Amy Andrews is one of my go-to authors for a great story with lots of depth. This story is steamy, emotional and humorous. I loved Ella and Jake together and I loved Ella's quirky friends and family. Great read, as always, from Amy Andrews!

Amy Andrews is one of my go-to authors for a great story with lots of depth. This story is steamy, emotional and humorous. I loved Ella and Jake together and I loved Ella's quirky friends and family. Great read, as always, from Amy Andrews!

Did I pick this book because of a catchy Taylor Swift song title as the title of the book? Yes.

Did I also pick the book because it was a football player and a teacher/principal? Also, yes.

This is actually a re-release of the book Holding Out For a Hero (2013). The re-release gives major Taylor/Travis vibes (if Taylor taught English in school - insert classic Vogue 73 questions with Taylor Swift).

Jake a former NFL player, wears jersey #87 (um hi Travis in a few years).

This book gave major vibes to catch the swifties however, I felt that it was a bit over the place at times. I didn't feel like there was a lot of depth between Ella and Jake, just a sexual tension because he was hot and they came from the same small town.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my DRC!

This book was enjoyable, you can relate especially if you have a love /hate relationship with a small town you grew up in and a complicated family dynamic. Ella grew up with a mom who had a unconventional job and was counting the mins to get out, the best thing about this book to me is it's about chosen family and how great that can be. Jake is the ex hotshot tightend running a bar who happens to ne frkm Ells home town (they now live hundreds of miles away from) he so.eone gets roped into being the coat of her school that's being threatened with closure (very Goldie Hawn Wildcats movie feels- go watch it if you haven't) mix in an angry younger brother she's in charge of now cause mom died (that she didn't know existed) it's a good book although the ending did not do it for me, I like a good epilouge and I wished I would have known what the outcome of things going on were but thats me I get it not everyone is like that definitely wotlrth the read

Ella Lucas, the headteacher with a million responsibilities, and Jake Prince, the football star with a messy past, have a history that’s way too complicated to ignore.
After his NFL drama, Jake’s back in town, and honestly, Ella has enough on her plate without him stirring the pot.
But here’s the twist: they decide to team up to help each other out. Ella’s school is on the brink of closure, and Jake needs to fix his reputation.

As they tackle the football season together, the sparks fly, and you can’t help but root for them, even though Ella’s trying to keep it strictly business.

This book is surprisingly sweet but also hits you in the feels. Every character faces major hurdles, and the whole "judged for their parents' sins" theme really adds depth. By the end, my heart was full!

Small town, sports romance with a Kansas setting. While the premise interested me, this book just felt short in many ways for me. The insta love and cringe levels were through the roof in this one...

Amy Andrews' "A Spicy Sports Romance" is a fun, steamy read that mixes romance with sports drama. It’s about Ella, a headteacher trying to save her school, and Jake, a former NFL star with a messy past. When Jake shows up again after their intense fling from two years ago, things heat up fast.
The chemistry between Ella and Jake is off the charts, and their slow-burn romance is both entertaining and satisfying. Even though the "enemies-to-lovers" plot is pretty familiar, Andrews makes it fresh with great character interactions and lots of humor. The football team and school setting add a nice touch to the story.
Overall, if you’re into a spicy romance with a sports twist, this book is a great pick. It’s engaging, funny, and worth a read!

*Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Andrews, and Boldwood Books for providing the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for a review, but all thoughts are my own*

At first I was a bit suprised by the begging of the story and how fast Ella and Jake from childhood friends became 'a one night stand thing'. Shocked at a pace of the story, I was then pleasently served with dual povs and origins of who characters were and are now. The book covers difficult topics - e.g. fighting against all odds for what you believe, dealing with the deaths of parents who weren't perfect, taking care of younger siblings and trust issues. Could Ella and Jake help each other tackle their problems and find love in the process? I loved the story and highly recommend to read it :)

So I mostly enjoyed this book, although it was very short. Somewhere between a full length novel and a novella.

It was very fast paced and I enjoyed the conection between Ella and Jake.

There were a few things that bothered me:
- I found it weird that when Ella first saw Jake at the bar, he said that they hadn't known eachother or interacted much during highschool. Then, later, it talked about them sharing a kiss at homecoming. This was confusing.
- I would have been interested to find out what happened with Trish and how her storyline panned out. It just seemed over very quickly and then was sort of ignored.
- I feel like an epilogue would have been good

Overall, I didn't hate it but, I feel, with a few tweaks it could have been even better.

I would absolutey read this author again.

It was a very quick read, but the writing felt off at times. I didn’t care a lot about the story and even though about dnfing, but then I realized that the book is either way almost over. It’s a sports romance with a teacher who tries to save the school. This part was cute, but the love story was too fast. I wished for more tension and build up instead of the spice.

This book must've caught me at just the right time because I devoured it and it was such a fast read.

We love a small town, sports romance/academic crossover, and I really appreciate when the two main characters have previous history because it makes the slide into romance much easier to understand and justify in such a short book. The secondary characters/found families for both Jake and Ella provided a lot of extra fun, commentary and back story to add to the plot.

My understanding is that this is a re-write of a previous release by Amy Andrews, and a lot of changes were made to play into the Taylor/Travis phenom. Aside from the title and Jake's number being "87," there really aren't many more Taylor Swift references.

Recommend for a light, quick read!

Look What You Made Me Do by Amy Andrews

This book was delightful, heartwarming, and a nice read.

Jake Prince is a disgraced football player, and Ella Lucas is a principal. After a scandal forces Jake out of the NFL, he returns to his small hometown, where Ella is fighting to keep her high school open. Their paths cross again, and sparks fly as they navigate their complicated past and undeniable chemistry. Ella needs Jake to coach the school’s football team to success, while Jake needs to restore his tarnished reputation. But can they keep things strictly professional?

The chemistry between Jake and Ella is electric, making it impossible to put the book down. Andrews masterfully balances the heat of their romance with the emotional depth of their personal struggles. Ella’s determination and Jake’s journey to redemption are both inspiring and heartwarming.

The plot was good and an emotional rollercoaster; I did shed tears at some places. The writing was beautiful, with some sentences that will touch your heart. I loved all the secondary characters; they were great and fun. I wanted a bit more from one of the side characters and how it played out (you will know when you read). The author through this book also talks about how we judge others based on what they do for living, their parents and how it results into trauma and other pressure.

The plot is well-paced, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. It is kind of slow burn mixed with insta love; the development of Jake and Ella’s relationship feels genuine and satisfying.

For lovers of sports romance, add this to your TBR. Amy Andrews has crafted a tale that is both steamy and heartfelt, making it a perfect addition to your TBR list.

Star Rating: 4.5/5
Spice Level: 3

A fast read and I really enjoyable book. Look What You Made Me Do is a second chance book, of sorts. Ella and Jake grew up in the same small town and each are running away from their hard childhoods. Jakes gets drafted to the NFL and Ella becomes a school principal. After a one night stand and some years apart, they are reunited as Ella convinces Jakes to coach her school's football team. I loved their chemistry and how it's not your typical second chance romance. This book is definitely worth a read.

Amy Andrews’ Look What You Made Me Do delivers a spicy sports romance with all the heat, drama, and tension you'd expect from a second-chance love story. The novel brings together headteacher Ella Lucas and disgraced NFL star Jake Prince in a plot filled with simmering chemistry and personal growth, though the predictable storyline and uneven pacing keep it from fully reaching its potential.

The novel centers on Ella and Jake’s reunion after a steamy, unforgettable encounter two years earlier. Now, with Jake’s NFL career in shambles and Ella’s high school on the brink of closure, their worlds collide once again. Ella needs Jake’s help to coach the underdog football team, while Jake needs to restore his reputation—and, reluctantly, agrees to help.

The chemistry between the two leads is palpable from the moment they reconnect. Andrews does a good job of balancing their past attraction with the present, giving their interactions an intense, slow-burn quality that keeps readers engaged. Ella is a no-nonsense, driven headteacher, and her strong personality adds a refreshing layer to the story. She’s juggling the future of her school and her attraction to Jake, who represents everything she’s sworn to avoid.

Jake is the classic sports anti-hero with a tarnished reputation but a good heart. While his reluctance to take on the coaching job adds some initial tension, his character arc, though familiar, is well-executed. As the novel progresses, Jake’s transformation from disgraced star to someone more grounded and self-aware is satisfying, even if it follows a well-worn path.

One of the novel’s strengths is its handling of the football subplot. The scenes with Jake coaching the underdog team inject energy into the story and give Jake a chance to show his softer, more supportive side. His interactions with the students and the football games themselves are well-written and add depth to his character. The sports angle also raises the stakes for Ella, whose future as headteacher hinges on the team’s success.

However, despite the strong chemistry and character development, the novel’s pacing is uneven. The buildup to Ella and Jake’s eventual romance is engaging, but the middle of the book feels bogged down by repetitive inner monologues and some predictable plot points. Ella’s constant push-and-pull regarding her feelings for Jake drags on longer than necessary, and while it’s clear she’s trying to protect herself, it can become frustrating for readers who are waiting for the relationship to progress.

Additionally, while the spice level is high, some of the emotional depth in their relationship is sacrificed for steamy scenes. While their physical chemistry is undeniable, the novel could have benefited from more exploration of their emotional connection beyond their shared history and attraction. The secondary characters, particularly the students on the football team, are entertaining but remain somewhat underdeveloped, with the focus primarily on Ella and Jake’s dynamic.

The resolution, while satisfying, is predictable, with the novel wrapping up Jake’s redemption arc and Ella’s career struggle neatly. The ending delivers on the romance and gives readers the payoff they’ve been waiting for, but it doesn’t stray far from genre conventions, making it feel a bit formulaic.

Final Thoughts:
Look What You Made Me Do is a fun, sexy sports romance that delivers plenty of heat and heart. Amy Andrews creates an engaging second-chance romance between two strong-willed characters, though the predictable plot and uneven pacing hold it back from being a standout. Fans of steamy sports romances will find plenty to enjoy here, but it may not leave a lasting impact. A solid 3-star read for those looking for a light, enjoyable romance with a touch of football drama.

This is an easy to read, heartwarming spicy romance.

It’s shorter than I anticipated and it moves quite quickly, sometimes a little too quickly.

It’s fun and a nice HEA.

Plus, there’s a few Taylor references that true fans will see straight through!

Actual rating 3.5 stars

I think this book would definitely be a 4.5 stars kind of book if there’d be a little bit more pages added to it, a little bit more elaboration and depth regarding some story elements. But overall as it is now, it was a really fun and addictive read for me anyways. It’s the perfect kind of somewhat smutty/sexy romance that was just a lot of fun to read, but also had some true emotions to it. I felt like there was more possible though, regarding the character developments for example, not only the MC’s but also in regards to the minor characters. I really liked the brother-sister relationship for instance as in; it has so much potential to become something even more special and I think the book would’ve been better for it, if there was more elaboration around this aspect. It would’ve become something ‘more’ than ‘just’ a fun romance which I think would’ve elevated the book just a tad more. But… Overall this was just a really good reading experience and I definitely recommend picking this one up whenever you’re in for a (sexy) romance. I flew through it and was done in 2 sittings so that says enough I think!

Thank you so much @publisher, for providing me an e-arc of this book. I’m really happy I got to read this story!

3.5 stars rounded up. It's a kind of sports romance, but it's an ex athlete instead of a cutter athlete. The path of our fmc and Mc have been intertwined, and who are they to fight it. There is some smut but not over descriptive. The story was good but loved too slow for me.

A short but full romance
3 stars

This book is a re-write and revamp of an older Amy Andrews book called Holding Out for a Hero. While I understand the story is pretty much the same, we’ve changed country - now USA instead of Australia, changed sports - now American Football instead of rugby and for a reason that escapes me, many Taylor Swift references.

School principal, Ella, has just run into football star, Jake, inexplicably in her favourite dive bar. They grew up hating one another until, on the night of her mother’s funeral, a steamy encounter back in their hometown changes their relationship. But it’s not until 2 years later that they bump into each other once again.

It’s been quite difficult to decide whether I liked Ella or not. The first time we meet her you can tell she’s going through grief and has a massive chip on her shoulder being back in her home town. Once she’s back in more familiar surroundings, she’s feisty and I did like her better, until she started arguing with Jake and slut shaming. Not a good look.

Jake had an equally tough childhood in a judgemental home town but managed to escape into football. Now kicked out the NFL, he’s managing a dive bar when he runs into Ella again. He’s another likeable enough character but I didn’t fall in love with him. And I really don’t like that after reconnecting with Ella (but not officially together) he sleeps with another woman. That gives me the ick and I don’t like it in a story.

Ella and Jake were a nice couple and they had a little spark between them, if not a raging inferno. When we first meet them, they’re about to have their first night together although in the end, we don’t get any details. I’m not sure if this coloured my view of them as a couple - I wasn’t impressed that Jake took advantage of Ella’s vulnerable state - but the sex scenes, what there were of them, didn’t sizzle.

Other than the title and the blurb, I really didn’t notice any Taylor Swift references in the book other than a character bemoaning the fact there were none of her songs on the jukebox. And as I said before, I don’t really understand why they were included anyway. I know Taylor Swift’s boyfriend is a football player but apart from that, what was the correlation?

It’s a surprisingly simple romantic tale but there are quite a lot of elements that all fit in and around the romance. It’s also not a long story at 258 pages long and it’s a classic Amy Andrews so you’re guaranteed to get writing you’re going to get lost in and want to keep reading. But, something just didn’t click with me to get me to love the story, our couple, or their romance. Still a nice little romance to while away a couple of hours but just 3 stars from me.

3.5 ⭐️

This was a cute small town sports romance- and I’m a huge sucker for sports romance. However, I thought that this was a bit meh . I still enjoyed it and was a quick short easy read!

Ella is a High school principle who's school is on the brink of closing. Jake is a forced to retire, pro football player who opens up a sports bar in a new town. Both Jack and Ella have their own past demons they're battling and when they see each other at his bar, all that gets brought up again. Being from the same small town, they have a past. I really enjoyed their history and how you could feel that familiarity.
A cute sports, second chance romance. Technically a quick read, but felt longer.
I did feel like there were many parts of the book that dragged on, while other parts that you want more of were too quick.
This book is supposed to give Taylor swift/ Travis Kelce, but the only things that gave those vibes were the title and the fact that Jake used to be a pro football player.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC