Elle, you mesmerize me.

The second installment of three in th Avalon Bay series brings readers back to our beloved breezy beach town to witness Genevieve and Evan navigate their way back together. Since finishing Good Girl Complex I have been dying to dive into the pages of BGR to explore Evan’s story.

Enter Genevieve, a newly reformed bad girl whose fierce spirit, courageous heart and story of resilience quickly made me her number one cheerleader; as soon as my spidey senses tingled with impending treachery I was shaking my kindle to wipe it away.

Elle perfectly captures the passion and intensity of young love and the tribulations of trying to step out of the shadows of your past. This story is more than just romance — though fear not, there are some steamy scenes — it is a perfect balance of cute and comical. Most significantly, the characters’ maturity really captivated me. Like so many readers, romance plots propelled by miscommunication IRK me to no end so I was elated to read characters who never shy away from expressing their feelings. Can I get a heck yeah for mature conflict resolution and honest, open communication?! 🙌🏻

The core of this book is rooted in personal growth, change and improvement however Elle expertly emphasizes the importance of changing for oneself and not for others. Gen and Evan grow individually and together with the help of some amazing side characters. Elle teases little breadcrumbs for what is sure to be an amazing third instalment…and maybe a love triangle? 👀

If you’re looking for a quick, light and late-in-the-season summer read that makes you smile, laugh and swoon while yearning for summer sun to burn a little longer, this is it.

i loved the writing elle kennedy really is a great writer but this story was not it. it's giving cw romance. i did not root for them at. all. Evan is trash and their chemistry was all physical (which i understand) but he was not redeeming for me in anyway.

Evan and Gen have a complicated history steeped in love and have you rooting for them to find their way back to each other as they come to terms with their own individual struggles. Bad Girl Reputation was an easy comfort read and a perfect follow up to Good Girl Complex. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC.

I liked this better than good girl complex up until the 3rd act breakup AT NINETY PERCENT. That was so damn unnecessary and tbh I really don’t know if I’m into reading any other Elle Kennedy books 😂 I did love gen as a the FMC. She had great character development and I really loved how she came to love herself through everything she had been through.

Bad Girl Reputation follows former bad girl Gen and local bad boy Evan. Gen moves back to her hometown to help out with her family's business, there she runs into her ex-boyfriend Evan. The two find that they're still drawn to each other, but Gen is determined to not go back down that road because she knows it'll end with her returning to her former bad girl self.

First time reading a book by Elle Kennedy, and I have to got to say, I really enjoyed it. I will for sure be reading more by her.

Her characters are all so awesome you can’t help but fall in love with them, and her writing style is amazing, which makes for an even better read.

I absolutely adored the relationship between Gen and Evan, and am looking forward to reading Good Girl Complex and diving into how Mac and Cooper came to be.

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this book as I read the 1st book in the series and I also enjoy reading Elle Kennedy's work. Like the 1st book, this book did not disappoint. It was a quick, easy, fun read.

We got a bit of a glimpse of Evan during the 1st book but book 2 is all about Evan and Genevieve (Gen). Gen returns back home to Avalon Bay after the death of her mom. She ran away from Avalon Bay a year ago in an attempt to focus, grow up, and overcome her bad girl rep. She also ran away from Evan, who is Cooper's twin brother. Evan and Gen have had an on-again, off-again relationship for years. Upon her return she is worried she'll go back to her bad girl ways as Evan and her always fed off each other so she tries to stay away.

This was a fun and enjoyable read with a friends to lovers trope. The characters are relatable and well developed. While I enjoyed seeing some of the familiar names from the 1st book as well, this can be read as a standalone.

This book wasn’t great for me. I liked the main characters, but I felt they were a little all over the place. The book was a bit too long and I felt brought in too many unnecessary characters.

I really appreciated the personal growth aspect of this book. I think it’s important when two people realize they need to be the best version of themselves before they can be in a healthy relationship. I didn’t love the two main characters (Evan and Gen) but that was really more a personal feeling, not that there was anything wrong with them specifically.

I will say, the repeated mention of Evan wearing “cargo pants” was a little puzzling as this book was written in 2022 and not the early 2000s. I literally don’t know a single adult male under the age of 60 who wears cargo pants but maybe it’s an Avalon Bay thing.

This was a solid romance. I don’t know that there was anything overly memorable about it but I enjoyed reading it.

I didn’t read book one, but this can be read as a standalone! I’m not sure what I expected from this book but half the book about immature kids was not what I was expecting or wanting to read. The second half made up for the first half and I liked seeing the growth but it did feel like that all happened too quickly.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Bad Girl Reputation is book #2 in the Avalon Bay series by Elle Kennedy. In Good Girl Complex, we met Evan Hartley. One half of the Hartley twins, the bad boy has recently had his heart broken by Genevieve, who recently left town without a word. In this book, Gen is back after being gone for a year, and Evan will do anything to get her back. But she’s changed, and she’s not sure Evan is ready to meet her where she is now.

The more I read from Elle Kennedy, the more I like! Im really enjoying the Avalon Bay series. I loved Cooper and Mac in book 1, and seeing their progression continue in this book. I also loved the chemistry between Evan and Gen. It seemed like they really had been meant to be ever since they were kids. The conflict and obstacles they faced seemed just right, between their own personal hurdles and the outside forces that tried to get in their way. I’m looking forward to the next book…maybe Alana and the love triangle between Wyatt and Tate?? 🤞🏻🤞🏻

This cover is A+

I didn't know that this was a second in a series, while I wish I would have known and read the first one before this, I think it is important to note that this stood alone really well.

However, I don't know that this works for me - I felt the "hijinx" too contrived and slapstick. If you liked the Finlay Donovan series, I think these would work well for you!

I tore through this book. I've seen Elle Kennedy's books around but had never read one so I was excited to try one out. While I could not relate to the characters very much -- I've never been a rule breaker -- I enjoyed watching their growth.

I appreciated the different relationships with their mothers -- reminding us that every mother-child relationship is different. Sometimes there is room for reconciliation and sometimes not.

I plan to go back and read book one in this series.

I didn't read the Good Girl Complex before this one, but this stands well on it's own. I didn't feel like I missed anything from the first book in order for this one to make sense.

This story did not start off well for me. Immediately I thought this was a toxic relationship. Gen has tried to change over the past year, but the death of her mother brings her home. Evan is determined to bring her back to her old ways. There isn't much character development for either of the main characters and the other characters are ok. She has changed and mainly just out to prove she is doing better and he still wants to keep the lifestyle. Their relationship was more about lust than love. At the end I was still thinking the match wasn't a great one.

I liked that it was dual POV and the author's writing style wasn't bad. The POV transition as smooth.

This story just personally wasn't for me, but I can see why so many readers enjoy this author.

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

I am a big fan of Elle Kennedy, but unfortunately, the Avalon Bay series fell short for me and Bad Girl Reputation was my least favorite. I had a hard time connecting to Genevieve and Evan as individuals or a couple. The hijinks felt a little to forced and exaggerated to occur naturally. I did enjoy getting sneak peaks at some of the returning characters and it feels like there's potential for more books about other characters. Even though this wasn't my favorite Elle Kennedy book, it won't stop me from purchasing future books from her; to include this series.

Genevieve is back in Avalon Bay for her mother's funeral, and her dad asks her to stick around to help with the family business. But she is determined to maintain her new sobriety and stay away from all her old triggers, including her on again/off again ex, Evan.

This is a second chance romance, but more, it is a second chance at growing up. Both have a history of being the "bad" boy or girl and hearing that it's time to be an adult. Despite a shared history, they come from quite different places and motivations. Genevieve and Evan both have to work hard to become responsible and to learn if their new adult versions of themselves are still compatible.

I enjoyed getting to see more of Copper and Mackenzie, but I would have liked to see that Cooper had further grown and evolved.

This book included so much fun and lots of laughter mixed with really serious parts about growing up and what it means to be an adult. I found the tone changed a bit becoming increasingly serious as the book continued.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

CW: assault, alcohol and drug abuse

Wow. I loved this. It’s a new favorite honestly. I knew I had to know more about Evan and Gen’s dynamic after it was hinted at in Good Girl Complex… this did not disappoint. The tension, the love, the growth, the understanding they have for each other is everything.

This book was so funny and so sweet and hot?? I was going through it with a different emotion every few pages. Sorry to my loves Mac and Coop, but Gen and Evan are so much hotter. I actually cried tears of joy toward the end of this. I feel so stupid crying over Blow Pops, but Evan and Gen turned my heart to mush.. Did I kinda see them getting married? Yes. Did I still cry when she asked him? Absolutely.

Gen and Evan are such strong characters, yet so soft and sweet. I love them so much. Evan willing to do anything for her is just a punch straight to my heart. This book was so touching. I love that they know eachother so deeply and understand each other’s trauma. I love that Evan was willing to change into a better version of himself for Gen. He’s still funny as ever. I about died when Lloyd popped up to get back at him about the bird. And the entire thing with Riley just tugged at my heartstrings. I want for Evan and Gen to have 7 kids so badly, and for Evan to be the best stay-at-home-dad ever.

I loved seeing more of the characters from Good Girl Complex from Gen’s point of view. I’m excited to see more of Avalon Bay.

ARC REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️
What happens when the worst influence on you also has your heart?

🌊 Gen is a reformed bad girl after having left Avalon Bay a year ago. Now she’s back and can’t seem to resist her constant on again off again bad boy, Evan.

This is the second in the Avalon Bay series and while it can be read as a standalone, I do recommend you read Good Girl Complex first.

Here’s what I liked:

🌊 the setting. Kennedy set up this southern coastal town in the first novel and continued it here. Avalon Bay has an Outer Banks feel to it and just screams summer. It is also filled with side characters that give it a true feel.

🌊 Gen and Evan. Both were great characters who had big journeys to take. Both loved being the bad ones and had to find their footings being good.

🌊 Evan’s relationship with Riley. On his quest to be better, Evan becomes a big brother to a local teen. That relationship was probably my favorite.

All in all, this was a good read. There were times when it felt a little repetitive and predictable but I still enjoyed the characters and their story.
🔥 there are a couple spicy scones.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC book in exchange for an honest review.

Bad Girl Reputation is the perfect reminder of long summer days, and an intriguing second chance romance. Elle Kennedy creates another amazing visit to the steamy beaches of Avalon Bay, and I enjoyed every minute of the trip.

Genevieve and Evan have dated on and off since middle school, and the impulsive pair got into plenty of trouble together. That is, until last year when Gen suddenly left town without a word. Now she’s back in Avalon Bay for her mom’s funeral, and is unsure how to navigate her relationship with Evan, who had been her boyfriend and best friend. She’s made a lot of changes in her life, including sobriety and thinking before she acts. Is their romance toxic for both of them, or are they truly the only ones who understand each other?

When the book begins, I honestly wasn’t sure that I could buy into Gen and Evan together as a positive relationship. But then the story shifts gears, and Evan makes the most of his second chance with Gen. Once the story focused on redemption for both Evan and Gen, I was all in and couldn’t wait for them to work towards their happily ever after.

Bad Girl Reputation is the second book in the Avalon Bay series, but can be read as a stand-alone. Personally, I loved Good Girl Complex too and highly recommend it. Both books feature a fantastic found family of locals and longtime friends who are all characters the reader wants to spend more time with.

If you are a fan of steamy, new adult, second chance romance, read Bad Girl Reputation. Elle Kennedy is a master, and she creates unforgettable characters and a story of redemption that I devoured.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As the author said in the acknowledgements This is a story about "redemption, forgiveness, second chances, and the difficulties that come with shedding your past and trying to be a better, healthier version of yourself."

Evan and Genevieve have been off and on again since as long as they could remember. But a year ago Gen left without a word, and is back in town after her mom dies. They start to get back into old toxic habits with each other. They both can't seem to stay away and eventually agree to start dating the proper way and show the other they have changed and grown up. They go on some dates, get into trouble both together and separately. Will they be able to get their shit together individually and as a couple?

Were the characters in this book messy and immature? Yes. Did I love every minute of it anyways? Also Yes. Though the characters exhibit a lot of toxicity, by the end they do grow and become better people. And the drama is what kept me so engaged in the story. Over all this was a hit for me and I would be open to reading more if this series continues.