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A review by catsandcliterature
Crash Test by Amy James
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-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
5.0
Oh, I'm going to be LOUD about this one, yall. Have you ever read a summary and just... KNOWN it was going to be amazing? That was me, two nights ago, who happened to see this book on the Goodreads giveaways list. I read the summary, hopped over to NetGalley with a ton of hope even though I'm trying very hard not to request any more ARCs right now because I have a lot due, requested it and was so, so excited to be approved.
From there, I devoured it. I wanted to badly to cancel my plans, call in sick, put off my responsibilities. When I wasn't reading, all I could think about was getting the opportunity to return to the book.
It gripped me immediately. We're right in the action, with Travis finding out Jacob - his secret boyfriend of a year was in a horrific crash and was airlifted to the hospital. One of the drivers involved has already passed away and Jacob is in the ICU in a foreign country and has been there for awhile now. No one thought to inform Travis because no one knew Travis even KNEW Jacob, much less how important Jacob was to him.
This book spans almost a year. The character development we witness is incredible but not at all rushed or unrealistic. It feels very organic - the Jacob & Travis we know at the end of the book are entirely different people than the Jacob & Travis we meet in the beginning, and yet somehow very much the same. Older, more emotionally mature, more stable perhaps, but the same two boys who fell in love in secret.
Every single character, with exceptions that will be obvious when you read it, was so freaking lovable. From Heather and Matty to Mrs. Costa and Kelsie, and all of those in between, it felt like such a genuine little found family.
The only bad part about this book is that it's come to an end. I've read it. I've finished it and even now, writing this review, I miss it so much. I genuinely cannot WAIT for everyone else to get their hands on this so they can adore it just as much as I did. It's gonna be a big one.
Tropes:
📚 MM
📚 F1 & F2 racing
📚 Second Chance
📚 Found Family
📚 Situationship to (Eventually) Lovers
📚 Slow Burn
📚 Virgin MMC
From there, I devoured it. I wanted to badly to cancel my plans, call in sick, put off my responsibilities. When I wasn't reading, all I could think about was getting the opportunity to return to the book.
It gripped me immediately. We're right in the action, with Travis finding out Jacob - his secret boyfriend of a year was in a horrific crash and was airlifted to the hospital. One of the drivers involved has already passed away and Jacob is in the ICU in a foreign country and has been there for awhile now. No one thought to inform Travis because no one knew Travis even KNEW Jacob, much less how important Jacob was to him.
This book spans almost a year. The character development we witness is incredible but not at all rushed or unrealistic. It feels very organic - the Jacob & Travis we know at the end of the book are entirely different people than the Jacob & Travis we meet in the beginning, and yet somehow very much the same. Older, more emotionally mature, more stable perhaps, but the same two boys who fell in love in secret.
Every single character, with exceptions that will be obvious when you read it, was so freaking lovable. From Heather and Matty to Mrs. Costa and Kelsie, and all of those in between, it felt like such a genuine little found family.
The only bad part about this book is that it's come to an end. I've read it. I've finished it and even now, writing this review, I miss it so much. I genuinely cannot WAIT for everyone else to get their hands on this so they can adore it just as much as I did. It's gonna be a big one.
Tropes:
📚 MM
📚 F1 & F2 racing
📚 Second Chance
📚 Found Family
📚 Situationship to (Eventually) Lovers
📚 Slow Burn
📚 Virgin MMC