Start your Engines by Rebecca Chase 🏎️🏁

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am such an F1 girlie through and through so any F1 romance and I am instantly SOLD🤩
I ate this up and absolutely loved the power house that is Senna Coulter!!
Overall this was such an easy read brothers best friend F1 romance which worked as a perfect speedy read for me! I cannot wait to find out more about Niki’s story and where he disappeared off to for a good 75% of the story😂
I will definitely be reading the seat of this series in turn and finding out more about the stories of Jacs and Tawny and Niki!🥰

Unfortunately, this just wasn't for me. It felt really repetitive and I was bored by the time I was halfway through. Also, the terms of endearment were just kind of cringe as well. I love the concept, but it didn't feel fully realized.

It was a decent read. Nothing super groundbreaking but entertaining. I do think the middle dragged on for a bit and could’ve definitely been shorter. Once Senna and Connor got together and the tone shift more to focus on the races I got back into it a lot more. However I did find a lot of their dialogue to come across as quite cringe and I really wish Connor dialed the “baby” usage back..by like a lot 🤣

The best parts about this book were the ones that focused on Senna as a boss of Coulter Racing and the scenes that took place of the races themselves. I just wish we would’ve gotten a bit more of the actual races and business aspects of being an F1 boss.

I would be interested to see where Senna takes Coulter racing to in the next season and what Niki’s deal is because we STILL don’t know. However idk if the book really stuck with me enough to keep going with the series. It’ll really depend on the focus of the next book.

Also way too much lip licking…it was incredibly distracting.

Oh this book! I’ve read a lot of the formula 1 romances there are, which doesnt mean I wont read another. This one was so nice! No third act breakup, healthy communication and smut that was well written! There also havent been any terminology mistakes or such related to F1 which was great! I wish the playlist had been in the front so I could have listened to it while reading, but besides that it was 100% worth the two days I spent obsessing over it! Oh to be loved the way Senna is loved by Connor!
FMC is a boss! Absolutely love the focus on the found family and team dynamic! Such a refresher!

This is for romance readers who love high-stakes, chemistry that will make your heart throb, and the world of Formula One. ‘Start Your Engines’ is a thrilling ride in which Rebecca Chase masterfully blends sports drama with a heartfelt second-chance romance, making you giggle and heat up from beginning to end.

Our FMC, Senna Coulter- who was once a promising driver- is now on the opposite end of the course, fighting to save her F1 team that happens to be struggling bad. She finds herself having to work with Connor Dane—the same man responsible for the crash that ended her career and her childhood crush.

This story was filled with so much intense emotional stakes that will make you tear up, but also make up by adding just the right amount of spice, ‘Start Your Engines’ is perfect for fans who loved Lauren Asher’s ‘Dirty Air’ series. And although some plot points feel predictable and perhaps even “hey I’ve seen this kind of story before”, the story still had its own unique twist with undeniable chemistry that will keep you on a thrill while reading.

Got a chance to do an early reading of Start Your Engines by Rebecca Chase thanks to Victory Editing and NetGalley. Official release date for the book is March 14.

As a big Formula 1 fan, one who has been counting down to the first race of the season religiously, I was so happy to find another F1 romance book to fill my time.

Overall it’s a cute story that hits the brother’s best friend, sports romance, secret relationship, found family, and mental health representation tropes. The story centers around Senna, who takes on leading her family’s F1 team after her brother goes off to recover from an accident. All while having to deal with a driver that she has past with (though we learn things aren’t what she thinks they are). I will say that I struggled getting into the story, it took me a minute to be able to sit down and not want to put the book down. Once I did get into it I was able to enjoy a story of a badass woman leading a team and working through all the things thrown her way. Big love on the part of her kicking someone to the curb who did not deserve a seat in F1.

Halfway through the book I did have to push through and move past the cringy parts of the story. I wanted there to be more growth between the relationship of Senna and her dad, the ending felt a little rushed when the story centered around her own personal growth based on his lack of support for his daughter. Also, while the spicy scenes were great, they acted as time jumps and I’d rather see more of a relationship growth between Senna and Connor, give us more of how it’s important to have your support system.

Though at the end the day, I will always support a story of a badass FMC doing great things in a world that we don’t typically see them in real life.

Start Your Engines by Rebecca Chase
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

(⭐3.5)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the advance review copy of Start Your Engines! This book releases on the 14th March!

tropes:
⤷ brother's best friend ✨
⤷ sports/f1 romance 🏎️
⤷ secret relationship 🔐
⤷ childhood friends to enemies to lovers 💖

"He'd go to the end of the earth just to see your smile."

ᯓ★ 1. Characters
Senna
Okay sooo I'm really sorry I didn't like Senna that much. She was trying too hard to be cutesy as well as scary and bossy and her arrogance tended to annoy me. I know if she were a male boss and she was doing the same thing, it would annoy me just the same. I'm glad she was opening up opportunities for other girls in the F1 workplace but honestly a lot of her gall was unnecessary. You can be a great boss with set boundaries and not be holding up your hand to shut them up when you're busy doing something else. If a guy did that to me IRL I think I would actually just walk tf away cuz WHAT?? 😭 also her nickname for Connor (Connor f*cking Dane) was funny the first few times but after a while it got old and it just seemed like she was trying to be an ass about their painful past.

Connor
I honestly really liked him! He was marketed as a 'bad boy' but he literally didn't do anything bad at all. He was a cinnamon roll who loves kitties and his lady. The one thing I really didn't like about him was his dirty talk though... it was so explicit and so jarring I tended to find myself cringing a little bit. A little bit of an ick but he's a sweetheart so he makes up for it.

Niki
I didn't like or dislike Niki. He was just kinda meh. Then again, he did go MIA for a good 75% of the story. I'd like to see his story, especially because he was so secretive about his whereabouts and disappearances. It's exciting to see Rebecca Chase's ideas for his story! I'd love a little more background and fleshing out of his character.

2. Plot
It wasn't all that bad at the start but it definitely began to drag in the middle. I was really struggling to get through it when they were just kind of laying around, f*cking at every opportunity and timeskipping.

I did find some parts of this book a little cringe, and it pains me to say this because it wasn't a bad story! I just feel like some of the humour was badly executed and a few scenes were a bit... far-fetched 🤨

And sometimes it did kiiinda feel like I was in high school, standing by my locker, waiting for the handsy cringe couple to move so I could get my books and go to class. It just kinda gives that vibe, that I'm an outsider watching a teenage h*rny couple get a bit too freaky in public. I mean, she literally sat on his lap... in a restaurant... in public... and they expected people not to notice they were dating 😬

3. Final Thoughts
Overall a solid, cute brother's best friend F1 romance. I fear Cross the Line by Simone Soltani raised my standards so impossibly high it made F1 romances always need to be at that standard for the rest of my life 🙏 but I'm not too mad at that tbh haha, Start Your Engines definitely reminded me of Cross the Line, just a little more infuriating and a little more cringe.

"I'm the storm?"
"You're the fucking cyclone I can't stop chasing."

ahhhh firstly thank you so much to the author rebecca chase and net galley for this arc!!
this was my first ever F1 romance and i freaking loved it!!!
the banter, the tension and the spice was perfection.
if you love tropes like:
brothers best friend
sports romance
enemies to lovers
childhood friends
work romance
found family
or just anything to do with F1 in general than this book is for you!
this book follows F1 driver connor dane and boss of coulter racing senna coulter.
warning this book is spicy but i was here for it, connor absolutely worships senna although things end up crashing when senna’s older brother and connor’s best friend nikki finds out about them…
the book was super fast paced and had so much passion and adrenaline to make you want to never put it down!
the ending was good but i wanted more, that was my only complaint hahaha!
i rate this book a 4.25 stars!!

Rebecca Chase’s *Start Your Engines* is a high-octane romance that combines steamy tension, emotional depth, and the thrilling world of Formula One. Senna Coulter, the young head of her family’s struggling F1 team, is a force to be reckoned with. After a crash ended her racing dreams, she’s determined to prove herself in a male-dominated industry, battling sexism, financial woes, and her own father’s doubts.

Enter Connor Dane, her brother’s best friend, her teenage crush, and the hotshot driver she blames for ending her career. Their chemistry is explosive from the start, but secrets and guilt keep them at odds. As they navigate the racing season—their fiery clashes turn into a secret, steamy relationship that neither can resist.

Chase’s writing is sharp and engaging, with dual POVs that add depth to both characters. Senna’s resilience and Connor’s redemption arc are compelling, and the racing backdrop is vividly portrayed. While some moments feel over-the-top, the emotional payoff is worth it. A solid, addictive read for romance and F1 fans alike!

I absolutely loved this book,I wish I could have dived straight into the pages it’s was fast paced and just so swoon worthy

I really enjoyed this book. The chemistry between senna and Connor was wonderful. There past issues and troubles collided beautifully! I really enjoyed Connor and his dedication to Senna and to his found family as well as his own family and keeping his dad away. I wish there was more backstory to Connor and senna. But I did love the snippets of there past and memories of them together when they were younger. The chemistry and spice was on point and I enjoyed it! I'm very curious where and what senna brother has been up to.

What and entertaining read!
I'm an F1 fangirl through and through and I'm just getting into F1 novel romances so it's safe to say I really enjoyed this book!
Senna, besides having an epic name, is a total boss and I love that we get a glimpse at being a woman in motorsport and how difficult it is for her to climb through the ranks and, really, just existing in a men dominated field. I think the way the author shows how she's held to a much higher standard than the men around her is really well done.
Another thing I loved was the atmosphere of the book! The TP side of it, the garage with the mechanics, the races, it felt very authentic and it does leave you on the edge of your seat.
The only thing I would've liked a bit better was if Connor's development was a bit more fleshed out. The initial part of the book is very well done, I think it sets the scene perfectly but then I feel like it's a bit too rushed as his character does a complete flip and it feels quite sudden. That being said, I love their dynamic and banter and I really like how by the end it's them against the world.
Quick appreciation note for the Taylor Swift references, having The Man as her go-to song to feel powerful is sooo relatable.
Overall a fun and quick read!

This is the 2nd ARC book of Rebecca's i have read and I absolutely loved it. Connor and Senna are amazing characters. I always love a happy ending. Can't wait to see what Rebecca does next.

Start Your Engines by Rebecca Chase is F1 romance with my favourite tropes. Enemies to lovers, brother’s best friend and forced proximity!

Senna is new boss in F1 team and Connor is her brother’s best friend who she hates. They were all friends untill she crashed because of him and that ended her driving career. But that’s not all to this story!

I enjoyed every single page of this book. Story is great, there’s spice and amazing communication even they both have a lot of problems.
Truly an amazing read!!! 😄

𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪: 3.5/5 𝓢𝓣𝓐𝓡𝓢 ⭐️

Start Your Engines by Rebecca Chase is a compelling second-chance romance set in the high-stakes world of Formula 1. Senna Coulter was once on track to become an F1 driver, but after a devastating accident, her dreams were stolen from her. Now, years later, she has stepped up as the boss of Coulter Racing after her father’s heart attack forced him to step down, and her brother, Niki, abandoned the sport entirely after a terrifying crash of his own. Despite her years of experience as the team’s comms director and her deep understanding of the sport, Senna constantly has to fight to be taken seriously—especially by her own family, who still treat her as fragile and incapable. Their overprotectiveness, while rooted in love, was incredibly frustrating, and I was fully invested in seeing Senna prove them wrong.

As if navigating team politics and expectations wasn’t enough, Senna is also forced to deal with the return of Connor Dane—her former best friend, first love, and now an elite F1 driver. Years ago, they were inseparable, but after her accident, everything between them shattered. Now, with Connor driving for Coulter Racing, their unresolved history comes crashing back. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and their dynamic is filled with tension, unspoken regrets, and lingering attraction. I loved the push-and-pull between them as they tried to figure out whether they could rebuild what was lost—or if they were destined to crash and burn.

The racing elements were there but not overly technical, which worked well since the focus was on Senna’s personal and professional struggles rather than the minute details of F1 strategy. While I enjoyed the romance and the tension between Senna and Connor, I felt like some of the emotional conflicts—especially her issues with her family—were resolved too quickly. I wanted more depth in those confrontations, particularly with how dismissive her father and brother were of her abilities. Similarly, some of the biggest emotional beats between her and Connor could have used more space to breathe.

Overall, Start Your Engines is a fast-paced and steamy sports romance with a strong heroine determined to prove herself in a world that underestimates her. While I had some frustrations with how quickly certain conflicts were resolved, I still enjoyed watching Senna fight for her place—not just as a team boss, but as someone worthy of love and respect. Her fiery chemistry with Connor was a definite highlight, making this an enjoyable read for fans of second-chance romance and strong-willed heroines in male-dominated spaces.

Thank you to the Rebecca Chase, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for the ARC!

If you’re a fan of the brother’s best friend and forced proximity tropes, and you’re into F1, Start Your Engines is exactly what you need to add to your TBR! It’s a perfect mix of romance and motorsport drama that totally hits the mark.

I was expecting plenty of F1 references, but I didn’t expect the main character and her brother to be named after F1 legends (Senna and Niki!). It was such a clever little detail that tied everything together in a way that made the story even more exciting for fans of the sport.

One of the best things about this book is how it highlights women in motorsport. Senna is an absolute powerhouse, showing up in a male-dominated world and proving everyone who doubted her wrong. Watching her step into her leadership role was so empowering – it felt like a celebration of how women can dominate in any field.

Connor Dane was a standout MMC. Instead of just following his best mate Niki’s orders to protect Senna, he supported her in a way that felt so genuine and authentic. What I loved most was that he also had his own demons to face, and the way he let Senna in, despite his fear of not being forgiven, was such a beautiful part of their relationship.

Huge thanks to Rebecca Chase and NetGalley for the early read! I’m so glad I got to dive into this F1 romance – it was definitely a ride I won’t forget!

If you’re looking for a brother’s best friend / forced proximity, Start Your Engines needs to go on your TBR list.

First, I am a HUGE F1 fan, so I was extremely excited when this book hit my Kindle! I want to applaud the author for the F1 refences (siblings Senna and Niki? The team principal for the top team described as Toto? The Danny Ric doing a shoey reference? GAH! It made my heart go vroom vroom).

Taking over her family's (failing) racing team after her brother's crash (and disappearance), Senna had to turn it around. But as F1's only female boss, she knew she faced an uphill battle. Faced with criticism from her own father, sexist comments, financial problems and the arrival of a new driver that her brother had casually signed before his sudden departure, Senna is determined to prove everyone wrong. But this new driver, Connor Dane? Just her brother's hotheaded best friend, who happens to be the one Senna blames for ending her own racing career... and who also happens to be her teenage crush.

For the first half of the book I couldn't put it down. I love how the author followed the racing calendar (from testing in Bahrain to the summer break to Abu Dhabi). I love how Senna faced everything that was thrown at her and earned the respect of her team. I grew to like Connor, especially when you find out the full story of what happened the day he crashed into Senna. The mental health representative was also very well written. I absolutely loved that this book was also dual POV (thanks, Rebecca!). The side characters were fun, except for the father (and honestly, the brother towards the end). There were some cringe moments towards the end, but overall, a very solid story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca and Victory Editing for providing me with this Advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute and fun F1 romance. Start Your Engines is the perfect enemies - to - lovers with just the right amount of spice. This book has you hooked from the very beginning and has THE BEST fmc, that made it so hard to put this book down.

I was lucky enough to come across a new author for me and I don't regret reading this story 💕

Start your engines is a story about the boss of a F1 team, Senna, and her pilot, Connor. The two were secretly loving friends and promising drivers in their youth, but an accident caused by Connor ended Senna's racing career and severed their friendship. However, when Senna's father handed her the reins of the F1 team and Connor accidentally (not) became her new driver, secrets and feelings became hard to hide.

First and foremost, one of the most empowering narratives in this book was how a tiny woman, under pressure from masculinity, disbelief, and without the support of her own family, was able to stand up for her desire to make the team successful and became a great leader. Her father wanted to send her off to have children, but she bent the racing industry and achieved a breakthrough. Checkmate! I admire this fearlessness.

And now for the sweet part: I ask you to pack up copies of Connor Dane and send them to all the girls in the world to make their asses happy. The man who had so many cockroaches in his head fell in love so much that despite his fears and insecurities, he did everything to please his woman and support her. And support her he did! Not to rescue her, not to do everything for her, but to support her, because she can implement her plans on her own, thus proving her professionalism. And with this woman's support, Connor was able to regain his footing and start enjoying what he does again.

At the same time, Senna put her heart and soul into everything she did. Her faith and understanding turned Connor into a happy man. He worshipped the ground on which Senna walked, and she dispelled the storm clouds in his soul and gave him peace.

This is a novel about true support, partnership, passionate feelings, and an indomitable spirit. As the famous Ukrainian writer Ivan Bahrianyi said: “The brave always have happiness.”

this was honestly good. i hadnt ever read rebecca chase and i am very much a fan now!

first off, the first few pages between Senna and Jacs, the PEP TALK and girl power? i loved that. it immediately gripped my attention, because Jacs is right in the entirety of that moment and it felt powerful, especially for an opening scene? well done Rebecca. girls are BAD a$$es too! Senna was a true female boss and i loved her character. although, gross about the no shoes in the office, but hey to each their own.

also the romance was amazing. i really enjoyed watching these two fall considering their history. Rebecca knew what she was doing with these two and i could feel all the vibes brewing and unfolding. the spice was delicious. the characters were fun and i felt connected to them. yes it was very similar to most F1 romance books, but it still had something and i enjoyed it.