Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Synopsis: New F1 team principal Chloe is trying to navigate her new role but is shaken to learn the new driver on her team is her childhood crush, Matt. Chloe works to be a strong female leader we can all root for while managing her feelings towards her driver.

Romance+F1... I'm in! As an F1 girlie I jumped at the chance to request this on NetGalley. I had zero expectations and was not familiar with the author but just loved the cover. Thankfully this was a cute, fun, well-written read! I loved mentions to all the real drivers and traveling which occurs in a season. It helped keep the book interesting and fast paced.

The author's acknowledgments share she was part of the Red Bull racing team which is so cool and adds to the authenticity/knowledge of the author's perspective of the sport and how well she portrays and explains F1. It definitely sparked my interest in reading any other books by this author.

I definitely recommend this book for any reader who enjoys a fun, quick-paced romance.

Formula 1 racer, Matt (MMC) is far from his glory days after a big crash that rocked his world mentally and professionally. After he is forced to join a new team, he meets his new Team Principle, Chloe (FMC) which happens to also be his former training friend from childhood. We hear both perspectives as Matt is battling with his PTSD from the crash, trying to win a championship, and figuring out their feelings for each other.

I don’t know anything about racing so I’m glad this author did a good job of giving a general overview of how racing works. I loved how Chloe was a strong FMC and wasn’t afraid of speaking up in a mainly male dominated field. I enjoyed the banter, romance, and the spice level. I knocked down a star since the ending was a bit rushed, but I adored it overall.

💞 Thank you Net Galley & PutnamBooks for the ARC! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review 💞

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.


This is the first F1 book I’ve read, and after reading this I would definitely want to read more, even though Drive Me Crazy kind of fell flat for me. The romance was just all right but Matt was a little obnoxious in some parts. I think my main issue was I wanted more with the plot and side characters.

Found family meets cloud 9. I left this book with the biggest smile on my face . It felt like I was a kid watching a disney original movie again.

It definitely helps that i’m really into F1 , but even not knowing a lot you are so drawn into that world of driving and racing . The description and characters are alluring . I loved it !

“I know what it’s like to not get support when you’re struggling. I know how shit it feels. I know how all the promises of family and loyalty fall away when you’re not performing at your peak. What we all need is a bit of fucking sympathy.”

I love the F1 aspect and this "second" chance these two friends get but I feel like it just fell flat. Without giving spoilers you think Chloe is supposed to be this super confident, smart woman in a man's field and I don't think I saw that anywhere. And Matt? He started off strong and then just gave me the ick the more I read. I'm not a fan of insta love but if you are- you may like this more!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I liked this a lot! It was a cute, quick read and had some great moments throughout the story, The one thing that irked me was that I wish there was more character development, and Chloe and Matt felt a bit shallow to me. Thank you so much for the arc!!

Thank you Netgalley and Lizzy Dent for allowing me to read the ebook.

I adored this book! I honestly didn’t know if I was going to like this book at first. It’s about F1 racing, which I know absolutely nothing about, but after reading this… I think I am pro and can become a team principal just like the MFC Chloe. This book had your rooting for a relationship between Chloe and the MMC Matt. This romance was not what I expected. She ended up messing everything up, which was actually nice to see. It wasn’t the man this time that was afraid of the relationship if was the woman, but I also understand why Chloe didn’t want the relationship public, as a woman in an all man’s sport, she didn’t want to be seen has Matt’s girl, she wanted to be her own independent person and I totally love and respect that. This book had such a great ending! It was just perfect! I don’t want to give it away, but the ending was unexpected but turned out to be perfect! I wouldn’t change a thing!

Cute read!

-A Formula 1 romance with second chances, slow-burn tension, and off-the-charts chemistry
-Childhood friends turned near-strangers, reunited under high-stakes pressure
-She’s one of the first female team principals in F1, trying to prove herself
-He’s a former champion with PTSD and something to prove
-Forced proximity, workplace tension, and unresolved feelings
-Perfect for fans of sports romance, emotional backstories, and lots of longing
-Set against the fast-paced, high-drama world of professional racing

I really enjoyed this book! I’ve recently been getting into F1 romances, and this one was such a fun read. Chloe, the FMC, has just been named the first female team principal in the F1 circuit. Without her knowledge, her boss hires a new driver—Matt.

Matt is still dealing with the aftermath of a tragic accident with his former team, and his driving hasn’t been the same since. He ends up joining Chloe’s team—the worst-performing team on the circuit. What no one knows is that Chloe and Matt actually grew up together. Chloe always had a crush on him, but he saw her as a little sister. When he signed with another team and cut off contact, Chloe was heartbroken—but she kept pushing forward, proved herself, and worked her way up.

When they’re reunited years later, the chemistry between them is impossible to ignore.

If you’re into forced proximity and forbidden sports romances, this one’s definitely worth a read!

Review:
Chloe (FMC) has spent years working in F3, and now she finally has her chance to step into the spotlight as a team principal in F1. However, the excitement of her big debut is quickly overshadowed by a surprise new hire—a charming former champion driver, Matt (MMC), who joins the team without her knowledge. Matt is still struggling with PTSD after a major crash. To complicate matters, Chloe and Matt share a complicated past: they were childhood friends, former teammates in F3, and Chloe once had a major crush on him. But Matt left for F1 without even saying goodbye.

Now, just as Chloe is ready to make her mark, Matt's arrival threatens to throw everything off balance.

Overall Thoughts:
This was a quick and heartwarming read—perfect for those looking for a fast-paced romance with an F1 backdrop. While the plot is fairly predictable, I appreciated that the book gives substantial attention to Chloe's career and the competitive world of F1, rather than focusing solely on romance. It was refreshing to see a strong female lead navigating a male-dominated industry.

That said, I wished for a bit more character development, particularly with Chloe. She often reflects on needing to grow and become stronger, especially after Jack’s betrayal, but I didn’t see enough concrete changes in her strategies or leadership style to reflect that growth.

Ratings:

Spicy Level: ⭐️ (1/5)

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book so much however does contain spice so I wasnt a fan of that, but overall so so good

I am slowly, but surely quickly becoming a F1 Romance fan and it is because of books like this one. Lizzy makes F1 feel approachable from every angle. She explains things so people like me, F1 Newbies, actually start to learn what they are getting in to.

There are so so so many parts of this story that have made me laugh out loud because they are just so relatable. One of my favorites was when Chloe’s boss is regularly sending her blank emails with everything in the subject line. Too real.

The relationship dynamics in this book are off the charts. There is pining, compassion, frustration, heartbreak and everything in between. That is what I have often enjoyed about Lizzy’s books. She creates characters that are so dynamic that you want them to fight and pine for each other.

I can already tell this is going to be a knockout and well loved book amongst F1 Romance fans.

2.5 Stars.

Old childhood friends reunite in the world of F1 after years of falling out. During their time together on a team on the brink of failure, a driver who feels at rock bottom and a principal just starting to rise to the top and make a name for herself, they grow closer than they were as kids. But doing so costs them what?
I feel that the book didn't dive deeply enough into certain topics I wish it had, and at times, it just didn't make sense.
I feel the smut scenes weren't written in places that did not made sense. Nothing felt fully fleshed out, and it took me out of the story. For two people who were worried about what others thought and were trying not to be together, they didn't try very hard! They made it maybe a day or so? Their "caution" felt more like a green light. Constantly touching, saying, and actually doing things together in public, and somehow never getting caught? It didn't make me care. And somewhere in there, the characters even stated we were enemies to lovers at one point,,,, where were the enemies? You simply were mad he joined the team, and then instantly into love. The tropes weren't troping for me.
And with Chloe, I wish you got to see more of her growth as a principal. She just felt like a girl who happened to be in the garage. It went from no one respecting her to no one caring (??) to then randomly calling shots that weren't even her ideas. She was attending events she didn't even seem to know about. Her as principal felt pointless and just there so they had a reason to be by each other, but she never once gave authority vibes. I don't think I would've thought she was in charge either. She felt trapped as this teen from way back in the day that Matt thought she was.

I did enjoy seeing a lot of the races and how they went; it felt like the most exciting parts in the book for me. I do wish you got to see and hear more from Noah and Matt mentoring him. That relationship felt like it needed to be bigger for Matt's sake.

This was such a fun read, it’s one of those book where you start reading and then you pick your head up and your halfway through the book and didn’t realize. I loved the characters and their journeys. There were so many funny moments where I was giggling and kicking my feet. I loved how Matt was the perfect balance between protective and supportive. I loved Chloe’s growth and confidence in her field. This is my first F1 romance and I really enjoyed the feeling of reading Matt’s racing POV and the anticipation of how he’ll do.

Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent had all the makings of a rom-com I’d adore—an F1 setting, former friends reunited as teammates, and the forced proximity of high-speed teamwork. I was so ready to buckle in for some emotional tension and character growth, but unfortunately, the story didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

The setup was super promising: he’s a top-tier driver struggling with PTSD after a crash, and she’s the new head of his new team—oh, and they used to be close friends before he ghosted her. That emotional history should have been rich ground for character-driven tension and slow-burning reconciliation... but the depth I was hoping for just wasn’t there.

The story leans heavily on an old crush and mutual attraction—which is fun! But it all moved so fast that I never quite believed in the emotional core of their relationship. I kept wishing for more buildup, more conversation, more substance behind their connection. And while I don’t mind open-door romance, the on-page scenes here felt a little out of sync with the tone and pacing. A closed-door approach might’ve fit better.

That said, the setting was fun and unique, and I can definitely see this working better for readers who love fast-paced flings with a touch of sports drama. It just didn’t quite stick the emotional landing for me.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and Lizzy Dent for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars

FINALLY. It hasn’t even been that long since I started this one, but it feels like it’s taken me forever. That’s not exactly the fault of the book (a lot of life has been happening to me lately), but it was pretty obvious where the plot was going about 50% through. That really shot my motivation to finish the book.

The relationship between Chloe and Matt was cute, and I love double-POV in romance novels. I will say, their public make-put sessions got a little too freaky for my taste, but I’ll try not to yuck someone else’s yum.

As someone who knows next to nothing about F1, I was able to enjoy the racing-related bits more than expected going in. If anything, I wish there’d been more of that here!

Overall, this was a right book, wrong time situation for me. The parts where I’d have liked more detail were a little rushed, and some of the drama was a little predictable, but as a romance novel it was perfectly cute. I’d say give this one a go, especially if F1 is your vibe.

From the first page, Drive Me Crazy had me hooked. Lizzy Dent masterfully combines humor, heart, and a touch of chaos in this delightful romantic comedy.

The protagonist’s journey is both hilarious and heartfelt, navigating life’s unexpected turns with wit and resilience. Dent’s writing is sharp and engaging, making it impossible to put the book down.

What I loved most was the authentic portrayal of relationships—messy, real, and utterly relatable. The chemistry between characters sizzles, and the dialogue is snappy and genuine.

This book is a perfect escape, filled with laugh-out-loud moments and poignant insights. It’s a testament to finding love and oneself amidst life’s unpredictability.

Drive Me Crazy is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance. Lizzy Dent has crafted a story that’s both entertaining and emotionally resonant.

Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent follows Chloe and Matt through an F1, childhood friends to enemies to lovers (it’s quite the trope), romance. We get no flashbacks of them as children, but we do get snippets of memories from both our characters throughout the book. We come to find they both liked each other a bit more than just friends but weren’t able to explore anything further as they were pulled in different directions. The book starts with Chloe’s introduction as the new principle for Arden Racing, as a girlie new to the F1 world…this translates to her being a girl boss in racing. Abruptly the mood shifts when we find out the owner of the team she’s managing has just pulled Matt from his current team to race for them, and poor poor Matt is suffering from PTSD due to a recent racing accident so he’s a bit shook.
As the book goes on, Chloe tries to defend her role as manager/principle and Matt tries to become the best racer in the league, during this time, dun dun dunnn they fall in love. Shocked? Don’t be, we all knew it was coming and we’re all here for it. I ate it all up with a knife and fork as if it was a perfectly cooked steak, hahaha.
Lizzy’s writing was really good and I really enjoyed the dialogue she had throughout. She got me to chuckle a couple of times that’s for sure.
Ugh absolutely disliked Barry and Jackson, every scene with them just irked me. Barry treated Chloe overall like crap and I was disappointed when this girl boss wasn’t more of a baddie. Also a small part of me was hopeful she slipped right into that front seat and started racing, haha. This was my first F1 book and I’m not disappointed, I honestly just learned so much from this book, so thank you Lizzy for your knowledge on this sport.
Overall I did like it, did I love it? No. But Lizzy made up for it with good writing and banter. The spice level was, meh. I felt the spicy scenes were okay, nothing too thrilling to cheer on about. Not going to lie, the ending snuck up on me and felt rushed. Ran right into the epilogue and had to go back and reread to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
4 stars! Shout out to Big Ronny’s Ring Burner!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Fast-paced, flirty, and full of heart—Drive Me Crazy had me hooked from start to finish!

As an IndyCar fan, I loved the incorporation of F1 racing and all the lingo—it added such a fun, immersive layer to the story without ever feeling overdone. Lizzy Dent did a fantastic job blending the adrenaline of the racing world with a swoony, second-chance romance that had sparks flying on and off the track.

The MMC’s shock at his instant, undeniable attraction to the FMC after their reunion was perfection—it made their dynamic so addictive. Their chemistry was hot, but what really sold me was how authentic their connection felt, with just the right mix of tension, tenderness, and passion.

This book was pure joy to read. Dent nailed the pacing, the voice, and the emotional depth. Highly recommend for romance fans who love a high-stakes backdrop, sizzling chemistry, and characters who feel like real people falling hard and fast.

**Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for the eARC. All opinions are my own.**

Thank you for the E-ARC Putnam and Netgalley.

Ready, Set, Go! As you open the pages on this fast paced F1 racing romance book. If you enjoy second chance, workplace, friends to lovers romance tropes this book is for you. The author did a great job adding in the aspects of F1 racing to the romance novel and it was not solely focused on the love storyline. With a little bit alot spice this was such a fun read! 4.5 stars.