Slipstream by Madge Maril

Hey everyone, and welcome back to the Paddock! We’re shifting gears this week, literally, with our very first PGP Book Club pick: Slipstream by Madge Maril!

As you know, we’re all readers on the pod who are always looking for stories that capture our attention, and this book does not disappoint. A huge thank you to Madge and Simon & Schuster for sending us an ARC; we were beyond excited to dive into a world where fierce rivalries, fast cars, and enemies-to-lovers energy collide! And trust us… this one delivers.

In Slipstream, Maril has crafted a gripping narrative that perfectly blends the adrenaline of motorsport with the complexities of relationships, ambition, and personal growth. The characters feel as real as the intensity of a Formula 1 race, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Whether you're a die-hard racing fan or just love a good story with emotional depth, this book has something for everyone. We can’t wait to break it down with you and share our thoughts on everything that had us gripping our seats.

What’s Slipstream by Madge Maril About?

Here’s your spoiler-free synopsis for Slipstream by Madge Maril: Lilah Graywood is a no-nonsense documentarian. Her life revolves around capturing raw, unfiltered truth — not the world of motorsports. But when her boyfriend-slash-business partner, Max, blindsides her by offering their production company to Ignition Energy Drink Racing (imagine a Drive to Survive-type gig), dumping her and trying to steal the company, Lilah is left reeling.

Enter Arthur Bianco: a reserve F1 driver with a messy career and something to prove. When Lilah is assigned to cover him, the two team up — her for revenge, him for redemption. What starts as a tactical fake relationship quickly turns into something a little too real. Oh, and there’s a whole subplot involving Arthur’s controlling uncle and a rather bold plan to get fired by… fake dating? Yeah. More on that later.

At its core, Slipstream is a story about second chances, revenge, mental health, and romance, with plenty of tire smoke and slow-burn tension to keep things spicy!

Vibe Check

Genre: Sports romance / Contemporary

Tone: Witty and emotionally grounded

Content Warnings: Mental health struggles (depression, anxiety), emotional manipulation, cheating

This one’s for fans of layered romance with a splash of adrenaline. Think Drive to Survive meets The Hating Game with a twist of Taylor Swift’s “Reputation” era energy.

We were all hooked from the cover alone — shoutout to that! The themes of identity, ambition, and vulnerability hit hard, and the romance was both swoony and sincere.

That said… the whole "uncle-control-fake-dating-to-get-fired" plan? Felt a bit undercooked, but hey, we rolled with it.

Characters We Loved (and Hated)

Let’s talk characters — because Slipstream delivers a whole grid of personalities, from swoon-worthy to scream-inducing. Here’s who we loved, hated, and want more of (spin-off, anyone?).

Lilah Graywood

Our girl. A no-nonsense documentarian thrown into the wild world of F1 with a mic, a mission, and a heartbreak she didn’t see coming. Lilah is neurodivergent, ambitious, deeply loyal, and honestly? A bit chaotic — in the best way. Her drive to tell the truth, her complicated relationship with control, and the way she navigates her feelings (especially when Arthur enters the picture) make her a layered, super relatable heroine. Watching her go from heartbroken and blindsided to confident and empowered was one of our favorite arcs in the book.

Arthur Bianco

The soft but smoldering F1 reserve driver with main character energy from the moment he shows up. Arthur’s got baggage — a manipulative uncle, a career in limbo, and a chip on his shoulder — but he’s also funny, thoughtful, and surprisingly romantic. His mental health struggles are handled with care, and it’s clear that he’s working through a lot while still showing up for Lilah. And let’s not forget the iconic quotes:

• “If you were my girlfriend, Graywood, I would stake my claim on you publicly. You’d look good in my number nine.”

• “Micetta. You’re about to watch the best race of your life.” Sir, PLEASE. Google Micetta, you won't regret it.

His slow-burn romance with Lilah had us grinning, blushing, and audibly reacting. He’s definitely the kind of fictional F1 driver we wish existed.

Max Black

Lilah’s business partner and ex-boyfriend. Also known as Trash Man 5000. He cheats on Lilah, tries to steal her company, gaslights her, and somehow still manages to be smug about it? The only thing Max should be racing toward is a personality transplant.

Easily one of the most infuriating characters we’ve read in a while — and yet, he served his role perfectly as the spark that set this revenge story in motion. A villain we loved to hate if you will.

Sarah

Max’s new girlfriend, and marketing member for Ignition Energy Drink Racing. At first, we were ready to hate her, but then… redemption! Sarah has a bit of a “girl’s girl” awakening mid-book that had us softening toward her. She’s a little ditzy, a little lost, but not malicious. Honestly, we’d be open to a Sarah redemption novella if Madge ever wanted to do a bonus story with her own story being explored. Once we got to know her, she truly became a fav.

Arthur’s Uncle

The emotional puppet master in Arthur’s life.We really wish this subplot had been explored more, because the uncle is clearly the main villain behind Arthur’s mental health struggles and fear of failure.

He’s manipulative, jealous of Arthur’s talent, and acts like Arthur’s entire career is his personal fiefdom. Not evil in an over-the-top way — more of a slow-burn emotional saboteur. Would have liked to see more history on what caused the hatred, but once you get there, the plot comes around.

Cameron & Delaney

KING AND QUEEN. That’s it, that’s the post.

They start as background characters on the media crew, but slowly become our favorites. They're funny, loyal, and the kind of work besties you dream about having when your life is chaotic. Their friendship with Lilah felt real and grounded, and by the end, we were fully rooting for them to get their own spin-off.

Can we get a Book 2 where Delaney fake-dates a driver? Please and thank you.

Lilah’s Mom

An MVP in the background. Her moments with Lilah were surprisingly emotional, a subtle but powerful thread in the book. No spoilers here (we saved those for the episode), but there’s a beautifully handled storyline that shows what it means to love your kid without conditions.

It gave the book extra heart, and we loved every moment they had together.

How F1 Is It, Really?

Could Slipstream be an F1 fan’s next fave? We think yes.

It’s got just enough of the racing world to feel authentic without getting bogged down in stats. The team vibes were giving a McLaren/Red Bull hybrid — chaotic, flashy, but with a little heart.

Who could play Arthur Bianco? That’s a tough one — thankfully, he’s not a 1:1 match with any current driver (thank God, or we’d be in trouble). But if we had to fantasy-cast… maybe a fictional mix of Sainz’s charm, Ricciardo’s humor, and Leclerc’s sad boy energy LOL.

Any inaccuracies? One or two fuzzy F1 logistics, but honestly, we were too busy swooning to care.

Final Thoughts + Rating

Slipstream is a blast — equal parts emotional, romantic, and just the right amount of dramatic. If you love enemies-to-lovers arcs, complex characters, and high-octane settings, this one’s worth your time.

PGP Rating: 4.5 out of 5 helmets 🏁

It’s fun, it’s heartfelt, and it gave us all the feels. We’re officially declaring Arthur Bianco the patron saint of fake dating schemes that somehow work.

Click here to learn where you can find your copy today!

Written by: Chelsea Fernandez