✨GOOD GIRL COMPLEX by Elle Kennedy✨

★★★★★

Ms. QUEEN Elle Kennedy did it again!!!!!!! This book will have a special place in my heart forever and ever and I can’t wait for everyone to get to read it when it comes out on February 1, 2022.

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

🍋 Drink: Spiked Frozen Raspberry Lemonade

Grab your blender and add 1.5 cups of Natalie’s Raspberry Lemonade, 2 oz of Spiked Raspberry Seltzer, 2 oz of raspberry vodka (or regular), 1.5 oz of fresh squeezed lemon juice, 1 cup of ice, and blend!

Pour into a glass of your choice, garnish with a lemon wedge and Voila!

Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

This drink felt like the perfect match for this book - beachy and holding on to summer for as long as possible, definitely something you’d order at one of the local bars!

🌟 Review: Elle Kennedy can do NO wrong. This book was so amazing, the characters are so lovable, you feel their pain and the balance between sweet + emotional is just perfect.

If you loved the Off Campus series, this book will be your new obsession - no doubt about it.

Elle Kennedy has been a hit or miss author for me in the past, but GOOD GIRL COMPLEX was right on target.

This title follows rich kid (and self-made CEO) Mackenzie to a coastal college town as she grudgingly fulfills her promise to her parents to attend school, even though she is already a successful business owner. Little does she know, her long-term boyfriend has ruffled a few feathers in town and local bad boy Cooper has hatched a revenge plan involving breaking Mackenzie's heart.

The star of this book for me was the character development. Mackenzie, Cooper, and their cast of friends and family all shone as interesting, three-dimensional characters. Their conversations were thoughtful and I was really invested in their happiness. I was also impressed by the perfect balance of steamy and adorable. Full disclosure: there is a puppy rescue.

Could I please request an epilogue and Evan's book ASAP???

Elle Kennedy has done it again! The romance between Cooper and Mackenzie is just ✨chefs kiss✨. The side characters are amazing as per usual. (Daisy was the star of the show)
I do wish we had an epilogue though.

3.5 stars for Good Girl Complex. I’m a fan of Elle Kennedy and I think this is much better than some of the other books she has written. I would have liked to see the characters go a little deeper. Their “make or break” conflict was pretty predictable. I think Preston should have been a bigger issue. I felt like the characters didn’t really have to “fix” anything, everything just resolved on its own. It was a fun and quick read though, and I really enjoyed Mac and Cooper’s story. I would love a story about Evan next!

A local gets fired after standing up to a trust fund kid and as payback, the local plans to seduce the guys girlfriend. What he doesn’t expect in this plan is for him to actually like the girl. A classic trope expertly executed.

If you’ve ever read an Elle Kennedy book then you will be no stranger in what to expect. Full of complex characters with heart, friendships that stand the test of time, and banter that has sparks that almost fly off the page.

Good Girl Complex is no different. It took a minute for me to warm up to the characters themselves but their banter and connection wasn’t part of that.

This was a fun read.

Small town boy meets rich daddy’s girl. Except, maybe Mackenzie is more than what Cooper sees on the surface. I love fake bet relationship to dating troupes.
What starts as a revenge bet to get back at the guy who got him fired, Cooper wants to take something from Preston, something that this entitled rich boy will actually miss, his girlfriend.
It always starts like this. You get in over your head and say stuff you are later going to regret. Cooper starts to realize that Mackenzie isn’t another one of the ‘clones’ who pass through his coastal town. He sees more behind the image she projects to others, and it dawns on him, he might actually be falling for this girl.
Mackenzie has grown up knowing one thing, don’t rock the boat. Her life has been laid out before her and she knows how it’s going to end. Married to Preston and a stay at home house wife who has no passion of her own. Mackenzie is starting to realize, that’s not enough anymore. She wants more than the life she was born into.
I didn’t like that Cooper didn’t say anything about why he first went up to Mackenzie before sleeping with her. Especially since he actually likes her and she was already broken up with Preston at this point, so no reason for the lie. 🤷🏻‍♀️ what are you going to do though? Everything eventually worked it self out.
I did have a feeling this whole time that the truth was going to come from Heidi because she was jealous.. and what do you know, it was her. Girls always gotta be putting each other down.
This books was amazing overall and I cannot wait till it’s released in February 2022. It seems so far away.

Overall, I liked this book. I would not recommend this for a curriculum or course, but would encourage older, mature students to read this on their own. There are themes of being independent and going against a plan that wasn’t designed for you, along with escaping the clutches of family who no longer fit into the life you’ve made because of betrayal. I enjoyed the “fight” in both characters. The intimate scenes may be too much for students in high school, but again, those about to graduate may resonate with the main character who is also trying to find her own path after high school.

I recently got into Elle Kennedy's books and they have been fun, guilty pleasure reads. This one has a good girl/rich bad boy trope. Honestly, this was such a fun book. I went in knowing what to expect- it's not something I'd reread, but I enjoyed it.

In typical Elle Kennedy fashion this book has me hooked. I've thoroughly enjoyed every one of her books to date so when I saw this one I was more than intrigued to see what she had up her sleeves and it certainly did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the dynamic of Collin and Mackenzie, the playful banter they had from the beginning of Collins hopeful arrangement was so enjoyable and I found myself rooting for them. I also loved Mac's constant inner battle put out so clear for the reader convincing herself not to feel was she was inevitably feeling through the dual POVS. While I don't typically gravitate towards books with cheating, I selfishly loved Collin and just wanted them to be together. One of those books I wish I could read again for the first time.

4.5/5 Stars!!

Good Girl Complex is the perfect summer beach read, with likable characters, a fun setting, and a cute dog. The chemistry between Mac and Cooper was obvious and real, and their whole dynamic gave off "Noah & Allie" vibes, and their banter was effortless and entertaining. Add in a cute dog to the mix, and you have a winner.

This book left me feeling a little... underwhelmed.

This book follows Mac who moves to a small college town even though she really has no desire to be in college but she feels obligated since it's what her parents and boyfriend expect of her. Mac is already successful in her own right since she has created her own app just after graduating prep school. Then she meets Cooper. a townie and they strike up an unlikely friendship when he realizes she does not act like the other '' rich kids ''.

The plot is by no means original I feel like I've read at least 3 different books that had plots very similar to this one which made the story very predictable. I think where this book gained some points was the characters for me. Mac felt well fleshed out and even though we come from extremely different backgrounds I still found myself being able to relate to Mac and understand why she made the choices she did. Cooper was definitely swoon-worthy and I loved the banter between him and Mac. Also, the romance between them made sense and didn't feel rushed. I also enjoyed reading about Cooper's friend group and especially loved his twin brother, Evan. I really hope Evan gets his own book. That boy deserves to find love and heal! Mac and Even friendship so cute!

So overall, I did enjoy this book just didn't love it. I was left feeling a little unsatisfied.

Elle Kennedy fans get ready for your next favourite read!!

I was lucky enough to be granted a NetGalley preview of this one and I am so happy! I am in love with this book. One day read and it hit every yearning I had for a Kennedy style story. I was craving a college romance and Kennedy provided in every way she promises! This book is easily one of my favourites of hers.


Mackenzie is the good girl-always doing what she can to make everyone around her, especially her parents and boyfriend happy, all while putting aside what she really wants. Cooper is the stereotypical bad boy, hardworking but comes with baggage and a temper that gets him into trouble. The two cross paths in a interesting way, neither expecting the connection they find. Do they pretend they aren’t feeling anything, or go with their gut and take a risk?

I loved the characters in this story, I do wish Bonnie and Daisy had a bigger appearance! Mac and Cooper both go on a journey to become their true selves and realize what they really want in life. Their connection is sexy and undeniable. The flirting and the spice kept me on my toes and grinning the entire story. Both characters are very passionate, stubborn and loyal. They are complete opposites, which is lovely to read as I believe they’re realistic! It’s something that shouldn’t work but did. I like how the story shows relationships where friends are family as that happens often in life! I kinda wanna go back and read it all over again! No complaints on this one it was perfect.

This was such a great read. It was witty and made me laugh. I instantly fell in love with the characters and story line.

Good Girl Complex is on the surface a light and fun romantic beach read. However, under the surface, it touches on some very real and interesting class issues.

It follows the story of Mac and Cooper, two people who come from totally different worlds that find themselves thrown together in one small beach side college town. What starts as an effort for Cooper to get back at Mac's boyfriend turns into a real relationship between two very different people. The book tells us what happens as they try to navigate the differences between them and try to figure out whether love truly is enough.

I loved this book! The main characters were likeable. There is more to them than meets the eye in the first couple chapters. I really enjoyed the pacing as well. Perfect, lighthearted summer read!!

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m an absolute sucker for contemporary romance, so this book was already sold in my mind. But the way you get to watch Mackenzie and Cooper’s love story unfold is incomparable. It took me far too long to read, but it was worth every second of it. I’m glad I savored it.

By the end of the book, I had cried many times. The raw emotion Elle Kennedy manages to make you feel for these characters is incredible. She has the power to make you feel every emotion the characters are feeling. There are lovable side characters to root for. A great budding romance that’s a little forbidden between a rich girl and a poor boy. Plus a cute dog thrown in there.

Overall, it’s perfect. This was the first book I’ve ever read by Elle Kennedy, and it’s safe to say I will be checking out more of her work. I was in awe of this book and the writing while reading it. When this book officially releases in early 2022, go ahead and buy it. Binge it. You will love it.

Well I was looking for a great summer romance book to read and I found it in Good Girl Complex. With an amazing story and characters who you will remember long after the last chapters. I loved everything about this story. As a fan of Elle Kennedy I can’t wait to read what she writes next. This is a great beach read that will be a hit!!!

I’m not really sure where to start with this book. I tried to do my own synopsis but I couldn’t figure out how to do that without my feelings getting in the way of this one - so just read the synopsis on GoodReads. .

A couple days ago I posted that I was getting really frustrated with Elle Kennedy books - for a few specific reasons. Her characters are all white, skinny and for the most part, rich. I feel like this book, just like the entire Off-Campus and BriarU series, has a crippling lack of diversity. The fact of the matter is, Elle Kennedy writes rich white kids and struggling young adults really well, and that’s what this book is. It’s a rich kid struggling to figure out who she is and is going to be. It’s a whole crew of broken townies who are making their own way in the world.

That being said, Elle Kennedy has a way of brining you along side her characters and you get sucked right in to all the NA drama. I don’t like the love triangle trope at all, and was on the fence about how Mac and Cooper’s relationship came to be. Mac’s boyfriend Preston was cheating on her and she was essentially cheating on him too. Even though after Coop and Mac’s first kiss, she comes clean, I still felt icky about it. And the dare trope (I don’t really know what else to call it) is getting really old, really quickly. It’s a really shitty thing to do, and my patience for it is 0.

All this being said, I did like this book. I liked Mac and Cooper a lot and their relationship worked really well. I think there was some truly A+ grovelling at the end. I’m just super torn about this book. But if you like Elle Kennedy’s books, I promise you will love this one too.

CWs: Cheating, lying, toxic parental relationships

Thank you to SMP Romance, NetGalley and Elle Kennedy for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I am a huge fan of Elle Kennedy so I was so excited to read this and it did not disappoint! This was an opposites attract romance, as Cooper is a bad boy and a townie, while Mac is a rich girl new to town to attend college. After Mac’s boyfriend gets Cooper fired from his job, Cooper makes a bet with his friends that he can steal Mac from her boyfriend to get revenge on him. He realizes almost immediately after meeting Mac that he actually likes her and they develop real feelings for each other. The only thing I didn’t like about this book was how long it took for Mac to find out about Cooper’s initial intentions with her.

This book set up so many characters to get their own spin-off book, and I could easily see this becoming another popular series like Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus/Briar U series. Fans of those series will absolutely love this book!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

A great summer romance novel by Elle Kennedy. I couldn’t put it down once I started it. I loved all the characters and hope we get to see more of them in the future. Overall it was a great read the only complaint I had was the rushed ending. I wish there was an epilogue.