I love stories that give space for both ambition and affection, and this one gave me both without ever tipping too far into one or the other. It was smart, sexy, and emotionally satisfying, and I loved every second of it.

4.5 stars!

I’m not familiar with a lot of the F1 world, but I absolutely loved this book! I was nervous when I started reading it since I barely know the sport outside of teams and some big names, but I couldn’t put the book down the more I read. It’s very clear that Dent knows her stuff about F1 and wrote it in a way that even someone like me could still pick up on a few things as the story progressed.

I loved the main characters and felt that they were both strong and likable, even through their mistakes. Both the FMC and MMC, Chloe and Matt, felt like real adults who, despite having things figured out, still had their own struggles they needed to work through together and alone. Something I enjoyed was the balance between the romance and the individual character development. While the romance was definitely there, Chloe and Matt’s careers were always important despite being in different stages, never taking a back burner as they fought for what they wanted, especially Chloe. We see both characters grow, neither feeling stagnant nor flat, as each chapter brings something new to the table. The only thing I didn’t necessarily like was the ending. It felt a little rushed, and I was hoping to read more about what happened after the press conference, but I can understand why it needed to end the way that it did.

Whether someone is an F1 fan or not, I definitely recommend this to everyone looking for a sports romance once it’s released!

Thank you Netgalley and Putnam for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Enjoyed the story, great character development, it was a perfectly fine, short and sweet story. I kind of just wanted /more/ of everything. More yearning, more mystery, more background. I will say the racing elements were exciting and engaging, but I was hoping that wouldn't be my favorite part of a childhood friends to lovers romance. I have people in mind to recommend this to, but it's only F1 fans, I don't think this will be of automatic interest to the general romance reader.

Cute romance! I liked the competitive parts but felt like it was a liiiittle slow. Solid character development, which is hard to find in romances. I was a little confused by the mystery behind what happened with the two main characters in the past. First time with a racing romance and was pleasantly surprised how much I liked it!

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for my honest review!

I enjoyed this story and really enjoyed my very first F1 Romance book! I normally am more hooked to a slow burn, but I liked how this story still provided yearning and it was just great! This was my first Lizzy Dent book and I think her writing is captivating and wonderful. You really feel connected to the characters and I read this in a day! I cant wait to read more books by Lizzy.

Thank you NetGalley and Lizzy for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Chloe Coleman is determined to make her way in the F1 scene, and as the second ever female team principal for one of the worst teams on the circuit she knows the pressure is one. However, pressure is one thing, Matt Warner is another. Her former childhood crush just got dumped into her teams lap, while having such an amazing driver should elate her, there's two problems. One. He's at an all time low after a terrible crash that injured his former racer and best friend. Two. She's so not over him.

Drive me Crazy was the cutest little pick-me-up you could ask for. I think it was short and sweet. I liked that the characters both had their own issues, but the complexity didn't make it so unbelievable. I'm a big fan of childhood friends to lovers, so them falling back into that level of familiarity is just such a comforting feeling to read. I just thought the characters were so loveable, and you could actually see the growth. This book is dual-POV which I also really appreciate.

The romance was cute, if a bit unrealistic. I didn't think there would be any scenario where this would happen, but who knows. It also threw me because there were real drivers names and the FMC is Chloe Coleman, who is also a driver. Sooo is it supposed to be her? Description doesn't line up.

Drive Me Crazy is a fun sports romance read, blending the high stakes world of Formula 1 with a simmering childhood crush turned rivals to lovers dynamic.

Chloe Coleman is ambitious, smart, and navigating the pressures of being one of the first female team principals in a male dominated sport. Her determination to save her struggling F1 team is admirable, and her complicated history with Matt Warner, the arrogant but charismatic fallen star, adds a strong emotional hook to their forced partnership.

The chemistry between Chloe and Matt sparks quickly, and there are some genuinely swoony, tension filled moments. Their banter is fun, the attraction is undeniable, and the added tension of workplace boundaries and public scrutiny adds just the right level of drama.

I didn’t feel as emotionally invested in the novel but it was cute and the underdog element had me rooting for the entire team’s success. It’s an entertaining, feel good romance with a unique backdrop, solid chemistry, and enough heart to make it worth the read!

ARC provided by NetGalley

Rating Breakdown:
Characters - 3
Plot - 4
Setting - 5
Writing - 3
Enjoyment - 4
<b>Total Rating - 4 </b>

Review:
This was a quick, fun F1 romance. I loved the dynamic between the main characters. Some F1 romances nail the romance but fumble the actual racing atmosphere and this was not one of those. The racing setting felt really immersive and realistic.

<b> Bottom Line:
This is a must-read for the F1 girlies! I was hooked from the start!</b>

Finally, in the endless ocean of hockey romances, someone wrote a story about Formula 1. And not just used it as a flashy background, but actually did the research. You can tell the author took time to understand the sport, the atmosphere, and the pressure that comes with it.
What I liked most is that the book isn’t just about racing. It touches on serious topics like PTSD and what it’s like to be a woman in charge in a male-dominated world. That part felt very real and relatable.
But at its core, this is a story about teenage love that never really died — it just took a long pit stop and came back stronger. The emotions felt genuine, and the connection between the characters pulled me in from the start.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It’s an easy, engaging read that doesn’t drag or get lost in unnecessary details. Definitely a nice change of pace in the sports romance genre.

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam books for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely adored this story. Chloe and Matt’s second chance romance between old friends is so cute. I enjoyed the banter and their relationship. I also found the story surrounding the racing itself to be entertaining. As someone who has never watched an F1 race I found myself intrigued by races depicted in the story. Overall a cute read. Would definitely recommend.

ARC review! Thank you Netgalley, Putnam Publishing & Lizzy Dent for an arc ❤️

Just finished Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent and I’m loving it!!! A fierce F1 team principal + her childhood crush turned disgraced racing legend? Yes please. The slow burn. The angst. The banter. 👏🔥

Chloe is a boss (literally), Matt is broody perfection, and their chemistry is chef’s kiss. Think second chances, forced proximity, and high-stakes romance set against the adrenaline of Formula 1.

📚 Tropes: childhood friends ➡️ lovers, workplace romance, slow burn
⚡️ Vibe: Red Bull racing meets Emily Henry
⭐️ Rating: 3.5/5 — a little messy in the middle, the ending was kinda rushed. But a great read.

🏁 Romance fans + F1 girlies, this one's for YOU. Out Jan 6, 2026!

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for this ARC!

Following childhood friends Chloe and Matt, Dent writes some wonderful dialogue and a story that’s fun to keep up with. For the most part this friends to lovers Formula 1 romance has all the foundational things it needs to be a perfect book, there were just some things that fell flat. I think for 2/3 of the book I was stoked because the atmosphere was so immersive and, being a fan of the sport, I could tell the author is as well. It was also cool to read about racing from Matt’s perspective, it felt so real! The last third threw me off a bit as I was a bit confused on why some things transpired the way they did, and then how they were handled seemed unlike the characters I’d come to know and love. I did enjoy the ending though, which made up for it. Overall, I am very excited to see where Dent goes as an author because I would love to read more from her. This book was super fun and a nice break from all the textbooks I’ve been buried in over the past few weeks!

I have a confession to make, I'm a F1 girlie. It all began when I first started dating my now-husband. He's obsessed with the sport and I decided to be magnanimous and watch the races with him since he watches reality tv competitions with me. A now here I am caring about how my favorite driver does every week (George Russell for those in the know) and reading F1 romances. Drive Me Crazy is a sport romance about childhood friends. Chloe (FMC) had an unrequited crush on Matt (MMC) when they were growing up. But now Chloe feels a lot of bitterness towards Matt because of how he disappeared when he became famous. And now she's his boss.

The romance in this book was okay. Once they meet again as adults the MMC falls into the insta-love trap. It's interesting because although this is a romance novel, it felt to me like the romance was the secondary plot, with the first being the story of the Arden racing team throughout the season. Now this isn't a bad thing considering I found that storyline fascinating. I really enjoyed reading about how a team of underdogs who have been last every year that they've existed, gets turned around with the steering of a new team principal. I felt hooked in and excited to follow the team's progress. Unlike the romance which I felt lacked tension.

I'm giving Drive Me Crazy a 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 due to my enjoyment of the F1 storyline.

3.5 stars!

I like F1 racing romances but this one started off as a long slow burn for me. I was always reaching for it to pick up and read. I wish there was a better pull at the beginning between the MMC and FMC. I do wish I knew quicker what the whole backstory was between the two because I feel like that might have helped. I did like the racing scenes and added to the character development.

I really enjoyed this one—it was fun, fast-paced, and full of heart, with just enough emotional depth to keep me hooked.

Chloe Coleman completely stole the show for me. She’s smart, capable, and doing the damn thing as one of the few women leading an F1 team. I loved how unapologetically driven she was while still being layered and vulnerable. Navigating a high-pressure, male-dominated world and still trusting herself? Iconic.

Then there’s Matt Warner—former golden boy of Formula 1, now nursing a busted career and some deep emotional wounds. The twist? He ends up driving for Chloe’s team. Oh, and he just so happens to be her childhood crush. Naturally.

Their chemistry is immediate, and I appreciated that it wasn’t just physical—they have a shared past, real tension, and a mutual respect that made their connection feel earned. The F1 backdrop was exciting without being overwhelming (I barely know the rules and still followed just fine), and it gave the story a fresh, high-stakes energy.

If you're into strong, complex women, emotional recovery arcs, and romance with a side of high-speed tension, this one's definitely worth picking up.

Tropes: workplace romance, childhood crush, second chance, sports romance, forced proximity, emotionally messy but worth it

This was a fun and flirty romance set in the world of F1 racing. Chloe is a great main character, and her journey to both romance and overcoming the imposter syndrome that is common when taking a huge new job was well written.

I reviewed this book as an arc. I really enjoyed the this book. I loved the F1 theme, it was a nice change from the typical sport theme.
Friends/enemies/lovers
She’s the boss
F1
🌶️🌶️

I want to thank the author and netgalley for this book.

This book was a no for me. The F1 was the one thing that worked for me since i watch quite a bit of it. If you are interested, see the Arten Senna show to get into the world. The romance didn't seem right to me and the characters weren't interesting. I genuinely wish it was. I also want to say they leaned very teenagy in their outlook and I dont know if I missed that when i picked up the book.
I would give it a 1 star but an extra for the F1.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the advance read on this delightful book!

Quick read, once I got into it I read it in a couple of couch lie-ins.

Loved the characters and learned a ton about F1! Banter was on point, had me laughing out loud at times.

Definitely recommend for:
- Fans of no 3rd act breakups, this doesn’t have any 3rd act drama. (Full disclosure: I’m a huge fan of them, so it impacted my love a little) So if you love a smoother sail for your lovebirds this is for you!
- Fade to blacks. If you like a little more mystery in those moments you’ll like this
- Women navigating a “man’s world”, she addresses Chloe’s experience in a way that feels very real without being preachy or hyperbolic