Amy James' Crash Test

After reading N.R. Walker's Missing Pieces trilogy, I knew there was a specific troupe for me. Injured MC, this shit is my jam. So I started poking around and a few blog posts and book review dives later I came across Amy James' F1 book.

We're introduced to Travis, a star in the F1 racing world. He's at the top of his game and dominates the circuit but he's got someone chasing him in the review mirror of his personal life. In the opening of the book Travis has just placed first but the celebration of his achievement is quickly overshadowed as word spreads around the event that there has been a fatal crash in an F2 circuit race. Among the drivers caught up in the accident is Jacob.

What follows is a angsty tale. We learn about Travis and Jacob through a handful of flashbook chapters while Travis struggles to stay by Jacob's side even though their relationship remains secret to the racing world.

Aside from the heavy Injured MC troupe there is plenty else going on here. Hidden romance, problematic family, found family, forced separation, recovery, miscommunications... the works. The first half of the book is primarily from Travis' POV, but half way through it switches to Jacob's and I enjoyed the swap because, ugh Travis is such a great guy and switching to Jacob for the second half let's you pine for Travis who is completely absent until the final few chapters of the book while still cheering on Jacob as he personally grows and recovers from the accident in the opening of the book.

Is it a perfect book, no. There are some levels of disbelief here, and some of Jacob's choices are necessary in order for the book to work. But having gone through a horrible breakup and divorce at the time I start reading these books I totally get some of Jacob's decision making. I give Crash Test an 8/10.

Side Note: I had recently finished the video game Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, which features Tom Mckay. And I spent the whole book hearing and seeing him as Travis. Bonus.