3.25/5

TW: slut-shaming, discussions of SA of a background character

So. I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I kind of enjoyed the story between Jake and Ella. The push and pull, bickering, banter and chemistry. It was all there. Plus all the Taylor Swift references (that were WAY more subtle than the description would have you believe, I promise - like the fact that Jake, the football player, wears number 87). But, the heavy topics this book tried to tackle blindsided me. I wasn't ready for any of it.

The main character is slut-shamed throughout the entirety of the book, either because someone learns about her mother (more of that later), or because people from her past judge her. Her mother was a hooker and everyone assumed that Ella was the same. So they slut-shamed her, called her names, turned her life into hell, even now, 19 years after graduating high school. They all judged her. All except the MMC, of course.

And then there was a minor character (MMC's best friend) being almost raped by her then-boyfriend when they were younger. Again, there was no trigger/content warnings, nothing. It was all out of left field, for the shock value I guess? To make the stakes even higher? I'm not sure. And I'm not sure if the blade attitude of this girl "what happened, happened I put it in the past now and I don't care if the media goes after my daughter if i reveal it" was the way to go.

Aaaand Ella's mother. She's dead now, but the way they handled that... I guess the author tried to be woke and show that sex workers are just people blah blah blah but they way she did that was just inconsiderate imo. Because that character left a letter to her daughter. In which she told her that she was good at what she did and that she enjoyed it. Because that's what her daughter wanted to hear, right? But that's not all. That character tried to justify it that she only spread live and what can be more pure than that?

You, lady, (the character and the author I guess for trying to justify it in that way), are delusional. You weren't "spreading love". You had sex with both married men AND school boys for money. There was nothing noble about this. Stop trying to turn it into something it wasn't. You. Had. Sex. For. Money. With. Married. Men. And. School. Boys. Your. Daughter's. Classmates. For. Money. You didn't "spread love". You spread something, but it sure as hell wasn't love. And you didn't care that your children were judged and BULLIED by the entire town for your actions! You admitted you liked pretty things and having sex. That was enough. The whole "spreading love" was bullshit and you know it.

Aaaand now I'm angry.

The ending was rushed. The author tried to wrap it all up in a neat little bow but it felt forced and rushed. I'm glad that the characters ended up together but for a romance there was too much horniness and less... Well, romance. Sure, they were attracted to one another. But in love? I don't buy it.

Also, the book made it seem like the MCs were strangers who only met 2 years prior, spent the night together, and now we're thrown together by life. That's not true. They both grew up in the same small town, went to the same school (he was 2 years older than her), somehow he ended up at her prom and they kissed, and two years prior they simply slept together. After knowing each other since they were kids. So it wasn't really strangers to lovers the book description tried to sell.

Ella Lucas escaped her bigoted small-town and her mother's less than squeaky-clean profession. She's Principal of Deluca High School, but things are looking bleak because student numbers are falling and the district wants to close the school. She's going to need a miracle. Two years ago she buried her mother and discovered she had a teenage half-brother, oh and she might have propositioned local bad boy Jake Prince.

Jake lived in the same small town, his Dad was a drinker and a gambler, so he knows exactly how Ella feels, he got out by virtue of playing football (American), but was booted out at the height of his career after a scandal. Co-incidentally, he's recently bought and refurbished Ella's favourite bar where she meets her friends after a hard day.

When Ella's friend recognises Jake he suggests they could get Jake to set up a football team at the school, if the team does well the district would find it difficult to close the school. At first Jake is reluctant, until he discovers that Ella is Principal of Deluca school where his friend Trish's daughter also attends - he knows she loves the school and he will do what he can to keep it open. After all, what else has he got to do with his time and his money? It doesn't hurt that Ella still has that smokin' schoolteacher look either.

If you love a small-town, opposites attract, plucky underdogs, romance then this is the one for you.

I understand that this is a rewrite of an Australian rugby story first published a decade ago.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Ella is constantly living under the shadow of Rachel, her mother. Upon Rachel's death Ella rides up on her bike and rolls into the bar where she know she will find Jake.

Upon her mothers death, Ella finds out that she has a teenage brother she new nothing about and is after one thing to make people think that she is the person they claim her to be Jake.

Jake is also living under the shadow of his father. He happens to be in town at the same time of Ella and even though he knows she is grieving he is no saint.

Two years pass and Ella finds herself struggling to keep her brother in check, her job as a fill in principal and the school she loves from closing. In strange twist of fate her neighborhood bar is purchased by a new owner who revamps everything and low and behold -it jake.

There are several memorable characters, namely Rosie, Ella's dear friend and her boy toy Simon who happens to be from a rich bureaucratic family. In addition, their are Rosie's two former circus family aunts and a herd of stray dogs
To save the school, Jake offers to coach a football team. A last ditch effort to save the school as there is always some how money for sports.

The cast members are quirky and fun, but some of the story was a little bit too predictable. It was a cute, quirky story, and a different read. Not too much detail in the romance and sex end of the story.

I really like Amy Andrews writing. Have read books by her before. This one did not disappoint. Great chemistry between the two main characters Ella and Jake. Old high school friends meeting up years later. Wonderful development of their relationship to a HEA. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. All opinions are my own.

This was *interesting* to say the least! I picked this up because of the Taylor Swift of it all - I’m a shameless Swiftie let’s be real here however this is a 2013 release that has presumably been extensively edited and molded to somewhat reflect the Taylor/Travis relationship

I’m very curious what the original version of this book was - and insanely curious if Jake was a NFL player and, if so, what his shirt number was.

This was a cute romance, it isn’t hugely related to Taylor Swift bar the title, the fact Jake wears the number 87 short and some small references here and there and it’s clearly to get the Swifties to pick up this novel!

It was fun, not the best novel I’ve ever read, but fun enough and I do need more NFL based romances in my life.

Nope, not good. teeters too much on a Hallmark movie romance story.
Not enough of a pay off to hold attention.

My son plays high school football and I love cheering him on. I'm also a daughter of a former teacher and education is important to me. I expected this book to be an entertaining read that combines those things! The cover is fabulous but overall; the story was slow. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Don’t be fooled by the cover. This book is deeper than it leads on. Both Ella and Jake are from the same midwestern small town and by chance end up in the same bigger midwestern city. Both are trying to escape and not repeat the choices that each parents’ had made. Additionally, Ella is the high school
Principal trying to save the school and Jake is the recently retired pro football player slash new bar owner. She convinces him to help start a football program to help the school. This quick-read, closed door story is well done and entertaining. Four stars!

Thank you Boldwood Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this story by Amy Andrews. I love a great backstory and boy did this have it. Ella (a principal) was well developed character with some depth. Jake an NFL player had me rooting for him throughout the story. I love an enemies (sort of) to lovers book and this book held up to that. I loved how it all connected and I adore the strong relationship and bond the entire house formed. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It is advertised as spicy and although there are some moments, they are not as spicy as I was hoping for. Overall I really enjoyed this light story, it was a quick read and kept me engaged the entire time. Thank you net galley and publisher for the advanced copy.

Sports romance books are taking the reading world by storm. Look What You Made Me Do by Amy Andrews is the newest book in this genre. It was a good read.

“I’m thirty-four years old. I’ve been making up my mind for a long time now.”

It’s really nice to find a book with a main character that’s in my age group. I also appreciated that this is a nice short read it didn’t have too many filler scenes we were just given the main juicy parts of the story which allowed me to read this in a day.
It’s advertised as “spicy” personally I disagree although there is a lot of talk and build up scenes but they do fade to black, so yes there is spice but not as much as I expected from the description.
There wasn’t anything wrong with this book but there wasn’t anything that stood out and I feel it’s not a memorable read.
Trigger warning for SA and childhood trauma

This was a very easy, quick and cute read. Ella was a school teacher and Jake was a football player who returned to his small town. They find their lives to be entwined again as Ella needs help to save the school. So, I really liked the aspect of a second chance romance between Jake & Ella and the side characters were pretty great too. But the plot was confusing at times tbh. And one of the side characters' name bothered me. Also there were pretty heavy topics that were mentioned and I didn't like how one of them was handled. Overall, it took me some time to really get into the story but I liked the chemistry between Jake & Ella.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

I loved this book! Both Ella and Jake have always been judged on their parents indiscretions in their town of small minded residents. Both have fleed from their former lives and have reinvented themselves for the better. You can’t hide from your past, Upon reuniting they reform a bond of being childhood outcasts. This is a love story for the underdogs. Sometimes you have to let down your shield and have trust. The whole cast of characters had me laughing and tears brimming throughout. Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy. I’m leaving this review voluntarily

Who doesn't love an underdog story? This book has it all, a disgraced retired NFL player, smalltown outcasts, circus runaways, a high school on the verge of being closed at any minute. All combined it makes a compelling story that I couldn't put down.
This book is a 1 chili pepper on my spice rating, it is mostly fade to black scenes but there are plenty of spicy discussions and a lot of chemistry.
TW include SA off page, Childhood Trauma, and Bullying off page as well.

In this small-town, second-chance contemporary sports romance, Ella and Jake reconnect in the most unlikely of places, where their past still haunts them and their chemistry still brings them together. With Ella’s school on the brink of closure, she ropes in Jake – a retired NFL tight-end – to coach a new high school football team.

This was a very easy, dual (3rd person) POV quick read, that kept me engaged to the end, with sizzling chemistry connecting Ella and Jake through their emotional turmoils and hard times (pun not intended). I was surprised with the emotion behind this novel. All the characters were great, especially Ella’s “Aunts”, and the growth with her little brother Cam was true to life, albeit infuriating at times.

The only thing I disliked was that it seemed a little unrealistic at times. I know Ella wasn’t on social media much, but it seemed so odd that she didn’t know why Jake was retired from the NFL — surely someone would have told her something.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a light contemporary romance with fade to black spice and some emotional depth.

2.5⭐️



No me gustó ni disfrute como se desarrolló la historia, no hay química o conexión entre los protagonistas y lo que más odie fue como se trató el tema de la prostitución.

La actitud de Ella al principio me saco de onda, pero acababa de perder a su mamá y obviamente no estaba bien.

Me desesperó que Ella no se pusiera firme con Cameron, es un adolescente y sabía perfectamente lo que estaba haciendo.

¿Se supone que la carta de Rachel es conmovedora? Porque no lo es.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first dive into Amy Andrews' work, and I finished it in about three hours! The chemistry between the two main characters was electric, and their journey through emotional hurdles was engaging and heartfelt. Though it took a little time for me to get fully immersed, once I did, I was hooked. Amy Andrews' writing is superb, transporting me right into the story alongside the characters. A truly enjoyable read!

Spicy romance, sort of forced proximity and a little enemies to lovers but mostly a romance about 2 people who used to know each other. Good backstory to both main characters and a few twists and turns.

Look What You Made Me Do by Amy Andrews is a short romance. I finished this in about 2 hours. I liked the chemistry between the two main characters and how they worked through their emotional issues together. Not a bad read. Thank you, Netgalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I hope the use of "intimated" instead of "intimidated" is corrected in the final version.

This is the first book I’ve read by Amy Andrews, and although tagged as romance/erotica it falls more in the spicy romance category. Any action scenes are not too detailed, a light enough book that you can read in public without blushing too hard. Read the whole book in one day, just under 3 hours. Characters are easy to understand and the perspective switches make sense. While football is a plot point you do not need to know much about the game to understand the depth it reaches. Looking forward to trying other books by this author!

Thank you to Amy Andrews and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.