This might be the cutest rom-com I've read this year!!
I found the FMC super relatable, love how she had the 'I take no crap' personality (trust me, this might be the sole reason you need to pick up this book!), her feelings and outright bubbly nature made me want to befriend her..
If you're looking for a light (and not-so-light) summer read, with a road trip and lots of drama, this one is for you. The humour just kept me giggling all the time!!

This was a very enjoyable read for me with a well written story line and loveable characters. Definitely would recommend.

I did enjoy the first book (the fake out) a much higher amount and expected it to be true for this but sadly it just wasn’t. I didn’t care for any of the main characters in this book and found everything to be way too random. So much was thrown into this book that didn’t need to be there and only mattered in short scenes. The thing with Theo’s dad and what they discover, the grandpa they call Mark even tho they called their grandma grandma, the devil dog, the whole thing with Abe and the twist with that, things that happened along the road trip that didn’t need to be described.

This was a two star book for me until I got to the 80% mark and it just got worse. When Alicia tried calling all around at the wedding places to make sure everything was in place since the event was happening two days from then literally nothing was working out and everything was going wrong. There’s absolutely no way you’d get to be that close to a wedding with every single part of it having an issue (no photographer in town, caterers having number wrong, back up tent not working out, the priest, etc.). It just made it more unbelievable for me to read.

Also the fact that Theo gave us absolutely nothing of his thoughts about Ali until the “big” reveal but Ali was a big mouth about everything and spoke way too much about the past and her obvious crush. I also didn’t like how we kept getting random past stories of what she would do to display her affection towards Theo when she was a kid and said they were too embarrassing and yet they would get brought up. The Ex Alec trying to get back with her for the briefest of times also just added in way too much to the plot for me.

I also hated her parents completely. How they treated Ali just because she has had seizures and how overbearing they were was just insane to me and so annoying to read about. And the fact her dad was so awful to Abe (her brother) that he left and hasn’t come back in over 10 years and when they finally do get the chance to talk, her dad makes it even worse. I feel like none of what happened was really Abe’s fault and yet it seems to be made into a 50/50 situation which I didn’t like. The entire family dynamic just drove me crazy and I had the hardest time reading about it. The family of Melanie (the girl getting Married to Ali’s other brother) was also awful from the short bits we got (Mel’s brother is the ex Alec). So many of the important parts of this book ended up being the shortest scenes and skimmed over (the wedding, the romance, the issues at the end of the book).

I received a digital copy from NetGalley & the author of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I was hooked from the beginning! Sharon writes her characters with such passion, that you can't help but love them and the story they are in. A special thank you to Sharon M. Peterson, Netgalley, and Bookouture for this e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Normally, I hate the brother's best friend trope, but something about the fast lane hooked me. I LOVE Sharon M. Peterson's books. She always puts such love into her characters that they just draw me in. I fell in love with Ali from the moment she chained herself to a tree.

Margot’s journey to her brother’s wedding gets an unexpected twist when she’s forced to road trip across the country with the one man she’s vowed to avoid—Theo, her brother’s best friend. With a history of unspoken feelings (and one cringy teenage love poem), Margot’s heart is already on high alert. Add in forced proximity, playful banter, and undeniable chemistry, and this six-day adventure quickly becomes more complicated—and more swoony—than she bargained for.

Is it possible that Theo might see her as more than his best friend’s little sister? Or will this road trip end in heartbreak before they even arrive at the wedding?

Tropes
- Brother’s best friend
- Friends-to-lovers
- Road trip romance
- Forced proximity
- Unrequited love (or so she thinks!)

The Fast Lane is a pitch-perfect romcom that will have you laughing, blushing, and cheering for Margot and Theo every step of the way. The book masterfully balances humour and heart in this delightful road trip story that’s as much about finding love as it is about self-discovery.

Margot is a charming, relatable heroine—independent yet a bit of a lovable mess, navigating her feelings for Theo while dealing with the emotional scars of past relationships. Theo, on the other hand, is the epitome of the perfect book boyfriend—thoughtful, steady, and just a little oblivious to Margot’s long-standing crush. Their chemistry is undeniable, fueled by playful bickering, mutual respect, and moments of quiet vulnerability.

The road trip setting brings a fresh sense of fun and adventure, with hilarious misadventures (think car trouble and questionable roadside motels) and tender moments that bring them closer. The lack of a third-act breakup is a refreshing twist, keeping the story light-hearted yet deeply satisfying.

If you love any of these books, then The Fast Lane is the book for you.
- People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
- The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
- Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
- The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary
- Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

I had a little bit of a hard time getting into this but once I did it was great. Ali has had a crush on her brother’s friend Theo. Ali needs to get to her brothers wedding and her brothers gets his friend Theo to drive her since he’s going to the wedding also. On the drive there something happens. The development of their relationship is great. This was a cute quick friend to lovers read.

I really loved the first book in this series, but this one was really hard to get into and I think its mostly because I did not like the MFC and since its written from her perspective its a bit difficult to enjoy the story when you don't like her. Also unlike the first book I found this one to be slow paced and dragged out.

This is an absolute gem of a rom-com that had me laughing out loud from start to finish. The characters are lovable and full of personality. The plot is lighthearted yet clever, with just the right mix of romance and humor.
Ali is getting ready to go on a road trip to her brother's wedding. The only problem is, there isn't any room left in the car. No worries, her brother's best friend, Theo, can give her a ride. But that is definitely something Ali worries about, because she has a major crush on Theo, and kind of embarrassed herself when she was a teenager, expressing said crush. Now they will be forced to be in close proximity for days. How will she survive?
This story takes you on a hilarious and heartwarming adventure that will keep you laughing and cheering for them all the way.
Filled with colorful characters, witty dialogue, and laugh-out-loud moments, the story is sure to delight any fan of rom coms. Theo and Ali's chemistry absolutely sparkles and their growing connection is beautifully portrayed.
Highly recommended for anyone in need of a feel-good read that will leave you smiling long after the last page!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Can we say “SWOON WORTHY”?!? Oh my goodness. This whole book had me hooked from the beginning. There is nothing better than a brother’s best friend trope. And a road trip mixed with of course a lot of what can go wrong?!? Love it.

This may be a hot take...but I've never been a huge fan of the third act break-up. I know it's a tried and true feature of most rom-coms, but I was pleasantly surprised that The Fast Lane was not one of those! This is my first book by Sharon Peterson and I loved her writing so much! I also loved some of the tropes it covered: roadtrip, brother's best friend, & forced proximity. Definitely pick this one up if you're looking for a dreamy MMC (HELLO THEO) and a fun afternoon! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved this fun read! It was enjoyable and entertaining. It took me a while to read but only because I can't read electronically very fast.
The characters were witty, and funny.
I enjoyed getting to know each of them, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!

So many romance tropes rolled into one. This slow burn rom com is a happy ride across the country. Adorable and sweet story about first love and acceptance had me smiling until the very end. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

This author is new to me and I really enjoyed this book. I wish I'd picked up more of this author, which I will be doing from now on.

This is soo good and easy to pick up, it is book 2 in a series though. You don't need to read them in order i guess.

Ali has always had a crush on her brothers best friend Theo. After a breakup Ali makes a mistake and could miss her brothers wedding but her brother fixes it by asking Theo to drive Ali to the wedding as he's attending.

You know what's going to happen before it happens BUT you don't care. Seeing how the crush started from a young age until the present is something I never knew I needed. I loved Ali and Theo, their character development is really good.

It was fast paced and an easy read, the only criticism I have is the amount of characters I had to remember. I find it hard to remember my head everyday never mind characters in books 🤣😭. Adhd for the L at this stage lol.

I love Sharon's writing so much. It feels so relatable and real. I appreciated the epilepsy rep and just overall thoroughly enjoyed my time with these characters.

I loved this book. The Fast Lane was such a fun, easy and chill read.

A perfect read for those who like their romance sweet and their stakes low.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the ARC.

A cute, clean romance novel; but ultimately not for me.

The Fast Lane features Ali and Theo on their cross-country road-trip to Ali's brother's wedding. Ali has been in love with Theo since she was little, but Theo is her brothers best friend. Cue the unrequited pining. And after the last time she confessed her feelings, only to be turned down, she is NOT going to put herself in that position again. That is until a road trip throws them together in a confined space for hours on end. Hilarity ensues and the chemistry between the two characters is palable.

As was the sexual tension... which fell flat.

This book was (unbeknownst to me) set after the events of the previous book and features some beloved characters from the series.

There are some of the most known and loved tropes such as grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, friends-to-lovers, brothers-best-friend and many more. Meaning it will tick the boxes of most book girlies.

I would definitely recommend for fans of Sarah Adams, but be warned that similarly to her books, this book features no spice and as such feels a tad anticlimatic, for that reason it recieved 3.5 stars from me!

I loved this cute friends-to-lovers, brother’s best friend romcom! Ali and Theo’s cross-country road trip to her brother’s wedding is full of laughs, especially with a feisty grandpa, a dog named Karen, and some serious sexual tension. Ali’s secret love for Theo, who once turned her down, adds to the fun and awkwardness.

I also appreciated that the FMC has epilepsy, a perspective rarely seen in books. It offered new insights and made the story even more meaningful.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC of *The Fast Lane* by Sharon M. Peterson! ♡

i had some trouble getting into this one but once the pace was set it was a pretty good read! i love a good friends to lovers story because i always feel like they have the best banter.

I should have known my mom would go totally overboard packing for my brother’s big day. But much like my last break-up, I’d been optimistic (in denial) that it would all work out for me. Now, I can’t fit into the car. “Don’t worry,” my brother says, “I asked Theo to give you a ride.”

I flush all over and almost drop my phone. This is a BIG problem.

With his neatly trimmed stubble, fierce protectiveness and an affinity for plaid shirts rivalled only by his love of hiking, I’ve always had a crush on Theo. As a teenager, I’d even declared my feelings in a tragically bad poem. The rejection almost ended our friendship, and I’ll be taking that crippling embarrassment to my grave.

He’s the last person I want to be alone with on a six-day road trip; especially since I swore off men after my last relationship went up in flames. It would be a terrible idea anyway; he only sees me as his best friend’s little sister.

But as we fight over the playlist and are forced to share a night together when his car dies, it’s not distance that makes my heart grow fonder, it’s close proximity. Two thousand miles of flirting has my heart racing in the fast lane. Is it all in my head, or does Theo feel the same?

Ali and Theo’s relationship sparkles with chemistry, somehow managing to be romantic, emotional, and hilarious all on the same page. The situations the couple encounter during their road trip feel like scenes from classic 90’s romcoms in the best way. And the cast of side characters is so well-developed and adds so much warmth and humor to the story that I found myself wishing for a separate book for each and every one of them. This will be one of my all time favorite comfort reads that I’ll go back to again and again when I’m craving something funny and uplifting with a ton of heart.