Second chances can lead to true love, right?!? This book explores that theory as Genevieve has returned to her hometown. If you like romance, spice, drama and conflict, this book is for you!

I loved this sweet, spicy love story with second-chance themes, which took place in Avalon Bay. It was nice to hear more about the characters from the first book in the series as well - Mackenzie and Cooper. This story follows Cooper's twin brother, Evan, and his long time on again off again girl, Genevieve. The story hooked me right from the beginning with the steamy romance scenes and the hilarious moments between friends and siblings.

This one was a fun time. It was giving me the Outer banks(Netflix show) vibes. So Genevieve comes home for her mother's funeral. She left without telling her ex-boyfriend Evan who she use to get into trouble with as a youth. She had moved to Charlotte to start over and make something of her life. When she comes back she keeps running into Evan and lets just say that old habits die hard. These two are like magnets. Genevieve becomes conflicted and tries to distract herself by going on dates with the good boy police officer. She also come face to face with the sheriff who wants to make her pay for what she did when she use to babysit his kids. Lots of good drama and angst. I enjoyed it.

time to get rid of that bad girl reputation ✨

Title: Bad Girl Reputation
Author: Elle Kennedy
Pub. Date: October 4, 2022

*thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this one, but it just wasn’t for me. Although there were themes of personal growth throughout the story, it wasn’t showcased enough for me to be 100% okay with how the book ended.

Don’t get me wrong, I was definitely rooting for Genevieve & Evan bc I could sense their connection and chemistry together, but Evan’s personal growth story seemed a little too far fetched for me.

A lot of unnecessary drama for me and not as engaging as I hoped it would be 🥲

All this to say: just because this wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean that it won’t work for you, I still encourage anyone who wants to, to give this book a shot when it publishes next month 🫶🏻

Read if you like:
- bad boy & bad girl vibes 🕶
- second chance romance 💞
- dual POV 👥
- spice 🌶
- witty banter 🗣
- personal growth 🌱
- complex family relationships 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Rating: ☀️☀️/5

I honestly really enjoy Elle Kennedy's writing style.
This is a great costal relaxing read. You have an angsty relationship and a small town at the center of teenage drama.
Elle Kennedy has a great way of bringing in topics of alcoholism, addiction and death.
I highly suggest reading this series. I really enjoy having the story of both brothers and really hope there will be more about them in another book.

I really enjoyed Good Girl Complex and couldn’t wait to return to Avalon Bay for the follow up, Bad Girl Reputation. Elle Kennedy did not disappoint. It was quick, enjoyable, and a fun second chance romance. I liked the bad boy/bad girl change in this book. Genevieve and Evan are messy and explosive.💥 Their angsty push/pull was entertaining, but I also really enjoyed seeing their growth together and as individuals. Their chemistry was sizzling! The new and known supporting character were fantastic and added so much to the story. I loved seeing Mac and Cooper again.

I am definitely enjoying this series, and cannot wait for book three, The Summer Girl!

What I liked;
🍭 Second chance romance
🍭 Childhood best friends to lovers
🍭 Steamy chemistry
🍭 Character growth
🍭 Daisy 🐶


Mark your calendars, Bad Girl Reputation publishes 10/4/22!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Elle Kennedy for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I found the story of this book to be a bit meh, but I appreciated the growth of the characters and the sex scenes were quite steamy.

Gen and Evan's story is about forgiveness, second chances, and trying to better yourself for a healthier and safer future.
They started out dating as teenagers with an on again-off again relationship. They got into constant trouble, fights, drugs, making each other jealous. Not a healthy relationship by any means but their chemistry was/is and always will be off the charts and they know it which makes for one hell of a story.
Gen leaves town, without even a goodbye to Evan, after some things happened that opened her eyes to the life she was leading. She wanted to get rid of that bad girl reputation and thought the only way to do that was by leaving. She returned a year later when her mother passed away and that's where the forgiveness and second chances of this story come into play.
There's also a golden retriever named Daisy in the book who you will absolutely fall in love with if you're an animal lover like myself.
I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Elle Kennedy, St. Martins press and Netgalley for this ARC!

This was a nice feel good kind of raunchy all the open endings get resolved really nicely by the end. I enjoyed it!

I loved this book! I think the progression between the two characters was well done and I couldn’t help but swoon a little over both MC. This was definitely the perfect book to follow up the good girl complex with which I enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I am a huge Elle Kennedy fan. I have read all of her books. So I went into this book with high expectations. This book exceeded all my expectations. I loved this book so much!!! The romance between Evan and Genevieve was everything I hoped it would be and more. This book was a childhood best friend to lovers and also second chance romance. I normally am not a huge fan of second chance lovers but I really enjoyed this one. I really enjoyed watching both characters evolve and find themselves. I also loved the relationship between Evan and his mom, Shelley. I was so happy to read that that relationship was mended. I actually enjoyed this book more than the first one, Good Girl Complex. This books will definitely be apart of my book club!!

This was a really fast paced second chance romance. I loved the chemistry between the two main characters. Evan’s character was my absolute favorite! I also really enjoyed how the book focused on the individual growth of the main characters and not just their relationship. It was entertaining and well written. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes second chance romance! Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this in exchange for an honest review.

Gen and Evan are bad for each other. They can’t stay apart, but together, they are the worst versions of themselves. This book is their journey to becoming better people so they can be together.

I am just not a big fan of this couple. They were so toxic and neither one of them really improved. It was giving Grease in the worst possible way. I enjoyed the story, but I did not ship or root for the couple at all.

I am thankful to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read an advanced copy of this book.

Overview: After her mother passes away, Genevieve returns home to Avalon Bay determined to leave her destructive habits in the past by finally being a responsible adult. However, this proves challenging as she continues to be drawn to bad boy Evan Hartley, with whom she shares a long and passionate history with…

Thoughts: This is the second book in the Avalon Bay series, and it certainly has Elle Kennedy’s signature sizzle - the chemistry between Evan and Genevieve was hot (warning: there are several open door scenes). I liked the theme of redemption throughout the book, with Evan, Gen, and Shelly all trying to better themselves, but the overall plot fell a bit short for me. I also didn’t love how Genevieve was stringing along Harrison while she was obviously still involved with Evan. I actually found myself more interested in some of the side characters, such as Harrison, Alana, and Gen’s brothers, so I’ll definitely continue reading this series!

Summary: If you were a fan of the messy Avalon Bay characters first introduced in Good Girl Complex, Bad Girl Reputation is probably a good bet. I’d recommend this for fans of second chance romance in a small town setting.

Big thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this digital ARC!

I wasn’t drawn into this book like I was with the last one. I liked that the characters were the same so you were able to see how the characters in the first book were doing, I also liked how relatable this book was. But this book didn’t grab my attention like the other. I am not sure if it’s because I thought it was slow or because I had high expectations going in from how much I liked the first book. Almost a 4 ⭐️ for me but not quite there

After the first book, Good Girl Complex, I wasn’t sure if I would like Bad Girl Reputation. But I think everyone should give this book a chance!

Genevieve and Evan grew up together in Avalon Bay, constantly getting into trouble and partying the days away. After an incident with the local deputy, she leaves town for a year without a word.

After her mother passes away, Gen returns home for the funeral and to help her father keep the family business going. Slowly, she starts to dig her feet into the sand, planting roots back at home and falls back into Evan’s arms.

I really enjoyed the growth from both Gen and Evan through this book. Giving each other second chances, forgiving those that they have wronged and had wronged them, as well as learning to love each other in a healthier way.

I do wish it didn’t end so suddenly and feel that Evan trying to break it off in the last few chapters of the book wasn’t necessary. If he would have stayed to listen to Gen after what she had been through it could have all been avoided.

Definitely recommend this one! Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Gah!!! There is nothing as satisfying in this world as an Elle Kennedy story. Time and time again her stories have gripped me from the very first page and kept me compelled until the very end. In Bad Girl Reputation the second book in her Avalon Bay series, Kennedy brings all the drama, banter and heat in an emotional and poignant second chance love story of the ages! I am obsessed with Genevieve and Evan and the palpable connection between them. I loved every word!

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

Bad Girl Reputation follows the story of Gen, who has just arrived back in town for her mother's funeral, as she tries to move past her reputation around town and old habits. Her biggest obstacle is her ex-boyfriend, Evan. who always seems to bring her right back to their old toxic behaviors. She can't resist him but wants to start fresh and move past her old life. Evan is convinced that they are meant to be together so he comes up with a plan to win her back and show her that he can change for the better too.

While I really enjoyed this book, I did not emotionally connect with the main characters as much as I thought I would. It was a good second chance story about the characters becoming their best selves but I wish we would have seen more depth in regards to the changes they made in their relationship. Overall, this was a unique story and definitely kept me entertained!

Thank you so much @StMartinsPress & @NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 04 October 2022)

SYNOPSIS | Genevieve returns home after her mom passes & finds herself surrounded by all the things that she originally ran away from, including her on again / off again ex-boyfriend (Evan).

WHAT I LIKED:
- Gen & Evan's angsty drama & steamy chemistry is top notch
- Gen's character growth & the core message of believing in yourself to make the changes that you want to see
- if you liked Good Girl Complex then I think you'll enjoy this next instalment in the series

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- so much emphasis on Gen & Evan having a "bad reputation", but it all happened off-page
- Gen & Evan's relationship is kinda toxic in parts which I overlooked for the sake of enjoying the story

✨ ARC REVIEW ✨

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an eARC of this book! 😊

Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy
Publish Date - October 4, 2022

✨ THOUGHTS ✨

✨ Second chance romance
✨ Bad boy / bad girl
✨ Small-ish Town
✨ Protective brothers
✨ Duel POV

Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read for me! This book has an interesting plot and set of characters. I loved being able to read both points of view and seeing what was going on in their heads.

I loved seeing the characters work through their own challenges and become the people they want to be.

The main characters were funny and it was entertaining to see everything they got up to when they were younger.

The relationship was toxic but also sweet. 😂 The spice was good, and I would totally pick up the next book in this series!