What do you think?
Backstroke: A Dark College Sports Romance
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Recieved an e-arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This is 284 pages too much of one of the corniest dark romances I have ever read.
The smut was great. It's litered everywhere in this book. But I literally cannot say anything else in the matter of praise. The first ten pages were promising, but the moment Remington opened his mouth I could not stand him. Fallon just became so insufferable and such a doormat. I couldn't even enjoy her character after she described herself as a badass from hell and grunge chic and not like other girls - it was so cringy. The writing was so 0ff-putting and juvenile.
This entire book takes place in maybe a week and a half. There's just so much telling, "Remy is the King of campus" "Remy has so many groupies" "Remy can do whatever he wants". At some point I just wanted to yell that I don't care if we're supposed to find out he secretly has a heart of gold, because we frankly don't see it. He's an insufferable prick with no redeeming qualities. I saw some semblence of a promise in this dark romance in the insta lust/obsession, but that spirals into something that's not even romantic but downright abusive?? You're telling me I have to believe he's suddenly in love with this girl a week later?
The slutshaming, the lack of school, lack of swimming, the lack of buildup between these two just can't be ignored. The trauma between the two characters leads to practically nothing besides a random plot twist at the 90% mark that is resolved SO BAD. The stepsibling trope is barely there, if anything it feels like a random add on just to get a couple more chapters of angst in. The "plot" (if you can even call it that) is the same without them suddenly becoming stepsiblings halfway through the story. And, who wears heels to a frat party????
~~~~
I gotta be honest guys. This is a 1 star read. Im 75% done and I just can't imagine there is anything here that makes this better. It's less than 300 pages but even that's too much.
This is 284 pages too much of one of the corniest dark romances I have ever read.
The smut was great. It's litered everywhere in this book. But I literally cannot say anything else in the matter of praise. The first ten pages were promising, but the moment Remington opened his mouth I could not stand him. Fallon just became so insufferable and such a doormat. I couldn't even enjoy her character after she described herself as a badass from hell and grunge chic and not like other girls - it was so cringy. The writing was so 0ff-putting and juvenile.
This entire book takes place in maybe a week and a half. There's just so much telling, "Remy is the King of campus" "Remy has so many groupies" "Remy can do whatever he wants". At some point I just wanted to yell that I don't care if we're supposed to find out he secretly has a heart of gold, because we frankly don't see it. He's an insufferable prick with no redeeming qualities. I saw some semblence of a promise in this dark romance in the insta lust/obsession, but that spirals into something that's not even romantic but downright abusive?? You're telling me I have to believe he's suddenly in love with this girl a week later?
The slutshaming, the lack of school, lack of swimming, the lack of buildup between these two just can't be ignored. The trauma between the two characters leads to practically nothing besides a random plot twist at the 90% mark that is resolved SO BAD. The stepsibling trope is barely there, if anything it feels like a random add on just to get a couple more chapters of angst in. The "plot" (if you can even call it that) is the same without them suddenly becoming stepsiblings halfway through the story. And, who wears heels to a frat party????
~~~~
I gotta be honest guys. This is a 1 star read. Im 75% done and I just can't imagine there is anything here that makes this better. It's less than 300 pages but even that's too much.
May 29, 2026
I definitely had high hopes for this book as I love sports romances and dark romances. Unfortunately, this book reminded me of a lot of other dark romances and didn’t have many unique features. It
did have a lot of repetition throughout. I found myself skipping past the sex scenes and just wanted to get to the end.
did have a lot of repetition throughout. I found myself skipping past the sex scenes and just wanted to get to the end.
May 22, 2026
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
this was a 3.5 stars for me. i honestly loved the ship so much, and did not expect to genuinely be invested into their stories. my only critique was i didn’t feel too attached to either main character and honestly felt like i wanted more as i kept reading. this book was definitely written very well and was honestly such a fun time. i love dark romances written in college which was another aspect i really loved in this book!! i would definitely love to read from this author again.
this was a 3.5 stars for me. i honestly loved the ship so much, and did not expect to genuinely be invested into their stories. my only critique was i didn’t feel too attached to either main character and honestly felt like i wanted more as i kept reading. this book was definitely written very well and was honestly such a fun time. i love dark romances written in college which was another aspect i really loved in this book!! i would definitely love to read from this author again.
May 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for this ARC copy.
God of Malice meets Deep End in this dark obsessive romance set in Frampton University.
Did I hate Backstroke? No. Did I love it? Also no.
Overall, the plot was definitely more thrilling than my last ARC read, but it felt a little too familiar at times. The obsessive MMC, the initiation games, and the dark academia atmosphere immediately reminded me of God of Malice, which unfortunately made this feel like a ‘been there, done that’.
There were a few things that didn’t quite work in my opinion.
The instalust quickly turned into instalove despite the characters barely knowing each other for a month, which made the emotional connection hard to fully buy into.
I also wish Frampton University itself had been explored more. For such a prestigious setting — especially with the swimming aspect — we only get small glimpses of campus life, classes, and the sport itself. If some of the spice had been toned down, there could have been far more depth added to the worldbuilding and atmosphere.
The handling of the villains also felt unfinished. One major antagonist seemingly disappears without any real conclusion or consequences, while another raises several unanswered questions about how long they had been watching Fallon and why nobody seemed concerned about their disappearance.
I was also surprised that Fallon, considering her past experiences with domestic violence and her father’s unchecked rage, wasn’t more affected by Remy’s aggressive outbursts. It felt like a missed opportunity for deeper emotional exploration.
And while I’m currently on a bit of a spice detox, I do think the book relied too heavily on the spice overall. Spice should enhance a story, not carry it — and without it, this book feels like it would lose a lot of its substance.
That said, there were still elements I genuinely enjoyed. It was refreshing to read a sports romance that isn’t hockey-related for once, and I loved the contrast between the characters: the popular jock paired with the quiet emo girl worked really well. Opposites really do attract. I also appreciated the exploration of daddy issues and the contrast between Remy’s polished father and Fallon’s chaotic, disgruntled one.
Also… am I the only one who caught the hint that book two might be why choose? I was pleasantly surprised that I was correct after seeing the characters for Freestyle, book two. It’s not a trope that I read but I’m sure someone would appreciate it.
While Backstroke didn’t completely wow me, I still enjoyed reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for this ARC copy.
God of Malice meets Deep End in this dark obsessive romance set in Frampton University.
Did I hate Backstroke? No. Did I love it? Also no.
Overall, the plot was definitely more thrilling than my last ARC read, but it felt a little too familiar at times. The obsessive MMC, the initiation games, and the dark academia atmosphere immediately reminded me of God of Malice, which unfortunately made this feel like a ‘been there, done that’.
There were a few things that didn’t quite work in my opinion.
The instalust quickly turned into instalove despite the characters barely knowing each other for a month, which made the emotional connection hard to fully buy into.
I also wish Frampton University itself had been explored more. For such a prestigious setting — especially with the swimming aspect — we only get small glimpses of campus life, classes, and the sport itself. If some of the spice had been toned down, there could have been far more depth added to the worldbuilding and atmosphere.
The handling of the villains also felt unfinished. One major antagonist seemingly disappears without any real conclusion or consequences, while another raises several unanswered questions about how long they had been watching Fallon and why nobody seemed concerned about their disappearance.
I was also surprised that Fallon, considering her past experiences with domestic violence and her father’s unchecked rage, wasn’t more affected by Remy’s aggressive outbursts. It felt like a missed opportunity for deeper emotional exploration.
And while I’m currently on a bit of a spice detox, I do think the book relied too heavily on the spice overall. Spice should enhance a story, not carry it — and without it, this book feels like it would lose a lot of its substance.
That said, there were still elements I genuinely enjoyed. It was refreshing to read a sports romance that isn’t hockey-related for once, and I loved the contrast between the characters: the popular jock paired with the quiet emo girl worked really well. Opposites really do attract. I also appreciated the exploration of daddy issues and the contrast between Remy’s polished father and Fallon’s chaotic, disgruntled one.
Also… am I the only one who caught the hint that book two might be why choose? I was pleasantly surprised that I was correct after seeing the characters for Freestyle, book two. It’s not a trope that I read but I’m sure someone would appreciate it.
While Backstroke didn’t completely wow me, I still enjoyed reading it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a fast-paced college dark romance. I’m not sure if the fast pace is what made hard to become super invested in Remy and Fallon as a couple or if it is just Remy’s temper issues.
Remy is a very possessive, angry, competitive athlete who meets Fallon in university by literally bumping right into her. Since Remy has never been challenged by anyone other than his father and girls never tell him no, when Fallon doesn’t back down and is far from apologetic about their encounter and has strong words for him, he takes this as a personal affront.(What a peach, right? Nothing makes a girl swoon more than a guy who is so entitled that he can’t handle the word no. He is an absolute asshole really and given her history I didn’t find it super believable that she would actually fall for someone with such a volatile temperament.)
Fallon sees a lot of similarities between Remy and her super abusive dad who is in jail. She isn’t interested in him at all, but after their not-so-meet-cute encounter they end up at the same party where he saves her. Good for him? I guess. Naturally after he helps her, since he is such a special dude (not), he kind of traps her into a sexual encounter using her trauma as leverage (what a dreamboat 🤢).
He never gives up trying to get her to bend to his will and somehow ends up developing real feelings for her and after enough of him basically stalking her and then hooking up, we are supposed to be super invested in their love story and in their relationship. While I do love a good enemies to lovers, bully romance, this went from hate to love a little too quickly for me and there was not a lot of groveling or apologizing.
This is on the darker side, and as I said, the pacing is very fast. There are a lot of flashbacks and you learn a lot about what these two have been through, but it kind of gets glossed over. The fast pacing wouldn’t be an issue necessarily but the pace is so quick that it makes it hard to really be invested and I don’t know that a bunch of the plot points actually ended up mattering.
It was not bad, but it isn’t amazing either. It’s kind of average. Read your trigger warnings before diving in because the subject matter gets heavy several times.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the author for this advanced reader copy of the book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
3.25 ⭐️
3🌶️
Remy is a very possessive, angry, competitive athlete who meets Fallon in university by literally bumping right into her. Since Remy has never been challenged by anyone other than his father and girls never tell him no, when Fallon doesn’t back down and is far from apologetic about their encounter and has strong words for him, he takes this as a personal affront.(What a peach, right? Nothing makes a girl swoon more than a guy who is so entitled that he can’t handle the word no. He is an absolute asshole really and given her history I didn’t find it super believable that she would actually fall for someone with such a volatile temperament.)
Fallon sees a lot of similarities between Remy and her super abusive dad who is in jail. She isn’t interested in him at all, but after their not-so-meet-cute encounter they end up at the same party where he saves her. Good for him? I guess. Naturally after he helps her, since he is such a special dude (not), he kind of traps her into a sexual encounter using her trauma as leverage (what a dreamboat 🤢).
He never gives up trying to get her to bend to his will and somehow ends up developing real feelings for her and after enough of him basically stalking her and then hooking up, we are supposed to be super invested in their love story and in their relationship. While I do love a good enemies to lovers, bully romance, this went from hate to love a little too quickly for me and there was not a lot of groveling or apologizing.
This is on the darker side, and as I said, the pacing is very fast. There are a lot of flashbacks and you learn a lot about what these two have been through, but it kind of gets glossed over. The fast pacing wouldn’t be an issue necessarily but the pace is so quick that it makes it hard to really be invested and I don’t know that a bunch of the plot points actually ended up mattering.
It was not bad, but it isn’t amazing either. It’s kind of average. Read your trigger warnings before diving in because the subject matter gets heavy several times.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the author for this advanced reader copy of the book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
3.25 ⭐️
3🌶️
June 14, 2026
📖 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌📖
𝐵𝒶𝒸𝓀𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓀𝑒: 𝒜 𝒟𝒶𝓇𝓀 𝒞𝑜𝓁𝓁𝑒𝑔𝑒 𝒮𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝓈 𝑅𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 ʙʏ ʟ.ʙ. ᴍᴀʀᴛɪɴ
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🌶🌶🌶 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴀ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ғʀᴇsʜᴍᴀɴ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʀɢᴇᴛ ᴏғ ғʀᴀᴍᴘᴛᴏɴ ᴜɴɪᴠᴇʀsɪᴛʏ's ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ-ʙᴏʏ sᴡɪᴍ ᴄʜᴀᴍᴘɪᴏɴ, ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʀɪᴠᴀʟʀʏ ǫᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ sᴘɪʀᴀʟs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴏɴ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴀ sʜᴏᴄᴋɪɴɢ ɴᴇᴡ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴘᴜᴛs ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ʀᴏᴏғ.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪᴠᴇ, ʜᴛᴘ, ʜᴛᴘ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ, ᴀғᴛᴇʀɢʟᴏᴡ ʙᴏᴏᴋ & ʜᴀʀʟᴇǫᴜɪɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒶 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝓈𝒽 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓉. 𝐼𝓃𝓈𝓉𝑒𝒶𝒹, 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝓉 𝒶 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝒹𝒶𝓉𝑜𝓇, 𝒶𝓃 𝑒𝓃𝑒𝓂𝓎, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒶 𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓅𝒷𝓇𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹𝓃'𝓉 𝑒𝓈𝒸𝒶𝓅𝑒.
ᴛʜɪs ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛʏᴘɪᴄᴀʟ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ sᴘᴏʀᴛs ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ sᴡɪᴍᴍɪɴɢ ʙᴀᴄᴋᴅʀᴏᴘ ɪs ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇʀ, ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴠᴇ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄ. ʀᴇᴍʏ ɪs ᴜɴᴀᴘᴏʟᴏɢᴇᴛɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ᴘᴏssᴇssɪᴠᴇ, ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟʟɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴀʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴘᴀɢᴇ ᴏɴᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ғᴜʟʟʏ ʟᴇᴀɴs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ғᴀʟʟᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴍʏ ɪs ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇʟᴇɴᴛʟᴇss, ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴘʟᴇɴᴛʏ ᴏғ ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ᴀᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ "ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴀ ᴛᴇʀʀɪʙʟᴇ ɪᴅᴇᴀ" ᴄʜᴇᴍɪsᴛʀʏ. ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜʏ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ, ᴛʜɪs ɪsɴ'ᴛ ɪᴛ. ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴍʙʀᴀᴄᴇs ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏxɪᴄ ᴀᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, ʏᴏᴜ'ʟʟ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʟʏ ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴜʀ ɪᴛ.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
✨ 🦈 ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ sᴡɪᴍ ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴀɪɴ ᴍᴍᴄ
🖤 ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
🔥 ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇs-ᴛᴏ-ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs
⚠️ ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ sᴛᴇᴘ-sɪʙʟɪɴɢ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
🏊 sᴘᴏʀᴛs ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
💀 ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴀʏ ᴍᴍᴄ
🏡 ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ
❤️ ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴠᴇ ᴀᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ
🌙 ᴘᴏssᴇssɪᴠᴇ ʜᴇʀᴏ
𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒...
🖤 ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇs
🏊 sᴘᴏʀᴛs ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇᴅɢᴇ
🔥 ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴍᴄs
⚠️ ᴛᴀʙᴏᴏ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄs
💀 ᴀɴᴛɪʜᴇʀᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴇsᴛs
🏡 ʟɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ
❤️ ʜɪɢʜ-ᴅʀᴀᴍᴀ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄs
🗣️ 𝒲𝑜𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝓉𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓉:
ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ɢᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀᴍᴏɴɢ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀs ғᴏʀ ɪᴛs ɪɴᴛᴇɴsᴇ ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴏɴ, sʜᴀʀᴋ-ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇᴅ sᴡɪᴍ ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴀɪɴ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴜɴᴀᴘᴏʟᴏɢᴇᴛɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ᴛᴏxɪᴄ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄs. ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴsᴇɴsᴜs sᴇᴇᴍs ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ: ʏᴏᴜ'ʟʟ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ʙᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇʟʏ ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴏs ᴏʀ ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪᴛ's ɴᴏᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛʜɪɴɢ.
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴠᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʙsᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ɴᴏᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ—ʙᴜᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀs ᴡʜᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴘᴏssᴇssɪᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴛɪʜᴇʀᴏᴇs, ᴛᴀʙᴏᴏ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴀʏ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ʟɪᴋᴇʟʏ ʙᴇ ʜᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
𝐵𝒶𝒸𝓀𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜𝓀𝑒: 𝒜 𝒟𝒶𝓇𝓀 𝒞𝑜𝓁𝓁𝑒𝑔𝑒 𝒮𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝓈 𝑅𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 ʙʏ ʟ.ʙ. ᴍᴀʀᴛɪɴ
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🌶🌶🌶 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴀ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ғʀᴇsʜᴍᴀɴ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʀɢᴇᴛ ᴏғ ғʀᴀᴍᴘᴛᴏɴ ᴜɴɪᴠᴇʀsɪᴛʏ's ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ-ʙᴏʏ sᴡɪᴍ ᴄʜᴀᴍᴘɪᴏɴ, ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʀɪᴠᴀʟʀʏ ǫᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ sᴘɪʀᴀʟs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴏɴ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴀ sʜᴏᴄᴋɪɴɢ ɴᴇᴡ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴘᴜᴛs ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ʀᴏᴏғ.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪᴠᴇ, ʜᴛᴘ, ʜᴛᴘ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ, ᴀғᴛᴇʀɢʟᴏᴡ ʙᴏᴏᴋ & ʜᴀʀʟᴇǫᴜɪɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒶 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝓈𝒽 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓉. 𝐼𝓃𝓈𝓉𝑒𝒶𝒹, 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝓉 𝒶 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝒹𝒶𝓉𝑜𝓇, 𝒶𝓃 𝑒𝓃𝑒𝓂𝓎, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒶 𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓅𝒷𝓇𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹𝓃'𝓉 𝑒𝓈𝒸𝒶𝓅𝑒.
ᴛʜɪs ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛʏᴘɪᴄᴀʟ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ sᴘᴏʀᴛs ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ sᴡɪᴍᴍɪɴɢ ʙᴀᴄᴋᴅʀᴏᴘ ɪs ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇʀ, ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴠᴇ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄ. ʀᴇᴍʏ ɪs ᴜɴᴀᴘᴏʟᴏɢᴇᴛɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ᴘᴏssᴇssɪᴠᴇ, ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟʟɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴀʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴘᴀɢᴇ ᴏɴᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ғᴜʟʟʏ ʟᴇᴀɴs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ғᴀʟʟᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴍʏ ɪs ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇʟᴇɴᴛʟᴇss, ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴘʟᴇɴᴛʏ ᴏғ ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ᴀᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ "ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴀ ᴛᴇʀʀɪʙʟᴇ ɪᴅᴇᴀ" ᴄʜᴇᴍɪsᴛʀʏ. ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜʏ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ, ᴛʜɪs ɪsɴ'ᴛ ɪᴛ. ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴍʙʀᴀᴄᴇs ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏxɪᴄ ᴀᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, ʏᴏᴜ'ʟʟ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʟʏ ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴜʀ ɪᴛ.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
✨ 🦈 ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ sᴡɪᴍ ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴀɪɴ ᴍᴍᴄ
🖤 ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
🔥 ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇs-ᴛᴏ-ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs
⚠️ ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ sᴛᴇᴘ-sɪʙʟɪɴɢ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
🏊 sᴘᴏʀᴛs ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
💀 ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴀʏ ᴍᴍᴄ
🏡 ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ
❤️ ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴠᴇ ᴀᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ
🌙 ᴘᴏssᴇssɪᴠᴇ ʜᴇʀᴏ
𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒...
🖤 ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇs
🏊 sᴘᴏʀᴛs ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇᴅɢᴇ
🔥 ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴍᴄs
⚠️ ᴛᴀʙᴏᴏ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄs
💀 ᴀɴᴛɪʜᴇʀᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴇsᴛs
🏡 ʟɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ
❤️ ʜɪɢʜ-ᴅʀᴀᴍᴀ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄs
🗣️ 𝒲𝑜𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝓉𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓉:
ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ɢᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀᴍᴏɴɢ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀs ғᴏʀ ɪᴛs ɪɴᴛᴇɴsᴇ ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴏɴ, sʜᴀʀᴋ-ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇᴅ sᴡɪᴍ ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴀɪɴ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴜɴᴀᴘᴏʟᴏɢᴇᴛɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ᴛᴏxɪᴄ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄs. ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴsᴇɴsᴜs sᴇᴇᴍs ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ: ʏᴏᴜ'ʟʟ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ʙᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇʟʏ ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴏs ᴏʀ ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪᴛ's ɴᴏᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛʜɪɴɢ.
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴠᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʙsᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ɴᴏᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ—ʙᴜᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀs ᴡʜᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴘᴏssᴇssɪᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴛɪʜᴇʀᴏᴇs, ᴛᴀʙᴏᴏ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴀʏ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ʟɪᴋᴇʟʏ ʙᴇ ʜᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
June 11, 2026
*sigh* Buckle up for this very honest review. If anyone looks at my bookshelves, it’s not hard to deduce that I love sports romance, so it is with a heavy heart that I give “Backstroke” 1 ⭐
While this book is marketed as a “forbidden romance” between step-siblings, both are over 18 years old before their first meeting and learn about their parents’ involvement after their own run-ins; thus, no weird “we grew up together, but are attracted to each other” vibes (and if there had been, it would have been an immediate DNF).
A genuine question I have is: Is the author female or male? The underlying sexism and misogyny littered throughout the plot, verbiage, and characters are actually appalling. Reading this is exactly how I feel a man would write a romance book to prove to his girlfriend that “men understand the female gaze” while having 4th-grade reading comprehension. I’m truly not even sure the plot of the book other than our two main characters being extremely toxic to each other and having sex every 5 minutes.
I hated Remington from page 1. I hate when a character/person throws around the weight of who their politician father is (while openly despising the same man) to intimidate literal adults into silence about their ILLEGAL activities. And he didn’t get any better. Add rapist to the list; you decided not to include coercion/threats to illicit sexual encounters to the trigger warnings? As for Fallon, I couldn’t get a true picture of what she looked or acted like. Her character was so inconsistent past the “talks a big game, but is submissive” trope.
Definitely not a book I enjoyed, but I won’t yuck someone else’s yum - please just make sure you read the trigger warnings and are in a good space to read some of the themes included in the novel.
🏊♀️ Dark Romance
🏊♀️ College Swim
🏊♀️ Abuse (physical & emotional)
🏊♀️ Plus-size FMC
🏊♀️ Love vs. Obsession
Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!
While this book is marketed as a “forbidden romance” between step-siblings, both are over 18 years old before their first meeting and learn about their parents’ involvement after their own run-ins; thus, no weird “we grew up together, but are attracted to each other” vibes (and if there had been, it would have been an immediate DNF).
A genuine question I have is: Is the author female or male? The underlying sexism and misogyny littered throughout the plot, verbiage, and characters are actually appalling. Reading this is exactly how I feel a man would write a romance book to prove to his girlfriend that “men understand the female gaze” while having 4th-grade reading comprehension. I’m truly not even sure the plot of the book other than our two main characters being extremely toxic to each other and having sex every 5 minutes.
I hated Remington from page 1. I hate when a character/person throws around the weight of who their politician father is (while openly despising the same man) to intimidate literal adults into silence about their ILLEGAL activities. And he didn’t get any better. Add rapist to the list; you decided not to include coercion/threats to illicit sexual encounters to the trigger warnings? As for Fallon, I couldn’t get a true picture of what she looked or acted like. Her character was so inconsistent past the “talks a big game, but is submissive” trope.
Definitely not a book I enjoyed, but I won’t yuck someone else’s yum - please just make sure you read the trigger warnings and are in a good space to read some of the themes included in the novel.
🏊♀️ Dark Romance
🏊♀️ College Swim
🏊♀️ Abuse (physical & emotional)
🏊♀️ Plus-size FMC
🏊♀️ Love vs. Obsession
Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Backstoke has been a weird one for me, I love Dark Academia and morally grey characters, however this just narrowly missed the mark on both,. Remy could be a really good grey/black MMC if his story had developed a little more. I get the insta lust/love and honestly I have no problem with that, however again I don't think the ground work was laid. I wanted to know more about the university and the different groups of people we might come across later in the series. I would have liked to see Fallon question some of Remi's more abusive/anger issues as we open the book with the knowledge of her father and how she came to have the PTSD about the water/swimming. Would she have just accepted that kind of behaviour and attitude? I like my FMC's a little more spunky. And she definitely started out that way when they first met.
If these idea's had been built on a little bit I think I could have gotten over the fact that straight after another near death experience in water, she was willing to get on her knees for him, even with being a virgin. All in all this is still a great read and the spice is on point, I just know that with a little more time for the story to grow it would really enhance Remy and Fallen's characters. I don't really feel like I truly got to know either of them, and that caused me the issue of not really rooting for them.
I would still recommend this book to my friends, as I said it was still fun and grey....but would love to see in the next story ( I believe it is interconnected) some more depth in the characters so that when the 'taboo' moment comes we are shookith meaning that it actually feels taboo.
I will definitely be reading on with the series, and hope this isn't too harsh on the Author. Love your story....just missed the spot a little for me,
If these idea's had been built on a little bit I think I could have gotten over the fact that straight after another near death experience in water, she was willing to get on her knees for him, even with being a virgin. All in all this is still a great read and the spice is on point, I just know that with a little more time for the story to grow it would really enhance Remy and Fallen's characters. I don't really feel like I truly got to know either of them, and that caused me the issue of not really rooting for them.
I would still recommend this book to my friends, as I said it was still fun and grey....but would love to see in the next story ( I believe it is interconnected) some more depth in the characters so that when the 'taboo' moment comes we are shookith meaning that it actually feels taboo.
I will definitely be reading on with the series, and hope this isn't too harsh on the Author. Love your story....just missed the spot a little for me,
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to L.B Martin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
pre-read: I'm just glad it's not hockey again—that sport's everywhere. So a swimmer as the male lead? Refreshing.
mid-read: what... was the point of this??? Now, listen. I'm all for newer concepts ( the swimmer, piercings and blue hair ) but you see, this is fucking infuriating. Besides slightly-funny quips, Fallon is nothing but a bitch with no spine. I despised being in her head, she was insufferable. I get that she's insecure but she just kept starting fights and it was so freaking annoying..
This book is 90% sex and 10% plot.
Remington is a Swiftie for some reason, which just gives me more reason to side-eye him (nothing against her music, but I'm just not a fan of billionaires in general—fictional ones are fine, but still). He doesn't have much personality beyond being a blend of every alpha male from dark romance books, plus a truckload of trauma. "His mom died," "his dad abuses him"—okay, but where's the depth? I needed more.
I like Nix more than I'd like to admit. I love that his name is Phoenix, I really don't know why.
As for the kidnapping by Emerson… it happened, I guess? There was zero buildup. Even a cliché stalker subplot would've helped.
If you're looking for a light (??) kind of read with barely any plot and mostly sex, this book's perfect. I'm not saying it won't work for others—it just wasn't for me. I need plot over spice. But if you want a turn your brain off kind of read, go for it.
*note, all em dashes are not result of AI, but because I am a proud ao3 and wattpad reader and writer
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to BooksGoSocial and L.B. Martin for the earc in exchange for my review. All opinions that follow are honest and my own.
If you’ve been craving a book that’s 90% spice and 10% plot, a nice little palate cleanser so to speak, then Backstroke is the book for you! A mix between Rina Kent’s Legacy of Gods series and The Web of Silence duet by Leigh Rivers (check your trigger warnings) that’ll have you questioning everything.
Fallon is a freshman at college, determined to make it through the next few years without letting g her past being her down. She’s used to hiding away but starting out at a new school is the perfect time for her to find her footing. Of course this footing fails instantly when she crashes into the top guy at the college, who is not known for being particularly pleasant. But Fallon isn’t going down without a fight, something Remy isn’t used to. Soon they’ll be butting heads while fighting feelings that definitely shouldn’t be in play.
This was super fast paced and a lot more insta lust than I was expecting for a dark college bully romance but honestly it was a vibe. The characters were entertaining if a bit generic in terms of dark romance but that’s what we read it for right? The ending was a nice little twist that amplified the wow factor and can’t really complain how everything turned out because like I said, this book didn’t have much going on besides some filthy spice which I was here for.
Overall the writing was really well done and I think that really made the story hit harder.
Now book 2 sounds freaking fantastic so I will def be checking that out later this year!
If you’ve been craving a book that’s 90% spice and 10% plot, a nice little palate cleanser so to speak, then Backstroke is the book for you! A mix between Rina Kent’s Legacy of Gods series and The Web of Silence duet by Leigh Rivers (check your trigger warnings) that’ll have you questioning everything.
Fallon is a freshman at college, determined to make it through the next few years without letting g her past being her down. She’s used to hiding away but starting out at a new school is the perfect time for her to find her footing. Of course this footing fails instantly when she crashes into the top guy at the college, who is not known for being particularly pleasant. But Fallon isn’t going down without a fight, something Remy isn’t used to. Soon they’ll be butting heads while fighting feelings that definitely shouldn’t be in play.
This was super fast paced and a lot more insta lust than I was expecting for a dark college bully romance but honestly it was a vibe. The characters were entertaining if a bit generic in terms of dark romance but that’s what we read it for right? The ending was a nice little twist that amplified the wow factor and can’t really complain how everything turned out because like I said, this book didn’t have much going on besides some filthy spice which I was here for.
Overall the writing was really well done and I think that really made the story hit harder.
Now book 2 sounds freaking fantastic so I will def be checking that out later this year!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Backstroke was such a dark, addictive college romance. From the first chapter, the tension between Fallon and Remy was intense, and the story fully leans into that obsessive, dangerous dynamic in a way that keeps you hooked.
Remy is definitely one of those morally grey MMCs that you’ll either love or hate, but I honestly thought his character worked really well for the tone of the book. He’s controlling, possessive, arrogant, and fully aware of the effect he has on people, but there’s also this constant underlying obsession with Fallon that made their dynamic impossible to look away from.
I also liked that Fallon pushed back against him instead of immediately folding to the attraction between them. Their relationship had a constant power struggle that kept the enemies-to-lovers aspect feeling strong throughout the story.
The step-sibling element and forced proximity added even more tension, and LB Martin really committed to the darker atmosphere of the romance instead of trying to soften it too much. The chemistry between them was intense from the start, and the emotional and physical tension carried the story really well.
Overall, this was a dramatic, toxic-in-the-best-way dark college romance with strong enemies-to-lovers energy, lots of angst, and a possessive antihero readers of darker BookTok romances will probably devour.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Remy is definitely one of those morally grey MMCs that you’ll either love or hate, but I honestly thought his character worked really well for the tone of the book. He’s controlling, possessive, arrogant, and fully aware of the effect he has on people, but there’s also this constant underlying obsession with Fallon that made their dynamic impossible to look away from.
I also liked that Fallon pushed back against him instead of immediately folding to the attraction between them. Their relationship had a constant power struggle that kept the enemies-to-lovers aspect feeling strong throughout the story.
The step-sibling element and forced proximity added even more tension, and LB Martin really committed to the darker atmosphere of the romance instead of trying to soften it too much. The chemistry between them was intense from the start, and the emotional and physical tension carried the story really well.
Overall, this was a dramatic, toxic-in-the-best-way dark college romance with strong enemies-to-lovers energy, lots of angst, and a possessive antihero readers of darker BookTok romances will probably devour.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A true dark sports romance and it’s not hockey.
I think this author did an amazing job on this story. The true distain for one another, the way her trauma is represented.
It is the stereotypically, it not on campus and she’s the new firl with baggage that doesn’t back down to him like everyone else. From their first meeting, you knew that there was going to be an interesting dynamic pull between the two. I really think the author did the enemies to lovers troupe justice. Unlike a lot of stories there was tension, and a constant pull and push between them the whole way through the book. It wasn’t a few pages in and their into each other like other stories.
And to those who are put off by the “step siblings” it just aided the story. Adding tension through forced proximity, just creating a new level of messiness to these characters which helped with keeping it a dark romance. There was no light, it was all dark, and I think it worked perfectly.
Personally I so badly wanted to get into this book, I wanted to love it so much and there’s so many aspects of it I did love. There was just something missing though. The hook that just engaged me from the beginning wasn’t there. But I would still recommend this book to anyone who wants a true dark sports romance and you’re bored of all the same ones being pushed out
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*****Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am honestly still not completely sure how I feel about this book. On one hand, it pulled me out of a reading slump, and for that reason, I do want to give it credit. The story is definitely dark, and I think that aspect worked well. It had the right atmosphere and enough intensity to keep me reading.
However, there were also several moments where the plot became too chaotic for me. At times, I found myself wondering why I was still continuing, especially because the story had so much potential but did not always manage to use it properly. Some parts felt rushed, while others felt either confusing or underdeveloped. Because of that, I struggled to stay fully connected to the story.
I also had a hard time connecting with the characters. They felt like characters with strong potential, but they were not explored deeply enough for me to truly care about them. I wanted more emotional depth, more development, and a stronger reason to become invested in their choices and relationships.
Overall, this was not a bad book, and I can see why readers who enjoy dark college sports romance might like it. It had a strong concept and some engaging moments, but the execution did not fully work for me. For now, I can only give it 3 stars.
I am honestly still not completely sure how I feel about this book. On one hand, it pulled me out of a reading slump, and for that reason, I do want to give it credit. The story is definitely dark, and I think that aspect worked well. It had the right atmosphere and enough intensity to keep me reading.
However, there were also several moments where the plot became too chaotic for me. At times, I found myself wondering why I was still continuing, especially because the story had so much potential but did not always manage to use it properly. Some parts felt rushed, while others felt either confusing or underdeveloped. Because of that, I struggled to stay fully connected to the story.
I also had a hard time connecting with the characters. They felt like characters with strong potential, but they were not explored deeply enough for me to truly care about them. I wanted more emotional depth, more development, and a stronger reason to become invested in their choices and relationships.
Overall, this was not a bad book, and I can see why readers who enjoy dark college sports romance might like it. It had a strong concept and some engaging moments, but the execution did not fully work for me. For now, I can only give it 3 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I picked up Backstroke because the combination of enemies-to-lovers, forbidden step-siblings, and college sports romance sounded like pure chaos... and honestly, it delivered 🦈
From the moment Fallon and Remy meet, the tension is impossible to ignore. Fallon just wants to survive Frampton University and keep her future on track, while Remy basically owns the campus. He's the star swimmer, the golden boy, and completely convinced the world revolves around him. Watching Fallon refuse to fall in line was one of my favorite parts of the book.
What really hooked me was the dynamic after they become step-siblings. Living under the same roof takes all that rivalry and attraction and turns it up to an unbearable level. Remy is the definition of a morally gray hero, and while he frustrated me more than once, I couldn't stop reading his scenes. The push and pull between them had me completely invested 🖤
I also loved the swimming aspect of the story. It wasn't just there for decoration—it shaped who Remy is and added another layer to the pressure and obsession that drive his character.
If you love enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance, forced proximity, possessive heroes, and lots of tension, Backstroke is such an addictive read. I kept telling myself "just one more chapter" and suddenly it was way too late 🔥📚
From the moment Fallon and Remy meet, the tension is impossible to ignore. Fallon just wants to survive Frampton University and keep her future on track, while Remy basically owns the campus. He's the star swimmer, the golden boy, and completely convinced the world revolves around him. Watching Fallon refuse to fall in line was one of my favorite parts of the book.
What really hooked me was the dynamic after they become step-siblings. Living under the same roof takes all that rivalry and attraction and turns it up to an unbearable level. Remy is the definition of a morally gray hero, and while he frustrated me more than once, I couldn't stop reading his scenes. The push and pull between them had me completely invested 🖤
I also loved the swimming aspect of the story. It wasn't just there for decoration—it shaped who Remy is and added another layer to the pressure and obsession that drive his character.
If you love enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance, forced proximity, possessive heroes, and lots of tension, Backstroke is such an addictive read. I kept telling myself "just one more chapter" and suddenly it was way too late 🔥📚
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have some mixed feelings here. This book is definitely dark and fast paced, with a mix of mystery, thrill, and suspense. I enjoyed the plot of this story and I liked Fallon’s character. She has some good inner conflict and I was intrigued in her back story. Overall, the suspense was what kept me reading.
What didn’t work for me:
Remy gave me the ick- his constant self ego stroking, his dialogue was off-putting (“emo smurfette”), calling women holes, and just his general meanness to Fallon.
I also kind of wish his obsession timeline had some more build up and length to it. He redeems himself a bit overtime but more often than not I found myself cringing.
I also felt like spicy scene after Fallon gets pushed in the pool was less CNC and more….NC. We didn’t really get Fallon’s perspective there so to me it felt like it was really walking on a fine line between CNC and NC.
I wish we got some more of the college & sports aspect. I think it would have really helped the timeline and overall plot.
Lastly, a very minor personal preference of mine is I wasn’t vibing with the names Rowyn and Lyndsy- just too many y’s lol
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this early.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have some mixed feelings here. This book is definitely dark and fast paced, with a mix of mystery, thrill, and suspense. I enjoyed the plot of this story and I liked Fallon’s character. She has some good inner conflict and I was intrigued in her back story. Overall, the suspense was what kept me reading.
What didn’t work for me:
Remy gave me the ick- his constant self ego stroking, his dialogue was off-putting (“emo smurfette”), calling women holes, and just his general meanness to Fallon.
I also kind of wish his obsession timeline had some more build up and length to it. He redeems himself a bit overtime but more often than not I found myself cringing.
I also felt like spicy scene after Fallon gets pushed in the pool was less CNC and more….NC. We didn’t really get Fallon’s perspective there so to me it felt like it was really walking on a fine line between CNC and NC.
I wish we got some more of the college & sports aspect. I think it would have really helped the timeline and overall plot.
Lastly, a very minor personal preference of mine is I wasn’t vibing with the names Rowyn and Lyndsy- just too many y’s lol
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this early.
June 3, 2026
Go on then, I'll DIVE right in at the DEEP END and soon find out if this book will SINK or SWIM, I thought to myself when the new cover caught my eye...(oh BUOY, please stop 🤦🏼♀️🤣)!
This book started so strongly. I loved how the FMC, Fallon, wasn't the MMC, Remy's, usual type. It was delightfully obvious which way that was going to go, but I couldn’t wait to keep turning those pages anyway.
I wouldn't necessarily class this as a "bully romance" because there isn't much of that happening, maybe because the book was pulling in other directions too. It's because of the pull; it also felt a little thin on the ground in parts, which left the ending a bit to be desired.
One massive surprise was just how spicy this little devil was, what a treat indeed. Bonus cliterature points for that! 🤣
Overall, not a bad read, not phenomenal, but I had a good time while I was riding the WAVE.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶.5
"And so, the dance continues— a battle of wills, desire, and possession. Fallon is no ordinary conquest. She’s a puzzle I can’t solve, a fire I can’t extinguish. But damn it, I will. Because in this twisted game, there are no rules—only winners and losers."
This book started so strongly. I loved how the FMC, Fallon, wasn't the MMC, Remy's, usual type. It was delightfully obvious which way that was going to go, but I couldn’t wait to keep turning those pages anyway.
I wouldn't necessarily class this as a "bully romance" because there isn't much of that happening, maybe because the book was pulling in other directions too. It's because of the pull; it also felt a little thin on the ground in parts, which left the ending a bit to be desired.
One massive surprise was just how spicy this little devil was, what a treat indeed. Bonus cliterature points for that! 🤣
Overall, not a bad read, not phenomenal, but I had a good time while I was riding the WAVE.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶.5
"And so, the dance continues— a battle of wills, desire, and possession. Fallon is no ordinary conquest. She’s a puzzle I can’t solve, a fire I can’t extinguish. But damn it, I will. Because in this twisted game, there are no rules—only winners and losers."
June 15, 2026
Backstroke by L. M. Martin was published on June 2, 2026, by BooksGoSocial. At 423 pages, the novel kicks off the Boys of Frampton U series.
The story centers on Fallon, who is starting her studies at Frampton University. Following a surfing accident and some difficult family issues, she is carrying some emotional baggage. Shortly after her arrival, she meets Remy, the celebrated swimmer on the university team. Although Fallon initially tries to keep her distance, the two quickly grow closer.
I found it particularly interesting that Fallon gradually sees past Remy’s arrogant facade. It becomes clear that he, too, is struggling with enormous pressure to perform and is nowhere near as unapproachable as he initially seems.
For me, Backstroke was a solid dark romance with a high spice factor. A positive highlight is the setting in the world of competitive sports. Swimming isn’t often the focus of romance novels, so it brought a nice change of pace.
Anyone who enjoys dark romance with moral gray areas, emotionally troubled characters, and a significant dose of spice will likely find this book to their liking.
The story centers on Fallon, who is starting her studies at Frampton University. Following a surfing accident and some difficult family issues, she is carrying some emotional baggage. Shortly after her arrival, she meets Remy, the celebrated swimmer on the university team. Although Fallon initially tries to keep her distance, the two quickly grow closer.
I found it particularly interesting that Fallon gradually sees past Remy’s arrogant facade. It becomes clear that he, too, is struggling with enormous pressure to perform and is nowhere near as unapproachable as he initially seems.
For me, Backstroke was a solid dark romance with a high spice factor. A positive highlight is the setting in the world of competitive sports. Swimming isn’t often the focus of romance novels, so it brought a nice change of pace.
Anyone who enjoys dark romance with moral gray areas, emotionally troubled characters, and a significant dose of spice will likely find this book to their liking.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a DNF for me. When I read the blurb, I genuinely thought this would be a good story and something I’d enjoy… unfortunately, I was very wrong.
I didn’t like the author’s writing style, and the story had absolutely no depth. Half the time, nothing even made sense. The whole relationship develops over the span of a few days, and suddenly we’re already at “I love you.”
I don’t mind tropes like step-siblings at all, but here it barely even mattered. And considering the romance makes up about 90% of the story, it really should’ve been more convincing.
I also didn’t like either of the main characters. And no, I don’t mean the bullying — I knew that would be part of the book. But Remy literally tries to almost drown her one day, and like three days later he’s suddenly saying he’s changed and isn’t a “monster” anymore? Be serious.
The story never pulled me in. The spicy scenes were decent, but not even those could save this book for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t like the author’s writing style, and the story had absolutely no depth. Half the time, nothing even made sense. The whole relationship develops over the span of a few days, and suddenly we’re already at “I love you.”
I don’t mind tropes like step-siblings at all, but here it barely even mattered. And considering the romance makes up about 90% of the story, it really should’ve been more convincing.
I also didn’t like either of the main characters. And no, I don’t mean the bullying — I knew that would be part of the book. But Remy literally tries to almost drown her one day, and like three days later he’s suddenly saying he’s changed and isn’t a “monster” anymore? Be serious.
The story never pulled me in. The spicy scenes were decent, but not even those could save this book for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2026
I read this as an ARC. I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought it was an easy-to-read and follow story, and it was interesting enough to keep me wanting to read it. The main characters, Fallon and Remy, were fun and powerful in their own right, and I found them to be a really good match with their wits and endurance. As a bully romance, I was expecting a high level of spice, and there was just the right amount of it within this story for my tastes. I thought the spicy scenes were well-written and felt realistic for the characters to be engaging in. There were some really sweet moments, too, where Remy proved how much he cared for Fallon, despite them both having issues with emotions, and I liked how both sides of love/lust were explored. The plot was engaging; it had a nice amount of tension woven into it, and it built as the story progressed. The ending was great; it made me want to read more in this universe and find out what the other characters in the world the author built would get up to. I gave this a 4.5 rating.
June 4, 2026
This book was 285 pages too long, genuinely the longest book I've ever read. This book was the definition of bad wattpad writing, it was so cringe.
I hate false advertising and this was not stepsiblings, it was 5% stepsiblings 95% insta lust college students.
I absolutely hated all the characters in this book, Fallon was okay in the beginning but she was the definition of "im not like other girls" and it was so annoying to read. She was also a absolute doormat, she called herself a badass but literally let this man treat her like crap and still fold in 5 seconds it was embarrassing to read. She was so whiny as well, she would literally start fights out of noway and it was so annoying. Remi was terrible the minute this man opened his mouth i was out. The way he spoke about women; if he spoke about another girl in front of me like trash the way he did infront of Fallon I would have slapped him.
Also I think this is a me problem but I would never picture a SWIMMER as a bad boy, like go swim with the fishes.
I hate false advertising and this was not stepsiblings, it was 5% stepsiblings 95% insta lust college students.
I absolutely hated all the characters in this book, Fallon was okay in the beginning but she was the definition of "im not like other girls" and it was so annoying to read. She was also a absolute doormat, she called herself a badass but literally let this man treat her like crap and still fold in 5 seconds it was embarrassing to read. She was so whiny as well, she would literally start fights out of noway and it was so annoying. Remi was terrible the minute this man opened his mouth i was out. The way he spoke about women; if he spoke about another girl in front of me like trash the way he did infront of Fallon I would have slapped him.
Also I think this is a me problem but I would never picture a SWIMMER as a bad boy, like go swim with the fishes.
June 21, 2026
Well, this was quite an intense and exciting read! I absolutely loved it! I was instantly hooked when I was barely a few pages in. Remy is so menacing, I kept liking him and then hating him whenever he had a bad attitude. I kept wanting Fallon to just walk away from him but he is so charming, intriguing and delicious, I can see why she kept wanting to see him, even when he got on her nerves. This story kept making me want to know more, when we find out about each character’s backgrounds. We realise soon enough that all is not quite what it seems at first, both Fallon and Remy struggle with their own demons. I noticed by the end of the story it mentioned there is a book 2 due out in August, which focuses on one of Fallon’s roommate’s Rowyn, and her experience at the University with the cheeky Frampton guys. This first story was already addictive, I could not put it down!
5 out of 5! I’m now so excited for book number 2 to be released in August 2026!
5 out of 5! I’m now so excited for book number 2 to be released in August 2026!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC!
Ok so Backstroke…it was fine. Fallon shows up to college, literally runs into Remy, Remy becomes obsessed with her. He’s the king of campus (the university is literally named after his family) and she’s an emo (skulls, blue hair, black clothes, different from everyone else). The events take place over the course of like a week. There were a couple of loose ends that never got tied up or explained. It definitely felt rushed.
There are likable characters and I wish we could have explored them a little more.
If you merged Culpa Mia (My Fault) and God of Malice together, that is this book. It started slow but gained momentum but then slowed down and then picked up again. If you want a fairly quick read with spice and some plot, this is for you!
Ok so Backstroke…it was fine. Fallon shows up to college, literally runs into Remy, Remy becomes obsessed with her. He’s the king of campus (the university is literally named after his family) and she’s an emo (skulls, blue hair, black clothes, different from everyone else). The events take place over the course of like a week. There were a couple of loose ends that never got tied up or explained. It definitely felt rushed.
There are likable characters and I wish we could have explored them a little more.
If you merged Culpa Mia (My Fault) and God of Malice together, that is this book. It started slow but gained momentum but then slowed down and then picked up again. If you want a fairly quick read with spice and some plot, this is for you!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Spicy: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
primal play, cnc/dub con, praise, blood play, backdoor, hand necklace, spanking, edging
Tropes:
first person, dual pov, masked mmc, swimmer x goth, stepbrother, college, enemies to lovers, protective, playlist, flashbacks
interconnected
Content Warning:
stalking, murder, kidnapping
Details
plot 4.5/5
pace fast
characters 4.75/5
enjoyability 4.5/5
ending 4/5
how this book made me feel
I know he’s a bit of a red flag, but I love Remy’s character
Spicy: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
primal play, cnc/dub con, praise, blood play, backdoor, hand necklace, spanking, edging
Tropes:
first person, dual pov, masked mmc, swimmer x goth, stepbrother, college, enemies to lovers, protective, playlist, flashbacks
interconnected
Content Warning:
stalking, murder, kidnapping
Details
plot 4.5/5
pace fast
characters 4.75/5
enjoyability 4.5/5
ending 4/5
how this book made me feel
I know he’s a bit of a red flag, but I love Remy’s character
May 21, 2026
5*
Omg 😦
So I got this for a ARC read…
I don’t even know how to begin to tell you how much I LOVED this book!
Masked men…. Chasing through the woods, ice play 😜 and sooo much more ( I won’t spoil it )
I ate this book up! I loved it so much. I literally can not wait for the second book. I need it now. Because I know the second book will be everything too!
There are trigger warnings so please check them out.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book for a honest review 🖤
🖤
Omg 😦
So I got this for a ARC read…
I don’t even know how to begin to tell you how much I LOVED this book!
Masked men…. Chasing through the woods, ice play 😜 and sooo much more ( I won’t spoil it )
I ate this book up! I loved it so much. I literally can not wait for the second book. I need it now. Because I know the second book will be everything too!
There are trigger warnings so please check them out.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book for a honest review 🖤
🖤
June 15, 2026
"Backstroke: A Dark College Sports Romance" offers a gripping blend of intense emotions and a fast-paced plot. The story follows a student-athlete as they navigate the complexities of competition, personal challenges, and a complicated romance. The writing is engaging, with well-developed characters and a compelling storyline that keeps readers hooked. Fans of sports romance with darker themes will likely find it an absorbing read. Overall, it’s an emotional and thrilling journey.
June 16, 2026
Review of an ARC received from Netgalley
This was a good book if you want a quick read. I did enjoy the book. I do wish it was a bit longer, the bullying wasn't really there.... The book took place in a few weeks time frame so the bullying was in the first few chapters then he was wanting to change for her already. If the book was longer it could have had a bit more before them falling for each other. It did have a good twist near the end. Over all it was a decent novella book.
This was a good book if you want a quick read. I did enjoy the book. I do wish it was a bit longer, the bullying wasn't really there.... The book took place in a few weeks time frame so the bullying was in the first few chapters then he was wanting to change for her already. If the book was longer it could have had a bit more before them falling for each other. It did have a good twist near the end. Over all it was a decent novella book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
BACKSTROKE BY L.B. MARTIN
Boys Of Framption University
BOOK 1
4 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s
Release date set for the 2nd of June 2026.
The cover is 🔥
I have literally read this book in two sittings I was laid reading this into the very early hours of this morning.
Looking forward to book 2 coming out.
Always check your triggers
Boys Of Framption University
BOOK 1
4 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s
Release date set for the 2nd of June 2026.
The cover is 🔥
I have literally read this book in two sittings I was laid reading this into the very early hours of this morning.
Looking forward to book 2 coming out.
Always check your triggers
September 8, 2026
Wilder Obsessions offers an intriguing blend of paranormal romance, danger, and emotional tension. The combination of shifter elements, complicated relationships, hidden secrets, and a darker atmosphere gives the story plenty of room for suspense and character driven drama. It should appeal to readers who enjoy intense paranormal romances with powerful chemistry and unexpected twists.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was so good!!!! The spicy scenes where chefs kiss, I can’t wait to read the next book! If you love a good collage romance this is the book for you, I loved the characters backstories, I will definitely be reading again.😍😍
Did Not Finish
July 7, 2026The start was pretty good but then it just turned rubbish .
I DNF after he wins a race and she was like oh you’re not so bad , come on ppl .
Also so predictable that the dad and mum are hooking up and they’re both going to dinner Friday night to find out .
I DNF after he wins a race and she was like oh you’re not so bad , come on ppl .
Also so predictable that the dad and mum are hooking up and they’re both going to dinner Friday night to find out .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews