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What You Made Me Do
He’s my archnemesis. And my lifeline.
I came to Swiftmore University to reinvent myself after the accident that shattered my life—not fall in a lake on night one and get rescued by Nox Monroe. Swimming golden boy. My roommate’s infuriating twin. And the boy whose bedroom window looks directly into mine.
Now he knows my secret. I’m a marine biology major who's terrified to swim.
He calls me a distraction. I call him an arrogant know-it-all with abs.
Pranks and petty revenge turn to all-out war until we strike a deal. He’ll help me pass my scuba test if I’ll stop interfering with his training. It’s supposed to be temporary. Strictly business.
But the deeper he pulls me into the water—hands on my waist, voice steady in my ear, teaching me how to breathe again—the harder it is to remember why we even hate each other in the first place.
And the worst part?
I’m starting to think he never did.
What You Made Me Do is an enemies-to-lovers college sports romance between an elite athlete and an ambitious STEM-focused heroine featuring forced proximity, competitive sparks, and an angsty slow-burn with Olympic-level stakes.
I came to Swiftmore University to reinvent myself after the accident that shattered my life—not fall in a lake on night one and get rescued by Nox Monroe. Swimming golden boy. My roommate’s infuriating twin. And the boy whose bedroom window looks directly into mine.
Now he knows my secret. I’m a marine biology major who's terrified to swim.
He calls me a distraction. I call him an arrogant know-it-all with abs.
Pranks and petty revenge turn to all-out war until we strike a deal. He’ll help me pass my scuba test if I’ll stop interfering with his training. It’s supposed to be temporary. Strictly business.
But the deeper he pulls me into the water—hands on my waist, voice steady in my ear, teaching me how to breathe again—the harder it is to remember why we even hate each other in the first place.
And the worst part?
I’m starting to think he never did.
What You Made Me Do is an enemies-to-lovers college sports romance between an elite athlete and an ambitious STEM-focused heroine featuring forced proximity, competitive sparks, and an angsty slow-burn with Olympic-level stakes.
About the author
Kay Marie
11 books466 followersKay Marie writes sweet romantic comedies with a touch of spice. Her books are full of humor and heartache with lots of swoony moments and, of course, a HEA! Under the name Kaitlyn Davis, she also publishes YA fantasy. Publishers Weekly has said, "Davis writes with confidence and poise," while USA Today has recommended her work as "must-read romance."
Find more on her website: www.KayMarieBooks.com
Sign up for her newsletter to stay up-to-date with all of her new releases, to receive exclusive subscriber bonus content, and more: www.kaymariebooks.com/my-newsletters
Or find her on social media:
Instagram: @KayMarieBooks
TikTok: @KayMarieBooks
Facebook - Facebook.com/KaitlynDavisBooks/
Twitter - @DavisKaitlyn
To learn more about her young adult novels, visit her Goodreads author page for Kaitlyn Davis here: https://www.goodreads.com/Kaitlyn_Davis
Find more on her website: www.KayMarieBooks.com
Sign up for her newsletter to stay up-to-date with all of her new releases, to receive exclusive subscriber bonus content, and more: www.kaymariebooks.com/my-newsletters
Or find her on social media:
Instagram: @KayMarieBooks
TikTok: @KayMarieBooks
Facebook - Facebook.com/KaitlynDavisBooks/
Twitter - @DavisKaitlyn
To learn more about her young adult novels, visit her Goodreads author page for Kaitlyn Davis here: https://www.goodreads.com/Kaitlyn_Davis
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Want to Read
June 25, 2026 ⌗ ── 🩷🍋🟩🐈⬛ᝰ .ᐟ pre-read.
OMG, I GOT THE ARC, I'M SO HAPPY!
thank you netgalley and kay marie for an arc in exchange of an honest review!
OMG, I GOT THE ARC, I'M SO HAPPY!
thank you netgalley and kay marie for an arc in exchange of an honest review!
May 24, 2026
౨ৎꨄ︎ 5 stars
i’m OBSESSED. i didn’t have any expectations, honestly just wanted to read something cute and fun and WOW what a lovely surprise.
this book has everything I LOVE. STEM, sports romance, slow-burn, uni setting. and it’s nailed perfectly. i got easily pulled in and it was honestly hard for me to stop reading. i almost finished it in one night (if i wasn’t so exhausted lmao, not the book’s fault).
clara is the type of fmc you just have to love. we meet her right after an awful accident that left marks on her. she struggles and the worst thing? she’s terrified of water that used to be and still is a huge part of her life. her journey to getting better and facing her fears is sometimes sweet, sometimes heartbreaking. but her strength is what i admire the most. she never gives up and pushes herself towards her goal.
and nox? this book would be nothing if it wasn’t for him. he’s hard to understand at first. i couldn’t quite figure him out. but once clara starts spending more time with him it’s evident he’s a softie. i also admire his determination to be the best at swimming. i need that kind of discipline, honestly.
their relationship? let me tell you that this book should be set as an example of slow-burn. i can’t even explain how i felt when i read this. yes, i was screaming at my kindle for them to finally do something, but that’s exactly what i loved. the yearning is just written on point. the banter? the longing? the growing tension? i absolutely loved every moment.
this is not just a love story. there is so much more. we not only follow the main characters clara & nox, but many scenes also involve their friends and it’s so fun. you know it’s a good college romance if you get to know more characters and you grow to like them. i adore their friends group so much ahh.
the book also includes heavy topics, but kay navigates her characters through the tough times so brilliantly. of course my heart was sometimes breaking, but the conclusion was so worth to go through it.
one tiny flaw to point out has to do with the writing. i think the chapters deserved to be divided sometimes as the author usually flew through a longer period of time in a longer paragraphs and i think separating them would have worked better as i was sometimes a little confused where we were.
but overall, i’m glad i requested this randomly for an arc, because i enjoyed the experience so much. and i want more!!!!
Thank you NetGalley and Kaitlyn Davis for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
────୨ৎ────
౨ৎꨄ︎ pre-read: i got the arc for this. 🙂↕️ i mean STEM, swimming, forced proximinity and slow-burn? I’M SAT!!!
i’m OBSESSED. i didn’t have any expectations, honestly just wanted to read something cute and fun and WOW what a lovely surprise.
this book has everything I LOVE. STEM, sports romance, slow-burn, uni setting. and it’s nailed perfectly. i got easily pulled in and it was honestly hard for me to stop reading. i almost finished it in one night (if i wasn’t so exhausted lmao, not the book’s fault).
clara is the type of fmc you just have to love. we meet her right after an awful accident that left marks on her. she struggles and the worst thing? she’s terrified of water that used to be and still is a huge part of her life. her journey to getting better and facing her fears is sometimes sweet, sometimes heartbreaking. but her strength is what i admire the most. she never gives up and pushes herself towards her goal.
and nox? this book would be nothing if it wasn’t for him. he’s hard to understand at first. i couldn’t quite figure him out. but once clara starts spending more time with him it’s evident he’s a softie. i also admire his determination to be the best at swimming. i need that kind of discipline, honestly.
their relationship? let me tell you that this book should be set as an example of slow-burn. i can’t even explain how i felt when i read this. yes, i was screaming at my kindle for them to finally do something, but that’s exactly what i loved. the yearning is just written on point. the banter? the longing? the growing tension? i absolutely loved every moment.
this is not just a love story. there is so much more. we not only follow the main characters clara & nox, but many scenes also involve their friends and it’s so fun. you know it’s a good college romance if you get to know more characters and you grow to like them. i adore their friends group so much ahh.
the book also includes heavy topics, but kay navigates her characters through the tough times so brilliantly. of course my heart was sometimes breaking, but the conclusion was so worth to go through it.
one tiny flaw to point out has to do with the writing. i think the chapters deserved to be divided sometimes as the author usually flew through a longer period of time in a longer paragraphs and i think separating them would have worked better as i was sometimes a little confused where we were.
but overall, i’m glad i requested this randomly for an arc, because i enjoyed the experience so much. and i want more!!!!
Thank you NetGalley and Kaitlyn Davis for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
────୨ৎ────
౨ৎꨄ︎ pre-read: i got the arc for this. 🙂↕️ i mean STEM, swimming, forced proximinity and slow-burn? I’M SAT!!!
![Profile Image for bloomysoul (MESSIIIIII)[hiatus] .](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1783502158i/194276489._UY200_CR16,0,200,200_.jpg)
Want to Read
June 20, 2026𖥦🏖️‧⁺◟꒰ pre-read ꒱ 𓄰 ⊹ﾟ☁️
Thank you, NetGalley and Kay Marie, for providing me with this ARC! 🫶🏻💖
omg I just saw I got this ARC 😭😭 my first ARC, guys!! 🩷✨
Now why do my exams have to be so soon 😓💔
°.🧋 start date:
°.⛱️ end date:
Thank you, NetGalley and Kay Marie, for providing me with this ARC! 🫶🏻💖
omg I just saw I got this ARC 😭😭 my first ARC, guys!! 🩷✨
Now why do my exams have to be so soon 😓💔
°.🧋 start date:
°.⛱️ end date:
June 6, 2026
I truly loved this book! From the second I started I just couldn't put it down.
I haven't had a romance book that has captured my attention this thoroughly in a while and this book did just that. It was full of emotion and tenderness that at times had me grinning to myself and times where I had to swallow down the lump that was forming in my throat. The friendships that were made between both Clara and her friends and Nox and his friends was so amazing to watch and really added another layer to the story.
The enemies-to-lovers romance was done perfectly. It wasn't overly forced or dramatic which made it just that bit better. The banter was so well done too! The chemistry between Clara and Nox was undeniable and I loved seeing their relationship develop and bloom throughout the story. It wasn't rushed, it was drawn out actually really beautifully, which made it so much more raw and believable.
To me, this book was so well written and touched on the ups and downs of life and relationships really well. I can definitely say that I have found a new must-read author and can't wait to see where the next book in this series is headed!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I haven't had a romance book that has captured my attention this thoroughly in a while and this book did just that. It was full of emotion and tenderness that at times had me grinning to myself and times where I had to swallow down the lump that was forming in my throat. The friendships that were made between both Clara and her friends and Nox and his friends was so amazing to watch and really added another layer to the story.
The enemies-to-lovers romance was done perfectly. It wasn't overly forced or dramatic which made it just that bit better. The banter was so well done too! The chemistry between Clara and Nox was undeniable and I loved seeing their relationship develop and bloom throughout the story. It wasn't rushed, it was drawn out actually really beautifully, which made it so much more raw and believable.
To me, this book was so well written and touched on the ups and downs of life and relationships really well. I can definitely say that I have found a new must-read author and can't wait to see where the next book in this series is headed!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2026
thank you to NetGalley and Kay Marie for the opportunity to read the e-arc of this release!
this was a lot better than I thought it was going to be!
i was kind of anxious going into the book because often Taylor Swift inspired books can be very cheesy or over the top. but this book was really well crafted and in my mind quite subtle in its execution.
i thought the tension in the book was really well done and the chemistry between Clara and Nox was very well done. i also loved the banter throughout this book.
in all, a really solid read that i would definitely recommend!
this was a lot better than I thought it was going to be!
i was kind of anxious going into the book because often Taylor Swift inspired books can be very cheesy or over the top. but this book was really well crafted and in my mind quite subtle in its execution.
i thought the tension in the book was really well done and the chemistry between Clara and Nox was very well done. i also loved the banter throughout this book.
in all, a really solid read that i would definitely recommend!
May 31, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
WOWOW. This was such a ride.
I picked this up and genuinely could not put it down. I read it in a day because it was just so easy to fall into. Every time I told myself I was going to stop reading, I ended up reading another chapter.
One of my favourite things about this book was the structure. It wasn’t really flashbacks, but more like glimpses into the future that slowly started making sense as the story unfolded. At first I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, but by the end everything clicked into place and I loved how it all came together.
The enemies-to-lovers romance was done so well. Clara and Nox had such a strong dynamic from the beginning, and I loved watching their walls slowly come down. She’s a marine biologist carrying trauma connected to the water after a car accident, while he’s an Olympic swimmer. The contrast between them was so interesting, and seeing him help her through her fears absolutely broke my heart.
🥹 “Something that just makes my heart break is the fact he is putting in so much time and effort to help her get over her fear of the water after a car crash… when they are still basically enemies.”
The healing in this book was beautiful. Both characters had their own insecurities and struggles, and I loved that the story wasn’t just about them finding each other, but also finding themselves again. Their emotional connection felt so earned.
And this line???
♡ “You don’t give me butter butterflies. You give me an entire damn kaleidoscope.”
I MELTED.
There was also a lovely found family element through their friendship group, and I already know I’m going to be obsessed with the future books following the other characters.
The only tiny thing stopping this from being completely perfect for me was that I wanted a little more from the spicy scenes. Not necessarily more scenes, just slightly more detail after all that incredible tension and build-up. The slow burn was so well done that by the time everything finally happened, I was desperate for more. Maybe that’s just me being greedy 😭
But honestly? This book had healing, yearning, character growth, emotional depth, and an enemies-to-lovers romance that completely worked for me.
I loved it. And now I’m slightly worried it’s going to put me back into a reading slump because it was that good.
♡ Thank you NetGalley and the author for the eArc xx
♡
WOWOW. This was such a ride.
I picked this up and genuinely could not put it down. I read it in a day because it was just so easy to fall into. Every time I told myself I was going to stop reading, I ended up reading another chapter.
One of my favourite things about this book was the structure. It wasn’t really flashbacks, but more like glimpses into the future that slowly started making sense as the story unfolded. At first I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, but by the end everything clicked into place and I loved how it all came together.
The enemies-to-lovers romance was done so well. Clara and Nox had such a strong dynamic from the beginning, and I loved watching their walls slowly come down. She’s a marine biologist carrying trauma connected to the water after a car accident, while he’s an Olympic swimmer. The contrast between them was so interesting, and seeing him help her through her fears absolutely broke my heart.
🥹 “Something that just makes my heart break is the fact he is putting in so much time and effort to help her get over her fear of the water after a car crash… when they are still basically enemies.”
The healing in this book was beautiful. Both characters had their own insecurities and struggles, and I loved that the story wasn’t just about them finding each other, but also finding themselves again. Their emotional connection felt so earned.
And this line???
♡ “You don’t give me butter butterflies. You give me an entire damn kaleidoscope.”
I MELTED.
There was also a lovely found family element through their friendship group, and I already know I’m going to be obsessed with the future books following the other characters.
The only tiny thing stopping this from being completely perfect for me was that I wanted a little more from the spicy scenes. Not necessarily more scenes, just slightly more detail after all that incredible tension and build-up. The slow burn was so well done that by the time everything finally happened, I was desperate for more. Maybe that’s just me being greedy 😭
But honestly? This book had healing, yearning, character growth, emotional depth, and an enemies-to-lovers romance that completely worked for me.
I loved it. And now I’m slightly worried it’s going to put me back into a reading slump because it was that good.
♡ Thank you NetGalley and the author for the eArc xx
♡
June 3, 2026
I don’t think I’ve ever started a book with no expectation and finishing it in so little time to the point I wanted to go back and start reading it again.
Clara has been struggling the past year for something that left her scarred. She’s terrified of water but she’s pushing herself to overcome and face her fear. Her strength is unbelievable. What she did, in some parts of the books, I don’t know if I would have had the same strength she had, especially during her last two years of uni and her first year out of it.
Nox is an Olympic gold medalist and you might think he’s an obnoxious athlete, but he’s the polar opposite of the usual jock persona. He has more depth and layers that it’d difficult to actually understand what he’s thinking. Also the fact that the book is in single pov, Clara’s, makes it even more difficult. There were moments, very often when I was imagining what he was thinking.
I fell so much in love with this little group of friends, and I have some opinions on who MMM might be, iykyk. But since book 1 is based on Nox and Clara’s love story. The hate, the friendship, the banter and the freaking slow burn will keep you glued to the book. The yearning, god, let’s talk about the yearning. We don’t get Nox’s pov but you could just feel it through Clara’s words.
Clara has been struggling the past year for something that left her scarred. She’s terrified of water but she’s pushing herself to overcome and face her fear. Her strength is unbelievable. What she did, in some parts of the books, I don’t know if I would have had the same strength she had, especially during her last two years of uni and her first year out of it.
Nox is an Olympic gold medalist and you might think he’s an obnoxious athlete, but he’s the polar opposite of the usual jock persona. He has more depth and layers that it’d difficult to actually understand what he’s thinking. Also the fact that the book is in single pov, Clara’s, makes it even more difficult. There were moments, very often when I was imagining what he was thinking.
I fell so much in love with this little group of friends, and I have some opinions on who MMM might be, iykyk. But since book 1 is based on Nox and Clara’s love story. The hate, the friendship, the banter and the freaking slow burn will keep you glued to the book. The yearning, god, let’s talk about the yearning. We don’t get Nox’s pov but you could just feel it through Clara’s words.
May 25, 2026
•°. ❝ That's what love is, right? It's not shiny and polished and sparkling. It's showing someone all the ugly and the horror and the pain inside of you, and asking them to still see you regardless. ❞ *࿐
✎ᝰ. ★★★.5 stars (rounded up)
✎ᝰ. 2/5 spice level
✎ᝰ. tropes:
𝜗𝜚 enemies to lovers
𝜗𝜚 college sports romance (swimmer MMC)
𝜗𝜚 swimming lessons
𝜗𝜚 mental health rep
𝜗𝜚 slow-burn
𝜗𝜚 best friend’s brother
˗ˏˋ ꒰ ✉︎ ꒱ ˎˊ˗
First of all, I would like to thank Kaitlyn Davis and NetGalley for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. What You Made Me Do comes out on September 15th, 2026!
I love the writing style of this book and the side characters, as well as our FMC, Clara. Seeing her overcome her struggles and traumas was really emotional, and I loved watching her relationships with the side characters develop. Fans of the “found family” trope will really enjoy this subplot.
Even though I liked all the side characters, my favorite was definitely Logan. His funny personality and charm completely swept me off my feet, and I can confidently say he was my favorite character in the novel.
As for our MMC, Nox, I must admit I strongly disliked him from the start. The fact that he meddled every time Clara showed interest in another guy felt extremely toxic, especially because he was sleeping around while doing so. It truly felt like an “I’m not going to be with you, but you also can’t be with anyone else while I can sleep around” kind of situation, and I just couldn’t connect with him after that.
I’m usually a huge fan of dual timelines, but in this book they felt rushed, especially in the third act. Reducing everything to one chapter made me feel like there was a lack of development in the present timeline, which kept me from rooting for the couple in the end, as the conflict resolution didn’t feel right to me.
Overall, this was a cute, not overly spicy college sports romance, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an easy but emotional summer read.
•°. ❝ It's not about making him suffer. It'd be easier if it was. It's about pushing and pushing and pushing to see if I can trust him not to break his promise again. ❞ *࿐
✎ᝰ. trigger warnings (possible spoilers): car accident, death, grief, substance abuse, explicit sexual content, panic attacks (water related)
June 25, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley
What You Made Me Do is the first instalment of the Swiftmore University series and follows the story of Nox and Clara. I went into this with no expectations and it was so good, I am extremely happy I got to read this wonderful story !
Nox is an olympic level swimmer and the brother of Nova, Clara’s roommate at Swiftmore University. They’re all in a group of six friends which I am assuming is setting up the rest of the series - fingers crossed because I am dying to read about Nova, Logan, Willa and Grant. I found the characters were beautifully developed and even the secondary characters stood out and played an important role. Somehow we got just enough to make them well rounded characters and get us hooked, but not enough to spoil the upcoming books.
Throughout the book we see Clara and Nox navigate the changes in their relationship from dislike, to reluctant friends, to romantic partners and there is so much tension and angst that I was struggling to put this down. The only reason I didn’t finish this in one sitting is because the heat wave I was living in was making it hard to focus on reading. I loved seeing them work to knock down their walls and heal their trauma, even when that meant making sacrifices or stepping away from each other. They had a deep emotional connection which was showcased beautifully and I enjoyed following them on this journey. The serious moments were balanced with super fun college shenanigans and banter with their friends and I loved the chemistry that was present not just from a romantic perspective, but also from a friendship one.
The only thing that throw me off a little was the back and forth through the past and present which at times made me either impatient or confused about where I was in the storyline, but only very briefly. There was a lot of emotional complexity in this book and the characters had to navigate deep seated issues stemming from their childhood and affecting their relationships with family, friends, and, ultimately, themselves and each other. Their growth was beautifully presented and I liked that it was done over time.
This was a very solid romantic read for me and a perfect mix of yearning, tension, chemistry, banter, healing, and emotional devastation. I look forward to the rest of the series !
🏊🏻 College sports romance
💌 Mental Health Rep
🐬 STEMinist heroine
💦 All the angst and slow burn
Thank you Kaitlyn and NetGalley for this advanced copy.
What You Made Me Do is the first instalment of the Swiftmore University series and follows the story of Nox and Clara. I went into this with no expectations and it was so good, I am extremely happy I got to read this wonderful story !
Nox is an olympic level swimmer and the brother of Nova, Clara’s roommate at Swiftmore University. They’re all in a group of six friends which I am assuming is setting up the rest of the series - fingers crossed because I am dying to read about Nova, Logan, Willa and Grant. I found the characters were beautifully developed and even the secondary characters stood out and played an important role. Somehow we got just enough to make them well rounded characters and get us hooked, but not enough to spoil the upcoming books.
Throughout the book we see Clara and Nox navigate the changes in their relationship from dislike, to reluctant friends, to romantic partners and there is so much tension and angst that I was struggling to put this down. The only reason I didn’t finish this in one sitting is because the heat wave I was living in was making it hard to focus on reading. I loved seeing them work to knock down their walls and heal their trauma, even when that meant making sacrifices or stepping away from each other. They had a deep emotional connection which was showcased beautifully and I enjoyed following them on this journey. The serious moments were balanced with super fun college shenanigans and banter with their friends and I loved the chemistry that was present not just from a romantic perspective, but also from a friendship one.
The only thing that throw me off a little was the back and forth through the past and present which at times made me either impatient or confused about where I was in the storyline, but only very briefly. There was a lot of emotional complexity in this book and the characters had to navigate deep seated issues stemming from their childhood and affecting their relationships with family, friends, and, ultimately, themselves and each other. Their growth was beautifully presented and I liked that it was done over time.
This was a very solid romantic read for me and a perfect mix of yearning, tension, chemistry, banter, healing, and emotional devastation. I look forward to the rest of the series !
🏊🏻 College sports romance
💌 Mental Health Rep
🐬 STEMinist heroine
💦 All the angst and slow burn
Thank you Kaitlyn and NetGalley for this advanced copy.
June 21, 2026
This is an ARC review. I want to thank Kay Marie for allowing me the chance to read this book ahead of release day! I’m actually highly upset at myself that this is the first book by this author because I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed it! I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers and this book fed my soul!
Let me start off with saying my college experience was NOTHING like they experienced at Swiftmore University! I am jelly and wish we went there myself!
Clara Hayes has dreamed of being a marine biologist and simply has to get through college to make her dreams happen. I’m not saying she’s running from her past but she is bringing that past with her and trying to do everything opposite of what she previously did before college. She thankfully finds her dang people day 1 with meeting her roomie, Nova, and other future bestie, Willa! These two ladies are exactly who she needed to feel like being her true self can be understood and accepted!
Nox Monroe, happens to look like he’s slightly stalkerish but also finds every way to poke the bear aka Clara! These two seem to be like oil and water but deep down (okay not that deep) they truly just are attempting to avoid the sexual tension. With the weekly swim lessons it was absolutely bound to happen! His somewhat alpha mentality gave off “who did this too you”, “when you call, I’ll come”, and “touch her and see what happens”. I was here for every part of it! His patience…patience of a saint.
His friend group Logan and Grant aka Thor are equally just as much of a need in his life as Nova and Willa are to Clara. I am obsessed with this found family. Only I guess it can the found family if they are all VERY much into each other haha I cannot wait to read the rest of the series and read about our amazing friend group fall to love!
The therapy rep, the mental health rep, the substance abuse rep, the hearing impaired rep, the marine biology knowledge dropped left and right, journey through the grief process…. I cannot begin to say how important this book is to be on everyone’s radar!
I have already pre-ordered the deluxe edition and recommended it to my bestie because this book offers everything and more! Thank you thank you thank you!
Let me start off with saying my college experience was NOTHING like they experienced at Swiftmore University! I am jelly and wish we went there myself!
Clara Hayes has dreamed of being a marine biologist and simply has to get through college to make her dreams happen. I’m not saying she’s running from her past but she is bringing that past with her and trying to do everything opposite of what she previously did before college. She thankfully finds her dang people day 1 with meeting her roomie, Nova, and other future bestie, Willa! These two ladies are exactly who she needed to feel like being her true self can be understood and accepted!
Nox Monroe, happens to look like he’s slightly stalkerish but also finds every way to poke the bear aka Clara! These two seem to be like oil and water but deep down (okay not that deep) they truly just are attempting to avoid the sexual tension. With the weekly swim lessons it was absolutely bound to happen! His somewhat alpha mentality gave off “who did this too you”, “when you call, I’ll come”, and “touch her and see what happens”. I was here for every part of it! His patience…patience of a saint.
His friend group Logan and Grant aka Thor are equally just as much of a need in his life as Nova and Willa are to Clara. I am obsessed with this found family. Only I guess it can the found family if they are all VERY much into each other haha I cannot wait to read the rest of the series and read about our amazing friend group fall to love!
The therapy rep, the mental health rep, the substance abuse rep, the hearing impaired rep, the marine biology knowledge dropped left and right, journey through the grief process…. I cannot begin to say how important this book is to be on everyone’s radar!
I have already pre-ordered the deluxe edition and recommended it to my bestie because this book offers everything and more! Thank you thank you thank you!
May 31, 2026
You know when you get mad you can't add more stars to a five star rating? Well it's happened here! I would give this one ten stars if I could!
What You Made Me Do has all kinds of love. Not just romantic. It has the love that is the foundation for life long friendship. Old friendships. Love for the past. A life you've left behind. And how to love yourself.
The friendship bonds that are created and grown throughout are incredible and I think they have just as much a hold on me as do the relationship between Nox and Clara.
I wish I could drown in this book. It really swallowed me whole. I'm mad at myself for reading it so flipping fast. A few hours and it was done. Now I'll never get the same joy reading it for the first time again 😭
There was just so many layers within this story. Of course, Clara has her past, life altering trauma. The relationships between twins Nox and Nova, with each other and their parents. Nox and swimming. Nova and Logan. Willa and Grant. I could go on, but I'll be here for a while. I feel like all got the right amount of depth and attention they all deserved. It was just so freaking good! I'm honestly not so good with words it was just that good!
I ended this read with happy tears and stupid smile on my face. There are some books you just always remember. This is one of them. No doubt.
I have so many more amazing thoughts on this incredible book, but we'd be here forever. So mark your calenders, read this on release day! You won't regret it.
P.S. Even if the cover did creep me out a little...
What You Made Me Do has all kinds of love. Not just romantic. It has the love that is the foundation for life long friendship. Old friendships. Love for the past. A life you've left behind. And how to love yourself.
The friendship bonds that are created and grown throughout are incredible and I think they have just as much a hold on me as do the relationship between Nox and Clara.
I wish I could drown in this book. It really swallowed me whole. I'm mad at myself for reading it so flipping fast. A few hours and it was done. Now I'll never get the same joy reading it for the first time again 😭
There was just so many layers within this story. Of course, Clara has her past, life altering trauma. The relationships between twins Nox and Nova, with each other and their parents. Nox and swimming. Nova and Logan. Willa and Grant. I could go on, but I'll be here for a while. I feel like all got the right amount of depth and attention they all deserved. It was just so freaking good! I'm honestly not so good with words it was just that good!
I ended this read with happy tears and stupid smile on my face. There are some books you just always remember. This is one of them. No doubt.
I have so many more amazing thoughts on this incredible book, but we'd be here forever. So mark your calenders, read this on release day! You won't regret it.
P.S. Even if the cover did creep me out a little...
July 1, 2026
What to Expect:
College Romance
Sports (Swimming)
Friend's Brother
Slow Burn
In full disclosure, the cover is what called me to request an early copy, and I am so happy that I did. Not only did I enjoy the writing style and how the story was told, but I enjoyed meeting all the characters of the story. I was also pleasantly surprised at how emotionally charged the story was.
Clara is attending college her freshman year. While working to overcome some of her struggles from her past, she becomes best friends with her roommates and finds a place where she finally feels like she belongs. If you love the found family trope, this book will definitely check that box for you.
One person that Clara meets though, is Nox, her roommate's twin. While they seem to immediately dislike each other, Nox finds out one of Clara's secrets and begins to help her. Their banter became a smoldering beginning to the question, "will they or won't they?" throughout the novel as they dance around each other.
While for the most part I loved the dual timeline and how each year of college was shown, it did feel like the present day moments were rushed and harder to follow. It made it feel like Nox and Clara's relationship spent more time in limbo and it took longer for the couple to finally get together. That being said, I had fun with this story and I am excited to see if we get any additional stories in this universe!
Thank you so much to Kay Marie and NetGalley for the early copy of What You Made Me Do!
College Romance
Sports (Swimming)
Friend's Brother
Slow Burn
In full disclosure, the cover is what called me to request an early copy, and I am so happy that I did. Not only did I enjoy the writing style and how the story was told, but I enjoyed meeting all the characters of the story. I was also pleasantly surprised at how emotionally charged the story was.
Clara is attending college her freshman year. While working to overcome some of her struggles from her past, she becomes best friends with her roommates and finds a place where she finally feels like she belongs. If you love the found family trope, this book will definitely check that box for you.
One person that Clara meets though, is Nox, her roommate's twin. While they seem to immediately dislike each other, Nox finds out one of Clara's secrets and begins to help her. Their banter became a smoldering beginning to the question, "will they or won't they?" throughout the novel as they dance around each other.
While for the most part I loved the dual timeline and how each year of college was shown, it did feel like the present day moments were rushed and harder to follow. It made it feel like Nox and Clara's relationship spent more time in limbo and it took longer for the couple to finally get together. That being said, I had fun with this story and I am excited to see if we get any additional stories in this universe!
Thank you so much to Kay Marie and NetGalley for the early copy of What You Made Me Do!
June 17, 2026
Thank you to Kay Marie and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I absolutely devoured this book. I went in with no expectations and was completely blown away.
I started reading it last night and finished it today. It took me less than 24 hours to get through because I simply couldn't put it down.
From the very first chapter, the story had my full attention. The writing was engaging, the storyline was captivating, and I found myself thinking about it even when I was supposed to be working.
I loved everything about this book and can't wait to read the next installment in the series.
I'll definitely be purchasing a paperback copy when it's officially released. This is easily one of my favourite reads of the year so far.
I absolutely devoured this book. I went in with no expectations and was completely blown away.
I started reading it last night and finished it today. It took me less than 24 hours to get through because I simply couldn't put it down.
From the very first chapter, the story had my full attention. The writing was engaging, the storyline was captivating, and I found myself thinking about it even when I was supposed to be working.
I loved everything about this book and can't wait to read the next installment in the series.
I'll definitely be purchasing a paperback copy when it's officially released. This is easily one of my favourite reads of the year so far.
July 2, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
4.5⭐️ - love love loved this! All of the tension and slow burn, ah! College sports romance, enemies-to-lovers & roommate’s brother tropes were such a vibe. I really enjoyed the friend group dynamics and the mental health/ trauma rep was well done. Definitely recommend!
4.5⭐️ - love love loved this! All of the tension and slow burn, ah! College sports romance, enemies-to-lovers & roommate’s brother tropes were such a vibe. I really enjoyed the friend group dynamics and the mental health/ trauma rep was well done. Definitely recommend!
June 16, 2026
ARC Review - 4.5 stars
I'll forever be a Kay Marie superfan! I've loved all the books I've read by her so far, and although this books is different and more angsty than what we're used to from her normal style, I LOVED this book!
Told in single POV but in past and present timelines, we have two college students who meet their first few days on campus. Clara is a marine biologist major whose trauma has left her scared of the water, and Nox, an world-renowned Olympic swimmer who is the twin brother of X's roommate. He's grumpy and focused on training, and she's annoyed with how hot and cold he always is with her- but running in the same circles, these two always are thrown together. For years you see the push and pull, until finally the tension snaps. You learn in the first chapter that something ripped them apart and it was a wild ride getting to discovering what exactly happened.
This story was such a rollercoaster and to be honest, I would have been happy with 200 more pages, I was so invested! This group of friends was so fun, there was drama and conflict and tension. I am so excited to see this series continue!
- forced proximity
- college romance
- olympic swimmer MMC
- trauma / addiction / grief rep
- dual timeline / single POV
- broody mmc
- enemies to lovers
Thank you so much Kay for the advance copy!
I'll forever be a Kay Marie superfan! I've loved all the books I've read by her so far, and although this books is different and more angsty than what we're used to from her normal style, I LOVED this book!
Told in single POV but in past and present timelines, we have two college students who meet their first few days on campus. Clara is a marine biologist major whose trauma has left her scared of the water, and Nox, an world-renowned Olympic swimmer who is the twin brother of X's roommate. He's grumpy and focused on training, and she's annoyed with how hot and cold he always is with her- but running in the same circles, these two always are thrown together. For years you see the push and pull, until finally the tension snaps. You learn in the first chapter that something ripped them apart and it was a wild ride getting to discovering what exactly happened.
This story was such a rollercoaster and to be honest, I would have been happy with 200 more pages, I was so invested! This group of friends was so fun, there was drama and conflict and tension. I am so excited to see this series continue!
- forced proximity
- college romance
- olympic swimmer MMC
- trauma / addiction / grief rep
- dual timeline / single POV
- broody mmc
- enemies to lovers
Thank you so much Kay for the advance copy!
June 24, 2026
Rating: 5/5⭐
Tropes
🩷enemies to lovers
🩷college sports romance
🩷woman in STEM
🩷forced proximity
🩷Angsty slow burn
First and foremost I would like thank Author Kay Marie and Netgalley for providing me with ARC copy of the book in return for an honest review. Im truly grateful
In simple words, it was RAW, BEAUTIFUL AND CAN WRECK YOU COMPLETELY in the best way possible...
Honestly this book was just *the* book for me. The angst, the chemistry, the plot, the characters and literally everything was so good. It had me hooked from the very first page till the very end. I had absolutely no idea what to expect going into this. The cover was cute, the blurb immediately had me interested and next thing I knew I was completely obsessed.
Because this is simply 5 star behaviour and I have to yap about it.
The chemistry between Nox and Clara was just SO GOOD. I was INVESTED. This story follows Nox and Clara. Nox is a professional swimmer, gold medalist and college student while Clara is a college student and aspiring marine biologist.
Their first meeting was unexpected but honestly much needed. Clara is accidentally pushed into the water despite being extremely traumatized by swimming and Nox enters the picture by pulling her out. But of course these two had to start off on the wrong foot. Between the taunts, banter and pranks, their chemistry just kept intensifying.
They might not stand each other but they keep getting pulled towards each other like a magnet. Nox keeps calling Clara a distraction to his career and yet this man only runs towards the said distraction. He keeps pretending like he can't stand her and yet jumps at every opportunity to be with her or around her.
At some point his brain settings changed from default to Clara because tell me why this man could not think about anything else.
The angst between these two had me SICK. Like genuinely in pain but also completely hooked. I physically could not stay away from this book even if I tried. The way he was always there for her every single time, especially when she thought he wasn't around, it was honestly giving summoned-a-genie energy because somehow Nox would just appear.
Because apparently if someone distracts you from your career you're supposed to follow them around like a lost puppy and be wherever they are.
This man was YEARNING. Down bad doesn't even begin to cover whatever he had going on.
All Clara wanted was to get through her fear of water, survive college and move on with her life. Instead she somehow found the best friends and the man she deserved. Her character had me laughing, crying and completely in love with her. The way she evolved throughout the book was something I absolutely admired.
She literally calls him arrogant and then immediately starts looking for him. Like girl please 😭.
At this point both of them were saying one thing and doing the exact opposite and honestly they are so me coded for that.
The friendship and found family in this book? I absolutely adored it. Now I need every single one of their stories because I already know I'll devour them without a second thought.
The emotional vulnerability felt real. It felt messy, raw and completely honest, which is exactly what I want from a book. This book delivered that perfectly. I genuinely wanted to give every single character a hug, especially Nox and Clara.
My babies 😭❤️
With that being said, I absolutely wish this book had Nox's POV because I just know I would've eaten that up.
Overall, this book was pure 5 star behaviour and I loved every second of it.
Tropes
🩷enemies to lovers
🩷college sports romance
🩷woman in STEM
🩷forced proximity
🩷Angsty slow burn
First and foremost I would like thank Author Kay Marie and Netgalley for providing me with ARC copy of the book in return for an honest review. Im truly grateful
In simple words, it was RAW, BEAUTIFUL AND CAN WRECK YOU COMPLETELY in the best way possible...
Honestly this book was just *the* book for me. The angst, the chemistry, the plot, the characters and literally everything was so good. It had me hooked from the very first page till the very end. I had absolutely no idea what to expect going into this. The cover was cute, the blurb immediately had me interested and next thing I knew I was completely obsessed.
Because this is simply 5 star behaviour and I have to yap about it.
The chemistry between Nox and Clara was just SO GOOD. I was INVESTED. This story follows Nox and Clara. Nox is a professional swimmer, gold medalist and college student while Clara is a college student and aspiring marine biologist.
Their first meeting was unexpected but honestly much needed. Clara is accidentally pushed into the water despite being extremely traumatized by swimming and Nox enters the picture by pulling her out. But of course these two had to start off on the wrong foot. Between the taunts, banter and pranks, their chemistry just kept intensifying.
They might not stand each other but they keep getting pulled towards each other like a magnet. Nox keeps calling Clara a distraction to his career and yet this man only runs towards the said distraction. He keeps pretending like he can't stand her and yet jumps at every opportunity to be with her or around her.
At some point his brain settings changed from default to Clara because tell me why this man could not think about anything else.
The angst between these two had me SICK. Like genuinely in pain but also completely hooked. I physically could not stay away from this book even if I tried. The way he was always there for her every single time, especially when she thought he wasn't around, it was honestly giving summoned-a-genie energy because somehow Nox would just appear.
Because apparently if someone distracts you from your career you're supposed to follow them around like a lost puppy and be wherever they are.
This man was YEARNING. Down bad doesn't even begin to cover whatever he had going on.
All Clara wanted was to get through her fear of water, survive college and move on with her life. Instead she somehow found the best friends and the man she deserved. Her character had me laughing, crying and completely in love with her. The way she evolved throughout the book was something I absolutely admired.
She literally calls him arrogant and then immediately starts looking for him. Like girl please 😭.
At this point both of them were saying one thing and doing the exact opposite and honestly they are so me coded for that.
The friendship and found family in this book? I absolutely adored it. Now I need every single one of their stories because I already know I'll devour them without a second thought.
The emotional vulnerability felt real. It felt messy, raw and completely honest, which is exactly what I want from a book. This book delivered that perfectly. I genuinely wanted to give every single character a hug, especially Nox and Clara.
My babies 😭❤️
With that being said, I absolutely wish this book had Nox's POV because I just know I would've eaten that up.
Overall, this book was pure 5 star behaviour and I loved every second of it.
July 2, 2026
I'm going to be thinking about this book for the next few weeks, I LOVED it! Come for the carefree college nostalgia, stay for an emotional romance that dives straight into the deepest depths of trust and healing.
Clara arrives at Swiftmore University ready to start a new life away from an accident that nearly destroyed her. She instantly makes new best friends, then finds an enemy in her best friend's twin brother who discovers her phobia of water, and seemingly is the only person who can help her overcome it.
There's a lot of hype around Off Campus right now, and though I haven't read it yet, I've watched the series and this had such similar vibes. The characters felt young and carefree (aside from the heavier parts of the story that I'll get to in a moment). I just really loved the college vibes this book had. It felt nostalgic, even to someone who didn't go to college in the US. My uni years were pretty different to this as I didn't have a tight friendship group, but it's something I love to read and experience through someone else's eyes.
There was a classic enemies to lovers story, plus best friend's brother thrown in there too. And the STEM representation! So many tropes that I love, and all done SO well. I adore the nerdy aspect of the main characters being so passionate about something that it makes you interested in that topic too. I honestly wasn't bothered about marine biology or the Olympics before this, but suddenly, I want to know more. I love when an author can do that to you in a romance book!
Then there was the darker side. Clara has a tragic backstory that has developed into a phobia of water, but that's such a huge part of her future career. Nox, on the surface, seems to have it all together, but all is not as it seems. While helping Clara dive to the depths of her fear (quite literally!), he's floundering. Then the relationship totally submerges them.
(Also I can't believe how many water metaphors I got into that paragraph without quite meaning to!)
Their relationship is built on a deep level of trust, and with chapters interspersed from the future college reunion, we know that something is going to pull them apart at some point - we watch their relationship grow and twist. At points I couldn't understand how they would ever get it together, then I couldn't see how they would end up apart - but it's done so well that it was realistic and believable.
But the romantic relationship isn't the only excellent one in this book. The little trio of Clara, Nox's twin sister Nova and Willa is SO gorgeous. They simply emanate the beauty of female friendship. Then you throw Nox and his boys into the mix, and it just feels like such a fun friendship group who are there for one another.
Genuinely love this book, can't wait for more of the series, and I'm heading to find out what else the author has written right now! This was a six star read for me and getting added to my 2026 favourites!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
Clara arrives at Swiftmore University ready to start a new life away from an accident that nearly destroyed her. She instantly makes new best friends, then finds an enemy in her best friend's twin brother who discovers her phobia of water, and seemingly is the only person who can help her overcome it.
There's a lot of hype around Off Campus right now, and though I haven't read it yet, I've watched the series and this had such similar vibes. The characters felt young and carefree (aside from the heavier parts of the story that I'll get to in a moment). I just really loved the college vibes this book had. It felt nostalgic, even to someone who didn't go to college in the US. My uni years were pretty different to this as I didn't have a tight friendship group, but it's something I love to read and experience through someone else's eyes.
There was a classic enemies to lovers story, plus best friend's brother thrown in there too. And the STEM representation! So many tropes that I love, and all done SO well. I adore the nerdy aspect of the main characters being so passionate about something that it makes you interested in that topic too. I honestly wasn't bothered about marine biology or the Olympics before this, but suddenly, I want to know more. I love when an author can do that to you in a romance book!
Then there was the darker side. Clara has a tragic backstory that has developed into a phobia of water, but that's such a huge part of her future career. Nox, on the surface, seems to have it all together, but all is not as it seems. While helping Clara dive to the depths of her fear (quite literally!), he's floundering. Then the relationship totally submerges them.
(Also I can't believe how many water metaphors I got into that paragraph without quite meaning to!)
Their relationship is built on a deep level of trust, and with chapters interspersed from the future college reunion, we know that something is going to pull them apart at some point - we watch their relationship grow and twist. At points I couldn't understand how they would ever get it together, then I couldn't see how they would end up apart - but it's done so well that it was realistic and believable.
But the romantic relationship isn't the only excellent one in this book. The little trio of Clara, Nox's twin sister Nova and Willa is SO gorgeous. They simply emanate the beauty of female friendship. Then you throw Nox and his boys into the mix, and it just feels like such a fun friendship group who are there for one another.
Genuinely love this book, can't wait for more of the series, and I'm heading to find out what else the author has written right now! This was a six star read for me and getting added to my 2026 favourites!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
May 27, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
🌊 Slow burn
🌊 College sports (swim)
🌊 Women in STEM
🌊 Enemies to lovers
🌊 Second chance
🌊 Time jump
🌊 Trauma, grief
📚 For lovers of Please Don’t Go by E. Salvador and Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
I want to start this review off by saying that I literally just finished reading this and I instantly preordered the paperback. What You Made Me Do is such a beautiful story and I was genuinely captivated the entire time I was reading. I knew this would be a 5 star read for me when I was only 15% in and I was absolutely correct.
What I LOVED:
💕 What You Made Me Do is a true college sports romance. I really appreciated how much we got of the college and sport aspects throughout the story; I loved reading about the dorms, classes, school activities, swim practices, etc.
💕 The enemies to lovers dynamic between Clara and Nox meshes so well with the slowwwww burn & time jump plot line. Their rivalry is fierce and their mutual yearning throughout the years holds the same strength- if not more lol. Their love story takes its time to build into something beautiful and genuine. I’d also like to add that the spice is written perfectly for the story.
💕 This story is told from Clara’s POV and, while I typically prefer dual POV, I was 100% a single POV this time. I had no questions about what Nox, or anyone else for that matter, was thinking throughout the book. Every character was so well developed, small side characters included, that I didn’t need anyone else’s perspective. We know that man is yearning from day 1! 😍
💕 The trauma/grief/mental health topics are so well written. Clara’s trauma and grief are so palpable. She doesn’t just suddenly get better, she has to work at it and take the time to heal. The same goes for Nox and the healing that he has to do for his mental health.
💕 The emotion is this story is so real and raw. I felt every single feel there is to be felt and then some! I cried, laughed, mourned, hoped, and loved.
To finish off, I will definitely be rereading this when the book officially releases and I can’t wait for Swiftmore #2!!
🌶️🌶️
🌊 Slow burn
🌊 College sports (swim)
🌊 Women in STEM
🌊 Enemies to lovers
🌊 Second chance
🌊 Time jump
🌊 Trauma, grief
📚 For lovers of Please Don’t Go by E. Salvador and Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
I want to start this review off by saying that I literally just finished reading this and I instantly preordered the paperback. What You Made Me Do is such a beautiful story and I was genuinely captivated the entire time I was reading. I knew this would be a 5 star read for me when I was only 15% in and I was absolutely correct.
What I LOVED:
💕 What You Made Me Do is a true college sports romance. I really appreciated how much we got of the college and sport aspects throughout the story; I loved reading about the dorms, classes, school activities, swim practices, etc.
💕 The enemies to lovers dynamic between Clara and Nox meshes so well with the slowwwww burn & time jump plot line. Their rivalry is fierce and their mutual yearning throughout the years holds the same strength- if not more lol. Their love story takes its time to build into something beautiful and genuine. I’d also like to add that the spice is written perfectly for the story.
💕 This story is told from Clara’s POV and, while I typically prefer dual POV, I was 100% a single POV this time. I had no questions about what Nox, or anyone else for that matter, was thinking throughout the book. Every character was so well developed, small side characters included, that I didn’t need anyone else’s perspective. We know that man is yearning from day 1! 😍
💕 The trauma/grief/mental health topics are so well written. Clara’s trauma and grief are so palpable. She doesn’t just suddenly get better, she has to work at it and take the time to heal. The same goes for Nox and the healing that he has to do for his mental health.
💕 The emotion is this story is so real and raw. I felt every single feel there is to be felt and then some! I cried, laughed, mourned, hoped, and loved.
To finish off, I will definitely be rereading this when the book officially releases and I can’t wait for Swiftmore #2!!
June 21, 2026
This -- THIS -- is why I love single POV romance books, you guys! I love a dual POV as much as the next girl, because you get to get inside both people's heads. But with a single POV, it's all in the subtext, in the unspoken actions, in the yearning looks and brushing touches and unbearable tension. Like, did I know from the beginning that Nox was obsessed with Clara? YES. Did she? NO. AND THAT MADE IT ALL SO MUCH BETTER!!!! She didn't realize it, but with every moment that they spent together, it became more and more apparent to us and, eventually, her too.
CINEMA.
The first half of this book was so potent to me. That was where the tension tension-ed and the yearning yearned. The second half was where we got the promise of the premise, the fall, the love story playing out before our eyes. In particular, Nox and Clara's emails to each other sustained me.
I think the lead-up to the 80% conflict and the conflict itself fell a tad flat to me, though. All the hints and foreshadowing were there, so it didn't take me by surprise in any unsatisfying way. I just had a hard time believing that Nox -- obsessed-with-Clara Nox -- would do some of the things he did, to her specifically. One moment in particular... I wasn't sure I'd be able to forgive him!
BUT the fix-it was amazing. I've never read a book with this format before, and I honestly loved it. I've read second chance before, and most of them were dual timeline. But I've never read a second chance where the primary story was the "before" and the "now" is given to us in hints and glimpses, so we can see them fix things. I loved that so much. The reunion weekend shenanigans... I was so happy to see them all together again :')
I also need to take a second to say that I loved Clara and Nova and Willa's friendship so much. Girls' girls, all of them. Also... please please PLEASE tell me that Nova/Logan is next because... I need that so bad. SO BAD. I honestly really hope that all the books have the freshman/sophomore/junior/senior/reunion weekend format because I think it'll just ratchet up the tension so much, like it did in this one.
GAH! I HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH THIS!
----------------
Thank you to Netgalley and Kaitlyn Davis for the ARC!
CINEMA.
The first half of this book was so potent to me. That was where the tension tension-ed and the yearning yearned. The second half was where we got the promise of the premise, the fall, the love story playing out before our eyes. In particular, Nox and Clara's emails to each other sustained me.
I think the lead-up to the 80% conflict and the conflict itself fell a tad flat to me, though. All the hints and foreshadowing were there, so it didn't take me by surprise in any unsatisfying way. I just had a hard time believing that Nox -- obsessed-with-Clara Nox -- would do some of the things he did, to her specifically. One moment in particular... I wasn't sure I'd be able to forgive him!
BUT the fix-it was amazing. I've never read a book with this format before, and I honestly loved it. I've read second chance before, and most of them were dual timeline. But I've never read a second chance where the primary story was the "before" and the "now" is given to us in hints and glimpses, so we can see them fix things. I loved that so much. The reunion weekend shenanigans... I was so happy to see them all together again :')
I also need to take a second to say that I loved Clara and Nova and Willa's friendship so much. Girls' girls, all of them. Also... please please PLEASE tell me that Nova/Logan is next because... I need that so bad. SO BAD. I honestly really hope that all the books have the freshman/sophomore/junior/senior/reunion weekend format because I think it'll just ratchet up the tension so much, like it did in this one.
GAH! I HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH THIS!
----------------
Thank you to Netgalley and Kaitlyn Davis for the ARC!
May 15, 2026
What You Made Me Do was such an addictive college sports romance. The enemies-to-lovers tension between the main characters grabbed me immediately, and the mix of rivalry, forced proximity, and emotional vulnerability kept me invested the whole way through.
I really liked that the conflict between them felt layered instead of forced. Their banter and constant back-and-forth had a lot of chemistry, but underneath all of it there was genuine emotional depth, especially as more of the FMC’s fears and past trauma came to light. Watching her slowly trust Nox — especially in the scuba training scenes — made the romance feel earned and believable.
Nox was also exactly the kind of MMC I enjoy in sports romances. Confident and competitive without losing the softer, protective side underneath. The dynamic between them shifted naturally from irritation to understanding to something much deeper, and I thought the pacing of the slow burn worked really well.
The college setting and competitive athlete atmosphere added a lot to the story too, especially with the pressure both characters were under academically and personally. It gave the romance higher emotional stakes without becoming overly dramatic.
Overall, this was an emotional, tension-filled sports romance with strong chemistry, great banter, and a really satisfying slow-burn relationship. If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers romances with emotional depth and competitive college athlete dynamics, this is definitely worth reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked that the conflict between them felt layered instead of forced. Their banter and constant back-and-forth had a lot of chemistry, but underneath all of it there was genuine emotional depth, especially as more of the FMC’s fears and past trauma came to light. Watching her slowly trust Nox — especially in the scuba training scenes — made the romance feel earned and believable.
Nox was also exactly the kind of MMC I enjoy in sports romances. Confident and competitive without losing the softer, protective side underneath. The dynamic between them shifted naturally from irritation to understanding to something much deeper, and I thought the pacing of the slow burn worked really well.
The college setting and competitive athlete atmosphere added a lot to the story too, especially with the pressure both characters were under academically and personally. It gave the romance higher emotional stakes without becoming overly dramatic.
Overall, this was an emotional, tension-filled sports romance with strong chemistry, great banter, and a really satisfying slow-burn relationship. If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers romances with emotional depth and competitive college athlete dynamics, this is definitely worth reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Kay Marie for the eARC of this book.
This might be my favorite book of 2026 so far. I could not put this book down and it pulled me in from page one. The emotions and story were conveyed so well that I could see every scene in my mind and it just made the story that much better. Kay’s writing is simply gold. I am a huge reader and it is rare for me to have a book pull me in so quickly and keep me interested from cover to cover. The writing was so real and the situation was so raw that you could feel it on every page. The friendships between Clara, Willa, and Nova are the friendships of dreams. And their friendships together with Nox, Logan, and Grayson were just so beautiful that it really reflected what the college years are about and how you take those friendships and carry them into your life.
The chemistry between Clara and Nox was beautiful. You wanted them to be together from their first interaction at the lake and the YEARNING that took place over freshman and sophomore year which culminated right before the end of sophomore year was everything. You just wanted them to finally say it and act on it and when it happened, it was fireworks. Nox is my favorite MMC of this year. I cannot wait to see what Kay does with books 2 and 3, and I am here for it. I am going to tell every single one of my reader girls to read this book. To miss out on this is a crime! In all honesty, this book was just so well done and I’m still sitting here thinking about how much I loved it.
Congratulations Kay on this amazing book. I just loved it so much.
This might be my favorite book of 2026 so far. I could not put this book down and it pulled me in from page one. The emotions and story were conveyed so well that I could see every scene in my mind and it just made the story that much better. Kay’s writing is simply gold. I am a huge reader and it is rare for me to have a book pull me in so quickly and keep me interested from cover to cover. The writing was so real and the situation was so raw that you could feel it on every page. The friendships between Clara, Willa, and Nova are the friendships of dreams. And their friendships together with Nox, Logan, and Grayson were just so beautiful that it really reflected what the college years are about and how you take those friendships and carry them into your life.
The chemistry between Clara and Nox was beautiful. You wanted them to be together from their first interaction at the lake and the YEARNING that took place over freshman and sophomore year which culminated right before the end of sophomore year was everything. You just wanted them to finally say it and act on it and when it happened, it was fireworks. Nox is my favorite MMC of this year. I cannot wait to see what Kay does with books 2 and 3, and I am here for it. I am going to tell every single one of my reader girls to read this book. To miss out on this is a crime! In all honesty, this book was just so well done and I’m still sitting here thinking about how much I loved it.
Congratulations Kay on this amazing book. I just loved it so much.
June 1, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.
Marine biology and Olympic swimmer: rivals to lovers with ALL the tension? I am all in.
After an accident completely changed Clara's life, she arrives at Swiftmore University wanting a fresh start- not to fall into a lake on night one and be rescued by Nox Monroe, who is an Olympic swimmer and Clara's roommates twin brother. Overtime, he discovers her secret—she’s terrified of swimming. His mission is to help her pass her scuba diving course, all while they detest each other. I found this to be an enjoyable and thrilling read, filled with tension and banter. It masterfully portrayed the enemies-to-lovers trope. However, I only gave it three stars due to a few personal reasons. Firstly, the characters were quite young, making it challenging to connect with them, especially when they were overly immature. Secondly, the book was written over a four-year span, which made it feel like each year of school dragged on. Although I did like their junior year of exchanging letters as they fell in love between oceans! I did yearn to be in the present and comprehend the true reasons behind the downfall of Nox and Clara’s relationship. We were only given the last few chapters to grasp the downfall, followed by a swift resolution when they were reunited and easily forgave each other after not seeing each other for 18 months. This resolution felt too convenient, and I wished they had fought harder for each other’s forgiveness. Additionally, I found Nox’s “problem” to be somewhat abrupt and wish it hadn’t taken that particular turn, as he had never had an issue with it in the past. Alternatively, he might have had an issue, but I simply missed it. Overall, it wasn’t a bad book, but I didn’t connect to the story and characters as much as I had hoped.
Marine biology and Olympic swimmer: rivals to lovers with ALL the tension? I am all in.
After an accident completely changed Clara's life, she arrives at Swiftmore University wanting a fresh start- not to fall into a lake on night one and be rescued by Nox Monroe, who is an Olympic swimmer and Clara's roommates twin brother. Overtime, he discovers her secret—she’s terrified of swimming. His mission is to help her pass her scuba diving course, all while they detest each other. I found this to be an enjoyable and thrilling read, filled with tension and banter. It masterfully portrayed the enemies-to-lovers trope. However, I only gave it three stars due to a few personal reasons. Firstly, the characters were quite young, making it challenging to connect with them, especially when they were overly immature. Secondly, the book was written over a four-year span, which made it feel like each year of school dragged on. Although I did like their junior year of exchanging letters as they fell in love between oceans! I did yearn to be in the present and comprehend the true reasons behind the downfall of Nox and Clara’s relationship. We were only given the last few chapters to grasp the downfall, followed by a swift resolution when they were reunited and easily forgave each other after not seeing each other for 18 months. This resolution felt too convenient, and I wished they had fought harder for each other’s forgiveness. Additionally, I found Nox’s “problem” to be somewhat abrupt and wish it hadn’t taken that particular turn, as he had never had an issue with it in the past. Alternatively, he might have had an issue, but I simply missed it. Overall, it wasn’t a bad book, but I didn’t connect to the story and characters as much as I had hoped.
May 23, 2026
Thank you to Kay Marie and NetGalley for this e-ARC.
Ms Kay Marie, where did you come from?! I DEVOURED this book in half a day. And I want more immediately.
Sometimes you yearn to read a specific kind of book and it’s rare to find that book right when you want to read it. What You Made Me Do was exactly the kind of book I have been looking to read and it gave me everything I wanted and more.
Slow burn? Check.
Yearning? Check.
Years-long romance? Check.
Growth from the FMC? Check.
Growth from the MMC? Check.
Sports romance? Check. (Olympics even!)
Incredible portrayal of grief, depression, trauma, and mental health in general? Check.
Funny? Check.
I could go on and on.
I honestly loved everything about this. There are sometimes books you feel that were written specifically for you, and this one feels like one of those books to me.
I want to commend the author on writing a single POV romance novel, because it’s becoming pretty rare these days. It’s my preferred way of reading romance novels because of the mystery and the yearning. It’s also much more realistic - you never truly know what a man is thinking, you know?
Also, a romance book that takes place over years? Absolute chefs kiss 💋 from me. This is 100% a true slow burn and I loved every minute of it (even when it hurt and made me sob 😭).
The character development, the pacing, the writing, the story, the setting - it was just 5/5 stars all the way around.
I’m going to be keeping my eye on you Kay Marie.
Ms Kay Marie, where did you come from?! I DEVOURED this book in half a day. And I want more immediately.
Sometimes you yearn to read a specific kind of book and it’s rare to find that book right when you want to read it. What You Made Me Do was exactly the kind of book I have been looking to read and it gave me everything I wanted and more.
Slow burn? Check.
Yearning? Check.
Years-long romance? Check.
Growth from the FMC? Check.
Growth from the MMC? Check.
Sports romance? Check. (Olympics even!)
Incredible portrayal of grief, depression, trauma, and mental health in general? Check.
Funny? Check.
I could go on and on.
I honestly loved everything about this. There are sometimes books you feel that were written specifically for you, and this one feels like one of those books to me.
I want to commend the author on writing a single POV romance novel, because it’s becoming pretty rare these days. It’s my preferred way of reading romance novels because of the mystery and the yearning. It’s also much more realistic - you never truly know what a man is thinking, you know?
Also, a romance book that takes place over years? Absolute chefs kiss 💋 from me. This is 100% a true slow burn and I loved every minute of it (even when it hurt and made me sob 😭).
The character development, the pacing, the writing, the story, the setting - it was just 5/5 stars all the way around.
I’m going to be keeping my eye on you Kay Marie.
May 26, 2026
Thanks so much to Netgalley for the arc of this book.
This book had me hooked within the first couple chapters. I went in expecting a standard romance, but this book really delivered so much more.
The romance was not rushed at all and allowed for perfect tension, while the characters work through their own personal traumas and growth.
I sorta felt like this one was written for me. Clara's story/trauma had a lot of similarities to my own and watching her process her grief and build support through a found family was really heartwarming. It also all felt realistic, I could totally understand why she was having certain feelings during certain circumstances. I felt like I really understood her.
The pacing of this book was fantastic. I was so glad the “tough topics” weren't rushed through, but also were balanced so well with the quirky comedy of the friend group. The multiple timelines were written so smoothly and really added to the tension build up. The characters were complex but written in a way where you really feel like you know their lives from beginning to end.
There's really nothing I didn't love about this book. Looking forward to future books within this series. I’d love a deep dive into Novas character.
You can grab your copy of What you made me due September 15th 2026, or preorder it now!
This book had me hooked within the first couple chapters. I went in expecting a standard romance, but this book really delivered so much more.
The romance was not rushed at all and allowed for perfect tension, while the characters work through their own personal traumas and growth.
I sorta felt like this one was written for me. Clara's story/trauma had a lot of similarities to my own and watching her process her grief and build support through a found family was really heartwarming. It also all felt realistic, I could totally understand why she was having certain feelings during certain circumstances. I felt like I really understood her.
The pacing of this book was fantastic. I was so glad the “tough topics” weren't rushed through, but also were balanced so well with the quirky comedy of the friend group. The multiple timelines were written so smoothly and really added to the tension build up. The characters were complex but written in a way where you really feel like you know their lives from beginning to end.
There's really nothing I didn't love about this book. Looking forward to future books within this series. I’d love a deep dive into Novas character.
You can grab your copy of What you made me due September 15th 2026, or preorder it now!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Kay Marie and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Not gonna lie, I requested this ARC because the cover and the description made me think of Deep End, but I'm glad to report this book stands on its own and is both adorable and emotional!🙌🌸
I loved the way this author wrote the world we're set in: the description of the university, the nature, and the setting was very apt and created a clear picture in my head.
The chemistry and tension between the main couple were palpable, their antics at times hilarious, but sometimes a bit immature. I loved the way the hero helped the heroine to overcome her fears.
The dynamic of the friend group seemed a little one-dimensional; it felt weird that their relationships and interactions stayed the same during the 5 years they knew each other.
Special mention of the letters exchanged between the couple: those emails were the highlight of the third year part.
The 3rd act breakup felt needed here, and I'm glad that the hero took time to heal and to grow separately before they could reunite.
I highly enjoyed this book and would recommend it for readers who are in the mood for a college-set sports romance, featuring a stable friend group and a lot of emotional feelings between the couple.
Not gonna lie, I requested this ARC because the cover and the description made me think of Deep End, but I'm glad to report this book stands on its own and is both adorable and emotional!🙌🌸
I loved the way this author wrote the world we're set in: the description of the university, the nature, and the setting was very apt and created a clear picture in my head.
The chemistry and tension between the main couple were palpable, their antics at times hilarious, but sometimes a bit immature. I loved the way the hero helped the heroine to overcome her fears.
The dynamic of the friend group seemed a little one-dimensional; it felt weird that their relationships and interactions stayed the same during the 5 years they knew each other.
Special mention of the letters exchanged between the couple: those emails were the highlight of the third year part.
The 3rd act breakup felt needed here, and I'm glad that the hero took time to heal and to grow separately before they could reunite.
I highly enjoyed this book and would recommend it for readers who are in the mood for a college-set sports romance, featuring a stable friend group and a lot of emotional feelings between the couple.
June 15, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Kay Marie for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book! I'm a fan for university romance and this one hooked me from the start. The slow burn was done really well and had me wanting to keep reading to see when they would finally get together.
I also loved the way the story was told. Getting little glimpses of the reunion and then going back to see how they got there kept me interested and made me want to keep turning the pages.
The characters were great. Watching them go from not really liking each other to slowly developing feelings was one of my favourite parts of the book. Nox's surprise for her was so cute and definitely one of the standout moments for me.
I also really liked the side characters and would happily read books about them in the future. They all felt like they had their own personalities and stories to tell. And Nox's dad? Yeah, I didn't like him at all.
This book has confirmed that I am definitely a sports romance fan. It was cute, emotional in places, and touched on some realistic issues without feeling too heavy. I flew through it and genuinely enjoyed every minute.
An easy 5 stars from me!
I really enjoyed this book! I'm a fan for university romance and this one hooked me from the start. The slow burn was done really well and had me wanting to keep reading to see when they would finally get together.
I also loved the way the story was told. Getting little glimpses of the reunion and then going back to see how they got there kept me interested and made me want to keep turning the pages.
The characters were great. Watching them go from not really liking each other to slowly developing feelings was one of my favourite parts of the book. Nox's surprise for her was so cute and definitely one of the standout moments for me.
I also really liked the side characters and would happily read books about them in the future. They all felt like they had their own personalities and stories to tell. And Nox's dad? Yeah, I didn't like him at all.
This book has confirmed that I am definitely a sports romance fan. It was cute, emotional in places, and touched on some realistic issues without feeling too heavy. I flew through it and genuinely enjoyed every minute.
An easy 5 stars from me!
May 25, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ (rounded up)
This romance just tickled the right spot.
📚 enemies to lovers
📚 dual timeline
📚 second chance
📚 college romance
📚 epistolary romance
📚 single POV
🌶️
|Thoughts|
You know when you start reading a story and you just know early on that you’re going to love it. This is it for me. Not sure if it was a specific aspect or a combination that I just ate up and meant I couldn’t put this one down.
“You know what? You’re right. I do have a problem.” He narrows his eyes, crosses his arms.
“And I’m looking right at her.”
Their version of enemies to lovers, their forced proximity, college romance, how he dealt with her trauma, the second chance aspect, dual timeline. I loved to all. (Tea parties in the pool?)
“You’re free.”
“What if I don’t want to be free?”
Gave off Zodiac Academy Vibes (without the magic, length or bullying).
Looking forward to continuing this series and picking up more by this author.
🧶 For more bookish content follow me on Instagram.com/read_watch_crochet
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This romance just tickled the right spot.
📚 enemies to lovers
📚 dual timeline
📚 second chance
📚 college romance
📚 epistolary romance
📚 single POV
🌶️
|Thoughts|
You know when you start reading a story and you just know early on that you’re going to love it. This is it for me. Not sure if it was a specific aspect or a combination that I just ate up and meant I couldn’t put this one down.
“You know what? You’re right. I do have a problem.” He narrows his eyes, crosses his arms.
“And I’m looking right at her.”
Their version of enemies to lovers, their forced proximity, college romance, how he dealt with her trauma, the second chance aspect, dual timeline. I loved to all. (Tea parties in the pool?)
“You’re free.”
“What if I don’t want to be free?”
Gave off Zodiac Academy Vibes (without the magic, length or bullying).
Looking forward to continuing this series and picking up more by this author.
🧶 For more bookish content follow me on Instagram.com/read_watch_crochet
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 3, 2026
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Review for What You Made Me Do by Kay Marie (Kaitlyn Davis)
This book completely swept me away. What You Made Me Do is everything I want in a college romance: sharp banter, sizzling tension, and a slow-burn that keeps you hooked until the very last page.
The dynamic between the heroine—determined to rebuild herself after tragedy—and Nox Monroe, the golden boy swimmer, is electric. Their enemies-to-lovers journey feels authentic, layered with vulnerability and humor. The pranks and rivalry add levity, while the underwater training scenes pulse with intimacy and emotional depth. Watching her confront her fear of swimming while he learns to let someone in makes their connection feel both inevitable and hard-won.
Kay Marie balances angst and warmth beautifully. The forced proximity, competitive sparks, and Olympic-level stakes make this story impossible to put down. It’s not just a romance—it’s about resilience, rediscovery, and finding someone who challenges you to breathe again.
I loved every moment, and I can’t wait to see where the Swiftmore University series goes next. Highly recommended for fans of enemies-to-lovers and sports romance.
Review for What You Made Me Do by Kay Marie (Kaitlyn Davis)
This book completely swept me away. What You Made Me Do is everything I want in a college romance: sharp banter, sizzling tension, and a slow-burn that keeps you hooked until the very last page.
The dynamic between the heroine—determined to rebuild herself after tragedy—and Nox Monroe, the golden boy swimmer, is electric. Their enemies-to-lovers journey feels authentic, layered with vulnerability and humor. The pranks and rivalry add levity, while the underwater training scenes pulse with intimacy and emotional depth. Watching her confront her fear of swimming while he learns to let someone in makes their connection feel both inevitable and hard-won.
Kay Marie balances angst and warmth beautifully. The forced proximity, competitive sparks, and Olympic-level stakes make this story impossible to put down. It’s not just a romance—it’s about resilience, rediscovery, and finding someone who challenges you to breathe again.
I loved every moment, and I can’t wait to see where the Swiftmore University series goes next. Highly recommended for fans of enemies-to-lovers and sports romance.
June 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Kay Marie for the opportunity to read an eARC of What You Made Me Do.
This book ended up being so much better than I expected! I was a little nervous going into it because Taylor Swift-inspired books can sometimes feel cheesy or overly on-the-nose. However, Kay Marie handled the inspiration really well. The references felt subtle and thoughtfully woven into the story rather than overwhelming it.
One of my favourite aspects of this book was the chemistry between Clara and Nox. The tension was built beautifully throughout the story, and their banter kept me smiling from start to finish. I loved watching their relationship develop as they moved from rivals to something much deeper.
The swimming and scuba-diving elements added a unique layer to the romance, and Clara's journey of confronting her fears gave the story extra emotional depth.
Overall, this was a fun, engaging college sports romance with great chemistry, strong banter, and a satisfying slow burn. I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers romances with plenty of tension and heart.
This book ended up being so much better than I expected! I was a little nervous going into it because Taylor Swift-inspired books can sometimes feel cheesy or overly on-the-nose. However, Kay Marie handled the inspiration really well. The references felt subtle and thoughtfully woven into the story rather than overwhelming it.
One of my favourite aspects of this book was the chemistry between Clara and Nox. The tension was built beautifully throughout the story, and their banter kept me smiling from start to finish. I loved watching their relationship develop as they moved from rivals to something much deeper.
The swimming and scuba-diving elements added a unique layer to the romance, and Clara's journey of confronting her fears gave the story extra emotional depth.
Overall, this was a fun, engaging college sports romance with great chemistry, strong banter, and a satisfying slow burn. I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers romances with plenty of tension and heart.
July 7, 2026
thank you so much to Kay Marie and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc! 🤍
I literally have no words to describe how much I enjoyed and loved this book. After the first chapter I was already hooked and didn't want to let it go, but just what happens to me with the books I love happened again... I didn't want to stop reading it. The tension of the characters was so palpable, the emotions they transmitted to me went beyond what I imagined. It definitely has my 5 stars.
Clara, thank you for being the representation of being afraid to trust again, you healed a lot in me by reading you. Nox, you are literally the definition of "I'm not perfect, but for you, I will be." I loved that we see that both characters are not perfect, but the relationship they build (after SO MUCH SLOW BURN) is so important to them individually. The representation of mental health, absolutely chef kiss, thank you Kay Marie for ClaraNox <3.
I definitely recommend it, I want to read the other two books of the series already, I hope they are from the rest of the core 6 that we could see throughout this book, because I loved them all 🥹
I literally have no words to describe how much I enjoyed and loved this book. After the first chapter I was already hooked and didn't want to let it go, but just what happens to me with the books I love happened again... I didn't want to stop reading it. The tension of the characters was so palpable, the emotions they transmitted to me went beyond what I imagined. It definitely has my 5 stars.
Clara, thank you for being the representation of being afraid to trust again, you healed a lot in me by reading you. Nox, you are literally the definition of "I'm not perfect, but for you, I will be." I loved that we see that both characters are not perfect, but the relationship they build (after SO MUCH SLOW BURN) is so important to them individually. The representation of mental health, absolutely chef kiss, thank you Kay Marie for ClaraNox <3.
I definitely recommend it, I want to read the other two books of the series already, I hope they are from the rest of the core 6 that we could see throughout this book, because I loved them all 🥹
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