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.

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 :)