What You Made Me Do

Swiftmore University #1

by Kay Marie

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.

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Sports, College Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Slow Burn, College

About the author

Kay 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

Reviews

[₊ ˚ ale ࿓ ♡ ⋆｡˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

‎ ‎ ‎ ⌗‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ── 🩷🍋‍🟩🐈‍⬛ᝰ .ᐟ read.
it was cute and interesting, but i still feel like i'm missing something, lol.
rtc

‎ ‎ ‎ ⌗‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ── 🩷🍋‍🟩🐈‍⬛ᝰ .ᐟ pre-read.
OMG, I GOT THE ARC, I'M SO HAPPY! IT'S FINALLY TIME TO START IT, YAY
thank you netgalley and kay marie for an arc in exchange of an honest review!

[jasmine ☆₊⁺🦢🪽₊⁺★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

——✮∙˙ 5 stars ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆
╰► 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ⓘ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ i. synopsis⋆˚꩜｡

⋮ ✦┆clara hayes came to swiftmore university for a fresh start after the accident that changed her life. and what’s more fresh then falling into a lake her first night and getting rescued by a total stranger? nox monroe is the bane of her existence and the person she turns to when in need. he’s a popular swimmer who happens to be her roommates twin; and his bedroom window looks right into hers… now he knows her secret. clara is a marine biology major who’s terrified to swim. when they strike a deal for him to help her pass her scuba test in exchange for her to stop interfering with his training, everything changes. lingering gazes, hands gripping her, his voice in her ear. the deeper they sink, the deeper their affection grows, even if this was supposed to be temporary. clara starts to question why they hate each other in the first place. but the funny thing is… she’s starting to think he never did.

✧ genre: contemporary romance
✧ tropes: college sports romance ⋆ roommates brother ⋆ mental health/trauma rep
✧ setting:

◦◦,`°.✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽.°`,◦◦

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ii. my thoughts ⋆｡°💭

⋮ ✦┆going into this, i didn’t set any expectations for it even though i loved the synopsis. although this may be the case, whatever my expectations would’ve been, they were exceeded because this was such a fun read! i loved every single ounce of this book.

something i greatly appreciated was the fact that there was a perfect balance between the serious matters at hand and the romance. neither of them overpowered the other i loved that. in many books that i’ve read, it always dives too deep into either the romance or the situation (which usually leaves me unsatisfied by the end). so this book was such a refresher from all of that.

this book does deal with alcohol abuse and it does become a huge thing towards the end. I like that the author didn’t just blow past the situation quickly and there was actually build up/reasoning as to why alcohol abuse would occur.

the writing was witty and i found myself smiling and laughing various times throughout the book. i loved all of these characters and i genuinely can’t wait for the next books in this series!!!

❝ You don't just give me butterflies," I explain. "You give me an entire damn kaleidoscope.❞

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ iii. characters ⋆｡°🌷

✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ clara hayes ⋆｡°
⌞🐳⌝ ⋮ ✦┆ clara was such a special character. the way the author went about easing us into clara’s life and trauma was obviously very well thought out. just like nox, i kept wondering—becoming eager to know why she wad so terrified of swimming. once everything clicked into place, so did her relationship with nox and it just kept growing more and more after that. clara was a very lonely girl and you could just tell that she wanted to be happy and belong somewhere she wouldn’t be judged. becoming a new version of herself—clara learned to push through things she didn’t think would be possible due to her past. i seriously enjoyed her character a lot!

✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ nox monroe ⋆｡°
⌞🥇⌝ ⋮ ✦┆ he seems cold at first, but as the book progresses, you can see that there’s so much more to him. in some aspects, nox is a regular (though very very famous) athlete who doesn’t really have much pressure on him, he just has a lot of suppressed feelings. i can absolutely say that he is great book boyfriend material! from the very beginning, i feel like his attention had quickly shifted to clara after their first interaction. i loved seeing the way he would help clara work through her fear of the water because everything just felt so intimate. he truly was just such an amazing character in this book!!!

❝When I'm with you, happiness is so easy. It's not something I need to work for. All the hate and the hurt just fades away.❞

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ iv. overall ⋆｡°⌛️

⋮ ✦┆ i can’t stop thinking about this book and it’s making me want to reread it already… it was that good! i can’t wait for the next books in this series because i LOVED the side characters so much!!! they brought so much fun and laughter into this book, so i’ll be patiently wailing for them. i would definitely recommend this book!!

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆v. quotes i loved⋆｡° 𓂃🖊

ᯤ ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ “If you wanted me to, I would.”

ᯤ ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ “If you have to be haunted, be haunted by me, Clara.”

── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
ᝰ.ᐟ 🌊 ⌗ pre read┆started september 2 | finished september 5
happy fall besties 🍁 since it’s fall season, i really want to read fantasy again but i have arcs to read 😭 like i want to continue reading tog but…arcs 🤧 anyways, this book seriously sounds so intriguing! i mean…an enemies-to-lovers sports college romance??? RIGHT UP MY ALLEY!! and i am actually really excited to read this 🤗

˖᯽ ݁˖· ─ 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘺𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸
⟢ 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚: september 15

[niki ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!!

[julie ★ (new bio !)]

⌗‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ── 💗 .ᐟ pre-read
⤿ start date: ?

THANK YOU SO MUCH NETGALLY FOR THE ARC

sport romance. STEM. enemies to lovers.
I'M SAT.

[Ananya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way this book kept me captivated, no book ever did. I am actually submerged so deep into Swiftmore U universe. The way the author has setup the premise of this story is remarkable.

How can a story be so heartwraming and heartaching at the same time.

⇒It's about love, loss, grief, friendship, bonds, angst, yearning, heartbreaks and everything.

warning/triggers-
The book represents very heavy topics including death of a friend(for FMC), alcohol addiction(for MMC) and grief.
This book is not as simple/easy as the blurb and cover conveys. It's very intense.


»Writing style:

The first thing i want to talk about is the perfect writing style of this book. This one is so so beautifully written. Perfect from a POV of 18-yrs old. Cannot ask for anything more perfect than this. The flow of the events and scenes are absolutely mesmerizing. Each event/scene that takes place will ultimately have a deep meaning down the lane in the story. The story takes place over a time period of 4 years of college, which is in fact perfect. This is not even a romantic suspense but i was beyond excited to know what's next. Every word, every line had emotions dripping through it. I laughed, got angry and cried a lot more than expected. No words hands down the best of best writing style I ever read in emotional terms.

»Tension, angst, yearning:

Have you ever listened to the songs Electric Love by Børns and Invisible Strings by Taylor Swift. If those songs had a book that it would be this book.
Their chemistry was electric as in a live wire. There was this strong pull between them which almost gave me vibes of fated mates. I was feeling the tension even with simplest of the touch and gaze they share. Everything in the story has purpose!! The angst/yearning part comes around 70% of the book, i just can't say more into this because it would spoil the review. But let's just that story weaves so deeply through various events and each of this event is important and fits perfectly in that particular flow of the story.

»The characters:

This book was not just about two MCs(Clara & Nox), but all 6 friends who try to navigate their early college life. the friendship and bondage they share is absolutely admirable. I would say that the characters healed not only through love but also friendship of those played a every important role. They all had this group games, pranks going on between them which helped me connect with the story even more.
Clara and Nox they themself share a very special relationship, which is not at all based on lust. They share their fears with each other and show up to pull them out of each other traumatic past. the slow burn between them was delicious and when they first, it was like he kissed the fear out of her and i was like AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA finally.

She fears from water because she is haunted by her past demons but he kisses her in water for the first time as says↴

"If you have to be haunted" he murmurs against my skin "Be haunted by me"

You know that gesture he did to pull out her fear of swimming made me a crying puddle↴

"Nox Monroe, the fastest swimmer in the entire world, is sitting at the bottom of the pool having a mermaid tea party with me."

Yes there was back and forth between them but that all contributed in making their relationship even stronger. Like they both needed that space given the past they come from. I loved that thing so much.
they both are imprinted so deep in my brain that I am gonna think about them all the time.


⇒5/5 stars! One of my fav of 2026.
Can't wait to see next work from this author!

Out on Sept 15, 2026!

[CC ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[bloomysoul ৎ୭ (s. ia)]

DNF - 99 pages 🥲

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so sorry, but I just couldn't continue anymore. Every time I picked it up, I felt so sleepy and had to force myself to read. The writing is good. About the plot- first 50 pages were actually interesting and had me hooked, but after that it started to feel boring and I found myself losing interest. Maybe it's just not the right book for me, or maybe it's a case of wrong timing. I really wanted to finish it, especially since it was my first ARC, but I don't think it's fair to push through a book I'm no longer connecting with. This one just wasn't for me, though I hope it finds the right readers who enjoy it ♡

[belle ੈ✩‧₊˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[AboutEstelle · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

Le début, pourquoi pas
Mais les deux gros débiles qui commencent à faire nimp et à pleurnicher ensuite, non.
Ajouter l’addiction à la fin pour au final claquer des doigts, bof, il aurait fallu plus dvp ça. Le simple fait qu’il ait fallu 1 chapitre à la fin pour régler tout le livre montre bien que les enjeux et obstacles étaient pas clairs.
Et puis peut-on cracher sur Mabel svp ??? Mais quelle connasse, y’a pas à porter une telle culpabilité à cause de cette meuf arrrgggggg. Quel intérêt de la rendre détestable ??
Je crois que je comprends pas les idées de l’autrice de manière générale

[Amee · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Read. Thanks to BookSirens for the What You Made me Do ARC, book one in the new Swiftmore University series. My opinions are my own so take them with a grain of salt. Though I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the last, the pacing stalled a bit for my liking, overall my first book by author was an above average read and a good start to what I’m sure will be a fun series. Would round up to 4 from a 3.50. Our narrator, Clara, is starting Swiftmore U after a year recovering from a car accident that’s left her with scars on the inside more than out. She meets Nox, her new roommates twin brother and an Olympic swimmer. I enjoyed the break from my go to usual favorite, hockey players, and Nox’s sport of choice. He was very likable from the get go, which makes Clara like him more and less. This is a slow burn in the best way. Enemies to friends and then to lovers, though the tension was off the charts it was pretty tame in the spice dept. I didn't miss anything. The main and side characters build a big six person friend group, prompted by a prank war that had me cackling at the lengths the girls went to win, we get to know Clara’s new gal friends and Nox’s buddies who will be the couples in the next two, which author set up. There are serious themes amongst the humor, but author handled them with care. This is a definite recommend for me if your looking for a new college sports series to start.

[Crisia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for my ARC of What You Made Me Do!

Whoa, what just happened? I was so invested in this book I barely came up for breath! The writing was addictive, the story was immersive, and the chemistry between the main characters was authentic and believable. The tension and yearning were top notch, phew. I also loved the emotional pacing. Every step forward felt earned, and I never felt like the story was rushing. It was a true slow-burn and when the tension broke, the payoff was worth it.

The story is told from the perspective of the FMC, who has trauma and flaws, and while I was sometimes questioning her choices, it only made her more relatable and realistic. The MMC is swoon-worthy and a yearner, and has his own flaws and past that come into play. The character development was just done so beautifully for both of them, which is a must for me to keep me engaged and rooting for the relationship.

Ooof, I just finished and I feel like I already have a book hangover. If you're looking for a contemporary romance that will hit you in the feels, this one is so worth it.

[Jen (jenslostinthepages) ♥Star-Crossed Book Blog♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

***4.5/5 Stars***

What You Made Me Do was an enemies to lovers college sports romance that was filled with redemption, friendship, struggles, and all the angst.  With a slow burn romance that will have you begging to know what happens next, this book was so much fun!  If you’re a fan of found family, joy and heartache swirling together, and irresistible banter, then definitely add this one to your tbr! 

Maybe I can be a new version of myself here.
Maybe this is where my story really begins.

After surviving a horrific accident, Clara was ready for a fresh start at college.  From those first few chapters, Clara’s emotions became my own.  I loved watching her wins!  Her roommate Nova and new friend Willow were the most incredible women!  I loved how their friendship thrived, and how much they cared for one another.  But at the same time there was Nox, her roommate’s twin brother.  And he saw Clara at her weakest.   Plus they butted heads in the most fabulous of ways.  So when they formed a tentative truce, I couldn’t wait for the fireworks to explode!

I groan and fall back on my bed. He caught me ogling him. I know he did. Worse, he knows I know he did.

Nox was an Olympic swimmer who was a complicated soul.  He came across as cocky and conceited, yet he had moments that showed he did have a heart of gold.  As he told jokes, could be encouraging, and all of the ways he thought to get Clara comfortable in the water made my heart swoon.  And I loved the peeks he gave us into the Olympics!  But Nox also seemed to be holding so much of himself back.  And when we learned all of the sides of him, my heart broke.

“Wait!” I call as he swings open the door. Nox freezes in the frame, not turning around, but not leaving either. “You never told me why you hate me.”
He glances over his shoulder, pinning me to the spot, searing me with his gaze. “I never said I did.”

Nox and Clara together were explosive.  Their banter was fun and hilarious, but underneath was a simmering tension.  As we followed Clara from her Freshman to Senior year of college, I became enamored with them.  And those tiny little peaks we got into the future too.  Watching their friendship form, and the moments they crossed the line was mesmerizing.  Until everything crashed down around them.

We were always so good together— until we weren’t.

With silly pranks, and steamy moments, this book had the best of both worlds.  What You Made Me Do was fun and playful, while also having heavier emotional moments too.  The friendships were beautiful and incredible!  Plus, it ended with a fabulous happily ever after!  That bumpy path was definitely worth it!  Now I’m just keeping my fingers crossed for two more books in this series, their friends need their HEA too, please. :)

Other Favorite Review:

Sometimes, I’m so angry I can’t breathe.
Other times, it feels like my heart is trying to claw its way from my chest just to escape the pain.
And then there are moments like this, where I’m so torn between the two extremes, I freeze.

It’s too much.
Him.
This place.
These feelings.

“You’re good for him, you know,” Nova says later in the locker room.
“What?” I ask, feigning ignorance.
From my other side, Willa leans in close.
“You’re. Good. For. Him,” she repeats loudly, calling my ass out.
I elbow her in the ribs. “Shut up.”
Willa grins.

“I want the only thing I’ve ever wanted,” he explains, softening his tone, his expression. “You.”

I don’t want to be a weight you carry with you. I don’t want to slow you down when you need to fly.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

For more of my reviews, please visit:

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[k's.bookshelf. · Rating 5 out of 5]

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...

[el · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc!!

I requested this on a whim because let's be honest, I love sports romances like these so I went into this excited and I was not disappointed! Nox and Clara had the banter and chemistry that really made this read so enjoyable. There was also the tension and I love that it was a slow burn so when they finally got together, it was worth it! Nox was so down bad please his emails lol whatever you say handsome. I love that we eventually got to see more of Clara's trauma and fear and how she eventually starts to trust Nox. Absolutely loved it!!

[Eve Tsak · Rating 5 out of 5]

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
♡

[Chiara · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[aribooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was ADDICTING….i literally read this in few hours because of how much I was into it….i am obsessed with this book!!! And also some of my favs trope into one book so a big big plus!!!
The banter…the tension…the back and forth between them since the beginning…this was so good and the more I read the more I loved it.
Clara and Nox ? They had so much chemistry and so much tension that it was so hot. One of the other thing i liked is the focus on mental health and addiction.
Oh how I also loved Clara friendship between her and Nova and Willa…she really found her family in them. And I loved how they supported each other.
My first book from the author but I’m so excited for the next one !!!! I’ll be sure to turn on.

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc !

[May ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW ✨

Available now!

4.5⭐️

.✦ ݁˖ “𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳?”
“𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳.”

𝑻𝑹𝑶𝑷𝑬𝑺:
಄ 𝘌𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴
಄ 𝘍𝘭𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳
಄ 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘙𝘌𝘗
಄ 𝘍𝘔𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘛𝘌𝘔
಄ 𝘖𝘭𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘔𝘊

Thank you Netgally & author Kay Marie for an early copy in exchange for an honest review 🫶

Wow! What a book! First of all I must say I had the time of my life reading this.
Second, let me tell you a bit about what this is before I get into all my thoughts!

જ⁀➴ 𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓶𝓪𝓭𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓭𝓸 follows Clara- who arrives at Swiftmore University in her freshman year ready to leave her troubled past behind and become someone new. She immediately connects with her floor mates, Nova and Willa. Which leads us to Nox- Nova’s brother and an Olympic swimmer who also studies at Swifmore University.
On the first night they bump into each other and immediately start off on the wrong foot.
The book continues to follow as they go through four years of university.
I won’t explain any further because, well, you should read the book🤭

જ⁀➴ 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:
I will say the first thing that drew me in is the cover! Like hello?! Have you seen it?? (I’m talking about the paperback cover because I think the e-book has a different one now)
And of course also the very intriguing premise.
And let me tell you, my instincts did not disappoint! I enjoyed this book so much.
Everything about it had me invested. The setting, the plot, the tension between Clara and Nox and the friendships.
I especially loved that we got a dual timeline that always kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened and what’s going to happen.

There were a few things that bothered me which is why this isn’t a full 5⭐️
First of all is the fact that in one chapter she got like drugged or something at a party and I feel like that was so overlooked? Like I didn’t even really fully understand what happened there just that she called Nox to help her which was reasonable but also felt like the author just wanted a reason for them to be in proximity but it just wasn’t the best way to do it lol. Could be that I just didn’t understand what she tried to do there but it was weird in my opinion.
Second was that I felt like half the book Clara was like “no I won’t fall in love, I can’t loose myself inside someone again” and then the transition to actually falling in love and accepting it was kinda fast. It didn’t really click to me.
Also her constant self doubt that she will distract Nox in his swimming so much so that she didn’t go to support him😭 like what?? That was annoying but I did like that later on she also understood that that was a stupid thing to do.
Overall I had such a good time!! Although I wasn’t fully connected to the characters, I was so invested in the story and the side characters as well🤭 (Nove and Logan I SEE YOU🙂‍↕️)
I don’t have anything else to say except definitely read this if you want a romance book that keeps you guessing and also deals with some heavy topics which I really appreciated 🩷
Highly recommend!

𝓢𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 𝓘 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓭:

“If you have to be haunted,”
“Be haunted by me, Clara.”
“I am.”
“Think about me every time you get in the water.”
“I do.”
“Think of this.”
“I will.”

Sometimes the best things in life require a leap of faith. There’s no way around it. You have to risk the fall to learn to fly.
And I want out of the nest. For him, I want to soar.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Kaitlyn Davis for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

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.

Clara has gone through a significantly life altering event and is still massively impacted by it. It’s entirely understandable but what I think I liked most was how she kept pushing herself. Yes, we also see Nox joining in and helping her push past her mental blocks, but the way she implements the skills she’s been given through therapy to try and do her best through the hard moments is very admirable. She’s such a bubbly person, the kind you can easily become friends with for life, and despite everything thrown at her, it was a joy to see her hold onto that spark - and even transfer it to others.
Nox is a bit of an enigma. He’s dedicated, that cannot be denied. He’s also brash, cocky and cold which had me cautious about him in the beginning. I was very glad to discover that despite his flaws and annoyances, he is very much a softie on the inside. When he opens up, you can see that he consciously makes an effort to try not to hide things as some men do. He wants to be clear about his emotions and intentions. I do think we could have explored him a little bit more, perhaps a little more insight into the competitions and pressures he was dealing with but I am glad we got to know him.

I wasn’t too sure on what to expect from this book initially. I’m a lover of sports romances and enjoy any stories involving women in STEM so this seemed like the perfect blend. This plot was far more emotional than I was expecting but that’s what drew me in the most. It tackles some very important subjects in such a way that doesn’t feel performative or dramatic in the slightest. It was as though I were reading a true story which is the best way to enjoy a book. I liked that we got to see a decent glimpse into both the sporty world and the one of science too but they aren’t necessarily the predominant focus. It helped us learn more about the leads and their interests whilst also fleshing out the lives they live. That said, I do wish we got to see more of Clara’s side of things. I know we are working through her trauma but her exposure therapy is very much Nox’s wheelhouse. I wanted to see more brainy Clara, more showing off of her intelligence! Character wise, it’s a relatively large cast with lots of names to remember. But I liked that there was this core friendship group that gelled together seamlessly but held their own as two separate groups as well. It added depth to the story alongside having these golden little moments when characters who wouldn’t normally be one on one had time together. The romance was definitely an interesting one because we switch between the present where things have clearly gone down in some capacity and the past, where the enemies to lovers trope thrives alongside forced proximity. In my experience, the author always does a great job at writing an engaging and eventually swoon worthy romance. And she certainly does deliver again. There is a moment or two where things felt a little sudden in terms of progress but generally, the growing emotional connection really held my attention. Enemies to lovers is forever a favourite so that got me interested but the way Clara’s trauma and how it was being tackled was interwoven into their relationship really kept me eager to see how things would go. I did also like that it was rather minimal on the spicy side of things. Those scenes were an added bonus but they weren’t necessary in moving things forward which was rather refreshing to see. The ending was pretty perfect for everything the characters go through over the year we are with them. I liked that it’s closed the story really nicely yet has also left room for future books in this series for other characters. Bravo!

Overall, What You Made Me Do is a surprisingly emotional story I certainly recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to Kaitlyn Davis for an advanced copy of this book.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exceeded my expectations. The characters had depth and the tension was so good!

[⋆˚࿔ Luiza 𝜗𝜚˚⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

•°. ❝ 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)

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Jordan Vogel · Rating 5 out of 5]

HAPPY RELEASE DAY 🎉
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 Clara’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!

[Ghalz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Kay Marie for giving me access to this arc

Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖🎐 Overall thoughts : So this was hard to rate and I changed my mind a lot. If there is one things I ADORED the most in this book, it was the way the throwbacks and the present were written. I did not even feel like it was jumping from present to past that much because it was very well done. I quite enjoyed see the way their story happened, the actual enemies to lovers vibe it was giving was SO GREAT. They took their sweet team to understand that what they felt was bigger than hate, that it was the infuriation they felt because of the freaking TENSION. That was killing me, in a good way. They made us wait sometime but it was wotth it. I loved the dynamic between them. This type of books is my fav since it's a spots romance that is very emotional and I LOVE the emotional part. There were lots of layers in this book and it really explores past trauma, addiction and lots of conflincted emotions in a way that doesn't make it heavy, but makes the story real. Which is a proof of a very well written story. I would definitely buy this book once it comes out and can I say how EXCITED I am at the idea of reading the books about all the friendgroup.

𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖🎐 Carla and Nox : these two went through so much before actually having their shot at hapiness. I loved how deep and real their story was written. The second change part and learning why they broke up in the first place was so heartbreaking. I'm so glad they ended up going back to each other. These two waiting for each other before getting together for the first time and then had to wait another time before getting back together. It was a beautiful story and I can't wait to see glimpses of them in the other books.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much NetGalley and the amazing author for providing me with an ARC of this book🖤

I enjoyed this story SOO much. I’m a person who loves sports romances, slow burns and yearning men, and this book just had all of it. I was immediately pulled into the story and the characters, and I cried at the end when I had to say goodbye to them, so that alone probably tells you how much I liked this😭

Again, I don’t want to write any spoilers as this book won’t be out until September 15th (can’t wait btw, I NEED to secure my physical copy😭), so I’ll keep this a bit simple. But I genuinely loved all of the characters here. The main characters, Clara and Nox, were so perfect for each other. I got butterflies every single time there was a scene with Nox tbh (or maybe even an entire damn kaleidoscope hehe?🦋) I enjoyed their dynamic so much, and the slow burn was REALLY burning. Sometimes I caught myself yelling, “OH MY GOD, JUST KISS ALREADY.”😭 But everything was so well paced, and everything happened at the perfect moment.

I also grew so fond of the side characters. I NEED a book for Nova and Logan. I LIKE ACTUALLY NEED IT RIGHT NOW😭

That said, this book also had such great, easy to read writing while dealing with some heavier themes that were handled so well. I was going through it all with the characters. I cried with them, laughed with them, and I really, really hope this isn’t the last time I get to see them🥹

Thank you so much for this ARC again🖤

[mackenzie · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

i procrastinated on this arc for literally so long it became a problem lmfao. for some reason it's just never called to me and after reading, well... let's just say i could've gone without. i just never vibed with the characters and didn't feel their chemistry the wanted i wish i would've, and i was just really taken out of the story for the majority of it. this has a 4.3 average though i think so clearly i'm in the minority! i would give this series/author another shot though.

thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an arc! all opinions are my own <3

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Ugh I’m obsessed with this book and it’s not even out yet. I got blessed by the publishing gods for being able to read an early copy of this book.

I am such a SUCKER for books that start off in the present and we know that there was ~something ~ bad that happened that completely fractured the romance between these two characters and then we’re reading through the past, at their journey of how they met, their relationship, and finally the big reveal of that moment. The build up is so powerful and this author does that so well.

The friendship. The tension. The flirting. The grief. The impact of unprocessed, repressed emotions. The message of “it’s okay to ask for help - you don’t have to go through anything alone.” Being a part of this friend group … they make me emotional. These friends bring so much joy, comfort, healing, safety, love …. There is never any doubt that this core group of people are there for each other no matter what.

My one critique is that it felt like we spent so much of the book in aspects of the buildup and exploration of the past, that there were moments that I would’ve loved to read more about because to me it seemed like things happened quickly at times. BUT. I am still fully obsessed with this book and will be reading the rest of this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced electronic reader copy in exchange for a fair but honest review. 💗

[Euphonious Times · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jacquie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a deeply emotional story of two young people who have hidden scars that stop them from fully committing to an honest relationship.
It’s angsty and real in a way that left me heartsore but happy in the end. A worthwhile read.

[Elle | The Wild Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Messy and Entertaining ✨

🏊🏽enemies to lovers
🐳best friend’s brother
🏊🏽college sports romance
🦈slow-burn
🏊🏽mental health rep
🐬found family

The story spans over the four years of college and more, so we get to see Clara and Nox' relationship form, grow and implode in their entirety. The pacing was good and I was very entertained all throughout. I especially loved their junior year of exchanging emails and texts, watching them fall in love while being oceans apart...their banter was top tier.
I initially had some difficulties in connecting with our main characters because they read very young and overly immature, even for a New Adult romance: some of their behaviours and reactions had me rolling my eyes a bit, but thankfully they 'grew up' and learned how to actually communicate with each other as the years passed.
The biggest shout-out goes to their fun and chaotic friendgroup, which gave the story massive found-family energy, with some very sweet and lighthearted moments.
I only wished for more angst, considering the gravity of what happened to cause the downfall of their relationship. It all felt sudden and rushed...Nox' struggles came from nowhere: not sure if I missed some clues or if there was actually no build-up or foreshadowing at all. Then, after more than a year apart, their reunion felt lowstakes and the resolution felt a bit too convenient. I really wished they fought harder for each other's forgiveness.
Overall it was a very entertaining and bingeable romance - I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good slow burn, enemies to lovers, college sport romance with massive found family vibes.

***Thank you Netgalley and the author for the eARC of What You Made Me Do, in exchange for my honest review***