Member Reviews
Ella Lucas and football star Jake Prince have a very complicated history! Their mind-blowing encounter two years ago is proving impossible to forget now Jake has reappeared in Ella’s life after being booted out of the NFL.
She knew he was trouble back then but Ella has enough on her plate right now to worry about Jake and his shenanigans. Except, her school’s on the brink of closure, and it appears he’s the one person who can actually help. All he has to do is coach the underdog football team to a winning streak and maybe Ella can help Jake restore his tarnished reputation in the process. With nothing to lose, Jake reluctantly agrees.
As the school season heats up so does their inevitable chemistry. Far from being stuck in the past, the sparks between them are burning hot. And although he may look like her next mistake, Ella is determined that she will keep her hands off the anti-hero even if he does still have the best tight end on the planet. Because Ella has one golden rule: they are never ever getting together....
I was drawn in by the Taylor Swift reference but after reading the book it was a deliberate ploy. This was originally published as, Holding out for a Hero and rebranded as a Taylor Swift/ Travis Kelce inspired romance, but I felt like it was trying way too hard. I had a hard time coming around on Ella and Lucas as characters and their chemistry seemed a little forced.
Don’t bother
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I was drawn in by the Taylor Swift reference, but I was disappointed by the lack of references beyond the title and cover. I could see some connection between the MMC and Travis Kelce, but it’s a stretch.
The story was cute, and I liked the general concept, but the chemistry was not there for me. I liked the characters, but they fell a bit flat.
There is a great balance of romance and other storylines in this book that made it an enjoyable read!
isso daqui é pra quem ama kulti, mas queria que fosse focado no futebol americado!
duas pessoas da mesma cidade e que tentam de tudo fugir do seu passado, mas sempre se esbarram e pensam que a culpa de nunca conseguir fugir do passado é pq ela ta sempre ali
eu gostei da história. achei os personagens bem desenvolvidos pela quantidade de paginas que é o livro.
jake e ella se conhecem desde jovens, ella filha de uma dama da noite, jake, filho de um bebum de primeira, todos fazem bullying com o outro e eles se vão embora da cidade, at[e que se encontram por uma noite e dali dois anos de novo. ella ta tentando salvar a escola de fechar, jake tentando se manter fora do holofote, mas a unica maneira que eles encontram de valorizar a escola é provar o valor dela a comunidade.
cada um tem seu segredos e vergonhas e ao longo do livro eles ficam mais fortes ao perceber que quando se gosta de uma pessoa, náo tem passado manchado que afaste
opiniao sincera em troca do eARC pelo netgalley, gratidão a autora e editora pela oportunidade de ler esse livro. gostei muitissimo
I wanted to like this book so badly! The title as a Taylor Swift reference pulled me in along with the cover and the story.
The story follows headteacher Ella Lucas and disgraced football star Jake Prince. Jake offers to help save Ella's school by coaching the underdog football team. As they work together, their chemistry resurfaces, but Ella is determined to stick to her rule of never getting involved with Jake again. The novel explores their steamy reunion and the challenges they face as they navigate their past and present feelings for each other.
This was originally published as, Holding out for a Hero and rebranded as a Taylor Swift/ Travis Kelce inspired romance, but I felt like it was trying way too hard. I had a hard time coming around on Ella and Lucas as characters and their chemistry seemed a little forced.
I think if you approach it not as Taylor/ Travis romance and just a sports romance you'll have a much better time!
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So I am sad to say this book was rated on the lower end for me, it sounded promising but I just wasn't enjoying the story, couldn't get into the book and was not enjoying the characters. I picked 2 stars and that was the highest I could give it and I was being super nice.
Now I am a mood reader so maybe don't take my word for this book and give it a read yourself.
Main characters: Ella and Jake.
This book is a sports romance, these characters grew up in the same town
Sooo much emotional drama (and personal damage)
In my opinion, the chemistry between these 2 was not to my liking, feels off (and maybe forced, idk just odd) more like just friends and not more. I was also having a hard time with the characters. I didn't like Ella at all, she just bothered me.
This book dragged on, felt way too long and not really a lot going on either, Just couldn't get into it and it took me a long time to finish reading it. I had to sit it down quite a few times and come back to it.
From the moment I started reading this book, you knew that it was going to have characters in it that were going to shine.
The fact that the female character was going to be pushy when needed throughout the story, especially when a certain male,character made the story more steamer as I read more.
I read this story from NetGalley with this being my honest review of it.
Arc Review:
Overall Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 3 🔥🔥🔥
Cover Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes:
- Reunion Romance
- Spicy and Sporty
- Taming The Bad Boy
- Small Town Rumours
- Principle x Coach
- Trying To Save The School
- High School Football
- Rooting For The Underdogs
- Taking in Strays
- Complicated History’s and Lot’s of Trauma
- Found Family
- Dual POV
- For The Swifties
Jake is a disgraced kind of grumpy ex-football player now turned high school football coach. Ella is a former math teacher now turned high school principle. Jake and Ella are from the same hometown and are now once again living in the same place that’s not their hometown. In Jake and Ella’s small hometown everyone knew your business. Now in their new homes they are still trying to escape their parents mistakes well more Ella then Jake. After Jakes NFL drama he end up buying a bar and turns it into a sports bar. That bar turns out to be Ella’s favourite bar until she finds out they changed all the good songs on the jukebox. After some confronting of the music Jake and Ella reconcile. Ella’s life is slowly falling apart here with her raising her 15 year old brother, Cameron who seems to hate her and the world along with her school on the brink of getting shut down. Ella running out of options asks Jake to create a winning football team to help keep her school open and hopefully help her brother get back on track. Will Jake and Ella save the school? Find out by reading the book now.
I enjoyed reading this book the characters had good detailed and interesting backstories, we saw character development from them, and I found them to be pretty enjoyable. I thought the book was well written and discussed some important themes but I was also able to laugh and have a good time.
Thank you NetGalley, the publishers and the author for an advanced readers copy of this book I had a good time reading it.
Usually when the girls say "we're not getting together" or "no we don't go together", the guy ends up getting the girl. When you are forced to be close to one another the feelings tend to show more and more.
Plus they have history which was over two years ago, however Ella has a dilemma and Jake seems to be the only one who can help.
The beginning was a bit confusing to me, but after a few chapters, I realized it was taking it back a few years to show what had happened to Ella's mom. In many reviews I already read, many folks didn't give this book a chance after the first 2 chapters. But in all honesty I did like this book. Because it shows that after some hardship, good things can come to those who persevere. Thank You Netgalley, Amy Andrews, and Boldwood Books for my copy to read for a honest review.
Headteacher Ella Lucas and football star Jake Prince have a very complicated history! Their mind-blowing encounter two years ago is proving impossible to forget now Jake has reappeared in Ella’s life after being booted out of the NFL.
She knew he was trouble back then but Ella has enough on her plate right now to worry about Jake and his shenanigans. Except, her school’s on the brink of closure, and it appears he’s the one person who can actually help. All he has to do is coach the underdog football team to a winning streak and maybe Ella can help Jake restore his tarnished reputation in the process. With nothing to lose, Jake reluctantly agrees.
As the school season heats up so does their inevitable chemistry. Far from being stuck in the past, the sparks between them are burning hot. And although he may look like her next mistake, Ella is determined that she will keep her hands off the anti-hero even if he does still have the best tight end on the planet. Because Ella has one golden rule: they are never ever getting together....
Nice sports romance very easy to read I am sure all sport romance readers would love this one.
Thank you so much Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this one.
I really enjoyed following along with Jake and Ella and could relate with their feelings of wanting to distance themselves from their hometown and past. I was routing for them all the way and loved seeing how everything improve and grew around them.
This is a charming romance about two people from the same small town who never quite felt at home there. Now, they’ve come together to try and save the school where Ella works by starting a football program. The premise is intriguing, to say the least, and while I enjoyed the story, I have mixed feelings about it.
I picked this up because of its supposed connection to Taylor Swift—I’m a proud Swiftie, so of course, that piqued my interest. However, this book was originally released in 2013, and it feels like it’s been reworked to align with the recent buzz around Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship. While I appreciated the nod to the pop culture moment, it also felt a bit forced and opportunistic, which took away from the story’s authenticity for me.
That being said, if you’re a fan of romance with a sports theme and small-town vibes, there’s a lot to enjoy here. Just be aware that the reworked aspects might feel a little too on-the-nose for some readers.
This is the story of Ella, a principal, and Jake, a former NFL player who have a history dating back to their high school and the small town where they grew up.
The plot has some Coach Carter and Undefeated vibes. It didn’t start with a bang for me but as I trudged on the plot grew on me.
It is a story of rising beyond your past, owning your story and being true to yourself.
I love the relationship buildup between Ella and Jake and their respective relationships with their found family.
I enjoyed the sports aspect of the plot. It was wasn’t as detailed as I’d like but it still made sense and was interesting.
I would love to read Rosie and Simon’s story (if any). I would also have loved a bit more to that ending.
If you enjoy sports romance with found family, small town vibes then you will enjoy this.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this love story. Two people from the same hometown, similar upbringing meet again in a new hometown. Ella and Jake create a wonderfully funny and emotional story. I love how they lead each other in accepting themselves and forgiving the things that have hurt them.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgalley
This book was so cute and the dynamics between characters was very well done, but due to personal reasons I was unable to finish it. As this is of no fault to the author or book I am still keeping my ratings high.
Look What You Made Me Do was a cute sports romance that kept my interest the whole way through. However, I wish there was a bit more romance between Ella and The Prince. As a football fan I know you can’t put together a football team in a matter of weeks with just two coaches. Sometimes the writing was a bit off, but overall the book was fine. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
this is a sweet, emotional romcom! I enjoyed Ella & Jake's relationship development, especially as they get closer in their roles as teacher and coach, and then as partners. I really felt for Ella as she is raising her brother who is just mad at the world and taking it out on Ella (as teenagers will do), and also as we learn of her past in her and Jake's small town and what she grew up with. I love her determination to be a good role model for her brother, to make a good home and life for herself, and to advocate for her school and students.
I didn't really love some of Jake's actions, I felt like there were moments the characters were immature and selfish and weren't really addressed in their character development. but he had lovely moments as well where he showed such love and dedication to Ella.
I also had a thought that does not impact my star rating, but the cover lead me to believe he was an active football player not a retired player and had to be convinced to be a coach for a new high school team. so the cover, while cute, isn't my favorite because it feels misleading to me.
Look What You Made Me Do
by Amy Andrews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Look What You Made Me Do, and it’s such a cute small-town sports romance! Ella and Jake have a complicated past that weaves beautifully together. It’s a fun, fast-paced read with the perfect mix of spice and tension. A few misunderstandings here and there, but I was smiling the whole time! This is my first Amy Andrews book, and I’m definitely checking out more!
Ella returns to her hometown and nothing seems to have changed.
The apple never falls too far from the tree - they say. We will see about that.
Ella has a chance to start over, but.... maybe things won't be so easy. The past will always haunt Ella, but she has a more important job to do right now. The school where she works is in danger of closing. Jake is the only one who can help her.
I love the friendship between Ella and Rosie. Rosie is such a colorful, fun character. Everyone needs a loyal friend like that. Especially when Ella has to raise her teenage brother alone and somehow save the school with the man she slept with two years ago.
It is impossible to remain indifferent to the fate of the characters, you're will be rooting for them too. the book was light and fun, absolutely adorable.
'Ella Lucas loved him. And he loved her right back.'
Not me cheering at the end.
Look What You Made Me Do by Amy Andrews is a sports romance that focuses on Ella and Jake, two outcasts from their hometown who find common ground in an unlikely place. Ella is the headteacher at the local high school, who is focusing on keeping her school open. Jake is the person she's trying to forget after an unforgettable night together two years prior. The only issue? He might be the key to getting the football team to the playoffs and save the school from closure. After his less than favourable exit from professional football, all Jake wants is a quiet life running the local bar, but he can't quite turn his back on the chance to redeem himself, and he definitely can't turn his back on Ella.
I have some mixed emotions on this book, and I want to get the bad stuff out of the way so that I can focus on more of the really good things about this book.
The biggest issue I had with this book is one that in all honesty, nearly made me DNF. It's to do with Tony Winchester. I won't get into spoilers, but he is a despicable man with zero redeeming qualities. But there was a whole paragraph starting with 'It was shame really...objectively, he was still an impressive looking man.' It was unnecessary and in my opinion was inappropriate. After what he does, there is no saying its a shame because I think he's attractive. It got me wound up enough that I was left feeling a bit uncomfortable.
The other thing that I didn't like was the use of the phrase 'AF'. I could've understood if it was teens talking to each other, but it was just the narrator ending sentences by saying 'awkward AF'. It was very jarring and it took me out of the story every time I read it. I don't know why it was in the last 20ish percent of the book when it wasn't used at all throughout most of the book, but it was an odd choice. It didn't really work in any aspect of the book but when it was used in a moment that was actually quite sweet and heartfelt moment for Ella, I genuinely rolled my eyes. It just didn't work for me.
Okay now on to the things I really enjoyed about this book.
The chemistry between Ella and Jake was unmatched. by having a bit of a backstory between the two of them at the start of the book meant that the more instant attraction for me didn't feel like it was coming out of nowhere. They worked so well as a couple both when they were romantically linked and when they were trying to keep things purely professional. I wasn't as keen that when they had the argument it came out of Ella not being willing to hear Jake out, but because her backstory was so well fleshed out, it made sense with who she is as a character and instead of being frustrated that there was no communication, I could understand why it was happening. Jake took me a little longer to like, but that's because his backstory is with held until towards the end of the book, which worked in terms of impact, but with the amount of hinting at his past, I would have personally preferred it to have been laid out early, however I still thought he was a great character. to the point when Ella does the one thing he asks her not to do, I was frustrated on his behalf, and shouting 'No! Why!' at my kindle.
The whole idea of the football team, which hadn't even been formed at the start of the book, needing to get to the playoffs to save the school gave the whole book a bit of an early 2000s, rom com type vibe that I really enjoyed. Whilst it took me a little bit of time to get into the book, once I got into it, I ended up reading most of the book in one sitting. I like that it was evenly split between saving the school, and the story between Ella and Jake, there was never a point where I felt like one was getting prioritised over the other, which kept me turning the pages.
For anyone like me that picked up the book because there were multiple references to Taylor Swift, the references in the book are a lot more subtle, and honestly I prefer it that way. It didn't feel like the book was trying too hard to be about Taylor Swift.
I really enjoyed the almost strangers-to-lovers, found family, underdog aspects of the book, they worked really well, and they really made this book so good. Mostly I just wish that most of the more heavy topics had been handled better. Sometimes it felt a little like they were there for shock value, and had they been handled better with appropriate content warnings, I would have thought the book was better. I think the book is 3/3.5 stars for me. I mostly enjoyed it.
ARC provided by Boldwood Books through NetGalley, thank you for the opportunity to read this early copy, all thoughts are my own.