REVIEW: Ride with Me by Simone Soltani

Ride with Me by Simone Soltani; Being stood up at the alter just about the worst case of scenario for any bride, and exactly what happened to bakery owner Stella. If this wasn’t bad enough she kind of posted a drunken rant onto her social media, talk about awkward… but the really kick of it all is now Stella has to smile and act like she is dandy fine while celebrating her cousins bachelorette party in Vegas, while all she wants to do is forget about the blunder that is her life. The last thing she expects is to wake up in bed with a strange man and a wedding ring on her finger! For Thomas going to Vegas was supposed to be a relaxing good time away from all his family pressures and the ever demanding life of a formula 1 racer, getting married was definitely not on his agenda… But when the cameras start rolling and the media takes notice, the pair strike a deal stay married…for now. What begins as a marriage of convenience quickly spirals into something neither can control, as private glances turn into late night confessions and the line between pretending and feeling begins to blur. Stella and Thomas need to decide if what happens in Vegas truly has to stay in Vegas…

I am such a sucker for the marriage of convenience trope and Stella and Thomas just play this role down to a tee! Ride With Me was the perfect blend of fake -dating, slow burn angst and some really cute moments. Soltani delivers a story that’s equal parts heartwarming, humorous and heartfelt by blending the flashy lights of Vegas, the impulsive thrill of a fake marriage and two people genuinely learning to trust again.

I really liked Stella, while not all of her choices were ideal, I completely loved her character and seeing her open up and learn to love and trust again. I loved her dry, sharp humour and the fact that she was so independent and drive, she was definitely a girl boss and knew how to hold her own in any situation. After being so badly hurt by her ex, it was completely understandable for her to be so reserved and closed of to allowing someone new into her heart, this only made me love getting to see the small moments with Thomas all the more. Stella learning to open up again and take a chance on someone new was really special and I loved seeing her take these scary steps. Now for our race car driving hero, gosh was Thomas a sweetheart. He was so far from the conventional sports hero, our guy was polished and sharp for the outside world to see but behind closed doors he was just floundering and trying to find his way between being suffocated by the media pressures and the conflicts in his family. I loved getting to see Thomas with Stella and the fact that he didn’t have to perform while being with her, he got to be just Thomas, the guy.

Good gosh the emotional slow burn that was their relationship was just perfection! There was tension, vulnerability and authentic growth where they just supported each other without demands or expectations and this is what made their relationship work, despite their less than traditional meeting. Stella, reeling from betrayal finds in Thomas not just comfort but a partner who sees her strength without demanding her softness. Meanwhile Thomas stifled by the image driven world of Formula 1 and a demanding father, discovers in Stella the rare freedom to be fully himself. I loved getting to see their relationship grow from instant chemistry to a love that is built on unguarded trust and vulnerability.

Ride With Me turned out to be so much more than a fake-dating romance, this was a story with raw emotions, characters that are given the chance to love and trust again with expectation and a whole lot of feels. This is definitely a book to read if you want the glitz of the formula 1 world mixed in with a beautiful love story.

Book Info:

Publication: May 20, 2025 | Berkley | Lights Out #2

Stella Baldwin thought her life couldn’t get worse. Being left at the altar was bad enough, and the drunken rant she posted to her social media followers in the aftermath was the cherry on top. But having to show up at her cousin’s bachelorette party in Las Vegas barely two weeks later feels like a cruel joke.

Thomas Maxwell-Brown is just looking for a good time. With his family’s expectations pressing down, his career as a Formula 1 driver threatened by fresh talent, and a new reputation as the most hated man on the grid, he needs a break to clear his head. And what better way to decompress than with a stag party in Vegas?

Stella isn’t the woman Thomas expects to meet that night. And Thomas isn’t the man Stella expects to wake up next to in the morning—with a ring on her finger. Staying married might be the perfect solution to all their problems, even if it is a little wild. Sometimes, what happens in Vegas doesn’t need to stay there. . . .