What You Made Me Do

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, Slow Burn, Contemporary, Forced Proximity

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 ࿓ ♡ ⋆｡˚]

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

[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!!!

[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!

[bloomysoul ֶָ֢ ℒana ℳyers ֶָ֢]

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 ♡

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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 !

[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.

[⋆˚࿔ 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)

[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.

[Andrea Griggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an ARC review. I want to thank Kay Marie for allowing me the chance to read this book ahead of release day! I’m actually highly upset at myself that this is the first book by this author because I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed it! I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers and this book fed my soul!

Let me start off with saying my college experience was NOTHING like they experienced at Swiftmore University! I am jelly and wish we went there myself!

Clara Hayes has dreamed of being a marine biologist and simply has to get through college to make her dreams happen. I’m not saying she’s running from her past but she is bringing that past with her and trying to do everything opposite of what she previously did before college. She thankfully finds her dang people day 1 with meeting her roomie, Nova, and other future bestie, Willa! These two ladies are exactly who she needed to feel like being her true self can be understood and accepted!

Nox Monroe, happens to look like he’s slightly stalkerish but also finds every way to poke the bear aka Clara! These two seem to be like oil and water but deep down (okay not that deep) they truly just are attempting to avoid the sexual tension. With the weekly swim lessons it was absolutely bound to happen! His somewhat alpha mentality gave off “who did this too you”, “when you call, I’ll come”, and “touch her and see what happens”. I was here for every part of it! His patience…patience of a saint.

His friend group Logan and Grant aka Thor are equally just as much of a need in his life as Nova and Willa are to Clara. I am obsessed with this found family. Only I guess it can the found family if they are all VERY much into each other haha I cannot wait to read the rest of the series and read about our amazing friend group fall to love!

The therapy rep, the mental health rep, the substance abuse rep, the hearing impaired rep, the marine biology knowledge dropped left and right, journey through the grief process…. I cannot begin to say how important this book is to be on everyone’s radar!

I have already pre-ordered the deluxe edition and recommended it to my bestie because this book offers everything and more! Thank you thank you thank you!

[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...

[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***

[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!

[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. 💗

[Annii · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Kay Marie and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I absolutely devoured this book. I went in with no expectations and was completely blown away.

I started reading it last night and finished it today. It took me less than 24 hours to get through because I simply couldn't put it down.

From the very first chapter, the story had my full attention. The writing was engaging, the storyline was captivating, and I found myself thinking about it even when I was supposed to be working.

I loved everything about this book and can't wait to read the next installment in the series.

I'll definitely be purchasing a paperback copy when it's officially released. This is easily one of my favourite reads of the year so far.

[Ashley Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC!

4.5⭐️ - love love loved this! All of the tension and slow burn, ah! College sports romance, enemies-to-lovers & roommate’s brother tropes were such a vibe. I really enjoyed the friend group dynamics and the mental health/ trauma rep was well done. Definitely recommend!

[Jordan Vogel · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review - 4.5 stars

I'll forever be a Kay Marie superfan! I've loved all the books I've read by her so far, and although this books is different and more angsty than what we're used to from her normal style, I LOVED this book!

Told in single POV but in past and present timelines, we have two college students who meet their first few days on campus. Clara is a marine biologist major whose trauma has left her scared of the water, and Nox, an world-renowned Olympic swimmer who is the twin brother of X's roommate. He's grumpy and focused on training, and she's annoyed with how hot and cold he always is with her- but running in the same circles, these two always are thrown together. For years you see the push and pull, until finally the tension snaps. You learn in the first chapter that something ripped them apart and it was a wild ride getting to discovering what exactly happened.

This story was such a rollercoaster and to be honest, I would have been happy with 200 more pages, I was so invested! This group of friends was so fun, there was drama and conflict and tension. I am so excited to see this series continue!

- forced proximity
- college romance
- olympic swimmer MMC
- trauma / addiction / grief rep
- dual timeline / single POV
- broody mmc
- enemies to lovers

Thank you so much Kay for the advance copy!

[Maud · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐️

“If you have to be haunted, be haunted by me, Clara”

🙂‍↔️🙂‍↔️

[marilyn silver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5/5⭐

Tropes
🩷enemies to lovers
🩷college sports romance
🩷woman in STEM
🩷forced proximity
🩷Angsty slow burn

First and foremost I would like thank Author Kay Marie and Netgalley for providing me with ARC copy of the book in return for an honest review. Im truly grateful

In simple words, it was RAW, BEAUTIFUL AND CAN WRECK YOU COMPLETELY in the best way possible...

Honestly this book was just *the* book for me. The angst, the chemistry, the plot, the characters and literally everything was so good. It had me hooked from the very first page till the very end. I had absolutely no idea what to expect going into this. The cover was cute, the blurb immediately had me interested and next thing I knew I was completely obsessed.

Because this is simply 5 star behaviour and I have to yap about it.

The chemistry between Nox and Clara was just SO GOOD. I was INVESTED. This story follows Nox and Clara. Nox is a professional swimmer, gold medalist and college student while Clara is a college student and aspiring marine biologist.

Their first meeting was unexpected but honestly much needed. Clara is accidentally pushed into the water despite being extremely traumatized by swimming and Nox enters the picture by pulling her out. But of course these two had to start off on the wrong foot. Between the taunts, banter and pranks, their chemistry just kept intensifying.

They might not stand each other but they keep getting pulled towards each other like a magnet. Nox keeps calling Clara a distraction to his career and yet this man only runs towards the said distraction. He keeps pretending like he can't stand her and yet jumps at every opportunity to be with her or around her.

At some point his brain settings changed from default to Clara because tell me why this man could not think about anything else.

The angst between these two had me SICK. Like genuinely in pain but also completely hooked. I physically could not stay away from this book even if I tried. The way he was always there for her every single time, especially when she thought he wasn't around, it was honestly giving summoned-a-genie energy because somehow Nox would just appear.

Because apparently if someone distracts you from your career you're supposed to follow them around like a lost puppy and be wherever they are.

This man was YEARNING. Down bad doesn't even begin to cover whatever he had going on.

All Clara wanted was to get through her fear of water, survive college and move on with her life. Instead she somehow found the best friends and the man she deserved. Her character had me laughing, crying and completely in love with her. The way she evolved throughout the book was something I absolutely admired.

She literally calls him arrogant and then immediately starts looking for him. Like girl please 😭.

At this point both of them were saying one thing and doing the exact opposite and honestly they are so me coded for that.

The friendship and found family in this book? I absolutely adored it. Now I need every single one of their stories because I already know I'll devour them without a second thought.

The emotional vulnerability felt real. It felt messy, raw and completely honest, which is exactly what I want from a book. This book delivered that perfectly. I genuinely wanted to give every single character a hug, especially Nox and Clara.

My babies 😭❤️

With that being said, I absolutely wish this book had Nox's POV because I just know I would've eaten that up.

Overall, this book was pure 5 star behaviour and I loved every second of it.

[Sian Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to be thinking about this book for the next few weeks, I LOVED it! Come for the carefree college nostalgia, stay for an emotional romance that dives straight into the deepest depths of trust and healing.

Clara arrives at Swiftmore University ready to start a new life away from an accident that nearly destroyed her. She instantly makes new best friends, then finds an enemy in her best friend's twin brother who discovers her phobia of water, and seemingly is the only person who can help her overcome it.

There's a lot of hype around Off Campus right now, and though I haven't read it yet, I've watched the series and this had such similar vibes. The characters felt young and carefree (aside from the heavier parts of the story that I'll get to in a moment). I just really loved the college vibes this book had. It felt nostalgic, even to someone who didn't go to college in the US. My uni years were pretty different to this as I didn't have a tight friendship group, but it's something I love to read and experience through someone else's eyes.

There was a classic enemies to lovers story, plus best friend's brother thrown in there too. And the STEM representation! So many tropes that I love, and all done SO well. I adore the nerdy aspect of the main characters being so passionate about something that it makes you interested in that topic too. I honestly wasn't bothered about marine biology or the Olympics before this, but suddenly, I want to know more. I love when an author can do that to you in a romance book!

Then there was the darker side. Clara has a tragic backstory that has developed into a phobia of water, but that's such a huge part of her future career. Nox, on the surface, seems to have it all together, but all is not as it seems. While helping Clara dive to the depths of her fear (quite literally!), he's floundering. Then the relationship totally submerges them.
(Also I can't believe how many water metaphors I got into that paragraph without quite meaning to!)

Their relationship is built on a deep level of trust, and with chapters interspersed from the future college reunion, we know that something is going to pull them apart at some point - we watch their relationship grow and twist. At points I couldn't understand how they would ever get it together, then I couldn't see how they would end up apart - but it's done so well that it was realistic and believable.

But the romantic relationship isn't the only excellent one in this book. The little trio of Clara, Nox's twin sister Nova and Willa is SO gorgeous. They simply emanate the beauty of female friendship. Then you throw Nox and his boys into the mix, and it just feels like such a fun friendship group who are there for one another.

Genuinely love this book, can't wait for more of the series, and I'm heading to find out what else the author has written right now! This was a six star read for me and getting added to my 2026 favourites!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

[Beca Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Kay Marie for this ARC!!

[***4 STARS***]

‘Forever?’
‘Forever.’

Oh, I LOVED this book. Most of the time, I struggle with college based romances, but this one felt so authentic and raw that it didn’t actually bother me! The characters were well developed, the plot points were well thought out, the story was actually believable! I don’t know if all of the Taylor Swift references were intentional (I’m guessing they were because of how many were woven into the story) but I LOVED finding them and picking them out!

✨Best friends brother
✨Enemies (or rivals?) to lovers
✨College based
✨He helps her overcome her fears
✨Slow burn
✨YEARNING
✨Spans several years

‘What You Made Me Do’ follows Clara and Nox. Clara was involved in a car crash the year before where the car ended up in a lake, and as a consequence has developed a fear of water/swimming. She is trying exposure therapy to water when she joins college so that she can continue her studies in Marine Biology.
Nox is an Olympic gold swimmer and sees Clara at the pool, he is also the twin brother of her roommate and best friend, Nova. After a long time of 'hating' eachother, they reach an agreement and the story develops from there...

WHAT I LIKED:
- The story wasn't too spicy. Although I am a lover of spice in a romance novel, it didn't quite fit alongside everything that was going on and it wasn't forced!
- The tension between them felt authentic. Even though there was what I guess can be labelled as a miscommunication at the beginning and for the first hundred pages or so, it was easily resolved and actually worked with the story!
- The book spans several years, this is a slow burn romance that doesn't feel too drawn out!
- Clara's trauma is well thought out, respected and not romanticised in any way.
- The female friendships!

WHAT I DIDN'T ENJOY:
- The time jumps. I found the pacing to be slightly confusing and found that I often had to re-read paragraphs or pages to work out if we'd just jumped hours, days or even weeks. The parts were helpful, but I wish that they had a date on? Or even a '6 months later' kind of warning - it felt disorientating at times trying to work out where we were :(
- The last fifteen percent felt slightly rushed. I wish Nox's storyline had sort of happened earlier, or suspicions had been found earlier? It felt like we focussed so much on Clara that then it was almost like 'wait but here's the MMC storyline!'
- Single POV. There were so many times that I just wanted to hear from Nox about the situation! I felt like it made his character slightly unknown at times, although single POV can sometimes be done well, I do feel like this book would've massively benefitted from having both characters perspectives.

Overall I did love this book though and look forwards to reading the next in the series! Highly recommend for any sports romance fans <3

[Michela Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

What You Made Me Do follows Clara Hayes, a marine biology student who arrives at Swiftmore University hoping to reinvent herself after an accident changed the course of her life. Unfortunately, her fresh start immediately involves falling into a lake and being rescued by Nox Monroe, an elite swimmer, her roommate’s twin brother, and the infuriating boy living directly across from her.

Nox soon discovers Clara’s carefully guarded secret: despite her major, she is terrified of the water. Their initial antagonism escalates into pranks and petty revenge before they reluctantly strike a deal. Nox will help Clara prepare for her scuba test, and she will stop interfering with his training. Naturally, keeping things strictly business proves more complicated than either of them expects.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was its structure. The story moves between Clara and Nox’s college years and a later reunion, gradually revealing pieces of their history while keeping the larger story somewhat secretive. I genuinely wanted to know what had happened between them and how two people with such a powerful connection had reached the place where we found them in the later timeline.

I also appreciated that the story did not simply fall into the usual romance patterns. The central conflict felt authentic to the characters, particularly Nox’s ambition, his identity as an elite athlete, and the emotional fallout surrounding his Olympic experience. His choices were sometimes frustrating, but they made sense for who he was and what he believed he had lost.

Kay Marie created an engaging group of characters, and the friendships were nearly as enjoyable as the romance. I loved Clara’s relationships with Nova and Willa, as well as the dynamic between the other men in their larger friend group. Their friendships made Swiftmore feel like a real college community rather than scenery placed around the central couple.

The beginning was a little slow for me, but around a third of the way through, the story clicked into place. Once it did, I became completely invested and finished the book within two days.

With strong friendships, authentic emotional conflict, a compelling dual timeline, and characters who felt like more than familiar romance archetypes, What You Made Me Do was an enjoyable and refreshingly distinctive college sports romance.

What You Made Me Do releases September 15, 2026.

I received an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Follow Kay Marie on Instagram and TikTok at @kaymariebooks.


#WhatYouMadeMeDo #NetGalley

[Katie &#x1f4da;&#x1fa77; · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
🌊 Slow burn
🌊 College sports (swim)
🌊 Women in STEM
🌊 Enemies to lovers
🌊 Second chance
🌊 Time jump
🌊 Trauma, grief

📚 For lovers of Please Don’t Go by E. Salvador and Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

I want to start this review off by saying that I literally just finished reading this and I instantly preordered the paperback. What You Made Me Do is such a beautiful story and I was genuinely captivated the entire time I was reading. I knew this would be a 5 star read for me when I was only 15% in and I was absolutely correct.

What I LOVED:
💕 What You Made Me Do is a true college sports romance. I really appreciated how much we got of the college and sport aspects throughout the story; I loved reading about the dorms, classes, school activities, swim practices, etc.

💕 The enemies to lovers dynamic between Clara and Nox meshes so well with the slowwwww burn & time jump plot line. Their rivalry is fierce and their mutual yearning throughout the years holds the same strength- if not more lol. Their love story takes its time to build into something beautiful and genuine. I’d also like to add that the spice is written perfectly for the story.

💕 This story is told from Clara’s POV and, while I typically prefer dual POV, I was 100% a single POV this time. I had no questions about what Nox, or anyone else for that matter, was thinking throughout the book. Every character was so well developed, small side characters included, that I didn’t need anyone else’s perspective. We know that man is yearning from day 1! 😍

💕 The trauma/grief/mental health topics are so well written. Clara’s trauma and grief are so palpable. She doesn’t just suddenly get better, she has to work at it and take the time to heal. The same goes for Nox and the healing that he has to do for his mental health.

💕 The emotion is this story is so real and raw. I felt every single feel there is to be felt and then some! I cried, laughed, mourned, hoped, and loved.

To finish off, I will definitely be rereading this when the book officially releases and I can’t wait for Swiftmore #2!!

[inmyreadingera321 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This -- THIS -- is why I love single POV romance books, you guys! I love a dual POV as much as the next girl, because you get to get inside both people's heads. But with a single POV, it's all in the subtext, in the unspoken actions, in the yearning looks and brushing touches and unbearable tension. Like, did I know from the beginning that Nox was obsessed with Clara? YES. Did she? NO. AND THAT MADE IT ALL SO MUCH BETTER!!!! She didn't realize it, but with every moment that they spent together, it became more and more apparent to us and, eventually, her too.

CINEMA.

The first half of this book was so potent to me. That was where the tension tension-ed and the yearning yearned. The second half was where we got the promise of the premise, the fall, the love story playing out before our eyes. In particular, Nox and Clara's emails to each other sustained me.

I think the lead-up to the 80% conflict and the conflict itself fell a tad flat to me, though. All the hints and foreshadowing were there, so it didn't take me by surprise in any unsatisfying way. I just had a hard time believing that Nox -- obsessed-with-Clara Nox -- would do some of the things he did, to her specifically. One moment in particular... I wasn't sure I'd be able to forgive him!

BUT the fix-it was amazing. I've never read a book with this format before, and I honestly loved it. I've read second chance before, and most of them were dual timeline. But I've never read a second chance where the primary story was the "before" and the "now" is given to us in hints and glimpses, so we can see them fix things. I loved that so much. The reunion weekend shenanigans... I was so happy to see them all together again :')

I also need to take a second to say that I loved Clara and Nova and Willa's friendship so much. Girls' girls, all of them. Also... please please PLEASE tell me that Nova/Logan is next because... I need that so bad. SO BAD. I honestly really hope that all the books have the freshman/sophomore/junior/senior/reunion weekend format because I think it'll just ratchet up the tension so much, like it did in this one.

GAH! I HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH THIS!

----------------

Thank you to Netgalley and Kaitlyn Davis for the ARC!

[Ecem Esen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What You Made Me Do was such an addictive college sports romance. The enemies-to-lovers tension between the main characters grabbed me immediately, and the mix of rivalry, forced proximity, and emotional vulnerability kept me invested the whole way through.

I really liked that the conflict between them felt layered instead of forced. Their banter and constant back-and-forth had a lot of chemistry, but underneath all of it there was genuine emotional depth, especially as more of the FMC’s fears and past trauma came to light. Watching her slowly trust Nox — especially in the scuba training scenes — made the romance feel earned and believable.

Nox was also exactly the kind of MMC I enjoy in sports romances. Confident and competitive without losing the softer, protective side underneath. The dynamic between them shifted naturally from irritation to understanding to something much deeper, and I thought the pacing of the slow burn worked really well.

The college setting and competitive athlete atmosphere added a lot to the story too, especially with the pressure both characters were under academically and personally. It gave the romance higher emotional stakes without becoming overly dramatic.

Overall, this was an emotional, tension-filled sports romance with strong chemistry, great banter, and a really satisfying slow-burn relationship. If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers romances with emotional depth and competitive college athlete dynamics, this is definitely worth reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.