Book Review: Ride with Me by Simone Soltani

Official Synopsis: 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.

Stella and Thomas meet at a bachelor/bachelorette party they both don't really want to be at, Thomas because he is there to represent his family and Stella because she was left at the alter only two weeks ago. When they decide to spend the night together in their misery, it turns into something more then they could have imagined. Thomas and Stella start to realize how attracted they are to each other, and how maybe just one night of acting on those feelings is what they both need. Plus, they most likely won't see each other again...right?

When they wake up the next morning seriously hungover, fully clothed and with a marriage certificate, they both spiral into a panic. They both can't have an accidental marriage come to light, especially with each of their histories. When they decide to let the marriage stand, they settle on staying married for a year, to prove to the world that they were in love when they made the choice and will do their best to get everyone to believe them. Though, their families and friends have their doubts, and after admitting to a few close friends what they are up to, they hope that everyone else will believe them. Thomas could use the positive media after another racer got hurt, and Stella needs people to forget about the video she posted roasting her ex.

As Stella starts to travel, and eventually moves in with Thomas in London, they start to realize their attraction to each other might be more. But neither one of them knows if the other feels the same way. They try to work through their day to day without giving into their attraction, they struggle to keep their hands off of each other. When it starts to feel like their lies might be taking over, they realize that maybe this marriage is something that was meant to be, even if it all started with one drunk night.

I really enjoyed this book. I think it was a fun take on a fake-dating/marriage trope and I enjoyed seeing Stella and Thomas struggle with their feelings. My biggest gripe is that they both spend time lying about their actually feelings, even when it feels obvious they both care for each other more than their fake-marriage would lead to. I enjoyed how their family and friends reacted to the news and how they supported the two. It also scratches my 'F1 Sports Romance itch' that I can't seem to get rid of.

I rated this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Ride With Me comes out May 20, 2025!

Goodreads