I love creating a playlist that suits each book I write. So here are five songs that I listened to on repeat while writing and that fit the vibes of CRASH INTO YOU, a Formula 1 romance where a champion driver falls for the daughter of a rival team’s principal, and the surprise that puts their relationship into the fast lane.
Hot Coals – Cold War Kids
Try to unwind, to enjoy the good life
But the pressure that I hold on my shoulders goes
I suspect the reason I am loved is because of how tight I’m holding on
If I let go, tell me: would I still be the one you want?
We start off CRASH INTO YOU seeing our MMC, world champion Zaid Yousef, struggling with coming back to F1 and dealing with the trauma from a crash last season. We also see him coming face to face with the pressures of trying to win a record-shattering championship while questioning, “What if this isn’t what I want anymore?” And he’s sort of numb to it all—the pressure to win, the fame that comes along with it, the unwanted attention.
I can imagine him asking the vague audience in front of him, “If I let go, if I walk away from this sport, will you still love/want/respect me?”
Delicate – Taylor Swift
This ain’t for the best
My reputation’s never been worse so,
You must like me for me
We can’t make any promises now, can we, babe?
But you can make me a drink
CIY’s FMC, Ava Farahani, was once immersed in all things F1 by virtue of her father being team principal of a team. But when she’s faced with a scandal involving Zaid, she’s pushed out of the sport to save the team’s reputation. When Ava decides she’s ready to return to F1, her reputation really has never been worse—but Zaid still accepts her invitation to go out for a drink. And one things leads to another…
Kiwi – Harry Styles
She said, “I’m having your baby. It’s none of your business.”
That “surprise” that puts their relationship into the fast lane? It’s a baby! Yes, this is an unexpected pregnancy book, though Ava does believe it’s also Zaid’s business (unlike the song!)
Meaning of Life – Kelly Clarkson
I was broke down, so alone in the dark
Until you showed me the light
Both Ava and Zaid have been going through some tough times alone, but they both show each other how they can bring the light back into their lives.
It’s Plenty – Burna Boy
For this life I dey, I want to be celebrated
Don’t want to waste my days
I want to spend them on enjoyment
For Zaid, what is the point of all this wealth and success and fame if he doesn’t feel like he can enjoy any of it? Or that he’s missed out on big life milestones while chasing the dream of being a successful F1 driver?
CRASH INTO YOU by Simone Soltani
A forbidden love forces a shift in gears in the next sizzling Formula 1 romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Cross the Line.
Formula 1 driver Zaid Yousef is back—though he’s not sure he wants to be. After a crash last season left the seven-time world champion with two broken wrists and a hesitance to get back behind the wheel, his future in the sport is nothing short of uncertain. Saddled with an unfinished contract and expectations to win a record-shattering title, the only choice is for him to return . . . right?
The press turned Ava Farahani’s life upside down in the last few years, forcing her to leave her job in marketing and the world of F1 she grew up in. She knows she should stay far away from the track, but the draw of the sport she loves is too strong to resist.
A preseason event brings the two together for one hot, reckless night, and weeks later, results in a positive pregnancy test. Ava desperately wants to be a mother, and the baby gives Zaid a newfound drive to survive the season and break the world record.
There’s just one little problem: Ava is a team principal’s daughter . . . and Zaid is their biggest rival.
Romance Sports [ Berkley, On Sale: November 10, 2026, Trade Paperback / e-Book / audiobook, ISBN: 9780593956816 / eISBN: 9780593956823 ]
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About Simone Soltani
Simone Soltani is a romance author and former ghost writer for a serialized fiction platform. Born and raised in Washington, DC, she holds a BA in Geography from The George Washington University, which she likes to think comes in handy for world building in her novels. When she’s not writing, she spends most of her time planning vacations she’ll probably never get to go on, reorganizing her many bookshelves, and watching sports while cuddling with her dogs.
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