Another amazing book from Elle! She never disappoints! As one of those girls that binged her OC/BU series in less than two weeks, I jumped at the opportunity to read something else by her. I can't wait to be able to get this in a physical copy!

I'm here for this new Avalon Bay series by Elle Kennedy. It was the writing I've always loved from Kennedy with an exciting new setting and cast of characters. It was nice to read something set in a world other than college hockey -- not that I don't love me some college sports, I just loved how different this was. It had an 80's movie vibe with the townie versus rich kid thing it had going on. I had a lot of fun reading it.

Mac is a young woman who has grown up with every privilege she could have asked for, but is confined by what is expected of her. I loved how she was trapped between pleasing her parents and going for what she wanted. That part of the story was so relatable, whether you're rich or poor. Mac was also very likable with her wanting to do good and always willing to help others. Cooper wasn't as lovable from the start. He had some big biases and a huge chip on his shoulder. I may not have always liked him, but I enjoyed reading his POV even before he became someone to love. Mac and Cooper were opposites in what life had given them, but they complimented each other well. Their relationship was sweet and feisty all at the same time.

I was a little nervous going into Good Girl Complex. I knew going in there was a cheating aspect to the story from what I had seen on social media from the author and some early reviews I read. I am not a fan of cheating, so I was worried this wouldn't be a hit for me. Surprise, surprise. The cheating didn't bother me. That is due to Elle Kennedy's character development and plotting skills. I actually ended up liking the direction this book took with it. I was still uncomfortable in certain moments, but it wasn't horrible for me. 

One of the things that makes Elle Kennedy's NA romances so much fun is the cast of characters she gives each book/series. I loved the new people she introduced us to in this book. Cooper has a twin, Evan, who I want a book for. I also loved all of Cooper's friends (minus Heidi, but I got her in the end). Mac had a fun roommate, but her parents and Preston were awful. I loved to hate Preston. All of these characters have me wanting more books set in Avalon Bay!

So, yeah. Good Girl Complex was a strong start to a new series for Elle Kennedy. I loved where she went with this book, and I can't wait to get more stories for the rest of Cooper and Mac's gang of friends.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book, as I do with all Elle Kennedy books. Cooper was extremely swoon worthy and I hope there will be more books in this Avalon Bay world!

Calling all Elle Kennedy Fans! She's done it again!

On the outside, our protagonist Mac seems like your typical rich girl. She goes to an expensive college, where's designer clothes, and has the seemingly perfect wealthy boyfriend. When her boyfriend ends up in an altercation with the local bad boy Cooper Hartley, it throws Mac entirely off course. She soon realizes that she may want more than the life that has been planned for her by her parents and boyfriend.

I'm a simple girl. I love small-towns, bad boys, and steamy romances. And let me tell you, Good Girl Complex delivered. I was worried going into this that it would not compare to Kennedy's previous books, but it is just as fun and hot of a read as the off-campus series. I loved Mac as a character. I felt as though I truly watched her grow as the story went on, and I love that in a protagonist. Cooper was also great to read about. I felt as though he was a little less three dimensional as Mac, and sometimes read as the typical new-adult romantic interest, but totally swoon-worthy. There is clear chemistry between the two. Their interactions and relationship was definitely my favorite part of the book.

The only criticism I have for this book is that the pacing feels off at some points, especially the end. I won't spoil the book as it hasn't been released yet, but I will say that I wanted the end conflict to be drawn out more. If we got just a few more chapters of the two growing as individuals and then resolving their conflict, I would have been completely in love with the ending.

Nevertheless, I highly recommend that the new-adult romance fans out there pick this up. It is set to release on February 1st, 2022.

*Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in return of an honest review*

I liked this book. I started reading it with no expansions and it surprised in some aspects.

I liked the character development, though it's a bit faulty towards the end. The characters get too messy for my taste. Mackenzie can spit on my face and I'd thank her.

I wasn't a fan of the "I'm not like other girls" trope during the first half of the book. But it subsided and that's when I appreciated the romance more.

Good Girl Complex is the newest contemporary romance by Elle Kennedy. I have read multiple books by this author in the past so I did go into this ARC not knowing much about the actual synopsis. The story takes place in a fictional small harbor town called Avalon Bay, where storms and hurricanes are pretty common. It’s an opposites-attract romance between a rich “good girl” and the tattooed “bad boy from the wrong side of town” vibes.

Avalon Bay’s residents (including the hero) do not like the tourists/rich people who swarm their believed beach town every summer and refer to them as “clones” (because every rich person is the same to them). This is important for the premise because the story kicks off with Cooper (the hero) getting fired from his bartending side job one night after getting into a confrontation with a rich guy. Cooper, along with the idea from his twin Evan and their friends, decide he should stick it the “clone” by stealing his girlfriend, making her dump him, and shove it in his face that he/Cooper is with his girl now. But as soon as Cooper meets MacKenzie (the rich guy’s girlfriend), they have an instant connection and it becomes more than the silly revenge bet.

MacKenzie’s dad is a politician and her parents have the perfect plan for her to go to college, get a degree, marry her longtime boyfriend (whose parents have a similar background), and then sit pretty running fundraisers and charities like her mom has. Mac has kind of just gone with the flow for years of letting her family and boyfriend control her life but now that she’s at college and meets Cooper, she wants her independence. Mac is already a successful businesswoman, she’s made millions off creating a sharing app called BoyfriendFails (and it’s spin-off GirlfriendFails) where people share funny/embarrassing relationship stories.

Mac is still dating her boyfriend for half of this book, all the while spending time and getting closer to Cooper (the most they do is kiss while she’s still with her BF). I did feel like there was a bit too much packed into this read. Mac has her successful apps business, she also wants to start a new business of buying and restoring a historic boardwalk hotel. Cooper has light drama with an ex-friends with benefits. He also has drama with his mother who only comes around for money. Cooper is a construction worker who is also trying to start a furniture business on the side. Mac definitely has issues with her family, which never really felt resolved. Mac & Cooper’s relationship moves fast, they save a puppy together and move in practically right after she ditches her BF. There is a bad storm and Mac is patching up a friend’s roof during at one point in the story. Mac tries to win over Cooper’s twin and their friends and prove she’s not just some rich girl. I feel like there was just too much happening and the entire premise of trying to steal someone’s girlfriend to get back at them for getting you fired did feel a bit juvenile.

Thank you to the publisher (SMP Romance, St. Martin’s Press) for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts & review. Good Girl Complex has a publish date of February 1, 2022.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
This book follows Mackenzie/ Mac Cabot and Cooper Hartley, two individuals from opposite sides of the track. Mac grew up in a life of privilege, while Cooper’s life has consisted of a tough upbringing and having to work for what he has. This book allowed you to fall in love with these two characters and showed you even when you think two people have nothing in common, there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye.
I enjoyed reading how Cooper started developing feelings for Mac when at first he didn’t have honorable intentions when pursuing her. I also really enjoyed the aspect of Mac finding herself and finally being able to stand up to her parents!
Saying this I did find the book a bit predictable and I knew Coopers initial intentions with Mac would be revealed to her, so I spent a lot of the book waiting for that to happen.
Also can we talk about the fact that Elle Kennedy came up with the best name for a dog!? I mean it wasn’t actually used but I freaking loved it! It was Muttley Crue. And you better believe that dog name is now on my potential future dog name list!
This book is the perfect summer read as it’s set in a cute, quaint beach town. And I can’t wait for everyone else to read this book!
I also wanted to include my favourite quote from the book:
“I thought freedom was being self-sufficient. I’m finding out that isn’t exactly true, I know this probably sounds stupid coming from me, but I feel trapped. By expectations and promises. Trying to make everyone else happy. I wish I could be selfish for once. Do what I want, when I want, how I want.”

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC early in exchange for a honest review!

First of all I love Elle Kennedy and the off campus series, so I was thrilled to get approved for this ARC. I really enjoyed this book with new characters as well but I will say I prefer the off campus series. I was expecting a little more spice and deep issues like in that series but this felt more like a family drama romance with little spice. That being said I still had a great time reading this and loved Copper and Mac as a couple. I love Elle Kennedy’s writing and I will read anything that has her name on it!

Like her other books their were funny, sad and sweet moments! Definitely worth the read!!

When I first read the description for this book, I knew that, without a doubt, it'll cement itself as one of my favourites. And it definitely did not disappoint.

I'm familiar with Elle Kennedy's previous books - particularly the Briar U and Off Campus series. I'd loved the storylines, her writing and the characters. To say this met my expectations and then some, seems like an understatement.

Good Girl Complex follows the classic rich girl/poor boy trope. Set in a small beach town, Cooper and Mackenzie come from two different worlds. Cooper's had a rough upbringing - an absent mother and a deadbeat dad who'd long passed away, he and his twin brother are making the most of their situation by helping their uncle with his construction business while picking up side jobs here and there to make ends meet. On the other hand, Mac is the product of wealth - her father's a congressman; her mother on the board of a number of charities. She's got her life set - her future with her boyfriend Preston is pretty much set in stone, with her ready to take on her mother's roles while Preston inherits his father's company. But there's still something missing.

I loved loved loved Cooper and Mac's storylines. The entire plot was predictable, but that's the beauty with this trope. After Preston gets Cooper fired from his job, he exacts a plan of revenge to steal his girlfriend away from him. He's bitter, sick and tired of being pushed around by the 'clones' of Avalon Bay. However, his plan backfires when he finds that Mac's got a bit more substance to her than the other robots he encounters. Both the character development arcs were very well done, and all loose ends tied up in the end. I particularly loved all the supporting characters, but would've loved to see more about how things turned out for Bonnie, Mac's college roommate. Hopefully in the next instalment! I also would've loved more angst towards the end, but I guess that takes away from the lightheartedness of the read.

All in all, Elle delivered an exceptional story. The plot was well paced and the conflicts well written. All in all, a great read. 4.5/5!

For readers who love:
- rich girl/poor boy
- enemies to lovers
- revenge dating

Triggers:
- cheating

I really enjoyed this book. The characters had some dimension to them, and the added bonus of Cooper's close-knit friend group made for a fun read. I really enjoyed Mac and her choice of a different path than college and still being a smashing success. I love a strong female/girl boss lead and this book did not disappoint. A few moments of steam, but mostly the focus is on the friendship Mac and Cooper are growing. I can't wait to look up some other books by this author!

Disclaimer: I received the ARC from the publisher through Net Galley. All opinions are my own.

Good Girl Complex is a contemporary cross-class romance which is weighed down by its formula, and while the author gives an excellent view of her working-class hero, she doesn’t deliver on the heroine’s wealthy side of the class divide.

Mackenzie - Mac - Cabot is just one of the many filthy-rich brats who pass through Garnet College. At least, that’s what townie Cooper Hartley presumes. So it won’t matter if he uses her to get revenge on her boyfriend Preston, who threw his daddy’s money around to get Cooper fired. Cooper and his friends semi-drunkenly plot for Cooper to win Mac over and then drop Preston for him, whereupon he will laugh in both of their faces and stride off. Of course, he will fall in love with Mac and swear everyone to secrecy about his original intent. Of course this isn’t going to work.

If I had known this would be a ‘big secret’ book, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up, because it’s a trope which, like ‘secret baby’ or ‘shooting people before antibiotics’, almost never works for me. Sitting around and waiting for the formulaic revelation is a frustrating combination of uncomfortable and boring. I would love to read a secret reveal with an original spin, such as the characters talking to each other and working through it, but… this is not that book. At least Cooper and his friends debate the ethics of his plan, and they do put in the caveat that Cooper cannot initiate any seduction (Mac has to kiss him first, etc).

I’ll try to outline what might and might not work for other people for whom that specific plotline may not be a dealbreaker, or is perhaps even be desirable.

The beach town setting, and Garnet’s college/townie tensions are well developed. I liked the dynamics of Cooper’s ‘set’, a group of townies who would die for each other but also probably draw dicks on each other’s faces when they’re passed out. It’s a funny, authentic representation of immature new adults who have, of necessity, had each other’s backs since kindergarten. Evan, Cooper’s twin, with his self-destructive behavior and desperate faith in their user mom, caught my attention in spite of clearly being the hero of the inevitable series sequel. Cooper’s erstwhile hookup Heidi proves to be more than a one-dimensional vicious ex, and we realize that Cooper actually merits her bitter resentment. Cooper and Evan’s relationship with their uncle Levi is touching, and their mother is a realistic portrayal of an abusive parent, love-bombing interspersed with abandonment and exploitation.

Mac, by contrast, is not as well-drawn or as internally consistent. It felt as though the author has made Mac’s family horribly dysfunctional because she felt she had to do something to make us feel sorry for Little Miss Trust Fund. I don’t mind a messed up family - see Cooper’s mom -  but while that level of neglect and trauma has profoundly impacted Cooper’s personality and ability to have a relationship, Mac seems completely unaffected by her toxic upbringing. She has a strong sense of self-worth despite stating she thinks her congressman father conceived her for voter appeal, and she demands fidelity and love despite living among the set where it’s expected for a husband to have a wife and a “Marilyn” (a mistress). Where and how did she develop these feelings?

In addition to Mac’s family money, she has made her own millions with an app called BoyfriendFails. While I don’t question that Mac could have hit it big on an app, she doesn’t spend anywhere near the time on it that she should given that she remains the CEO. Nor does she have any passion for tech (or gossip) which would explain her success. Additionally, in the book, she falls in love with and buys an old hotel. If she owns and is running an app, it’s unlikely that she’d have the liquidity to buy property (ad revenue, as AAR can sadly tell you, is not what the author seems to think it is). Let her have sold the app, or have her money come from real estate - something to be more consistent.

Overall, I’d say this is a solid New Adult book, and I desperately appreciate that it isn’t full of horrible angst and navel-gazing. There are some terrific secondary characters, and even the flatter ones like Mac’s roommate do more than just advance other people’s stories. Even Preston, the boyfriend, is interesting in his ability to maintain two faces (although Mac’s obliviousness to his duplicity is sort of moronic). Also, there is an adorable golden retriever. I just wish it hadn’t all been overshadowed by waiting for the ‘Hey, he did this on a bet!’ hammer to drop and the obligatory separation/grovel formula to play out.

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This book was cute! I really like the authors writing style. I’m glad I gave us want to chance because it was a cover pick. I will definitely be looking out for this authors other work from here forward

Book covers like this are deceiving but I took a dive and went for this book. I enjoyed it! It was funny, sweet, and steamy at the same time. I loved the characters, especially Mackenzie. She was badass and successful for her young age. And Cooper...well he was just sexy and the chemistry between the two was on spot on.

If you are looking for a fun, new adult romance---this is the perfect book for you.

I am so so glad I requested this book. I'll admit I haven't read Elle Kennedy before, despite the numerous TikToks and Instagram posts telling me too, and after this I just may have to buy up all her writing. I've never been one for the good girl/bad boy trope, nor the rich girl/broke guy trope, but somehow this book got to me. I'll admit sometimes the dialogue fell a little flat for me, but I genuinely love the development of the characters. And SPOILER ALERT, I was a little let down by how quickly Cooper forgave Heidi for all the crap she put Mac through. But damn I do not particularly care for everything that I didn't like about this book, because I was too busy enjoying the love story, as well as a bunch of girlboss moments from Mac. Such a great(and steamy) read!

This is a cute, quick read. I found it to be a bit predictable, like a 2021 version of the movie She’s All That. The characters are easy to envision in a small coastal town, rich kids versus working class kids and the typical drama between them. I liked picking this up each night and falling right into place with the rhythm of the book. It’s not meaty, just nice light romance, a little drama, some comedy.

Thank you to St. Martin Press for the ARC.

A fast-paced fake-dating adjacent love story that pulls you in from the first page. I couldn't put the book down and finished in 2 days. I'm hoping that we'll get more from the Avalon Bay gaggle of friends - let's get an Evan story!

The premise of this book seemed like it would be my cup of tea. It was not. It was a very predictable storyline with quite cookie-cutter characters. And the big drama that happens (because there's always big drama towards the end) was also predictable and a little drawn out. I do like that the main female character was doing her own thing and not relying on her rich parents. She was a great redeeming quality of this novel. I also do like the banter between Cooper and Mac, which made the story worth finishing for me. Overall, not my favorite, but not bad.

Considering my strong dislike for the heroine early in the book it's no surprise I ended disliking the story as a whole. I didn't care much for the hero either to be fair. His initial intent for seeking out the heroine being nefarious and juvenile at last doesn't leave much room for appreciation. That being said Cooper does show some cute sides during his pretense/real relationship to Mac.
Supporting cast was awful.

I was lucky enough to be granted access to an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I went into it with high hopes and was very happy with the outcome. I have loved every single Elle Kennedy book I’ve come across and this is no exception.
I loved how this book was a seemingly an easy fun read but dealt with harder topics under the surface. I thoroughly enjoyed how conflict was dealt with through out the story. I especially love how the revenge plot line was dealt with in a way that wasn’t radioactive in toxicity.
Mac and Cooper were great characters and like always I found my self falling in love with not only them but the side characters as well.
Looking forward to whatever is coming next

What can I say about The Good Girl Complex… it’s nothing groundbreaking. The plot and characters are ones I’ve read a hundred times, one rich one working class, absent parents, a dead parent a dead beat parent, brooding, lies of omission and jealousy. And yet Elle Kennedy somehow takes all those stereotypical things and writes a book I want to read.

Sometimes I want a book that is going to shock me but other times I want to know what I’m stepping into. I want to know I’m going to enjoy it and that’s what I got with The Good Girl Complex. Even though I’ve met other versions of Mac and Cooper I know what I’m getting with them and I’m happy about it!

I loved the small town vibes and the dreams the MCs had for themselves and each other despite what direction life was pushing them in. The chemistry was A+ from their first meeting right until the final page. Steam, wit and great writing are staples of EK’s books and each book always feels fresh.

So while I started this seeming like I wasn’t a fan, I was! I just think it’s important to know this book is like getting home from a long day and putting on a pair of Roots sweats, oversized sweater and a pair of slippers! It’s a comfort read through and through!

Thank you to St. Martins Press for an eARC in exchange of an honest review!