Hey ForeverBookers,
How are you today? I hope you’re great!
I’ve just finished “Retrograde” by Emilee Carter, which is a sports, F1 romance and I enjoyed it. If you’re looking for a sports romance that hardly focuses on the sport then I’d say this is for you. While I knew it was a sports romance, it was only where our 2 main characters met. That’s basically the only sport bit. We don’t see any on action on the grid. I liked this, as I’m not a sports or especially, an F1 fan.
We start on the grid following Lucie, our FMC and Brett, our MMC as they try to literally navigate their feelings around each other so they can still both work on the grid, as a driver for him and part of the team for her. Brett is the celebrity racer, adored by fans, and Lucie works on the grid as the assistant and a part of Revolution Racing’s team. Can they work together or do feelings of jealousy/love/devotion get in the way? I’ll let you read for yourself, but it’s a good story with a few twists that I didn’t see coming.
There’s a little spice to this novel, although not too much. There’s also a lot of reference to alcohol abuse and working your way through it, as well as losing a parent to suicide in the past.
I read “Retrograde” for a few readathons. They were:
Reading Rivalry - Genre Highlight - Sports Romance - this is a sports romance but not overly sporty.
Always Fully Booked, “On The Cover” Reading Challenge - A field - there’s a field behind our 2 main characters on the cover, so perfect!
Spoilers Below…
“So he just lay there next to her, reliving his one night with her for the billionth time, wishing she would wake up from her peaceful sleep and tell him that she wanted him. Because being wanted by a woman like Lucie Carolan was like wearing a badge of honour. She was particular. She knew what she wanted. And Brett loved that about her. He knew that when his girl settled down, she would have made the right choice. She just wouldn’t be his girl anymore.”
I know I often start my reviews with a quote from early on in the story. This one is from 159 pages in but the first 150 pages are just preamble and setting the scene, I feel. I didn’t think we needed all we had of that. All we needed to know was that Brett and Lucie had met and had a one night stand kind of thing. Brett clearly wanted it to be more. Lucie, however, isn’t sure, or so he thinks anyway. “Retrograde” is basically a novel dancing about the question, ‘Am I good enough?’ I think, for both our MC’s. Is Brett everything that Lucie deserves and can Lucie be everything Brett needs to overcome his demons. Above Brett doesn’t think he’s good enough for Lucie. Does this change by the end of the novel? He’s an alcoholic and a renowned womaniser. Can he escape his issues. On the other side Lucie wants Brett to see that he can be the better man. All he needs is to believe in himself.
“He always searched for Lucie first among the sea of people, and he clung to her like he’d been afraid he would never see her again.
He always chose her. And she would always choose him, it just wasn’t enough to throw away ten years of friendship for a future that would end in tears.”
This is significant because they both know how they feel about each other. They’ve known since page one of the book. They’re just scared to take the final step. This was realistic, if a little tedious to read. I knew they would end up together as in all these sorts of books that’s what happens. The question was when? Their colleagues at Revolution Racing know how they both feel towards one another too.
“When are you gonna tell Luce you’re in love with her?” Julian fired back.”
There’s a part where Julien, one of Brett’s driving buddies at Revolution Racing literally tells him to go and tell Lucie how he feels, because he lost the love of his life and he doesn’t want Brett to do the same especially not before she hears how he loves her. This is continued in, “You and Lucie are going on ten years of stolen glances and chemistry, and now you’re sleeping together, and you still won’t admit it.” Can Brett admit what he feels for Lucie to her face? You’ll have to read to find out!
If there was a part that I didn’t enjoy so much it was Sienna, Brett’s ex. She was annoying. I didn’t think she was necessary to the overall plot, either. Sure, mention he has an ex but don’t put her in the book as a pointless character. She did nothing for me, only riled me up, which I suppose could have been the point of her. I would have preferred more sex scenes between Lucie and Brett though.
“Friends. It would always apply for them, and it stung.” This was slightly annoying too. I didn’t like just how long it took for Lucie and Brett to be together. I get that people like slow burn romance but I’m not one of those people, really.
One of the parts I enjoyed the most were the settings in Retrograde. I could always tell where in the book Lucie and Brett were, whether it be in Brett’s home of Australia, or where Lucie was brought up in Tuscany. My favourite parts were when they were in Tuscany, as this was towards the end, where they realised they were in love, I feel. The author wrote the Tuscan scenes in a more romantic way because of this. I loved how Lucie’s dad became Brett’s dad in a way too, as he lost his dad to suicide. Brett and Lucie were both lost at the beginning of Retrograde. Can they get through their demons and save each other by the end? The side characters played a role to a certain extent but both Lucie and Brett were clearly the main characters of “Retrograde.” There are 2 more novels I this series currently that follow characters mentioned in “Retrograde.” While I’m not desperate to pick up their books, I might in the future at some point.
Overall, I’m giving “Retrograde” 4 stars! The title explains this book very well, as the Lucie and Brett are very much stuck in their friendship/relationship without moving forward for the majority, which is a state of retrograde. It was good, great if you like slow burn, which as I said above, I really don’t! I thought both Lucie and Brett worked through their issues and by the end of the book they were in a better place than where they started. I thought the banter between Lucie and Brett was what made the book for me. Their inner monologues, while a little tedious were necessary too, to explain what was happening in their heads. What happens at the end? I’ll let you read for yourself!
I’m reading a quick middle grade next!
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