A review by keysmashhh
Redline by Emma Barlowe

funny sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Relationship: 4.5/5
World-Building: 4.5/5
Genre: 4/5

found out about this book through following the author online and their other works which I LOVED and I had a fun time reading this too! such a simple detail but i loved the way all the chapter titles were named after alcoholic drinks - something that feels more sinister when you realise Noah's very real issues. Noah was a good main character just the perfect balance of lovable and deeply flawed, I also really liked David to be fair I just wanted to give him a hug the whole time. The reveal about the true nature of Oxbow was actually shocking to be fair, I knew they seemed a bit off but the idea of a team manipulating their drivers against each other felt very sinister. You can tell the author is an f1 fan, it comes across in the confidence with the knowledge of motorsports and the little references for other f1 fans - as soon as I saw the reference to Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg as teammates I understood what that meant and how David and Noah could become that way. I have to say i preferred FG but and its a big but there's a huge difference between this and that they're almost incomparable and i think that's good. FG is a fantasy-eque motorsport setting whereas Redline is very grounded in the reality, with a more American showbiz twist, of motorsport and I liked that. I think the book is a little on the short side, I would have liked just...more...of the book! I liked the balance of relationship and racing - surprisingly I thought I'd be more annoyed in the racing bits but I was having so much fun!