I really want to find a Formula 1 romance that's really good, but I haven't been able to find one so far. I picked this one up with high hopes, but it fell short for me in many ways.

This story was okay, but I felt that the pacing was too slow in some parts. The story got bogged down in details. The romance was a slow burn, and I didn't really feel their chemistry until about 60% into the book. Even then, the chemistry wasn't blazing hot - it was just okay.

Have less scenes with all the supporting characters and their laughable conversations and more scenes of just Darien and Shantal might have helped build their chemistry in a believable way.

Steam level: 🔥🔥¾

Me gustó mucho!!

La historia de Shantal, una chica que se traslada a Río para trabajar en un simulador de Fórmula 1, y su romance con Darien, un carismático piloto, es muy atractiva. La manera en que ambos personajes se apoyan mutuamente es conmovedora. Aunque la relación avanza rápidamente, la conexión entre ellos se siente auténtica y tierna. Además, los personajes secundarios aportan mucho a la trama. Es una lectura perfecta para los fans del romance y del automovilismo.

¡Lo recomiendo sin dudar!

I didn’t love this unfortunately which I am gutted about! I didn’t enjoy the pacing as it all felt a bit rushed for me so much so that I wasn’t even bothered by the third act breakup as I couldn’t feel the chemistry between the characters! I did like the found family aspect and Darien as a character had lots of charisma which I enjoyed.

This book is refreshing and right down my alley.
Tropes: F1 Romance, Grumpy-sunshine, close proximity, slow burn, found family, he falls first, women in STEM

Shantal, a brilliant engineer and data analyst who gets the opportunity to test her racing simulator on high-performance Formula 1 drivers.
Darien, a famous and charismatic Formula 1 driver, who initially is skeptical of the simulator but soon finds himself drawn to both the technology and Shantal's infectious enthusiasm.
One particular scene I loved is praying for well being of the other in a temple. That right there is just pure. I really admire Shanni’s strength and her grief broke my heart. Darien has that charming character to him and his determination towards the game which makes him really loveable. I loved the supporting characters, mainly Shantal's best friend and Darien's team members.

I love F1 romance books, but this one felt different somehow. Darien & Shantel’s relationship went from lust to love within a snap. I love slow burn books when done right but this fast transition ain’t for me. I also didn’t feel connected to them particularly.

This was fantastic. It's perfect for F1 fans. I read it in one sitting and found this author to be a new favourite of mine. I would definitely recommend giving this author a try!

After the death of her sister, Shantal gets the professional opportunity of a lifetime and moves to Rio to work as a programmer on an F1 racing simulator. She meets F1 driver Darien, and sparks fly instantly. Over the course of the season, they fall in love, while also supporting each other through the grieving process.

Here's the thing. If this book had been a cricket romance (or any other sport I know nothing about), I probably would've rated it 4 stars without thinking twice about it. The love story is cute, I liked the characters, and I appreciated the way in which the author described the main characters' grief. Unfortunately, I'm a massive F1 fan and spent a lot of the book infuriated by that side of things. I'm splitting the difference and rating it 3 stars. As long as you're just here for the 'romance' part of 'F1 romance', I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

I could not get into this book, despite trying repeatedly. It was very background heavy right at the start, and the writing didn't manage to make me enjoy that part or to care about the characters, which led to me DNFing it. I may try again in the future, once I've had a long enough break, so I can come back to it with a fresh state of mjnd. But for now I'm done. I haven't rated it on goodreads, because I don't think a rating for a DNF is fair.

This is the first F1 romance I've ever read, and although I do generally love a good sports romance, I didn't expect the stakes to feel so high!

Shantal is a sports-simulation programmer, and while still grieving the loss of her sister, she is given an important role at work: go to Brazil and test her racing simulation on an up and coming F1 team. It's a big deal, there's a lot of money on the line, and she is determined to succeed. Darien is an F1 driver at the top of his game, and he's been given the opportunity to move back to his home city in Brazil to trial a new racing simulator. Despite the pressure from sponsors to rank on the podium in every race, he mainly just wants to race in a way that honours the father he lost too young. Despite initially getting off on the wrong foot, Shantal and Darien quickly realise that they understand each other in a way that no-one else ever has, but they cannot afford distractions. And there's the small matter of a promise Shantal made to her parents...

Patel spent a really nice amount of time at the start letting us get to know the characters individually before they meet each other. This meant that as the story progressed I really understood and believed their reactions to what was going on, particularly Shantal's. After a slower start, following the F1 season gave the book a really fast pace that just didn't stop until the final pages. Some of the races had me feeling sick because the stakes in a race are so high, and while I didn't love the way Shantal and Darien met or the conflict between them following it, this did not pan out in the way that I feared it would and seeing both characters battle their fears had me all in my feelings. I will happily admit the epilogue had me shedding a few tears.

I loved Shantal most of all. She is basically clueless about F1 which is great because it means you don't need to know anything as a reader either. She is fantastic at her job, at football (soccer for my American friends) and really, really smart. She doesn't compromise on this & when faced with male characters who look down on her, she shows them up, which I thought was super classy & hot. I saw the author describe her as 'silent rebellion' on Instagram and I love and agree with this description 100%. Shantal is Indo-Guyanese and I really loved getting to see some of her Hindu culture, something I have not read before in this genre. Her journey really warmed my heart.

Darien is a golden retriever with a good heart, a great driver, and an all round good time, but he is also fighting his own battles and seeing his journey warmed my heart too.

There is a small amount of spice in this book that for me was intimate & balanced well with the plot.

If you're a fan of F1 romance, I'm confident you'll love this addition to the genre, and if (like me) you've never read one before I highly recommend Overdrive as a great starting place.

Thank you Netgalley & Avon Books UK for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

a super fun & flirty f1 romance. can’t get enough of grump x sunshine romances and this one is just another to add to the list

4.5 ⭐️
I’ve never any of the authors books or f1 related romances before so I wasn’t sure what I’d think but I’m happy I read this. It was enjoyable, flirty, fun and very recommendable for others ☺️

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this!

Overdrive

3 🌟

The book at a glance:
🏁 F1 Romance
🏎️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🏁 Found Family
🏎️ Dual POV
🏁 Multicultural backgrounds

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the advance reader’s copy.

While I could identify with Shantal’s pain and grief, I found it incredibly difficult to care about the main characters. Something about them just didn’t click for me, they felt very superficial despite the heavy backgrounds of both characters. Some of the side characters’ actions and descriptions also felt incomplete (ex: Raya). I was expecting a smaller arc with the way things were described but nothing ever came up.

I appreciated that the author went into detail about Formula 1 racing, which a lot of sports romances lack. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to make up for the montage-like nature of the book. The characters seemed like they were in lust and never quite in love. That transition seemed to happen with the snap of a finger and felt very abrupt.

There were sweet, funny, and moving moments throughout the book, but the pacing felt off. The third act breakup felt very forced and unnecessary, not all romances need to follow the same formula (pardon the pun). The epilogue was very hasty and I hope the final copy offers more detail.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read but I had to force myself to finish the book.

the funniest, flirtiest f1 romance ive read. shanni and darien are absolutely made for eachother, and their relationship is so honest, raw and open. this was perfectly spicy, sweet and emotional. esha handled grief with such care, it was heartbreaking to read about sonias story. the plot was intriguing and im interested to see what’s next

Overdrive follows Shantal, a determined woman who believes success is everything. When she receives an opportunity to move from London to Brazil to test a racing simulator with top Formula One drivers, she seizes it, leaving her old life behind in pursuit of her career.

Darien, a passionate Formula One driver, is equally committed to his craft. When his team requests he relocate to Brazil for the simulator trials, he jumps at the chance, drawn not only by the opportunity but also by his love for his homeland.

When Shantal and Darien cross paths, sparks fly—both on and off the track. Darien finds himself captivated by Shantal, and she can’t resist the charm of the talented driver. However, in the high-stakes world of Formula One, romance takes a back seat to the demands of their careers.

The slow-burn romance between Shantal and Darien feels authentic, with their personal lives significantly impacting their relationship and future together. The conclusion is satisfying, leaving readers with a warm feeling after finishing the epilogue. This book beautifully captures the complexities of ambition and love within the thrilling backdrop of motorsport.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

Thankyou NetGalley for this arc!!

This was a slow burn full of emotions and was such a good read!! I don’t usually enjoy slow burns much but it was still a fun read for me!

I also loved how the culture was represented through the book & how it was shared with the FMC

I definitely had to put aside my love for F1 to try and give a fair review and Ooo I love the dynamic between the grumpy//sunshine mcs this book was such an easy read and honestly was one of the best F1 type books I’ve read!

This was an easy, delivers what it promises sports romance.

It's a grumpy/ sunshine energy slow burn workplace romance that delivered on all the tropes as planned in really well structured way so it didn't feel overdone or twee.

It's the second in the series but can easily be read as a standalone and I liked each member of the couple. The only problem was that I wasn't sure they were right for each other. It felt like an easy, bright story of a couple who would have a great time together but probably aren't soulmates.

I would love to read more from Esha Patel and it was definitely well written but just not perfect for me.

I wasn't too sure if I was going to enjoy this not being a fan of F1 however it was a great story and far better than I was expecting!

Overdrive offers a unique blend of romance and Formula 1, a refreshing take on the genre. The cultural representation is a standout, woven into the narrative with respect and honesty. It's a much-needed addition to the romance landscape.

Unfortunately, the writing feels a bit rough around the edges. The characters could have benefited from a little more chemistry.

While the F1 elements are well-integrated, the author's enthusiasm for the sport is evident, but a deeper exploration of the challenges faced by women in the industry could have added a layer of realism and authenticity.

Overall, Overdrive is a promising start with a strong foundation. With a bit more refinement and depth, it could evolve into a truly exceptional romance novel.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Slow burn f1 romance which pays off if you know about f1 to start with. As a massive f1 fan I was able to navigate the start of this book well. However if you are new to f1 it would be very confusing for a long portion of the book. Overall it is a nice romance and I enjoyed the book.