As a huge Formula 1 fan, I was excited to dive into Coming In Hot, especially after enjoying the first book. The premise had all the makings of a high stakes, spicy sports romance—an F1 journalist and a mysterious team principal? Yes, please! But unfortunately, this one didn’t hit quite as well for me as the first book did.

First, the power dynamic between Natalia and Klaus was a tough pill to swallow. It’s already hard enough being a woman in motorsport, and the journalist/team principal relationship added another layer of imbalance that didn’t always sit right. Their back and forth dynamic felt exhausting at times, almost like Natalia didn’t even like Klaus, which made it hard to root for them as a couple.

That being said, I loved the age gap aspect, and the cover is absolutely gorgeous. The racing world was well done, and I appreciated the Drive to Survive style drama woven into the story. But the romance itself felt a bit uneven, and I struggled to fully connect with Natalia and Klaus’s relationship.

If you love F1 romances with a touch of scandal and intrigue, this might still be worth picking up. But for me, it just didn’t capture the same magic as the first book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Josie Juniper, and Forever for the eARC of this book.