4.5/5

Alex and Danial were two friends/scholarship kids (who argued a lot) in a group of rich Ivy League-educated people, until their friendship (and any potential for a relationship) was erased after an awful (and embarrassing) night before their graduation. 10 years later, they are forced to reunite for a yacht party to celebrate their friends' upcoming wedding. When they see each other again for the first time in 10 years, fights get rehashed and it is clear that there are still unresolved feelings between the two.

This book was a second chance, rivals to lovers. It switches between timelines (the events leading to the big "awful" night before graduation vs now). We don't immediately know what transpired between the two that led them to their separation after college, but from the very start, the feelings between Alex and Danial were visceral and emotional when they are thrust back into each other's lives. The chemistry was there and the tension was there. I felt so bad for Alex once we find out what had happened, and we also learn more about her insecurities with being surrounded by her wealthy friends. There is a great declaration of love (if you love letters) that Alex fully needed and absolutely deserved, but I would have loved to see the final, earth-shattering reconciliation scene between the two that we didn't get.

The book also provides commentary on socioeconomic status and social class, and privilege. It's clear that Alex (and Danial) faced challenges with money that their friends did not and that was part of why they developed such a unique understanding with each other. However, since college, Alex and Danial have gone onto different paths, with Danial rising through the social echelons of the wealthy while Alex is in the middle class. It was interesting to see how different Alex and her friends' perspectives were politically and how Alex reconciled her views with the fact that she was experiencing the life of the rich.

Thank you to Orsay Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Chelsea Fagan for providing a copy of this ARC.

I went into The High Drive with measured expectations, as it was a "Read Now" title on NetGalley. While the cover and premise immediately caught my interest, I’ve learned that not all books with an eye-catching pitch deliver. But this one? It absolutely did.

Chelsea Fagan crafts a compelling second-chance romance brimming with tension, nostalgia, and deeply personal growth. Ten years ago, Alex confessed her love to Daniel in college—only for him to completely ignore her admission. Now, they’re thrown back together at Alex’s best friend’s wedding, forced to confront the unresolved feelings and unspoken words that have lingered between them for a decade.

The chemistry between Alex and Daniel is palpable, with just the right balance of angst and longing. The flashbacks are seamlessly woven into the narrative, providing essential backstory without slowing the momentum of the present-day storyline. And while Alex’s choices had me wanting to shake some sense into her at times, that’s the beauty of this book—it’s about growth, facing hard truths, and finally overcoming deep-seated fears and insecurities.

Fagan’s writing is sharp, engaging, and emotionally resonant, making The High Drive a standout for fans of slow-burn romance and second chances. If you love stories with complex characters, undeniable chemistry, and a satisfying emotional payoff, this one belongs on your radar.