FURIOUS

JoJo Emerson-Boyd and Eliana Blum have both lost someone close to them.

JoJo is dealing with the recent tragic death of her world-famous mother, NASCAR champion DeeDee Emerson, who died in a crash, and Max, El’s beloved older sister, was kicked out of their parents’ house and has since disappeared. Not only that, Max mysteriously left her treasured R1 motorcycle and riding jacket behind. Thankfully, JoJo and El have two other things in common: an all-out obsession with the Fast & Furious film franchise and an intense love for racing. Just like her mother, JoJo races cars, and El’s sister supported her in learning to race bikes. When El, looking for information about her sister, stops by the garage owned by JoJo’s grandmother where El used to work, the chemistry between the two girls is instantaneous. As friendship and romance begin to grow, they execute a small-scale heist and embark on a wild motorcycle road-trip adventure in search of Max and a possible future together. The chapters switch between JoJo’s and El’s voices, which are sometimes difficult to distinguish. The plot-driven story contains some clunky language, and those not well versed in the film series’ mythology may find the frequent Fast & Furious allusions tiring. The authenticity of the characters’ emotions and the sweetness of their romance will surely capture many hearts, however. The main characters are white; El is Jewish.

A high-speed queer romance.