REVIEW: Full Throttle by J.K. MacLaren

Full Throttle by J.K. MacLaren:  was a spicy F1 sports romance about Juliette Marchmont, the first female driver in Formula 1, and Dominic Hastings, the former racing prodigy trying to rebuild his career after being dropped from his father’s team. The problem? Dominic is also Juliette’s former love—and now they’re teammates, competitors, and very much not over each other.

Give me an F1 romance with two competitive drivers who already have history and I’m listening. The racing brought a lot of energy to this one. I liked that the F1 details didn’t overwhelm the romance, especially for anyone who isn’t already familiar on the sport. I also liked the dual timeline. Getting pieces of their history while watching them deal with each other in the present helped explain why there was so much tension between them—and why neither of them was quite as over the other as they wanted to be. And the whole “we’re teammates but I’m still trying to beat you” setup? So much potential for deliciously competitive moments.

I loved the fact that neither Juliette or Dominic was willing to make things easy for the other. They’re fighting for the same championship, they’re forced to train together, and they already know exactly how to push each other’s buttons. But underneath all that rivalry is the history they never really resolved. The more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to pretend their connection disappeared years ago. I liked the contrast between their competitive sides on the track and the softer moments when they finally start letting each other back in.

FULL THROTTLE brought together an F1 romance: high-stakes racing, fierce competition and second-chance feelings. I liked Juliette’s determination to prove herself in a male-dominated sport and the tension that came from having Dominic right there beside her all season. Add in the racing, forced proximity, old heartbreak, and plenty of heat, and this was a fun ride from start to finish.

TROPES & VIBES
🏎️ F1 Romance
💘 Second Chance Romance
😈 Enemies to Lovers
🏁 Rivals to Lovers
🔥 Forced Proximity
💕 Teammates
💞 Mutual Pining
🐢 Slow Burn
💕 He Falls First

QOTD: What’s your favorite sports romance setting—F1, hockey, football, baseball, or something else?

Book Info:

Publication: August 18, 2026 | Dell |

She’s the first-ever female driver. He’s her biggest competition. They broke each other’s hearts. Can they survive a cutthroat Formula 1 season . . . as teammates?

When Juliette Marchmont becomes the first female driver in Formula 1, she knows it’s her one shot to prove she has what it takes to win. She has skeptical managers, arrogant rivals, and rabid fans to prove wrong, all while driving the worst car on the grid . . . also, her teammate is the man who broke her heart, back during her academy days.

Dominic Hastings is the Prince of F1, but all his composure and accolades couldn’t stop his distant, secretive father from firing him after a disastrous performance last season. He’s desperate to show his dad and the rest of the racing world that he’s far from finished . . . but can he survive working with the woman that he never quite got over?

Forced to train in close quarters, Dominic and Juliette butt heads on and off the racetrack. As the competition grows ever more heated, and their connection becomes undeniable, they start to wonder if the bruised love between them might be repaired after all. But they can’t afford distractions. Teammates or no, only one driver can emerge victorious, and Juliette and Dominic are willing to do whatever it takes to cross the finish line first.