From the Publisher
A spicy must-read for F1 fans and STEM nerds!”—Abby Jimenez, New York Times bestselling author
"With an angsty, spicy, push-pull romance and a man who knows how to yearn, Josie Juniper’s debut with Double Apex is an A1 F1 romance you won’t want to miss!"—The Honey Pop
Library Journal
07/01/2024
Phaedra Morgan works as an engineer for an F1 team and with the team's newest driver, Cosmin Ardelean. Phaedra and Cosmin mix about as well as oil and water, and Phaedra is not falling for Cosmin's flirtatious ways. All of that changes when Cosmin and Phaedra are forced to spend a couple of weeks together to resolve their differences for the sake of the team. Phaedra catches a glimpse of the real Cosmin, and he is not what she expected. Their relationship develops into something special after their retreat together, but the team's strict non-fraternization policy threatens everything. As their new chemistry translates into good things on the track, a team member discovers their secret relationship. Everything in Phaedra's life begins to unravel as she receives some life-shattering news from home, and she is forced to choose between Cosmin and the team. VERDICT Juniper's (Chaos Is My Brand) literary escapade catapults readers into a world where speed and passion collide and gives fans of Simone Soltani's Cross the Line another installment in the racing sports romance subgenre to devour.—Ashli Wells
Kirkus Reviews
2024-08-03
A Formula 1 driver falls in love with his race engineer.
Phaedra Morgan knows most people assume she only has the job as race engineer for Emerald F1 because she’s a nepo baby—her father is the team’s owner. Yes, she was raised at the track, but she also earned a master’s degree at 22 and has been working in racing for a decade. Phaedra has always been hot-tempered, but Cosmin Ardelean, Emerald’s newest driver, brings out the worst in her. As his race engineer, it’s her job to guide him through every straightaway and turn, but their clashes have started to attract notice. She’s infuriated by his sexist, inappropriate comments, which he insists are friendly banter. In late March, only a few weeks into the F1 season, Emerald’s manager orders them to spend a weekend bonding as teammates in between races. On Santorini, the two discover that their enmity is in fact intense chemistry, and they each let down their guard. Phaedra tells Cosmin a closely held and personally devastating secret—her father has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Cosmin shares the story of how his abusive guardian ruined his sister’s life. The two return to the circuit and eventually become lovers, but their relationship must be kept secret due to rigid nonfraternization rules. The novel is plagued by weak, even mercurial, characterization for both main characters, with little coherence in their behavior from scene to scene. The primary driver of the narrative is the globe-hopping F1 season, culminating with the final grand prix in Abu Dhabi in December. The combination of weak characterization and a plot fueled only by the characters’ secrets makes for an aimless reading experience.
This F1 racing romance spins its wheels rather than reaching the finish line.
