Book Smart Kate

Book: 🌟🌟🌟 Audiobook performance: 🌟🌟🌟 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

by Josie Juniper (October 8, 2024) – Big thanks to the author, @hachetteaudio, and @netgalley for the free advance listening copy! Here’s my honest review.

Phaedra Morgan is the brilliant lead engineer, and Cosmin Ardelean is the superstar driver for their Formula 1 team. Sparks fly between them—not just because of their clashing egos but also because of a simmering attraction. After the team steps in and demands they resolve their differences, their heated rivalry transforms into a passionate, forbidden romance. As Cosmin grapples with a troubled past and Phaedra faces the weight of her present losses, their love is as turbulent as the F1 world they inhabit.

The book really shines in its portrayal of the high-speed, jet-setting Formula 1 lifestyle, immersing the reader in its adrenaline-fueled world. The latter half of the book, where Phaedra and Cosmin work through their personal challenges, felt particularly strong and emotionally resonant. I also enjoyed the early friction between them; their conflicts were well-developed and added depth to their characters.

However, I struggled to fully connect with them as a couple. At times, Phaedra’s dependence on the approval of the men in her life felt inconsistent with her otherwise authoritative role on the team, which detracted from her strength as a character.

The audiobook was a solid listen, with the narrators doing a great job, especially in capturing Cosmin’s Romanian accent, which added an authentic layer to his character.