The author of Icebreaker is stepping into the paddock. Hannah Grace — the #1 New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author who completely conquered BookTok with her Maple Hills series — is announcing a brand new series. And this time, the setting isn't an ice rink or a basketball court.
Welcome to the world of Formula 1.
Champagne Problems will be released on February 16, 2027 and is the first book in the In the Paddock series — a new sports romance series set in the glittering, fast-paced, and glamorous world of F1.
What is Champagne Problems about?
Ivy Miller has one rule: no more dating athletes. After too many bad experiences, she's done with egos, heartbreak, and cleaning up the mess for her own career. The StoryGraph
So when she's sent to work with Elysium's Formula 1 team, she's dismayed to find that their new driver is Saint Thompson — the man she almost fell for a year ago, before a scandal cost him his championship. The man who seems sure they can pick up right where they left off. Amazon UK
Between late nights, playful banter, and undeniable chemistry, resisting Saint starts to feel impossible. Ivy insists they can keep it casual. No feelings. No expectations. Just sex. But Saint isn't interested in casual. He wants more.
Tropes: Second chance romance + forbidden romance (no more athletes rule) + workplace romance + enemies to lovers energy
Spice level: Expect 🌶️🌶️🌶️ based on Hannah Grace's previous work
Why F1?
F1 is the fastest-growing sports universe on BookTok right now. Drive to Survive on Netflix has created a whole new generation of fans — and many of those fans overlap precisely with the BookTok community that made Icebreaker so big.
Hannah Grace is no stranger to sports romance. She built her fanbase with ice hockey (Icebreaker), but F1 is a logical next step for an author who knows how to translate the glamorous and dangerous aspects of professional sports into romance.
The #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Icebreaker returns with a sports romance series set in the fast-paced and glittering world of Formula 1. Get ready to meet a whole new cast of Hannah Grace characters and say hello to some very familiar faces along the way. The StoryGraph
"Familiar faces" — that confirms what fans already suspected: characters from the Maple Hills series will return in the In the Paddock series. Keep your eyes peeled.
The In the Paddock series: more books expected
Champagne Problems is the first installment in the In the Paddock series. Based on Hannah Grace's pattern with the Maple Hills series, we can expect multiple books, each following a different couple from the F1 world.
Details about further books in the series have not yet been confirmed — but for fans of the Maple Hills series, you know how this goes: once you finish the first book, you'll want every subsequent couple.
Hannah Grace's Maple Hills series: read this first
New to Hannah Grace? Start with the Maple Hills series before reading Champagne Problems. The worlds are connected, and you'll want to recognize the "familiar faces" when they appear.
The Maple Hills reading order:
| # | Title | Sport | Trope |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Icebreaker | Hockey | Grumpy sunshine + forced proximity |
| 2 | Wildfire | Hockey | Friends to lovers |
| 3 | Daydream | Hockey | Slow burn |
Also read our comprehensive article about the Icebreaker Netflix series — because Icebreaker is being adapted for Netflix with filming starting in September 2026.
Why BookTok is already excited
Hannah Grace starting an F1 romance series? Then I'm definitely reading it. That reaction is representative of how the community is responding. Amazon
F1 and romance is a combination that works perfectly on paper: danger, glamour, international settings, clashing egos, and a paddock full of tension. And with Hannah Grace's proven track record of characters that feel like friends and slow burns that frustrate and obsess you — she's the perfect author for this universe.
🏎️ Are you ready for the paddock?
Our sports romance bookmarks are perfect for the wait until February 16, 2027 — and then for saving the best Saint Thompson pages.
→ View sports romance bookmarks
What to read while you wait for Champagne Problems?
For more Hannah Grace:
Start with Icebreaker — the book that made her famous. Then Wildfire and Daydream.
For more F1 romance:
The F1 romance wave on BookTok has already produced a few popular titles. Our Blind Date Book (Romance) might surprise you with a sports romance you didn't expect.
For more second chance romance:
Read our guide on second chance romance books — Champagne Problems has exactly that dynamic of something that could have been but never was.
Complete your Champagne Problems reading set
🏎️ The perfect In the Paddock reading set:
✔ Sports romance bookmark — for the best paddock pages
✔ Romance bookmark — for the swoony Saint Thompson moments
✔ Blind Date Book (Romance) — for the wait until February 2027
✔ Book Review Notepad — record your first reactions
✔ Reading Log (€1.99) — keep track of the entire In the Paddock series
✔ Glass Can — for your iced coffee or matcha while reading
🚚 We ship worldwide
We ship all our bookish accessories to the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and all other EU countries. We also ship to the United Kingdom, America, and more countries worldwide.
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Happy reading — and welcome to the paddock! 🏎️📚
Frequently asked questions about Champagne Problems
When will Hannah Grace's Champagne Problems be released?
Champagne Problems will be released on February 16, 2027. The StoryGraph
What is Champagne Problems about?
Champagne Problems follows Ivy Miller, who has a rule about not dating athletes, but when she gets a job with an F1 team, she discovers the new driver is Saint Thompson—the man she almost fell for a year ago. The StoryGraph
Is Champagne Problems part of a series?
Yes. Champagne Problems is the first book in Hannah Grace's In the Paddock series, set in the world of Formula 1 and in the same universe as the Maple Hills series.
Is this connected to the Maple Hills series?
The series promises familiar faces alongside a brand-new cast of Hannah Grace characters. Characters from the Maple Hills series will return. The StoryGraph
Do I need to read Icebreaker before Champagne Problems?
It is not mandatory but highly recommended—it will help you recognize the familiar faces and better enjoy the connections between the two series.
What tropes does Champagne Problems have?
Second chance romance, forbidden romance (Ivy's no-athletes rule), workplace romance, and enemies-to-lovers energy.