Cross the Line

Starred review from May 1, 2024

DEBUT Willow Williams has recently graduated from college, and she desperately wants to land a job in sports marketing. Her brother Oakley invites her to an F1 event to help her make connections in the industry, and that is where she runs into Dev Anderson, her brother's best friend. Not only is he a driver for an F1 team, but he and Willow also have a bit of history after they kissed almost a year ago. Dev needs Willow's help after a social media disaster with a disgruntled employee, and no one wants to be near him now that he is a social pariah. He knows that Willow is the perfect person to rehab his image and career. Working so closely together stirs up feelings from the past, but Dev doesn't want to negatively impact Willow's career if people find out about their relationship, while Willow is concerned about how her brother will react if he knows how she feels about Dev. Can they make it work without hurting each other in the process? VERDICT Soltani's debut is perfect for fans of Netflix's Formula 1: Drive To Survive docuseries and brings a unique subcategory and delightful addition to the sports romance genre.--Ashli Wells

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 27, 2024
Soltani’s slow-burning debut finds South Asian Formula 1 driver Dev Anderson desperate to win back his sponsors after his bitter former PR manager shares a series of embarrassing sexual posts on Anderson’s social media. He hires his best friend Oakley’s sister, mixed-race aspiring sports manager Willow Williams, who has mobility issues, to help give him an online rebrand. There’s just one wrinkle to their professional relationship: the long-simmering feelings that neither will admit to. Both view the relationship as off-limits because the last time Willow got involved with one of Oakley’s friends it ended in disaster. But as they navigate the misogynistic and often racist racing circuit, which takes them from Monaco to Abu Dhabi, the chemistry between them only intensifies. Soltani’s sensitive, diverse take on the typical sports romance is a breath of fresh air, helmed by a sexy cinnamon roll hero. Unfortunately, the plot drags in some places, especially as the stakes of Oakley learning about Dev and Willow’s involvement with each other never feel particularly high. Still, readers looking for gentle sports romance will want to check this out.