Look What You Made Me Do

by Katherine A. Olson

Never let it be said I'm heartless, just appropriately ruthless.
For years, I was Dylan Truman. Your average girl next door with romantic hopes and dreams.

Until the incident . From then on, my fate was sealed.

I became Lady Justice, a vigilante for hire who lives for the sole purpose of exacting revenge on those who deserve it. Cheater. Bully. Swindler. I don't discriminate.

But my next target is the worst one yet.

Brent Wilder. CEO billionaire and the nation's hero. But to me, he's the villain who committed unforgivable sins and ruined my sister's life. And if there's one thing you should know, family means everything to me.

Now I have the chance to take my revenge and show the world his true colours, and I won't stop until I take him down.

Watch out, Brent Wilder, as Lady Justice is coming for you...

For fans of How to Kill Your Family and Killing Eve , a deliciously dark revenge thriller that will satisfy every one of your heart's
- A strong, badass anti-heroine ready to take the law into her own hands
- Razor-sharp wit and humour
- A dangerous level of romantic suspense guaranteed to get hearts racing

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Thriller, Romance, Feminism, Contemporary, Ebooks

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2023

About the author

Katherine A. Olson has lived all over the place, honing her chameleon skills along the way. She now calls South Korea home with her family and shelter cats. Katherine loves matcha lattes, irreverent humor, lacing up her hiking boots, and getting lost in good stories.

Reviews

[gillian milton · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I first started this book, I didn’t know that this was a book rebrand/retitle of the author’s debut novel. And that’s perfectly fine because the new cover is what drew me in to reading it, but I wish that was a little more transparent to prospective readers.
As for the novel itself, I have to say I am disappointed. I went into this book thinking it was a thriller and suspense (and don’t get me wrong there were aspects that were gasp-worthy suspense) but there was a full chapter of smut that I personally believe didn’t add anything to the story line. I am a true romance reader, but I began to cringe at the smut because of how weirdly it was placed in the middle of a suspense book. Again, I might be dramatic, but im my personal opinion it was in the way of the plot.
Also, in the ending where there is some sort of justice, the reader isn’t told what happens to the villain and only the romance is wrapped up. There might have been a sentence about the villain’s development, but I was disappointed that the build up throughout the novel seemed unresolved.
Overall, I was drawn in by the plot because of its potential, but I must say I’m gutted that it did not fulfill its potential. That you to NetGalley for allowing me access to this book.

[Michelle Fryzuk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh nothing special

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Justice, or Dylan, is a revenge powerhouse, providing well deserved karma to men who haven’t had to face the consequences for their actions.

Overall I enjoyed this thriller/romance, however at times the plot felt a little slow (I was expecting a little less romance and a little more revenge based on the blurb). Having said that the final 20% of the book had me hooked and I was desperate to see what happened to the ‘number one bad guy’.

Personally I would say if you’re looking for a romance with a little extra plot going on and a badass FMC, this will hit the spot!

[Emilie Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is going to hit home for anyone looking for a romance thriller with lots of humor! It was a little slow at times, but I loved it more than I thought I would at first. And the last 20% had me HOOKED. I’m all here for that last chapter, okay?

[Lauren Howells · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just too mixed - some of it was v good and I like the overall premise but ~half of the book really let it down

2.5

[Si Clarke]

DNF at 27%
Romance stresses me out. Main characters who are wilfully stupid stress me out. This book is not for me.

[Clarke · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started off well and definitely had potential, but I found the middle a bit slow and I wanted more retribution. I also did not like the romantic subplot - it became a large focus of the book (Dylan was ALWAYS thinking about him and it got old) but it was also possessive and patriarchal at times, and the sex scene really rubbed me the wrong way despite the book noting consent beforehand (and rape/sexual assault a theme of the book).

As for the characters, Dylan seemed to have the personality of one of those Instagram accounts that reposts tweets, alongside a thorough disregard for safety (but not in a badass way, like a very very stupid way - inviting people to your fucking house??). Also where does all her money come from? How much is she charging to maintain her lifestyle AND spend lavishly at work (which is marketed through word of mouth and she does probono work). Daniel had nice guy energy at best. Brent was your stereotypically controlling abusive rich boy. I couldn't tell you much about anyone else. I'll minimise spoilers but the final showdown was almost laughable (with an infuriating interruption and unsatisfying ending).

Unfortunately, this was not the badass revenge book advertised. It wasn't razor-sharp and thrilling. It's mostly romance plus Dylan wearing a wig as disguise to take this awful man down, obtaining evidence that would not be admissible in court. I was excited for this, wanted to like it so much, but unfortunately it didn't deliver as advertised. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

[Honey · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was free on Prime, so why not... but now I'm finished I feel it's a whole reading day I can never get back. I was hoping for a good thriller to knock off my reading slump but this ended up being more of an underwhelming romantic crisis than a proper mystery.

The writing was atrocious (cringe-worthy sex scene, hashtag, inside references) and the storyline is unoriginal. Twas a cliched read which could've been made better if it just wasn't so misleading.

Then again I'm not big on romance novels. But this was just... cringe.

[Vicky Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the blurb this book should have been right up my street - and I did enjoy it, but also felt a little mislead. As the blurb suggests it's all about the story of revenge - which is what had me interested - however it becomes much more about the side plot of spicy romance. So it felt at times like the book couldn't decide what it wanted to be, especially when it came to wrapping it up - I feel the ending could have been much more satisfying than it ultimately was.
I give it a solid 3.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great read, loved the mystery, and how it worked out!

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Piper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was nsfw but I of course only realised that once I was listening to it at work

[Rebecca Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sigh… where to begin.

The main character Dylan (aka Lady Justice lol) was supposed to be doling out revenge/justice right and left, but the most thought through plan in the entire book was to drug the bad guy and search his place. Which she somehow managed to fail at TWICE! It took her three tries to get photos of incriminating documents which were lit👏🏻er👏🏻al👏🏻ly sitting out in the open in the baddies study. She also keeps mentioning the time crunch to complete her “mission” but apparently has time to run home scared every single day??

Every scene between Dylan and Daniel (her sometimes partner-in-crime turned lover) was excruciating, and ALL of the dialogue was super cringey. The second-hand embarrassment had me in a chokehold. Here’s a direct quote from a conversation between Dylan and her sister after she hands her a cup of coffee with heart latte art:

“I guess you learned quite a bit while you were globe-trotting."
"I did pick up some obscure skills during my wandering days."

Obscure skill??!? You just made a cup of coffee!!! 16 year olds working at Gloria Jeans can do that.

Between the pointless plot and subpar writing, there honestly wasn’t anything I enjoyed.

1 star

.:|:. .:|:. .:|:. .:|:. .:|:.

Format: E-book

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good and I enjoyed the humour that it had throughout. However it was slow at times, which is the reason I can't give it a higher rating.
Dylan has been operating as Lady Justice fielding work from clients who want retribution against grievous wrongs, due in large part to feeling unable to help her own sister after an attack in college. I quite enjoyed reading her different types of revenge.
Then a client comes to her for help taking down the very man who hurt her sister, she’ll stop at nothing to deliver. She became a bit obsessed with getting revenge against him and nearly misses that she has a chance at love or the danger she is really in.
On the whole a good book that did make me laugh a bit. Xx

[Kirilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't let the blurb fool you! This was barely a revenge thriller. Imagine baking scones while listening to the audiobook when all of a sudden there is surprise smut chapter and you can't skip it because your hands are dirty. Audible smut is my least favourite thing. Nevertheless, I persevered with the rest of the book hoping the revenge part was going to be amazing, but it was poorly executed. Disappointing.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a ride from start to finish. A woman carrying out revenge plot against a horrible man who needs his power and influence stripped away plus a side of romance with a loyal man who helps her stay safe while she does her vigilante shit? Yes, that’s a Taylor Swift reference and yes, sign me all the way up.

Dylan has been operating as Lady Justice fielding work from clients who want retribution against grievous wrongs, due in large part to feeling unable to help her own sister after an attack in college. When a client comes to her for help taking down the very man who hurt her sister, she’ll stop at nothing to deliver.

I liked Dylan a lot and her bravery in taking the risks she did to do her work. I also liked that it was often clear that she trusted her instincts and knew when she was reaching a point in situations that she needed to step back and reassess. It made it believable that she would’ve been able to carry on her business for all the years she did. She was smart and resourceful. She also had the help of her brilliant IT friend Daniel, who was so devoted to her in a way that felt palpable on the page. I didn’t realize there was going to be quite so much of a romance plot woven into the suspense, but since I’m a big fan of reading romance novels I was good with it. It just threw me in the beginning a bit wondering how much to expect from that part of the story and didn’t want to get my hopes up one way or the other.

Overall I felt the was a sharp debut novel and I’d definitely read more of Katherine Olson’s work in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

[christinashaw96 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Embla books for providing me with an eARC of Look What You Made Me Do by Katherine A. Olson in return for my honest opinion.

This book was an unexpected gem for me! I’ve been reading a lot of romance and romantasy this year, but I’m a sucker for a good thriller so jumped on the chance to review this book when I read it was a thriller/romance.

This book focuses on our FMC Dylan “Lady Justice”, a vigilante for hire, dishing out some much needed revenge and karma against men that have previously managed to avoid consequences for some pretty horrible actions. Dylan’s “tits up, knives out” attitude is fantastic and had me loving her character form the get go. One of the main plot’s of this book is Dylan targeting a man that started her whole vigilante career, after he got away with destroying her older sister’s life in college. Dylan is badass character, she’s not perfect and has a lot of trauma that she’s working on throughout the book, but this all adds to her character development.

The plot pace is pretty consistent, however at the end I do think the big finale felt a little rushed trying to tie up all the plot loose ends. The plot is also a little heavier on the romance than I expected, I assumed going in the plot would mostly focus on the thriller aspect, but I do feel at times this took a backseat to the romance between Dylan and Daniel (her IT friend that assists with her revenge plots). There was also a whole chapter of spice, which was well written but again was a surprise as it wasn’t what I expected from a thriller!

Overall a really decent debut by Olson, I look forward to reading more of her work!

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starting the new year off with a bang. This story is a mix between rom com and thriller. The main character, Dylan, also known as Lady Justice, fights to right the wrongs outside of the law. Along the way she partnered up with tech engineer, Daniel. The main story line focuses on Dylan going after a man who not only has a connection to her client on the professionally but also has a connection to Dylan personally.

I was expecting this book to be more thriller and less romance. Turned out to be the other way around. I didn't find myself invested in the thriller portion of this book and more into the romance storyline. To me it felt like the guy Dylan was going after was a side story to the main goal of getting Dylan and Daniel to recognize their feelings for each other. I was happy about the ending for the two main characters. I do think the storyline of the tech CEO being taken down wasn't wrapped up and the author could have gone into more detail of the trial and how the articles were received, etc.

Overall, enjoyed the book. If you are looking for a romance with a little bit of thrill on the side I would say this is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC for an honest review.

[A_Reading_Obsession · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revenge can be cathartic.

It's one of the reasons why Look What You Made Me Do caught my eye. The story follows Dylan Truman, who takes revenge on the scum of society on the request of wronged clients. When a client comes to her with her a name - her sister's attacker, it becomes personal.

Firstly, I would categorise this book as a thriller with a romantic subplot, although NetGallery didn't make it very clear. Just clarifying - it also has spice!

And onto the plot and characters! I actually enjoyed this novel a lot. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I adored how Dylan would disguise herself for her Lady Justice alter ego. . I love morally grey women, and Dylan's actions are definitely within that area. She was also kind of witty; I liked that. Some of the twists were a bit predictable but it didn't deter my reading enjoyment. I'm looking forward to more books from this author!

Thank you to EmblaBooks, Katherine A. Olson and NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

[Jordan Charlesworth AKA Book Brilliance Xo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review 📚
Look What You Made Me Do by Katherine A Olson - 4.5/5 ⭐

I have been struggling to find a book where the FMC is the greatest character alive. She's the boss. She does it all. She wants revenge. She is CAPABLE of doing it herself. Look What You Made Me Do is the perfect book when seeking a do it all FMC.

Each and every turn of the page will leave your jaw on the floor. There was so much detail behind the story and it just blows my mind! Olson really set the intrigue with this one.

Character development is beautifully done and I thoroughly enjoyed working my way through not only with the plot but with the characters. There's not just the thrill, but there's a story and romance and laughs.

Personally, I couldn't have asked for a better book to finish 2023 with. Olson has a talent and I can't wait to see what else she comes up with.

Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

[Jess Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

-This felt like a premise of female rage & 'Good for her" vibes but ultimately felt flat. First of all, this is categorised as a thriller yet, there appeared to be more romance then anything else.
- At every point I was hoping she was going to get revenge & justice considering that's what she called her alias- yet overall felt flat.
- Also, the fact the epilogue focused on their relationship rather then the aftermath of Brent's case for instance, what did the media coverage state? How long did he get in prison & did he try and weasel his way out? Also, the way at the last minute he knew who she was felt flat too.
- Essentially, Dylan moves into the house next door to get evidence for the case and 'seduces ' him- I frist thing this idea would have been excellent if she psychologically destroyed him first, rather then submitting to his every demands.
- if you're wanting a book that has female rage I'd recommend: How to kill men and get away with it, The poppy war trilogy & I bet you'd look good in a coffin!🌟

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review.

I had a lot of fun with the justice element of this, though in places it felt a little overdone or over easy. Brent is a caricature of a villain, and this would be more interesting if he was more complex and three dimensional.

I also struggled with Dylan’s family background, and wanted more than and her transition into what she does.

That said, she’s a fun main character and I had a great time with her. Her relationship with Daniel was lovely too, even if it felt a bit like “oh now we’re suddenly talking about this elephant in the room despite clearly having said nothing before”.

The justice side was a little light touch, but honestly this is a short book with a lot to cover and so it does it in a way that works for the format.

It’s a bit of fun, and if you’re considering it I’d say def give it a try. 3.5 stars.

[Scilly_Geek · Rating 4 out of 5]

More and more books are cropping up with a female vigilante MC. Whilst they are a bit samey, I still enjoy them.

Dylan is fiery, chaotic and out to seek revenge on all of the scumbags out there. Stemmed from a traumatic event involving her sister years ago.

I liked how the book dealt with the strained relationship between the sisters. Overcoming something like that isn’t going to be easy and you could tell the difficulties they have had.

Daniel was a super character. I think everyone needs a Daniel in their life as he just cared so much. He was always looking out for Dylan but knew when to put his foot down if he felt something wasn’t right.

The cheeky spicy scene in the middle of this book was unexpected and did take me by surprise 😂. Not complaining though as stabby smut is one of my fave genres!

I felt like there could’ve been a bit more surrounding the exposure of the bad guy at the end as well as their interactions.

[Kimberley Mead · Rating 2 out of 5]

Underwhelming..
Pretty girl has based her whole life on the fact her sister was sexually assaulted so when she gets a chance to get back at the man by ruining his reputation she jumps at it by pretending to be the girl next door and snooping through his stuff…

…Oh and a hot rich man likes her very very obviously but she is painfully oblivious to this fact for the first half of the book even though she’s in love with him too (side characters even try to point it out to her on multiple occasions)

This book could have been so much better with more of an added thrill to her going through his stuff and actually going out with Brent more and seeing his dark side come through for herself but it was all just so tame and boring for my taste with far too much about her loving her best friend but no actually substance in why she loved him and him her apart from just because 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Laura Turek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look What You Made Me Do is a tense revenge thriller that examines what ‘justice’ really means when powerful men are protected by the system they created.

Dylan, our MC, is driven both by an internal belief system that demands retribution, as well as a personal need for revenge against a corrupt CEO. She is the kind of protagonist you root for with your whole chest, despite her sometimes immersion-breaking millennial statements.
The stakes are personal, the danger feels real, and the ending is both brutal and strangely tender.

This book doesn’t shy away from discomfort. It explores how dangerous men simply change masks, and how speaking up often comes at a devastating cost. It’s brutal, cathartic, and in the end, hopeful.
I loved how this story centred survivor voices and collective accountability, allowing its heroine to want peace after the fight.

[Chelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a debut! I enjoyed reading this suspense/romance story. I was captivated by the interesting plot line, which was perfectly laid out. I will admit, this story felt more romance than suspense, but it was still enjoyable nonetheless.

It was a little steamier and full of more explicit language than I typically choose, personally. Ordinarily, this would deter me from finishing, however I this plot had me hooked.

I loved the strength and determination of the female main character. All of the characters were so well written. The style of writing by this author is so good and easy to follow.

I would mark this author as one to watch! Thank you, NetGalley, for my complimentary copy!

Trigger warnings: abusive/controlling relationships, mention of rape

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look What You Made Me Do by Katherine A. Olson was such a fun read, I loved it from beginning to end.

This book had everything in it.. thriller, mystery, revenge, action. The characters as well as the plot was written so well that it intrigues you and makes you carry on reading. There is also some fun twists and turns in the book that make you say what!!

Dylan was such a nice change to read from a character, she was hellbent on getting revenge for her sister, a brave woman who has dark humour and also very intelligent for what she does which is how she has managed to carry her business for so long.

Overall this book was such a fun read, everything had me hooked and I would recommend to fellow book readers who enjoy a good revenge mystery read.

[Sandy Towry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this book, drawn in by the idea of the bad guys finally getting their comeuppance. Unfortunately, the book fell short of expectations. Instead of witnessing Lady Justice methodically ruin the villain's life, I got a bit of spice between her and her sidekick/best friend with a disappointing sprinkle of karma for Brent. Lady Justice's role as a vigilante didn't come across as convincing, and her methods left me skeptical that she had ever served justice before. It was hard to take seriously when, after just one day of living next door to her target, they were already an item, excessively calling each other babe and him keeping tabs on her. The concept was intriguing, but it failed to evolve into a compelling story for me.

[Harvee Lau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dylan has named herself Lady Justice, who dispenses vigilangte justice on men who abuse women. She meets the boy who abused her sister in college, and though he is now a successful though corrupt businessman, she is determined to see him suffer for his past and present actions.

I found it interesting that Dylan is at first a hardened and determined vigilante, but later on softens as she becomes romantically involved with a best friend. The ways in which she achieves her goal, however, and metes justice to Brent is interesting and somewhat satisfying.

A predictable plot and story, a light read.

[karla_bookishlife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of laughs, a dollop of romance, a dash of spice, and a thrilling plot. Look What You Made Me Do follows Dylan as she wreaks vengeance, as Lady Justice, on all the men who have wronged women. She battles personal trauma and is given the opportunity to get retribution for the attack on her sister at college. The side story veers away from the thriller element and leans into the romance. This is a quirky fun read perfect for fans of How to Kill Men and Get Away with It and Death of a Bookseller. As a fan of both romances and thrillers, this ticked both boxes for me. #lookwhatyoumademedo #katherineaolson #embla #netgalley