Gen and Evan have been in an on/off relationship since they were in high school. Their chemistry is intense, together they are trouble though. After an incident, Gen decides she wants to clean up her act and that means leaving Evan behind.

This is a cute second-chance romance. It is dual POV and while there were moments that had me laughing and moments that had me going "awww". I did find myself skimming throughout the story.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Deal is one of my favorite books of all time so when an ARC for a book by Elle Kennedy was available, I was super excited to read it.
Though I had a very different experience with this book. I found it very slow to start and I couldn't really relate to Genevieve. I admired her dedication to become a better person, to learn to forgive herself but in a way, I never connected with her. I also found myself skimming most of the time so I'm not sure if that counts. I loved the tension, banter, and angst between her and Evan but couldn't help but notice their relationship was a little toxic too. Also, I feel like the second chance romance trope is harder to enjoy without a good plot that keeps you on your toes. But the whole childhood friends to lovers? Perfect. Eventually, they grew on me as they matured a bit more toward the ending.
I'll definitely keep reading more books by Elle Kennedy.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bad Girl reputation is a fun summer read !
Gen is back in her home town, and meets her ex Evan, and their chemistry is so palpable, everyone around them can feel it. She's doing her best to move on, since she realizes how toxic (albeit hot) they were together.

I really enjoyed this book, and maybe more than the first which featured Evean's brother, Cooper.

Recommend if you enjoy the "no one touches her but me", friends-lovers-enemies-lovers, small town romance

triggers: excessive drinking, sexual assault

This book was just not for me. I found the characters to be way too immature and toxic for each other. There really wasn't any development and I have to say I didn't really want them to even end up together.

Run don’t walk to buy this book! Ellie Kennedy does it again with a romance novel that makes you want to keep reading. Gen and Evans love story was heartwarming and well developed. The characters were complex and I loved all of the stories that were woven in. This book had me reading late into the evening saying just one more chapter.

I will read anything Ellie Kennedy publishes she is a phenomenal author and knows how to capture an audience. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. Thank you net galley and publishers for the early read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, I had SUCH a problem with the first book, but this one was better.

If there is anything I am a sucker for, it is the childhood friends to lovers/second chance romance trope so I was here for this book.

I fell in love with Evan in the first book so I was excited to read this one. The blow pop thing was so freaking cute 🥹

The part that’s bothering me so far with this series is THAT DANG HOTEL! Why is it not finished?! Will we ever read about the grand opening? Sigh

I love Elle Kennedy as a writer but it was a struggle to really fall for this couple at first. They had such a crazy somewhat toxic relationship that had caused them so many problems over the years that I didn’t think there was going to be any redeeming them together. By the end though there was a lot of growth by the characters and I was happy with where things landed. I can definitely imagine how their story would continue to grow more after what we get to read.

I wanted to note that I give this a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

These Hartley brothers 🥵 Elle has done it again! This was book two in the Avalon bay series and follows the second twin Evan.

Though Elle has a way of keeping her stories light and filled with fun banter and amazing steam, what i really loved about this story was how it put me in my FEELS!

Genevieve and Evan have been on again off again since they were in high school, so they know eachother on such a deep level and grew up making all the mistakes and memories together.

However, after a really bad night Gen skips town without a word. We get to see how this affected Evan in book one (follows his twin brother cooper). Book two picks up one year after Gen left. She comes home after the passing of her mother. Gen is trying to turn over a new leaf and make serious changes in her life and with that she believes that Evan may be an equally bad influence on her as she is on him. So she tries her best to keep her distance while she is back in town.

We get to see both of them grow into the adults they want and need to be but while also making sure they aren’t losing the pieces of themselves that make them, them.

overall i REALLY enjoyed this book, if you enjoy small beach town vibes, cute puppies, twin brothers and personal growth… this book is for you!

I want to express my thanks for being able to read this and give ,y honest review!

While i enjoyed the growth of these characters, it just lacked much else. I was surprised to see how well that was written though. Toxic relationships are rarely written in this genre and are hard to get right. So for that alone it gets 3⭐️ I just finished this book and honestly couldn't even tell you the characters names and what else happened. Just didn't hold my attention like some of this authors other books. A little disappointed

I’m a sucker for some angst and childhood friends to lovers so this was the perfect easy beach read for my day while in between heavy books.

While Evan and gen were toxic, seeing their characters grow and get their act together was beautiful. I almost wish we saw more of their crazy shenanigans when they were in high school just so we could understand how much they mellowed out as they recognized how unhealthy and unsustainable that behavior was for their relationship. While they were both badasses, I loved the sweet (literally)moments between them—the blow pops thing hello??

As someone who was disappointed by the first book in this series, I was pleasantly surprised by this one.

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martins for this ARC!!

Review:
This book was okay - mostly it was a study in toxic relationships. Even Gen and Evan admit that about themselves. It was great seeing them decide to become better people and turn their lives around for themselves AND each other, but I never felt like there was any kind of consistency for them before they decide to barrel headlong into a committed relationship. Also, Evan talks about consent but everytime Gen tells him no, he thinks he knows better and tries to convince her she's wrong and that at times its too much. He knows her well but he still think he right even when Gen tells him he's wrong.
Gen does the same to them, which is probably why they are a good pair and ultimately I liked who they turned out to be, but the middle was pretty rough.

Synopsis:
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.

But it’s impossible not to run into Evan in the small coastal town where they once ran wild. And the moment she sees her gorgeous ex again, it’s clear to Gen that Evan is still as unruly, sexy, and irresistible as ever. This time around, however, she’s resolved to walk a new path. No more partying. No more foolish mistakes. Her plan is to temporarily remain in town to help her father run his business, but the second he finds somebody else, she’s out of there.

Evan has other ideas. He knows they can be good together, but he just has to convince Genevieve of that, even if it means turning over a new leaf himself. But can a bad reputation ever truly be shed? Do second chances really work? Genevieve and Evan are about to find out.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this book a 2 our of 5 stars because I was basically skimming the whole book. I thought this book was also going to be another After, since the first one was a blueprint of that book.

The story is about Genevieve and Evan, the former bad girl and her ex-boyfriend. She comes back into town trying to get rid of her reputation but is constantly getting distracted by her ex.

I felt it difficult to dive into the book, starting then stoping then starting again. I found the characters way too immature. The "quirky" nickname "Fred" was so unappealing to me. I couldn't find it within myself to care about the main characters individually or as a couple.

Kennedy has a way of creating worlds of new adults that draw you in and her characters are well fleshed out and you understand exactly who they are, root for them, hurt with them, and just generally care about their outcomes. However, unlike in previous series I’ve read from Kennedy (Off Campus/Briar U) I didn’t want to spend a lot of time in Avalon Bay because it seemed that not many of the people there have ambition or know what they want with their lives, with the exception of Mac and she isn’t even from there. I understand that that these characters are new young/new adults, but I wanted them to have more of a desire to do something or be passionate about something than they had. I love how Kennedy wrote the character of Genevieve in this book and was reminded of previously constructed characters in her Off Campus/Briar U series, specifically Hannah and Brenna.

The passion and magnetism between Gen and Evan was tangible. I also like that Evan was working on becoming a better version of himself instead of sticking to his bad boy reputation and continuing to draw Gen over to the dark side. I almost wanted Harrison to actually give Evan a run for his money, but as I’m not a huge fan of love triangles I was thankful that he wasn’t written in that way. The “fuck around and find out society” is my favorite and I love them.

I was really grateful for the themes of forgiveness and second chances not just for Gen and Evan, but also for Shelley. It can be really hard to realize you want or need to change, making choices to do that, and asking forgiveness from those that you’ve hurt. I liked the redemption of Shelley and where things are headed for these characters.

I appreciated what this story was trying to do; showing that people can change their lives for the better. Our two main characters Gen and Evan have been in a toxic, codependent relationship for most of their teenage and early 20s. Gen makes a decision to leave their hometown because she realizes that she is on downward spiral, and that a relationship with Evan as is, contributes to that. She returns after a year due to unfortunate circumstances and makes it clear to Evan that they both need to work on themselves if they want to rekindle their relationship.
While I liked the message of the story, I found the characters to be shallow and annoying for the most part. They came across as very immature and I did not enjoy this at all.

When I read Good Girl Reputation, I could not wait to learn more about Evan's mysterious past with Genevieve. I was not disappointed! This was a wonderful love story about two people who have always been given the short end of the stick, and pulling through to better themselves. Elle Kennedy made these characters SO relatable - they are flawed, troubled and jaded, but their journey together (and apart) shows true growth through trials and tribulations. Don't get me wrong - you will be frustrated with both characters, but it's so worth the read. I will definitely recommend this duo series to all my friends!

I was given a free early-release copy of this book through NetGalley and was not paid for this review.

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎: 🔥 Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy - 4/5 ✰ - This is the second book in the Avalon Bay series and it was just as good as the first one!! It’s spicy (but not too spicy), funny and entertaining. I loved the Hartley twins so much in Good Girl Complex so I was happy to get more of their story.

Thank you so much @netgalley , @stmartinspress & @ellekennedy33 for this ARC! Pub date - October 4, 2022!

𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨: Genevieve is back in town for her mother’s funeral and inevitably runs into a her ex boyfriend, Evan Hartley. Needless to say the attraction and passion is still very much alive. But have they really worked through their problems?)

This is a fun follow up to Good Girl Complex, but also a great stand alone. I may have liked it even better! Everyone is back in Avalon Bay, including Gen, who left a year ago without a word. Evan, her former boyfriend, has missed her ever since. But can he convince her to give him another chance? Or is he too bad of an influence to be reformed? Both of them want to grow as humans, while still making space for the other and it's fun (and sometimes painful) to watch. All the supporting characters are great too! A perfect ocean read!

I am finishing this book at approximately 1:40 am and I am going to attempt to write a half decent review at this time. Please don’t blame me if it’s trash.

(Before I start I would like to thank the publishers of this marvelous piece of art for providing me a free digital ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review)



𝐎𝐊𝐀𝐘𝐘𝐘- so Bad Girl Reputation. Where do I start? This story continuous in the same universe as Elle Kennedy’s 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹. It follows two main MC’s, Evan (Cooper’s twin in 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹) and Genevieve. Evan and Gen have been best friends since they were children. When they decided to start dating in their freshman year of high school, they start to develop this on and off relationship, which continues for years to come. When something snaps in Gen, she realizes she can’t continue living the life she has been living. She decides to pack up and leave without telling anyone, this includes Evan. Evan is heartbroken and when he tries to get over Gen and get used to living a life without her, Gen’s mother dies and Gen is thrown back into Evan’s orbit. This is around where the story starts off.

𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞’𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐬, 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬. In this book you get to read about these two characters who find growth in each other, and growth within themselves. I found these two to have major chemistry and just enough angst to make their love realistic and real. I don’t really know if this book should be exactly five stars, as it is far from perfect and has many flaws, but I think that is part of the reason I rated it five stars. The flaws of this book made is real and made me emotionally connect with the characters the way Elle Kennedy’s books always make me do. I find trouble doing this with some other author’s I read and Elle’s books always have a special touch that makes me fall in love all over again.

This all being said, I’m rating this book 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒. I fell in love, and I hope you decide to give Evan and Genevieve’s story a chance. You won’t regret it.



*TW/CW list*
- Alcoholism, Sexual Content, Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment (not too graphic but heavily mentioned), Toxic Relationship, Harassment, Alcohol and drug use, Police brutality (police officer abuses their power), Slight Violence, Cursing/derogatory terms (aimed towards someone who is a woman), and mentions of cancer.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Thoughts: 💭

Genevieve has turned over a new leaf… After a year away, she returns to Avalon Bay with the intention of attending her mothers funeral, helping her dad get the family business organized, avoiding her ex at ALL costs, and getting the heck back out of Avalon Bay. Little does she know her history with bad boy Evan may fully suck her back in…

Coming at you with the other hot Hartley twin. And yes, he has tattoos too. This one was superrrr cute. I loved Cooper and Mac’s story so much, but I’ve always had a soft spot for books where the guy pursues the girl. Beach romances in the summer are where it’s at!

𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝐼 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒𝒹…

🌊 Dual POV
🌊 Second Change Romance
🌊 Coastal Beach Town Vibes
🌊 High School Best Friends to Lovers
🌊 Bad Girl / Boy
🌊 Love Triangle-ish

Thank you @ellekennedy33, @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Make sure to add this one to your preorder list! Publication date is October 4th, 2022.

There are not a lot of things that I love more than a good second chance romance and this book gave me all the vibes!

With the passion these two have for each other it’s impossible for sparks not to fly. The character growth is a little slow but very believable if you are an actual human with real, messy feelings! I really enjoyed this one!

I received this ARC from #netgalley in exchange for an honest review!