Member Reviews
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4/5 Stars
Synopsis: Mackenzie “Mac” Cabot is a college student who seemingly has her whole life planned out, with her long-time boyfriend Preston by her side. She has her very successful business but her parents don’t agree. Preston and her parents want her to basically become a housewife. Cooper is a classic bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Mac is what Cooper would call a “Clone”, where as Cooper was raised with a absent father and a drunk mother, Mac grew up in a life of privilege. When Cooper gets into a fight with Preston at a bar, Cooper decides to get revenge by making Preston’s girlfriend to fall in love with him. But he doesn’t consider that it may be him falling in love.
I’m going to be honest, I saw that Elle Kennedy wrote this and automatically knew I wanted to read it. She is the queen of college romances and she never disappoints.
This book is so cute and the romance is top tier. I usually like character driven books more but this had the perfect balance between plot and character growth. The side characters had good plots as well. My favorite character has to be Evan though. He was so funny and I definitely will need an Evan book in the future. This book showed the ups and down of relationships such as lying, jealousy, and moving in. This book definitely has some cliches in it but, cliches are cliches for a reason. They are popular, the bad boy makes the good girl fall in love with him feels right out of After but it works. I feel like this book would get five stars if it wrapped up better. I wish there was an epilogue that showed then a few years in the future. This could have been the case because Kennedy may be writing sequels, but I would have loved to see a big wrap up.
Favorite Quotes:
1. “She’s the girl my daydreams daydream about”
2. “Don’t let anyone hold you back, because life is too damn short. Build your empire. Slay your dragons”
3. “Maybe we never got the family we deserved, but we ended up with the one we needed”
4. “ ‘I want to make sure your boys have a legacy you’re proud of in this town’ ”
5. “Before her I didn’t even bother looking ahead even five years”
6. “And in that moment I vow, even if it takes me the rest of my life, to show this girl she didn’t waste her heart on me”
Good Girl Complex is everything what I could only dream about! This book is masterpiece with the biggest capital M ever. I was not only reading a book - it was for me the next level of adventure!
I fell captivated by this author and these characters! From the beginning I couldn't put this book down. Good Girl Complex is breathtaking, sweet, funny and so angsty at the same moment!
Elle Kennedy done amazing job with tjis book, her words are magical and, I already know.... The Good Girl Complex means Elle Kennedy at the finest. There's no other author, who can mix together sinfully delicious banter with young people around. I enjoyed every single page of this flawless story, it was not only reading a good book - Good Girl Complex is like a crack to my bookjunkie's heart.
I adored how Elle created new world for her fans. I think, some people might wait for another "Off Campus" series, but let's be clear... This series is not like our fave hockey boys. Good Girl Complex is totally different, but the same amazing. I couldn't get enough of Cooper,Mak and their friends until the last pages. The banter, chemistry all the twists, ups and downs... It's pure perfection! Once You'll read - You'll find out.
Cooper and Mackenzie... I have no words to describe, how deep I fall in love with them. They are everything from the first pages. They are strong and independent, if they love... They are ready for every kind of sacrifice. I don't want to spoil too much, because I always think, it's the best to go blind into certain stories.
Good Girl Complex is one of them. I love Cooper, I love Mackenzie... and I cannot wait for more.
Absolutely must read title!
Good Girl Complex gave me the perfect wrong side of the tracks trope that was once overused and is now difficult to find. The entire cast of characters really captivated me and gave me the found family feels. I also really enjoyed the setting of the rich and prestigious college that was in the middle of quaint little beach town.
More money more problems right? Mackenzie has a lot to worry about, money not being one of them. Her dad is a powerful US senator and her mom runs a bunch of charity organizations. They filled their quota to have a kid and them promptly forgot about her unless they could strategically use her. The typical stuff you’d expect from a 1% family. Mac was a breathe of fresh air though, she wanted more than to fit into the mold her parents had created for her. She was beautiful of course but also smart as heck along with being so kind and compassionate. Not the typical “clone” the locals dub the rich college kids.
Cooper was the boy your mother warned you about. Tatted up and walking around with a chip on his shoulder he’s the dark haired bad boy you want to take a walk on the dark side with. Truth is he’s a total cinnamon roll though with a big heart that’s been broken a few times. His story was truly heartbreaking but he had the best friends, brother and uncle who tried to always support him. His life hadn’t been easy and the clones that invade his town every year that treat him like crap don’t make it any easier. One takes it too far and ends up costing Coop his job, so of course revenge is in order and what’s better than stealing a rich pricks girlfriend? He didn’t quite plan on truly falling for her though and Mac might be the best thing that’s ever happened to him.
Even as I’m writing this now, I’m not sure if I’d label this relationship as toxic or not. Both Coop and Mac are headstrong and stubborn which leads to a lot of fights. Their chemistry was off the charts and they definitely had sparks. The tension was unreal and I found myself groaning anytime Mac was a good girl. There were so many cute moments though and I enjoyed their banter and silly nothing fights. They really believed in each other’s dreams though and we’re so supportive of the other going after said dreams. I’d like to think they make it and wish we’d gotten an epilogue.
I really enjoyed this book and ended up reading it in one sitting. It never lulled and I was constantly on edge waiting to see how it was all going to play out. There was the perfect amount of steam and I loved Coop and Mac’s little moments. I know they’ll steal your heart like they did mine.
I really loved this book! It was just the cutest story with some emotional undertones mixed with betrayal and heart break. If you wished for something like Outer Banks romance mixed with the movie After, then this is the book for you! It was definitely a combination I never knew I needed, but loved through and through! This book was written so well and had so much depth.
There isn’t much I didn’t care for, but the ending was one of them. It just felt very rushed, even though the beginning was slow until about halfway through. There’s one major plot point that doesn’t get resolved until the absolute end and I swear it was maybe 10-15 pages of filler, even though it’s practically the entire point of the book. I just wish we would have gotten a little more depth for what was a major problem.
This book is a stand alone (as far as a I know for the time being) and we do not leave on a cliffhanger. If you’re looking for a cute contemporary romance with some dark tones, then here it is! If you love John B and Sarah Cameron from Outer Banks or Tessa and Hardin from the After movie (sorry I haven’t read the book), then this would be a perfect book for you!
I absolutely recommend this book! It was beautifully written and was a pretty fun read! This is my first Elle Kennedy book and I adore her writing style now! I’m really looking forward to reading more books from her!
Good girl / bad boy trope ✅
Rich girl / poor boy trope ✅
Girl from the right side of the track/ boy from the wrong side of the track ✅✅
The Good Girl Complex has the tropes in spades plus some!!! I decided not to read the blurb and just dive right into this novel and fell head over heels foe the plot.
Mackenzie is an adorable character. Although I haven’t been able to put my feet in her shoes in some of her circumstances - I’m not rich - I have been there, done that when it comes to the relationship scenarios. I’m glad that a Cooper was there to swoop in and diabolically save her - even if he had altering motives.
This was a light and easy read. There were a few “steamy” scenes but I didn’t feel like the novel focused on keeping a steam factor up high. Instead, the author focused on plot and story telling. It was a great romance story that leaves you with a happily ever after!
I received a copy from berg alley for review.
Unfortunately this book was a no from me, I really tried to give it a chance but I ended up dnf'ing.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of Good Girl Complex in exchange for an honest review.
Good Girl Complex is a story of opposites attract. I really enjoyed reading how the characters evolved. I really liked the premise of the story and kept waiting for the other shoe to drop in their relationship. I highly recommend this book to all the romance book lovers who love a good bad boy and good girl relationship.
I never read the Off-Campus series, so I was really excited to receive an arc of this book. The plot was a bit simple and pretty predictable, but still enjoyable. Things definitely picked up towards the second half of the book. I did like that it had some strong 10 Things I Hate About You vibes, as that's one of my favorite movies. The romance was cute and it was funny. I’d say this book was 3/5 for me, it was a bit cliche but it was still pretty good.
I loved this book and hope its the beginning of a new series by Kennedy. Cooper and Mac were wonderful together. I loved how in detailed they were along with other characters that I hope we get to see in future books!
Thank you to NetGalley the publisher and author for providing a free copy of this book for review.
I wasn't anticipating, what I consider, over-the-top profanity and level of rage in Cooper. I wasn't able to finish. The description said he was raw and rough around the edges, but the cover design doesn't communicate the degree. Personally, not able to go there. May be fine for others.
Elle Kennedy has done it again! The characters portrayed in this book are so relatable and genuine in the way they interact with each other, that I cannot help but get attached. Reading this while it's still technically "summer" helped me feel more immersed in this read. The story is just a cute, swoon worthy romance for the summer! I cannot wait to see what other books Elle Kennedy has in store for us readers!
Another amazing novel by Elle Kennedy.
I absorbed this novel in one sitting and I absolutely loved it. The way this entire novel was written had me flying through it.
Mac is a people pleaser definitely as it's said in the synopsis but her character development through the novel was fantastic. She is a character I believe anyone could relate to. When Mac and Cooper meet through somewhat mutual friends there is an attraction between the two that even she can't deny. Even though Cooper is from "the wrong side of town" he soon realizes that Mac isn't like all the other trust fund babies and falls hard for her.
I loved the whole Romeo and Juliet vibe this book was giving off. Two people from completely different backgrounds who should hate each other but don't are amazing I also loved the banter in this. Cooper is one the most unapologetic people and he shows that. He doesn't have an issue saying what he believes and I think that is one of my favorite things about him.
I would give this novel five stars. I loved the writing and characters and I hope there are more novels written in this town. <3
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I like Elle Kennedy, so I knew at the very least, it would be a good read. And I was right, but it wasn't the best depiction of the three different tropes included in this novel.
Tropes included:
1. Poor boy and rich girl
2. Making a bet/conquest
3. Cheating
The book is told in alternating points of view, Mackenzie and Cooper. I liked Mackenzie's character, but I think Cooper could use a bit more work. Their romance is kind of instalove as it is all based on attraction and chemistry and how they cannot resist the urge to act on it. But as the novel progresses, it gets better and obviously has more substance. Also, it is a New Adult novel, so the sex is descriptive.
Overall, it's not bad, but I wasn't as invested in the characters or what happens to them in the end.
Loved the vibes from the book, and the characters are super dynamic! I felt the pace was a bit slow, and the ending was abrupt. Overall, a good romance read!! 3.5/5 stars
it comes as no surprise that i am absolutely in love with this book. can elle kennedy do any wrong? i certainly dont think so.
Good Girl Complex is another excellent book written by Elle Kennedy. The characters were fun and I enjoyed the story overall.
First off I want to thank NetGalley for an ARC of Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy. This book was so good! I couldn’t put it down! All I can say is 1000 times yes read this book! It’s super cute and I love her writing style! I plan on buying this book as soon as it’s released!
I could not get enough of this book! I was greatly anticipating this book, and it did not let me down. I was glued to the relationship of Mac and Cooper. SO SPICY AND SWEET! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book for an honest review.
I was so excited to receive this book. I have enjoyed so many of Elle Kennedy’s books. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t find myself connected to or caring about these characters. I just felt things were slow and rushed all at the same time. I honestly struggled to get through this one and found myself skimming at times. I would have liked to see more depth to Mac and more depth to the story. I’m probably going to be in the minority here thought, and think many might enjoy this book.
Elle Kennedy writes some amazing romance novels but this one just may be my favorite! A rich girl who just want to be free of the demands placed on her and a troubled bad boy who may not be who he seems? These two are what makes this book so brilliant! I loved it to pieces!