Crash Test: A High-Speed Formula 1 Romance Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
Crash Test by Amy James follows Travis Keeping, a rising Formula 1 driver on the brink of championship glory. His world shifts when his secret boyfriend, F2 driver Jacob Nichols, crashes in a terrifying accident. With Jacob fighting for his life in hospital, Travis faces impossible choices and hidden truths. As the season keeps rolling, Travis must deal with team expectations, Jacob’s parents, and his own fears. Jacob returns home to recover, wrestling with regrets, internalized pressure, and the damage his secrecy caused. Eventually, they confront their emotional distance—and what they’re willing to risk for a chance at honesty and each other.
Why I Love This Book
I love the raw emotion that grips me right from the crash. I love how afraid and desperate Travis feels—it hits hard. I love Jacob’s journey, filled with guilt, fear, and growth. I love how their pain isn’t glossed over. I love that the flashbacks weave their past into the present in a way that deepens everything. I love the way Formula 1 intensity mirrors their emotions. I love how Travis builds found family around himself while Jacob faces his demons. I love the slow, messy rebuild of their trust. It wasn’t neat, and that made it feel real.
Who Will Like This Book
If you’re drawn to angsty sports romance, emotional healing, and secret love that crashes into harsh reality, this will pull you in. If you like stories that balance heartbreak and hope, this one delivers.
⚠️ Trigger warning: This book deals with severe injury, trauma, internalized homophobia, and emotional manipulation. It’s heavy in emotion and may be triggering. Be aware before diving in.
Tagged As
sports romance, Formula 1 romance, m/m romance, secret relationship, emotional slow burn, angst, healing romance, character growth, found family, dual pov, contemporary, second chance vibes, indie romance, queer romance, summer reading, HEA
Steam Level
The focus is on emotional intensity rather than explicit content. There’s gentle closeness and heartfelt reconnection—but it stays grounded in feeling, not detail.
