Bad Girl Reputation is the second in the Avalon Bay series, and we get to see Mac and Cooper from the first book, living out their happy ever after. That said, you really don’t have to have read the first book to understand this one. I love book series that nicely manage that balance of providing a treat for those who’ve read the previous books, but not giving the newcomers serious FOMO or confusion.

While I enjoyed this book, in the beginning it does feel a lot like I was dropped into the middle of a story. It didn’t feel like the beginning. Evan and Gen have been on again, off again since they were freshmen in high school. It’s clear to pretty much everyone that they’re endgame. But about a year ago, Gen left town without even saying goodbye. To say that Evan was devastated to be losing his best friend and girlfriend is an understatement. But now, a year later, Gen comes back for her mother’s funeral and to help her father out with his company.

The reason she left is explained fairly early on. I won’t spoil it here, but essentially she’d hit (what she viewed as) rock bottom, and she needed to clean up her life. She thought that the only way she could do that was to leave her life and her “bad girl reputation” behind. She and Evan are bad influences on each other. But she’s missed him just as much as he missed her.


Evan and Gen have a lot in common, aside from their shared history. They both have very complicated relationships with their mothers. I love how Kennedy weaves that into the narrative and the plot.

The author has a beautiful and unparalleled writing style. It’s impossible not to get sucked into the worlds of Briar U or Avalon Bay. That said, I wasn’t super crazy about this plot. Like I mentioned earlier, I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story. But my biggest issue was with Genevieve herself. I understand her attitude, however, I really think that she handled everything very poorly a year ago. She abandoned her best friend. I really think that she should have been required to do some serious groveling to earn his forgiveness. In this book there’s also another man, and I really feel like the entire situation was far too awkward. She’s dating this nice guy when she’s still sleeping with Evan. She doesn’t really like that guy romantically, yet she’s stringing him along, because he’s the type of guy she thinks she should be with. Meanwhile, she’s breaking Evan’s heart by refusing to commit to him. Honestly, she says that she’s trying to shed her bad girl reputation, but being a “bad” person is much more complicated than drinking alcohol and committing misdemeanors. She needed to be more considerate about other people’s feelings.

All in all, it was an entertaining read, but definitely not one of Kennedy’s best.

Following Good Girl Complex, Bad Girl Reputation centers around two exes, Gen and Evan. Gen is the stereotypical bad girl and Evan is the stereotypical bad boy, and they bring out the worst (sometimes the best?) when they're together. Problem is, Gen up and left Evan a year ago without a word, and now she is back. The next problem is that despite their turbulent and at times, destructive, past,
Gen and Evan cannot stay away from each other.
I definitely enjoyed this one more than Good Girl Complex, mainly because I like the tropes of this one more, and because both characters are flawed and complex. Gen is a funny, relatable female lead who tries to improve, which made me like her a lot. Evan is our reforming bad boy who is trying to convince Gen that they can be good together. I think a lot of the book was about self discovery and self improvement which is something that a lot of books can use, so I definitely appreciated that aspect. Additionally, their chemistry is so much more palpable than the one between Coop and Mac.
Even if you did not enjoy Good Girl Complex, I would highly recommend you check out Bad Girl Reputation because I think it is a lot better and is much easier to relate to the characters. Or, if you're just looking for a heartfelt romcom about self exploration, then this might be a fabulous read for you!

After a year of self-imposed exile, Gen returns to Avalon Bay after her mom passes. This former bad girl wants to prove that she’s turned over a new leaf, but will her former flame Evan derail her new outlook?


Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. While I appreciated the second chance elements and the focus on reinvention, Gen and Evan were a bit too toxic for me. Most of their relationship was very cringey and tough to get through. The world was very vivid, which I liked, but I just couldn’t move past the toxic behaviors.

That being said, I’m sure others will enjoy visiting Avalon Bay and seeing some of the characters from Good Girl Complex.

I am a huge fan of Elle’s off campus series and I was so excited to get approved for this ARC! This book hooked be from the very beginning and I binge read it in one night after work (about 5 hours). If you love second change romance, then this book is definitely for you!

Genevieve and Evan were one again off again high school sweethearts and they share a complicated past. Gen didn’t like the person she was, partying, drinking and being self destructive. She decided to leave and start fresh in a new town living a life of sobriety with a stable adult job. But she left Evan without a word and broke his heart. When she returns to town for her mothers funeral, will they be able to stay away from each other or will they succumb to the magnetic attraction that keeps reeling them back in?

This book was surprisingly deep. It wasn’t just a second chance romance, it was a journey of self discovery and growth. I think we can all relate to wanting to “grow up” and become better people after our wild college days…or maybe just me 😅😂 Gen is so strong, smart and resilient. Some people would stay in that cycle of a toxic lifestyle, but she knew she could be better and deserved better. Evan was such a sweetheart. He’s your typical soft bad boy and I loved how much he supported Gen. From the very first time we encounter him, he makes it known that she’s it for him. I loved that they helped each other become stronger and better humans. They had great chemistry and were really perfect together!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Elle Kennedy for this eARC!

I liked this book more than the first in the series. Maybe it was more realistic and relatable since Evan and Gen were once a couple. Or maybe it's because I love a good second chance romance. Nonetheless, there were some cringe worthy, territory marking moments that were reminiscent of new adult personalities at the cusp between leaving the teenaged years behind and entering the adult world. Gen and Evan had their moments where it was anyone's guess if they would get back together. The title give insight to Gen's character who left town unexpected a year ago and has come back only because her mother passed. Evan has his own mother issues and he's built a tenuous relationship with her behind his brothers' backs. There are many hurts and betrayal floating around these characters so this was also a story of forgiveness and healing.


I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

“When former bad girl Genevieve West returns home for her mother’s funeral, she’s prepared to keep her distance from her ex-boyfriend, Evan Hartley. Their history is rife with turbulence. And passion. A heck of a lot of passion… which she’s trying desperately to forget.”

This book wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be. I assumed it would be fairly straight forward. Babies Boy and Girl have high school romance, only to meet up years later and rekindle their relationship.

As characters, Evan and Gen were way more meaty than I presupposed. More backstory. More nuance. More question marks.

That’s not to say I loved everything about this story. I didn’t love all the chest-pounding, junk-measuring toxic masculinity. I didn’t love how they basically peed on each other, establishing territory. And I DEFINITELY had to keep reminding myself that they were still VERY YOUNG and their brains weren’t FULLY COOKED yet.

But really, I was pleasantly pleased with the depth of personality, sense of place, and redemptive arc of the main characters. I’d even go so far as to source book one in the series, and any subsequent additions.

7/10

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for this ARC.

Bad Girl Reputation follows Genevieve West as she finds herself back in her hometown of Avalon Bay after her mother dies. Unsure if she wants to stay or book it out of the town she left behind over a year ago, she's sucked back into the orbit of her ex-boyfriend Evan Hartley. Gen has tried to turn a new leaf and the new Genevieve West is on shaky ground as the temptation of her first love threatens to undo everything she's ran away from.

I loved this book! It reads so differently from Elle Kennedy's other books, I found it almost hard to believe this way the same author that wrote the Off Campus and Briar U series. The book feels more well-written and more mature. Gen's battle with slipping back into toxic old habits was gritty and raw and I enjoyed watching her navigate through it. It made me connect to her more. It made it relatable to me, watching someone else go through that bad, rebellious teenage phase that you were afraid you wouldn't grow out of.

Gen and Evan's romance is where I think this book really excels. I love that toxic, young, obsessive love that two characters find themselves in as teenagers, that all encompassing passion that comes with someone that lights your soul on fire. Watching it come back to life between Gen and Evan was bittersweet at first, and then had me rooting for them the whole book. Watching that love mature and grow along with the characters themselves was an absolute joy to read and I wish I could rewind and read it again for the first time. Their romance was realistic and relatable and I think that's what made it such a good book to me.

Genevieve and Evan have always had a combustible relationship; they’ve seen each other at their worst and at their best with an undeniable pull toward each other. Then a year ago everything fell apart and Genevieve left town and set on getting her life in order. Now she’s back in town trying to maintain her reformed ways but her desire and pull towards Evan is just a strong as it’s always been. Evan was heartbroken when Genevieve left without a word and he tried to move forward but fell into a rut unsure of what to do. With Genevieve back in town, Evan realizes that their strong connection is still there but if they are to have a real future together and get a second chance then they both needed to make some changes.

The growth in this story is great! Evan and Genevieve both grew individually and together as a couple. They learned how to still be themselves without falling habit to bad tendencies and old ways. The connection and love between Evan and Genevieve never went away and by bettering themselves they improved their relationship making it stronger and stabler than it ever was. There’s just something about a second chance romance when the connection is still there. This is the second book in the Avalon Bay series by @ellekennedy33 and technically they are stand-alones but just start from the beginning to truly appreciate the series.



Thank you @stmartinspress @ellekennedy33 and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank You, NetGalley for allowing me to read this book and give it an honest review. I enjoyed this book very much!!
Second Chance Romance, Small Town, Friends to Lovers!!! Yes Please.
Gen and Evan's story in this book was definitely a second chance romance. In the years of having a rocking relationship, these two are still connected to one another no matter what. The pair was definitely toxic and needed help understanding how to care and communicate in better ways. Gen having left Evan for a year without an explanation hurt him but, for him to find out what the truth of her fast disappearance was needed. The love triangle between Gen, Harrison, and Evan ugh a lot but they needed to see what life would be like without one another. Gen and Evan bring the best and worst out of one another and seeing how they both grew throughout the story was great. Also Evan and Riley’s Big Brother moments I loved them!!!
I really enjoyed this book!! Congrats Ellen on such a great book!

I can't get enough of second chance romances! Evan and Gen's chemistry really made the story. There were some times when I found Evan a bit irritating but he really won me over in the end. I hope to see more stories from Avalon Bay to come.

St Martin's Press, Elle Kennedy and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

Genevieve is back after leaving a year ago without even saying goodbye to Evan or her friends. She has a reputation as the bad girl always down for a dare and a wild time. This is really a story of personal growth, taking a look in the mirror and deciding you don't like what you see. Can people ever really change though? Evan and Gen have always been drawn to each other. They are both wild and impulsive which makes for fireworks but also causes destruction. What happens when the bad boy and the party girl grow up? I enjoyed being reintroduced to the friend group and watching how those dynamics change over time. This second chance romance was a sweet and enjoyable read. Evans' heart and vulnerability really shined through and you felt how much he loved Gen. Lots of character growth and a great setup for more books in the series. I will definitely be along for the ride.

This book was just ok for me. A little slow to start. I had trouble really connecting with the main characters. They seemed to make really big deals out of nothing but the bigger issues were almost ignored until the end. Cooper was super frustrating. It's one thing to be concerned for his brother, but he would get so angry and judgmental that it came off as cruel not caring.
About midway thru it started to turn around for me and I found myself more invested in the story. The Riley storyline was wonderful and brought some much needed heart to the book. The steam level was pretty good. A good, but slightly underwhelming book.

Four and a half stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy is the second book in her popular Avalon Bay series but can be easily read as a stand-alone.

Story Recap:
Genevieve West has returned to Avalon Bay for her mother’s funeral. She left the small town suddenly over a year ago, and this is her first time back. Her relationship with her mother was very complicated and she’s having trouble processing her feelings toward her mother. She knew when she came back that she would have to cross paths with her ex-boyfriend, Evan Hartley, but she didn’t expect to see him at the funeral. As soon as she saw him, all those feeling rushed back to her, but she knows, Evan is the only person who can derail her efforts to change her reputation.

Evan never knew why Gen left so suddenly a year ago, he only knew that it broke his heart. Now that she’s back in town, he’s determined to find out why she left and make sure she stays in town, with him.

My Thoughts:
I sure enjoyed this book very much. The characters were very realistic, and it was one intense romance. Evan and Gen have some crazy hot chemistry together, but both have hurt each other too. Gen was a bad girl and left in order to change her ways and become more responsible, and grow up. Evan has not changed, but he still loves Gen as much as ever. Gen is a bit difficult to like in the beginning, but once I found out why she left, and why it was so hard for her to return to the town, she earned a soft spot in my heart, and I could understand why she had to break Evan’s heart.

I liked the down-to-earth feeling of Avalon Bay and the community spirit. I like the way the author creates these very realistic characters, who have real problems, and deal with them in a very realistic way. There aren’t any billionaires or ivy league school graduates here, just ordinary, yet compelling characters.

Oh, and this is a bit steamy too. But, the story is the main focus of the book.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend Bad Girl Reputation to anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Okay, I really liked this one, I was a little bit weary going in because I didn’t *love* Good Girl Complex.

The second chance romance story was so good here, Genevieve was a new character, where we had met Evan previously. The two had dated all throughout their teenage years and early twenties. When Gen left without a word, it broke Evan.

What I loved most was the personal growth Gen showed throughout as she proved to herself (and others) that she wasn’t the party girl of the past. At the same time, I loved how she challenged Evan to get his life together, all while he supported her and never doubted what she’s been doing while gone! I also understood why she wanted to stay away from Evan in the first place once she came back, but the chemistry and sexual tension between the two was on point throughout the book!

I’m glad we got appearance’s from Cooper and Mac (and Daisy) and while Cooper still isn’t my favourite, I could understand where he was coming from, and I liked how Mac mellowed him out.

When the reasoning came out about why Genevieve left town in the first place, it made me angry, and I’m glad the resolution was satisfactory in the end.

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press for sending me an advanced digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for review!

Gen’s life was out of control last time she was home, so when she has to return for her mom’s funeral she is afraid she is going to fall into old patterns. Evan’s life lost focus when Gen left, but now that she is back he is determined to make her stay. Gen and Evan’s relationship has always been a roller coaster and I am so happy to finally learn why. This is the second book in the Avalon Bay series and it is fantastic! Watching Gen and Evan struggle to find out who they want to be without losing themselves is a great focus for their romance.

Elle Kennedy's latest offering is the perfect mix of second chance romance and a little attempt at the reformed bad boy. After reading Good Girl Complex, I couldn't wait to get Genevieve and Evan's story. So, when the opportunity to read Bad Girl Reputation early presented itself, I snagged it.

The chemistry between these two characters is off the charts. They've had an attraction since they were young and it definitely hasn't faded. Yet, Genevieve is trying to ignore it in order to maintain her new reformed personality and keep herself on the "straight and narrow path." She views Evan as a temptation she can't risk. Meanwhile, the minute she steps back into town, it's like waving a red flag in front of a bull. Evan is instantly on high alert and ready to pick back up where they were before. Seeing Genevieve's attempt at disinterest confuses and frustrates him.

As the book progresses, the reader gets more insight explaining why Genevieve left town and changed her lifestyle. You also see how painful her absence was for Evan and how protective his brother is of him after seeing the devastation. The challenge will be whether or not Gen and Evan can work through the changes they've both gone through and still love the people they've become without falling into their old, unhealthy behaviors. They have to both accept that they aren't to blame for the other person's decisions - good or bad.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and easy to connect with. The ending was satisfying and gave me a feeling of satisfaction.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Unfortunately, I have to say I was disappointed by this book. It was not a bad book, but it also wasn’t my favorite. I am a big fan of the Off-Campus series by Elle Kennedy so I had high hopes for Bad Girl Reputation. This series, much like her others, is a “standalone series”, so each book CAN be read independently, but they all tie together. I hadn’t read the first book, Good Girl Complex, prior to reading this one, and I will probably not end up reading it.

Even though I was disappointed by the book, I found it to be an enjoyable enough read and was happy to pick it up each day. It was a quick, easy read and fulfills the childhood best friends to lovers and second chance romance fairly well. It also deals with parental trauma as a secondary theme, which added a layer of depth to the storyline. But overall, I did not bond with the characters, and I did not love the plotline. While it may not have been the book for me, I do think many romance readers will find it to be what they’re looking for.

Evan! I am so glad he got his HEA! I loved him in Good Girl Girl Complex, so I couldn't wait to read his story. I loved his character growth and how he became a better person because of his love and devotion to Genevieve. He was sexy as hell! The dialogue between these too was super fun and flirty. Both characters had a lot to overcome and I enjoyed watching them work their way through their baggage. This was such a great summer read. I love Elle Kennedy's stories, and I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

♥ Review by Lys

Bad Girl Reputation is a fun and romantic read and all about the second chance romance. I wasn’t sure going into this book how much I would love it but it drew me in and I couldn’t stop reading.

These two characters used to be high school sweethearts that are toxic for each other but can’t get enough of each other. But then one Gen our main character ups and leaves the town and most importantly, Evan.

What brings Gen back to her hometown is her mother passing away and coming to town for her funeral. But she isn’t coming back as fun partying Gen, but as a more grown up Gen.

You see Gen try to morph back to her old life without the self destruction tendencies. But Evan seems to pull out her old self that she doesn’t want to come out. You see Evan’s shallow attempts to get her back but fails miserably when he realizes that his own antics won’t work anymore.

I really love the chemistry between these two characters. It is really what sucked me into the story. The push and pull dynamic of their relationship really pulled on my romantic heartstrings.

Even though this was a cute read, the character's motivation did not make sense. Gen, even though she is trying to be a better person still didn’t mind having booty calls with Evan while dating a different guy. That issue was never really addressed at the end.

Another thing is the quick wrap up at the end. It was really rushed. The problem that actually arises to threaten them apart wasn’t fleshed out and didn’t make sense to the story line. All that resistance in the end from Gen just was tossed out of the window and I still didn’t understand why because it felt forced, and it happened quickly.

All in all, I loved this read and would recommend it to romantic readers.

This is my first read of the Avalon Bay Series but I have read many of Elle Kennedy’s other books. Her Off-Campus Series is one of my favorites so I was very excited when I got the early copy of Bad Girl Reputation. Kennedy’s writing style is always very engaging but Genevive and Evan’s story fell a bit flat for me. I enjoy second chance romances and the friends to lovers trope but I wanted more from the characters. There could have been more push and pull between them which is always my favorite. Although I wanted more from the characters, I did love the witty banter and the growth Gen and Evan experienced and am interested to read the next book in the series.

3. 5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the early copy

Out 10/4