With Formula 1 racing at the height of the season, we’ve been loving all the fast-paced action! It also helps that we get to read so many swoon-worthy romances inspired by F1, like Angelica Cheng’s debut, The Fast Track.
The Fast Track is a YA racing romance starring Justine Kwong, a 17-year-old F3 driver who dreams of being the first female F1 champion. But when she starts to catch feelings for her biggest rival, Cameron Evans, her goals start to veer off track.
We at THP had such a blast reading this new F1 romance, and we think you will too. Here are three of our favorite things about The Fast Track by Angelica Cheng!
Book Overview: The Fast Track
Content warnings: mentions of parental abandonment
Summary: Justine Kwong has always dreamed of becoming a Formula 1 champion. There’s just one problem: no female driver has ever done it before. So when she’s offered a coveted chance to race in Formula 3, she leaps at the opportunity. Sure, half the fans think she’s just there to fill a diversity quota, and her teammate—the infuriatingly cute Cameron Evans—mistakes her for an intern, but Justine knows her talent will leave them all in the dust.
But driving well isn’t the only prerequisite to getting noticed, and Justine’s forced to fend for herself in a sea of prejudice, paparazzi, and petty backstabbing. There’s a lot riding on her ability to navigate the complicated trackside hierarchy—like the open F2 seat that could be her ticket to the big leagues.
Except…when Justine and Cameron’s bickering gives way to unexpected chemistry, the boy she’s falling for may be the one person standing in the way of her dreams—because while they may be teammates, they are also each other’s biggest competitor. And with her only shot at glory on the line, this race could break more than just hearts.
Justine’s Realness
It’s about time we get more stories about female drivers in racing romances like The Fast Track! This book does not sugarcoat the struggles that come with being in such a male-dominated industry like Formula 1. Justine often gets mistaken as an intern or a server instead of a racer. She gets comments about being a diversity hire, or only recognized for being the token girl on the team. These sexist issues make the story even more real. We rooted for Justine all the way through, especially when her flaws and messiness showed.
Rivals To Lovers
Another one of our favorite things about The Fast Track is the rivals-to-lovers romance between Justine and Cameron. Their constant bickering gets them an assignment to reassemble an old car. As forced proximity would have it, the two get to know each other and even start to get along. Justine’s mentorship with the team’s golden boy Dietrich adds a little twist we couldn’t resist. But Justine can’t afford to let her feelings for anyone distract her from winning the races. The constant push and pull amps up the romantic tension between our two rivals, and we ate it up.
A Well-Deserved Ending
Finally, after a media scandal and harsh words exchanged in the heat of the moment, The Fast Track gives us a most satisfying ending. Justine speaks up for herself in more ways than one: her truth, her frustrations, and her resolve. She takes matters into her hands and fixes the situation her way, one that won’t play into gendered stereotypes or close the doors for future female drivers. One that stays true to her values. And the results of the final race had us cheering loudly for our main characters (both for their careers and their relationship).
Take a chance on Angelica Cheng’s swoon-worthy debut novel, The Fast Track! From the high-speed races and parties to the relatable and messy characters, we loved every bit of it.
The Fast Track by Angelica Cheng comes out August 4th, and you can order a copy of it here!
Are you interested in reading Angelica Cheng’s The Fast Track? What do you think of this new Formula 1 racing romance? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
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