This book grabbed me from the first sentence. I enjoyed seeing Cooper and Mac fall in love. The classic good girl and guy from the wrong side of the tracks story. The characters are well done and the first half was great. I felt like it dragged on a little after they got together. And wasn't as excited to get back to it as I was in the first half, but I still enjoyed it overall making it a four star read for me.
I listened to the audiobook. The narration alternates between Cooper and Mac's chapters and I think both narrators did a great job.

This lovely book featured some classic troupes (good girl/bad boy, poor boy/rich girl and the betting start) and it was an enjoyable read. I appreciated the chemistry between Mac and Cooper. I would’ve liked Mac to have more real friends of her own and just really felt for her isolation in everything. I appreciated her strong will though. I personally would’ve liked more depth in relation to their traumas but I appreciate that the book remained a light read.

Such a fun and sexy read! Like Gossip Girl on the beach.

Cooper Hartley hates the entitled rich kids who infiltrate his hometown every college season. When one gets him fired from his job, Cooper and his friends decide Cooper should steal his girlfriend to teach him a lesson. That’s how Mackenzie “Mac” Cabot meets Cooper Hartley. She’s only in college and dating her boring, cheating boyfriend to live up to her parents expectations.

As Cooper gets closer to Mackenzie, he realizes she isn’t just another clone trust-fund kid. But if she finds out why he pursued her in the first place, it could ruin everything for them.

The chemistry between the main characters was palpable. The character growth was great and every character was well rounded. The side characters were all interesting enough to have their own books (which may be the goal? unsure.). I would’ve liked this more if it wasn’t borderline miscommunication trope which should honestly be illegal. Like, just talk to each other and be honest. It isn’t that difficult. If you are looking for a quick, easy read, I recommend.

Tropes: rich/good girl / bad boy

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

**4.5 Stars**

I love Elle Kennedy. She has always been and will always be a one click author for me. It's been a while since she's ventured out of the Briar world, so I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. I'll be honest, I was even a little nervous. However, I am so happy to say it did not disappoint.

One of the things I loved most about this book was how awesome Mac is. She's not a vapid rich girl, she doesn't look down her nose at anyone, and she just wants to be happy and make it on her own merit. She is everything I love in a h. I also loved the way she handled the inevitable conflict at the end. Girl knew her worth and wasn't going to settle for less.

Cooper was great, but I totally wanted to shake him at some points. I really liked how he treated Mac, with the exception of the initial bet. He always stood up for her when it came to his friends and even his brother. He put their happiness first and I thought it was really brave and admirable. He was honestly almost everything I love in a good book boyfriend. I say "almost" because, well obviously, he was a huge jerk for making the bet in the first place.

The side characters were also really great. That's definitely something I have to give Elle Kennedy credit for- she always does great with side characters. The only one who kind of felt useless was Bonnie. I'm not entirely sure why she was even there, to be honest. That being said, it's not like she was a detriment to the story so I'm not mad about it. And Evan? Man I hope if this is a series that he gets a book. And Tate, too. That man intrigues me.

The reason I am knocking a half of a star off is because WHY IS THERE NO EPILOGUE?! I didn't realize it was the last page until it was the last page. This is absolutely a book that needs one. Where is the big finished project reveal?! Where is the HEA?! This is definitely a HFN without the epilogue. COME ON, ELLE! GIVE US AN EPILOGUE!

The narrators were fantastic! I love Ava Erickson and I always enjoy Joe Arden. It was a great cast and I'm so glad I was able to listen to an ALC of this one.

Overall, I loved this book and will happily read it again.

I am a huge Elle Kennedy fan. But cheating is a no go for me. I did not finish this book because I couldn’t move forward.

I just couldn't get into this one. I've tried reading Elle Kennedy's books in the past with no luck and I was hoping that listening to the audiobook might make the experience different, but her writing style just isn't for me. Very cliche, though I do like the voices of those who narrated the book.

This book was amazing! Elle Kennedy delivered an amazing story as always I was inside this world with these characters! They will stick with me! Ahhh so good. Loved it can't wait for more!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc of Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy.

When Cooper meets Mackenzie at a bar one night it is with only one thing on his mind, revenge. Mac's boyfriend had gotten Cooper fired from his job and he wants to hurt him back. But what happens when this doesn't exactly go as planned?

This was an enjoyable, if predictable, romance novel. It wasn't anything special, though Kennedy did surprise me with the way that she revealed certain things in her novel, but it was enjoyable, fun, and tugged at the heart strings. It was fun to follow Mac and Cooper's budding romance and giving Mac more agency through the story was certainly something fun to watch.

Overall I thought the whole book was just a bit too long, some things could have been shortened just a bit, but it was fun and probably the fastest I've ever listened to an audiobook.

Based on the cover, title, and summary, I had expected this book to be about a goody-two-shoes that has a chance to live life to the fullest outside of the constraints of her childhood. I love a great character arc but found this to be more or less missing.
The banter between Mac and Cooper was amusing and I can't deny how much I will always enjoy that back and forth. The friends and family members on both sides were quite awful. I'm not a fan of the excessive language and the overall premise was difficult to get behind. I can't stand cheating and it happened from all possible angles, without much to redeem its presence.
As for the narration, the dual POV is performed well by Joe Arden and Ava Erickson. Joe's voice is like verbal honey. He can read me a grocery list and I will have heart eyes.
Romance: Open Door
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I love a good girl bad boy romance. The chemistry between Mack and Cooper is palpable. The steam level is 🔥🔥🔥! Enjoyed seeing Mack grow and care less about societal expectations. Nice to see a girl boss living her dream.

Rich girl, Mackenzie "Mac" Cabot meets the super sexy, handsome bad boy townie, Cooper Hartley. She feels the pull and attraction. But (there is always a but), she has been dating Preston for quite some time. It is expected. She and Preston are from the same circles. Their parents approve - they are the perfect match on paper but....

Mac wants more out of life. She has created her own business and is ready to put her people pleasing days behind her. She has always done what is expected of her. But meeting Cooper has lit a fire inside of her.

This was a fun audio book. I enjoy both narrators. Hearing the distinct voices really worked for me. I enjoyed all the characters, except for one - guess which one that was! Mack and Cooper have chemistry and I enjoyed how his brother came around and stopped seeing her as a rich clone but as a person.

My one complaint is that this felt a little long at times, but overall, I enjoyed this book and kept finding ways to listen throughout the day! This was fun, steamy and worth the listen.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the story of Mac and Cooper. This book was a great example of good girl falling for the bad boy while he had a bet that he could get her into bed… the storyline kind of gave me How to Lose a Guy in 10 days type of vibe but with a younger couple.

However, while this bet was sparked by Cooper’s need to get revenge on Mac’s asshole boyfriend he didn’t care that Mac was caught in the middle of this bet for revenge and was going to be collateral damage for someone else’s bad behavior because initially to Cooper, her feelings didn’t matter as long as he could get revenge on Preston and the other ‘rich clones’ that were taking from the locals… until her feelings did matter…

Cooper and Mac had really great chemistry and there was a lot of tension and build up that it too was steamy until the real steam of their story kicked in.

I initially wasn’t in love with the fact that at 20, Mac had her shit mostly together and already a millionaire in her own right in storyline as that made her struggles later in the book all too easy for her to deal with when trouble with her family came and subsequently then trouble with her relationship with Cooper did as well… but it did feel accurate to the ease of building a business and having success at a young age that is easier if you come from an affluent family.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC of this audiobook! I am so thankful to obtain a copy to read in advance of its release!

This on audio was amazing! True escape-ism. Loved sneaking in chunks of the book and loved the characters. I need more from these characters…

I love Elle Kennedy and this audiobook was fantastic! I did find a lot of the characters pretty unlikable, but I enjoyed the setting and I enjoyed the opposites attract trope with the hero/heroine! Overall this one was a little underwhelming, but a decent time passer.

This is a fast pasted read! Enjoyed it but was a little rated r for my personal taste. The story line was well done

3.5⭐️

Embarrassingly, this is my very first Elle Kennedy book and let me tell you, her writing does not disappoint! Such great flow and I buzzed right through this book with a combo of reading the physical book and listening on audio.

I really liked both of the main characters and while they are NA, the dialogue felt super mature. I enjoyed the beach setting and especially loved Mac’s independence.

My issues were with the plot - immediately the premise felt pretty problematic. Too much cheating and lying. While the writing was great, it didn’t sit well with me - which is definitely a personal preference. I definitely wanted an epilogue here - but I have a feeling that this may be the start of a series - so I’m still hopeful for an update!

The audio was incredible and both narrators really brought each character to life!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

Good Girl Complex follows the story of Mackenzie and Copper. Mackenzie is a rich, people pleasing, "good girl" who have a 4 year boyfriend. She has just moved to this small town for College. Cooper is a typical bad boy townie who had a problematic past. He makes a bet with his friends to make Mac to break up with her boyfriend Preston , to get back at Preston for costing him his job.

It gave me "After" vibes but less broody .I loved the After series . but in this book, the amount of times cheating was mentioned, was very triggering. Mac's boyfriend cheated on her but she also cheated on him, that makes them the same cheating shits . It was the only thing that I didn't like. Otherwise it was good.

The writing style was amazing. It was a dual POV. I love how she stood up the parents and her boyfriend. The narration was good. I would maybe recommend it if you don't have a problem with the cheating aspect.

OUT FEBRUARY 1ST

Thank you to NetGalley , Macmillan Audio, and SMP for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: cheating, toxic relationship with parents, death of parent due to drunk driving (past, off-page), parental abandonment, misogyny, sexism

While I enjoyed the small town beach setting and hope that there is a trend of NA being a category fully, I couldn't connect with this one. I struggle with red herring trope books as well as cheating and that is unfortunately the main crux of this book with some deception thrown in. It made it difficult to buy into the relationship. This book really centered on heteronormative gender stereotypes and in 2022 I would want more from a book.

Steam: 3

I really liked this book. The relationship progressed at a believable pace yet it wasn’t slow, the female character was a driven independent woman, the male character was sexy and broody but funny and lighthearted. It was sexy, it had expected conflict but it didn’t make me roll my eyes, and I just wanted to keep reading any time I wasn’t.
If you like sexy romance this is definitely one you should pick up.

I received an advance listening copy from netgalley and macmillan audio in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve been a fan of Elle Kennedy for a few years, so I was really excited to get this ALC. First of all, I want to say that I really enjoyed the narrators; they sounded really good as Mac and Cooper. Other than that this story fell a bit flat for me. Every character to ‘too something’. The ex-boyfriend was too douche-y, the towny love interest was too jaded, the jealous girl was too catty. Also the amount of lying or omission of details seemed a bit extreme for the new adult crowd. I still enjoyed the HEA and small amount of spice, but I was hoping for more.