A grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, sports romance. After creating a new racing simulator, Shantel is invited to Brazil to test it out with real F1 drivers. Damien is a ln F1 driver looking for anything that will give him a leg up on his competition. So when the opportunity arises to train with a new racing simulator, he jumps at the chance. When Shantel and Damien meet, lots of flirting ensues leading to sparks both on and off the track.

I loved this read! I enjoy watching racing, so it was fun to read it in romance form. The characters and banter were great.

Shantal and Darien.. my beloveds. I really enjoyed getting to know Darien, he had me giggling, blushing and kicking my feet constantly! Shantal was so sweet too.

I think what was lost on me was the third act breakup - if third act breakups have no haters then I’m dead.

I do love a sports romance though, and F1 is creeping up my list!

I’m so excited to read more from Esha Patel though!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc. 🫶🏻

I cannot believe I waited this long to read an Esha Patel novel. I don't like racing, or know anything at all about F1, but after reading this book, I want to know everything! Patel's writing style is capitaving and draws the reader in from the first chapter. I loved this novel, and I can't wait to go back and read the first book in this fast-paced series.

I came into this book with low(er) expectations because I know my expecations for her last book were too high, but I absolutely loved Overdrive by Esha Patel!

It had everything I look for in a good F1 romance—great characters, high-speed drama, and the chemistry between the leads was electric, and the slow build of their relationship had me hooked.

That said, the third-act breakup frustrated me. While I appreciated Shantal’s struggles I couldn’t help but feel like her actions were unecessary—and the resolution was too simple to change my mind.

Still, the rest of the book made up for it and I loved how things ended.


I recieced an advanced reader copy of this book for free from NetGalley and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

I wanted to love this but I was not my favorite at all. I was really hopefully but it was a bit disappointing.

If you’re a fan of fast cars, slow-burn romance, and just enough emotional depth to make you tear up a little before grinning like an idiot, Overdrive is the ride for you.

Esha Patel delivers a fun and cute romance that feels like a victory lap for anyone who’s into F1 books (me, definitely me). And while there weren’t any cowboys in this one—sadly—Darien’s swoon-worthy Brazilian charm made up for it.

What worked:

The Romance: Shantal and Darien are a reverse grumpy x sunshine trope done right. Shantal’s ambition and Darien’s passion created a dynamic that was equal parts fiery and sweet. Plus, that “forced proximity” trope? Yes, please. Sparks flew faster than an F1 car in a qualifying lap.
Handling Grief: Patel doesn’t shy away from heavier themes, and I loved how the book explored grief without letting it overshadow the story’s lighter moments. It was a perfect balance—heartfelt but not heavy.
Brazilian Vibes: The setting practically danced off the page, from the vibrant atmosphere of Brazil to the high-octane world of Formula One. It added so much personality to the story!
Why not 5 stars?
While the romance was a winner, parts of the plot felt like they were cruising on autopilot. The simulator subplot had potential but didn’t quite hit pole position in terms of tension or stakes. That said, Darien’s love for Brazil and Shantal’s determination still made the journey worth it.

Final Thoughts:
Overdrive is the perfect pick for sports romance fans who love a dash of spice, a sprinkle of angst, and all the heart. It’s got cute moments, emotional depth, and plenty of vroom-vroom vibes to keep you entertained.

Would I read more F1 romances? Obviously. Would I recommend this book to other hopeless romantics? Absolutely. Would I secretly hope for a cowboy spin-off next? 100%.

I usually enjoy sports romance and F1, so I was looking forward to reading this. I haven't read the first book in the offtrack series, and maybe that is why I struggled to get into the story and invest in the characters. It started slowly with a lot of separate characterisation. I like the diversity, the excitement of the motor racing and the strength of the female protagonist, but I didn't connect with the characters and found the pacing slow initially.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

1.5/5 stars

Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me, I really hoped this book would be more enjoyable than it was for me. I liked the plot, and Darien’s backstory was engaging with his journey through grief and the stages of healing, but as for his and Shantal’s relationship, I just couldn’t get into it, or connect with their characters individually. Overall I thought the plot was great, but the lack of connection with the characters or their “chemistry” put me off a bit.

I love Esha Patel!! & I love a F1 romance!
I am so very grateful to receive an ARC for this. Even though I wasn’t able to finish before the archive date I’m excited to buy and finish it.
The chemistry was fire. 🔥

I really needed to read a F1 romance and this seemed to be the one I picked up, I think I gave the first one 3 stars. But I enjoyed this one so much more. Again I don’t know if I was just more in the mood to read an F1 romance but this was amazing. I really loved that this was set in Brazil. This is grumpy sunshine, forced proximity slow burn romance. This follows Darien and Shantal. I just loved their characters so much, the grief they are both experiencing throughout is so well written.

Thank you for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was a cute book. But it was not quite what I was hoping for. The main characters were cute together but the story was a little dull.

I unfortunately found this just okay! I liked the characters, getting to know Darien a bit more and meeting Shantal. I just didn’t feel any connection between them which sucks as I loved all the racing and setting and descriptions. It wasn’t a bad book by any means, I just couldn’t quite click with the main characters romance storyline!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for review! I ate this book up as I am a fan of F1 romances, and enjoyed the author's first novel. A fun, quick easy read set in the F1 world!

I really wanted to gel with this book as I have loved other formula 1 books. Unfortunately it was not for me.

DIVERSE MCs! (again)

Formula 1
Found family
Grumpy sunshine
Dual POV
Slow burn
Interconnected standalone

The Formula 1 boys are back. I enjoyed Darien and Shantal’s story more than the first book Offtrack. Sweet with a few laughs and depth. Book has enough romance and racing though chemistry felt a little off at moments. Third act breakup didn’t feel necessary in this one, hopefully the next one is the series will go without. That being said I will continue the series.

Much needed break from hockey romances (hides lol)

4.5⭐️ | 2🌶️

WHAT TO EXPECT:
• He’s an F1 driver x She’s a woman in STEM
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Slow burn
• Found Family
• Diverse characters
• He falls first, she falls harder

REVIEW:
Formula 1 meets slow-burn romance in Overdrive! It’s a story packed with high stakes, emotional depth, and a dash of spice.

Darien, a talented F1 driver, is under immense pressure to deliver this season, not just for his career but to preserve his country’s future in racing. Enter Shantal, a brilliant sports-simulation programmer flown to Brazil to test her cutting-edge technology with his team. Both are navigating personal loss and professional challenges, but their connection proves to be the ultimate game-changer.

What sets this book apart is its character development. The author takes the time to introduce Shantal and Darien individually before their worlds collide, which makes their chemistry all the more believable. Shantal is a standout protagonist- intelligent, resilient, and refreshingly confident in a male-dominated space. Her Indo-Guyanese heritage and cultural depth add a rich layer to her character, making her journey truly compelling. Meanwhile, Darien is a golden retriever in human form- loyal, charming, and just the right amount of flawed.

The F1 backdrop isn’t just a gimmick, it’s integral to the story. From nail-biting race sequences to the intricacies of team dynamics, the sport feels alive on the page! The romance evolves naturally amidst the adrenaline, and though the spice is minimal, it’s perfectly balanced with the emotional beats.

Whether you’re an F1 fan or a romance enthusiast, Overdrive hits all the right notes. It’s heartfelt, exciting, and impossible to put down- a must-read for everyone!

I was really excited to read this one - but it just didn't hit the mark.

It felt rushed and incomplete. The characters and their motivations were confusing and sometimes contradictary. It was hard to really feel for them or their romance when everything felt so surface level.

The F1 world also just felt so unrealistic. The fact that drivers would be expected to show a random new employee around a city... just no. I love a good f1/sports/celebrity romance but it has to feel somewhat realistic. This one felt a little too wattpad-y. At times there was a lot of detail around the F1 world then suddenly it would skip all the action and time-jump you forward with no context.

There were definitely glimpses of greatness. I felt like we were given small glimpses into our characters minds. It needed a little more time to build out their motivations and more importantly build on their relationship. It didn't really make sense to me.

It's a shame, but I think romance lovers would still like this. The F1 fangirl in me prevented me getting to into this one.

you know how there are some books that actually feel so much more than just a book because the emotions, the connection that is shown between the characters is so deep and real that you actually feel the pain that the characters go through in the book and you celebrate them getting together as if you have fallen in love with a man who cherishes every step you take and giggle on everyone they even have the darcy like touch. Overdrive was one such book for me. I am an F1 fan and this book, the detailing Esha has put in this book is so amazing that you just get into it because you want to know more about stuff. I actually felt the pain every time one of the characters was going through something and I just wanted to hug them tight.

The second book in the F1 series by Esha Patel and this one follows a girl who9 is trying to test out her racing simulator on f1 drivers and the formula one driver who catches her eye. Shantal wants to test her racing simulator and who better to test it on than formula one drivers, and thats where we meet Darien, a passionate driver who is feeling the pressure to win this year's championship. I will have to say as a huge fan of formula one this book just wasn't it for me. I appreciate the author's knowledge of the sport but the actual romance feels nonexistent in these books. This is a series of standalone interconnected books but honestly I just couldn't care or remember any of the characters or plot lines. I really wish I could like it more but I just found it so boring to read. The characters don't really grow and there was instalove yet nothing really happened until 70% through the book. I just feel like this is a forgettable book that is slow and not really for formula girlies looking for an f1 romance.