Bad Girl Reputation was a fun read. My first Elle Kennedy read and she did not disappoint. I loved Genevieve and Evan's love story, the connection they have but cant deny that they had somewhat toxic relationship. I liked that it's also a story of forgiveness and second chances. The determination of both main characters to better themselves and give their love a second chance and Evan so determined to get his girl back.
I enjoy romances with POV chapters.
Overall i enjoyed this book, i think the other characters were written well in the story.

This is the second book in the Avalon Bay series and covers the relationship between Evan and Genevieve. While Bad Girl Reputation, out October 4, 2022, may seem like a easy read, it has a lot of heart and is a story about second chances, redemption, and growth.

I will admit I was really curious about Genevieve as a character. In the first novel, she is mentioned, but always negatively in relation to Evan and how their relationship was crazy and out of control. When I met her in this book, she was trying to get sober. I found her to be an interesting character, trying to shed her toxic habits while authentically being herself. That is not an easy feat and this book really focuses not only on her character growth, but Evan's as well.

The relationship between Evan and Genevieve, in the first third of the book was, honestly, unhealthy. However, the author acknowledges this and that is one of the overarching ideas of the book. How can two people who are clearly obsessed with each other, who love each other, who have this history, be together in a meaningful way without engaging in toxic behaviors? How can they grow together to be with one another now that they are adults? I really appreciated that the author doesn't rush this because I wasn't really on board with their relationship in the beginning because of how much influence they had on one another and the growing up that Evan had to do.

The big reason why this book is getting 4 stars (4.5 if you round up) is because I really do feel like that growth happened too quickly for how much they needed to reassemble themselves and how each other would fit into their new lives. I also felt the end happened too quickly as well. Really everything gets resolved in the last like 20 pages, and it didn't feel credible to me.

If you like angsty romance, second chance romance, and character growth, this is the book for you.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book for an honest review!

This book brings the DRAMA, and I loved it. Instantly I was obsessed with Gen and Evan's relationship. I didn't think I would like the push and pull relationship they had but I loved it so much.

When you read a romance novel you expect it to be focused on the relationship aspect of it, but I can honestly say I loved Gen and Evan just as much separately. The growth both characters go through in this story was so relatable as well as enjoyable.

Gen is returning home to her small coastal town for her mother's funeral. She left this town a year ago trying to start fresh and shed her "bad girl ways" but is back and is quickly pulled back into the life she tried to avoid. Evan has been her on and off boyfriend since childhood and he was a big part of the trouble she used to cause. Partners in love and crime their relationship fed off of the adrenaline of causing trouble together. But Gen has changed and is trying desperately not to fall back into old habits, as well as Evan's arms.

Their attraction is undeniable and SOOO spicy, but you get to watch them grow as people as well as a couple. I enjoyed it so much. The banter between the two was so fun.

I highly recommend this book for all romance lovers!

I thought this book was a great addition to Good Girl Compelx, as I read them back to back. I felt like it was a great way to hear about the love story between Evan and Genevieve, but also gave me some closure between Cooper and Mac. There were times I felt like it was just reading about sex, and they should have wanted more in their relationship—but whatever makes them happy!

This book was the perfect second chance childhood love romance read for the summer. The characters were lovable but had an edge of realness to them. The interpersonal relationships within this book were realistic and clear. Although there was a lot of characters it was easy to remember who was who due to how each character was truly their own person. I really got to know each and everyone of them to some extent. The flaws within the characters just made them even more relatable. I never felt the negative biases against peoples life choices that make me feel judged that sometimes be a theme within romance books about turning your life around.

It was hard for me to put the book down at points. And I can't wait to read more about Avalon Bay, the characters, and their love stories. This book was a HEA.

Below is my review as found on Goodreads, with a few tidbits added on.

This was the first book that I've read of Elle Kennedy's, so if you enjoy her writing style from her other series' then you might love this book! Unfortunately, it wasn't really my cup of tea.

I loved the dual P.O.V, and being able to dive into the characters' minds; all of the characters were introduced super well, considering that I have not read the first book of this series. The general plot surrounds Gen and Evan attempting to "redeem" themselves and their reputations while trying not to be someone that they aren't. Growing into adulthood and not letting their high school selves define who they are supposed to be - probably one of the most relatable themes for a new adult book! Unfortunately, that's the only part of the story that I enjoyed. Again, I've never read Elle Kennedy's work, but there is way too much emphasis on lusting over another person. Until around the 3/4 mark, it seemed that the only thing the main characters "loved" about each other was their bodies ...which for people that grew up as best friends, you'd think there was some more depth to their relationship. Closer to the end we got to see a bit more of why they care for each other, but then the ending felt rushed with their resolving conversation lasting a mere few sentences. But besides some uncomfortable paragraphs, I found the dialogue to be entertaining, and enjoyed seeing the dynamics among the different friendships. We see some complicated issues: problematic law enforcement, addiction, broken families, etc. I think the substance abuse could have used a bit more attention, so that we could truly believe why sobriety is so important for Gen, but it was still handled with care and I appreciate that it was included!

If you're a fan of Elle Kennedy, I'm sure this will be a great read for you! But I'd suggest to skip this one if you're not a fan, or if spice is something that you don't like to see every chapter.

I really enjoyed the second book of Elle Kennedy’s Avalon Bay series. We head back to the bay again but this time get to follow Evan and Genevieve’s on and off again relationship. I actually enjoyed the romance between the two characters in the sequel even more than the first book. Their history and dynamic felt genuine and honest, and the chemistry was almost palpable, If you like Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus series you won’t be disappointed with this read!

This is a book. you can read in 1 sitting! You don't need to read good girl complex to read this book but I highly recommend reading both!

I was so sad when this book was over! I wanted to read more about Evan and Gen! I liked the push and pull of this book. I think a lot of readers can relate to this story about growing up/changing but also trying not to lose who you are in the process. It's something we all go through more than once in life and I enjoyed going on this journey with these characters.

Also I think I am in love with Evan...

If you like young love/old flames reuniting, character growth, stories set in small towns and some spice you won't be disappointed with this book!

Thank you to St.Martins Press and NetGalley for giving me this arc in exchange for my honest review!

TW:
Loss of a parent, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual harassment.

I really enjoyed this second book in the avalon bay series! I loved the push and pull of Gen and Evans relationship and to see them grow together from their old habits and behaviors. I had recently lost my mom also and could really relate to a lot of things that were said in this book about the mother/daughter relationship. All in all I’d give this book a solid 3.5 stars.

I really enjoyed the ambiance of this book could really sense the coastal southern town feel. Some parts of the ending felt a little rushed, jumped from point A to point C in matter of few pages which made the ending not feel as appealing. Overall the book was really adorable and the dynamics between the characters felt natural.

This is a sweet story of redemption and second chance love. Gen and Evan have intense chemistry. They find love again while trying to better themselves and change their bad boy/bad girl ways. I liked the story. One of my favorite subplots was the relationship between Evan and his “little brother”, Riley. They had some laugh out loud moments. Overall, a good story, but not my favorite from Elle Kennedy.

Over the last year or so, I have been reading all of Elle Kennedy's books and this one was exactly what I expected...except, maybe it wasn't. These characters and the story felt more in depth, more gritty, more real. These were more like real people, trying to overcome the difficult hand they had been dealt. They were flawed but worked hard. Not to say that previous books were bad (I keep reading them, right?), but this was probably the most mature and well written of Kennedy's books that I have found. Still some fun, some escapism, some beach read, and some spice...but more memorable and thoughtful.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This was my first Elle Kennedy book and I'm super upset I haven't read her before. I loved this book.

The story revolves around Gen and Evan. They are high school sweethearts, who are in a toxic relationship until Gen just up and leaves with no explanation to Evan. Gen has to return to her small coastal town after her mother dies. Her dad needs help with the business and selling of their family home. She and Evan immediately start their on-again/off-again romance, but Gen just can't handle it. Evan decides to be a better man for her.

It's a great love story and how to be a better person of yourself without losing who you are.

I love a good redemption arc story!
I'm not sure what I expected going into Bad Girl Reputation, but the book definitely exceeded them. This is a story about second chances, forgiveness, trying to grow and do better than the past, and I ate it all up. It's a nitty gritty story with two people that have been drawn together their whole lives, who become downright destructive together, but they're also no better apart. After meeting Evan in Good Girl Complex it was interesting to get to be in his head and get to know him and his motivations in life, and to also get to know the infamous Genevieve that is mentioned in book one.
At first I wasn't sure if I was rooting for them to work it out, for them to work themselves out definitely, but together? Not so sure. But as the story evolved it became so much more and it was honestly beautiful to witness how it all developed and came together.
Genevieve and Evan are magnetic and you just can't help but want to be in their orbit.

There's a few typos towards the end that needs to be sorted, where it says "know" instead of "now" and a sentence that was missing a word, but I'm sure this will be caught and fixed before the release in October.

(Sidenote: I'm so grateful this one had an epilogue as opposed to Good Girl Complex, so the ending felt more rounded off, and not so abrupt.)

I really liked Good Girl Complex so when I saw the next book in the Avalon Bay series was available via ARC, I clicked that request button as quickly as possible. I'm so excited I got to read this one before it releases on October 4. Elle Kennedy always manages to write books that keep me engaged and wanting more.

Cooper's twin brother Evan has been hung up on Genevieve since they were both kids. The two have had an on again off again relationship since they each started dating. They have this explosive chemistry, fueled many times by riling each other up and making the other jealous. The two get into all kinds of trouble and predicaments together. When Gen finally disappeared from Avalon Bay without a word to Evan, he's heartbroken and confused. He rebounds with any and every girl he comes across, all unsatisfying because he knows who he's always loved. When Gen finally returns after her mom passes away, the two are bound to continue running into one another in the small seaside town. This Gen isn't the same as the one who left months ago, though and Evan is determined to understand what happened and how he can be back with Gen, who's trying her hardest to not be the same bad girl she once was. She's stopped drinking and is backing off of the partying and bad decisions. Now, Evan is convinced he needs to reform himself as well so he doesn't lose the girl he's loved half his life.

I freaking loved this. I read it in one day, sneaking one chapter in after another every chance I got. I loved Evan's character so much in this one, after not liking him so much in Good Girl Complex. This guy was funny, charming, and a bit cocky. I loved the effort he put in with Gen (aka Fred) and how she always confidently knew he loved her. It was never a question. So. Good.

I was looking forward to this after reading the premise and because I love Kennedy’s The Deal, but I ended up being super disappointed. The characters are really immature and unlikable from the start, and they don’t get much better. There’s also too many side plots with friends that I didn’t care about at all.

I read this book immediately after Good Girl Complex and much preferred it to the first book in the series.

Gen and Even are a second chance romance story set in their own hometown. The fact that they reconnect in the same town made this book unique to me. Many second chance stories have a different setting. Instead, Gen is forced to return to her same hometown as a different person. Her hometown is where she’s been reckless and immature. She has to be her new self with the same influences and that was a really compelling storyline for me. We see most second chance romance MCs mature off page where as Gen and Evan endured their journeys on page throughout the entire book.

Evan and Gen are WILDLY immature at the beginning of the book and it irked me. Many readers have criticized this in other reviews, but their maturity journey was the entire point of the book. I didn’t enjoy them at the beginning… I don’t think I was supposed to… but I really, really liked how their story progressed.

Thank you to St. Martin’s press and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my review!

4/5⭐️ 2.5/5 🌶

**I received an advanced copy of this book from St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review of the novel. My thoughts are my own and have not been influenced by any outside parties.**

Elle Kennedy’s Bad Girl Reputation is the perfect read if you want a quick charming and sexy second-chance romance.

When former bad girl Genevieve (Gen) returns to her hometown following her mother’s death, she is determined to maintain her new “good-girl” persona and stay away from those who encouraged her wild side. However, running into her ex-boyfriend Evan makes Gen question how much she really has changed, and if she even wants to.

Evan, Genevieve’s ex-boyfriend has spent the past year mourning the girl who left him behind with a string of parties and women. However, when the Gen suddenly comes back into his life, Evan realizes Gen’s homecoming may be the perfect opportunity to win back the girl he loves. But will she still want the town’s notorious “bad-boy," or has she left that part of herself behind?

This book was actually quite charming. The interactions between Gen and Evan were amusing, cute, and full of tension. I liked the push-and-pull dynamic between Gen and Evan. It was believable that they loved each other a lot, and had a certain level of history and trust. The writing style used by Kennedy was consistent with the style of the novel, and the dialogue matched the personalities of the characters.

The plot was fun and engaging, and easy to read. There were moments of tension and stress, but nothing that made me so anxious I wanted to put down the book. I am not a fan of books where the main characters break-up for many chapters and it’s just awkward and tense, and this did not have a long drawn out separation which I was glad about.

It was a delight to watch Gen and Evan grow throughout the duration of the novel. Their respective transformations were a bit rapid, but not unbelievable. There were a lot of really sweet, cute, and funny moments throughout the book.

My main critiques are in two areas. I think Evan’s transformation was a bit too drastic and quick, especially when compared to Genevieve. Her character starts her journey into adulthood well before Evan, and yet they end in similar places.

Secondly, the ending of the book seemed a bit rushed. I was expecting a few more chapters, and suddenly I was at the epilogue. It felt a bit like Kennedy ran out of story and just decided to end it there.

Overall, the book was quite enjoyable. It was well-paced, romantic, funny and sweet. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a light summer rom-com, or those who like Emily Henry’s work. While this book is the second Avalon Bay novel, it can easily be read as a standalone.


Characters: 3.5/5
Romance:4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Plot: 4/5

Overall Rating: 4/5

I loved Mac and Cooper from Good Girl Complex and was excited to continue the journey with the other characters in the series. Especially Evan. We didn’t see much of Gen in book one other than implication that she existed.

The book begins with Gen and Evan broken up, but hung up on eachother. They spend most of the book finding more reasons to be apart than together and finding themself along the way.

There were parts of this story I absolutely hated (characters I despised). Then there was Riley. A great addition to showcase Evan’s growth.

Overall, Bad Girl Reputation is a good addition to the series.

Arc received from NetGalley.

i really tried with this one. i loved the deal by elle kennedy but that’s honestly where my love for her books ended. i decided to give her another go with this one, but unfortunately it wasn’t for me.

i couldn’t really connect with the characters at all and honestly all there interactions felt forced. I’ve also concluded that second chance romance is not my thing. overall the spice was good & was honestly the only thing I liked. the writing style definitely needs work. overall I did not hate it but I didn’t like it. meh 2.5/5 stars