Crash Test by Amy James (July 1, 2025) Huge thanks to @amyjamesbooks, @avonbooks, and @harperaudio for the #gifted advanced listening copy of this devastatingly tender, utterly consuming romance that hooked me from the first chapter.
F1 superstar Travis Keeping is on the brink of winning it all, until a horrific F2 crash puts several drivers, including Jacob Nichols, in the hospital. What the world doesn’t know is that Jacob isn’t just another racer to Travis. They’ve been dating for a year.
As Jacob’s life hangs in the balance, Travis spirals – forced to navigate the pain in silence, blocked from Jacob’s hospital room by Jacob’s unaccepting family, and trying to keep his racing career from unraveling. The story beautifully weaves between past and present, showing how their love grew in quiet corners – full of tenderness, firsts, and fears.
When Jacob’s POV enters the story, it hits like an emotional crash of its own. He’s facing a long road to recovery, physically and emotionally, haunted by trauma and isolated by controlling parents who want to erase Travis from his life entirely. His scenes in therapy are raw and powerful, especially as he tries to imagine a future in a world that he doesn’t see can make space for who he is while he does what he loves.
This book gave me the same emotional ache and swoon I felt while reading Red, White & Royal Blue. It’s a deeply moving story about hidden love, personal resilience, and fighting for your place in the world – and in someone else’s heart. I wanted to reach through the pages and hug these sweet, complicated boys. This is absolutely a new favorite.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Gary Furlong and Patrick Zeller are incredible in the dual narration. They capture every ounce of grief, fear, hope, and longing with such care. Their voices made me feel every heartbeat of this story. (Runtime: 9h 23m)
⭐ Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🎧 Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 