I received this book for free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Crash Test by Amy JamesPublication Date: July 1, 2025
Publisher: Avon Books
Pages: 348
StoryGraph
Goodreads
Source: Edelweiss
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Formula 1, M M Romance, Queer, Romance, Sports, Sports Romance
Rating: ★★★★★
Formula 1 meets Red, White, & Royal Blue in this contemporary romance in which an F1 phenom battling for the championship is sent spinning after his secret love is involved in a massive crash.
Twenty-four-year-old Formula 1 driver Travis Keeping is halfway through an incredible racing season, with the championship well within his sights. But when a massive crash in Formula 2 leaves driver Jacob Nichols in critical condition, Travis’s world is flipped upside down. No one knows, but he and Jacob have been dating for almost a year.
Now the only boy he’s ever loved is clinging to life, his F1 team can’t understand why his performance is faltering, and he’s locked in a cold war with Jacob’s parents, who want him as far away from their son as humanly possible. Travis is sure everything will get better when Jacob wakes up, but he soon realizes he’s underestimated Jacob’s parents’ influence on their son.
As the F1 season barrels on, Travis and Jacob find themselves alone and miserable on opposite sides of the globe. But with some new friends by their sides, both drivers will be pushed outside of their comfort zones and onto a journey of self-discovery—one that just might lead them back to each other in the end.
Amy James delivers an unforgettable romance with Crash Test, a story that fuses high-speed adrenaline with heartfelt emotion in a way that feels both gripping and deeply personal.
Twenty-four-year-old Formula 1 driver Travis Keeping is having the season of his life—until a horrific crash in Formula 2 leaves his secret boyfriend, Jacob Nichols, in critical condition. No one knows about their relationship, and suddenly Travis is forced to navigate the public eye, the racing world, and his personal grief completely alone. With Jacob’s family shutting him out and his performance slipping on the track, everything Travis has worked for is slipping through his fingers.
James masterfully captures the raw ache of love, identity, and vulnerability in high-stakes circumstances. Both Travis and Jacob’s perspectives are deeply felt and thoughtfully written. Travis struggles with the pressure of the spotlight and the helplessness of being shut out while the person he loves is fighting to recover. Meanwhile, Jacob’s journey—waking up to a world that no longer feels the same and confronting his identity head-on—is handled with honesty and care. Their emotional connection remains central even as they’re physically apart, making every quiet moment and hard-earned realization resonate.
This book is light on steam, but that restraint works beautifully for the story being told. The emotional payoff doesn’t come from grand gestures but from small, deeply intimate moments of growth, hope, and reconnection. The side characters bring moments of warmth and levity, and the motorsport setting adds a unique and exciting backdrop without overshadowing the emotional core.
Crash Test is more than a romance—it’s a poignant exploration of identity, resilience, and the courage to love openly in a world that often demands silence. It’s tender, emotional, and ultimately triumphant.
Perfect for fans of sports romance with heart and emotionally rich queer love stories. An easy five stars from me.
Book Review Links
| Goodreads Review | https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7583475954 |
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| StoryGraph Review | https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/58b1d591-4214-44a0-b9eb-0020e12b4c53 |
| BookBub Review | https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/745781547 |
| Fable Review | |
| LibraryThing Review | https://www.librarything.com/work/33687018/reviews/288927724 |
| Hardcover Review | https://hardcover.app/books/crash-test-a-novel/reviews/@CharlesReads |
About Amy James
Amy James lives with her husband and dog on the east coast of Canada. Her debut romance novel, A FIVE-LETTER WORD FOR LOVE comes out from Avon Books on December 3rd, 2024. Her second romance novel, CRASH TEST, comes out from Avon Books on July 1st, 2025.
