Formula Zero, Meredith Lanzen (Review by Skylar Wetzel)

Formula Zero by Meredith Lanzen was exactly what I was hoping for, and it dived even deeper into the world of elite sports racing than I thought it would. Admittedly, I don’t actually know a lot about F1 racing in the real world besides the Netflix show that airs a new season every year. But I am a sucker for the drama, politics and technical aspects of what it offers, and this book was like looking into the mirror of one of my favorite bingable shows. Add in that it’s now with spaceships and women are allowed to race, and that’s the icing on the cake. It adds a whole new layer of complexity and makes the romance between racers even higher stakes. I am so impressed by how Lanzen created such a unique world with the technology, the space crafts, and the issues the racers faced while driving them. The two types of racing built into the story, off-world and on-world, along with all the space imagery, like black holes, are such neat world building details. Based on how Lanzen described formula zero, I would buy a ticket tomorrow and watch it for myself! 

The story had more depth than I initially anticipated, and there were a few shocking twists and turns. This book is also a little “trust the process”. The beginning is a smidge slow, and you are also digesting quite a lot of people, plot and technical information. Once you can get through that bit, it really takes off, and you won’t be able to put the book down. I was sucked into the story, binged it in a day, and was shocked by the big mystery plot reveals. The female main character, Clarke, is struggling with ex-best friends turned lovers, a late in life crappy dad appearance, and a racing team with a ship that constantly breaks down.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes F1 could be taken to space.