Crash Test
A Novel
Published on 14. August 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-0-06-339905-1 (ISBN)
Description
Formula 1 meets Red, White, & Royal Blue in this contemporary MM sports 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 in a secret relationship 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 in this angsty, emotional romance-one that just might lead them back to each other in the end.
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 in a secret relationship 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 in this angsty, emotional romance-one that just might lead them back to each other in the end.
Reviews / Votes
"Crash Test is one of the best sports romances I've ever read." - Rachel Reid, USA Today bestselling author of Heated Rivalry"Crash Test is a deeply romantic page-turner with a pace almost as fast as its F1 drivers! I couldn't put it down." - Sarina Bowen, USA Today bestselling author of The New Guy
"CRASH TEST gives us the all the swoons of a high octane romance alongside a deeply personal, complex, and nuanced portrayal of vulnerability, found family, and the idea that learning to love yourself is as crucial to our happily ever afters as finding our perfect person. Here, we get both!" - Emma R. Alban, USA Today Bestselling author of DON'T WANT YOU LIKE A BEST FRIEND
"With this exquisitely written book, James (A Five Letter Word for Love, 2024) not only realistically explores the pain that can come from having a family who is unwilling to accept you for the person you truly are but also the welcome support a found family can provide while you are figuring out exactly who you want to be. Deftly revving up the intense sexual chemistry between Travis and Jacob, James then expertly uses it as fuel for a perfectly calibrated romance that captures all the heartbreak and hope that can come from falling in love for the first time." - Booklist (starred review)
"James' ability to blend the bitter and sweet makes this a standout in the crowded field of contemporary sports romance." - BookPage (starred review)
"Amy James scores a first place win with CRASH TEST-a tender love story revving with the complexities of romance and self-discovery that races off the page and directly into your heart!" - Matthew Hubbard, critically acclaimed author of The Rebel's Guide to Pride
"CRASH TEST drove me wild in the best way possible...pun intended! With an achingly beautiful romance at its core and a plot-twisty rollercoaster of emotions, Amy James's sophomore novel will break your heart and then put it back again with all the unwavering love and care you'd expect from a masterful writer. You can't miss this one!" - Swati Hegde, author of Can't Help Faking in Love and Match Me If You Can
"CRASH TEST is as sweet as it is sexy, as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking, and as unflinching as it is hopeful. From its opening tragedy to its final breathtaking moments, Amy James takes you on a thrilling, heartfelt ride through the twists and turns of the romance between two imperfect men who are perfect for each other. Travis and Jacob and their Formula One found family are people you long to meet, will root for the entire book, and will never forget." - R.S.A. Garcia, author of The Nightward
"Full of pining and characters to root for, Crash Test will set your heart racing a hundred miles an hour. With themes of found family, ambition, and self-discovery, this tender but fast-paced ride about defying odds and finding love in the least expected place is the perfect add for any sports romance fan's shelf." - Holly Michelle, author of Last Night Was Fun
"CRASH TEST is fast-paced, swoony, and full of heart. Amy James delivers a pitch-perfect romance with electric chemistry, witty banter, and characters you'll be cheering for all the way to the finish line." - Annie McQuaid, author of CRASH LANDING
"I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever Amy James writes next." - ALL ABOUT ROMANCE
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 207 mm
Width: 134 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
270 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-06-339905-1 (9780063399051)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Amy James lives with her husband and dog on the east coast of Canada, where she writes YA and adult fantasy and contemporary romance. When she's not writing or working, she enjoys playing piano and learning new languages.