A deeply disturbing, dark ugly tale about even worse people. Honestly, there was hardly a decent person among them. That aside, it’s an complex story that is told in a then and now style, has more than a few truly “ugh” moments and an interesting ending. Very good narration.

I loved this book but was unable to finish it because the the player was messing up. So I'm going to buy it soon. For what I did hear on it was awesome!!

I found this book to be somewhat meandering and hard to follow. I kept questioning where, when, and who was speaking. I also think it would have benefited from starting in a different spot, it really didn’t pick up until 60% in when I finally started putting things together 🫣 I also could have done without the ending. Idk it’s not a bad book overall, but it’s not one I will be recommending. The narration was fantastic for the audiobook as well.

Thank you to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the audio arc of this novel in exchange for my review.

3.5 ⭐️ Rounded up
Determining the appropriate rating for this book proved to be quite challenging. The abundance of characters made it somewhat difficult to follow the narrative for the first half. There were elements that I found unappealing.

Additionally, the pacing felt somewhat sluggish for my taste in a "thriller," yet overall, I found it to be a satisfactory read.

I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

“What you made me do” follows Anneliese our FMC who is on the search for her birth mother. Her childhood was traumatic and she is looking for the warm embrace of family.

She seizes opportunity and traps Willem into a marriage by purposefully getting pregnant. He is seemingly her “safe space” and at first appears to offer everything she has been looking for, including an in with his family. However she soon learns his family isn’t as ideal as it may appear from the outside, there are a lot of dark secrets shared in their pasts and her own secret can’t stay secret forever!

Tense, twisty, isolated and shocking! The plot has two different timelines which was a bit confusing at first but once I realized what was going on and who was who it made it easier to keep up. There is a lot of drama at all points throughout the book.

Give it a try if you’re a fan of A. J. Finn and B. A. Paris.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, Barbara Gayle Austin and NetGalley for the earc!

Publish date: August 20th 2024
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There was something about this book that made it not for me. There was a huge twist that was disturbing, but that wasn’t why I couldn’t connect with this story.. There was great character development, but I felt disconnected to all of the characters. This book was a good debut, but it wasn’t what I was expecting at all. Overall, I don't think I was the right audience for this one. I recommend reading it for yourself. It might be your next 5 star read!!

The narrator did a good job. I feel as though the dry manner in which she narrated fit the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This might be a spoiler? But as someone who has half siblings I find this book to be quite fucked. However most of the relationships in this were between unlikeable people in unhealthy relationships so there was no one particularly at fault. For some reason I still enjoyed this ~domestic thriller as I seem to like messed up books 🤷‍♀️

Thanks NetGalley & Dreamscape media for the ARC audiobook of this story!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for this audiobook. I truly enjoy books like this. It starts off with you trying to figure out what’s going on and it ends with the story. Tying together perfectly. The story does take place in two timelines that go back and forward. It did take some time for me to get used to, but once I did, it was very easy.

I will start with the overall plot then I will review the audiobook. The plot of this novel is told in such an interesting way. This book was fun to read. This is a multi layered story following Anneliese. She finds out that she is adopted and reaches out to her. When she gets news that her mother wants nothing to do with her, she begins her journey of trying to figure out who she is. You are also getting the timeline in the past of this family of four that has major problems. The mother is away because she is a pianist And she is also abusive. There should definitely be trigger warning for that. She has two children, one who is disabled, and one who is able-bodied, and she doesn’t treat them equally at all. As far as the audiobook goes, I enjoyed the narrator and found it easy to get into at about 20%. The pacing was good. I wish there were multiple narrators for this novel, but I know that could be very expensive. The narrator did do a great job and making you feel immersed in the story.

Thank you, Dreamscape Media for this advance copy in exchange for my review.

This was an OK debut.
I enjoyed the overall story, however it felt a little messy.
The POVs and timelines felt like they bled together a little bit but not in a good way.
I found myself struggling to get through and didn’t find myself reaching for it like I do when I’m enjoying a book.

🎧📖 note: the narrator did a fantastic job, her narration brought this up an entire ⭐️ for me.

What You Made Me Do is a creepy thriller that will have your mind tripping over what could be happening. This one isn’t for the faint of heart. If you don’t handle disturbing well, don’t pick this one up. If you do, this one will definitely keep you engaged.

The narrator did a great job bringing this novel to audio. I felt like the narrator made each POV clear, as did the author with introducing POV and time in each scene. I listened to the audiobook at 1.75x speed (my normal is 1.75-2x speed).

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this advanced audiobook copy.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to What You Made Me Do by Barbara Gayle Austin, in exchange for an honest review.

The Veldkamps are a wealthy family living in a mansion in Amsterdam. Meet Louisa, a famous pianist, her rich inventor husband Hendrik, twin boys Willem and Jurriaan, and Louisa’s step-sister Catia. Dark, deep-rooted secrets surround this family and keep the reader guessing at all times, trying to figure out how the pieces of information given connect to the occurrences.

Next, meet Anneliese, an adopted girl with a troubled family. She is looking for her birth mother, desperately wanting her own connection to a family where she felt she rightfully belonged. She harbors her own hidden secrets, which intertwine with the Veldkamp family in a deeply sinister way.

Mystery swirls around this novel from the very beginning of the atmospheric prologue and continues right through to the ending. Just as I thought I had figured things out, I was so wrong. There are multiple layers to this story. This novel flashes back between timelines and is told from multiple POV’s. The narrator kept me engaged and wanting to unearth more layers to this dark novel, attempting to figure out what was really going on. This is a perfect title for the story What You Made Me Do, as it has SO many meanings and references to this novel. Out for publication on August 20, 2024.

Great debut! I really enjoyed the storytelling and the twist throughout the book. The characters were so thoughtfully created, and the narrator in the audiobook version did an amazing job of bringing them all to life!

What You Made Me Do by Barbara Gayle Austin is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that pulls readers into a world of suspense, secrets, and chilling revelations.
Anneliese Bakker is a character who immediately earns your empathy. After enduring a traumatic childhood, she seems to have found solace in Willem and the promise of a loving family. But Austin quickly shatters this illusion, plunging Anneliese — and the reader — into a house filled with coldness, hostility, and a disturbing mystery surrounding the revered but elusive figure of Louisa Veldkamp.
Austin’s writing is sharp and atmospheric, drawing you into the eerie Veldkamp mansion with its dark secrets and unsettling presence. The tension builds steadily as Anneliese, already fragile from her past, becomes more isolated and paranoid. The creepy basement shrine to Louisa, combined with the family’s refusal to speak about her, adds an extra layer of unease that permeates the entire novel.
The plot twists and turns, keeping you guessing at every step. Austin skillfully weaves in elements of psychological suspense, making you question the reliability of the characters and the reality of the situation. As Anneliese delves deeper into the family’s past, the danger becomes palpable, leading to a climax that is both shocking and satisfying.
What You Made Me Do is more than just a thriller; it’s a deep exploration of trust, family, and the lengths one will go to protect their dreams.

This was a very early DNF for me. The blatant child abuse featuring body horror. No. No. No. I wanted to like this book, but I couldn't even hang with the beginning of it. It was very unsettling. I prefer not to read stories that feature child abuse. Additionally, I wish I would have known about this going into this book, but there wasn't a single content warning to be found. In the end, I would definitely not recommend this book.

This was really just fine. I do love dual timelines, but the flipping back and forth between different POV's felt a bit messy. It also felt a little lacking in plot. I think if it had better direction and distinct POV's it would have been a great story.

Unable to give feedback as title didn't want to downland to the netgalley shelf app. I'm not sure if this is an error in my part or if the app is just not the best working app.

3.5*...An impressive debut. This was a multi-layered story with lots of memorable characters and has left me thinking for days. The premise grabbed me, but I'm not sure in the end it was anything I was expecting at all. I definitely could not have predicted where each character would meet their fate. This psychological drama set in the Netherlands and Amsterdam was a haunting tale with a gripping dialogue. The storyline, despite its multiple timelines, was able to be followed with no distractions. It was a slow-burn, but it continued to build until the multiple twists at the end.
I thought the narrator did a good job of keeping my attention throughout and handling the various characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books/Dreamscape Audio for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

I really didn't care how many characters I had to keep track of in this story. Sometimes it can be done properly but I feel like this story was a hot mess. I had to DNF about 30% in. I would be willing to try traditionally reading this instead of the audio.

Thank you to Barbara Gayle Austin, crooked lane books, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was… something. I’m 90% sure I know what Annaliesa’s orgin story is, but we are presented with so many scenarios, I’m only making my best guess.

Annaliesa was adopted 3 days after birth. Her older brother always made sure she knew she didn’t share mommy and daddy’s blood like he did. Not only did he tease her, he terrorized her along with most of those in their town.

On the anniversary of her brother’s untimely death, she starts on a path to find her birth mother. When she couldn’t get in touch with her directly, she digs deeper. Along the way, she meets William and falls pregnant and in love. They get engaged. This gets you about 2/3 of the way through the book. The description gives most of this away and I wish it hadn’t. I kept waiting to meet the engaged expectant mother. There was so much more to this story. The abusive mother. The manipulative step sister. The relationships inside the home. The father who can’t see his wife’s true self. Williams twin brother who suffered trauma at birth that follows him through life. Neither of Williams parents had many redeeming qualities. Oh and the man that was accused of being a pedophile when all he did was look on the beach for treasures. So many characters.

Also. Super cringe. In the end I didn’t like Annalisa and wanted better for Katya.

I found it challenging to get through the book, primarily due to its multiple timelines and a large cast of characters, which sometimes made it difficult to keep track of the unfolding story. While this particular style might not have been to my taste, I am open to exploring more of this author's work in the future, as I believe there might be other narratives or styles from her that could better align with my reading preferences.