Bad Girl Reputation follows Genevive and Evan- who broke up when Gen abruptly left town a year ago. Now she’s back, summoned to her mother’s funeral and needed to help her dad keep his business running. Evan is unwilling to let Gen go again- but it’ll take everything he’s got to convince Gen to give him a second chance. Genevive has sobered up and is determined to get her life back on track- which doesn’t include Evan. Yet the two can’t manage to stay away and the real reason why Gen left Avalon Bay comes up. Can Evan and Gen make it together or are they better off apart?

This was a great second-chance romance and I enjoyed being back in Avalon Bay. I really admired how determined Gen was to get her life back on track and how hard she worked to keep the family business going. I also loved how Evan never gave up on Gen, took her seriously, and decided to be an “upstanding citizen” to win her back. Evan and Gen have a long history and this was evident in how well they knew each other and could practically read each other's minds. Readers who read The Good Girl Complex will enjoy the cameos from Mac, Cooper, and Daisy. I’m curious to see who will be next in the series and look forward to reading more about Avalon Bay! Thank you to Elle Kennedy, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really, really looking forward to this one! I enjoyed it a lot, but I don’t think it’s as strong as the previous book (in true romance fashion, it makes a good standalone, though).

The twins… kind of got on my nerves. Cooper is really riding the line of toxic masculinity in this one. Evan is a little better, and I thought his transformation was sweet to watch.

Gen was definitely the best part. I felt like her struggle of being a bad girl gone good was done really well.

This was a fun read. Middle of the road for me, but still worth the time.

Evan Hartley (Cooper’s twin brother) and Genevieve West are notorious for being an on-again, off-again couple…that is, until Gen suddenly and unexpectedly leaves town without a goodbye. A year later, when Gen returns home to Avalon Bay for her mother’s funeral, she’s determined to prove to her family and friends that she’s matured and ditched her bad girl reputation and that involves staying far away from Evan Hartley. However, it’s near impossible to avoid her attraction to Evan while being back in Avalon Bay, especially since her dad has hired Evan’s company to do some home renovations. Gen believes that her and Evan are bad influences on each other, but Evan is determined to prove to Gen that he’s capable of change and deserves another chance.

Bad Girl Reputation is a contemporary new adult romance with the second chance romance and forced proximity tropes. It deals with themes such as change versus tradition, life and death, family (or lack there of) and friendship, addiction, growing up, abuse of power, good versus bad, as well as love and heartbreak. I should note the characters in this book briefly recount the death of a parent and an instance of sexual harassment, which could be triggering for some readers. Bad Girl Reputation would be perfect for fans of the Off-Campus and Briar U series by Elle Kennedy, the Beach Kingdom trilogy by Tessa Bailey, The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas, The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, and Every Summer After by Carley Fortune.

In my opinion, the moral of Gen and Evan’s story is that people can be capable of change; I think that it’s summed up nicely by this quote from the novel: “If the change is going to stick, you have to want it to. That means doing it for yourself, not only because you’re trying to impress someone else. Change, or don’t. Either way, you’re the one who’s got to live with the result”.

First off, I have to say that I was a bit disappointed with this series; I absolutely love Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus and Briar U series so, in comparison, her Avalon Bay series just didn’t live up to my high expectations. But admittedly, Bad Girl Reputation was significantly more enjoyable than the first book in this series, Good Girl Complex. Furthermore, it was great to already know most of the main characters from reading the first installment, along with some of the storylines. Even though you might be able to read Bad Girl Reputation as a standalone, I highly recommend reading Good Girl Complex first.

Cooper and Mac (the main characters in Good Girl Complex) continued to be prominent characters in this book; some of their storylines, like Mac’s hotel and Cooper’s drama with his mother, even carried over into Bad Girl Reputation. It was so cute and swoonworthy that Evan, despite his reputation for being a bad boy, tries to “woo” or court Gen, as if she’s the only girl in the world for him. He even starts doing some heartwarming charity work to try to prove to Gen (and himself) that he can be more than just a troublemaker. Furthermore, Gen and Evan’s relationship was passionate, sincere, and rife with history. Lastly, without spoiling anything, I thought that the ending was *chef’s kiss*.

On the downside, there were some missed opportunities in this book—for example, it probably would have been hilarious if Kennedy included a full description of Evan’s disastrous sailing attempt instead of just briefly recounting it.

The beautiful beachside setting of Avalon Bay makes Bad Boy Reputation a perfect summer read, or a great escapist read for the colder months. If you enjoy new adult romance and the second chance trope, then I highly recommend reading Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy.

Bad Girl Reputation
by Elle Kennedy
4 stars

I read the first Avalon bay series and this one is definitely better than the first. I liked how you get the little backstory of the two MCs. The Hartley brothers are back and oh to see them grow. I get the high school vibes but the way they all grow is so wonderful to read. Ya, they fight argue, and don't get it right but they get there in the end. Gen and Evan have been off and on for years and when she realized she needed to get her life together she ran so she wasn't getting pulled back into the old ways. I enjoyed seeing them grow and Gen face actual problems people have, It's not all rainbows.
Thank you, Net Galley and St. Martins Press for the eARC for an honest review

I wasn't sure about this book at first, but the more I read the more I liked it.

Gen and Evan were both frustrating characters at times, but their struggles and missteps felt realistic to a 20-something trying to figure out life. There was good character growth and I thought they both ended up in good places individually as well as a couple.

I hope there are more books to come in this series!

This was an okay book. I absolutely adore second chance romances, but Gen and Evan were a little messy. There was a lot to unpack there, and I got bored at times. Overall though, I have always enjoyed Elle Kennedy’s writing. It flows very well, and there are some great comedic moments in there. It just fell short in giving me the excitement and butterflies I normally want to feel.

I love Elle Kennedy and this lived up to her other books I have read. This book was so much more than just a cute love story. Bad Girl Reputation tells the story of Genevieve, who has a long history of bad decisions and mistakes, returning to her hometown and trying to make positive changes for herself. Her ex boyfriend, known to be a bad influence on her, starts coming around, which Genevieve worries will set her back with her personal changes and progress.

This book follows both Genevieve and her ex boyfriend, Evan, on their journey of growth, struggles, and complicated family dynamics.

My favourite part of this book were the characters. they were darker and rougher around the edges then a typical romance book, but Elle is great at diving deep into her characters and showing them as flawed and real, which I love about her writing.

This was a great read, thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins press for the eARC!

🔥🍻 Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy 🏝🍭

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5/5

👉🏼 Publishes 10/4!

Genre: RomCom
Tropes: Second chance romance, childhood lovers
⚠️ TW: Difficult family relationships, death of parent, mentioning of depression/postpartum depression

📖 Read if you like:
✌🏼 Dual POV
🏝 Beach settings
📖 Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy
✍🏼 “It was always you”
🎉 Bad boy x Ex-Party Girl

💭 My Thoughts:
If you liked Good Girl Complex, you’ll probably really like this one! The author weaved in mentioning Cooper and Mac a lot into this book, too. I enjoyed the character growth and reconciliation with multiple parties in this book. The book was cute overall, and if you liked the other, I’d recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

*This review will be posted to my Instagram page on pub day, 10/4.

In Elle Kennedy's new book, notorious bad girl, Gen, comes home when her mom's passed away. She left her small hometown after a night she'd prefer to forget. It's hard to forget, though, when she immediately sees her ex-boyfriend, who she might still be a little in love with. Gen has to decide what kind of life she wants.

Okay, so, I'm giving this 4/5 stars. As always, two stars and a wish...

First Star: I love how Kennedy handled Gen's drinking. It's nice to see any level of growth and change, but, especially, when it comes to drinking. There wasn't really much judgment, and those that did judge were able to betray their other character flaws.

Second Star: The steaminess was there. So much steam. It starts in chapter two and continues on. It's the type of steam that Kennedy is known for and I was here for it.

Wish: I wish that Evan had actually courted Gen properly. I feel like there was fun potential there that was missed. I also just feel like certain plot avenues were started and just kind of forgotten about. So, in that way, the book was a bit messy.

Overall, a fun read that is consistent with Elle Kennedy's style and characters that could have used just a tad more fine-tuning, in my opinion.

Bad Girl Reputation (Avalon Bay Series # 2) by Elle Kennedy.

Oh my, this story pulled at my heartstrings from the very first page and kept me captivated until the end. This second chance romance is a story full of drama, that really put me in the mind of these characters, making me feel their joy, their pain, their love, their lust, their fear, their anger, and their understanding, as they try to find their way.

It is about circumstances of our childhood that can shape us into the adults we become, how they can make us feel about ourselves, and how they stay with us. A story about redemption, forgiveness, second chances and the difficulties that come with shedding your past and trying to be a better version of yourself.

This was hard at times to watch Evan and Genevieve’s journey. I loved how hard she had worked and how she wanted to show everyone who she was now. How she had changed. How far she had come while she had been away. I could easily see how deeply they cared for each other. But watching him rise to the challenge to be a better person in order to be worthy of her was exhilarating and beautiful to watch.

The push and pull, their steamy banter, their sizzling chemistry and the rollercoaster ride of emotions was everything that I want and need in a great romance. So settle back and get ready for all the feels. Loved it!!

Received an early copy and this is my honest review.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book from
NetGalley after reading good girl complex and it did not disappoint. Now did I like it as much as the first? No, but I’m usually pretty biased about loving the first book couple. Evan and Gen have been an on and off again relationship since high school. Friends and partners in crime as well as lovers. Which at first seems like a perfect match but unfortunately this on off cycle continues into adulthood.

When Gen up and leaves one day with no goodbyes or reasons it leaves Evan jilted. Now she’s back and he can’t leave her alone even though she seems to be trying to ignore him. I found the back and forth of the characters a little tiresome at times, I just wanted them to communicate and figure it out. Throughout the book you do see the growth and maturity of Evan and Gen which makes you really fall into their story.

Evan and Gen rockily navigate not being together while sharing a friend group which leads to a lot of drama. This book definitely came filled with it and some surprises. Overall, I enjoyed this book; it was a quick read and you do eventually get to see the healing these two have to go through to get back to eachother.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC of Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy

This is my first time reading an Elle Kennedy book. and it didnt dissapoints me. Bad Girl reputation is about second chances and learning from your past mistakes. Gen and Evan's character grow on me. I recommend this book if you want to read an easy book.

Thank you SOOO much St Martin Press for the generosity of this ARC. I promise you I never take them for granted <3

Genevive and Evan bring us back to Avalon Bay, and let me tell you (as we would say in Spanish, 'Donde hubo fuego, cenizas quedan' which, is loosely translated to 'where there once was fire, ashes still remain' tho these two are STILL head over heels about each other after being childhood sweethearts, and the story develops in that context. I must note that, during their teens they were that water and oil combo that after a while I kind of found a bit toxic for my own like. But nevertheless THEY STILL feel atracted to after all this time and still want more of each other (Evan sure as hell wants) but I had the feeling right off the bat, that they needed desperately to talk to one another and clear the air. SOOOO MANY THINGS can be fixed (not only in fiction but also in real life if people would only COMMUNICATE) and their 'bad reputation' is the key to many unsolved moments, including their separation but constant pull to each other. Gen returns to this town a yr after leaving and, well, her bad reputation from years ago might be over cause shes's worked hard to change her ways, but old habits die hard and her push and pull towards Evan is pretty hardcore still.

I loved the glimpse of Mac and Cooper, and all the satellite characters that made this story all the most enjoyable, plus, we all know how absolutely magestic Elle Kennedy is w steaming up her pages and trust me, diving into this one, you WILL NOTA BE DISSAPOINTED.

I have to admit that I enjoyed Good Girl Complex a bit more, but I will absolutely recommend the entire series to anybody who would listen. The setting of Avalon Bay is one of my FAVES of all times :)

Gen is back in Avalon Bay after the death of her mother. She left a year ago with no warning after hitting rock bottom to try and shed her bad girl rep. She is determined to become a professional woman that people take seriously. Her dad convinced her to stick around and help him with the office side of his business but Gen is afraid being back will tempt her back to her bad habits. The biggest bad habit being her toxic on and off again relationship with the neighborhood bad boy, Evan Hartley.

Evan has spent the last year fluctuating between betrayal, heartbreak and anger at how Gen just left him behind with no word. Now that she’s back he wants them to pick up where they left off and is shocked when Gen tells him she’s turning over a new leaf that doesn’t include him. Determined to get his girl back, Evan decides to clean up his act. Can they stay on their best behavior or are they destined to bring out the worst in each other?

I liked this one about a thousand times better than the first one. Gen is so relatable and I loved how she unapologetically put herself first when needed. Evan’s character growth from book 1 to the end of this book was outstanding. Him fighting to be a better guy for the woman he loves is exactly my kind of swoony book boyfriend kryptonite.

My only complaints were how much I feel Cooper’s character deviated from the first book. He was a huge jerk to everyone, even Mac. I also didn’t enjoy her need to try to force herself to like a “good guy” especially at the expense of poor Evan’s feelings.

Even if you didn’t like the first book I think this one may surprise you especially if you like second chances, a guy fighting for his girl, great banter, and irresistible chemistry.

Thanks so much to St. Martin’s press, Elle Kennedy for providing me with an early copy via Netgalley!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press. To start off, Elle Kennedy can write YA for all age groups. Sometimes you read YA and when you are over that age group.. it is so boring but this was good. Good chapter length and good banter. If you did not read the first book in the series, it is okay as this can be read as a standalone.

🖤 BAD GIRL REPUTATION by Elle Kennedy 🖤

★★★★☆

🍹 Drink Pairing: For this book I decided to go with a Virgin Mai Tai because it seemed to be Gen’s drink of choice at all the bars! It was so fun to make, and honestly sooo delicious - highly recommend if you’re in the mood for a tropical treat!

🍍 Recipe: In a shaker with ice add 4 oz. Pineapple juice, 4 oz Fresh orange juice, a small splash of grenadine, and a splash of Orgeat syrup. Shake it up and strain into a glass over ice, then top with another splash of grenadine for color and garnish with some frozen pineapple! (You can also top with some seltzer if you want a little fizz!)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC of this book!

🌟 Review: First and foremost - this book can be definitely read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading Good Girl Complex first for a better reading experience since you get some back story and can follow a bit more with the character’s journeys in the Avalon Bay universe.

I was SO excited to get this book since I really did love Good Girl Complex, I have to say I seem to be the unpopular opinion but I liked Cooper/Mac’s a little more than Evan/Gen’s! I loved seeing Evan and Gen’s growth in this book not only in their relationship, but as individuals too. There was obviously a lot they needed to process between one another while also working through grief - and honestly, just growing up a little. I was so proud of Gen for staying true to herself and focusing on getting better.

It did break my heart just a little to see Cooper and Mac from Evan’s POV as it is not always roses and sunshine (lol) but I think Elle Kennedy did such a good job of making it clear that this book was from a completely different perspective which gave Evan’s character a much more distinct voice.


Ok, done rambling now but make sure to go grab this book on Tuesday when it comes out! It’s perfect if you’re someone who loves second chance romances, small beach town settings, and some angst!

✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻/5

This one was a mix for me. Overall I really did enjoy the story, but some parts were hard for me to get by, either because they were frustrating or just because I wasn’t all that emotionally attached to the situations.

Gen was wild, to say the least. I enjoyed watching her transform when she moved back to town after her mother’s funeral. And I did enjoy her growth. But at times I was really upset about her constantly stringing Harrison along, while hopping into Evan’s bed every other night. And some moments didn’t seem as genuine as they should have been considering how determined she was to change.

Evan was easier for me to get attached to. In the beginning, I could feel his pain and where all of his feelings and actions were coming from. And I really loved his moments of redemption and growth throughout. Despite his previous actions, he really was a good guy with a good heart. And he realized he needed to grow up and change for the better, and I enjoyed watching this transformation take place.

Frustration aside, these characters had a ton of chemistry and the steam was perfection! I was definitely rooting for them to get their stuff together and just be a real couple, because the moments when it was the two of them were off the charts.

I really loved that this one was deeper than the romance. While it was about Gen and Evan coming back together after years apart, it was about the strength to overcome your past reputation to be who you really want to be. Someone who grew up. Who matured. Who overcame their weaknesses. Who is living for themselves and no one else.

And I loved that they held each other up through this process, because they were aware they weren’t changing for the other, but for themselves. And that was really the bond that brought them together and lifted them up enough to be capable of change.

Read if you like:
⚡️Dual POV
⚡️High school sweethearts
⚡️Party girl / Bad boy
⚡️Second chance
⚡️Steam

Genevieve is back in town after being away to get her life together, though it’s for her moms funeral and she is staying in town for a bit to help with the family business. While in town, there is one person she needs to avoid, her ex Evan. However, that is easier said than done.
Through the first quarter of this book I didn’t think that Gen and Evan should be together, they seemed so bad for each other. Yet, as their story progressed and you learned more about them and everything that happened my view of them shifted. They needed to be apart to better themselves before they could truly be better as a couple.
Gen and Evan’s story is all about second chances. They found their own second chance as individuals, but also with each other.
If you’re looking for a small town, second chance romance this is one to check out.

I read this book not liking Good Girl Complex so my expectations were low and I was ready to be disappointed again. But surprisingly, Bad Girl Reputation was such an improvement from the first book. I liked that the main characters are not perfect and the story was more focused on their healing and self-love rather than the drama. I loved that the main take away of the story is that everyone deserves a second chance to better themselves. I found both Genevieve and Evan interesting together and apart. I also appreciate that we see less of their friends because that one really threw me off in the first book. I like the angst and the push-pull relationship they have and when they finally got together, it was 💣

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I couldn’t relate to the characters so I had a really rough time reading it. I’m sure some readers enjoy it but I feel like there was no actual character development. It felt juvenile.
There’s bit of angst and lots of ARC readers loved it but it wasn’t for me. I have read some of Elle Kennedy’s book more than a year ago and maybe my taste just shifted. I will try reading it again months later.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.