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Lights Out #2
Ride with Me
A marriage of convenience threatens to go off track in this steamy Formula 1 romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Cross the Line.
Stella Baldwin thought her life couldn’t get worse. Being left at the altar was bad enough, and the drunken rant she posted to her social media followers in the aftermath was the cherry on top. But having to show up at her cousin’s bachelorette party in Las Vegas barely two weeks later feels like a cruel joke.
Thomas Maxwell-Brown is just looking for a good time. With his family’s expectations pressing down, his career as a Formula 1 driver threatened by fresh talent, and a new reputation as the most hated man on the grid, he needs a break to clear his head. And what better way to decompress than with a stag party in Vegas?
Stella isn’t the woman Thomas expects to meet that night. And Thomas isn’t the man Stella expects to wake up next to in the morning—with a ring on her finger. Staying married might be the perfect solution to all their problems, even if it is a little wild. Sometimes, what happens in Vegas doesn’t need to stay there. . . .
Stella Baldwin thought her life couldn’t get worse. Being left at the altar was bad enough, and the drunken rant she posted to her social media followers in the aftermath was the cherry on top. But having to show up at her cousin’s bachelorette party in Las Vegas barely two weeks later feels like a cruel joke.
Thomas Maxwell-Brown is just looking for a good time. With his family’s expectations pressing down, his career as a Formula 1 driver threatened by fresh talent, and a new reputation as the most hated man on the grid, he needs a break to clear his head. And what better way to decompress than with a stag party in Vegas?
Stella isn’t the woman Thomas expects to meet that night. And Thomas isn’t the man Stella expects to wake up next to in the morning—with a ring on her finger. Staying married might be the perfect solution to all their problems, even if it is a little wild. Sometimes, what happens in Vegas doesn’t need to stay there. . . .
448 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2025
498 people are currently reading
22433 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 952 reviews
February 12, 2025
thank you to net galley for providing this arc!!
this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and i was not disappointed🤭 simone soltani is fab at writing really fun and accurate f1 romances - which i have struggled to find in the past. i feel like she is very aware of the f1 space and funnels that perfectly into her books, which i really appreciate. the chemistry between these characters also felt extremely real and fun, and i adore how quickly i can fly through her books. this one has a sprinkling of:
- marriage of convenience
- forced proximity
- f1 romance
- both millionaires
this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and i was not disappointed🤭 simone soltani is fab at writing really fun and accurate f1 romances - which i have struggled to find in the past. i feel like she is very aware of the f1 space and funnels that perfectly into her books, which i really appreciate. the chemistry between these characters also felt extremely real and fun, and i adore how quickly i can fly through her books. this one has a sprinkling of:
- marriage of convenience
- forced proximity
- f1 romance
- both millionaires
June 30, 2025
books don't have to reinvent the wheel to be fun and sexy! this marriage of (in)convenience between an f1 driver and a successful female CEO was exactly what i needed. tons of flirty banter, plenty of "my wife" moments, and a relationship that felt convincing. i kept waiting for something weird to happen or the third act conflict to feel out of place, but nope. just a solid romance with a hero and heroine that i truly liked reading about.
bonus points for how this american author was able to write a brit. not sure why it's so hard for authors to not go full "pip pip cheerio" but it's normally a real issue for me as a reader lol.
bonus points for how this american author was able to write a brit. not sure why it's so hard for authors to not go full "pip pip cheerio" but it's normally a real issue for me as a reader lol.
May 19, 2025
"𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒏'𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈?" 𝑰 𝒎𝒐𝒄𝒌. "𝑨𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕, 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂," 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒔, "𝑰'𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉."
This was such a cute read! 💕 So, I’m an easy reader, and if you tell me there’s going to be an accidental marriage in VEGAS lol, that already sounds like a good time, say less! 🎰💍 I loved how the book didn’t start with the accidental marriage it built up slow and steady, and by the time it actually happened, I was BEGGING them to get married!!!! 👏
Simone Soltani’s writing is hilarious 😂 IDK what it is, but I loved the HUMOR!!! The BANTER!!! 💬🔥 Stella Baldwin was LEFT AT THE ALTAR, OKAY 💔👰♀️ and still decided to go to the Vegas bachelorette party because it was for her bestie. Meanwhile, we have Thomas, who had to be in Vegas anyway for a race 🏁, so he figured why not “represent the fam” since the groom is a family friend. Little did they know they had eyes 👀 on each other and decided the night needed to get a little more fun 😏
The plot is simple: they got married and now gotta divorce ASAP, but they both have reputations to uphold, so they can’t just dissolve it the next day. The way they have to pretend to be all lovey-dovey in public while catching feelings in private??? 🙂↕️🙂↕️ AGH, it made this book so freaking fun
And when he starts to fall for herrrrrrrr??? AGHHH MY HEART 💘😭
I’m a sucker for the micro-trope of quiet love 🫶 You know when the MMC makes little gestures that should be normal but mean everything to her?? (Like warming her hands when they’re cold). GIVE. ME. MORE.
Oh, and let’s not forget this is a sports romance! You get a glimpse of the races and some fun Formula 1 lingo, especially around Thomas’s standing and the drama behind it. If you follow Formula 1 in real life, you know there’s always drama (which is honestly why I love it) 💜
I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an easy read, especially if you love watching two people pretend not to fall in love… while absolutely falling in love.
tropes
💜 sports romance
💜 fake marriage
💜 forced proximity
💜 he falls first
💜 strangers to lovers
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ I LOVE FORMULA 1 and you add accidental marriage (vegas edition) um sign me up!!!
Thank you Berkley for my eARC
This was such a cute read! 💕 So, I’m an easy reader, and if you tell me there’s going to be an accidental marriage in VEGAS lol, that already sounds like a good time, say less! 🎰💍 I loved how the book didn’t start with the accidental marriage it built up slow and steady, and by the time it actually happened, I was BEGGING them to get married!!!! 👏
Simone Soltani’s writing is hilarious 😂 IDK what it is, but I loved the HUMOR!!! The BANTER!!! 💬🔥 Stella Baldwin was LEFT AT THE ALTAR, OKAY 💔👰♀️ and still decided to go to the Vegas bachelorette party because it was for her bestie. Meanwhile, we have Thomas, who had to be in Vegas anyway for a race 🏁, so he figured why not “represent the fam” since the groom is a family friend. Little did they know they had eyes 👀 on each other and decided the night needed to get a little more fun 😏
The plot is simple: they got married and now gotta divorce ASAP, but they both have reputations to uphold, so they can’t just dissolve it the next day. The way they have to pretend to be all lovey-dovey in public while catching feelings in private??? 🙂↕️🙂↕️ AGH, it made this book so freaking fun
And when he starts to fall for herrrrrrrr??? AGHHH MY HEART 💘😭
I’m a sucker for the micro-trope of quiet love 🫶 You know when the MMC makes little gestures that should be normal but mean everything to her?? (Like warming her hands when they’re cold). GIVE. ME. MORE.
Oh, and let’s not forget this is a sports romance! You get a glimpse of the races and some fun Formula 1 lingo, especially around Thomas’s standing and the drama behind it. If you follow Formula 1 in real life, you know there’s always drama (which is honestly why I love it) 💜
I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an easy read, especially if you love watching two people pretend not to fall in love… while absolutely falling in love.
tropes
💜 sports romance
💜 fake marriage
💜 forced proximity
💜 he falls first
💜 strangers to lovers
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ I LOVE FORMULA 1 and you add accidental marriage (vegas edition) um sign me up!!!
Thank you Berkley for my eARC
February 6, 2025
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for the chance to read this book!
my home is in london with a man who knows i prefer gold jewelry. who holds my hand even when my fingers are freezing. who outfitted his whole kitchen with my favorite appliances in my favorite color and requested that i make the place a mess. who let me leave to handle the things haunting me, because he would never stand in my way.
ੈ♡˳ rating: five of five stars
ੈ♡˳ thoughts:
i LOVED this book. love. love. love. in my opinion, it was so much better than the first book. something about that fake dating, slow burn trope gets me right in my feelings. stella, the fmc, is a fierce girl boss & thomas, the mmc, is a golden retriever who is obsessed with stella. a match made in heaven.
thomas said “my wife” so many times and he did not disappoint with them. the romance in the book wasn’t cringy at all. if anything, it was so sweeet to me. also, it’s in the same universe as the first book but doesn’t reference the characters of the first book (willow and dev) SOOOO much to
make sure you know for sure that it’s in the same universe, which i also liked.
i had a great time reading this and i think everyone else will too!
ੈ♡˳ tropes
ꕥ “my wife”
ꕥ marriage of convenience
ꕥ obsessed mmc
ꕥ fake marriage
ꕥ interracial couple
my home is in london with a man who knows i prefer gold jewelry. who holds my hand even when my fingers are freezing. who outfitted his whole kitchen with my favorite appliances in my favorite color and requested that i make the place a mess. who let me leave to handle the things haunting me, because he would never stand in my way.
ੈ♡˳ rating: five of five stars
ੈ♡˳ thoughts:
i LOVED this book. love. love. love. in my opinion, it was so much better than the first book. something about that fake dating, slow burn trope gets me right in my feelings. stella, the fmc, is a fierce girl boss & thomas, the mmc, is a golden retriever who is obsessed with stella. a match made in heaven.
thomas said “my wife” so many times and he did not disappoint with them. the romance in the book wasn’t cringy at all. if anything, it was so sweeet to me. also, it’s in the same universe as the first book but doesn’t reference the characters of the first book (willow and dev) SOOOO much to
make sure you know for sure that it’s in the same universe, which i also liked.
i had a great time reading this and i think everyone else will too!
ੈ♡˳ tropes
ꕥ “my wife”
ꕥ marriage of convenience
ꕥ obsessed mmc
ꕥ fake marriage
ꕥ interracial couple
May 19, 2025
4.5 ☆
”I need more from this woman, whatever she’s willing to give. I’d let her use me in return, let her sink her teeth into me and tear away whatever she wanted. She could burn through me and I’d fan the flame.”
i liked this authors debut book but i loved this book even more.. all of my praise goes to Thomas cause he’s an immediate new favorite mmc. i honestly forgot that there was the accidental/marriage of convenience trope in this one, but Thomas and Stella had so much chemistry right from the start that it made everything flow smoothly. they bond as friends first, so all the tension that fueled the slow burn made it 1000x better. they’re polar opposites, but have the same humor and compliment eachother so well despite those differences. i appreciated that they didn’t let whatever they had going on interfere with their respective careers and i also liked the side characters, mainly Amara and Mika. im hoping that the author continues writing more F1 romances cause im already invested at this point.
“It’s because he respects you. That’s the kind of man he is. When you say no, he takes it as a final answer because he understands it’s a complete sentence. But if you give him a reason to fight, he will.”
FYI: the extra .5 in my rating is solely for Thomas himself, this man was pretty damn close to perfection. i always tend to have a soft spot for mmc’s that are just sweet, patient and worship the ground that the fmc walks on.. Thomas is all of that and more— he was soooo obsessed with Stella and respected all of her boundaries. Stella is honestly stronger than me, cause with the way he was flirting i would have gave in a lot sooner than she did. i really liked Stella too, she’s confident with a heart of gold but i did start to get frustrated with her towards the end. i just really wish that there wasn’t a third act cause it was so unnecessary, although i did try to give Stella some grace cause i understood her mixed emotions about her horrendous ex. other than that little bit, i didn’t have any other problems with this and i LOVED the romance sm!
▶ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Berkley Publishing Group for the arc, all opinions are my own.
”I need more from this woman, whatever she’s willing to give. I’d let her use me in return, let her sink her teeth into me and tear away whatever she wanted. She could burn through me and I’d fan the flame.”
i liked this authors debut book but i loved this book even more.. all of my praise goes to Thomas cause he’s an immediate new favorite mmc. i honestly forgot that there was the accidental/marriage of convenience trope in this one, but Thomas and Stella had so much chemistry right from the start that it made everything flow smoothly. they bond as friends first, so all the tension that fueled the slow burn made it 1000x better. they’re polar opposites, but have the same humor and compliment eachother so well despite those differences. i appreciated that they didn’t let whatever they had going on interfere with their respective careers and i also liked the side characters, mainly Amara and Mika. im hoping that the author continues writing more F1 romances cause im already invested at this point.
“It’s because he respects you. That’s the kind of man he is. When you say no, he takes it as a final answer because he understands it’s a complete sentence. But if you give him a reason to fight, he will.”
FYI: the extra .5 in my rating is solely for Thomas himself, this man was pretty damn close to perfection. i always tend to have a soft spot for mmc’s that are just sweet, patient and worship the ground that the fmc walks on.. Thomas is all of that and more— he was soooo obsessed with Stella and respected all of her boundaries. Stella is honestly stronger than me, cause with the way he was flirting i would have gave in a lot sooner than she did. i really liked Stella too, she’s confident with a heart of gold but i did start to get frustrated with her towards the end. i just really wish that there wasn’t a third act cause it was so unnecessary, although i did try to give Stella some grace cause i understood her mixed emotions about her horrendous ex. other than that little bit, i didn’t have any other problems with this and i LOVED the romance sm!
▶ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Berkley Publishing Group for the arc, all opinions are my own.
February 17, 2025
omggg so so so cuteeee!
simone you diva, i adore you! i love a good marriage of convenient story, and this one is amazing. The main character Stella is a black girl, and y’all know I love to see black women loved out loud and this book gives me everything I need and more. I absolutely adore Stella and Thomas together, they’re everything they needed to be with each other. I loved the pacing of the story, the progression of the story, the plot and all the characters we got. I was really happy to see one of the side characters kind of have almost a redemption arc, because I had a feeling they weren’t a bad person and I was proven correctly. Overall, I really enjoyed this story, I’m kind of in a slump and this book took me out of it a little bit so I respect and appreciate it for that as well.
simone you diva, i adore you! i love a good marriage of convenient story, and this one is amazing. The main character Stella is a black girl, and y’all know I love to see black women loved out loud and this book gives me everything I need and more. I absolutely adore Stella and Thomas together, they’re everything they needed to be with each other. I loved the pacing of the story, the progression of the story, the plot and all the characters we got. I was really happy to see one of the side characters kind of have almost a redemption arc, because I had a feeling they weren’t a bad person and I was proven correctly. Overall, I really enjoyed this story, I’m kind of in a slump and this book took me out of it a little bit so I respect and appreciate it for that as well.
May 23, 2025
This author’s writing is great, so I really enjoyed reading this book—but there were some things that bothered me, and I’m not sure how to rate it.
Stella and Thomas met at a party in Vegas. Since it was Vegas, instead of drunkenly hooking up, they drunkenly got married. They decided to stay married for a year for PR reasons, and to appear together in public.
Thomas was absolutely perfect. He was all in from the beginning, and it was very sweet.
Stella was tricky. She was smart, confident, successful, and objectively a badass. She would have been very easy to love if it weren’t for the way she treated Thomas.
I understand that she had been hurt in the past and was wary of commitment, but her constant push and pull was exhausting. She kept jeopardizing their relationship with her ridiculous rules and barriers, and I just wanted to smack her over the head with my Kindle. Thomas deserved so much better!
That said, I definitely see potential, and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
3,5 stars
——-
My first F1 romance, so excited to read about a man who’s not SO BIG.
Thanks NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the arc. 💙
Stella and Thomas met at a party in Vegas. Since it was Vegas, instead of drunkenly hooking up, they drunkenly got married. They decided to stay married for a year for PR reasons, and to appear together in public.
Thomas was absolutely perfect. He was all in from the beginning, and it was very sweet.
Stella was tricky. She was smart, confident, successful, and objectively a badass. She would have been very easy to love if it weren’t for the way she treated Thomas.
I understand that she had been hurt in the past and was wary of commitment, but her constant push and pull was exhausting. She kept jeopardizing their relationship with her ridiculous rules and barriers, and I just wanted to smack her over the head with my Kindle. Thomas deserved so much better!
That said, I definitely see potential, and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
3,5 stars
——-
My first F1 romance, so excited to read about a man who’s not SO BIG.
Thanks NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the arc. 💙
April 29, 2025
Ride with Me is a sizzling romance following Stella, a recently jilted bride and businesswoman, and Thomas, an F1 racer weathering a scandal. When the two meet in Vegas at a combined bachelor/bachelorette party, they spend one wild night together exploring their instant chemistry. However, when they both wake up the next morning, only to discover they've gotten married, the two decide to use their marriage to their advantage and ride out the drama together.
I'm a complete sucker for a marriage of convenience romance and this book delivered everything I love about the trope and more! The banter, chemistry, and tension were top tier; Stella and Thomas were just so perfect for each other. I loved how they communicated and followed their rules, all while struggling to not fall for each other. The hint of drama surrounding their relationship was the perfect balance to their sweet romance and the slow burn steam. From stellar writing to relatable characters and the most delectable romance, this book had me hooked from the very beginning — I can’t recommend it enough!
~Many thanks to Berkley for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
I'm a complete sucker for a marriage of convenience romance and this book delivered everything I love about the trope and more! The banter, chemistry, and tension were top tier; Stella and Thomas were just so perfect for each other. I loved how they communicated and followed their rules, all while struggling to not fall for each other. The hint of drama surrounding their relationship was the perfect balance to their sweet romance and the slow burn steam. From stellar writing to relatable characters and the most delectable romance, this book had me hooked from the very beginning — I can’t recommend it enough!
~Many thanks to Berkley for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
May 23, 2025
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 5 stars ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
"But a still photo couldn’t capture what she’s like in motion. It’s the way her full lips pull into a smile, or how her nearly black irises catch the light in such a way that it makes me wonder if there are actual sparkles in them."
‘You look . . .’ He trails off again, pausing to take a breath that practically shudders through him. ‘There are no words for how stunning you are, Stella. It’s a bloody privilege to even lay eyes on you.’
‘Let me pretend I get to keep you.’
‘I’m already yours, Thomas. No need to pretend.’
"My home is in London with a man who knows I prefer gold jewellery. Who holds my hand even when my fingers are freezing. Who outfitted his whole kitchen with my favourite appliances in my favourite colour and requests that I make the place a mess. Who let me leave to handle the things haunting me because he would never stand in my way."
i really LOVED this book. like love. love. love. i had the most fun time reading this book, the AMOUNT of times i was blushing and giggling because of stella and thomas (this was genuinely like half the time). once again, the romance simone created was so sweet, and the f1 aspect was very well executed. like who knew i would be a fan of f1 romances?
stella and thomas match each other so well and their banter is top tier! don't even get me started on the chemistry and tension between these two because it was to die for. my heart needs more! i also loved the side characters in this book, especially amara and mika, and let's not forget the tiniest glimpse of willow and dev that we got to see in this book! i seriously can't wait for the next f1 romance the author publishes because i'm way too invested and obsessed.
if you like sports romance, strangers to lovers, slow burn, accidental marriage turned marriage of convenience, then this is FOR YOU. you will not be disappointed! 🤭🤭
a few more quotes!
‘She . . . matches you. Matches your humour, your drive, your kindness. She’s thoughtful in the same way you are. Supportive without expecting anything in return.’
‘Because I can’t imagine my life without you any more. No one else is you. And you’re everything I want. Everything I could have ever dreamed of.’
‘I’d follow you to the ends of the earth, if you’d let me.’
˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan, and Simone Soltani for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
pre-read:
i've read the first one and ABSOLUTELY LOVED it, hoping this one also delivers!
"But a still photo couldn’t capture what she’s like in motion. It’s the way her full lips pull into a smile, or how her nearly black irises catch the light in such a way that it makes me wonder if there are actual sparkles in them."
‘You look . . .’ He trails off again, pausing to take a breath that practically shudders through him. ‘There are no words for how stunning you are, Stella. It’s a bloody privilege to even lay eyes on you.’
‘Let me pretend I get to keep you.’
‘I’m already yours, Thomas. No need to pretend.’
"My home is in London with a man who knows I prefer gold jewellery. Who holds my hand even when my fingers are freezing. Who outfitted his whole kitchen with my favourite appliances in my favourite colour and requests that I make the place a mess. Who let me leave to handle the things haunting me because he would never stand in my way."
i really LOVED this book. like love. love. love. i had the most fun time reading this book, the AMOUNT of times i was blushing and giggling because of stella and thomas (this was genuinely like half the time). once again, the romance simone created was so sweet, and the f1 aspect was very well executed. like who knew i would be a fan of f1 romances?
stella and thomas match each other so well and their banter is top tier! don't even get me started on the chemistry and tension between these two because it was to die for. my heart needs more! i also loved the side characters in this book, especially amara and mika, and let's not forget the tiniest glimpse of willow and dev that we got to see in this book! i seriously can't wait for the next f1 romance the author publishes because i'm way too invested and obsessed.
if you like sports romance, strangers to lovers, slow burn, accidental marriage turned marriage of convenience, then this is FOR YOU. you will not be disappointed! 🤭🤭
a few more quotes!
‘She . . . matches you. Matches your humour, your drive, your kindness. She’s thoughtful in the same way you are. Supportive without expecting anything in return.’
‘Because I can’t imagine my life without you any more. No one else is you. And you’re everything I want. Everything I could have ever dreamed of.’
‘I’d follow you to the ends of the earth, if you’d let me.’
˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan, and Simone Soltani for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
pre-read:
i've read the first one and ABSOLUTELY LOVED it, hoping this one also delivers!
November 20, 2024
it has been about 10 hours since i finished this book and i still cant get over how obsessed i am with these two, this is my first book of simone’s and honestly im kicking myself now for not having made cross the line a priority (it for sure is now 🤭).
ill be honest i know next to nothing about f1 racing, but it doesnt stop f1 books from being so much fun. one of my favorite things i think is that thomas “my wife my wife my wife” maxwell-brown isnt the hotshot of f1 and knows it, i like that he knows hes good and that he worked hard to deserve to be there but isnt the IT boy if that makes sense??? it made him much more human and even more likeable than he already was to begin with!! is he a little bit of a fuck boy pre-stella? yes, however i loved that 1) we didnt have to hear much about it and 2) it doesnt matter bc he is just like the most genuinely nice person and the way he treats stella the entire time was absolute perfect 🤭
stella was an absolute doll, i loved her so much. i didnt always agree with the choices she was making but i understood them to a certain extent, she was sweet and kind, she loved thomas so much despite being absolutely broken by another man she never once tried to make it feel like that was thomas’ problem (at least in my opinion). she is absolutely bad fucking ass, a great ride or die friend and thomas was her equal in every way. im just absolutely obsessed with the both of them 😋
the only thing i would change about this book is that i wish that the slow burn wouldnt have been THAT slow, for as long as the book was i would have loved to have seen them together for real for a lot longer than we got. yes everything was cute and of course stella needed time to not rush things BUT we couldve wrapped up a lot of those ties prior to 70% and gave them a longer period of dating before the book ended.
long story short, i just loved them so much, i am an absolute sucker for marriage of convenience and this one just exceeding every expectation i could have had for it prior to starting it!!
ill be honest i know next to nothing about f1 racing, but it doesnt stop f1 books from being so much fun. one of my favorite things i think is that thomas “my wife my wife my wife” maxwell-brown isnt the hotshot of f1 and knows it, i like that he knows hes good and that he worked hard to deserve to be there but isnt the IT boy if that makes sense??? it made him much more human and even more likeable than he already was to begin with!! is he a little bit of a fuck boy pre-stella? yes, however i loved that 1) we didnt have to hear much about it and 2) it doesnt matter bc he is just like the most genuinely nice person and the way he treats stella the entire time was absolute perfect 🤭
stella was an absolute doll, i loved her so much. i didnt always agree with the choices she was making but i understood them to a certain extent, she was sweet and kind, she loved thomas so much despite being absolutely broken by another man she never once tried to make it feel like that was thomas’ problem (at least in my opinion). she is absolutely bad fucking ass, a great ride or die friend and thomas was her equal in every way. im just absolutely obsessed with the both of them 😋
the only thing i would change about this book is that i wish that the slow burn wouldnt have been THAT slow, for as long as the book was i would have loved to have seen them together for real for a lot longer than we got. yes everything was cute and of course stella needed time to not rush things BUT we couldve wrapped up a lot of those ties prior to 70% and gave them a longer period of dating before the book ended.
long story short, i just loved them so much, i am an absolute sucker for marriage of convenience and this one just exceeding every expectation i could have had for it prior to starting it!!
November 22, 2024
i tried my best to give this author a decent chance but i just don’t like her writing. the beginning of the book (like literally the first few chapters) were so slow it felt like it took me forever to get to the point. the two main characters chemistry was just extremely lacking to me and there was several moments where i physically cringed. it’s so unfortunate because marriage of convenience and accidental marriage is my favorite trope but this was just soo boring
July 12, 2025
3.75 ⭐
marriage is scary because what if he's not an F1 driver with a british accent who gets my initials tattooed on his ring finger
marriage is scary because what if he's not an F1 driver with a british accent who gets my initials tattooed on his ring finger
February 5, 2025
More than anything - I love the idea of an English gentleman sweeping an American gal off her feet! The whole thing gave Grace KElly vibes, and I loved it! A perfect brain candy read with a lovely couple that came out of an accidental Vegas wedding!
THOUGHTS:
- The first few chapters drag a bit... I like SOME backstory, but maybe not this much?
- The characters have great chemistry pretty much right off the bat, and I like that! I get tired of poorly done enemies-to-lovers romances, which seem to comprise a LOT of contemporary romances these days
- In general, the only time I like 'fake-dating' is when it's in a situation like this!! Normally, it feels entirely unrealistic but their situation feels much more probable!
**Thank you to Berkley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Check out the new Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel!!
THOUGHTS:
- The first few chapters drag a bit... I like SOME backstory, but maybe not this much?
- The characters have great chemistry pretty much right off the bat, and I like that! I get tired of poorly done enemies-to-lovers romances, which seem to comprise a LOT of contemporary romances these days
- In general, the only time I like 'fake-dating' is when it's in a situation like this!! Normally, it feels entirely unrealistic but their situation feels much more probable!
**Thank you to Berkley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Check out the new Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel!!
September 5, 2025
(⭐5)
NO DOUBT THIS ONE IS A 5 STAR. I'M ABOUT TO TWEAK OUT AHHH
⛐ 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴
・:〃➜ 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘥𝘸𝘪𝘯 🍰
i have such a fat crush on stella bro omg.
she was whip-smart, surprisingly funny, heart-wrenchingly realistic - honestly just a boss bitch.
i loved her from the moment we met her - she made absolutely every page such a delight and it was such a pleasure to be able to read about her and her story. i was so happy when she got her vindication in the end, like YESSS DESTROY YOUR PROBLEMATIC EX, QUEEN!!! 🥹💖
it's always so amazing to see women represented so well in romance novels - stella has her own business, she's an entrepreneur, she's everything, she is the moment, and yes, she is a diva. <3
・:〃➜ 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘹𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭-𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 🏎️
i did NOT expect to love this man so much. when we first encountered him in cross the line, simone soltani's debut, i didn't really take much notice of him, to be honest.
but BOY OH BOY, did this man surprise me in the best way possible.
he was the cutest patootie i've ever seen. he was adorable, he was gorgeous, he was ridiculously british (forgive me, but do brits also say 'crikey'? i've personally only heard it in australia and if brits do say 'crikey' i think that would be my favourite thing ever) and he was always so understanding and respectful of stella.
honestly just a little ray of sunshine.
he was such a yearner. it made my heart physically ACHE. i love them so so much oh my GOODNESS 😭💗
・:〃➜ 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘹 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘴 🤵👰
i cannot even EXPRESS with the english language how much i adored their dynamic.
i literally got physical butterflies because of them. i didn't even know that was possible from reading words on paper and hallucinating.
my eyes were opened to a new trope that i had no idea i'd love so much, which was marriage of inconvenience (aka, waking up married in vegas)😭
stella and thomas just fit together. they were just so so perfect for each other, and it's literally blasphemy to think they belong with anyone other than each other.
⛐ 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵
the plot was definitely a lot less f1-central compared to cross the line, which wasn't even a bad thing. i still ate up every page and adored every second. f1 was obviously still a part of this story, it was just a little less heavy on the racing and more of the politics (is that the right word?) of the industry and the racers. i don't even know that much about formula one, but simone soltani is convincing me to learn more with these consistent bangers. 😋
⛐ 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨
simone soltani's writing is hilarious without being tacky. i honestly would trust her on anything that she writes. she could come up with the most heinous idea for a book and i'd still read it.
god, i'd read her GROCERY LIST.
before i get too parasocial, let me steer myself back towards the topic (see what i did there? steer? no...?)
i was a tiny bit daunted by the 400+ pages of this book, but it genuinely flew by. i loved every minute i spent reading this book, i daydreamed about reading this book when i was at school, i literally had an actual dream about reading more of it.
i'm genuinely so shocked her books are so underrated. if i can convince at least one person to pick up this series, i think my purpose in life will be completed.
⛐ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴
i'm indescribably excited to see where ms soltani takes this series next. i've seen on her instagram (yes, i'm that devoted) that she's got 2-3 more books cooking up, and trust me when i say i'm gonna go FERAL for those when they come out.
everyone around me is gonna need to update their rabies innoculations, cuz i'm gonna be RABID for more!!
(anyway, on a more serious note, i loved this so much. this book reminded me why i read in the first place.)
☆彡pre-release!
omg i canNOT wait until this one releases! simone soltani, give this to me and my credit card is yours 🙂↕️🤲
NO DOUBT THIS ONE IS A 5 STAR. I'M ABOUT TO TWEAK OUT AHHH
⛐ 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴
・:〃➜ 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘥𝘸𝘪𝘯 🍰
i have such a fat crush on stella bro omg.
she was whip-smart, surprisingly funny, heart-wrenchingly realistic - honestly just a boss bitch.
i loved her from the moment we met her - she made absolutely every page such a delight and it was such a pleasure to be able to read about her and her story. i was so happy when she got her vindication in the end, like YESSS DESTROY YOUR PROBLEMATIC EX, QUEEN!!! 🥹💖
it's always so amazing to see women represented so well in romance novels - stella has her own business, she's an entrepreneur, she's everything, she is the moment, and yes, she is a diva. <3
・:〃➜ 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘹𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭-𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 🏎️
i did NOT expect to love this man so much. when we first encountered him in cross the line, simone soltani's debut, i didn't really take much notice of him, to be honest.
but BOY OH BOY, did this man surprise me in the best way possible.
he was the cutest patootie i've ever seen. he was adorable, he was gorgeous, he was ridiculously british (forgive me, but do brits also say 'crikey'? i've personally only heard it in australia and if brits do say 'crikey' i think that would be my favourite thing ever) and he was always so understanding and respectful of stella.
honestly just a little ray of sunshine.
he was such a yearner. it made my heart physically ACHE. i love them so so much oh my GOODNESS 😭💗
・:〃➜ 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘹 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘴 🤵👰
i cannot even EXPRESS with the english language how much i adored their dynamic.
i literally got physical butterflies because of them. i didn't even know that was possible from reading words on paper and hallucinating.
my eyes were opened to a new trope that i had no idea i'd love so much, which was marriage of inconvenience (aka, waking up married in vegas)😭
stella and thomas just fit together. they were just so so perfect for each other, and it's literally blasphemy to think they belong with anyone other than each other.
⛐ 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵
the plot was definitely a lot less f1-central compared to cross the line, which wasn't even a bad thing. i still ate up every page and adored every second. f1 was obviously still a part of this story, it was just a little less heavy on the racing and more of the politics (is that the right word?) of the industry and the racers. i don't even know that much about formula one, but simone soltani is convincing me to learn more with these consistent bangers. 😋
⛐ 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨
simone soltani's writing is hilarious without being tacky. i honestly would trust her on anything that she writes. she could come up with the most heinous idea for a book and i'd still read it.
god, i'd read her GROCERY LIST.
before i get too parasocial, let me steer myself back towards the topic (see what i did there? steer? no...?)
i was a tiny bit daunted by the 400+ pages of this book, but it genuinely flew by. i loved every minute i spent reading this book, i daydreamed about reading this book when i was at school, i literally had an actual dream about reading more of it.
i'm genuinely so shocked her books are so underrated. if i can convince at least one person to pick up this series, i think my purpose in life will be completed.
⛐ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴
i'm indescribably excited to see where ms soltani takes this series next. i've seen on her instagram (yes, i'm that devoted) that she's got 2-3 more books cooking up, and trust me when i say i'm gonna go FERAL for those when they come out.
everyone around me is gonna need to update their rabies innoculations, cuz i'm gonna be RABID for more!!
(anyway, on a more serious note, i loved this so much. this book reminded me why i read in the first place.)
☆彡pre-release!
omg i canNOT wait until this one releases! simone soltani, give this to me and my credit card is yours 🙂↕️🤲
May 20, 2025
it’s this cutie’s pub day!!!! miss soltani and def a new auto buy author for me 🧚🏼🧚🏼🧚🏼
i was eating this UP until the last third. my goodness this girl dragged out the conflict and her inner turmoil to the ends of the earth!! like yes girl be realistic irl but this is a romance and you’re fucking everything up 😭
thomas thomas thomas my sweet angel baby made every second of the book worth it! they are so, so HOT. like, palatable ass chemistry that made me remember those first-crush feelings and the high of being around someone just as affected by you as you are by them 🙂↕️ all this taught me is that i needed to read her books sooner xx
thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc!!
i was eating this UP until the last third. my goodness this girl dragged out the conflict and her inner turmoil to the ends of the earth!! like yes girl be realistic irl but this is a romance and you’re fucking everything up 😭
thomas thomas thomas my sweet angel baby made every second of the book worth it! they are so, so HOT. like, palatable ass chemistry that made me remember those first-crush feelings and the high of being around someone just as affected by you as you are by them 🙂↕️ all this taught me is that i needed to read her books sooner xx
thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc!!
May 26, 2025
As far as fake dating books go this was a good one. I liked the couples dynamic, their banter a d joking was so fucking good, I laughed a lot while reading. Surprisingly it didn't have a third act break up, which is perfect since I hate it(I don't classify it as a spoiler because I know many people like to avoid books where it happens, so there you go).
It's a solid romance.
It's a solid romance.
August 10, 2025
4,5✨
Gostei muito!!! Muito melhor que o primeiro, eles são uma comédia
Gostei muito!!! Muito melhor que o primeiro, eles são uma comédia
Want to read
September 20, 2024i normally don’t like reading f1 romances since they aren’t accurate but simone honestly does it for me!! so so excited for Thomas book to come out!!
May 13, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
3.75 stars
Another entertaining F1 romance that has me even more psyched for the new season.
I think I've enjoyed every F1 romance I've read so far, so I think I'm predisposed to liking them no matter what. I love the sport and just love getting to spend more time in the F1 world.
The relationship between Thomas and Stella was 🤌 They both had really great personalities and really worked well together. And Thomas on his own really carried this book. He was just a great, nice guy and had a more spicy personality in private, which I loved.
But I did have some issues. First, there wasn't nearly enough F1 for me; I'm a huge fan so that's definitely a personal thing for me, but I wished there was F1 content in this one. Second, Stella aggravated me here and there. She had the usual characteristics that I have trouble with, especially when it comes to the marriage of convenience trope. I mostly enjoy this trope, but I never like the, "Oh, we have these rules so we can't develop feelings for each other." Why? Couples in this trope never think to communicate HONESTLY about feelings, even when they know the other feels the same.
Lastly, I did not like the ending. I figured something would come up like it did, but I think the reaction was ridiculous and completely unfair to the other character.
But I will recommend for anyone who likes F1 romances.
3.75 stars
Another entertaining F1 romance that has me even more psyched for the new season.
I think I've enjoyed every F1 romance I've read so far, so I think I'm predisposed to liking them no matter what. I love the sport and just love getting to spend more time in the F1 world.
The relationship between Thomas and Stella was 🤌 They both had really great personalities and really worked well together. And Thomas on his own really carried this book. He was just a great, nice guy and had a more spicy personality in private, which I loved.
But I did have some issues. First, there wasn't nearly enough F1 for me; I'm a huge fan so that's definitely a personal thing for me, but I wished there was F1 content in this one. Second, Stella aggravated me here and there. She had the usual characteristics that I have trouble with, especially when it comes to the marriage of convenience trope. I mostly enjoy this trope, but I never like the, "Oh, we have these rules so we can't develop feelings for each other." Why? Couples in this trope never think to communicate HONESTLY about feelings, even when they know the other feels the same.
Lastly, I did not like the ending. I figured something would come up like it did, but I think the reaction was ridiculous and completely unfair to the other character.
But I will recommend for anyone who likes F1 romances.
August 2, 2025
before I say anything I just want to say that simone soltani put in the work to write—as an american author—a well executed british character. I know research is the bare minimum, but in today’s day and age, it���s a rarity.
I loved reading this. I was hooked from the start, and I really enjoyed how the story was fleshed out in the dual pov of stella and thomas.
the romance had me kicking and giggling because it was just so good. the banter and chemistry was to die for, and the slow burn!
and now while I’m a third-act-break up hater, it made sense in this story. for stella and thomas to progress, stella had to get the closure she needed. my only wish is that they were a bit more up front about their feelings, because at times it felt like I wanted to submerge myself in the story and shake them.
solid plot with good pacing, and a great romance. I’m definitely going back to read the first book in the series as I didn’t realise I started with the second!
I loved reading this. I was hooked from the start, and I really enjoyed how the story was fleshed out in the dual pov of stella and thomas.
the romance had me kicking and giggling because it was just so good. the banter and chemistry was to die for, and the slow burn!
and now while I’m a third-act-break up hater, it made sense in this story. for stella and thomas to progress, stella had to get the closure she needed. my only wish is that they were a bit more up front about their feelings, because at times it felt like I wanted to submerge myself in the story and shake them.
solid plot with good pacing, and a great romance. I’m definitely going back to read the first book in the series as I didn’t realise I started with the second!
July 6, 2025
⋆˚࿔ Review 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
3⭐️
I love an obsessed man, and Thomas absolutely delivered.
The “my wife” trope? Gets me every time 🙂↔️.
The moment he found out they were married, he immediately started calling her his wife like it was second nature 🤭 and I was eating it up.
I’m giving it 3 stars because, as much as I enjoyed them, I really wish we got more of Thomas and Stella. There were so many side characters taking up space, and everything felt a little surface-level. I wanted to feel more.
Stella kind of annoyed me at times (girl, be serious), but it wasn’t unbearable.
And that slow burn almost drove me insane—like hello? It’s very obvious you like each other, just give in already 😩.
Still, the obsession? The tension? Delicious.
⋆. 𐙚 ˚ pre read ⋆. 𐙚 ˚
My first experience with this author wasn’t exactly great, so I’m really hoping this one redeems it.
3⭐️
I love an obsessed man, and Thomas absolutely delivered.
The “my wife” trope? Gets me every time 🙂↔️.
The moment he found out they were married, he immediately started calling her his wife like it was second nature 🤭 and I was eating it up.
I’m giving it 3 stars because, as much as I enjoyed them, I really wish we got more of Thomas and Stella. There were so many side characters taking up space, and everything felt a little surface-level. I wanted to feel more.
Stella kind of annoyed me at times (girl, be serious), but it wasn’t unbearable.
And that slow burn almost drove me insane—like hello? It’s very obvious you like each other, just give in already 😩.
Still, the obsession? The tension? Delicious.
⋆. 𐙚 ˚ pre read ⋆. 𐙚 ˚
My first experience with this author wasn’t exactly great, so I’m really hoping this one redeems it.
February 21, 2025
thank you netgalley and berkley for the e-arc in exchange for a honest review!
as brutal as this sounds, what initially started as a fun and entertaining read very quickly became something i strongly disliked and almost dnf'ed. which is very unfortunate because i loved the first book in this series and i really do like the author's writing style. i feel like this book had so much potential with tropes like marriage of convenience to slow burn to obsessed MMC x independent FMC, but it was so lackluster and it fell very short for me.
i think my biggest issue is i started to dislike both main characters once i reached 30%. i feel like their chemistry as a couple flew out the window at some point early on too. once that happened i did not enjoy the romance at all and and i was no longer able to root for them. and if i’m not rooting for the couple to be together (which is the whole point of a romcom book) then it becomes extremely boring and hard to read. at that point, what am i even reading it for? i really wanted to like this, but it just wasn’t the book for me.
as brutal as this sounds, what initially started as a fun and entertaining read very quickly became something i strongly disliked and almost dnf'ed. which is very unfortunate because i loved the first book in this series and i really do like the author's writing style. i feel like this book had so much potential with tropes like marriage of convenience to slow burn to obsessed MMC x independent FMC, but it was so lackluster and it fell very short for me.
i think my biggest issue is i started to dislike both main characters once i reached 30%. i feel like their chemistry as a couple flew out the window at some point early on too. once that happened i did not enjoy the romance at all and and i was no longer able to root for them. and if i’m not rooting for the couple to be together (which is the whole point of a romcom book) then it becomes extremely boring and hard to read. at that point, what am i even reading it for? i really wanted to like this, but it just wasn’t the book for me.
January 24, 2025
4/5 Stars!!!!
"Ride with me" By Simone Soltani is the perfect late night read for kicking your feet and twirling your hair (if I say so myself). This story takes the classic "Vegas Mistake" trope, and then turns it into a delightful tale of love and self-discovery.
As someone who absolutely is obsessed with F1, and therefore F1 romances, this was such a fun read! I loved that both Stella and Thomas had their own unique personalities, it made them stand out as characters, and push me to continue reading.
The chemistry between these both is instant, and deliciously sizzling. And while their initial encounters after being married are quite awkward, their attraction (love) grows slowly, and believably over time. Both their lovable personalities, faults and all, creates the perfect dynamic that pushes you to continue turning pages.
Now onto the characters:
Thomas:
Thomas was absolutely perfect. I have zero notes for him. He is such an enjoyable character to read about, and his relationships with those around him make me gush (way too many times). His insecurities made him humane, and completely relatable. He is a complete panda bear, so sweet and kind. Seeing him work through said insecurities, and the struggles that he had was endearing, especially the support that he was given along the way. I am glad that he finally had a place to feel like home, through the people he has met, and grown to love!
Stella:
Stella's personality was so exciting to read about! From her donning this new personality to let go and flirt with Thomas, to being a kicks business woman building up her "empire," she really had a lot to go around (in the best way possible) Even though she was heartbroken, and therefore fairly embarrassed with the situation, she finally grew into herself, with and without the support from Thomas (see how they support each other, very demure, very mindful). Additionally, I love how caring and kind she was to those around her, and how she makes everyone feel like they are worthy. Now, did I always agree with what she did, no. But I believe this is what makes her so uniquely human, and therefore relatable.
For the story as a whole, I had a grand time! The writing was extremely fluid, and I felt like I was flying through the story. There is just something about a perfect Fake Marriage that always keeps me on my toes. I never wanted the book to end, and I will always stand by this statement.
However, I felt that this slow burn was just a little too slow for me. These characters were clearly in love with each other throughout the book, however, the fact that they only got together towards the end of the book made me feel like I was missing out on so much of their togetherness! Additionally, some of the miscommunication was an infuriating.
At the end of the day, I had so much fun reading this book, and I can't wait for more Simone Soltani books!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkely publishing for a chance to read this ARC!
And thank you to Simone Soltani for writing this masterpiece!
"Ride with me" By Simone Soltani is the perfect late night read for kicking your feet and twirling your hair (if I say so myself). This story takes the classic "Vegas Mistake" trope, and then turns it into a delightful tale of love and self-discovery.
As someone who absolutely is obsessed with F1, and therefore F1 romances, this was such a fun read! I loved that both Stella and Thomas had their own unique personalities, it made them stand out as characters, and push me to continue reading.
The chemistry between these both is instant, and deliciously sizzling. And while their initial encounters after being married are quite awkward, their attraction (love) grows slowly, and believably over time. Both their lovable personalities, faults and all, creates the perfect dynamic that pushes you to continue turning pages.
Now onto the characters:
Thomas:
Thomas was absolutely perfect. I have zero notes for him. He is such an enjoyable character to read about, and his relationships with those around him make me gush (way too many times). His insecurities made him humane, and completely relatable. He is a complete panda bear, so sweet and kind. Seeing him work through said insecurities, and the struggles that he had was endearing, especially the support that he was given along the way. I am glad that he finally had a place to feel like home, through the people he has met, and grown to love!
Stella:
Stella's personality was so exciting to read about! From her donning this new personality to let go and flirt with Thomas, to being a kicks business woman building up her "empire," she really had a lot to go around (in the best way possible) Even though she was heartbroken, and therefore fairly embarrassed with the situation, she finally grew into herself, with and without the support from Thomas (see how they support each other, very demure, very mindful). Additionally, I love how caring and kind she was to those around her, and how she makes everyone feel like they are worthy. Now, did I always agree with what she did, no. But I believe this is what makes her so uniquely human, and therefore relatable.
For the story as a whole, I had a grand time! The writing was extremely fluid, and I felt like I was flying through the story. There is just something about a perfect Fake Marriage that always keeps me on my toes. I never wanted the book to end, and I will always stand by this statement.
However, I felt that this slow burn was just a little too slow for me. These characters were clearly in love with each other throughout the book, however, the fact that they only got together towards the end of the book made me feel like I was missing out on so much of their togetherness! Additionally, some of the miscommunication was an infuriating.
At the end of the day, I had so much fun reading this book, and I can't wait for more Simone Soltani books!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkely publishing for a chance to read this ARC!
And thank you to Simone Soltani for writing this masterpiece!
May 21, 2025
˚ ༘♡ pre-read:
╰┈➤ received this arc and I LOVED CROSS THE LINE 😭
⋆˚࿔ ride with me review 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
┆ ⤿ 💌 5 stars!
Simone Soltani does it again!! She singlehandely got me in F1 racing with Cross the Line and now I'm already on Season 2 of Netflix's Drive to Survive.
This was such a fun fun read! I loved that we really got to see them banter and fall in love, although there's insta lust there's not insta LOVE and I absolutely enjoyed that. Marriage of Convience is one of my favorite tropes and I love how Soltani utilized it! I was hooked as I wanted to see just how much their marriage would help not only Thomas' blundering carreer but also aid Stella after her ex-fiance left her at the alter.
I LOVED Stella, not only was she an independent succesfull and gorgeous woman, she was also BLACK. And I loved her even more the more I saw her through Thomas' POV. This man was down horrendous (just how i like them).
I really liked Thomas too! His banter with Stella was hilarious and I was instantly intrigued by the fact he was just a midfielder driver. Usually, authors make their main characters the hotshot or champion in sports romance but I loved that we got to see him really struggling with his career after an incident he caused at the beginning of the book.
Overall, another amazing installment from Simone Soltani and I absolutely can't wait for Crash Into You next year!
Perfect if you love:
🏳️marriage of convenience
🏳️only one bed
🏳️interracial relationship
🏳️obsessed mmc
🏳️f1 racing
🏳️an equally successful power duo couple
｡ﾟ• ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈ ┈ ┈ ┈• ｡ﾟ
Thank you to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for the arc! <3
｡ﾟ• ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈ ┈ ┈ ┈• ｡ﾟ
⤿ follow me on instagra
╰┈➤ received this arc and I LOVED CROSS THE LINE 😭
⋆˚࿔ ride with me review 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
┆ ⤿ 💌 5 stars!
Simone Soltani does it again!! She singlehandely got me in F1 racing with Cross the Line and now I'm already on Season 2 of Netflix's Drive to Survive.
This was such a fun fun read! I loved that we really got to see them banter and fall in love, although there's insta lust there's not insta LOVE and I absolutely enjoyed that. Marriage of Convience is one of my favorite tropes and I love how Soltani utilized it! I was hooked as I wanted to see just how much their marriage would help not only Thomas' blundering carreer but also aid Stella after her ex-fiance left her at the alter.
I LOVED Stella, not only was she an independent succesfull and gorgeous woman, she was also BLACK. And I loved her even more the more I saw her through Thomas' POV. This man was down horrendous (just how i like them).
I really liked Thomas too! His banter with Stella was hilarious and I was instantly intrigued by the fact he was just a midfielder driver. Usually, authors make their main characters the hotshot or champion in sports romance but I loved that we got to see him really struggling with his career after an incident he caused at the beginning of the book.
Overall, another amazing installment from Simone Soltani and I absolutely can't wait for Crash Into You next year!
Perfect if you love:
🏳️marriage of convenience
🏳️only one bed
🏳️interracial relationship
🏳️obsessed mmc
🏳️f1 racing
🏳️an equally successful power duo couple
｡ﾟ• ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈ ┈ ┈ ┈• ｡ﾟ
Thank you to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for the arc! <3
｡ﾟ• ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈ ┈ ┈ ┈• ｡ﾟ
⤿ follow me on instagra
April 28, 2025
After settling into the story a bit, I realize this book has everything to do with opposites attract. He’s white, she’s black. He’s a racecar driver. She’s a baker and owns a growing company. She was dumped at the altar. The last thing he thinks of is getting married.
The beginning of this book is fabulous and fun. The connection is hot, and the author keeps it relatively clean, although the attraction is definitely palatable.
Then, as we settle into the story, it becomes more complex. There are parts of the story where I really didn’t like her much. She refused to see the truth in front of her and refused to hear or understand his feelings. She didn’t even want to admit she liked him for the most part. He was definitely head over heels for her.
Of course, in the end, we get the coming together, and all things become wonderful. In terms of heat and spice, I would call it mid-range as there is only one truly open-door scene. The rest of it is just admiration and lust.
The author has a wonderful gift for crafting a story that is entertaining, including a blend of humor, strife, happiness, and frustration. Her characterizations of the main couple push-and-pull throughout most of the book. The supporting characters are diverse and add a lot to the enhancement of the story, allowing Soltani to build in the next book to come.
Ride With Me is a great choice if you love the slow burn. This is an uber long burn, and while I appreciate more of the physical aspects of a story romance than the buildup and lust phase for most of the book, it was engaging in an overall sexy and sweet story.
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/ride-with-me...
The beginning of this book is fabulous and fun. The connection is hot, and the author keeps it relatively clean, although the attraction is definitely palatable.
Then, as we settle into the story, it becomes more complex. There are parts of the story where I really didn’t like her much. She refused to see the truth in front of her and refused to hear or understand his feelings. She didn’t even want to admit she liked him for the most part. He was definitely head over heels for her.
Of course, in the end, we get the coming together, and all things become wonderful. In terms of heat and spice, I would call it mid-range as there is only one truly open-door scene. The rest of it is just admiration and lust.
The author has a wonderful gift for crafting a story that is entertaining, including a blend of humor, strife, happiness, and frustration. Her characterizations of the main couple push-and-pull throughout most of the book. The supporting characters are diverse and add a lot to the enhancement of the story, allowing Soltani to build in the next book to come.
Ride With Me is a great choice if you love the slow burn. This is an uber long burn, and while I appreciate more of the physical aspects of a story romance than the buildup and lust phase for most of the book, it was engaging in an overall sexy and sweet story.
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/ride-with-me...
June 23, 2025
Accidental marriage/marriage of convenience is one of my favorite set ups!!! And Simone’s second novel did it so well.
Stella is such a strong fmc and I loved her so much. Business owner, confident, and knows what she wants. Thomas is her perfect partner. Also I’m always down for an English leading man.
The faking it that slowly devolves into oh no these are real feelings always gets me incredibly giddy. I adored watching the two of them fall in love even it was just for a year 🤭
I do feel like we were missing some plot and it did get slow around the midway point but I still had a generally good time with this one. I liked it more than cross the line!
🎧 thank you PRHAudio for the alc! Benji Blythe and Tasmin Delali were the perfect casting. I adored benji’s accent for Thomas and Tasmin was the perfect Stella. They truly brought these characters to life!
Thank you Berkley romance for the gifted copy as well!
Stella is such a strong fmc and I loved her so much. Business owner, confident, and knows what she wants. Thomas is her perfect partner. Also I’m always down for an English leading man.
The faking it that slowly devolves into oh no these are real feelings always gets me incredibly giddy. I adored watching the two of them fall in love even it was just for a year 🤭
I do feel like we were missing some plot and it did get slow around the midway point but I still had a generally good time with this one. I liked it more than cross the line!
🎧 thank you PRHAudio for the alc! Benji Blythe and Tasmin Delali were the perfect casting. I adored benji’s accent for Thomas and Tasmin was the perfect Stella. They truly brought these characters to life!
Thank you Berkley romance for the gifted copy as well!
September 11, 2025
Simone Soltani's Ride with Me, the second book in her Lights Out Series, delivers another heartwarming love story set within the high-stakes world of Formula 1, a must-read series for sports romance fans. Much like her debut, Cross the Line, this book has an addictive, flowing quality that makes it impossible to put down.
The story hits all the right notes for romance lovers, from the dual POV to the hilarious banter and unexpected accidental marriage trope. The banter between the main characters is a definite highlight—it's clever, witty, and actually funny to read.
This book can be read as a standalone, and you don't need to know about Formula 1 to enjoy it. But, if you've read Cross the Line, you'll be so happy to see Willow and Dev from the first book reappear. The author's clever use of the timeline, showing events that took place before Willow and Dev's engagement, was a sweet touch for fans of the series.
What truly makes this book shine is the representation and character development. Stella, a confident and unapologetic boss-babe who is the CEO of her own macaron company, and honestly it’s a joy to see such strong BIPOC representation in the genre. You’ll find yourself completely invested in the love story between Stella and Thomas, particularly because of the way Simone Soltani writes her male leads. He is so utterly smitten and obsessed with Stella from the get-go, creating a dynamic that is both sweet and complete with lots of yearning.
With a grand total of five books planned to represent the five lights of a Formula 1 starting line, this series is off to a thrilling start. I can't wait to read more from the series and find out what comes next!
Ride with Me is the perfect recommendation for anyone who loves high-speed sports romance with a focus on powerful women, smitten male leads, and hilarious banter.
Perfect for fans of:
🏎 Formula 1 Sports Romcoms
🏁 Cross the Line
❤️ BIPOC Representation
✨️ Dual POV
💍 Accidental marriage ~ “My wife”
😍 Heartwarming love story
The story hits all the right notes for romance lovers, from the dual POV to the hilarious banter and unexpected accidental marriage trope. The banter between the main characters is a definite highlight—it's clever, witty, and actually funny to read.
This book can be read as a standalone, and you don't need to know about Formula 1 to enjoy it. But, if you've read Cross the Line, you'll be so happy to see Willow and Dev from the first book reappear. The author's clever use of the timeline, showing events that took place before Willow and Dev's engagement, was a sweet touch for fans of the series.
What truly makes this book shine is the representation and character development. Stella, a confident and unapologetic boss-babe who is the CEO of her own macaron company, and honestly it’s a joy to see such strong BIPOC representation in the genre. You’ll find yourself completely invested in the love story between Stella and Thomas, particularly because of the way Simone Soltani writes her male leads. He is so utterly smitten and obsessed with Stella from the get-go, creating a dynamic that is both sweet and complete with lots of yearning.
With a grand total of five books planned to represent the five lights of a Formula 1 starting line, this series is off to a thrilling start. I can't wait to read more from the series and find out what comes next!
Ride with Me is the perfect recommendation for anyone who loves high-speed sports romance with a focus on powerful women, smitten male leads, and hilarious banter.
Perfect for fans of:
🏎 Formula 1 Sports Romcoms
🏁 Cross the Line
❤️ BIPOC Representation
✨️ Dual POV
💍 Accidental marriage ~ “My wife”
😍 Heartwarming love story
August 24, 2025
SIMONE IS ON THE DAME LEVEL AS QUEEN MZ WITH SLOW BURNS😭
Tropes:
- F1 Romance
- Accidentally marriage in vagas turns marriage of convenience
- Bold FMC
- Healing from past relationship
- Found Family
- Golden Retriever/black cat
- No 3rd act breakup
Tropes:
- F1 Romance
- Accidentally marriage in vagas turns marriage of convenience
- Bold FMC
- Healing from past relationship
- Found Family
- Golden Retriever/black cat
- No 3rd act breakup
December 26, 2024
Found it boring, and the plot, nor romance, couldn't keep me engaged. Ultimately, this author wasn't for me.
May 3, 2025
This is a beautiful love story between Thomas, a famous but kind F1 driver, and Stella, a sweet woman with a painful past. Their lives change when they enter a "fake marriage" that slowly becomes real. Their chemistry is amazing! The story has fake marriage, forced proximity, and slow-burn romance—perfect for romance lovers.
The book is in the same world as the first one, but you don’t need to read the first book to enjoy this one. The love story is slow and soft, not too fast. It made me smile a lot.
Thomas and Stella are a good couple. They help each other and grow together. The book is not boring — it has funny moments, sweet moments, and romantic moments. I smiled a lot while reading it.
If you like romance books that are sweet and not too serious, I think you will enjoy this one.
The book is in the same world as the first one, but you don’t need to read the first book to enjoy this one. The love story is slow and soft, not too fast. It made me smile a lot.
Thomas and Stella are a good couple. They help each other and grow together. The book is not boring — it has funny moments, sweet moments, and romantic moments. I smiled a lot while reading it.
If you like romance books that are sweet and not too serious, I think you will enjoy this one.
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