Evan Hartley is the boy that has owned her heart since the day that they met, but admitting that fact out loud is something she can't bring herself to do. She doesn't do attachments or commitments, they mean owning up to your feelings and that is a big no for her, which is why she left town before things got to that point. But now she is back home for her mother's funeral and the temptation to seek him out is all too high. He could be her everything... if she could just convince herself to give it a try!

Bad Girl Reputation is a angst-filled second chance love story that'll keep you captivated and in your feels from beginning to end! These two were meant for one another, they were the perfect pair, they just couldn't land on the same page and make things work. So our heroine decided to give them a break and make a clean break, but life called her home and right back into the middle of her love life with Evan.

You could see the potential there, but they both lacked a little maturity and the want to make it work, namely because of old wounds that they couldn't move past. It was kind of one of those things... you don't know what you have until it's gone, and Evan realized it the moment that Gen left town. So when she came breezing back into town for her mother's funeral he wanted to make the moment count, and reclaim what they had lost... but she was hesitant. So there was a lot of emotional tug o'war for them and torture for the reader... the will they, won't they will darn near kill ya. But have no fear they eventually they find their way... and it makes the torture so worth it! I loved meeting these two, and some of the secondary characters, I cannot wait to revisit and read the first installment. Highly recommend this one, it's words will wreck your heart in the best possible way!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

this is such a good series if you just want something where you can sit back, relax, turn off your brain, and just enjoy some messy characters trying their best to make their way through relationships.

ive seen the less-than-stellar reviews for this and, yes, the characters are immature and dont act rationally. but that honestly didnt bother me because i could see their slow progression and development. its not massive, but its there, and thats personally enough for me with this kind of story.

i enjoyed the connection between gen and evan. is it mainly physical? sure. but it doesnt really promise to be anything more than that and i could totally understand why they are so attracted to each other. their chemistry is top notch.

so again, if you are looking for a quick, entertaining read to help you avoid your own problems, then this is the one for you! lol.

I want to say thank you to St. Martins Press and Elle Kennedy for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the second book in the Avalon Bay series. I did not read the first one, and honestly, I didn't know this was a part 2 or a continuation of a series. The chemistry between Gen and Evan was so-so. I honestly didn't feel it, and it seemed only physical at some points.

Bad Girl Reputation is a trip back to Avalon Bay. Just like Good Girl Complex, this story is dual POV, just with the MC's being Evan and Genevieve, or "Gen" as we come to know her.

Gen and Evan come back together at Gen's moms funeral where they rekindle in a moment of passion that quickly reminds Gen why she left Avalon Bay in the first place. Nothing good comes from being around Evan Hartley. Gen and Evan are the ultimate dynamic duo. They're daredevils, always wanting to have a good time and one up each other. So, what happens when the party girl and the bad boy grow up?

After reading Good Girl Complex, I was excited to get more of Evan's story. However, there were times in the book where I felt like the new friend sitting around telling "remember when" stories that I didn't get because I wasn't there to experience them. I think the storyline was good, and there was a lot that could have been explored further, but so much got skipped over or felt like it was jumping around.

Ultimately, I thought the book was fine. It felt a little more YA at times and I feel like everything wrapped up pretty nicely, even if it was a bit predictable.

Bad Girl Reputation hit all the highs for me as a reader. Elle Kennedy mentions how she really enjoyed writing this book and it shows. Both Gen West and Evan Hartley are a couple who kept me on my toes and genuinely engaged with their second-chance romance. The former bad girl and bad boy of Avalon Bay are not the same wild teens they once were and are a bit bemused once they are face to face again after Gen's sudden departure a year earlier. These two fight their incredible attraction almost daily without falling back into each other's arms and bad habits and I couldn't wait to turn each page to see if they could honestly resist each other once and for all.

This book reads like a rollercoaster ride from start to finish. But it's an eye-opening one for sure as Kennedy allows Gen to maintain both her sobriety and her determination to find a new life that doesn't include Evan. However, Mr. Hartley has his own plans for both finally growing up and not continuing to be the rebellious troublemaker any longer, choosing a cleaner life like his girl. All with interesting results, that is for sure!

Both characters struggle with what their futures may look like and to not fall back into what they once upon a time. It's a true study in redemption as we get to watch Gen make amends for prior behavior while Evan takes on a younger 'brother' to give life lessons to, again at times with very amusing results.

I loved their chemistry and that clearly was the most potent part of this story. There is a painful push and pull from both at different times trying to save the other from a world of hurt. This would then often lead to passionate trysts that left them more confused and frustrated than ever before. It's almost as if they just couldn't get their timing or their thoughts in sync.

But the way Gen and Evan know each other like no one else is what keeps that tether between them even when they knew they might not make it. The special moments in 'their spot' were beautiful and heartfelt and gave me confidence that they could find a way to grow together as mature young adults. Their shared pain wrt their mothers in particular provided poignant scenes that each savored in their own way.

Evan's twin brother Cooper, who was featured in Good Girl Complex, features prominently in this book with his girl Mac by his side. Although I didn't love their story, they were much more likable in this one even when Coop was insistent on dissing Gen at every turn.

In the end, this story of second chances and the resolve to do better for yourself and your partner is full of great humor, sweet memories, and a couple who love as tenderly as they do fiercely. I loved that despite the fact that Gen and Evan had to change their ways and find a life that wasn't all mayhem and madness, glimpses of their rebellious nature were never far from the surface and provided a great laugh or two keeping things light when needed.

Elle Kennedy has a definite winner on her hands and I'm hoping we hear more from this sleepy beach town again and soon. In the meantime, I am happy to give Bad Girl Reputation a big 5 stars!

BAD GIRL REPUTATION is the second book in the Avalon Bay series and follows the stories of Cooper’s twin, Evan, and his on and off girlfriend, Genevieve. Gen left the small coastal town of Avalon Bay a year ago after hitting her perceived rock bottom. She returns for the funeral of her mother who suddenly died. She’s spent a year making changes to herself in order to change her bad girl reputation, and is planning to stay for a short period of time to help her dad straighten up the family business until he can find a replacement for her. Evan is still the irresistible bad boy that Gen always knew, so when he becomes determined to win her back, they have to decide whether their reputations can be shed and if second chances can truly work out.

The chemistry between Gen and Evan is piping hot, their history is volatile with their on-again-off-again relationship; they just can’t seem to keep away from each other. The spicy scenes are explicit and so <b><i>hot</i></b>. I love that Elle Kennedy typically (always?) writes her romances with dual perspectives which really aid the reader in getting lost in both main character’s thoughts and feelings. The character growth was well done and I really enjoyed the ending.

Overall, this is a angsty (but cute) second chance romance with two characters whose history together is long and full of passion. I loved seeing Mackenzie and Cooper included in this story! I think if I had to choose though - I prefer GOOD GIRL COMPLEX! Super interested to know if this series will continue and, if yes, which characters will be featured!

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, St Martin’s Griffin, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.</i>

The Hartley brothers return with their bad boy antics. When Gen returns to town after a year will she pick up where she left off with Even. The second book in the Avalon Bay series was as enjoyable as the first. The appearance of Shelly really did not close the story line there will maybe if there is a book 3 we will see how mom makes herself more likable.

3.5 stars!

We read Cooper and Mackenzie's story in Elle Kennedy's first book in her Avalon Bay series, "Good Girl Complex." Now, we get to learn all about Evan and Genevieve's sordid tale in "Bad Girl Reputation." This story is a slow burn second chance will-they-won't-they friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance that both jumps into the story immediately and takes a long time to unfold. In my opinion, Evan and Gen's story isn't as compelling as Cooper and Mackenzie's. Their present story is interspersed with flashbacks from their past as readers learn how they grew up together and always had each other's backs. Their relationship has always survived on mutually assured destruction, insane dares, bad upbringings, and an intense physical connection. After Gen leaves home without saying goodbye and only returns a year later for her mom's funeral, she and Evan have to prove to one another that they have grown up/will try to grow up so they can be better for themselves and for each other.

I started to get really into this book about half of the way through it. The first half is a bit slow to start. Gen shows a lot of terrific character development, whereas Evan's felt very convenient to me. I felt sooooo bad for Harrison, Gen just strung him along the entire book with no intention of anything more. There is some good banter here. It's also got a decent amount of spice to it if you're into that sort of thing. This is a quick read that I finished in a day and a half. I cannot wait for book 3 in the Avalon Bay series!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Elle Kennedy, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

4.25 stars!

Bad Girl Reputation is the second installment in the Avalon Bay series by Elle Kennedy, and I loved being back in the small beach town setting. Each book can be read as a standalone, however, I recommend starting with Good Girl Complex which sets up the town and the two twin brothers who are the love interests in each book—and you shouldn’t miss a moment!

In Bad Girl Reputation we get Evan and Genevieve’s story, which is heavily hinted at in the previous book. These two have been friends since childhood and dated on and off since high school, so it’s a second chance romance told with a dual point of view. I picked it up while on vacation, just intending to read a few chapters, and ended up finishing it in one day! I so enjoyed picking up a book where I already knew the characters, the setting, and could quickly dive right in. It made me want to read more subsequent books in all the series I’ve started but never finished.

While Evan and Gen don’t quite have as much angst as Cooper and Mac in the first book, It’s nice to read about a couple with so much history. It makes the story easy to enjoy, knowing our characters have been close in the past and just need to find their way back together. The author did a good job of building that history and making me believe in their connection.

And we still get plenty of time with Cooper and Mac and their friends, which is fun, as well.

Evan is a straightforward character who knows what he wants, knows he’s not perfect, and it’s a nice change of pace to have a male lead with less internal complications.

Gen and Evan were both hell-raisers in their past, often involved in wild adventures together. Gen is concerned they can’t have a future that involves anything remotely “normal”. Now that she’s back in town, she’s determined to stay sober, and she’s afraid that means no Evan. The reader (and Evan) learn what drove Gen from town, and I couldn’t help but cheer Evan on as he decides to make some changes in his own life, proving to Gen his heart is hers—and that she can take him seriously.

I so enjoyed this revisit to Avalon Bay, and I’m excited to return in the next book set for next summer, The Summer Girl. While we’re out of brothers, there are plenty of friends who have their own stories to tell, as well.

Thank you to the publisher St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.

Check out my reviews and inspired playlists at abookwanderer.com

I got 60% into this book and just don’t think this book is for me. Nothing against the book or author just not a good fit.

Elle Kennedy knows how to grab my attention and keep it. I loved this book! I loved that it gave more depth and wasn’t just a cute rom-com. The romance and character growth was well balanced. They may be flawed, but you still love them. There was some great chemistry and spice between these two 🌶 I can’t get enough of Kennedy and her writing style.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed this book more than the first one in the Avalon Bay series. I loved the push pull of Gen and Evan. I am always a sucker for a second chance romance so I was happy that was one of the main things in this book. I thought it was well done how they were both working on maturing and changing from their past selves. Over all I enjoyed the book.

I did not read the first book in the series but I still feel like this book can be read as a standalone. It is the second in the series.

I became of fan of Elle Kennedys books when I read The Deal. This book is very different than that series but was a still a fun read for me.

The female main character has come back to her hometown after the death of her mother. During the wake she runs into her old boyfriend, Evan. They have a very complicated past, but they are together, it is electric. Gen has straightened up and has cut back on her drinking after she realized that her drinking had gone too far. So she packed up and moved to Charleston a year ago, and she never planned on coming back.
Evan didn't know where or why Gen left so fast last year, but he couldn't get her out of his head. They had been on and off since middle school and were each others best friends, along with everything else. His brother, Cooper, thinks that he and Gen being together is a bad idea, but he knows that Gen is his everything and his end game.

This book is a second chance romance in every way possible. Both main characters are trying to improve themselves before they can be together, and Evan is trying to reunite his relationship with his mother. This book was sweet and they did enough flashbacks that I felt like I didn't have to read the first book.

It is a HEA and I enjoyed the push and pull of the main characters along with their growth throughout the story.

I did not read Good Girl but was able to follow along pretty easily. This is a second chance, friends to lovers story between Evan and Genevieve. Gen is brought back to Avalon Bay for her mother’s funeral and then stays to help out the family business.

Gen thought abruptly leaving town was the best way to fix/end her relationship with Evan. Meanwhile Evan was completely torn up and hurt by her actions. Genevieve fixed up her reputation while she was away, but will Evan be able to do the same so they can have a real shot at love? Evan and Gen still have so much chemistry between them that I was frequently begging them to just finally get together!

A new book in the series and one that picked my interest from all the rave reviews and hype that I’ve seen around all social media platforms.

I haven’t read an Elle Kennedy book in a while and was looking forward to it.

I love a good second chance romance and if they are older and hopefully wiser, I’m all in for it.
Genevieve left her hometown a while back but life had other plans for her. Going back for a funeral, and meeting up with her old friends and especially her ex boyfriend wasn’t what she wanted. Trying to take a turn on the right side of life after so many bad decisions, she’s not sure that getting back with her old habits is a wise decision.
I found her quite undecided and annoying at times to be honest. She did outgrow in the end and became a more likeable character but it took a while for me to get used to her personality.
As far as the romance story goes, it’s had everything you would expect. On and off again, steamy scenes and chemistry, as long as drawn out dialogue.
I think it’s a book that many will enjoy, some more than others.


🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

Bad Girl Reputation
Avalon Bay Book #2
Release Date: October 4, 2022
Review Copy Provided by the Publisher


After reading Good Girl Complex I was absolutely giddy to finally read Evan’s book. I was dying to really see inside the sarcastic bad boy of Avalon Bay. But honestly, I’m a bit underwhelmed with this book. There wasn’t enough chemistry between Genevieve and Evan. I mean, there was lust, absolutely. But I couldn’t really get a get good sense of anything more serious or deep other than wanting to bone each other.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5013027243
I really liked the characters individually, but together they were just…meh. I love the backdrop of this series. I like the small beach town feel and the close knit group of friends that razz each other.

I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I just wanted more from this book. I wanted more for Evan. I didn’t feel any connection with Genevieve. Over all it was an ok read, but the first book in the series was so phenomenal that I had very high expectations for this one. I’m definitely going to read the next book in this series.

✨𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨✨

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Bad Girl Reputation
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Elle Kennedy
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶:
-love messy, explosive love
-enjoy alternating POVs
-are team highschool sweethearts reunited trope

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
It’s hard to believe that this was my first Elle Kennedy book! She has been on my TBR for ages, and this was the perfect opportunity to dive into one of her books.

After the death of her mother, Genevieve returns to her hometown and is reunited with her ex, Evan. Their chemistry is undeniable, but Gen is determined not to get pulled back into their crazy ways. More than anything, she wants to turn over a new leaf and leave her bad girl ways in the past. Can she do this? Especially with Evan around?..

Told in alternating POVs, I enjoyed the short chapters and getting to know Evan and Gen better! Yes, their characters are very shallow at times, and their attraction is very physical, but I found myself rooting for them to work out one way or another. There is just something about a bad boy trying to make things right for the girl he loves!

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really good book about working through your past to get to the person you want to be. Super touching and meaningful parts. Characters with depth and a storyline that’s easy to follow.

Good spice- multiple scenes.

I was hooked the whole time. It didn’t feel like a chore to read this. I really enjoyed the story and loved getting to know new characters while revisiting old ones. Approaches dark material in a way that makes me feel optimistic.

Interconnected standalone series. You don’t have to read Cooper’s story (book1) to follow this.

18+ check content warnings

Special thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this digital ARC.

Another great book by Elle Kennedy.
Thanks net galley for the ARC. Fantastic read, love the story characters. Must read!!

If you liked Elle Kennedy’s Good Girl Complex, I think you’ll enjoy Bad Girl Reputation even more. Genevieve West left town months ago after several events led her to pursue a change of scenery and change of lifestyle. But a family funeral brings her back to town where she’s forced to deal with her past and revisit the place she thought she’d never return, including her ex-childhood boyfriend, Evan Hartley. Brought up in the first Avalon Bay book, Gen and Evan’s relationship was always fiery and with no closure with Genevieve’s skipping town, there are lots of questions Evan has for his ex, including whether they can resume their relationship. A second chance romance, the chemistry between Evan and Gen has never dimmed, but Gen doesn’t know if Evan will suck her back into her old wild-girl ways and she’s not sure that he has changed enough to make her want to see him again.
Elle Kennedy always gives good steam and Gen and Evan definitely have it. It was nice seeing the changes Evan goes through and I especially loved his relationship with Riley. There were moments when I doubted if these tow mmm would could make a romantic relationship work, but all I can say is trust the narrative. One of the important story lines involves the reason Gen left, (CW sexual assault, verbal abuse, alcohol and drug use) and Deputy Randall is a character you love to hate and hope to see get what he deserves. His scenes made me cringe, but are crucial to understanding Genevieve and her past troubles. I’m not sure if Kennedy has another book planned for this series, but I definitely think she has a great set up for other characters in Avalon Bay. This was a solid read, that could be picked up at any time and I enjoyed the storytelling. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.