Fairly standard enemies to lovers story. I would have liked a little less emphasis on the racing aspect. Maybe it's true but I had a hard time believing top athlete fitness is required for racing/driving. The details, which I found hard to believe, took me out of the story. - Granted, I don't enjoy sports but some of my favorite books are sports centered.

I did appreciate the third act breakup but I can see if someone else doesn't. I thought it was done well.

An F1 romance sure to give your heart purple sectors

The sudden rise of F1 stories has been delightful as a booktok/F1 gal, but Rebecca J. Caffery has really gone a step above the rest. A queer romance set in the speeding universe of formula one, this story was unputdownable. The perfect grumpy sunshine story you need for the summer break.

Perfect read to kick off the summer!!
Steamy, quick, and fun!!! Me oh, my!!

Devoured this book all in one day and absolutely adored it. As someone that has been on a massive F1 kick it’s quite fun to read something fun and light about the sport. Loved the characters and had fun imagining them (and projecting my own identity on the current F1 line up…. Kian is very much giving Carlos Sainz to me personality wise).
Looking forward to purchasing this book physically when it comes out!!

Thank you to Harper Collins and to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.
I really loved Pole Position. It’s a fast paced and sweet romance that also deals with the larger issue of aging and sick parents, knowing when to quit, and abandonment in a very smart way. Fan of sport romances should enjoy this one. I thought I had a nice blend of sports drama and spice and true feelings on and off the track.

I recommended this on my page and the link to that is here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C7ho8XqgDtG/?igsh=bXRiODV2M2J4b2N6

A refreshing read; Kian is the older more experienced racing driver, Harper is the younger, brash rookie driver who has made it into the Championship by an injury from one of the current drivers. I liked the slow burner of Kian and Harper's romance, it came across as sincere the whole way throughout the novel. Thoroughly enjoyed this. Big thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher, for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Pole Position (aptly named) is an LGBTQIA+ enemies to lovers, age gap, F1 romance.

This was a very enjoyable read. Harper was immediately my favourite. I felt that he both acted, spoke, and argued like someone his age. He was just that little bit too eager, too hyperactive, and too enthusiastic, and that made him one of the most likeable and relatable characters in the book. Kian, I felt acted as someone younger than his years - I was hoping for a bit more maturity and self-confidence from him, but somehow, that side of his personality just fell flat. That being said, I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two of them. At about 190 pages in, I realised their fights were just going in circles, and they were rehashing things over and over and over again, this didn't come across as tedious. Instead, I spent the entire book being thoroughly entertained on all sides. It was really lovely to see the Kian family storyline - especially the representation that came with his mother's condition. The guilt he felt for leaving his sister to handle his mother's health issues, despite the fact that he had no control over his career, felt so real that there were times I was grieving alongside him.

There were a couple of elements to the story that could have been handled better, or, elaborated on. Both the main characetrs needed therapy, an element of the story that was severly overlooked.I also think that the storyline with Kian's dad was left very unresolved - I would have loved to have seen Kian explain his own issues with his father properly and possibly even stand up to him the way that Harper did. I would have loved to see more of Johannes redeeming himself, and the reason he was so awful with Harper for such a long time, however that is very much a me thing and does not reflect the author or the story at all.

That being said, this was a beautifully written book, and I thoroughly enjoyed every single second of it. I loved Harper so much, despite the childhood trauma and his very strange ways of dealing with them. Kian definitely grew on me, especially at the end of the book. I loved seeing him and Harper develop their relationship and deal with their own underlying issues, both apart and together. I immediately ordered myself a paperback copy!

4 stars.

Kian walker has always been the golden boy of F1. Four time championship winner and his best friend as his team partner. His world is just how he wants it, until Elijah breaks this leg.

Enter Harper James, the rookie who’s been called up to fill in for Elijah. He’s cocky, hot-headed and has a reputation for breaking as many hearts as track records. He’s the total opposite of Kian in every way.

This might be one of the most dangerous sports in the world, so why then does Kian’s heart feel safer flying around the track at 220 mph than when he's anywhere near his teammate?
Playlist
Sports Romance (F1)
Age Gap
Grumpy X Sunshine
Male x Male
Found Family
Spicy
Dual POV


I got so excited when I saw another F1 romance that I didn’t even read the synopsis fully and realise it was a gay romance. This is not my typical read but I still gave it a go and I really liked it. It was nice to see an F1 romance done differently. This is also the first book I’ve read by this author and I liked their writing style.

I felt that this book had the right balance between the sport and following the F1 calendar and the story between Kian & Harper. Other books I’ve read in the past have been much more of one side or the other. I really enjoyed the chemistry between these two once they had sorted their issues out. There were times where I was a little confused as they would be hot and cold with each other but it does get explained with their issues and I found this better explained by being able to see both POV.

There is mention of Parkinson’s disease, Dementia, Parental Death, Parental abandonment, Panic Attacks and Mentions of Parental alcohol abuse.


I give this book 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for providing the ARC.

I really wanted to like this book. I loved Red, White, and Royal Blue and I find F1 racing absolutely fascinating, but this book just didn't not hit the way that I wanted it to.

It really has a lot to do with Harper James' character. I understand what the author was trying to do with him, but honestly, he was a petulant, immature child playing at the big leagues, and it took waaaaay too long for him to pull his head out of his behind and see that this destructive tendencies were destroying his career and himself. This mindset lasted the entirety of the book, with him sabotaging himself both personally and professionally, most of the time with actual intention behind it. It was no wonder that Kian was so aggravated and frustrated with him. I was equally frustrated and I don't think the author did enough to show his growth as a character.

I wanted more than what I got from this book. I'm sure most people will enjoy it, and I think it was written well, all things considered. I just didn't like the characterization of Harper James, and that was a hard realization for me to overcome.

This is a six star read for me, and one of my favourite f1 romances!!

Equally wholesome, emotional and spicy…this book genuinely has it all. These characters are some of my favourite I’ve ever read about. Kian and Harper are flawed and complicated and messy, but also beautiful and loveable and believable.

I truly believe these two are soulmates, you cannot tell me otherwise - and it takes some damn good writing to convince me two made up people are destined to be together.

Their character development is honestly phenomenal, the challenges they both go through, the trials and tribulations that they’re pushing through to become better for each-other??? Sobbing.

Not only were these characters and this world just amazing, but it has all the high-stakes, heart-pounding formula one action we know and love. I’m of the opinion that you could read this without knowing anything about the sport.

The tension, the yearning, the angst and the hot and cold had me hooked!!

Also, the acts of service girlies WIN in this book. It’s made me appreciate that as a love language so much more.

Anyway, pick this up. I have a feeling it’s going to take the reading world by storm!!

Thank you to One More Chapter & NetGalley for the e-arc!!

I really struggled to enjoy this book. It took me a while to get into it. I felt some parts (and maybe just how the characters were meant to be) were very immature. It had vibes to Red, White & Royal Blue.

There was a lot to like about Pole Position - the F1 setting always make for a fun road trip of a setting as characters move from grand prix to grand prix, our mcs, Kian and Harper, were both interesting and lovable in ways that felt discrete, and I was really invested in their love story. That said, there were also a few things that fell a little flat for me - I wanted to know more and have more resolution on Harper's past and the work he was doing to move forward - a lot of that happened off page and didn't tie up in a way that felt realistic or satisfying; his behavior felt so emotionally out of touch that it was hard to believe that Kian would choose their relationship in some of the tougher moments. I appreciated the way the book handled heavier topics like mental health and grief, but some of the subplots around those things felt a little rushed - the pacing of the whole story suffered from trying to fit a few too many things into the plot. The sense of place never really coalesced in some of the grand prix areas - in some ways, I liked that sense of the slog of racing that to the outside seems so glamorous, but also, in a romance, I am here at least partially for that glamour and want to know a little more.

This lovely story about Kian and Harpers rivalry turned romance is truly heart warming. The 'will they, won't they' aspect keeps you guessing til the end and the storyline isn't always obvious. There are some sexy moments and also some humour. I would definitely recommend this for a romantic and light hearted read.

BOOK REVIEW - POLE POSITION by Rebecca J. Caffery

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and Rebecca J. Caffery, for providing an eARC of Pole Position for review.

Well, that was a thrilling ride! As a bit of a fan of Olympic Enemies, I was excited to get into this one. From the opening pages, the chemistry between Kian and Harper was brewing. Their rivalry-turned-romance, a slow-burning fire that crackles with tension, was so good.

Given my old flame love for F1, I really enjoyed how well the Formula 1 aspects were written. Kian is fiery, and Harper is damn well determined, and that always makes for good racing. Overall, I recommend Pole Position to anyone looking for a fun queer take on F1's.

Pole Position is a romance set in the world of Formula One racing. You've got Kian, the disciplined, well-established champion racer looking to have one more record-breaking season before he contemplates retirement. And then there's also Harper, the cocky rookie with a less-than-stellar reputation and a troubled past. What on earth could happen when they find themselves on the same team?

I love a sports romance and truly enjoyed learning a few things about Formula One racing (and then spending more time on the internet learning more). Even with an uneven start, I did enjoy this quite a bit, but I think it will benefit from more editing and maybe a bit more development of Kian's character. While much of the relationship conflict was understandable, it was entirely and frustratingly one-sided. That being said, I will 100% read the next romance that this one sets up.

Thank you to One More Chapter for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

As a major F1 fan, this book was everything I needed! I think it had the perfect balance of racing and romance (and it kept the sport as accurate as possible!). It touches on some really important mental health aspects that can come with the sport, such as imposter syndrome and the extreme pressures these drivers face.

I really loved both Kian and Harper as characters, they balanced each other out really well. It's so refreshing to have a 'grumpy' character that's not completely annoying!

I cannot wait for this book to come out, and I'm sure the F1 community and beyond will love it!

Thank you to @NetGalley for letting me read the advanced ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This book was good! I loved the formula one racing romace. The tension and angst was great however some plots and characters were just left hanging, and not wrapped up. I loved the banter between the two main characters and the forced proximity trope! I would like to read more from this author. This book was a cute light read.

Thank you One More Chapter and NetGalley for the eARC of Pole Position! All opinions in this review are my own.

Within the first few pages, I knew Pole Position was going to become a favorite. I love that Kian has been in the sport for awhile and is near the end of his career. I also love the hate to love relationship and forced proximity between Kian and Harper. Their relationship and its development is easily one of my all-time favorites and I truly can't express how much I loved this book!

Caffery strikes a careful balance by rewarding F1 fans without alienating people new to the sport. There aren't paragraphs explaining the sport so you can enjoy this romance without needing the racing background. However, for fans of the sport, there are enough racing details included to give you some on-track action too!

While I'm upset I have to wait until next year for the US physical copy to come out, I'm already looking forward to rereading! Also, based on how open Johannes's story is left, I hope this means we are getting a sequel!

When I told people I was reading a drag racing romance, they were not thinking of literal motor racing. I love that. A mix of Formula 1, rivals to lovers, forced proximity, tidy/messy. It’s a recipe for a really great time.

I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect when starting POLE POSITION, but I really did end up enjoying it all.

Harper and Kian had such a fun dynamic even though it could get beyond frustrating. It’s hard for me to read enemies/rivals to lovers because I’m just like UGHHHH STOP BEING MEAN TO EACH OTHER AND KISS!!!! But the tension between Kian and Harper was delicious, especially as they tried to deny all that spicy tension simmering between them.

I also learned a lot about motor racing that I wasn’t aware of. Don’t get me wrong, the book isn’t super plot-driven, but it IS a sports romance. I thought there was a very nice blend between the romance and the actual sport.

POLE POSITION gets pretty emotional!!! I teared up quite a few times. Rebecca Caffery did an exceptional job at creating real, flawed characters.

Had such a good time with Kian and Harper and I hope we get more books in this world because I’m curious about Johannes…

4,5 Stars, rounded up!

I absolutely devoured this book. I knew absolutely nothing about F1 going in, but I enjoyed it so much I was actually upset I missed a race the weekend I was reading because I really wanted to immerse myself in the world (and what better to get you into a new sport than a sports romance?).

This book follows Kian & Harper around the world during a season of F1. Kian was supposed to spend this season with his best friend Elijah, but after a last-minute injury, Harper takes Elijah's place. Kian knows everything he needs to about Harper (he has been in the news enough), and has no interest in anything. He's missing his best friend, but has to do with this overzealous rookie.

Harper has wanted nothing more than to make it into the big leagues, and less than 24 hours before they're boarding a plane to start the season, he gets called up. Not only has he made it, but his teammate is someone he's idolized growing up - Kian Walker. But Kian wants nothing to do with him, and it's clear from the minute he boards the jet.

After tensions rising, they're told they have to be friendly. Their team principal doesn't care if it's real or fake, but this hostility is no longer welcome. A fake friendship, a night caretaking a sick teammate, and a drunken confession, they find themselves even more intertwined in each others' lives.

I'll be real honest, I didn't love the characters in the beginning. They got on my nerves and I was worried it'd make me dislike the book. But there is quite a bit of character growth and I was glued to my kindle because I just wanted more of them! I loved seeing their dynamic and how they were able to complement each other after some time.

I was worried going in that I'd be lost since I know nothing about racing, but everything you really need to know to understand the book is in there.

I really, really enjoyed this book and how it did delve into some deeper topics like Kian's mom's Parkinson's Disease and Harper's childhood in foster care and how that's shaped him. I do wish we got a bit more about the characters and who they are away from the course, but I did enjoy the story and their connection!

Some tropes:
Rookie x Veteran
Teammates & Competitors
Opposites Attract
Fake friendship

Thank you #netgalley, the author and publishers for the ARC of this book. They gave it to me for an unbiased review.

4.5 stars rounded down to 4. This was fantastic. I have never read anything by this author and I will definitely in the future. This was so perfect in so many ways. Harper and Kians story was beautifully written. The struggles they have and how they communicated them and overcame to them get their HEA was perfect. Kian was such a royal dick in the beginning the Harper I wanted to jump in the pages and knock some sense u to him! The spice for this was 🌶️🌶️.5 if you’re wanting to know.

I really enjoyed the story of Kian and Harper. I hope there is a story about Harper’s bestie and I hope if there is I can read it first again and there are some visits for Harper and Kian so we can see how they are doing.