The Finish Line

by Grace Newman

What happens off the track must stay between them...

Lily is known for her cheerful and sunny personality, and after a successful stint at Valkyrie F1 Racing, she has decided that she is ready for a new being the first female racer on a traditional Formula 1 team… even if it is run by all men.

Henri, a grumpy and driven race car driver, cares only about winning and lacks humility, making him unpopular among his team. As the season goes on, Henri is angry that he’s never won a world championship, and this only worsens as he sits in his sister’s racing shadow to the public.

When an unexpected crash on the course leaves Henri carrying Lily in his arms, something clicks. Despite their differences, passion flows between them. But as Lily battles PTSD, and hidden death threats from an unknown sender, Henri suspects there is far more to Lily than meets the eye.

Can they keep each other’s secrets in the cutthroat F1 world? And most of who will make it to the finish line first?

A steamy, grumpy X sunshine sporting romance, for fans of Hannah Grace and Leah Brunner.

Genres: Sports, Sports Romance

384 pages, Paperback

Published July 7, 2026

Reviews

[Kaity · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little angsty, but they are so good together <3

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun, deep, female led F1 romance. The second in a series, but I didn’t read the first and had no difficulty with the second. The sponsorship politics was interesting, and I really appreciated the mental health rep - it was a big part of the MCs’ story. Thanks to hera for the arc.

[Lia♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into the first half of this book If i'm being honest, I did really like our female main character Lily and I really appreciated reading about her and her experience being a woman in F1 racing which is a very male dominated sport. I really had almost no knowledge prior about the sport so I found that aspect interesting as well.

Unfortunately I wasn't immediately a fan of our main male character Henri, he was kind of annoying and very rude in the first half, although he did have his reasons it did kind of taint my reading experience. Once you did get to know him better and once he and Lily finally properly talked my perception of him changed and did really like their relationship. It was very cute though.

I think you will like this book if you are a sports romance fan that enjoys the grumpy x sunshine trope!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this arc!

[Natalie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
It’s very obvious that Grace Newman has a deep love and passion for Formula One. When books don’t get F1 right, it really grinds my gears, but Newman really knows what they’re talking about! I loved the slowburn romance and the dynamics! I loved the plot and thought this was an amazing new book from Grace Newman!

[Deveny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*

**English below**

Al jaren kan ik heel erg genieten van een goede en leuke F1 race. Toen ik dit boek voorbij zag komen, leek het me heel leuk om te kijken of het F1-gevoel teruggevonden kan worden in een verhaal. Ik heb het met veel plezier gelezen. Bepaalde onderdelen bracht me echt naar de F1-wereld. De rivaliteit tussen bepaalde teams gaf mij echt een RedBull-Mercedes 2021 vibe en op sommige vlakken liet me dat echt lachen. Op andere momenten kon ik ook zeker herkennen wanneer een bepaalde coureur als inspiratie was gebruikt, zoals Charles Leclerc en het maar niet winnen van zijn thuisrace Monaco.

Met het verhaal zelf heb ik wisselende ervaringen. Ik vond de opbouw sterk en iets anders dan ik verwacht had na het lezen van de flaptekst. Het groeide organisch en goed, maar het middendeel kon een stuk sterker en bevatten naar mijn gevoel iets meer herhaling van dezelfde momenten als ik zou willen. De overgang naar de afsluiting voelde soms iets te snel, maar wel een goede en passend.

Uiteindelijk wel met veel plezier uitgelezen en ik zou best nog een F1 geïnspireerd verhaal willen lezen

--
For years, I’ve really enjoyed a good, exciting F1 race. When I came across this book, I thought it would be great fun to see if that F1 feeling could be captured in a story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Certain parts really transported me into the world of F1. The rivalry between certain teams really gave me a Red Bull-Mercedes 2021 vibe, and in some ways that really made me laugh. At other times, I could definitely tell when a particular driver had been used as inspiration, such as Charles Leclerc and his inability to win his home race in Monaco.

I’ve had mixed feelings about the story itself. I thought the structure was strong and a bit different from what I’d expected after reading the blurb. It developed organically and well, but the middle section could have been a lot stronger and, in my view, contained a bit more repetition of the same moments than I would have liked. The transition to the conclusion felt a bit too abrupt at times, but it was a good and fitting one.

I did end up really enjoying it, and I’d definitely like to read another F1-inspired story

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so I didn’t really care for the first book in this series, but because I am such a huge Formula 1 fan, I still really wanted to give this one a fair shot. And honestly, I do think it was better than the first book, even if only marginally so. The premise immediately intrigued me more and I knew I was going to read it regardless because I will almost always pick up an F1 romance.

First, the positives. I absolutely love seeing women in racing because it is such an underrepresented space both in fiction and real life. I loved the idea of Lily being the first female driver on a traditional F1 team and proving that women can compete just as well as men and even thrive in the sport. I also really appreciated the PTSD representation in this book. As someone who has PTSD myself, I can be very critical of how authors portray it because it can so easily become stereotypical or inaccurate, but Grace handled it with a lot of care. Lily’s journey was emotional, heavy, and honestly hard to read at times, but in a good way because it felt genuine.

Now for the negatives… Henri was honestly kind of awful for a good chunk of this book. He was angry, bitter, and kind of a jerk because he wasn’t winning, and it got frustrating fast. Yes, he absolutely redeemed himself later with how he cared for Lily during her hardest moments, but it was still difficult for me to fully forget how he acted earlier on. Lily also felt immature at times and definitely had a lot of growing up to do, even though she eventually got there by the end.

I also really enjoyed the racing aspects and could tell the author put effort into those details, but as an actual F1 fan, I still wanted more of it. I know this is primarily a romance and the focus was on Henri and Lily’s relationship and her recovery after the accident, but I would have loved even more racing content woven throughout the story. I did enjoy this more than book one and appreciated the heavier emotional elements a lot, and I think if you are a fan of the sport and romance, you will love this!

Thank you to NetGalley, Grace Newman, and Hera Books for the eARC of this book.

[Tei Past Midnight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finish Line, Grace Newman
🤭Review of advanced readers copy from Netgalley

⭐Rating: 4/5
🔥Spice: 2/5
🖼️Cover: 4/5
😭Tears Shed: 1/5

Lily has finally secured her place on one of Formula One's biggest teams, becoming one of the few women competing at the highest level of motorsport. Between fighting for podiums, navigating strict contract clauses, and proving she belongs, the last thing she needs is a stalker leaving threatening messages insisting the championship should belong to a rival driver. As the threats escalate, old feelings begin resurfacing between Lily and Henri, forcing them both to confront the past that tore them apart while uncovering who's determined to destroy her career.
I really enjoyed this one. The Formula One setting felt authentic, and you can tell the author knows the sport. The racing terminology, weekend atmosphere, team dynamics, and championship battle all felt believable without becoming overwhelming, making it easy to get immersed even if you're not an F1 expert.
The romance is a slow-burn second chance with plenty of unresolved tension. Lily and Henri's chemistry comes from years of shared history rather than instant attraction, and I loved watching them slowly find their way back to each other. Their relationship never overshadowed the suspense surrounding Lily's stalker, which kept me wanting to know who was behind it all and how everything connected.
The spice is definitely on the lighter side compared to what I usually read, but it suited the story. This is much more romance and emotional tension than dark romance. The PTSD storyline, family betrayals, media pressure, and the demands of elite motorsport added plenty of depth without making the story feel overly heavy.
Overall, this was a fun, well-written Formula One romance with a satisfying mix of racing, mystery, and second-chance love. Not what I’d usually reach for but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Fave Quotes:

“Dinner plans before a race?...Who’s the poor bastard?” - Henri

“Maybe it's that you still see a ghost whenever there’s a hint of rain.” - Lily

“Because I missed you. Miss you, everyday, and that night in Monaco and Montreal, for just a moment, I let myself forget all the reasons why I shouldn't kiss you.” - Henri

“You’re not failing. You’re scared, and that’s okay.”- Lily

“I’m serious. This isn’t just about me. The woman Ollie tried to reduce to a victim in his article is the reason I’m still racing at all.” - Henri

“See you at the finish.” - Lily

📚 Recommended for readers who enjoy:
• F1 Romance
• Slow-burn
• Enemies to lovers
• MALE Mental health representation
• Forbidden
• Second chance
• Best friends brother

[Eva ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: 5 🌟
Pages: 384
Spice: 2,5/5

They had one night together, it can not be more than that. Lily Blackwood is a successful formula 1 driver who changes teams before the new season. That team comes with a morality clause; no romatic relationships with other drivers. Lily wants to do everything to be the first female racer winning the championship even if the whole formula 1 is run by all men. Henry Dubois is the male lead of the rivaling team Hermes. Henri wants to step out of his sister’s shadow and finally make the podium. After an unexpected crash between Lily and Henry, they both struggle with their mental health but passion flows between them. Will there be more of track or do they stay rivals?

This book was so amazing, I loved it so so much. First of all thank you to Netgalley, Grace Newman and Canelo for this ARC. Everything was so good. From the banter, to the found family friendship and the mental health rep. It was so fast paced I read it really fast and loved every second of it. I couldn’t put it down. The way things were described from how the characters were feeling when they were anxious to them feeling amazing in the car and winning was so amazing. It was so realistic. I now want to read Georgia and Luca’s story I need to know their love story. The only thing that sometimes bothered me is that in some sentences there was a word missing. Most of the times were someone closed a door, the word door misses. Which was weird to read. The romance was so fantastic, the banter, the way they were drawn to each other. I think this is a book I will reread more than others. Now I want to read more formula 1 it is so hot and good. I loved this book so much. There were so many candid scenes and how Lily and Henri helped each other through their struggles was really inspiring. The character I really hated were Lily’s mum and Oliver, the things they did and how they treated Lily was not oké at all. So yeah I loved it and really recommend this book. I need you all to read it, I need to yap to people about this.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes:
✨ Friends to Lovers to Rivals
✨ Manager Mum
✨ Stolen Moments & Complications
✨ Mental Health Rep
✨ Women in Male-Dominated Sports
✨ Fan Threats
✨ Miscommunication & Denial
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine

Firstly, I’m a huge F1 fan, so it was fantastic to see women drivers in the sport being normalised. I know attempts have been made in real life, but it could absolutely work, and I love that Grace Newman leaned into that possibility.

The Finish Line is the second book in the series, however, it can definitely be read as a standalone. As a sports romance reader, this book ticked so many boxes for me, I love that the leads are complete equals, not the typical MMC player and FMC supporter role.

We begin with the promise of a beautiful romance, built on years of lingering looks, late-night phone calls, and longing glances across the paddock. Just as our little pocket rocket, Lily, finally gets the man, she’s offered her dream seat for the following season. There’s only one problem, her contract includes a dating clause, and her new beau, Henri, drives for a rival team. When Henri overhears the conversation, he decides he doesn’t want to jeopardise her career and quietly walks away, cutting all contact and igniting a tense rivalry between them as they both battle for the Driver Championship.

I enjoyed so much about this book but in particular, I lived for Henri’s open despair whenever he was in Lily’s presence and how she retaliated with humour and playful teasing. There are so many layers to this book, particularly in the way their romance gradually rekindles. As they become each other’s support system to battle their own daemons on top the pressure to win (and stay out of the press), their relationship feels both compelling and deeply authentic. I don’t want to spoil too much - so I will just end by saying I would definitely recommend Lily and Henri’s story! Now I just need to go back and read book 1!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[April Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did genuinely enjoy this one overall. The tension between the two main characters worked for me, and I’m always a sucker for the whole “we clearly still love each other, but life/career got in the way and now we’re miserable about it” thing. The morality clause situation was painful in a very believable way, especially because the MMC thought he was making the choice easier for her by removing himself from the equation entirely. Men exhausting themselves emotionally instead of communicating? Checks out. I also really liked the racing atmosphere and the way they kept getting pushed back into each other’s orbits over the course of the racing season.

That said, there were a few things that didn’t fully land for me. I kept waiting for confirmation or an outright admission about Ollie and the threats, and not getting it in the end made it feel a little unresolved to me. The formatting was also a little wonky at times, and while I understood what the opening chapter was trying to do, the execution felt a bit awkward before the story settled in. The spice was good, but because of how the story unfolds, it’s spread out pretty far and some of the scenes felt a little rushed once we finally got there.

Overall, I had a good time with this one and flew through it pretty quickly. If you like F1 romance, angst, unresolved feelings, and two people repeatedly failing to stay away from each other, this will probably work for you.

[Mazie Macfarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Grace Newman for the ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

3.75/5 Stars

The F1 of it all is what kept me hooked on this book, at times it sounded like we were listening to the announcers on race day, when describing technical race scenes. It added career pressure on top of the romantic tension between the characters.

The morality clause, the press, interviews and a lot of the interactions around Lily shed light on what women in sports have to deal with and it was really frustrating to read all the double standards. I found myself shaking my kindle often! Also her mother! OH MY GOODNESS I WANTED TO STRANGLE HER MOTHER!

Where it started to lose a bit of momentum for me was in the middle stretch. The push-and-pull between them began to feel a little cyclical, like we were circling the same tension points without getting much new emotional ground covered. I stayed invested because the chemistry was obviously there, but it did start to blur together in places.

Even so, I still enjoyed reading this ARC. If you like F1 romance and "will they, won't they" romance, this one is for you!

[Ecem Esen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Finish Line by Grace Newman had me giggling, stressed, kicking my feet, and emotionally attached way too fast.

the chemistry in this book is genuinely addicting. every interaction had that perfect mix of tension, flirting, and emotional vulnerability that makes you feel insane while reading because you KNOW where it’s heading but the buildup still destroys you anyway.

the MMC completely got me. protective without being overdone, obsessed in that subtle consuming way, and somehow every small moment felt more intimate than half the spicy scenes i’ve read lately. the relationship actually develops in a way that makes you care about them as people instead of just waiting for the next hookup scene.

and the emotional moments hit HARD. there’s so much longing and comfort and “i’d choose you every time” energy woven through the story that i was fully invested by the end.

this book felt soft and intense at the same time and honestly i devoured it. definitely one of those romances that leaves you sitting there afterwards like now what am i supposed to do with myself.

[Grace Rosencrants · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Finish Line completed finished me. I never thought that I would enjoy a book about F1 racers, but this book was hands down one of the best books that I have ever read. I will now be adding F1 racing books to my tbr!

The main characters, Lily, and Henri - are literally the most cutest, funniest, sarcastic, down to earth, and such loving and caring characters. Their growth in this book exceeded my expectations by millions. The banter between all the characters, the plot, the adrenaline, the racing, and so much more! There is so many amazing and wonderful components to this book that I could go on for like ever.

If you love a rom-com with racing included in it, and add some suspense with plot twists - this book is for you. I’m begging you to just read it and read what the hype is about. This book literally ate, and I read this book in a day.

[Lafrenzy.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars
I really enjoyed the friends to rivals to lovers dynamic. Their rivalry wasn’t just because they were on competing Formula 1 teams, it was built on heartbreak, guilt, and devastating misunderstandings that changed both of their lives.

I also appreciated how Grace Newman explored the lasting impact of trauma after the crash. It was a reminder that not every wound leaves a visible scar, and that some experiences follow you long after you’ve physically healed. The healing journey felt genuine and well earned.

I loved that the book didn’t shy away from the realities of being a woman in a male-dominated sport. The pressure to constantly prove herself and earn the same respect as everyone else made her journey even more compelling.

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a different vibe to the first one and I really enjoyed seeing more female led F1 books.
I loved the chemistry between Lily and Henri from day one and I honestly would have loved more on page between them after they got together. I wanted more!
I liked the conflict in the book and how it developed throughout.

I would recommend this one to any reader who enjoys F1. It is very much based around the races and Monaco so be aware when you go in, but I don't think it would be impossible if you didn't know anything about F1. I also think that if you haven't read the first one, you could still easily follow this one.

Thankyou for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[amby · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

i really loved this book actually!!! this has my favorite trope which is grumpy x sunshine. i really loved the fmc because i related so much to her. i also have ptsd, and the representation was perfect. the mmc took awhile for me to like but i did eventually warm up to him. this was so cute though and i had sm fun reading!!

[Chlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Hera Books/Netgalley for the arc!!
I loved this. It struck the perfect balance between wheel-to-wheel racing, emotional tension, romance and mental health issues.
Every topic is delved into and isn’t done half heartedly- you really grow to love and support the characters throughout the book and want them to win no matter the battle.
Some of the characters genuinely made me wants to scream which is a sign you’re writing your “villains” right!!
Love love love

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun story. I love a good sports romance & it was fun to read something different. I was not a fan of Henri for most of the book. Lily seemed a bit immature but she was likeable enough. Overall a good book, I would recommend to others.

Thank you to NetGalley, Grace Newman, and Hera Books for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super cute contemporary F1 romance. There is some really good mental health rep, and all the characters seem pretty neurotypical. I don’t have anything bad to say about this book. It’s a solid brownie of a story. Basic, yummy, easy to enjoy.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for offering me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Brittney Witt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will say even with hardly any F1 knowledge it captured my attention. It was well written and kept readers on their toes. The plot twist can be suspected but I don’t think obvious until nearly the end. A nice change of pace.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked The Finish Line and felt like it was a great follow up to Racing Hearts. I was anticipating this book after reading the first one and it didn’t disappoint. Lily and Henri were great characters and the growth was awesome. I wish a few things happened at the end!! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Barbara Cesar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Finish Line by Grace Newman is a fast-paced contemporary romance that combines the popular grumpy-sunshine dynamic with the exciting backdrop of F1.

As a fan of F1, I have been enjoying the growing number of F1 romance novels, and this was another engaging addition to the genre.
I always enjoy when the different cities are mentioned in the normal order of the regular calenderer. Beyond the romance, the story also explores themes of mental health, trauma, and PTSD, adding emotional depth to the characters' journeys.

Although this is part of a series and I had not read the previous book, I was still able to follow the story and connect with the characters without difficulty. Both the FMC and MMC are navigating personal struggles, which made their development feel authentic and meaningful. I particularly appreciated the MMC's character arc; while he initially embodies the classic grumpy hero, the story provides insight into his behavior and allows for significant personal growth.

Overall, The Finish Line is an enjoyable romance that balances emotional themes with a compelling relationship and the high-energy world of Formula 1. Recommended for readers who enjoy sports romance, character-driven stories, and grumpy-sunshine pairings.

Thank you Hera Books, the author and Netgalley for the advance digital copy

[Rachel Abarca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The FInish Line by Grace Newman is a grumpy X sunshine, friends-to-rivals-to-lovers, F1 romance. Lily has been working hard to prove herself as a legitimate F1 driver in a sport dominated by men, which becomes increasingly difficult when she starts receiving threatening letters. Henri is struggling with crippling anxiety after a crash and is determined to hide what he is going through from his team. While I certainly enjoyed parts of this read, the relationship with Lily and Henri seemed quite forced for the first half of the novel. I will certainly read more from Grace, this was just not my favorite.

Thank you NetGalley, Hera Books, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.