Offtrack

Patel (Trauma Queen) immerses readers in the high-stakes world of Formula 1 racing in this lopsided sports romance. Diana Zahrani has always dreamed of racing F1, but opportunities are very few for women, especially women of color. After overcoming many obstacles, including financial barriers and restrictions in her native Saudi Arabia, where women weren’t allowed to get drivers licences until 2018, Diana is presented with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to race in the 2022 season. She’s plagued with imposter syndrome and loneliness as she tries to differentiate between friend and foe in this aggressive and misogynistic world. Her competitor, Miguel de la Fuente, was born to race, and this may finally be his year to become world champion. When he meets Diana, they both have a feeling of déjà vu—they’ve met before, and the electricity between them hasn’t faded. But can a romance survive the fierce competition of F1? Unfortunately for romance devotees, the love story takes a back seat to the deep exploration of the social and political world of racing. This will most appeal to readers who are already fans of the sport. (Sept.)