver/Drive to Survive. Instead, the story does a great job at simplifying (even if slightly inaccurate) the complexities of the sport to make it more digestible to interested readers. My only true complaint about the story was the saturation of “telling” rather than showing. The constant need to point out that Lilah was an “outsider,” undermined all her growth as she grew more confident and secure in her increased independence.

Overall, I would definitely recommend it for a good romance read. As long as you remember this is a romance with a side of F1 and not an F1 story. The overall tone of the story is light with some angst and drama that really helps both Arthur and Lilah showcase their growth throughout the story from hiding their wants and desires to standing up for not only themselves, but each other.