ryan_isreading's Reviews (195)

I really liked a lot about this book. Cultural representation, mental health and caretaker perspectives, and an entertaining writing style that kept me turning the ebook pages to name a few!

I think the premise of the book was already strong with the behind the scenes of a reality TV show cast and crew setting. When we get to the other blurb-and-cover mentioned plot point of a death on set, I started to feel like the story was trying to do too much. I was invested in these characters already and I’m not sure complicating the plot worked for me.

This book is definitely not boring!

I absolutely adored the side characters and our main character, Charlie. The book is very atmospheric at the boarding school and you will definitely love all the meaningful insight we get from Charlie being a closeted trans boy in an all boys school. 

I didn’t fall for the love between Charlie and Jasper. Jasper is very privileged and pompous and while things happen in the book to help us turn our opinion of him around, I didn’t personally fully get there. I do also wish the resolutions in the end of the book were not so rapidly resolved. It felt somewhat rushed and I think contributed to my feelings on Jasper.

That said, I still cried, and Charlie is a cutie pie. And the narrator did a fabulous job in the audiobook! 

This poetry collection contains themes of coming of age, outgrowing your environment, identity and belonging, and mental health.

I absolutely relate to the angst, loneliness, anger, frustration, and the rainbow of emotions of youth throughout. But Rha writes so beautifully about visiting Nepal and about being a young woman of color in a primarily white society in the UK.

Rha’s voice is singular and her poetry is lovely and visceral.

ABOUT

Lilah, a documentary filmmaker, is pursued by an F1 brand to make a documentary for and about them, but she is less than enthusiastic and feels like this is selling out.

Reserve driver Arthur is locked into an awful contract and working in the shadow of his Uncle, a former F1 star. 

The unhappy duo end up paired together specifically to film training footage. Unbeknownst to anyone else, they instead devise a plan of mutually beneficial revenge.

This story has travel, tension, relatable and unrelatable characters, and a few tear jerking moments.

REVIEW

Slipstream is such a fun experience. I don’t consider myself someone particularly drawn to sports romances, but the way F1 is lightly explained and mostly atmospheric in this book was perfect. 

I really loved the portrayal of living with ADHD that we get with our FMC Lilah. She was incredibly relatable to me in multiple ways, but the descriptions of how ADHD impacts her, her interactions, and her relationships was so nice to read. I felt seen. 

Last but not least I really adored the slow burn!! I think this book is very re-readable and it has me interested in F1!

This was a highly anticipated release for me in 2024 - and I think it's my favorite debut novel l've ever read. I got really into this story, fell in love with the women in the story (and one of the men, fine). Had audible gasp moments and tell me more moments. It has Greek gods, pirates, kingdoms on the brink of war, and romantic entanglements. What more could you want?

I will be stalking EK Condos' instagram for updates on book two for sure! I love when a cliffhanger hits like this!