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Lights Out #3
Crash into You
Not yet published
Expected 10 Nov 26A forbidden love forces a shift in gears in the next sizzling Formula 1 romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Cross the Line.
Formula 1 driver Zaid Yousef is back—though he’s not sure he wants to be. After a crash last season left the seven-time world champion with two broken wrists and a hesitance to get back behind the wheel, his future in the sport is nothing short of uncertain. Saddled with an unfinished contract and expectations to win a record-shattering title, the only choice is for him to return . . . right?
The press turned Ava Farahani’s life upside down in the last few years, forcing her to leave her job in marketing and the world of F1 she grew up in. She knows she should stay far away from the track, but the draw of the sport she loves is too strong to resist.
A preseason event brings the two together for one hot, reckless night, and weeks later, results in a positive pregnancy test. Ava desperately wants to be a mother, and the baby gives Zaid a newfound drive to survive the season and break the world record.
There’s just one little Ava is a team principal’s daughter . . . and Zaid is their biggest rival.
Formula 1 driver Zaid Yousef is back—though he’s not sure he wants to be. After a crash last season left the seven-time world champion with two broken wrists and a hesitance to get back behind the wheel, his future in the sport is nothing short of uncertain. Saddled with an unfinished contract and expectations to win a record-shattering title, the only choice is for him to return . . . right?
The press turned Ava Farahani’s life upside down in the last few years, forcing her to leave her job in marketing and the world of F1 she grew up in. She knows she should stay far away from the track, but the draw of the sport she loves is too strong to resist.
A preseason event brings the two together for one hot, reckless night, and weeks later, results in a positive pregnancy test. Ava desperately wants to be a mother, and the baby gives Zaid a newfound drive to survive the season and break the world record.
There’s just one little Ava is a team principal’s daughter . . . and Zaid is their biggest rival.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⌞ 𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 ⌝ 🏁 🏎️
I have read a good handful of F1 romances in my day, but it's safe to say that Crash into You has been my favorite so far.
The third installment of the Lights Out series features some of my most beloved tropes, including: one night stand, accidental pregnancy, forbidden romance, and dating your team's rival.
This book definitely had all the makings of a five star romance and I had a blast reading it. Here are some of my highlights.
The romance. It was definitely the star of the show, (as it should be) and I especially enjoyed the multicultural aspect of it. Zaid was Iraqi and Ava was Iranian. This honestly added a lot of depth to the novel, I just wish the topic was explored a little more. There was a world of opportunity for it and it just seemed like a missed avenue. Beyond that, the F1 setting was a super fun backdrop and made the plot have much higher stakes. To be honest, I have never watched F1 nor do I have any interest in it besides reading about it in my romance novels. So I cannot comment on how accurate everything was but it certainly sounded like the author knew what she was talking about. There was just the right amount of race scenes and they didn't drag on. They were strategically placed to give you a little hit of adrenaline between the coziness of the rest of the book.
The characters. They were so well done I cannot even begin to explain. Zaid was such a sweetheart. After surviving a life-threatening crash, he struggled to find purpose in racing after his recovery. He had a clear and satisfying character arc, going from risky, self destructive driving to purposeful and motivated driving. His shift had everything to do with Ava, and his baby that she was carrying. I admire Ava so much. She was pursuing single motherhood long before she ever got pregnant with Zaid's baby. She wanted to selflessly bring a life into the world and give her whole heart to them. She happened to find Zaid along the way and everything worked out amazingly in the end.
Ultimately, this book completely satisfied my greedy little heart. I enjoyed every moment of it and I really don't have any complaints on critiques. The book was enjoyable from start to finish and followed the perfect formula (haha see what I did there) for a fun time.
Fans of F1 will love this book and even if you don't watch the sport, you will still find the romance to be just lovely.
📆 Publication Date: November 10, 2026
---------------
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a chance to read this e-arc in exhange for an honest review. All thoughts are entirely my own.
I have read a good handful of F1 romances in my day, but it's safe to say that Crash into You has been my favorite so far.
The third installment of the Lights Out series features some of my most beloved tropes, including: one night stand, accidental pregnancy, forbidden romance, and dating your team's rival.
This book definitely had all the makings of a five star romance and I had a blast reading it. Here are some of my highlights.
The romance. It was definitely the star of the show, (as it should be) and I especially enjoyed the multicultural aspect of it. Zaid was Iraqi and Ava was Iranian. This honestly added a lot of depth to the novel, I just wish the topic was explored a little more. There was a world of opportunity for it and it just seemed like a missed avenue. Beyond that, the F1 setting was a super fun backdrop and made the plot have much higher stakes. To be honest, I have never watched F1 nor do I have any interest in it besides reading about it in my romance novels. So I cannot comment on how accurate everything was but it certainly sounded like the author knew what she was talking about. There was just the right amount of race scenes and they didn't drag on. They were strategically placed to give you a little hit of adrenaline between the coziness of the rest of the book.
The characters. They were so well done I cannot even begin to explain. Zaid was such a sweetheart. After surviving a life-threatening crash, he struggled to find purpose in racing after his recovery. He had a clear and satisfying character arc, going from risky, self destructive driving to purposeful and motivated driving. His shift had everything to do with Ava, and his baby that she was carrying. I admire Ava so much. She was pursuing single motherhood long before she ever got pregnant with Zaid's baby. She wanted to selflessly bring a life into the world and give her whole heart to them. She happened to find Zaid along the way and everything worked out amazingly in the end.
Ultimately, this book completely satisfied my greedy little heart. I enjoyed every moment of it and I really don't have any complaints on critiques. The book was enjoyable from start to finish and followed the perfect formula (haha see what I did there) for a fun time.
Fans of F1 will love this book and even if you don't watch the sport, you will still find the romance to be just lovely.
📆 Publication Date: November 10, 2026
---------------
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a chance to read this e-arc in exhange for an honest review. All thoughts are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
[arc review] simone soltani truly never misses.
‘crash into you’ is such a fun, fast paced read! I’m not usually a fan of the ‘unexpected pregnancy’ trope, but it was so well done that I really enjoyed it.
ava and zaid are very good characters that compliment each other really well. the development of their individual arcs throughout the story was well written, and it had me rooting for them.
one thing I love about simone’s writing is that you can tell she really puts the effort in when writing the characters. I find with some authors, they really struggle to nail a british character if they’re not a native. it felt so real, and it’s one thing I really enjoy when reading her books!
overall this is a very good read, and I’m so excited for the world to experience this book for the first time!
thank you pan macmillan for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
‘crash into you’ is such a fun, fast paced read! I’m not usually a fan of the ‘unexpected pregnancy’ trope, but it was so well done that I really enjoyed it.
ava and zaid are very good characters that compliment each other really well. the development of their individual arcs throughout the story was well written, and it had me rooting for them.
one thing I love about simone’s writing is that you can tell she really puts the effort in when writing the characters. I find with some authors, they really struggle to nail a british character if they’re not a native. it felt so real, and it’s one thing I really enjoy when reading her books!
overall this is a very good read, and I’m so excited for the world to experience this book for the first time!
thank you pan macmillan for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
July 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I can’t say much because my thoughts are pretty spoilery, but this is straight up Lewis Hamilton winning his eighth world championship fan fiction.
The “similarities” were just copy/paste Hamilton, the FMC had no personality imo, and the romance was SEVERELY lacking (they were rarely in the same room or interacting, they didn’t speak much, and honestly, I know more about a person after 45 minutes of conversation than these two knew about each other after the whole book).
I’m actually disappointed because I really liked the first two and have recommended them to a bunch of people. But this was not good and I wouldn’t recommend to anyone who wants a ROMANCE book or has watched even one race where Hamilton does well (this will become clear if/when you read it).
I can’t say much because my thoughts are pretty spoilery, but this is straight up Lewis Hamilton winning his eighth world championship fan fiction.
The “similarities” were just copy/paste Hamilton, the FMC had no personality imo, and the romance was SEVERELY lacking (they were rarely in the same room or interacting, they didn’t speak much, and honestly, I know more about a person after 45 minutes of conversation than these two knew about each other after the whole book).
I’m actually disappointed because I really liked the first two and have recommended them to a bunch of people. But this was not good and I wouldn’t recommend to anyone who wants a ROMANCE book or has watched even one race where Hamilton does well (this will become clear if/when you read it).
June 26, 2026
One thing about me, I work quick to read books by my favourite authors.
Can the feeling of winning get old? Can you become desensitized? What does it take to wake up and still chase a win when you’ve already achieved it? That’s how Crash Into You opens for Zaid Yousef, seven time world champion F1 racer returning to the sport after a traumatic almost career ending crash/injury. When you’ve achieved everything you can within your sport, where does the motivation to win come from? Who becomes the well of support? In this, it’s Ava Farahani and a romance trope that is quite difficult to tackle: accidental pregnancy.
I’ve always loved Simone’s writing of F1. This isn’t observational, this is an author that knows the sport and doesn’t dumb it down for easy consumption. The Netflix series Drive to Survive has created a surge in F1, pair it with Lewis Hamilton helming the F1 movie (that also won an Oscar). But Lewis Hamilton’s impact in F1 is especially felt in this book, its a tip of a hat and done respectfully. It’s a story arc that I’ve been waiting for, and coincidentally is something that other F1 romance authors are skirting around in avoidance. He’s done more for the sport and brought it to new heights. Recently: “Remember who you are” is ringing heavy and it also resonates in this book.
Compared to the two previous books in this series Crash Into You is in its own bubble (hello, honey there’s a baby bringing them together). We spend significant time with Zaid and Ava travelling to and from races, and in the moments before and after a race (talk to me about the gelato scene, cause sweet treats always have their time to shine). We’re really getting into what it’s like for drivers personal lives and for their families, partners, and what grounds them.
Simone does have beloved characters from the past pop in and it just shows that the series isn’t letting up. The world building is solidified and carries (with Axel’s book coming next!)
Thank you Berkley Romance and to Berkley Publishing Group for the early copy! Simone your F1 romance loving mind is gorgeously talented and I love every visit we get in each book. I can’t wait for whatever comes next. #BerkleyPartner
Can the feeling of winning get old? Can you become desensitized? What does it take to wake up and still chase a win when you’ve already achieved it? That’s how Crash Into You opens for Zaid Yousef, seven time world champion F1 racer returning to the sport after a traumatic almost career ending crash/injury. When you’ve achieved everything you can within your sport, where does the motivation to win come from? Who becomes the well of support? In this, it’s Ava Farahani and a romance trope that is quite difficult to tackle: accidental pregnancy.
I’ve always loved Simone’s writing of F1. This isn’t observational, this is an author that knows the sport and doesn’t dumb it down for easy consumption. The Netflix series Drive to Survive has created a surge in F1, pair it with Lewis Hamilton helming the F1 movie (that also won an Oscar). But Lewis Hamilton’s impact in F1 is especially felt in this book, its a tip of a hat and done respectfully. It’s a story arc that I’ve been waiting for, and coincidentally is something that other F1 romance authors are skirting around in avoidance. He’s done more for the sport and brought it to new heights. Recently: “Remember who you are” is ringing heavy and it also resonates in this book.
Compared to the two previous books in this series Crash Into You is in its own bubble (hello, honey there’s a baby bringing them together). We spend significant time with Zaid and Ava travelling to and from races, and in the moments before and after a race (talk to me about the gelato scene, cause sweet treats always have their time to shine). We’re really getting into what it’s like for drivers personal lives and for their families, partners, and what grounds them.
Simone does have beloved characters from the past pop in and it just shows that the series isn’t letting up. The world building is solidified and carries (with Axel’s book coming next!)
Thank you Berkley Romance and to Berkley Publishing Group for the early copy! Simone your F1 romance loving mind is gorgeously talented and I love every visit we get in each book. I can’t wait for whatever comes next. #BerkleyPartner
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beta Read🫶💛🧡🩷
It’s BN Preorder Sale, go preorder now !!!
Thank you, Simone for the opportunity to beta-read my loves. Truly an incredible read and I can notttttttt wait for the final copies. Genuinely so proud of you and so excited for everyone to read them.
Like I’m so serious, the cover was revealed today (perfect) and the tropes are perfection as well, you all need to preorder and be on the lookout for this darling F1 Romance releasing on August 27th in the UK and November 10th in the US!
- F1 Romance
- FMC Team Rival’s Daughter
- Forbidden
- Unexpected Pregnancy
- Iranian FMC x Iraqi MMC
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Dual POV
It’s BN Preorder Sale, go preorder now !!!
Thank you, Simone for the opportunity to beta-read my loves. Truly an incredible read and I can notttttttt wait for the final copies. Genuinely so proud of you and so excited for everyone to read them.
Like I’m so serious, the cover was revealed today (perfect) and the tropes are perfection as well, you all need to preorder and be on the lookout for this darling F1 Romance releasing on August 27th in the UK and November 10th in the US!
- F1 Romance
- FMC Team Rival’s Daughter
- Forbidden
- Unexpected Pregnancy
- Iranian FMC x Iraqi MMC
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Dual POV
July 24, 2026
OBSESSED. This is what I am. OBSESSED okay? This was omg…so good!!!!
First of all, I just wanted to say I never read pregnancy/unexpected pregancy tropes because I don’t know…it never interested me much, but this one ? The summary really interested me a lot. F1 romance ? Unexpected pregnancy? Forbidden romance ? I was like pleaseeee sign me in!!!
I’m 100% NOT disappointed, on the contrary I’m so surprised I loved this pregnancy trope !
This story was MWAHHH. So good. F1 setting, forbidden romance, older characters, found family. Literally everything I love!
I’m gonna be honest I don’t really watch f1 thing outside of reading it so I don’t know much about that but I really like how the part of f1 weren’t too long but were enough for the story to not bore you!
And the characters..? Where to even begin…I loved Zaid and Ava. They were both such sweethearts, and both wanted the same things. So they were meant to end up together.
Zaid was really kind, patient, but also very caring. Really a good green flag (surprising for a f1 driver HAHAHA).
And omg I loved Ava, she was independent, strong, such a kind sunshine.
Though I do wish we had more moment where Zaid and Ava get to know each other…because I feel like everything was very quick and they didn’t got to know each other THAT much…
But overall I like pretty much everything and I like how the writing was very smooth and we really get attached to the characters very quickly !
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Berkley Publisher and the author for the arc!
First of all, I just wanted to say I never read pregnancy/unexpected pregancy tropes because I don’t know…it never interested me much, but this one ? The summary really interested me a lot. F1 romance ? Unexpected pregnancy? Forbidden romance ? I was like pleaseeee sign me in!!!
I’m 100% NOT disappointed, on the contrary I’m so surprised I loved this pregnancy trope !
This story was MWAHHH. So good. F1 setting, forbidden romance, older characters, found family. Literally everything I love!
I’m gonna be honest I don’t really watch f1 thing outside of reading it so I don’t know much about that but I really like how the part of f1 weren’t too long but were enough for the story to not bore you!
And the characters..? Where to even begin…I loved Zaid and Ava. They were both such sweethearts, and both wanted the same things. So they were meant to end up together.
Zaid was really kind, patient, but also very caring. Really a good green flag (surprising for a f1 driver HAHAHA).
And omg I loved Ava, she was independent, strong, such a kind sunshine.
Though I do wish we had more moment where Zaid and Ava get to know each other…because I feel like everything was very quick and they didn’t got to know each other THAT much…
But overall I like pretty much everything and I like how the writing was very smooth and we really get attached to the characters very quickly !
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Berkley Publisher and the author for the arc!
Want to Read
July 4, 2026🏎️❤️ Crash into You ❤️🏎️
📖 Bookish Thoughts
A full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Formula 1 Romance
• One Night Stand
• Surprise Pregnancy
• Forbidden Romance
• Rivals to Lovers
• Sports Romance
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: November 10, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
A full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Formula 1 Romance
• One Night Stand
• Surprise Pregnancy
• Forbidden Romance
• Rivals to Lovers
• Sports Romance
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: November 10, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
August 12, 2026
Oh I ate this up like it was a molten lava cake. I enjoyed this one from beginning to end and it was so sweet I got a cavity from it.
This is the third book in the series and while it could be read as a standalone, it’s more fun seeing the cameos of the previous main characters and understanding what they’ve gone through. This story is about Ava and Zaid, which I didn’t realize I needed. I normally don’t like the accidental pregnancy trope but this one was so sweet and adding the F1 into it just really made for an exciting book. Zaid is chasing his 8 world championship but after an intense accident the previous season, he’s going through it. Ava comes in and brings light into his life but it’s the future baby that gives him something to live for. I kid you not, I was on the edge of my seat wondering if he would or wouldn’t win that 8th title, like it was all a reality. 😆 You’ll just have to read to see what happens!
I loved Ava and Zaid together. There was so much tension once Ava tells him she’s pregnant and the will they, won’t they kept me reading. I loved being able to get both their POVs and see the yearning for one another while they try to keep emotions out of the situation. They’re just cutie patooties, hands down.
I can’t wait for the next book which will be about Axel! Thank you so much NetGalley, Berkley and Simone Soltani for the eARC!
This is the third book in the series and while it could be read as a standalone, it’s more fun seeing the cameos of the previous main characters and understanding what they’ve gone through. This story is about Ava and Zaid, which I didn’t realize I needed. I normally don’t like the accidental pregnancy trope but this one was so sweet and adding the F1 into it just really made for an exciting book. Zaid is chasing his 8 world championship but after an intense accident the previous season, he’s going through it. Ava comes in and brings light into his life but it’s the future baby that gives him something to live for. I kid you not, I was on the edge of my seat wondering if he would or wouldn’t win that 8th title, like it was all a reality. 😆 You’ll just have to read to see what happens!
I loved Ava and Zaid together. There was so much tension once Ava tells him she’s pregnant and the will they, won’t they kept me reading. I loved being able to get both their POVs and see the yearning for one another while they try to keep emotions out of the situation. They’re just cutie patooties, hands down.
I can’t wait for the next book which will be about Axel! Thank you so much NetGalley, Berkley and Simone Soltani for the eARC!
July 26, 2026
ARC by Berkeley romance
Release: Nov 10th 2026
Crash into you by Simone Soltani
-we start right in the chaos and I’m here for it
-not a fan of the pregnancy trope but let’s see
-love that Ava is a strong independent boss woman period 👏🏾
-Zaid has been and is going through so much damn 🫶🏾
-I hate how society puts pressure on you being a certain age like ugh everyone has their own time line
-I love how easily their convos flow together ,
-the yearning 😫 the comfort they bring each other , I feel like they truly feel seen with each other
-Grief is explained and represented so beautifully in this book 🥺
-Love how supportive and caring Zaid is , I will say I wish he found himself more before Ava and the pregnancy
-this was beautiful ❤️🔥
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release: Nov 10th 2026
Crash into you by Simone Soltani
-we start right in the chaos and I’m here for it
-not a fan of the pregnancy trope but let’s see
-love that Ava is a strong independent boss woman period 👏🏾
-Zaid has been and is going through so much damn 🫶🏾
-I hate how society puts pressure on you being a certain age like ugh everyone has their own time line
-I love how easily their convos flow together ,
-the yearning 😫 the comfort they bring each other , I feel like they truly feel seen with each other
-Grief is explained and represented so beautifully in this book 🥺
-Love how supportive and caring Zaid is , I will say I wish he found himself more before Ava and the pregnancy
-this was beautiful ❤️🔥
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 15, 2026
Simone could write a telephone book and I would read it at this point. This story was so heartfelt. There are beautiful conversations regarding grief and how life moves forward, as well as some interesting conversations regarding culture. Ava was so likable and I really admire the way she is written 🥹! Zaid is a MAN! A perfect book baby daddy. The natural buildup of their relationship while also navigating an accidentally pregnancy was perfectly crafted. I loved this story and the ending genuinely got some tears out of me because of the joy it radiated.
This one made me an accidental pregnancy trope enjoyer 😂
This one made me an accidental pregnancy trope enjoyer 😂
Read
August 17, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the eArc in exchange for this review.
Please be advised this book deals with heavy topics such as parental death and estrangement, trauma bordering on PTSD, and pregnancy and medical content.
Have you ever connected with a character from the very first line? From page one, sentence one, this book hooked me in. Unfortunately, Zaid Yousef and I have a tendency to almost die a lot and that one sentence endeared me to him. I felt his anxiety over racing fly off the page (so relatable when you almost die a lot) and I really worried about him and his journey. Similarly, I found Ava entirely relatable too, my anxious eldest daughter who people pleases so much it could be a full time job. The fact that I saw myself so thoroughly in these main characters made me feel very protective over them both! Sorry to everyone else but they're mine now!
This book takes a while to set up the main premise and I'll never begrudge an author for taking the time to set up the entire thing, and I was grateful for it. Apparently Zaid and Ava have History Together and the additional context was necessary as I hadn't read the other two books prior to this one. A LOT happened to them and while I don't think I'd be as forgiving and gracious if I was in Ava's shoes, I don't begrudge her for forgiving a hot athlete.
The writing is very easy to fall into and there was a lot of humor and heart to this book as well, which I appreciated. I love a one liner!!!
That being said, I don't think there's a lot of romance on page and I think romance readers will find themselves disappointed in that regard. Yes, Ava and Zaid agree to coparent and spend a lot of time together as a result, but the chemistry itself is lacking. They feel more like pleasant coworkers than two characters falling in love, even at the end of the book. I think this is one of the rare stories that would have benefitted from being a lot longer than it was, so more of the romance had room to breathe over the sport aspect of the novel which took center stage ("But Kelly it's an F1 romance!!").
As someone who isn't an F1 watcher and knows nothing about the sport other than the cars go vroom very quickly, I felt like I learned a lot about it through this book! I'm thankful to have the opportunity to learn more about a sport that I know nothing about in real life. I might have to go back and read the first two books in the series now and learn even more.
I chose a 3.5 star rating for this book (with a rounding up to 4 stars). I enjoyed my time reading, even though I wish certain aspects had more time to breath before jumping onto the next thing. Ava and Zaid felt like a proper main couple that I wanted to root for and hoped nothing would get in the way of their romance. The trauma they go through is real and especially relatable to me, and I'm glad Zaid found his reason to live. Ava will be so good for him, and Zaid will be so good to her (perfect book boyfriend for REAL!!!) so I have no doubt they'll have a long happily ever after.
Please be advised this book deals with heavy topics such as parental death and estrangement, trauma bordering on PTSD, and pregnancy and medical content.
Have you ever connected with a character from the very first line? From page one, sentence one, this book hooked me in. Unfortunately, Zaid Yousef and I have a tendency to almost die a lot and that one sentence endeared me to him. I felt his anxiety over racing fly off the page (so relatable when you almost die a lot) and I really worried about him and his journey. Similarly, I found Ava entirely relatable too, my anxious eldest daughter who people pleases so much it could be a full time job. The fact that I saw myself so thoroughly in these main characters made me feel very protective over them both! Sorry to everyone else but they're mine now!
This book takes a while to set up the main premise and I'll never begrudge an author for taking the time to set up the entire thing, and I was grateful for it. Apparently Zaid and Ava have History Together and the additional context was necessary as I hadn't read the other two books prior to this one. A LOT happened to them and while I don't think I'd be as forgiving and gracious if I was in Ava's shoes, I don't begrudge her for forgiving a hot athlete.
The writing is very easy to fall into and there was a lot of humor and heart to this book as well, which I appreciated. I love a one liner!!!
That being said, I don't think there's a lot of romance on page and I think romance readers will find themselves disappointed in that regard. Yes, Ava and Zaid agree to coparent and spend a lot of time together as a result, but the chemistry itself is lacking. They feel more like pleasant coworkers than two characters falling in love, even at the end of the book. I think this is one of the rare stories that would have benefitted from being a lot longer than it was, so more of the romance had room to breathe over the sport aspect of the novel which took center stage ("But Kelly it's an F1 romance!!").
As someone who isn't an F1 watcher and knows nothing about the sport other than the cars go vroom very quickly, I felt like I learned a lot about it through this book! I'm thankful to have the opportunity to learn more about a sport that I know nothing about in real life. I might have to go back and read the first two books in the series now and learn even more.
I chose a 3.5 star rating for this book (with a rounding up to 4 stars). I enjoyed my time reading, even though I wish certain aspects had more time to breath before jumping onto the next thing. Ava and Zaid felt like a proper main couple that I wanted to root for and hoped nothing would get in the way of their romance. The trauma they go through is real and especially relatable to me, and I'm glad Zaid found his reason to live. Ava will be so good for him, and Zaid will be so good to her (perfect book boyfriend for REAL!!!) so I have no doubt they'll have a long happily ever after.
Did Not Finish
August 20, 2026Thank you Berkley for the eARC!
Unfortunately, this one was a DNF for me. 😬
I really wanted to like Crash Into You, especially because the F1 setting sounded like something I would absolutely eat up, but I spent so much of the book confused by the storyline and the character decisions that I eventually had to tap out.
Ava’s backstory genuinely made me feel for her. She had a terrible childhood, no relationship with her dad, and then lost her mom. I completely understand wanting to become a mother after everything she’s been through, but the decision to immediately pursue pregnancy felt so abrupt to me. I kept thinking, maybe take a little time to work through everything you’ve been carrying before bringing a baby into the picture?
And then there’s Zaid. This man is a SEVEN-TIME WORLD CHAMPION F1 DRIVER and apparently has “nothing to drive for.” Sir. 😭 You are literally living a dream that thousands of people would give anything to have! I could not understand that motivation at all.
The biggest issue for me, though, was how inconsistent everything felt.
We’re told that their mishap 18 months ago completely wrecked Ava’s life and career after paparazzi caught them in a compromising situation. So I was very confused when she was suddenly wanting to take Zaid to dinner… and then sleep with him? How did we get there?! If this man supposedly ruined your life, I need a little more emotional conflict before we jump straight back into bed.
And unfortunately, I didn’t feel any chemistry between them. None. The attraction never really landed for me, so the entire relationship felt very forced.
Even the whole “reckless night” setup didn’t work for me because there barely seemed to be enough alcohol involved for either of them to be tipsy enough to call the situation an accident. So much of the story seemed to depend on choices that I just couldn’t make sense of.
I hate DNFing a book, especially when I can see what it was trying to do, but this one just felt very off to me. I kept waiting for things to click into place, and instead I found myself questioning the characters, the timeline, and their motivations more and more.
The F1 setting had so much potential, but unfortunately, this one just wasn’t a match for me.
Unfortunately, this one was a DNF for me. 😬
I really wanted to like Crash Into You, especially because the F1 setting sounded like something I would absolutely eat up, but I spent so much of the book confused by the storyline and the character decisions that I eventually had to tap out.
Ava’s backstory genuinely made me feel for her. She had a terrible childhood, no relationship with her dad, and then lost her mom. I completely understand wanting to become a mother after everything she’s been through, but the decision to immediately pursue pregnancy felt so abrupt to me. I kept thinking, maybe take a little time to work through everything you’ve been carrying before bringing a baby into the picture?
And then there’s Zaid. This man is a SEVEN-TIME WORLD CHAMPION F1 DRIVER and apparently has “nothing to drive for.” Sir. 😭 You are literally living a dream that thousands of people would give anything to have! I could not understand that motivation at all.
The biggest issue for me, though, was how inconsistent everything felt.
We’re told that their mishap 18 months ago completely wrecked Ava’s life and career after paparazzi caught them in a compromising situation. So I was very confused when she was suddenly wanting to take Zaid to dinner… and then sleep with him? How did we get there?! If this man supposedly ruined your life, I need a little more emotional conflict before we jump straight back into bed.
And unfortunately, I didn’t feel any chemistry between them. None. The attraction never really landed for me, so the entire relationship felt very forced.
Even the whole “reckless night” setup didn’t work for me because there barely seemed to be enough alcohol involved for either of them to be tipsy enough to call the situation an accident. So much of the story seemed to depend on choices that I just couldn’t make sense of.
I hate DNFing a book, especially when I can see what it was trying to do, but this one just felt very off to me. I kept waiting for things to click into place, and instead I found myself questioning the characters, the timeline, and their motivations more and more.
The F1 setting had so much potential, but unfortunately, this one just wasn’t a match for me.
03-not-released
December 3, 202530th Apr 2026, changed to 27th Aug 2026
July 5, 2026
I am, first and foremost, a huge fan of Simone Soltani’s writing. She is an auto-buy and auto-read author for me, so when I received the email that I was approved to read an ARC copy of Crash Into You, well, I dropped everything else I was planning on reading to pick up this novel instead. Obsessed isn’t a strong enough word to describe how I felt while I read this book. It was an all-consuming reading experience, one where when away from the novel, all I could think about was reading it. It’s safe to say our main characters, Ava and Zaid, have imprinted themselves in my heart and I will be carrying them around for some time to come.
One of the reasons why I’m a huge fan of Soltani is because of her writing style. Her writing style is incredibly addicting and has a natural ease to it, which makes it easy to fall into the story she’s crafting. Every chapter ended with a cliffhanger note that compelled you to turn to the next page. Flitting between Ava and Zaid’s perspectives flowed smoothly, and I adored being inside their heads. Soltani makes writing from a first-person perspective appear easy to do, when I know it is anything but. It’s one of the many elements I admire about her writing style.
The one and only reason why I knocked this book down from a five-star read to a four-star read was due to one integral plot: the pregnancy plotline. This entirely comes down to my personal preference as a reader and has nothing to do with how Soltani handled this plot, which was from a place of care and tact. While there was a moment when it seemed like the pregnancy was being used to heal the grief within the characters, Soltani quickly wrote away from that idea and proved that Ava and Zaid were having a baby for the right reasons, and their (romantic) relationship ended up being stronger because of it.
Ava and Zaid were more than just a romance, more than just characters. They were a vessel through which Soltani explored the issues of diversity and racism in the Formula 1 world. There’s no denying diversity and racism is a huge issue in the sport, which is why we need diverse writers, diverse readers, and diverse characters to continue championing these conversations and proving to the world that we do need change, and that we do hold our sports and teams to higher standards to make things better.
A final note on the romance: Men written by women? Will always be the superior experience. My heart melted over the way Zaid—and his entire family—showed so much care, affection, and love for Ava.
I cannot wait to read book four! When I turned the final page on Ava and Zaid’s story to see Axel’s story was coming, I squealed. Soltani is a master at crafting romances and finding the balance/creating foils between the two love interests, and I cannot wait to see what she cooks up next.
TW: pregnancy, death of parent (off page), grief
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
One of the reasons why I’m a huge fan of Soltani is because of her writing style. Her writing style is incredibly addicting and has a natural ease to it, which makes it easy to fall into the story she’s crafting. Every chapter ended with a cliffhanger note that compelled you to turn to the next page. Flitting between Ava and Zaid’s perspectives flowed smoothly, and I adored being inside their heads. Soltani makes writing from a first-person perspective appear easy to do, when I know it is anything but. It’s one of the many elements I admire about her writing style.
The one and only reason why I knocked this book down from a five-star read to a four-star read was due to one integral plot: the pregnancy plotline. This entirely comes down to my personal preference as a reader and has nothing to do with how Soltani handled this plot, which was from a place of care and tact. While there was a moment when it seemed like the pregnancy was being used to heal the grief within the characters, Soltani quickly wrote away from that idea and proved that Ava and Zaid were having a baby for the right reasons, and their (romantic) relationship ended up being stronger because of it.
Ava and Zaid were more than just a romance, more than just characters. They were a vessel through which Soltani explored the issues of diversity and racism in the Formula 1 world. There’s no denying diversity and racism is a huge issue in the sport, which is why we need diverse writers, diverse readers, and diverse characters to continue championing these conversations and proving to the world that we do need change, and that we do hold our sports and teams to higher standards to make things better.
A final note on the romance: Men written by women? Will always be the superior experience. My heart melted over the way Zaid—and his entire family—showed so much care, affection, and love for Ava.
I cannot wait to read book four! When I turned the final page on Ava and Zaid’s story to see Axel’s story was coming, I squealed. Soltani is a master at crafting romances and finding the balance/creating foils between the two love interests, and I cannot wait to see what she cooks up next.
TW: pregnancy, death of parent (off page), grief
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author / publisher / NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Simone Soltani is BACK with another gripping installment in the Lights Out series, this time following Ava and Zaid's love story.
Ava, our 34 y/o Iranian fmc, is a former F1 darling fallen from grace. After losing her mother at a young age, her father pulled away and had little to do with her, and just a couple of years ago a run-in with a rival F1 driver, Zaid, pushed Ava and her father even further apart. At this point in her life, Ava is ready to grow a family with or without a partner, and she is actively pursuing fertility treatments in pursuit of that family.
Zaid, our 39 y/o Iraqi mmc, is an accomplished F1 driver who was recently sidelined by a harrowing crash. He has just returned to the circuit, but he is still deeply affected not only by his PTSD from the accident, but also by the loss of his father just a few years ago.
THE HISTORY: A few years ago, Ava comforted Zaid at his father's memorial. The F1 gossip rags picked up the story and ran with it, insinuating that Ava had nefarious purposes for getting close to Zaid while he was at the top of his game, considering Ava is the daughter of the team principal for Zaid's biggest competitor. This caused Ava to be outright shunned by the F1 community, including her father, which has deeply impacted the trajectory of her life, and has caused her to be incredibly closed off to Zaid upon their reconnection.
THE TROPES: forbidden romance, one night only, unexpected pregnancy, sports romance, one bed
WHAT I THOUGHT: Another absolutely solid release from Simone Soltani. I have loved each installment of the Lights Out series thus far, and Crash Into You was no different. I thought the premise was interesting, the execution was excellent, and the conclusion was satisfying. I'd be remiss if I failed to mention that Ava & Zaid's first night together occupies the first 20% (!!!) of the book - do with that information what you will. As usual, Soltani does an excellent job of weaving not only a story of romance, but one that also explores the complexities of the F1 world, and how an individual's experience in that world can vary widely based on race, nationality, or gender. Her books are multifaceted & propulsive, and I loved every minute. I also thoroughly enjoyed the glimpses at the ongoing lives of some of our favorite couples from earlier in the series, and I was delighted to learn more about Axel, considering it would seem his book is up next! Simone Soltani has earned a longtime reader in me, and I am so excited to rave about Crash Into You and whatever book(s) follow.
Simone Soltani is BACK with another gripping installment in the Lights Out series, this time following Ava and Zaid's love story.
Ava, our 34 y/o Iranian fmc, is a former F1 darling fallen from grace. After losing her mother at a young age, her father pulled away and had little to do with her, and just a couple of years ago a run-in with a rival F1 driver, Zaid, pushed Ava and her father even further apart. At this point in her life, Ava is ready to grow a family with or without a partner, and she is actively pursuing fertility treatments in pursuit of that family.
Zaid, our 39 y/o Iraqi mmc, is an accomplished F1 driver who was recently sidelined by a harrowing crash. He has just returned to the circuit, but he is still deeply affected not only by his PTSD from the accident, but also by the loss of his father just a few years ago.
THE HISTORY: A few years ago, Ava comforted Zaid at his father's memorial. The F1 gossip rags picked up the story and ran with it, insinuating that Ava had nefarious purposes for getting close to Zaid while he was at the top of his game, considering Ava is the daughter of the team principal for Zaid's biggest competitor. This caused Ava to be outright shunned by the F1 community, including her father, which has deeply impacted the trajectory of her life, and has caused her to be incredibly closed off to Zaid upon their reconnection.
THE TROPES: forbidden romance, one night only, unexpected pregnancy, sports romance, one bed
WHAT I THOUGHT: Another absolutely solid release from Simone Soltani. I have loved each installment of the Lights Out series thus far, and Crash Into You was no different. I thought the premise was interesting, the execution was excellent, and the conclusion was satisfying. I'd be remiss if I failed to mention that Ava & Zaid's first night together occupies the first 20% (!!!) of the book - do with that information what you will. As usual, Soltani does an excellent job of weaving not only a story of romance, but one that also explores the complexities of the F1 world, and how an individual's experience in that world can vary widely based on race, nationality, or gender. Her books are multifaceted & propulsive, and I loved every minute. I also thoroughly enjoyed the glimpses at the ongoing lives of some of our favorite couples from earlier in the series, and I was delighted to learn more about Axel, considering it would seem his book is up next! Simone Soltani has earned a longtime reader in me, and I am so excited to rave about Crash Into You and whatever book(s) follow.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was in the mood for an F1 romance, and then I remembered I had an ARC for this, and it met every expectation I had! Crash Into You is everything I hoped it would be and another reminder that Simone Soltani has such a gift for blending emotional, character-driven romance with the adrenaline and intensity of Formula 1, and this book strikes that balance beautifully.
I know accidental pregnancy can be an iffy trope for some people, it’s an iffy trope for me as well, but it worked incredibly well here because the relationship never felt forced or rushed. I haven’t had that many successes with this trope, Cara Bastone’s Ready or Not is the only other book I can think of where I enjoyed it, but I really loved this. Ava and Zaid’s connection was built on trust, honesty, and genuine care for each other which made every step of their journey feel earned. Zaid was the definition of a green flag. That man is honestly perfect. He’s patient, supportive, fiercely devoted, and quietly vulnerable beneath his champion exterior. Watching him navigate the aftermath of a devastating crash while rediscovering his love for racing and finding a new reason to fight made him impossible not to love and root for. And Ava was equally as wonderful. She’s strong, compassionate, and determined to live life on her own terms, and she never lost herself in the romance. I especially appreciated how thoughtfully the story explored grief, trauma, healing, and the realities of life inside the Formula 1 world without ever losing sight of the romance at its heart.
One of my favorite aspects of Simone Soltani’s books is how authentic the F1 setting feels. The racing isn’t just a backdrop. It’s woven into the characters’ identities, the emotional stakes, and the overall story. You can tell the author genuinely loves the sport, and that passion shines through every race weekend, every team interaction, and every behind-the-scenes moment. As someone who doesn’t follow F1 closely but still appreciates it and loves reading books about it, this was so much fun to read.
The emotional payoff, mature communication, and deeply lovable cast made this a quick favorite. If you’re looking for an F1 romance with authentic racing, heartfelt emotion, wonderfully supportive main characters/love interests, and a romance built on healing, trust, and unwavering devotion, Crash Into You absolutely delivers. I’ll absolutely be reading whatever Soltani writes next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this eARC!
I know accidental pregnancy can be an iffy trope for some people, it’s an iffy trope for me as well, but it worked incredibly well here because the relationship never felt forced or rushed. I haven’t had that many successes with this trope, Cara Bastone’s Ready or Not is the only other book I can think of where I enjoyed it, but I really loved this. Ava and Zaid’s connection was built on trust, honesty, and genuine care for each other which made every step of their journey feel earned. Zaid was the definition of a green flag. That man is honestly perfect. He’s patient, supportive, fiercely devoted, and quietly vulnerable beneath his champion exterior. Watching him navigate the aftermath of a devastating crash while rediscovering his love for racing and finding a new reason to fight made him impossible not to love and root for. And Ava was equally as wonderful. She’s strong, compassionate, and determined to live life on her own terms, and she never lost herself in the romance. I especially appreciated how thoughtfully the story explored grief, trauma, healing, and the realities of life inside the Formula 1 world without ever losing sight of the romance at its heart.
One of my favorite aspects of Simone Soltani’s books is how authentic the F1 setting feels. The racing isn’t just a backdrop. It’s woven into the characters’ identities, the emotional stakes, and the overall story. You can tell the author genuinely loves the sport, and that passion shines through every race weekend, every team interaction, and every behind-the-scenes moment. As someone who doesn’t follow F1 closely but still appreciates it and loves reading books about it, this was so much fun to read.
The emotional payoff, mature communication, and deeply lovable cast made this a quick favorite. If you’re looking for an F1 romance with authentic racing, heartfelt emotion, wonderfully supportive main characters/love interests, and a romance built on healing, trust, and unwavering devotion, Crash Into You absolutely delivers. I’ll absolutely be reading whatever Soltani writes next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley
Crash Into You is the third instalment in the Lights Out series and follows the story of Ava and Zaid. I've been on a F1 romance reading spree and this was one of my favourites so far !
Ava has been contemplating making her dream of being a mother come true on her own for some time and has been working at it, unfortunately with no results. A pre-season event brings her and Zaid together for a steamy night that results in an unexpected, but very welcomed pregnancy. Zaid is still recovering mentally and physically from a terrible crash and this news provides him with the incentive he needs to push through this season and try to secure an 8th title, but also allows him to look forward to life outside of racing.
Grief is a present theme in this book, both protagonists having lost a parent, and we see how these losses impact your life days and years after, in some many different ways. Ava's father's struggles with coping after losing his wife are also shown, especially from Ava's lens and how that impacted her life and emotional wellbeing, and later on from Zaid's perspective too as an outsider but a new father himself. Speaking of Ava's father (Omid), I thought the rival team principal's daughter trope was relevant only to add fuel to the media frenzy but the real friction in the dynamic between these characters was due to Omid's inability to be a present and dedicated father to Ava.
The characters were wonderfully developed and I enjoyed the softness of the romance. They were clearly pining for each other from afar, held back by circumstance and expectations, but somehow still gravitating around each other. Zaid locked in pretty fast and made it clear he is there to support Ava and their future child and there was no discussion about it which was very comforting and exactly what Ava needed. I also appreciated the characters being more mature and how we also got some insight into their cultures.
I enjoyed the writing and thought the author did a great job at bringing us along the ride for all the F1 races and drama, especially with those articles peppered in. The challenges and joys of the sport were well represented and I look forward to future books in the series (maybe Axel's?👀).
🏁 One Night Stand
🏎️ Unexpected Pregnancy
🏁 MCs in their 30s
🏎️ Found Family
🏁 Grief & Healing
Thank you Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this advanced copy !
Crash Into You is the third instalment in the Lights Out series and follows the story of Ava and Zaid. I've been on a F1 romance reading spree and this was one of my favourites so far !
Ava has been contemplating making her dream of being a mother come true on her own for some time and has been working at it, unfortunately with no results. A pre-season event brings her and Zaid together for a steamy night that results in an unexpected, but very welcomed pregnancy. Zaid is still recovering mentally and physically from a terrible crash and this news provides him with the incentive he needs to push through this season and try to secure an 8th title, but also allows him to look forward to life outside of racing.
Grief is a present theme in this book, both protagonists having lost a parent, and we see how these losses impact your life days and years after, in some many different ways. Ava's father's struggles with coping after losing his wife are also shown, especially from Ava's lens and how that impacted her life and emotional wellbeing, and later on from Zaid's perspective too as an outsider but a new father himself. Speaking of Ava's father (Omid), I thought the rival team principal's daughter trope was relevant only to add fuel to the media frenzy but the real friction in the dynamic between these characters was due to Omid's inability to be a present and dedicated father to Ava.
The characters were wonderfully developed and I enjoyed the softness of the romance. They were clearly pining for each other from afar, held back by circumstance and expectations, but somehow still gravitating around each other. Zaid locked in pretty fast and made it clear he is there to support Ava and their future child and there was no discussion about it which was very comforting and exactly what Ava needed. I also appreciated the characters being more mature and how we also got some insight into their cultures.
I enjoyed the writing and thought the author did a great job at bringing us along the ride for all the F1 races and drama, especially with those articles peppered in. The challenges and joys of the sport were well represented and I look forward to future books in the series (maybe Axel's?👀).
🏁 One Night Stand
🏎️ Unexpected Pregnancy
🏁 MCs in their 30s
🏎️ Found Family
🏁 Grief & Healing
Thank you Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this advanced copy !
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As an F1 fan, this book had me in an absolute chokehold.
Simone Soltani somehow managed to give me everything I love about Formula 1 romance—the adrenaline, the pressure, the media scrutiny, the rivalries, the paddock politics—and then wrapped it all up in a story that completely stole my heart. Zaid Yousef is a seven-time world champion trying to find his way back after a devastating crash, and watching him navigate fear, grief, expectations, and the possibility of something more with Ava was honestly beautiful.
And can we talk about Zaid for a second? Because OH. MY. GOD. This man. The quiet strength, the loyalty, the way he shows up when it matters most? He may have just raced his way onto my list of favorite book boyfriends. Ava was equally incredible. She’s smart, determined, knows exactly who she is, and never loses herself in the relationship. Together they felt like partners in every sense of the word.
Now let’s address the trope that usually scares me: accidental pregnancy. Somehow Simone made it work. Not only did it work, but it became the emotional heartbeat of the story. The relationship developed with so much care and maturity that I found myself completely invested in every step of their journey.
What really sets this series apart is how authentic the Formula 1 world feels. The racing scenes are thrilling without overwhelming the romance, and you can tell the author genuinely loves and understands the sport. As someone who watches races, follows the drivers, and lives for race weekends, I was eating up every single page.
There are also deeper themes woven throughout the story—grief, family expectations, identity, belonging, and found family—and they hit hard. More than once I found myself smiling like an idiot, tearing up, and immediately needing to text someone about what I had just read.
The cameos from previous characters were perfection, the chemistry was off the charts, and the emotional payoff was everything I wanted.
If you’re an F1 fan, read this. If you love sports romance, read this. If you love seeing two people become each other’s safe place while the world is watching, definitely read this.
I finished this book and immediately wanted to sit in silence and stare at a wall because I wasn’t ready to leave the paddock.
Simone Soltani, you’ve done it again. 🏁❤️🏎️✨️
5 stars. No notes. Just fan-girling.
Simone Soltani somehow managed to give me everything I love about Formula 1 romance—the adrenaline, the pressure, the media scrutiny, the rivalries, the paddock politics—and then wrapped it all up in a story that completely stole my heart. Zaid Yousef is a seven-time world champion trying to find his way back after a devastating crash, and watching him navigate fear, grief, expectations, and the possibility of something more with Ava was honestly beautiful.
And can we talk about Zaid for a second? Because OH. MY. GOD. This man. The quiet strength, the loyalty, the way he shows up when it matters most? He may have just raced his way onto my list of favorite book boyfriends. Ava was equally incredible. She’s smart, determined, knows exactly who she is, and never loses herself in the relationship. Together they felt like partners in every sense of the word.
Now let’s address the trope that usually scares me: accidental pregnancy. Somehow Simone made it work. Not only did it work, but it became the emotional heartbeat of the story. The relationship developed with so much care and maturity that I found myself completely invested in every step of their journey.
What really sets this series apart is how authentic the Formula 1 world feels. The racing scenes are thrilling without overwhelming the romance, and you can tell the author genuinely loves and understands the sport. As someone who watches races, follows the drivers, and lives for race weekends, I was eating up every single page.
There are also deeper themes woven throughout the story—grief, family expectations, identity, belonging, and found family—and they hit hard. More than once I found myself smiling like an idiot, tearing up, and immediately needing to text someone about what I had just read.
The cameos from previous characters were perfection, the chemistry was off the charts, and the emotional payoff was everything I wanted.
If you’re an F1 fan, read this. If you love sports romance, read this. If you love seeing two people become each other’s safe place while the world is watching, definitely read this.
I finished this book and immediately wanted to sit in silence and stare at a wall because I wasn’t ready to leave the paddock.
Simone Soltani, you’ve done it again. 🏁❤️🏎️✨️
5 stars. No notes. Just fan-girling.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🏁 A Sweet Ride from Start to Finish 🏁
Sometimes you just need a romance that skips the unnecessary drama and lets the characters grow together. Crash Into Me was exactly the cosy read I was in the mood for.
🏎️ Formula 1
🏎️ MCs in their 30s
🏎️ One Night Stand
🏎️ Unexpected Pregnancy
🏎️ Found Family
🏎️ Grief & Healing
Told through dual POVs, we follow Ava and Zaid as they navigate an unexpected pregnancy following a one night stand. Taking place in the fast paced world of Formula 1, as Zaid is race car driver while Ava has grown up around the sport.
I thoroughly enjoyed their journey as they adjusted to their new reality and slowly fell in love. The story took its time developing both their relationship and their feelings for one another, making it feel natural and believable. It was such a sweet, cosy read with no third-act breakup (thank goodness!) or frustrating miscommunication trope. Watching their relationship progress without unnecessary drama felt really refreshing.
I did feel like Zaid was the more fleshed-out character, or perhaps he simply took centre stage throughout the story. I loved reading about his journey, from getting back behind the wheel after his accident while no longer caring what happened to him, to finding a new reason to keep racing. Then watching him embrace the idea of becoming a father and seeing his softer side as he cared for Ava? Absolutely swoon-worthy.
Ava was a total sweetheart, and I’m so glad she got to fulfil her dream of having a child. She was strong, bright, and full of warmth, no wonder Zaid fell for her so easily. I loved how she grounded him and became a steady source of support when he needed it most.
I really liked how the multicultural representation was woven throughout the story. It felt natural and added another layer to the characters and their journey. The found family aspect was also such a lovely addition and made the story even more endearing.
If you’re looking for a heartfelt F1 romance with lovable characters, plenty of sweet moments, and a relationship that develops with care, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
Thank you so much to Simone Soltani, Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
Sometimes you just need a romance that skips the unnecessary drama and lets the characters grow together. Crash Into Me was exactly the cosy read I was in the mood for.
🏎️ Formula 1
🏎️ MCs in their 30s
🏎️ One Night Stand
🏎️ Unexpected Pregnancy
🏎️ Found Family
🏎️ Grief & Healing
Told through dual POVs, we follow Ava and Zaid as they navigate an unexpected pregnancy following a one night stand. Taking place in the fast paced world of Formula 1, as Zaid is race car driver while Ava has grown up around the sport.
I thoroughly enjoyed their journey as they adjusted to their new reality and slowly fell in love. The story took its time developing both their relationship and their feelings for one another, making it feel natural and believable. It was such a sweet, cosy read with no third-act breakup (thank goodness!) or frustrating miscommunication trope. Watching their relationship progress without unnecessary drama felt really refreshing.
I did feel like Zaid was the more fleshed-out character, or perhaps he simply took centre stage throughout the story. I loved reading about his journey, from getting back behind the wheel after his accident while no longer caring what happened to him, to finding a new reason to keep racing. Then watching him embrace the idea of becoming a father and seeing his softer side as he cared for Ava? Absolutely swoon-worthy.
Ava was a total sweetheart, and I’m so glad she got to fulfil her dream of having a child. She was strong, bright, and full of warmth, no wonder Zaid fell for her so easily. I loved how she grounded him and became a steady source of support when he needed it most.
I really liked how the multicultural representation was woven throughout the story. It felt natural and added another layer to the characters and their journey. The found family aspect was also such a lovely addition and made the story even more endearing.
If you’re looking for a heartfelt F1 romance with lovable characters, plenty of sweet moments, and a relationship that develops with care, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
Thank you so much to Simone Soltani, Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sports romances have become some of my favorite comfort reads, and I have really enjoyed the "Lights Out" series so far. After reading "Cross the Line" and "Ride With Me," I was excited to return to the Formula 1 world and see some familiar faces. I was especially intrigued by Ava and Zaid because of their connections to characters from the previous books and the history they already shared.
I really liked both Ava and Zaid, and I think their individual backgrounds added a lot to the story. Both have experienced the loss of a parent, but that loss has affected them in very different ways. Ava is also dealing with the fallout from the media attention that changed the course of her career and strained some of her closest relationships. Meanwhile, Zaid is returning to racing after a serious accident and struggling with whether his heart is really still in the sport. I appreciated that the book allowed both of them to be vulnerable without making either of their struggles feel like an afterthought.
Of course, the unexpected pregnancy changes everything. I loved that Zaid's reaction wasn't what Ava expected, and watching them figure out what their relationship was going to look like was one of my favorite parts of the book. What begins as an agreement to simply co-parent slowly becomes something much deeper. I also really enjoyed the family dynamics, particularly Ava's complicated relationship with her father. There were quite a few emotional moments throughout the story, but I liked that we also got appearances from Willow, Dev, Stella, and Thomas.
All in all, I absolutely loved this book! Ava and Zaid were so easy for me to root for, both individually and as a couple, and I was extremely happy with how everything came together for them. This was a great addition to the "Lights Out" series, and now I am even more excited for the next book. After getting to know Axel a little better in this one, I definitely cannot wait to read his story!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
I really liked both Ava and Zaid, and I think their individual backgrounds added a lot to the story. Both have experienced the loss of a parent, but that loss has affected them in very different ways. Ava is also dealing with the fallout from the media attention that changed the course of her career and strained some of her closest relationships. Meanwhile, Zaid is returning to racing after a serious accident and struggling with whether his heart is really still in the sport. I appreciated that the book allowed both of them to be vulnerable without making either of their struggles feel like an afterthought.
Of course, the unexpected pregnancy changes everything. I loved that Zaid's reaction wasn't what Ava expected, and watching them figure out what their relationship was going to look like was one of my favorite parts of the book. What begins as an agreement to simply co-parent slowly becomes something much deeper. I also really enjoyed the family dynamics, particularly Ava's complicated relationship with her father. There were quite a few emotional moments throughout the story, but I liked that we also got appearances from Willow, Dev, Stella, and Thomas.
All in all, I absolutely loved this book! Ava and Zaid were so easy for me to root for, both individually and as a couple, and I was extremely happy with how everything came together for them. This was a great addition to the "Lights Out" series, and now I am even more excited for the next book. After getting to know Axel a little better in this one, I definitely cannot wait to read his story!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
July 7, 2026
This was FANTASTIC! I’ve love all of Simone’s books! And seeing them continue to weave together as a one cohesive story, but in a way that still keeps each story their own thing, is SO beautiful! I love seeing little call backs and finally getting to see the other part of something I read before! But not in a way that makes it seem like you’re missing something if you haven’t read the others! This little universe is near and dear to me and I already can’t wait for what’s next!!
Ava and Zaid were honestly SO PERFECT! They were the absolute perfect match. The romance was SO GOOD between the two of them! But I loved how much they LIKED each other?!! Of course they had incredible chemistry straight away!! But they moved together so seamlessly, so effortlessly, because they became good FRIENDS and a very functional team!! OF COURSE!! They were both yearning for MORE!! But taking things slow, and getting settled into their new routine was necessary for many reasons! I love love loooooooved the way everything shifted for Zaid the moment Ava came back into his life, her and the baby were immediately everything to him. But I also really loved that Ava made sure he was able to still finish his season and make sure all his other dreams were able to come true!
I also really appreciated how both Ava and Zaid’s grief was written throughout the book. They both sometimes felt it more than other days, and they both kind sat with each time, took a minute, and just felt it. There is something so GOOD about reading about grief and seeing how different authors can have different characters in the same story experiencing the “same” thing. It’s something that sits close to my heart and seeing it in books I love is so comforting.
Again I can’t wait for what’s next!!! My arc did have the sneak peak for the next book but it did say what it was and IM EXCITED!!! I am a Simone Soltani fan forever and ever and ever!’
Thanks for Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Ava and Zaid were honestly SO PERFECT! They were the absolute perfect match. The romance was SO GOOD between the two of them! But I loved how much they LIKED each other?!! Of course they had incredible chemistry straight away!! But they moved together so seamlessly, so effortlessly, because they became good FRIENDS and a very functional team!! OF COURSE!! They were both yearning for MORE!! But taking things slow, and getting settled into their new routine was necessary for many reasons! I love love loooooooved the way everything shifted for Zaid the moment Ava came back into his life, her and the baby were immediately everything to him. But I also really loved that Ava made sure he was able to still finish his season and make sure all his other dreams were able to come true!
I also really appreciated how both Ava and Zaid’s grief was written throughout the book. They both sometimes felt it more than other days, and they both kind sat with each time, took a minute, and just felt it. There is something so GOOD about reading about grief and seeing how different authors can have different characters in the same story experiencing the “same” thing. It’s something that sits close to my heart and seeing it in books I love is so comforting.
Again I can’t wait for what’s next!!! My arc did have the sneak peak for the next book but it did say what it was and IM EXCITED!!! I am a Simone Soltani fan forever and ever and ever!’
Thanks for Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Crash into You was always going to be a slightly tricky one for me! I loved book one in this series, I rated it 5 stars and it was my top book of 2024, so I had high hopes. But it also includes the pregnancy trope which is my most disliked trope ever - I've only experienced one book before that I enjoyed it in.
The bits that I did like were great! Ava & Zaid both working through parental grief while becoming parents was so bittersweet and it was handled so gracefully. I loved the family dynamics, Zaid's family welcoming Ava, and Ava's family working through their issues.
The pregnancy side of things wasn't too bad, it did become quite all consuming as Ava had wanted to get pregnant for a long time.
My main issue is actually the romance itself, there's not enough of it actually on the page for me to feel any connection or depth between Ava and Zaid. They first meet off-page a few years ago, I think this book really would've benefitted from a few proper flashback scenes, instead we're just told what happened rather than getting to see it.
I also think it's a shame to spend the whole book building up to Zaid's final race and then have it happen off-page! It would've been a great way to wrap up his career and story after it being such a big part of the story.
All in all, I found the potential was there but the execution and decisions made were a bit disappointing. This is my least favourite of the series so far, I'd like to see a book for Axel next though!
*Thank you to the publisher and author for the opportunity to view an advanced copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was provided with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*
The bits that I did like were great! Ava & Zaid both working through parental grief while becoming parents was so bittersweet and it was handled so gracefully. I loved the family dynamics, Zaid's family welcoming Ava, and Ava's family working through their issues.
The pregnancy side of things wasn't too bad, it did become quite all consuming as Ava had wanted to get pregnant for a long time.
My main issue is actually the romance itself, there's not enough of it actually on the page for me to feel any connection or depth between Ava and Zaid. They first meet off-page a few years ago, I think this book really would've benefitted from a few proper flashback scenes, instead we're just told what happened rather than getting to see it.
I also think it's a shame to spend the whole book building up to Zaid's final race and then have it happen off-page! It would've been a great way to wrap up his career and story after it being such a big part of the story.
All in all, I found the potential was there but the execution and decisions made were a bit disappointing. This is my least favourite of the series so far, I'd like to see a book for Axel next though!
*Thank you to the publisher and author for the opportunity to view an advanced copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was provided with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
💜 Book Review 🩷
THANK YOU NETGALLEY AND BERKLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ AND REVIEW THIS BOOK.
💜 First, let me start by yelling, ZAID YUSEF, YOU ARE EXACTLY WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE.
🩷 I really enjoyed this book, and I think the majority of that comes down to the level of communication between Ava and Zaid.
💜 The ability to care, to grow, and to take risks despite how much you’ve been hurt in the past pretty much sums up their relationship, and I fell for it.
🩷 Both of them were always willing to put each other first in a way that didn’t seem selfish or self-serving, and that was just perfect.
💜 It’s strange how strongly I felt connected with Ava. Despite both of us having similar goals, I think I really connected with her on a deeper level. I didn’t find her actions intolerable or inconsiderate. I thought she was very level-headed and let reasoning guide most of her decisions, and while others might see that as a flaw, I read it as a girl who knew what she wanted and oftentimes went for it.
🩷✨ Now onto the man of the hour, Zaid Yusef. ✨💜
💜 You might think to yourself, he can’t really be that perfect and to that I say that he is. A man that says the right things and does the right things is so rare to come by. What made him extremely special to me was the fact that despite his own flaws and struggles, he was more than willing to hold onto what little moments of happiness life was willing to give him.
🩷 Grief is also a common theme in this book. Ava and Zaid have known loss, but they’ve learned to treasure the people they care about and put them first.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💜 I’d rate this read a solid 4 stars, and I cannot wait for you all to read it when it comes out in November.
🩷 PS: REMEMBER TO ALWAYS ENSURE YOU HAVE A CONDOM. NOT EVERY MAN IS ZAID YUSEF. 😂💀
THANK YOU NETGALLEY AND BERKLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ AND REVIEW THIS BOOK.
💜 First, let me start by yelling, ZAID YUSEF, YOU ARE EXACTLY WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE.
🩷 I really enjoyed this book, and I think the majority of that comes down to the level of communication between Ava and Zaid.
💜 The ability to care, to grow, and to take risks despite how much you’ve been hurt in the past pretty much sums up their relationship, and I fell for it.
🩷 Both of them were always willing to put each other first in a way that didn’t seem selfish or self-serving, and that was just perfect.
💜 It’s strange how strongly I felt connected with Ava. Despite both of us having similar goals, I think I really connected with her on a deeper level. I didn’t find her actions intolerable or inconsiderate. I thought she was very level-headed and let reasoning guide most of her decisions, and while others might see that as a flaw, I read it as a girl who knew what she wanted and oftentimes went for it.
🩷✨ Now onto the man of the hour, Zaid Yusef. ✨💜
💜 You might think to yourself, he can’t really be that perfect and to that I say that he is. A man that says the right things and does the right things is so rare to come by. What made him extremely special to me was the fact that despite his own flaws and struggles, he was more than willing to hold onto what little moments of happiness life was willing to give him.
🩷 Grief is also a common theme in this book. Ava and Zaid have known loss, but they’ve learned to treasure the people they care about and put them first.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💜 I’d rate this read a solid 4 stars, and I cannot wait for you all to read it when it comes out in November.
🩷 PS: REMEMBER TO ALWAYS ENSURE YOU HAVE A CONDOM. NOT EVERY MAN IS ZAID YUSEF. 😂💀
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC. As always, my opinions are my own.
After absolutely devouring Ride With Me, I couldn't wait to jump back into Simone Soltani's F1 world. I love the atmosphere of this series, the found family, and the way Formula 1 is woven into the romances, so I went into this one with really high expectations.
Unfortunately, this ended up being my least favourite book in the Lights Out series so far. My biggest issue was that everything felt a little rushed. I loved Zaid and seeing him as the MMC who was completely all in from the beginning was genuinely refreshing but, because so much happened so quickly, I never felt like I got to watch his relationship with Ava naturally grow. I wanted more of those quieter moments that make you really believe in a couple before the major life events arrived.
I also have to admit that accidental pregnancy is one of my least favourite romance tropes, and this book reminded me why. It's entirely a personal preference, but I felt like it accelerated the relationship before it had the chance to blossom organically.
One thing I was especially hoping for was to experience Zaid's final race. As an F1 fan, I wanted that moment to have its own chapter because it felt like such an important milestone in his career. Having it wrapped up in just a few lines in the epilogue left me wanting so much more.
That said, Simone Soltani's writing is still incredibly easy to binge, and I continue to love the world she's created around this series. Even though this one wasn't quite for me, I'll absolutely be picking up whatever comes next.
Publication date: 27 August 2026
After absolutely devouring Ride With Me, I couldn't wait to jump back into Simone Soltani's F1 world. I love the atmosphere of this series, the found family, and the way Formula 1 is woven into the romances, so I went into this one with really high expectations.
Unfortunately, this ended up being my least favourite book in the Lights Out series so far. My biggest issue was that everything felt a little rushed. I loved Zaid and seeing him as the MMC who was completely all in from the beginning was genuinely refreshing but, because so much happened so quickly, I never felt like I got to watch his relationship with Ava naturally grow. I wanted more of those quieter moments that make you really believe in a couple before the major life events arrived.
I also have to admit that accidental pregnancy is one of my least favourite romance tropes, and this book reminded me why. It's entirely a personal preference, but I felt like it accelerated the relationship before it had the chance to blossom organically.
One thing I was especially hoping for was to experience Zaid's final race. As an F1 fan, I wanted that moment to have its own chapter because it felt like such an important milestone in his career. Having it wrapped up in just a few lines in the epilogue left me wanting so much more.
That said, Simone Soltani's writing is still incredibly easy to binge, and I continue to love the world she's created around this series. Even though this one wasn't quite for me, I'll absolutely be picking up whatever comes next.
Publication date: 27 August 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book by Simone Soltani that I've ever read and I like that I didn't need to read the first two in order to know what was going on or who anyone was.
Crash Into You is the third installment in the Lights Out series and follows the story of Ava and Zaid. Ava, an Iranian, and Zaid, an Iraqi, were refreshingly portrayed as main characters in the story. However, I would have appreciated a deeper exploration of their cultures and how these aspects of their identities influenced their lives.
Ava, who has been yearning to become a mother for some time, has been diligently working towards her dream, but unfortunately, her efforts have yielded no results. A pre-season event brings her and Zaid together for an intimate evening that unexpectedly leads to a pregnancy. While Zaid is still grappling with the mental and physical aftermath of a severe crash, this news serves as a powerful motivator for him to persevere through the upcoming season and strive for an eighth championship title. Additionally, it offers him a glimmer of hope for a future beyond racing.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and was impressed by the author’s ability to guide us through the thrilling F1 races and the accompanying drama, particularly with the inclusion of insightful articles. The challenges and joys of the sport were effectively portrayed, and I eagerly anticipate future installments in the series.
~One Night Stand
~ Unexpected Pregnancy
~ MCs in their 30s
~ Found Family
~ Grief & Healing
This is the first book by Simone Soltani that I've ever read and I like that I didn't need to read the first two in order to know what was going on or who anyone was.
Crash Into You is the third installment in the Lights Out series and follows the story of Ava and Zaid. Ava, an Iranian, and Zaid, an Iraqi, were refreshingly portrayed as main characters in the story. However, I would have appreciated a deeper exploration of their cultures and how these aspects of their identities influenced their lives.
Ava, who has been yearning to become a mother for some time, has been diligently working towards her dream, but unfortunately, her efforts have yielded no results. A pre-season event brings her and Zaid together for an intimate evening that unexpectedly leads to a pregnancy. While Zaid is still grappling with the mental and physical aftermath of a severe crash, this news serves as a powerful motivator for him to persevere through the upcoming season and strive for an eighth championship title. Additionally, it offers him a glimmer of hope for a future beyond racing.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and was impressed by the author’s ability to guide us through the thrilling F1 races and the accompanying drama, particularly with the inclusion of insightful articles. The challenges and joys of the sport were effectively portrayed, and I eagerly anticipate future installments in the series.
~One Night Stand
~ Unexpected Pregnancy
~ MCs in their 30s
~ Found Family
~ Grief & Healing
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25 stars
Lights Out is by far my favourite F1 romance series out there and it keeps getting better! It’s obvious the author knows Formula 1 and so the team dynamics, paddock atmosphere, races etc all felt very authentic. I liked how many race scenes were included in this book as I wished book two in the series had more. They were described well and I think even non F1 fans will understand the fast paced danger and risks the drivers take by racing each week.
Ava and Zaid are my favourite couple from the series. I loved their chemistry and the pull they have had towards each other for years that they never acted on. Their history, both together and as part of the wider sport, was portrayed so well and you fully believed that Zaid would be all in to help Ava with the pregnancy. I also liked how they were both in their mid to late 30s and the reality of what that means for pregnancy, elite sport and coming back after a large crash. Zaid’s mental state returning to a sport that nearly killed him was well depicted and I found myself rooting for him throughout the novel. I also liked the lack of third act breakup which could have been an easy bit of drama to throw in but ultimately unnecessary. The depiction of grief was also well done, as both MCs have lost a parent.
I really hope we get Axel’s book soon as I loved his no nonsense personality - the scene of him in the press conference had me laughing out loud with his blunt answers.
I’d recommend this book to sports romance lovers who like a bit of yearning and a lot of chemistry!
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for access to this ARC.
Lights Out is by far my favourite F1 romance series out there and it keeps getting better! It’s obvious the author knows Formula 1 and so the team dynamics, paddock atmosphere, races etc all felt very authentic. I liked how many race scenes were included in this book as I wished book two in the series had more. They were described well and I think even non F1 fans will understand the fast paced danger and risks the drivers take by racing each week.
Ava and Zaid are my favourite couple from the series. I loved their chemistry and the pull they have had towards each other for years that they never acted on. Their history, both together and as part of the wider sport, was portrayed so well and you fully believed that Zaid would be all in to help Ava with the pregnancy. I also liked how they were both in their mid to late 30s and the reality of what that means for pregnancy, elite sport and coming back after a large crash. Zaid’s mental state returning to a sport that nearly killed him was well depicted and I found myself rooting for him throughout the novel. I also liked the lack of third act breakup which could have been an easy bit of drama to throw in but ultimately unnecessary. The depiction of grief was also well done, as both MCs have lost a parent.
I really hope we get Axel’s book soon as I loved his no nonsense personality - the scene of him in the press conference had me laughing out loud with his blunt answers.
I’d recommend this book to sports romance lovers who like a bit of yearning and a lot of chemistry!
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5✨
After thoroughly enjoying Cross the Line and Ride with Me, I was super excited to pick up Simone’s third instalment in the Lights Out series.
What can I say… this was absolutely brilliant! Zaid and Ava were the perfect match, and the slow burn was slow burnnnnnnning!! The accidental pregnancy trope can be a tricky one to get right, but this was done perfectly.
The relationship between Zaid and Ava was built on good communication, trust and maturity, without any drama, which was so refreshing. Zaid is your perfect MMC and a real sweetheart (don’t get me started on the sour cherry ice cream), but I really loved how they both held each other up in their moments of vulnerability.
Simone covers a variety of sensitive topics including grief, family challenges and being a POC in F1 and they were each handled beautifully and with such care and thought.
You can really tell that Simone knows her stuff about Formula 1, her books are the most authentic to the sport that I’ve read so far and as a massive Formula 1 fan it makes my heart very happy!!
If you love a Formula 1 forbidden romance, with multicultural MCs in their 30s, dual POV, a one night stand that results in an unexpected pregnancy, grumpy x sunshine, grief and found family then you should check this one out!
Another incredible book by Simone, my favourite F1 romance to date! I’m really excited to see what she does next!
Thank you NetGalley, Simone Soltani and Pan Macmillan for providing an eARC - Crash Into You publishes August 27th.
After thoroughly enjoying Cross the Line and Ride with Me, I was super excited to pick up Simone’s third instalment in the Lights Out series.
What can I say… this was absolutely brilliant! Zaid and Ava were the perfect match, and the slow burn was slow burnnnnnnning!! The accidental pregnancy trope can be a tricky one to get right, but this was done perfectly.
The relationship between Zaid and Ava was built on good communication, trust and maturity, without any drama, which was so refreshing. Zaid is your perfect MMC and a real sweetheart (don’t get me started on the sour cherry ice cream), but I really loved how they both held each other up in their moments of vulnerability.
Simone covers a variety of sensitive topics including grief, family challenges and being a POC in F1 and they were each handled beautifully and with such care and thought.
You can really tell that Simone knows her stuff about Formula 1, her books are the most authentic to the sport that I’ve read so far and as a massive Formula 1 fan it makes my heart very happy!!
If you love a Formula 1 forbidden romance, with multicultural MCs in their 30s, dual POV, a one night stand that results in an unexpected pregnancy, grumpy x sunshine, grief and found family then you should check this one out!
Another incredible book by Simone, my favourite F1 romance to date! I’m really excited to see what she does next!
Thank you NetGalley, Simone Soltani and Pan Macmillan for providing an eARC - Crash Into You publishes August 27th.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5
I read the first book in the Light Out series when it came as part of Illumicrate's Afterlight subscription and had a good time. Formula 1 is not really my thing, and so I wasn't planning on continuing with the series, but ultimately I can never resist trying to snatch a widely anticipated release on NetGalley.
Crash into You is the third book of the Light Out series, an interconnected contemporary romance series with the lead characters all involved in Formula 1 (in one way or another). In this book specifically, the MMC is a legendary, active Formula 1 driver who has lost is spark after a terrible crash, and the FMC is the daughter of his rival team's principal. They had some big scandal a couple years ago when the internet overreacted to what amounts to absolutely nothing and haven't seen each other since. They meet again, and whoops, the FMC Ava is pregnant.
I did not read the synopsis before, so I did not actually anticipate a pregnancy trope and was taken aback a bit. I didn't mind it so much here, largely because the two of them are quite healthy about it, and the expectations going into this book would be that it's ludicrous anyway, so making it a bit more unbelievable by introducing a pregnancy plot line did not make it any better or worse. I had a fairly good time reading the novel; Zaid and Ava are quite likeable, and even though there is obviously a mishap quite early in the book, overall it is more on the slower-burn end with a decent dose of yearning. If you enjoy a silly sports romance, this is certainly that.
I read the first book in the Light Out series when it came as part of Illumicrate's Afterlight subscription and had a good time. Formula 1 is not really my thing, and so I wasn't planning on continuing with the series, but ultimately I can never resist trying to snatch a widely anticipated release on NetGalley.
Crash into You is the third book of the Light Out series, an interconnected contemporary romance series with the lead characters all involved in Formula 1 (in one way or another). In this book specifically, the MMC is a legendary, active Formula 1 driver who has lost is spark after a terrible crash, and the FMC is the daughter of his rival team's principal. They had some big scandal a couple years ago when the internet overreacted to what amounts to absolutely nothing and haven't seen each other since. They meet again, and whoops, the FMC Ava is pregnant.
I did not read the synopsis before, so I did not actually anticipate a pregnancy trope and was taken aback a bit. I didn't mind it so much here, largely because the two of them are quite healthy about it, and the expectations going into this book would be that it's ludicrous anyway, so making it a bit more unbelievable by introducing a pregnancy plot line did not make it any better or worse. I had a fairly good time reading the novel; Zaid and Ava are quite likeable, and even though there is obviously a mishap quite early in the book, overall it is more on the slower-burn end with a decent dose of yearning. If you enjoy a silly sports romance, this is certainly that.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I typically want to give an ARC some really good attention and focus. Crash into You didn't get the best version of me as a reader, but it took really good care of me while I spent multiple days in the veterinary hospital with my dog as he was recovering from a very bad case of heat stroke. For that I am incredibly grateful.
If you are a reader who is hesitant about the accidental pregnancy trope, don't let this F1 romance hold you back because of that. Zaid and Ava reconnect despite being connected to rival F1 teams and after one night with a few too many expired condoms, Ava ends up pregnant. This becomes a relief to her as she had been trying to conceive via IUI without success. While she was ideally going to be disconnected from her child's sperm donor, she tells Zaid about the pregnancy.
Zaid has been struggling after a bad accident on the track left him with two broken wrists. Learning of Ava's pregnancy gives him a spark back as he eagerly awaits fatherhood.
Why does this accidental pregnancy not feel like a cliche that makes me want to gag? Because the story isn't about the pregnancy. It is about Ava and Zaid, and it happens to be the pregnancy that brings them together.
I did feel like we were thrown into their relationship a bit quick, by nature of the arrangement of the story line and where we join in the story. I would have liked to be able to build that up some more as I felt like I was thrown off the deep end there at the beginning. That could have been because of the whole reading-it-while-at-the-hospital thing
If you are a reader who is hesitant about the accidental pregnancy trope, don't let this F1 romance hold you back because of that. Zaid and Ava reconnect despite being connected to rival F1 teams and after one night with a few too many expired condoms, Ava ends up pregnant. This becomes a relief to her as she had been trying to conceive via IUI without success. While she was ideally going to be disconnected from her child's sperm donor, she tells Zaid about the pregnancy.
Zaid has been struggling after a bad accident on the track left him with two broken wrists. Learning of Ava's pregnancy gives him a spark back as he eagerly awaits fatherhood.
Why does this accidental pregnancy not feel like a cliche that makes me want to gag? Because the story isn't about the pregnancy. It is about Ava and Zaid, and it happens to be the pregnancy that brings them together.
I did feel like we were thrown into their relationship a bit quick, by nature of the arrangement of the story line and where we join in the story. I would have liked to be able to build that up some more as I felt like I was thrown off the deep end there at the beginning. That could have been because of the whole reading-it-while-at-the-hospital thing
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️4
- F1 Romance
- Unexpected Pregnancy
- Dual POV
- Forbidden Romance
I have been so excited to read this book since Simone Soltani first announced it, and it did not disappoint! This is the third instalment in the Lights Out series and possibly my favourite??
I found the relationship between our main characters Ava and Zaid, to be so sweet and wholesome. Zaid is kind, patient and obsessed with making sure Ava has everything she could ever need or want. Although he goes through his own character arc during the book, his main focus is always making sure Ava and the baby are comfortable and happy. I really enjoyed how strong Ava is, she knew even before becoming pregnant with Zaid's baby that she wanted to be a mother and was willing to go down that road alone. I also found it endearing how much Zaid's family stepped up and helped Ava and made her feel so welcome and loved even though their circumstances weren't the norm.
The F1 setting was really well done, as someone who does not watch F1, I found it really easy to understand and follow along. There was also a good amount of F1 mixed into the story to keep it interesting and not over done or boring.
If you are looking for an F1 Romance, or books with Swoon-worthy MMC's, look no further 🤪
Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Release Date: November 10th 2026
- F1 Romance
- Unexpected Pregnancy
- Dual POV
- Forbidden Romance
I have been so excited to read this book since Simone Soltani first announced it, and it did not disappoint! This is the third instalment in the Lights Out series and possibly my favourite??
I found the relationship between our main characters Ava and Zaid, to be so sweet and wholesome. Zaid is kind, patient and obsessed with making sure Ava has everything she could ever need or want. Although he goes through his own character arc during the book, his main focus is always making sure Ava and the baby are comfortable and happy. I really enjoyed how strong Ava is, she knew even before becoming pregnant with Zaid's baby that she wanted to be a mother and was willing to go down that road alone. I also found it endearing how much Zaid's family stepped up and helped Ava and made her feel so welcome and loved even though their circumstances weren't the norm.
The F1 setting was really well done, as someone who does not watch F1, I found it really easy to understand and follow along. There was also a good amount of F1 mixed into the story to keep it interesting and not over done or boring.
If you are looking for an F1 Romance, or books with Swoon-worthy MMC's, look no further 🤪
Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Release Date: November 10th 2026
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