Elle Kennedy did it again with this amazing new romance. Her characters are always interesting and easy to love and every time I pick one of her books up I can’t put it down until I finish it.

If you weren't a huge fan of this book, there is a very good chance you won't love this one either.

Gen is back in Avalon Bay to attend her mother's funeral & ends up staying on to help her father run his business when he asks for help. Evan is ecstatic to find out that his on and off again girlfriend is back in town, but when Gen tells Evan that is trying to be a better person & doesn't want to get back together with him because she is afraid that she will go back to her bad girl ways, Evan will do anything he can to get Gen back.

I love a good second chance romance book, but this was not it. Genevieve is supposed to be this bad ass character but honestly she was just a horrible person in my opinion. Her whole storyline in this novel is fighting her addictions and trying to be a better person without losing herself, but she never actually does anything to be 'nice' in the whole book, she leads on a very nice guy that wants to date her, she talks shit about her friends and judges how they party and she can't.
I liked Evan's storyline a bit more, he is still the same Evan we meet in the first book for the first 20% of this book, then he decides that he will do anything to win Gen back & actually tries to be a good person by volunteering and later on taking on a little brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters. The only reason I gave this book 2 stars was because I loved the relationship Evan had with his little bother Riley, they were super cute & I think he made a good mentor for the kid.

I could not get into the romance at all in this book. Gen and Evan have such a toxic history, and throughout the story they have some great smut but they are absolutely horrible for each other. I think realistically they would have been much happier going their separate ways & I just could not ship their relationship at all.

Other than my issues with the characters and the romance, the plot was just as predictable as the first book & I found myself skimming huge chunks of the book at a time. Overall it was not great & to be honest I think I am done reading books from this author. Its just not for me.

You know the one. That Ex. The one you couldn’t stay away from, even when you knew you should. The one that brought out the best and worst in you and knows the truest version of yourself. The one who exerted a magnetic pull on your heart so overwhelmingly powerful, you had to flee to hold onto some sense of self-preservation. Only to come running back to fall into it all over again.

That’s Evan and Genevieve. After a year away to get her life together, Gen ends up back in Avalon Bay. It’s no surprise to anyone when she and Evan can’t stay apart. Old habits die hard, after all. But Gen is determined to figure out who she is without the alcohol-fueled questionable decisions, and that means parting ways with all remnants of the girl she used to be. Including the bad-boy love interest. So what happens when the bad boy decides to clean up his act? Can people really change?

If you liked Good Girl Complex, you’ll enjoy seeing some familiar faces again. AKA the “F*ck Around and Find Out Society.” 🤭 Keep an eye out for Avalon Bay # 3 next year!

CW: Sexual assault, domestic violence

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the complimentary advance copy of this work! Opinions expressed here are my own.

I really like Evan and Gen!! This story is about a second chance romance between Genevieve and Evan. Genevieve returns back to her small hometown for her mother’s funeral unfortunately she also runs into Evan. These two have so much passion for each other. They just seem to be destined to be together. I really love the character development both went through throughout the story. Each one realized themselves they needed to change from the “bad” type to more mature growing up. In turns their relationship seems to blossom but of course there are some bumpy road and a lot of passion! This is the second book in the Avalon series. This book can be read as a stand-alone or as a follow up to The Good Girl Complex.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!

I absolutely loved Good Girl Complex so I was so excited to head back to Avalon Bay and hang out with my favorite group of mischievous townies again. This book follows Evan and Gen, high school sweethearts who were on again off again until Gen one day disappeared without any explanation. Now she’s back and trying to turn a new page, but will Evan bring her down or change with her?

I loved that we got more a look into Evan and what he’s been through. He was a hard character to like in the first book and you just really find yourself rooting for him. I love a good character/healing arc and we got TWO in this one! Both Evan and Gen do a lot of soul searching, and following Evan as he googles and Carrie’s out “how to be a model citizen” is really the best. It was so interesting to hear both of their perspectives on their past and the,m navigate responsibility for the younger versions of themselves.

While I loved Evan and Gen, I was a little disappointed about how Cooper was written. I get that it’s all from Evan’s perspective so it’s already a different light than how we saw Cooper in book 1, but man Coop kinda sucked big time in this. Felt very much like a SJM/Rhys/ACOSF situation. He was built up as his great guy and then immediately taken down SO many notches.

I was really glad the conflict Gen ran away from was resolved in the way it was. It wasn’t too drawn out or dramatic, nor was it downplayed. It didn’t feel manufactured but felt like a real conflict.

Lastly, the CHEMISTRY. Woooweee. ‘‘Twas great. I could not get ENOUGH. 2-3 chili peppers I’d say. Also I read this in a day. It was so fast and easy to read and I didn’t want to put it down!!

I really enjoyed this one and am excited to read more Elle Kennedy!

This was a great continuation of the Avalon Bay series, and I loved being able to read
Evan's story. In Good Girl Complex he became one of the characters that I eventually by the end of the story loved. His story and the brief mention of Gen intrigued me in Good Girl Complex, so being able to see them both within this book was great. Not only does the past get revealed, but feels stir between them again and old sparks reignite. This story kept me hooked and invested from the very first page. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book.

Thank you so much for this ARC! I loved this sequel so much. I think Evan is the perfect golden retriever mixed with baggage that makes him grumpy and lovable. I am a sucker for second chance romances and this beach read/summer story did not disappoint.

I didn’t connect with Gen a ton and thought at times she was a bit unreasonable but once she got over some of her stuff I enjoyed her much more.

𝙱𝚊𝚍 𝙶𝚒𝚛𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗

By: Elle Kennedy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Pub Date: October 4, 2022

If you like these tropes this is a must read…

Second Chance
Small Town Romance
Childhood Romance
Self Growth

I was so excited to read this book and find out Genevieve and Evan’s story. I absolutely loved it. In Good Girl Complex you see how much Evan was struggling with Gen left without saying goodbye. When Gen comes back a year later Evan and her cannot keep their hands off each other. Evan is still in love with her, while Gen is trying to stay her distance from him and staying sober trying to improve herself. Throughout the book keeps Evan keeps trying to prove her wrong that he can change and be the guy for her. I just love their relationship. It was also fun seeing an appearance of Mac and Cooper. I don’t want to spoil it so I’m gonna leave it here!! It is definitely a must read, especially if you read Good Girl Complex!

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me this Arc for my honest review.

From @heasonmytbr

Thanks @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced copy of @ellekennedy33 Bad Girl Reputation. It comes out on October 4, 2022.

This is the second book in the Avalon Bay Series. The first book is Good Girl Complex, which I also highly recommend.

Bad girl Genevieve returns to town for her mother’s funeral and does her best to keep away from her ex, Evan West. They have had a combustible relationship since middle school and Gen is trying to be a better, less wild version of herself.

Evan knows Gen is it for him and decides to woo her to win her back for good. Seeing Gen try to do better inspires him to also try to shed his bad boy ways.

This book is about second chances, growing up and figuring out what you really want in life.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Tropes: small town, second chance romance

Genevieve West moves away from her hometown in an attempt to leave her old self behind, past relationship included. so when she is unexpectedly summoned home for her mother’s funeral, she is less than thrilled about running into her ex-boyfriend, Evan Hartley.

what was meant to be a quick trip turns into a much longer stay for Gen after her father asks her to help out with the family business by taking over her mother’s role. back in her small town, it’s inevitable that she and Evan will reconnect. but rekindling their old flame is not something Gen is interested in, despite what Evan wants.

as Gen tries to turn over a new leaf, Evan is eager to convince her that past reputations can be shed without forgoing all the good that came along the way.

i liked this book, but it wasn’t a favorite. it’s a simple read for when you want something predictable but enjoyable along the way. the chemistry and apparent tension between the love interests was realistic and raw, and I thought the author did a good job creating a lot of lovable characters.

there was nothing particular about this book that I didn’t like, but nothing that really stood out to me, either. i would equate this book to your standard grocery store chocolate chip cookie; sweet, simple, and satisfying in the sense that you know what you’re going to get.

thank you @netgalley & @stmartinspress for my #advancedreaderscopy of this book. Bad Girl Reputation is out now!

rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

in this book, we are following Gen and Evan (Cooper's twin brother from Good Girl Complex) who grew up in Avalon Bay together and eventually dated, until Gen abruptly left. a year after she left, she is back for her mother's funeral and to help her father keep the family business afloat. Evan is determined to win back her heart, no matter what it takes - Gen is adamant that Evan is no good for her, and brings out the worst in her. Evan decides that he has no choice other than to clean up his act and "woo her"...

this book was a fun read!!! Gen and Evan were SO FUNNY and I loved that we got both POVs. It was adorable seeing Evan try out multiple volunteer opportunities (🦜) and how dedicated he was to improving upon himself for Gen 🥺

I also loved that we got to see more of Cooper and Mac's relationship (from Good Girl Complex) and how it had grown. I really like when past characters keep popping up in the following books in a character series! with that said, I cannot wait to find out who will be next in the Avalon Bay Series!

if you loved good girl complex, you'll DEFINITELY want to pick this one up!

Before leaving town over a year ago, Genevieve West had developed a reputation for wild nights and her relationship with the one and only Evan Hartley. Her decision to leave town happened quickly and she left with no notice to anyone, even Evan. Only her own mothers funeral and her father’s need for help with the family business could have dragged her back. Being back in Avalon Bay means that she has to confront her past and decide who she wants to be (and who she wants to be with) going forward.

After reading Good Girl Complex, I was so excited to jump back into the lives of some of my favorite Avalon Bay characters. Seeing a new side to Evan after only getting glimpses into his life was the best part. It was fun to see a character that I was introduced to so long ago grow and learn what he wanted for his future and what was worth fighting for.

Genevieve was a great addition to the cast that I had already known. Her past connections to all the other characters felt incredibly natural. While I didnt get to see her growth in the way that I saw Evan’s, I still enjoyed getting to know her as a character and get little peeks into what she was like when the other characters knew her best.

This book is perfect for people who love a sequel that not only stays true to the first book, but enriches the world and the characters in a way that has you falling in love with them all over again.

This book just released yesterday, so make sure to check it out!

Make sure to check trigger warning

⅖ Spice

⅘ Stars

A huge thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Bad Girl Reputation follows Evan Hartley as his ex, Genevieve West returns to town after leaving without a word to him over a year ago. She’s trying to rehab her bad girl image because she doesn’t want to stay in that mold. Evan just wants her back and finds himself trying to better himself as well to do so.

Both Gen and Evan’s personal growth was probably my favorite thing about this book. They both decided to better themselves so that maybe they could be better together. They were both on reckless paths and understood that it wasn’t what they wanted anymore. The push and pull of their relationship only added to this.

Evan had so many sweet moments with Gen. He truly loved her and believed in her when nobody else did. I loved seeing him develop a relationship with his mom and with Riley. He continues to put himself out there despite being hurt in the past and I think that’s a testament to his character.

Overall, I really enjoyed so many things about this book. I felt it was a great story about bettering yourself and that you don’t necessarily have to lose who you are to be someone you are proud of, and I think a lot of people would relate to Gen and Evan’s journey.

Elle Kennedy has solidified her place on my must-read author lists. Her books are a great blend of sweet and spicy, and I loved getting to revisit Avalon Bay in this follow up to Good Girl Complex. While you don't need to have read the first book to enjoy this one, I do think having the foundational knowledge of the characters and setting enhances the reading experience.

Genevieve and Evan are at the center of this second-chance-at-love story, and I really enjoyed watching Evan work to recapture Genevieve's heart. Though their chemistry is undeniable, it's also clear that they both needed to do some growing up on their own before their relationship could work. This isn't just another spicy romance, there's real heart and soul to this story. I especially enjoyed watching Evan's Big Brother storyline - there are some real laugh out loud moments!

I'll be honest that I have mixed feelings on some of Elle Kennedy's earlier works - The Briar U series felt really one-note for me - but I'm excited by the potential she shows in Bad Girl Reputation, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she does next.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

I was super excited for this one because of how much I adored Good Girl Complex, and it didn’t disappoint! I loved finally getting Evan and Gen’s story, and learning a lot more about her since she was basically absent from the first book.

Second chance romance, while working on themselves to grow up and be better people? Epic. Also, I always love the heat between the characters in her books.

I hope we get more stories set in Avalon Bay! And maybe some updates on all the characters from both books? Pleeeeaase?

Definitely recommend!

📖BOOK REVIEW

🔥 Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy 🔥

Rating: 3/5 ⭐️
Spice: 2/5 🌶

Former “bad girl” Genevieve returns to Avalon Bay for her mom’s funeral after being gone for a year. The last person she wants to run into is her ex boyfriend, bad boy, Evan Hartley.

Gen and Evan have a long history together filled with drama, passion and wild behavior. When Evan sees Gen again, he makes it his mission to prove to her how perfect they are for each other and how he’s not the immature boy he once was.

This is the second book in the Avalon Bay series and I was hoping I would love Gen and Ethan’s story more than I did. Although I did think they had chemistry, I didn’t love the overall story. They both were supposed to be bad influences on each other but I didn’t really see it. Okay so they both partied in the past…they were in college! Who doesn’t party in college?! Their whole relationship was just a lot of back and forth and it just bothered me that Gen kept making BS excuses of why they couldn’t be together.

I also felt there were too many side stories in the book that I wasn’t very interested in. I wish the book was focused more on the love story and less about the side characters.
The ending felt rushed and left me feeling underwhelmed.

I wish I liked this series way more than I do since the Off Campus books are my favorite! Oh well, you can’t win them all! 🤷🏻‍♀️

What to expect:
✨ Second chance romance
✨ Dual POV’s
✨ Small town vibes
✨ Family drama

A big thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After finishing Good Girl Complex I was eagerly anticipating Evan's book. Kennedy did a wonderful job of bring this second chance romance to life. There were times where Gen and Evan drove me nuts, but they're in their early 20's so that is kind of to be expected.

Gen is returning after the death of her mother, she left abruptly to basically get her life together, which I would say is a success (no one is perfect). She's worried that being around Evan again would make her spiral so she is determined to avoid him, without success. They rekindle things and you could feel her growth there as she avoids the hard partying and drinking that she used to do.

Evan also shows some growth. At first he wants things to be the same between him and Gen, but finally realizes it can't be and that he also must change. The book takes place over a few months and I think it showcased Evan's change the best.

Bad Girl Reputation is an enjoyable and fast read.

✨BOOK REVIEW AND HAPPY (1 day late) PUB DAY✨

Swipe for GoodReads synopsis.

After reading Good Girl Complex, which is the first in this series, I was hesitant to read Bad Girl Reputation. In full transparency, GGC was a swing and a miss for me. However, BGR stole the show! Now normally I do not give spoilers in my reviews, but I feel as though it’s necessary to discuss them for this book to help get my points across. But what I will say as a spoiler free review is that this book did start off slow for me. It wasn’t until about 30% of the way through that things started to really grab my attention and make me want to fly through this book! So if you can hold out until then, then I think you might enjoy this book!

IF YOU DON’T WANT TO READ SPOILERS THEN STOP HERE.

LAST CHANCE.

Okay, spoilers in 3..2..1..

There were several things that I both loved and found lacking in this book. It is more so coming from the characters and their chemistry and then a few plot things that I wish more happened. I’ve broken it down below.

What didn’t work for me:
- [ ] There was more of the “bad cop” plot than the “dating a good guy” trope. I loved Harrison and wish we had seen more of him with Gen!
- [ ] I felt as though a lot of the chemistry between Evan and Gen was mostly physical. Now that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I wanted to see more of their growth as a COUPLE, not just individually.
- [ ] All the talk about “he’s a bad boy” and “she’s a bad girl” got to be annoying for me. It was set up in the first book and established in this one, that both Gen and Evan were “bad to the bone” but it was repeated so frequently throughout the book. I didn’t care about reading about their juvenile delinquency, especially when they had shown so much growth as adults.
- [ ] Where did Evan and Mac’s friendship go?! They had grown to be friends in GGC and I was hoping to see that blossom more in BGR but it didn’t happen. I really wish it had occurred.

What did work for me:
- [ ] The growth from both Gen and Evan on an individual scale! Oh my goodness, when it finally started clicking into place for them I was SO happy! Now obviously they were in different stages of their growth, but it was really cool to see! I wish there had been more on this or even growth as a COUPLE. I loved this part of the book.
- [ ] I really appreciate how Shelley was brought back into the story and not only that, but we got to catch a glimpse at HER growth. Obviously the twins had a rocky upbringing with her, but seeing them all try to turn over an ACTUAL new leaf was sweet.
- [ ] Seeing Evan with Riley and Gen with her Dad. Both of them believed and brought out the good in Evan and Gen. They influenced them on a level that I think helped spark the deeper level of growth that Evan and Gen experienced.
- [ ] AUNT LIZ AND HARRISON!!!! Oh my gosh I am so excited for them and hope we hear more about them throughout the series!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date 10/4/22

I have a confession: I did not enjoy this book.

I was very much looking forward to Gen and Evan’s story after finishing the first book in this series, but, after reading it, this felt messy, and a lot less put together than I normally expect from one of Elle’s books.

Heartfelt and sexy. I really endeared myself to Gen’s character. She was strong and making amends with herself while taking responsibility. A wonderful story of growing up and changing and still coming back to beginnings. Evan was persistent and flexible more that I imagined he would be. Showed his priorities and maturity. A good second installment to this series. Recommended for lighthearted and coming of age lovers.