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📚: Bad Girl Reputation
✍🏻: @ellekennedy33
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
🌶🌶🌶 3/5
Release date 🗓: October 3, 2022
👥 Dual POV
👩‍❤️‍👨Young Love
🔥🔥 Spice
🏡 Small town
👫⬆️ Coming of age
🗣 Witty Banter
👩‍❤️‍👨 2nd chance romance
‼️Content warnings: alcoholism, death of a parent, sexual assault, strained parental relationships
➡️ swipe for synopsis

Thank you @stmartinspress, @netgalley and @ellekennedy33 for the advanced copy!

I read Good Girl Complex a couple months ago and flew through it, so I was so excited to take a trip back to Avalon Bay and fall in love with more of the characters.

This book had me hooked from the start. You can feel the 🔥 chemistry from the moment Genevieve and Evan were introduced and you cant help Right away, I needed to know their story. The classic 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 kept me hooked and turning the page as fast as possible. This book was so much more than your average romcom, though. It explored some tough topics and asked the question what happens when young lovers grow up? Are

What I loved ❤️:
🌟Evan and Gen- their chemistry was 🔥 but it was also so evident how much they cared for one another
🌟The family dynamics- this book tackles absentee parents, death of a parent and does it all with grace
🌟The banter. I laughed out loud so many times at the banter between the characters and the situations they found themselves in.
🌟 the spice 🌶🌶🔥

I’m so glad I got the chance to read this book and I really hope we get to see more of the Avalon Bay characters in another book! I definitely recommend adding to this to your TBR.

I did not like this book as much as I liked good girl complex. I just wasn't invested in their relationship as much as coop and Mac's. I'm just not as big a fan of second chance romance. It just personally wasn't my favorite of Elle Kennedy's books. Kennedy did an awesome job at character development..

It was a treat to revisit Avalon Bay and the cast of characters in 𝗘𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗱𝘆'𝘀 second book in the series, 𝑩𝒂𝒅 𝑮𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝑹𝒆𝒑𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. In the first book, 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑮𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒙, we vaguely learn about Genevieve and Evan's relationship problems. This book dives head first into their complicated story. Bad boy Evan and party girl Gen's angsty dynamic is steamy hot, and full of drama. Their fiery chemistry is sizzling! You can almost feel the heat coming off the pages.

I enjoyed both characters' complex journeys of personal growth and development. Their determination to change their lives and prove themselves was admirable. Watching them admit their faults, take action and pull themselves together made for a delightful second-chance romance story. I loved seeing their toxic teen situation turn into a functional adult relationship. Elle Kennedy did it again with this story full of love, forgiveness, and redemption. It was an excellent read! I highly recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of an emotional roller coaster. I am hoping to see this series continue!

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is such an entertaining and different second chance romance. Genevieve returns to her old town where she did not have the best reputation in order to help her dad. She of course cannot avoid running into Evan her ex.

Evan is determined to show Genevieve that they can start off fresh. It’s really interesting in how those characters have to work through their past and realize that how they were perceived and acted in the past does not have to look at their future.

The setting of a small town also lens itself to the story. You get to see reactions from others and then you get to see sometimes why Genevieve acts out as she does. All in all this was a really entertaining on Romance that I highly recommend.

I liked this book and wish I read the first one! It is just an easy read with a good story. I like watching other characters navigate relationships. Immature characters are just fun to read and that’s okay!

Elle Kennedy is amazing and I love her books. This was the second one in the Avalon Bay series. I love dual POV books and this one didn’t miss!

So, when I first started this book I honestly didn’t know if I was going to like it or not. I don’t LOVE second-chance romances but I gotta say, this one was done well. Genevieve and Evan had a wild and toxic past and the beginning of this story felt as if they were just falling into the same patterns so i’ll admit, I was worried! HOWEVER as the story went on, I found myself really falling in love with these two characters and their journeys of growth—both together and separately. Their chemistry was also off the CHARTS!

Gen stuck to her guns and I really liked that about her. I loved that she not only wanted to be better for herself but for the people around her. I enjoyed the dynamic of her family and I LOVED her dad 🥹

Evan kind of annoyed me in the beginning as he seemed super immature and petty. However as the story went on I found myself loving his journey and I LOVED his big brother vibes with Riley. It was so wholesome 🥲

This was a story about growth, second chances, forgiving, and self-realization. This ended up being a much deeper story than I was expecting and I’m so happy about that. I really connected to the characters and thoroughly enjoyed the story as whole.

Also that epilogue! Loved it. It was really a full-circle kind of moment for the characters in this story and I adored it.

Thank you Netgalley and St.Martin’s Press for sending me an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review!

This book sadly just wasn't for me. It was like a bad movie you can't look away from - the only reason I finished it.
This is far from a good romance. The main characters are chaotic, toxic, and just plain terrible for each other. The side characters are just as intolerable.
If you are looking for a good chivalrous romance that reminds you of adulthood and not messy high school romance, this book is not it.
Considering I finished it, 2/5.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me an ARC for an honest review.

Bad Girl Reputation is another hit by Elle Kennedy. As this is the second book to the series, one is always quick to assume that it will not be as good as the first. Given this isn't Elle Kennedy's first rodeo, clearly she knows how to keep the reader invested and truly second guess which book was better.

When a romance novel is about younger adults, it is easy to judge the characters as a little reckless and and childish. However, from the beginning of the story, the reader understands the push and pull that Gen and Evan have been dealing with over their entire young adult lives which plays into their irrational behavior.

This angsty back and forth keeps the reader turning each page as quick as they can in order to see if Gen and Evan are actually made for one another or truly just each others kryptonite. Elle takes us on a journey watching both Gen and Evan learning to make better choices for themselves and leading a life worth living. Throughout the entire story you are rooting for both Evan and Gen to realize that they are both deserving of leading a good, successful life.

At the end of this adventure, Gen and Evan learn that they don't need to be apart to live a peaceful life. Realizing they are each others confidants and support system is the icing on the cake.

Nothing but good things to say about this book. Another great one from Elle.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing early access to this book!

I really enjoyed this second chance romance! I wasn’t a huge fan of the first book Good Girl Complex, but this one I connected with a little more. I’m giving this 3.5 ⭐️ And would definitely recommend it. A fast, entertaining read!

3 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

This is probably one of the first books I am reviewing that I really have very little to say.. the story was ok. Nothing too crazy or exciting. The characters are somewhat lackluster and typical for most of romance novels: super hot guy and beautiful girl. A bit unoriginal. Their relationship is very toxic at the start and they seem to work through things…… though it seems kind of rushed and sudden at the end. I am pretty underwhelmed by this one.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book for an honest review

Bad Girl Reputation ticked the boxes for a second chance romance told from a dual point-of-view. Going back to Avalon Bay, we come across the rekindling between Genevieve and Evan. Their past can make them seem wrong for each other but throughout the novel we see the growth that each character goes through as they try to find their way back. It's great to see character appearances from Good Girl Complex to tie in both books and Elle Kennedy gave us that and much more. She made a story ideal for those who have hope in second chances!

I love Elle Kennedy - the Off-Campus series is one of my favorite series and the Briar U and After Hours series are also really great. Avalon Bay is definitely a step into a more "mainstream" spicy romance with the cartoon-y cover (instead of a sexy scene or shirtless guy). I preferred Good Girl Complex to Bad Girl Reputation as far as this series goes. The characters in Bad Girl Reputation aren't super memorable, likeable, or relatable. I like the idea of a second chance romance but this feels a bit immature.

Read/Listen If You Like:
❤️ Second Chance Romance
❤️ Small Town Setting
❤️ Imperfect Characters
❤️ Dual POV
❤️ Some Spice

Book Review:

This book brings us back to Avalon Bay and flips to Cooper’s twin for his story to be told as we get to see the relationship between Cooper and Genevieve unfold.

This story is a second chance romance with the ‘bad boy’ and ‘bad girl’ characters coming together and deciding whether they are good for each other or not, and if it’s time to grow up or keep on the path of ‘bad behavior’

We get to see a bit more of the struggles for adults with bad parents and how that effects the relationships they have with others when foundational relationships are not good.

This one also has a couple spicy scenes and they were pretty well done compared to other spicy scenes I’ve read lately.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Griffin for ARC copies of this one! I am so thankful to receive it and read it in advance of its release!

This was my first Elle Kennedy read and I had a great time with it. I enjoyed the story and it was overall a fun quick read. My issues were mainly with the likeability of the characters, and the believability of their transformations. I just didn't buy all of it and felt like maybe their motivations/steps toward being better weren't quite fleshed out enough. I will for sure be keeping an eye out for other Elle Kennedy stories!

Thank you #Netgalley for the early copy!

Was happy to get to read the second installment of the Avalon Bay Series by Elle Kennedy. I think she did a great job tying in additional characters while still maintaining the key figures for book 1. This time we follow Gen who comes back to Avalon Bay after her mother died. Gen has a history with the Hartley twins, particularly her high school love, Evan. Though they both know they are bad for each other, they can't keep their hands off each other. We follow how each tries to better themselves both for their future, individual and relationship futures. We look at second chances and if you put your mind to it, you can move on for the better.

Title: Bad Girl Reputation

🖤 Genre/Trope: Cont. Romance, high school sweethearts, second chance romance, Avalon Bay character series: Book 2

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥3/5

💥Heavy Profanity💥

🔥Woah! From the first chapter, the heat of attraction between Genevieve and Evan is palpable! The reader cannot help but be invested in the relationship they once shared and hold onto the sliver of hope for a future together.

🔥Genevieve is on the road to redemption, but when Avalon Bay suddenly calls her back to town, she’s forced to tiptoe around the skeletons of her past. Gen is strong willed. The courage she demonstrates throughout the book demands the reader’s respect. You can’t help but want to stand in her corner!

🔥A walking firecracker, Evan is self destructive and impulsive. Gen left Avalon Bay in the rear view mirror, leaving Evan along with it. When she reappears, their natural bond calls them together. Their past is proof of a toxic lifestyle, and Gen is determined to walk the straight and narrow. He’s insistent on wooing her, but in order to do so, Evan must represent the epitome of responsibility. That may not be as easy as he anticipated. He’s hard headed, thoughtful, and rough around the edges. Evan’s undeniable charm will entice any reader’s love!

🔥Their two wrongs make something REALLY right! Seeing their individual growth and how it affects their relationship was captivating. I loved everything about their story and look forward to what lies ahead in Avalon Bay!

Side note: We get a sprinkling of Cooper and Mac from the first book of this series! Each book can be read as a standalone.

-Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy. Publication Date: October 4, 2022.

I enjoyed the storyline between Gen and Evan far more than that between Cooper and Mackenzie in Good Girl Complex. The first book in the series was the exact plot of After, while this plot was more original and intriguing. I enjoyed the dynamic between Gen and Evan. I felt Gen was a good female lead and was not one dimensional. I definitely found myself rooting for the two to rekindle their relationship. Perhaps that’s because the first book helped set up Evan as a sweetheart on the inside. I also felt this was well written!! I’d recommend this as a cute, quick read.

Unfortunately, I didn't read Good Girl Complex before this and will be going backwards.. but I do love going into books completely blind - I did JUST that.

I'm a SUCKER for childhood best friends to lovers/second chance tropes so this was a win for me. Elle Kennedy might just be one of my top authors.

ARC provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley but as always, that doesn't effect my review.

TW: Parental death, heavy drinking, drug use, sexual assault

Elle Kennedy has long since been a quick and easy read for me and is one of those authors I can come to for something to pick me up when I get bogged down after reading loads of Fantasy. I admit I'm not really into second chance romances but since getting to meet and know Evan from the first book I of course needed to know who the mysterious Gen was, it was an easy decision to sign up for this ARC.

Genevieve West makes her way back to Avalon Bay for the death of her mother. They have never been close but the event brings her back after a year long hiatus. She took off suddenly without so much as a goodbye to her on again off again boyfriend Evan and has tried to make herself over this past year. Force herself to grow up finally. She's put away the drinking, she's had a steady job her own place. And now being forced back to Avalon Bay she's putting herself to the test by being in situations that where before she would wind up getting into big time trouble. Evan, seeing how Gen is trying to reform herself, believes the only way to end up back with the love of his life is to reform himself as well.

These two are full of sparks right off the bat and their chemistry was insane. I really enjoyed their spice and banter, they were sexy as hell. I found their growth to be good and I did like the plot of the story. The only thing I will say I didn't care for besides Officer Randall (UGH EWW) was that we were mostly told what wild and crazy things they did, not really shown. It would've been cool to have a few flashback scenes of their shenanigans. I also really liked Gen's family, her dad especially. The way he told her no matter what she did he was always going to be there for her because she's his daughter tore me up, my dad is similar that way and it just resonated with me.

The way this one ended points heavily toward a third installment based on Alana and Wyatt and maybe Tate? Their whole situation is confusing to me so I will probably read this one too so I can figure them out.

I would recommend Bad Girl Reputation to any romance lovers looking for a quick steamy read! Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!