I listened to this book on audio and the narration was very good.
The story was pretty interesting and definitely hit a different direction than I was expecting.
I don't know what it was but I didn't love it as much as Good Girl Complex but it was definitely enjoyable and I am glad I listened in audio because I think it really helped to keep my attention.
I think Evan and Gen were alike but different the first time they were together and I feel like their separation helped them to grow into two people that could eventually reconcile. It was nice to see a continuation of all the characters from the first book.

3.5 stars. Former bad girl Genevieve has returned to Avalon Bay to help her father and her brothers with the family business. When she left a year ago, she also left behind bad boy Evan. She’s determined to keep moving forward with her life and continuing to grow, but can she do that with Evan and their past around every corner, in a town that only remembers her bad girl ways?

It was nice to revisit this cast of characters and Avalon Bay. I loved how strong Gen is, while also being relatable. Coming back to a place where she knows she may struggle, and being vulnerable enough to acknowledge these thoughts, but still sticking to her convictions and continuously working towards her goals. I found Evan’s sudden change to be a little less believable, but still sweet overall. He knew Gen was it for him and he was prepared to work on making the changes he needed to make to show her that he could stick to it and that they would work together.

And as always with Elle, it’s got the perfect amount of spice to accompany the story.

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC!

“Bad Girl Reputation” is worth the hype. This second chance romance is both fast-paced and, well, romantic. It's also about trying to be a better person and all the difficulties that go along with It. Both Gen and Evan had their own personal issues to work through to be able to be together.

*Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I am usually a big fan of second chance romance, but this one fell flat for me. Second chance romance reads well when it isn't a toxic relationship, which this very much was between Gen and Evan.

I picked this one up and put it down a couple of times before finishing it. I'd call it a rom com but I didn't think much was funny about it. If you enjoy Elle Kennedy's writing I recommend this book, but I think I'll steer clear of this series going forward.

Bad Girl Reputation features the second Hartley twin and his electric chemistry with ex-girlfriend Gen. Readers will love their tension and seeing the town of Avalon expand. The pacing is similar to Good Girl Complex, with a conclusion that feels rushed.

I honestly don't care for typical romantic cliches (second chance, bad boy, etc.) very much, however I really enjoyed them in this book. Maybe it's because I've been so busy with school and work, but whenever I had the chance, it was great to just turn off my brain and lose myself in the world of Avalon Bay. I've grown to adore Gen and Evan as well as the small town that's featured and all of its colorful side characters. In contrast to other books in the genre, Genevieve and Evan's characters develop throughout the narrative, but the changes feel gradual to them rather than drastic. I'm eager to read the first book in the series, which I had no knowledge of, and the next installment, which will be published in the following year. Many thanks for the arc to Elle Kennedy and Netgalley!

Rating: 3.5

This book had great character development that felt true to life and also unique; it portrays the difficulty of staying away from someone you love in order to lead a healthier and happier life. I don't think I've see this before in a romance. Since it's romance, it's got an HEA and it does allow for the couple to have a second chance, but the path there feels well-earned. I really enjoyed this, but I will admit it dragged in the second half for me. It probably could have been edited down a bit. Still, I'd recommend this book as well as the other book in the series, Good Girl Complex.

I was overwhelmingly disappointed in this book. I was very excited to jump into another messy Elle Kennedy romance. However, this book was all mess and nothing else. The characters were all unlikeable. The dialogue was extremely cringy and the plot was subpar.

The romance was a second chance of sorts, but it felt more like a bully romance with some weird physical attraction that neither characters could shake off. Once the story and romance started to pick up, I was so annoyed by the characters by that point I had lost all interest.

The only thing I enjoyed (enjoyed is a strong word 😬) about the book was the bit of backstory and character growth that Genevieve talks about towards the end.

I received a copy of Bad Girl Reputation from the publisher, but it was recommended that I read Good Girl Complex first. I agree with this as this duology is a story of twin brothers, Cooper (Coop) and Evan Harley. In this story we meet Evan's best friend, Genevieve West (Gen) who has returned to Avalon Bay after the death of her mother. She had no intention of staying, but when her father asked her to stay and help with the family business, doing the administration stuff her mother did, she agreed to stay until they found a replacement. Gen has a terrible reputation of being the party girl, getting drunk and doing stupid things. Before she left the first time, her and Evan were a couple, wreaking havoc together. Gen has reformed and matured, but being around Evan scares her. Evan seems to be on a self-destructive path and Gen tries to stay as far away from him as she can. He vows to reform as well and his path as well as his attempts to "woo" Gen is an entertaining story.

I think I liked this book better than the first one. Gen had come a long way in her life and fearing she would fall back into her old life is a very realistic feeling. There is also a person from her past who has it out for her and will do whatever he can to ruin her name, reputation and drive her out of town. Once again, Evan's mother makes an appearance and I liked watching them try to reconcile. Evan is an interesting character who has a lot of demons. His life is so entrenched in being self-centered and only doing what makes him feel good, but does it really, that I wasn't sure he would be able to change, even for Gen. When he gets involved in volunteer work to show Gen he isn't the selfish guy she thinks he is, I almost died of laughter. Some of the things that happen were absolutely hilarious. The secondary characters were all great and I loved how protective Gen's family was. Her father, who was absent due to the family business for much of her life, really comes around and steps up when she needs him. There are some heavy issues in this book: addiction, alcohol abuse, mental health, sexual harassment, police abuse, family breakdown, and classism. I will warn you, there is a lot of open door bedroom scenes that were very steamy, so if that is something you don't want, then you might steer away from this series. Although I fast forward through those scenes, the story itself was a good one that I very much enjoyed.

I loved the first book of this series but I hated this one. Why was she made out to see that these guys wanted her I mean come on and the. String 2 along why what was the point maybe if your 13 and wanna read something but I nope!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing the ARC.

I loved the first book in this series, and I was curious to see where the second book would go. Not gonna lie, I was almost put off by the toxicity of Evan and Gen's relationship intially, but I'm glad I finished the book.

Both characters go through a lot of growth during the book, and as a result their relationship is a lot healthier, but in the beginning, they were incredibly immature. Especially Evan.

The story was good, but I didn't quite enjoy it as much as the first one. However, it's still a strong addition to the series.

I ended up listening to this on audio after hearing some not so great reviews from some friends that like Elle K books. I do think it was my least favorite because there was just so much push and pull to get these two together that it felt more frustrating and left me feeling a little bit like.... are these characters even good together? However, her writing still shone through and it was entertaining and easy to read the book. I'd still recommend it for fans of Elle.

I really enjoyed this second chance love story. Bad Girl Reputation is the second book in the Avalon Bay series. It can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading Good Girl Complex first.

Genevieve and Evan were together before she left the small coastal town where they grew up. She was a party girl and he was a bad boy. Their relationship was a little toxic and messy. When she left town, she never even said good bye to Evan, but now she's moved back to town after the death of her mom. Evan is dead set on winning Genevieve back, but she doesn't want to get stuck in the same behavior patterns that she had when she was young.

I loved how these characters embraces their imperfections to grow together. They are both flawed, but love each other enough to want to evolve and be better. They also had great chemistry.

This book would be a great summer beach read. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. The Summer Girl will be out in July 2023.

I'm not sure if I actually like Elle Kennedy's writing but something about it is kind of comforting? I know pretty much what is going to happen and so it's easy to just focus on the story and not have to think too much. I liked Bad Girl Reputation more than Good Girl Complex. I don't know if it was the characters or what. Her books seem to follow a specific formula so overall the plot is pretty similar.

This was a quick, enjoyable second chance romance. I loved the characters and their attraction.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

When I first started this book, I wasn’t sure if I was going to love it or not because second-chance tropes are not my fave. But once I got into this book, I couldn’t put it down! Gen and Evan had a very toxic and wild relationship in the past. As the story goes on, Gen is wanting to change herself for the better and not be stuck in a toxic rut. Evan decides to do the same.

I truly enjoyed how their relationship blossomed over the book. It’s clear they have an intense connection to each other so watching them grow on their journey of growth together and separately was so inspiring!

I thought this book was going to be about young lovers but it dives into some tough topics along the way of their journeys of growth. Elle really did an amazing job with this story and these characters 💜

After reading Good Girl Complex, I was intrigued to learn more about the relationship between Evan & Genevieve. As it turned out, I fell madly in love with them. At first they were pretty toxic for one another, and I could completely understand why Gen didn’t want to be back home, around Evan. But the two of them were like magnets for each other. No matter how hard Gen tried to stay away, she just couldn’t. Evan understood her in ways no one else could. He really “manned up” for her and showed her that he could be who she needed. I was proud of Evan for that, especially considering his behavior in Good Girl Complex. I loved that they were just always meant to be from the very beginning, despite all that came between them. Their story was really well done!

I love Elle Kennedy's books! Loved that this took place in the same universe and Good Girl Complex. Great characters, pacing, and chemistry. Super cute read.

After reading Good Girl Complex, I was excited to continue with this series. However, I did not like this book. I disliked the characters right from the start and that made it incredibly hard for me to continue reading. They both seemed extremely immature and their relationship appeared to be extremely toxic (A few examples from the first couple pages: Evan tries to sleep with her at her mother’s funeral and is upset that she finally returned to town without telling him.) I don’t think I made it halfway before I stopped reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin, and Elle Kennedy for an e-arc of Bad Girl Reputation in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! I've always been a fan of Elle Kennedys books, and this one is just another one to add to my collection. I love a good second chance romance, especially when they don't really want to admit the feelings are still there at first. You can just tell that Genevieve and Evan are meant to be, its light a magnet just keeps pulling them together. There is so much heat between them, and such love for each other. If you love a good romance that has a great second chance happy ever after, then this is for you. I highly recommend this book to all my fellow book lovers! : )