Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Podium Perfect

Rate this book
Fast Cars, Fake Dates, And Way Too Many Feelings.

Avery Silver, the daughter of an F1 mogul father and a high-society mother, is determined to prove she got her new job as the director of the Silver Racing Foundation for more than her last name. Her plan? Turn the foundation’s boring gala into the event of the season and finally fund the youth sports programs she cares about. Too bad her family is more interested in appearances than making a difference.

Teddy Ross, Silver Racing’s ridiculously handsome new driver with a cover-worthy smile and personality of a brick wall, is focused on winning races and has zero time for romance. But when a nosy reporter starts sniffing around his family’s criminal past, Avery and Teddy agree to fake date to keep the press and her image-conscious family off their backs.

From gelato in Milan to stolen moments in Amsterdam, their Insta-worthy dates start to feel suspiciously real. But when secrets surface, Avery has to decide if love is worth risking it all for a shot at her own podium perfect ending.

Podium Perfect is a Formula 1 romantic comedy which reimagines a classic romance trope at 200 miles per hour. Perfect for romance readers who love speed, sparks, and HEAs.

Tropes/ DatingFormula 1 Sports RomanceMedium SpiceRich Girl/Working-Class GuyCelebrity/ Public Image PressureSmart/Driven Female Main CharacterJet-setting RomanceHidden Past/ Family Secrets

346 pages, Paperback

Published November 11, 2025

11 people are currently reading
1944 people want to read

About the author

Lexi Richards

1 book10 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
36 (52%)
4 stars
18 (26%)
3 stars
10 (14%)
2 stars
3 (4%)
1 star
2 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Jenny.
55 reviews2 followers
November 11, 2025
Recommendation: If you’re an Oscar Piastri fan who needs a pick me up, this is it! 3.75/5!
Review: Fake Dating. Slow burn. Fast cars. What’s not to love? 🏎️❤️‍🔥

Avery Silver, out to create a name for herself and prove she’s more than just Michael Silver’s daughter. She’s ambitious with her heart set in the right places. In charge of the Silver Racing Foundation gala this year, she’s just been told she needs to not only raise enough funds for what her parents have promised but the promises she’s made herself. Can she manage this?!

Teddy Ross is our hot shot driver who’s a bit of an enigma. A hot one at that. To keep his personal life private and to keep the press away from digging into his past he needs a distraction.

When the two are met with the right conditions, our fake dating scenario unfolds. Slowly but surely the sparks are flying but who’s willing to admit to it first? 🤷🏻‍♀️👀

Thank you @lexirauthor and @literaryinspired for letting me on the grid early with this ARC! 🏁
Profile Image for Shelby Baker.
93 reviews
January 29, 2026
As an avid f1 fan, i would *not* recommend this to really anyone. This is self insert fanfic that you could find on AO3

EDIT TO ADD:
now that the author has used my 1 star review for marketing, after i posted it only on goodreads 2 days prior, i want to add my full review. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUG9mv...

i really feel like this book could benefit from a run through grammarly, or two. the prologue is a word for word scene from chapter 14 with the word pedal spelled differently in both parts. this is just one of the many issues i found grammatically.

i was extremely disappointed and frustrated by the characterization of women in the f1 paddock. there’s so many real world examples of strong women that could’ve been portrayed. instead there’s only 1 other woman in the paddock, minus the fmc, and she’s the mmc’s trainer. f1 academy was brought up, and reduced to “the women’s series” when it reality it’s a feeder series (equivalent to f4) to help get the next generation of women drivers onto the f1 grid.

avery is the fmc, and she suffers from white woman savior complex. there’s a scene in a boys and girls club-esque gym, where there’s young children that have these extremely tragic backgrounds that are being exploited for a fundraising campaign. avery makes a comment about how perfect the stories are on camera. that was extremely disturbing and frustrating that avery never fully understands how she is the definition of nepotism and privilege.

teddy, the mmc, is completely forgettable. he forgives avery too fast for a decision that would absolutely ruin his career. unless he is somehow flavio briatore and can get away with a cheating/race results fixing scandal.
Profile Image for Jordan Zajac.
216 reviews10 followers
November 4, 2025
I was able to combine my two biggest loves - formula 1 and reading. Thank you for the arc of your amazing debut novel 🤍

A book that revolves around the crazy world of F1 and fake dating? Count me in! This was such a fun read and an epic debut novel from Lexi Richards. The moment I opened this book I was sat and fully engaged from start to finish.

The story follows Avery Silver who is the daughter of the majority owner of Silver Formula 1 Team. She is trying to break away from just being known as the team owner’s daughter and wants to create a name for herself in the world of Motorsport. She lands a new job on the team and is in charge of the big yearly gala to help raise money for charity. Her dream to raise enough money for the youth sports complex is slightly out of grasp and she needs to think creatively to increase their profit.

Teddy is a rising star in F1 and on team Silver. Not only does he have to focus on racing, he also has to keep past family drama hidden from the press. The only way to protect his family is to release an even more interesting story.

Together, they decide to start fake dating which benefits both of them. It gives the press a new story for Teddy and Teddy can help promote the gala for Avery. As with any fake dating relationship, it isn’t all smooth sailing.

The growth from both characters throughout the book is amazing and I have so much love for the two of them. Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. Perfect for any romance fan, especially if you love f1. 🏁
Profile Image for Sigal.
132 reviews30 followers
January 7, 2026
This was a really cute F1 car racing romance. I know next to nothing about the car racing world, so I feel like I learned something new!

Avery’s father owns an F1 team, and she is trying to start her career in the business. While I did like her as a character, she came off as very naive and a lot of decisions she made were short sighted or selfish. Considering she is a privileged nepo baby, this did make a lot of sense for her character, but I definitely muttered “oh, honey” at her a few times.

Teddy is the new driver on the team, and I wish we got a little more depth with him. Seeing his POV would have added a lot. He starts off as very charismatic and sweet, but has some immature moments (he says so himself!).

Avery and Teddy start a fake dating kind of situation, which is one of my favorite tropes! This made the book pretty fun, and overall I had a great time.
Profile Image for Erin Quinn-Kong.
Author 1 book71 followers
January 2, 2026
Loved this romance set among the rich and fabulous! I was rooting for Avery and Teddy throughout the whole book, and I loved getting an inside look into the world of F1 racing. 🏁🏆
Profile Image for grace.
656 reviews11 followers
October 29, 2025
Special thanks to the author for sharing this early reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions!

Avery might be a part of THE F1 family, but she is working to prove that she got her job through merit and not just nepotism. Doing the work she cares about, to ultimately build the youth sports programs she is passionate about starting, is her number one goal. But when the media starts to poke at Teddy, a new to the paddock F1 star, and his family's past, they decide that fake dating is the best way to solve both of their problems.

Both characters have a lot to prove throughout this book, but their individual journeys of growth and healing would not be possible without the help of the other. This was a sweet romance with a dash of family drama and thrilling racing (two of my favorite things!)
Profile Image for Yugie Caroline.
336 reviews7 followers
November 9, 2025
I'm thrilled once again to be among the early readers of an author's debut novel, as Podium Perfect is exactly that for author Lexi Richards. I signed up for this ARC for that reason, as well as for the fact that stories about race car drivers are ones I don't get to read about often, making me quite curious about their professional and romantic lives.

The plot in this book is relatively common: a fake dating arrangement is entered into by two willing parties because of the mutual benefits to them in doing so. But as this story was told from solely the heroine's POV, focus was thus centered on how the fake relationship impacted her as it transitioned from pretend to the real deal. But more than navigating her changing feelings for the hero, the story captured my interest as well for its focus on the heroine's professional growth. I enjoy reading about female MCs working hard to prove their worth in spite of their privileged status, and in this story she was determined not only to succeed, but also make a difference in other people's lives.

I wished this book had both MC's POVs so we could likewise see the hero's thoughts and emotions as his relationship with the heroine evolved. I think it would have been more engaging to read about his perspective especially during those pivotal moments in their story.

Regardless of that, I'd enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the romance, the character development, and the glimpse it offered into the life of a rising star in the world of car racing.

I received a free review copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Nadine Sturgill.
198 reviews11 followers
November 12, 2025
There's verbal fights, crashes, and quite a few surprises. Great novel for Lexi Richards, which thank you for the opportunity to be an early reader for this great book!

Avery is trying her best to make her own place in the Silver organization, even if she is the owner's daughter. She is frustrated that every time she is introduced either her image or the relation is mentioned. Teddy is the team's F1 driver who is extremely private with his personal life.

As Avery is planning to set up the gala fundraiser, she realizes she will need to match her parents' previous amount from the year before she can use any of the money to help the underprivileged sports center in their local. There is also the matter of bringing a date; one which her mother is starting to suggest a new up and coming director. Avery, having no date set up, states she already has a date but won't say who they are.

In a conversation with Teddy, she drops this information, and he suggests they fake date. And as most fake dating tropes go, you know what happens! But it doesn't happen without tons of drama. Family secrets for Teddy are revealed, and then it is broadcasted; Avery realizes she is the link to explain the leaked information to a podcaster.

It really is a well written book, with some super cute moments and a few none super descript spicy scenes.
Profile Image for Paola J.
63 reviews1 follower
January 10, 2026
Romance and F1, two of my favorite things in a book! This book was so good from start to finish. F1, fake dating, friendship, and great character development.

The story follows Avery Silver, the daughter of one of the F1 teams owners, she always wanted to prove herself with her work but her family, specially her mom is expecting for her to be dating and having a husband. Teddy Ross, the newest F1 driver who needs to put the reflectors on him and not in his family, he will do anything to get the attention off his family, including fake dating.

The whole story was amazing and cute, the author is a great storyteller. Comparing to other F1 x Romance books, this book explained really well the basics and essential parts of F1 for people that have 0 background of the sport.

As well, the romance of this story was very well develop. While Avery and Teddy had their own life goals, they also found love, but they had to understand themselves first before starting something real and I love that the author gave the characters their time to find out what they wanted and have some character growth. Avery is a great character and I loved the development of Teddy throughout the book 👏🏻

Really enjoyable and fun reading!
Profile Image for Emilee.
105 reviews3 followers
November 9, 2025
It's not often that I find a sports romance that actually captures all the heart and soul that I look for in a book, but Podium Perfect was genuinely one of the few that captured my attention from the very beginning and didn't bore me whatsoever. Avery Silver was perhaps one of the most likable FMCs I've read about in a while, who was just so self-aware in every sense of the term, but utilized her resources and her strengths to make things happen, so it was achieved from her own merit and not just her last name. She was witty, kind, and emotional at all the right moments, but to me, it was never too much. And Teddy Ross was a great depiction of a lot of my favorite F1 drivers, someone with stories to tell but stories that they want for themselves, and I loved how dynamic he was towards the end. There was drama and tension, but enough for it to stay interesting and not become super angsty. There was the fast-paced action that came with F1 races. But most importantly, there were just characters you found yourself rooting for every single time. This being Lexi's debut is honestly SO mindblowing to me, but I'm excited to see what she does next from here on out! 5/5 from me, for sure.
Profile Image for Amy Lauren.
18 reviews2 followers
November 12, 2025
Thank you so much to Lexi Richards for allowing me and The Paddock Girls Podcast to ARC read Podium Perfect for our book club!

This book is an absolute treat for any sports romance fan — whether you’re deep in the F1 world or just love a fast-paced, emotional romance. Avery and Teddy’s chemistry jumps off the page, and I found myself shouting at them more than once to just communicate openly 😂! But honestly, that’s part of what made their story so fun and real.

Lexi does an amazing job blending the glitz of Formula 1 with heartfelt emotion and humor. I loved seeing Avery carve her own path and Teddy’s quiet strength beneath that “brick wall” exterior. Their relationship had the perfect mix of tension, sweetness, and swoon-worthy moments.

This was such a fantastic debut for a young writer. I’m really hoping we get a book two or even a bonus chapter, because I need to see their wedding!

I’d absolutely recommend Podium Perfect to a friend: especially if you love fake dating, travel-filled romance, or characters who find love in the fast lane
Profile Image for Jessimahkanuck.
21 reviews1 follower
November 8, 2025
Dates, and Way Too Many Feelings," and it absolutely delivers on that thrilling trifecta.

This novel is a must-read for anyone who loves a good Happily Ever After (HEA) served up at 200 miles per hour.

Readers who crave intense plot twists or unconventional story structures may find the narrative a touch predictable. However, for those who come to the genre specifically for the comfort and warmth of a guaranteed HEA, this predictability is a feature, not a bug.

Podium Perfect is a delightfully enjoyable read. It succeeds by taking a beloved trope and giving it a fresh, exhilarating setting, backed by two fantastic lead characters with undeniable chemistry. The journey is so much fun that the slightly predictable finish line doesn't diminish the overall experience. Highly recommended for fans who love speed, romance, and a book that leaves you smiling.

If you don’t like miscommunication tropes, this is not the book for you.

For a fun easy read, I gave this book at 4/5.
1,033 reviews13 followers
November 2, 2025
Avery and Teddy are from opposite sides of the tracks.
She’s trying to find value in what she does, prove she’s not benefitting from nepotism, and do the right things for the programs she’s trying to raise money for. Instead, she has a vapid mother, a brother who seems a bit indifferent and a father whose life is car racing.
Teddy is the up-and-coming racer with a bit of a past.
They decide to fake-date to get everyone off their backs, and over time, they each start to grow and heal from the circumstances that shaped them. It doesn’t hurt to be travelling the world while finding themselves…

So drama (family, of course), racing, betrayals and scandal, a little miscommunication here and there, a little steam, and a sweet romance… I enjoyed it.

Thank you to the author for providing this copy in advance.
Profile Image for AW.
218 reviews26 followers
November 5, 2025
Avery has lived a life of privilege. Teddy's life has been one of speed and grit on the track. When they go into a fake relationship, the sparks fly.

The pacing was perfect, and I really connected with the two characters! Avery is so sharp and driven, while Teddy brings a delightful charm. Their relationship is full of witty banter, a bit of tension, and loads of real vulnerability. Plus, fake dating just adds to the fun and chaotic nature of the story. The Formula 1 setting gives that thrilling adrenaline, yet it never overwhelms the heart of the story.

If you enjoy romance tropes like rich girl/working-class guy, smart heroines who don't back down, and secrets simmering beneath the surface, this one's worth picking up.

Huge thanks to Literary Inspired and Lexi Richards for the ARC copy!
1 review
November 5, 2025
This is one of those books you simply can’t put down because it’s such an enjoyable read! It’s the best kind of escapism—full of romance, family drama, glamorous galas, and international adventure. The two main characters are instantly likeable. Though Avery and Teddy come from very different worlds—Avery from a Formula 1 family and Teddy from a working-class background—they’re both driven by a desire to prove themselves. Watching them grow and gain confidence, both individually and together, is so satisfying.

As an avid romance reader and a fan of the "fake relationship" trope, I loved that this was my first Formula 1 themed love story. The high-speed world of racing—with all its competition, travel, and luxury—makes the perfect backdrop for a captivating romance. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for J.
16 reviews
November 19, 2025
Podium Perfect is a quirky, fun, and heartfelt debut that delivers everything I love about F1 and romance in one fast-paced package. From the moment Avery and Teddy strike their perfectly chaotic fake-dating deal, the story hits that rare balance of sparkling humor and swoony tension. Avery’s determination to carve out her own place in the motorsport world is as compelling as the high-speed glamour surrounding her, and the slow unraveling of Teddy makes their chemistry feel all the more electric. I tore through this book in a single sitting, completely swept up in the adrenaline, the charm, and the emotional punches. Whether you’re here for the racing, the romance, or both, this debut crosses the finish line with style; I can’t recommend it enough.
Profile Image for Ashli McDonald Berry.
8 reviews1 follower
November 24, 2025
Podium Perfect is the perfect mix of vicarious travel, high performance sport, and a delicious will-they/won’t-they romance. Richards does a seamless job of putting you in gorgeous locations and the adrenaline gripping moments of the sport while keeping a relatable interiority with her characters. Readers will also get to enjoy peaking into the kind of luxury only a billionaire family might experience, and yet the protagonist, Avery, always feels like she could be your girlfriend. I read this in two days during a car trip with two kids and a husband in the car. No notes for this quick, quippy, hot Scot entertainment.
Profile Image for Molly Laufer.
2 reviews
December 4, 2025
This book was a perfect "escapism" fiction book for me! Despite not knowing much about Formula 1, Lexi did a great job of making the sport approachable and intriguing by explaining the terminology and science of racing. It felt like a fast-paced trip around the globe to watch Avery and Teddy's relationship develop. Even though Avery's character is much younger than I am, she seemed to have years of maturity on her actual age and I found her journey navigating family expectations and her career ambitions to be very relatable. What I really loved about Podium Perfect was the inside peek into charitable foundations - the politics, the family history, the celebrity/athlete aspect and the "behind the scenes" of foundation work. It is a world that I am not familiar with and I really loved the detailed elements of Avery's work with the foundation. I did not expect a lot of twists & turns in a romance novel, but I should have guessed there would be given the literal twists & turns of racing. The podcast story scandal really captivated me and I thought it was a really clever twist in the narrative. I look forward to more books by Lexi in this genre and maybe we'll even get a sequel to Avery & Teddy!
74 reviews1 follower
October 26, 2025
Avery Silver is trying to find her way in th Silver family. Teddy Ross is the new up and coming F1 race car driver. Avery and Teddy fake date to get Avery’s mother off her back and the reporters off Teddy’s past. Will their whirlwind romance end in heartbreak for Avery or will fake dating become the real love?

Fun read with family secrets, drama, sparks and jet setting. Love the character development and growth from Avery and Teddy as well as her family dynamic shift. I received an ARC copy but my opinions are my own.
2 reviews
November 4, 2025
Where do I start?! Podium Perfect was engaging from the start. The characters were great! I was rooting for them. The Formula 1 aspect of the story was completely new to me. It was fun to learn the technical stuff, like how the driver's weight impacts how the car moves, the workouts and diets, etc. I loved how the book traveled to different parts of the world based on where the races were held. This was the perfect book to get me out of a book slump. Highly enjoyable! Just the right amount of steam. Definitely recommend!
Profile Image for Jana (HokuGirlReads).
735 reviews94 followers
November 11, 2025
This is definitely one of those books that if you are a F1 fan you will love it and if you are not it’s a great step into the world without knowing anything. I loved both characters, a rising star and a owners daughter who came from such different backgrounds which only allowed each other to appreciate each other more. I loved the tension and dates that were so cute, watching them fall for each other while also getting to experience their lives connected to F1 and each race. I cannot wait to get my finally copy for my Formula 1 bookshelf and the another story from this author.
1 review
November 4, 2025
A smart, fun story that balances heart-pounding race weekends with a charming slow-burn romance. The author brings the Formula 1 scene to life with ease - the noise, the glamour, the pressure - all while making the sport totally approachable. The characters feel relatable, their chemistry is addictive, and the pacing makes it tough to step away. A must-read whether you’re brand new to F1 or a regular race-watcher like myself.
1 review
November 5, 2025
I was hooked from the very start! I was rooting for Avery and Teddy, both in their individual journeys and of course, together! Avery is such a relatable main character, trying to prove herself in a world that doesn’t take her seriously, and Teddy is the perfect mix of guarded and sweet. Their fake-dating story had me grinning, and the chemistry between them felt so natural. The travel, the drama, the slow burn—it all just worked. Even as someone new to F1, I was completely hooked.
1 review
November 5, 2025
A super fun read with everything that makes a book the perfect escape from the real world — romance, a little spice, and plenty of speed! I also enjoyed learning about F1 racing mixed with great travel scenes— it’s such a great way to get to know both the characters and the cities they visit. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for susanna meacham.
220 reviews
December 18, 2025
I don’t know where to start. This was such a FUN read! I was immediately pulled in to the lives of Avery and Teddy. I loved their friendship, chemistry and how the story developed. Being from Austin, I am always weary of books taking place in the area but this one hits just right and paints a perfect picture of the city and its connection to F1.
43 reviews
October 23, 2025
I got an ARC of the book, and loved it! I love the combination of F1 and romance. The racing scenes will have you on the edge of your seat, and the tension between the characters will have you turning pages.
Profile Image for Monica Minniti.
103 reviews2 followers
November 2, 2025
Meet Teddy and Avery. Both independent, both striving to be their best. Starting with a meet-cute, jumping into fake dating and then titling towards HEA. These characters are great and you are instantly sucked into their world. This is a great romance with just a dash of spice and a great plot.
1 review
November 25, 2025
The perfect vacation read! I wasn’t an F1 fan when I started it but I am certainly ready to start watching it now. The storyline was the perfect balance fun, excitement and emotion. A great ride from start to finish.
453 reviews4 followers
November 11, 2025
Absolutely loved every minute of it!! Could not get enough and did not want it to end 🫣 Can’t wait to read more from this author ♥️
987 reviews15 followers
November 12, 2025
Really enjoyed this emotional (race car) ride! The story was very good and the ups and downs of this fake - turning real - romance was amazing! I feel like I got to travel the world a bit too!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.