Wet

Westbrook Elite #1

by Cambria Hebert

Making decisions I regret is basically a hobby.
So I guess it really wasn’t that surprising when I went out on a date with an Elite.
And then he tried to assault me.
I might be small, but I’m not meek. I fought him off… then went straight to the dean.
He didn’t believe me. No one does.
And now my date from hell is in revenge mode, and I somehow end up in the campus pool.
Did I mention I can’t swim?
Lucky for me, a knight in shining armor saves me from drowning.
Except he’s not wearing shining armor. He’s naked.
And he’s also Elite.
Seriously, what is up with these Elite swimmers?
Of course, I have no intention of ever seeing his very good-looking, naked highness again.
Elite obviously can’t be trusted.
Until he wraps me in his hoodie and promises to believe me.
Now I’m drowning again—but this time in his enigmatic cobalt eyes and addictive touch.
My only oxygen is him. I think I maybe could fall in love.
But will he keep his promise when I tell him the truth about his teammate?
Or will trusting Ryan with my heart and my life be just another decision to regret?

Genres: Sports, Romance, Sports Romance, College, New Adult, M M Romance, College Romance

364 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 12, 2022

About the author

Cambria Hebert is a bestselling novelist of more than fifty titles. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair.
Besides writing, Cambria loves a pumpkin spice latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching K drama until her eyes won’t stay open. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chihuahuas (the real bosses of the house).
Cambria has written in many genres, including new adult, sports romance, male/male romance, sci-fi, thriller, suspense, contemporary romance, and young adult. Many of her titles have been translated into foreign languages and have been the recipients of multiple awards.

Awards Cambria has received include:

Author of the Year 2016 (UtopiaCon2016)
The Hashtag Series: Best Contemporary Series of 2015 (UtopiaCon 2015)
#Nerd: Best Contemporary Book Cover of 2015 (UtopiaCon 2015)
Romeo from the Hashtag Series: Best Contemporary Lead (UtopiaCon 2015)
#Nerd: Top 50 Summer Reads (Buzzfeed.com 2015)
The Hashtag Series: Best Contemporary Series of 2016 (UtopiaCon 2016)
#NERD Book Trailer: Best Book Trailer of 2016 (UtopiaCon 2016)
#Nerd Book Trailer: Top 50 Most Cinematic Book Trailers of All Time (film-14.com)
#Nerd: Book Most Wanted to be Adapted to Screen: (2018)
Amnesia: Mystery Book of the Year (2018)

Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.
You can find out more about Cambria and her titles by visiting her website:
http://www.cambriahebert.com

Email: cambriahebert@rocketmail.com
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Reviews

[len ❀ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had hope for this. Cambria Hebert’a GearShark series was a mix of enjoyable and not enjoyable, yet #Junkie is one of my number one dearest companions to darlings stories. I might want to clear my path through a greater amount of her archive, yet I found the idea of this story fascinating, so I was interested when I originally caught wind of it.

I think the political part of this was fundamentally necessary. I realize I read for escapism and to divert myself from this present reality, so reading about a female college student being assaulted and not having her voice heard isn't something that allows me to "escape" since it's so normal, but since it's so normal is the reason I think these books are essential. I appreciated the author doing this, and I think the customary truth that women aren't heard and are rather peered downward on or accused is the best approach to raise a consciousness of some kind. It sucks, yet it's valid, tragically. Finding out about how little worth Rory's voice had contrasted with her male companions (including her boyfriend) happens all the time, all things considered, and it's tragic and putting down how little has truly changed. I preferred the expansion of this in the book not just due to the political mindfulness it gives yet in addition the expectation it can give. In spite of how messy it can sound, I love the Ryan and his friend, Jamie, were two of the principal men who trusted Rory without even batting an eye. It gives that kind of conviction that there are good men out there.

Notwithstanding the way that my objections can be connected with the romance, I still thought it was adorable. I barely utilize this word to depict male characters, however Ryan most certainly had his sexy moments. He was defensive and possessive, yet additionally conscious, cautious, and altogether mindful. He had his amusing and charming minutes, particularly with his best friend, Jamie, and I cherished seeing the various sides of his consideration show in various minutes with Rory.

With that being said, there isn't that much else I can say I appreciated and found delight from this.

I admit, I'm somebody who uses the word "brother" with my friends. Despite the fact that it depends who that friend is and how close we are, it is a favored term among me and a couple of them. However, the way in which Ryan and Jamie used them was irritating to the point where it became overwhelming. I wouldn't be able to count and monitor how frequently it was used. Maybe the two were simply modified to say that term constantly to allude to themselves as opposed to utilizing some other term or their real name. It was pointless.

I also wasn't a fan of how it seemed like the subject of rape was forgotten about with the sentiment. I really hate weighty topics being "relieved" with sentiment. It seems like it's being romanticized, as though somebody needs to experience passionate feelings for or somebody can save one more person with magical kisses. Rory's story has certainly happened to women out there, and keeping in mind that I cherished her bravery of shouting out and taking the issue to the dean, I was unable to get behind the way that it seemed like Ryan some way or another mended her. She'd act apprehensive when another person contacted her, as Jamie (which was understandable), yet with Ryan, all was great. It wasn't even that they were dating because Rory's feelings of dread disappeared the second Ryan saved her and was carrying her in the pool. I know everybody's involvement in a SA is different, and I'm not saying the sentiments and encounters aren't substantial, yet it gave me the feeling that Rory required Ryan to be okay. Perhaps it's simply me, however I'm somewhat fed up with the female characters continuously being saved by the male characters. It continues to give that ramifications that it's the best way to push ahead. Well, why and how did Rory have a good sense of reassurance with Ryan despite the fact that she didn't have any acquaintance with him? Why did she confide in him and not others? Despite the fact that he saved her, he might have effectively likewise been controlling her. We realize this isn't true, yet on the off chance that it were what was going on, not even one of us would be aware. How could she come to have a good sense of reassurance and be near him so quickly, despite how paranoid she was of men?

There were a couple other things that felt underdeveloped. I've stated before how insta love is something that can work for me, but you’ll lose me when there’s no turn of events. Even though the relationship between Rory and Ryan moved on at a very fast pace with zero substance, it still had an opportunity to make changes built in between as they spent time together. However, I didn't find that to be the case here, and it felt like the story moved on with zero substance between the characters, which took away some opportunity for their emotional connection to develop. It felt like the two were never even friends. They met, and a couple hours after, Ryan was already claiming rory. All in all, I get that Ryan may be an appealing man, yet for somebody who had recently gone through something awful, I couldn’t comprehend how effectively she trusted and surrendered to him. Another incomplete thought I have is related to Rory's parents. As the book is nearing, when the gang is talking to the dean, Rory mentions her parents and their practice of law and even insinuates that she could use them to threaten the institution. I was just wondering, why didn’t she say this before? Why didn’t she use her parents when she talked to the dean before? all this had to happen after, all because there were two elite swimmers with her.

There isn’t that much I can say about this that feels positive. The characters, both Rory and Ryan, are entirely forgettable. Rory experienced something that has left her to some degree distrustful and damaged, but there isn't much about her that is paramount and deserving of referencing. She can be somewhat fiery and cheeky, which I enjoyed, however there wasn't a lot about her character that stayed with me. Ryan's personality is even less engaging. His consideration for Rory was sweet and valuable, but his personality itself doesn't offer that much. I'm not saying authors need to make their characters unique and new, but I am saying there can be some more significance for the characters. If your only character traits are going to be a tragic story to make the reader feel bad, the structure will be weak, poorly developed, and show a weakness in emotion.

As for my last quibble, this is a personal pet peeve of mine, but I'm also tired of characters thinking “I love you” = love. My roommate has been dating her boyfriend for more than one year now and it wasn’t until this summer that HE said he loves her. When she told me, she described it by using the “L” word. Because news flash, “I love you” doesn’t mean shit when actions don’t prove it. So yeah, I was annoyed with Rory for being upset and whiny because Ryan didn’t say “I love you” back. Not to mention, when she said them, it really wasn't the best moment. Literally an eye rolling moment.

However, I will say that I'm already looking forward to the future books of the series. We already know the next book is Jamie's, and I'm definitely gonna keep an eye out for Wes and Max's story! I love the older brother's best friend trope, and as much as Max wants to deny it, he’s already protective and possessive over shy, little max. Max also sounds adorable and precious, someone I'd wanna hug.

[Mila]

dnf @ 31 %


I think I'll just stick to MM romance from now on.

[Meags · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Romantic. Steamy. Possessive. Addictive.

Wet is total romance book-crack!

Fans of Hebert’s #Hashtag series will undoubtedly enjoy this new series starter, with its NA themes, college campus setting, swoony alpha heroes, strong and sassy female characters, and insta-love vibes out the wazoo.

Trading the college football field for the swimming pool, Hebert tells the story of Elite swimmer Ryan, who finds his forever girl in firecracker and school photographer Rory, when he rescues her from a precarious situation in which she almost drowns in the school’s pool.

The insta-ness of the relationship aside, I loved Ryan and Rory’s immediate and intense connection. There was possessiveness and passion and lots of raunchy claimings and juicy endearments. It was probably over-the-top and potentially unhealthy, especially in the speed at which these two became each other’s everything, but I gave no craps because it was hella romantic and steamy, and, quite frankly, I would be disappointed if this wasn’t exactly the style of EXTRA that I expect from a Hebert NA love story.

Beyond the hot and heavy romance, the plot was even more captivating, with Rory’s stalker/sexual predator and Ryan’s swim-team enemy—both one in the same—showing up at every turn to rattle the nerves and provide some intense (and impressive) suspense moments, which ultimately proved my favourite scenes in the story, if I think hard on it. (Remember wackadoodle Zach, who terrorised the #Hashtag crew? Yeah, well this new antagonist was just as twisted and determined to wreak havoc on our gang, and the characters were having none of it!!)

Of course, the secondary cast were a stellar addition to the story, too, making the heavier issues (themes of sexual assault and elitist misogyny among them) easier to handle. Jaime, Wes, Max and Madison were all scene-stealers in their own right, pretty much guaranteeing that I will return for the planned sequels, especially considering that Wes and Max have the potential to rock my socks off Trent and Drew style!

Simply put, this was a 110% fun, sexy, moreish read, that keep me glued to my kindle well past an appropriate bedtime. I can’t ask for much more than that!

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: opposites attract, protector
Angst: 😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥

"You were mine from the minute my naked ass dove into the pool to save you. Mine the second I gave you the breath right out of my lungs."

Aurora crashes into Ryan's life when she is literally tossed into a pool after rescuing an assault victim from the same person who attempted to assault her. Lucky for her, Ryan was showering when he heard her cries and jumped in to save her from drowning since she doesn't know how to swim. Ryan is all in from day one with the orange-haired sassy pants, but it takes a bit more for her to trust that Ryan isn't a "loyalty among bros" guy since the attempted r@pist is on the swim team too.

Ugh! Where to even start with this book! Well written, fast paced with little to no relationship angst, this book left me with a huge smile on my face. There was a surprising amount of action and a dash of suspense as Rory, her new friend Maddie, Ryan, and Ryan's best friend all try to bring down the privileged @sshole that seems immune to being caught. I absolutely loved everything about this book and if you're in the mood for an over the top, protective, manhandling alpha who uses a lot of "good girl"s in a cute instalove, WET is the book for you too!

⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes contain spoilers

[Melluvsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Romeo Anderson in #nerd, then this book is gonna check all your boxes. Ryan is a swoontastic dreamboat bulldozer alpha. 😍😍 All his “good girls” and how he liked to carry the h around and how protective and possessive he was. Gah. I loved him so much. I loved all the damsel-in-distress moments, where the hero really gets to be the hero. Loved. Cambria Hebert does this so well.

Why not 5-stars? I was missing the relationship development. These two jump into bed 5 seconds after meeting and I found that off-putting. I do appreciate that we aren’t given much details on their sexual past, other than that they aren’t virgins… but I wish there’d been some build up before they had sex the first time. It didn’t feel special… just a run-of-the-mill college hook up. Which was disappointing.

Also, we don’t learn much about these characters. I loved their interactions with each other… but who are they outside of that?

And I missed the angst. All the struggle was outside their relationship. Any uncertainty is resolved super early in the book. Where was the fun OW drama?

Bottom Line? Overall I really enjoyed this read. I am excited to read about the other characters as well! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️







⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️

- no cheating or sharing
- no OW/OM drama
- no dubcon by hero - the h and a secondary character are both victims of on-page sexual assault attempts by OP
- condoms used, then not used, but no safety discussion is ever had, which is a little concerning since both H and h seemed to have had several partners previously.

[Helen Power · Rating 4 out of 5]

In “Wet”, the heroine, Rory, went on a date with a swimmer at Westbrook University, a place that reveres its competitive swimmers, and she barely escapes when he attacks her. She goes to the dean of the university, but he is more inclined to believe the star swimmer than a girl who takes pictures for the school newspaper. So she decides to get evidence. She gets several pictures of the swimmer in question when he’s attacking another girl, but when she steps in to stop him, he chases her across campus. He tosses her and her camera into the pool before taking off. The only problem? She can’t swim. Fortunately for her, Ryan, another “Elite” swimmer, is in the locker room and hears her drowning. He comes out to rescue her. They are immediately attracted to each other, and he says that he believes her. But can she trust him when he’s teammates with her attacker?
This book is not nearly as dark as the description implies. While it’s a suspenseful story that deals with some tough topics, the tone is kept light. I loved how while Rory and Ryan get together veeerrrry early on in the book, there are still many obstacles (mainly in the form of the swimmer who wants revenge on Rory for dragging his name in the dirt). Ryan is the perfect hero–protective and sweet, and he will do whatever it takes to get justice for Rory and the other girls like her. 4 stars!
HEA? Definitely!
Triggers: Attempted rape, sexual assault, violence

[rayhanah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
this was a fun, (very cringey) fast-paced read to pull you out of a slump! Was it the most well written thing? no. Were there too many mentions of "bro"? unfortunately. Was it very cheesey, ridiculous, and over the top with insta love that progressed at the speed of light? yes. Did I have fun irregardless of all the above? you bet I did.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so bad, I loved it. This is the worst best book I’ve ever read.

First- I need someone who has read this to explain the opening scene to me because it made absolutely no sense. First- the mmc & fmc get stuck in a pool. How do you get stuck in a pool, I don’t know?!! They say it’s because the cover closed. The only pool covers I’ve ever seen are big floating tarp type things- is there such a thing as deadly non tarp pool covers?? Then the mmc is holding the fmc and treading water to keep her from drowning. Then he has to give her cpr- how do you give cpr while treading water while holding someone while stuck in a pool?? Is this possible?? Then he pulls out a phone to call for help. But he jumped in the pool naked- where was he storing the phone while he was holding her and administering cpr? Where was the phone the whole time??

After this they decide they are in love with each other? I’m not sure it was so insta. The most insta I’ve read. He saved her and immediately got growly like “you’re mine now!” Why? Who knows. I guess saving someone’s life causes instant growly possessive love. It was so over the top. I was five hundred percent entertained.

The villain in the book was such an over the top extreme villain it was hilarious. Like imagine a random 20 year old college athlete dude but he moonlights as a secret super villian criminal mastermind. Although not too much of a mastermind- his attempted murder to murder ratio was way off.

But also it’s ok because anytime he entered the room the fmc was like “a chill came over the room. The hairs on my neck stood up. I could feel an evil presence lurking.” Like lmao it was so over the top.

This book was just so bananas and hilarious. I laughed out loud so many times. I’m really looking forward to Wes & Jamie’s books. I hope all of the authors books are this hilariously bad because I am now obsessed.

This is definitely on my “I said I liked it, I didn’t say it was good” list.

[Giorgia Reads]

DNF @40

A few things which put me off:

- there’s insta love and then there is light speed insta love - this was the latter. After meeting twice for a short amount of time the hero was throwing “mine” around left and right. It didn’t do anything for me except make me question the genuineness of it all.
- the very obvious ”not like other girlsimplications
- the over the top and constant descriptions of the heroine as being small - like that is a desirable character trait. Nothing wrong with describing her physically, but every paragraph we get reminded of just how small she is.
FFS - there is a scene where she goes to the bathroom and she can’t see herself in the mirror because she can barely see the top of her head! WTF? Is she a child. Public bathroom mirrors in bars are not that high. It was getting absurd.

There was no tension, no buildup, no chemistry between the couple.

[The Romance Book Disciple (Samantha) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to Westbrook University! Its time to get Wet with the elite swim team! I love Cambria Heberts new adult/college romances. Seriously, #Nerd is one of my favorite series of all time. So, I was thrilled when she announced Wet!

Rory was assaulted and no one believed her. So, if that is a trigger for you, be aware. Of course, this guy won't just leave her alone because she is determined to bring him down. Ryan and Rory have a super intense meeting but after that, Ryan is all in with Rory. I love that the drama doesn't come from their relationship. There is little interrelationship angst. It's Rory and Ryan against everyone else. Ryan is a great hero-honorable, kind, supportive-and Rory is the kind of heroine women can really root for. She is haunted by the idea of the next person the villain tries to attack not getting away like she did. Ryan and Rory have a very insta-love relationship, but I think its believable for their age. One thing teaching young adults has taught me is that they fall in love fast and hard.

There are some great side characters as well that really add to the story. I am very excited for the rest of this series because Wet was just fantastic!

 

  POV: dual 1st
  Tears: a few
  Trope: college, opposites attract-ish
  Triggers: sexual assault, physical assault
  Series/Standalone: standalone
  Cliffhanger: no
  HEA: yes

Other college athlete stories like The Dare by Elle Kennedy, Jockblocked by Jen Frederick, How to Date a Douchebag series by Sara Ney ...then you will probably like Wet!

Wet


 

See full review on The Book Disciple

[Gloria (in a slump? idk) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC...I think I hope we'll see

I think I'm in a review slump heheh but I freaking loved this book regardless of the few niggles I had 💗

[Lisa (Two Bookish Brits) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I’ve read a new Cambria Hebert book and oh my gosh this book just reminded me how incredibly amazing her writing is. It flows so easily and has you captivated from the get go.

WET gave me Nerd vibes. The bromance, the saviour and the evil guy it just had me back at the Nerd series but yet they’re also completely different and that’s what I love about this author. She completely slays the sports romance genre making her book have similar vibes but different stories. She writes characters so well that you just can’t help but love them and need more from them.

Rory and Ryan were incredible characters.

Rory is small, fierce and determined. After an assault on her she’ll do anything to out this guy. What she doesn’t expect is just how far this guy is willing to go to shut her up.

Ryan is an elite, he’s powerful, strong and handsome. swimming is his everything so when a night at the pool practicing ends in saving a life he’s determined to know everything and once he does, he can’t let it go.

Rory and Ryan together is a damn sight to behold. They go so well together and their connection is instant. Their bond grows stronger throughout the book and it’s the greatest thing. They go through a lot of ups and downs throughout their story, it legit had me on the edge of my seat wondering what the heck was going to happen. I was anxious and nervous, it was insane.

I absolutely adore the way Cambria make us readers feel whilst reading her books.

I also need to say Jamie is amazing and I honestly can not wait for him to get a book because damn, he needs one and the same for Wes, that guy is intriguing.

Now I’m just sat here sad that it’s over but happy that it began, that these characters were given to us.

Wet is a standalone sports romance, with an addicting storyline.

*Please note this book contains assault, mentions of rape, and themes that may be triggering for some readers.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.something ⭐️s. This was just so bad. I really did try to give it a chance and let certain things slide, but I really should have DNFed this one. I think the best way for me to leave am accurate review is to just bullet point it out:

-Okay so praise kink.. bestie.. I love a good praise kink, but this was soooo bizarre. Her hearing “good girl” in her head while she was escaping assault?? Huh?? And the MMC using it every other sentence was overkill. I think the author realized lots of readers love a good praise kink, but doesn’t understand it beyond the words “good girl”.

-The assault scene.. ew. I know shit can be hard to read but the description was super unnecessary.

-Did the author really think we would be attracted to a MMC who used “bro” in every other sentence?? He was just a frat boy who swims.

-I’ve read books with dumb FMCs, but this may take top 3. (Not talking about how she dealt with SA.)

Moral of the story: if a man ever refers to himself as an “elite”, fucking run (or DNF).

[Bookgasms Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am obsessed with Cambria Hebert's #NERD series so much that I devoured WET! . I enjoyed Ryan and Rory and allll their delicious chemistry. The banter was addicting and their connection was palpable. I also enjoyed how the story started out on a bang. It was a quick and fast-paced romantic suspense gem!

While I love how hooked I was from the get go, I will admit that I was a little surprised with how "insta" the story was. It definitely wasn't a bad thing at all, and I know that this is personal preference, but it was definitely faster than what I am used to in a NA series. With that being said however, can I just add that Ryan and all his Good Girl's were hottttt AF????? The author definitely steamed it up with how alpha and uber sexy he was!

Overall, this was a fun and addicting read. I loved the entire cast of characters and can't wait for more Westbrook Elite stories! Bring on Jamie!! 4.5 stars! ~Ratula ❤️

[Valerie ❈M/M Romance Junkie❈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark this date. Today (6/8/2023), I read a NA, college age romance with *gasp* GIRL PARTS and LOVED IT!!

There was some serious “dude bro” vibes, kids younger than my own child (my brat turned 26, and I feel old), possessive boyfriends, and an asshat antagonist to beat all antagonist. We won’t even get into the questionable, misogynistic asshole “adults” that should have been available to help. 😒

Seriously. This should not have worked for me, but somehow it just clicked. 🤔 I loved Rory and Ryan. I even loved the damned constant piggyback rides. Yes, it’s a thing. Just roll with it.

The story came together in a way that was, sadly, believable. I was on pins and needles right along with Rory, but the story was never allowed to get so heavy that it overshadowed the budding relationship. I can’t explain it. It just worked. I am now a bit excited to read about Jamie (Bro! 🙄)

*Many thanks to Jennifer and Meags for the rec.

[Kay Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan is one of the sexiest male protectors—ever—that will leave you breathless!

Right out of the first chapter, this book cannonballs into a highly suspenseful situation. Aurora—aka Rory—ends up in a situation where she gets thrown into the swim team's pool… which would be fine if she could actually swim. Spoiler, not really, as you find out within like three pages: she can’t. It's also mildly humorous as her name is Aurora. Not the drowning part, god no, only the parallels that her name is Aurora and she can't swim.

Enter Ryan. He’s mid-swim team's-shower—rinsing off a practice that, let's be real, left the pool steaming. He hears screams, splashes, and without missing a beat, he grabs a towel like a Greek god summoned by chlorine and testosterone, checks what's going on, and finds Rory drowning. He immediately goes into lifeguard mode, launching himself into the pool. By the time he hits the water, the towel’s gone, and he’s naked. What happens next, I'll leave that to you as YOU NEED TO READ IT! lol

Readers and listeners, I nearly needed a flotation device to keep me above water with all the suspense.

But Ryan isn’t all abs, v-cuts, and heroic dives. He’s fiercely protective, hot-tempered, and unfiltered in self when it comes to Rory, which makes everything better since Mr. Dreamy is flawed! He snaps, then immediately backstrokes into apology territory. You'll want to hug him, smack him, and then hug him again, but this time with your legs wrapped around him. Lol, Ryan's not a cardboard cutout with a woman's perfect emotional arc. He makes mistakes, owns up to them, and learns from them.

Although hot-tempered, Ryan is a total gentleman. Always ask for consent, even when the tension is hot enough to fog up the bathroom mirrors.

Another bonus is that the whole swim team backs Rory. Keep in mind it's MF, so don't get your hopes up. Lol. There are side characters that really stand out! Jaime is my favorite so far. Bro, I wish I were the one getting a piggyback ride on his back... lol I'm so excited to read/listen to his book.

So if you're looking for a romance that has you gasping, laughing, fanning yourself, and maybe practicing CPR on a pillow—swim, don’t wade, to grab this book. It’s got heart, heat, and one unforgettable naked dive.




Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Audiobook: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

[Medollga · Rating 4 out of 5]

🛑This particular rating is highly subjective, because I was simply in the mood for these tropes🛑

That being said, logically I know that this is a very mid tier book, so adjust your expectations 👉👈😅

The tropes:
- damsel in distress;
- insta-love;
- possessive hero;
- size difference, both in height and other criteria 🤣;
- low angst;
- cringe nicknames like "Carrot" or "Shrimp", that made me hate them and lowkey enjoying them at the same time 👉👈🙈

The couple gets together VERY fast and nothing breaks them apart after that. All the drama comes from outside factors, which not always works for me, but somehow did here. The book was highly entertaining, but sometimes certain things were exaggerated to the extreme. The most problematic example was the depiction of the heroine's "tininess", which apparently prevented her from seeing herself in the bathroom mirror due to her small height .🤡🤣💀 The hero was always picking her up and studying her for hurts or whatnots and her legs were always just floating in the air like limp noodles...Honestly, this made me think of her as a toddler and not a grown woman, so those paragraphs were weird to read...

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Wet was my first book by this author but definitely not my last. While I enjoyed the story, I found the first 60% was really good but unfortunately the last 40% didn't keep my attention. Ryan and Rory were really cute together, but I found myself bored with their relationship at times. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

[Liz [reads books] · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the second book first and I liked it much better but this one was good too. I really love the instalove that this author seems to write. 4 stars

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The crack in my heart deepened, and what once was one heart became two. And both of them were owned completely by her.

4 stars!

Trigger warning: sexual assault, mention of rape, physical assault

It's been a while since I've read a Cambria Hebert novel, but after seeing all of her promos on bookstagram for this series I couldn't resist picking it up. Ryan is an elite athlete at Westbrooke where the swim team is revered and worshipped for their abilities. The entire team is viewed as infallible and irreproachable in all aspects simply because they are elite, which is something Rory discovers firsthand after she is attacked by one of them and nearly drowns. After Ryan rescues her, an inexplicable bond forms between them as Rory fights for her life and to have her truth heard, Ryan fights the blind support surrounding his team.

I absolutely LOVED the dynamic between Rory and Ryan! Ryan was so possessive and protective over his Carrot, and I loved his tenderness and vulnerability towards her. The bromance between Jamie and Ryan was so freaking golden as well; I literally LOL'd at some parts as they were so funny and charming. I'm so stoked for the next books in the series as the tension between the couples was so palpable and Cambria writes steamy romantic suspense so well♡

Tropes: instalove, protector hero, heroine-in-danger, size difference, alpha j/p hero, praise kink, swimmer romance, relentless villain, bromance, STEAMY🔥

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short version:

Wet is a swoon worthy romance with heart pounding suspense and writing that is straight up addictive.


Rambling version:

It has been such a long time since I’ve read a book from Cambria Hebert. I’d forgotten how much I love her books. They always grab my attention right from the first page and hold on until the last page and Wet was no different. First, I freaking adored Rory and Ryan. I felt their connection immediately and I enjoyed their banter. I think things were a bit fast with them, but that felt appropriate given how quick the plot was moving! Another thing I liked, was the cast of side characters. They were unwavering in their support of our mains and depending on the person I was either cracking up at their commentary or wanting to hug them because of their situation. I now desperately need books for all of them.

Overall, like I said in the short version of my review…This book had it all! Swoon worthy romance, suspense and addictive writing. I can’t wait for the next installment of the series!

Also does anyone else feel like book is basically what it would be like if the Hashtag series and BearPaw Resort series had a baby? Because I do.

TW: assault, attempted r@pe, homophobia

* I received an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

[Elsa Gomes (BookishAurora) · Rating 4 out of 5]

➳ Rate: 4,2/ 5 stars

WET gripped me right from the beginning. It was a great college/sports romance with lots of suspense and cute romantic moments.

I kind of loved how the MCs met, even though it was such a terrifying moment for the heroine. But yeah, I adored the relationship between Aurora and Ryan from the beginning. They just clicked from the very first moment and it was so cute. The way these two were together definitely gave me Romeo and Rimmel vibes.

Ryan fell first and boy watching him chase those first few days was fun and so cute! He was such a sweetheart and so protective. I loved it. And Aurora was so strong. What happened to her was awful. And yet she remained so strong through it all and never gave up on being heard and doing something to protect future victims.

I really liked Ryan’s bff and some of the other guys on team, so I’m really excited for the rest of the series! We know who one of the future couples will be from this book, and I’m really excited about them!!

I just did not enjoy how much of an insta love story it was, but it had some great moments. And this story deals with important issues that should be talked about more, especially in the college setting.

➳ARC kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.

➳ Order at: Amazon US

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[christyheartsbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun. It was all the things I loved wrapped up in a pretty Cambria Hebert bow. My kind of perfection. Fun, funny, suspenseful, romantic and holy heck was there heat. Ryan. Freaking. Walsh. He may just have replaced Romeo as my number 1. Ryan and Carrot were just perfection. I adored every single thing about this book and I cannot wait for more thin this Westbrook world.

[Jennifer☠Pher☠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t complain about anything with this one although it probably has a ton of faults.

I just had a great time. If you take this too seriously you are just reading this wrong 😊

I can’t wait for more.

[Jeananna w/The Book Reading Gals · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of what is destined to be another 5***** hit series from Cambria! Her world building is immersive and makes you feel like you've made new friends!! Throw in a little suspense and VOILA you have perfection!!
Highly recommend this story, series and author to everyone!

[Fahmida · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.
How the average rating is this high - I'll never know.

[Talia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

For the first act of this book, I was ecstatic. I loved the suspense element, the characters were full of promise, adored the college setting and was really into the whole swimming environment. Every single thing had a giant checkmark next to it and I couldn’t wait to see how the characters would evolve, fall in love, how the plot would twist and turn.

And instead the characters showed the same depth of feelings throughout, never got to know one other but rather every time the heroine got hurt or stalked by the villain and the hero rescued her, they ended up boning. It was so frequent I started skimming through the steamy scenes, which is never good.

I’m not usually one to bash instaloves, if done right, and I thought this might be one of those since I loved how they met. But that was it.

I think my main issue is that every character was reduced to a stereotyped version of an actual human being. Ryan is the overprotective alpha guy brought to an extreme, where he won’t even let EMTs take care of his gf because they’ll have to touch her and take her with them. Rory is the super stubborn sassy heroine who however becomes a vulnerable puddle once in Ryan’s arms. Every one of their interaction was predictable to a T, to the point that if she said something, you could already tell what his retort would be. Same with go-with-the-flow bro Jamie.

I still enjoyed reading this, but the lack of character’s depth cheapened the romance. It felt like they didn’t know each other at all and suddenly they were professing their undying love for each other. They met and literally skipped all the phases and started behaving like a seasoned couple… even though they were at best acquaintances at that point.

I will still continue to read this series and I love how Hebert always manages to up the ante with the suspenseful plots and crazy villains. I’m curious especially about Wes’ story.

The last thing I’ll say, and I debated even whether or not to include this in the review, is that this book read like an alternate universe of the hashtag series. The author wrote in her note that it’s complicated to write things like this after the hashtag series because everyone will compare the two. I agree… but then if she knew that comparisons would surely be made, why did she include soooo many similarities?

Ryan and Romeo have the exact same alpha protector personality. Jamie and Braeden are the goofy bros with great chemistry with the main hero. Both Rory and Rimmel are stubborn, have unruly hair, and are super small compared to the main hero. Ivy and Madison are both the cool girls who fall in love for the goofy guys. And even beyond our main quartet… the additional mm couple, although reminiscent more of the characters in Prince given the obvious power dynamics than the gearshark series. And even beyond the characters, we have unnecessary piggyback rides, sweater sharing that gives the guy an excuse to climb into the girl’s room to steal a kiss, a crazy psycho stalking the heroine in a bathroom, and I’m sure I’m forgetting at least another bunch of little things that we have already seen in the hashtag series. It worked then because it was original, endearing and felt true to the characters. Now, reading it again, it just brought me out of the narration because it made me think back to when I’d already read it in the past, with characters that were better rounded.

Overall, the reading experience was nice and the suspense kept me interested. I’m just hoping that Wes and Max will get a more indepth story at some point, possibly without Max being an overbearing jerk and Wes the innocent little kid like we saw in Prince. I’m also curious about Jamie’s story. I know people found all the bros annoying, but i didn’t mind them, and I hope the author will do something more with his character than have him be the happy-go-lucky bro dude whose only trait is being over protective and possessive like Ryan.

To conclude, I love Hebert’s writing and I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading this because many will absolutely swoon for Ryan. I’m just hoping this new series will make me fall in love with its characters as it continues

[Ria Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping, romantic & suspenseful

WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!!

Cambria Hebert has produced an incredibly gripping, sexy, and delicious romantic suspense story in WET. Cambria takes her readers back to college; I know many readers will start comparing WET to #Nerd, but for me there is no comparison. WET was darker in many ways, but still allowed for those sweet, romantic, and comedic moments I would expect to find in college. Welcome to Westbrook University, school for the wealthy, and home of the 'Elites' swim team. Hooked from the first chapter I devoured Cambria's amazing words in one session.

"Something about him made me want to surrender, which was not a feeling I was used to but one I could almost not deny."

She was assaulted, she got away and ran, and ended up almost drowning in a pool. Well, she would have if it wasn't for a very naked swimmer who jumped into the pool to save her. (Best meet-cute EVER!!!) Even though they have instant chemistry, Aurora 'Rory' Coin is wary of Ryan Walsh, one of the top members of the 'Elites'. Eventually she tells him her story and his belief in her astounds her, and so begins a friendship that slowly develops into something more. Rory is trying to find evidence against the person who assaulted her, the more she delves the more danger finds her. Ryan takes on the role of her protector, with the help of his best friend Jamie. Will Ryan be able to keep Rory safe?

"Loyalty to my girl rules all."

I adored Rory from the very first moment. She may have been small in stature, a 'shrimp', however she was strong-willed and knew how to stand up for herself. However, behind all her bravado she was shy and unassuming. She's a photographer for the college's newspaper and likes to take her camera everywhere. Quite often she doesn't think before she speaks, which leads to many amusing moments. Ryan I can only describe as delicious perfection. His possessive, protective nature makes him the perfect alpha, but he also has that soft, tender, caring side that had me swooning to the floor. Together Rory and Ryan were simply adorable, yes, they had an instalove that was made up of HOT HOT HOT chemistry, pleasurable passion, and wonderful banter. I also loved Jamie, he is the ultimate sidekick.

"The crack in my heart deepened, and what once was one heart became two. And both of them were owned completely by her."

I loved every word of this story, yes some of them were hard to read due to their sensitive nature and situations, however Cambria wrote them with such care. WET is told from dual POVs which I enjoyed because I like getting to know how the characters are thinking and feeling. Rory and Ryan were wonderful characters and I fell for them instantly. Jamie was hilarious, he's the 'Bro' everyone wants, and I can't wait for his book, Wingspan. Welcome back to college life Cambria style, the start to what I know will be another epic series.

WET: confronting, gripping and oh so sweet

Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction

✨✨✨✨✨ FIVE AMAZING STARS ✨✨✨✨✨

[Brianna at Renee Entress's Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

It's been a while since I've read a Cambria Hebert book and y'all, it was like coming home when I stepped onto the pages of this beauty.

When I saw WET pop across my newsfeed (I mean look at that blurb AND cover!), I knew I needed to grab up this baby. An angsty, steamy college romance with promises of sream? Sign me up every single time. And you know what? This standalone and Cambria didn't disappoint for me for a single moment.

WET is the first book in the Westbrook Elite series and this gives us Rory and Ryan's story and it's all hands on the pool deck for these two. Angsty, steamy, intense at times, packed with heart and loads of feels... these two tell a whirlwind love story that'll wrap you completely up in the emotions and drama surrounding them but whoa.

I'm excited for this series to continue y'all... can't wait to get to the next one.

I highly recommend this book.

Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog.

[Meg Talks Romance Novels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was complete perfect! I loved it the second I started it and was captivated by these new characters of the Westbrook Elite all the way to the end! If you are a fan of Cambria’s Hashtag Series then you are going to love this new series!

Ryan had me the second he saved Rory….naked lol! I love their insta chemistry and connection! I love how they had their own cute little banter and Ryan’s protective streak.
Plus we get some great side characters to love! I’m so excited for more of this series! This is a must read!