This might be the worst day of Anna’s life. Her boss pawns off her marketing campaign as their own to one of the firm’s biggest clients, and she’s nearly at a meltdown thanks to office sensory hell—an effect of being on the autism spectrum. When she quits in a well-earned rage and returns home early, Anna finds her long-term boyfriend in bed with one of his grad students. In an instant, she hits reset on her life: she packs a bag and boards the first flight to Europe to pursue her long-held dream of writing a novel.

After a brief stay in Barcelona, Anna realizes two things: leaving her job and her boyfriend was the right thing to do, and she needs a new gig to support herself while she writes. When decamping to the quieter village of Cervera, Anna crosses paths with the Vasquez brothers, world-renowned motorcycle racers, and is offered a job as an umbrella girl on the track. Could this be the answer to her problems?

Vince Vasquez is the greatest motorcycle racer of all time, and Issac Vasquez has always lived in his big brother’s shadow. So when he sees Anna get off a bus in his hometown, he’s shocked and pleased that she’s drawn to him over Vince. But this isn’t a story of insta-love or a tiresome love triangle. Written by Lena Gibson, RACING TOWARDS DESTINY is a blessed respite from the over-the-top drama or inexplicable premises of many a contemporary romance. The novel has a swoony, emotionally literate hero and a resilient, relatable heroine. It’s the story of two mature adults taking a chance on what they could be together. For Anna, this means starting off on the right foot and putting her own needs first. For Issac, it means finally discovering his own dreams away from his brother’s ambitions and going after them.

Told in dual, third-person point of view, Gibson’s prose is cogent, polished, and demonstrates a strong understanding of voice and characterization. Take this excerpt during a conversation between Anna and Isaac, which helps us understand Anna’s thought process: “Her heart fluttered at the way Isaac trusted her with his secrets and his fears. If only she could explain everything on her mind. She shoved the stray thought away—she’d tell him later. She didn’t want anything negative to ruin their holiday.” The flow of the narrative is seamless, and the characters’ growth is both realistic and inspiring. While the plot naturally centers on Anna and Issac’s relationship, RACING TOWARDS DESTINY also brings an ensemble cast to life—imbuing even minor characters with depth and dimension.

With just the right amount of technical exhibition on motorcycle road racing, Gibson masterfully builds a believable world while balancing plot, emotional resonance, and dramatic tension. Adding to the novel’s complexity are its all-to-real depictions of workplace sexual harassment, attempted sexual assault, and complicated (or abusive) family relationships—all of which are handled with clarity and compassion.

While RACING TOWARDS DESTINY certainly fits the mold of a medium-stakes contemporary sports romance, its overall quality sets it apart. Combined with a loveable couple, genuine character growth, and a sport rarely part of the genre’s backdrop, you get a surprisingly captivating romance that will please readers from start to finish.

Compelling characters, deft prose, and a fresh setting make Lena Gibson’s RACING TOWARDS DESTINY an unmissable contemporary sports romance. The heart, heartache, and genuine character growth will have genre fans devouring this novel.

~ Remy P. for IndieReader