I'm not usually a fan of a second-chance romance or exes getting back together (it takes some of the excitement away for me) but I'm so obsessed with this series, I didn't even care. My main gripe with this book is I find both MCs' jealousy realllllly overdone (and borderline creepy) but that's me being nitpicky because I loved this book and I'm loving this series!

I really enjoyed this one!! Evan and Genevieve are both struggling to overcome their destructive tendencies and improve themselves. I love how Elle focused on each character individually and then made their relationship together a subplot. This continues from Good Girl Complex effortlessly.

Evan I utterly love.!! I really felt like I knew him and I was so proud of him. The relationship he builds with Riley and learning to be an example for others while still retaining his danger streak.Genevieve was a little harder to understand at first. However, as the book progressed I got to love her more. I think the way she views herself and her personality was heartbreaking. The side parts of this book where Genevieve does self discovery were my favourite. Elle did her characters justice by showing their growth rather than just telling the reader about it.

As always the banter, steam, and setting were phenomenal. I loved seeing Cooper and Mac intertwined in this one. Elle can do no wrong.

I enjoyed 'Bad Girl Reputation'. I liked Gen and Evan's story more than the prequel and found the trope 'what happens to the party girl and the bad boy once they grow up?' quite entertaining.

4.5⭐️ When I was reading Good Girl Complex I kept thinking how good Evan’s story would be, and Bad Girl Reputation proved it! I’m not always a fan of second chance romances, but this one was fantastic. This story is about so much more than the love story. It’s about redemption, forgiveness, growth and self-discovery. I hope this isn’t the last we see of Avalon Bay, because there are so many more stories ready to be told!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for the opportunity to read this ARC and provide my honest review.

Bad Girl Reputation was a book that I had an open mind going into. I loved Good Girl Complex, so I was reading to dive into Gen and Evan’s story. It turned out to be a very character driven book with very minimal plot. I know Evan was suppose to have a chip on his shoulder then “change”, but his character was very repetitive. As for Gen, she was a pretty unlikeable character. She used Evan a lot and it wasn’t mentioned that he even realized it (which is fine, but it’s a huge detail I couldn’t help but notice).

When reading this book, it took me a while to get through it. It didn’t pull me in like Good Girl Complex because there was nothing that surprised me or wasn’t predictable. I still absolutely love Elle Kennedy, but this book was definitely lacking.

5/5⭐️ 2/5🌶

God, I loved this book. Usually, I don't go for a second chance romance, but I'm so glad I did. The writing behind love story from back when they were first together, was so well done. I felt like I was really there and living in it. The stories that were told, the detail, and the characters that were sprinkled in with their friend group made it seem like we were retelling stories from our wild teenage years. The banter was very funny and the references and humour was just my style. I really appreciated the way that both Gen and Evan knew that their behaviours and actions, both as individuals and together as a couple, needed to grow and mature. They really found themselves and became better people so that they could be the best versions of themselves. It really drove home how much effort and maturity it takes to recognize that and bring on a second chance in life for yourself. Overall, such a great read and will definitely be purchasing a physical copy when it comes out for my collection. Arguably, my favourite Elle Kennedy read to date.

**I was given an ARC of this read by netgalley but the opinion is all my own.

I had such high hopes for this novel and unfortunately it didn’t quite meet my expectations. I tend to lean towards more plot driven stories, but I’m not even sure if this book had a plot aside from the two MC’s, Gen and Evan, getting back together. I found both of their characters to be very immature and toxic, and their character development didn’t feel authentic. I love the childhood best friends to lovers and second chance troupe but because of how immature they were I didn’t care for their relationship. There just wasn’t any build up or tension to sell me on their chemistry. I like the whole “bad girl/boy” troupe, but the fighting, drugs, jail, and pulling people out of the bar by their hair (not in the book, but happened previously) because of jealously just isn’t it for me. As for the writing, I felt it was very choppy/all over the place. I appreciate the author attempting to add deeper subjects within the story such as grief, bad parenting, bad cops, trouble with the law, alcohol/drug abuse, personal growth, but I just didn’t feel like the characters took any of it seriously. I personally enjoyed the ending. We really began to see their growth and everything fall in line for the characters in the last few chapters, but by that time I was just ready to throw in the towel. I enjoyed the writing style and even laughed at multiple scenes, but I would have enjoyed it more with mature, consistent, and deeper characters. There are definitely readers who will love this one, it just didn’t work for me.

You can also see my review on my Instagram @readingwithhaley_ now!

As per all of Elle Kennedy's books, I loved the characters. Gen is a firecracker and her journey to growth is so fun and inspiring. I think the only reason I can't give this book a higher rating is because she had two tropes I'm the least interested in: Second chance romance and friends to lovers. However despite the fact I have no interest in those usually, I did have moments of true enjoyment in this book. I laughed, I almost cried but mostly I smiled.

A few spelling mistakes but nothing too bad.

Thank you NetGallery, St. Martin's Press, and Elle Kennedy for this ARC copy of Bad Girl Reputation in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

Tropes:
-Second Chance
-Small Town
-Loss + Grief
-Touch Him/Her and Die Vibes
-Other Men/Women
-Reconciliation

This second installment of the Avalon Bay series was incredible. There was definitely a different vibe in this book, but I was totally here for it!

After her mother's death, Gen finds herself back in Avalon Bay, helping her family get things together... and confronting her past. The events that had her leaving town over a year ago are still lingering, and challenge every bit of progress that she has made in her own self development. A huge portion of that is - Evan Hartley.

The hot and cold whiplash between Gen and Evan is rough at times to get through, This toxic nature was an inferno of miscommunication, burning desires, redeeming hope, and true love. A great love like theirs only comes once in a lifetime... and Evan is ready to go the distance to unearth the reasons Gen left... and fight to convince her that not only does she belong in Avalon Bay, but that she belongs with him.

Gen fights her inner demons on the romance front. On one hand - she has fought tooth and nail to shed her Bad Girl Reputation. The problem with Evan is that he seems to cast a shadow of that very reputation in their every encounter. She is determined to show that she has turned a new leaf, and opens herself up to date a new deputy. The problem is when you play with fire... you are bound to get burned. This new potential romance sparks something new within Evan that shows Gen new sides to her old flame. It causes her to question everything.

I love that this story really dives into the reality that people WILL change with the right motivation. Gen was incredibly relatable. I love the inevitable relationship our main characters shared. Elle Kennedy did it once again!

Another note: I really enjoyed seeing developments with other characters. The mom, Wyatt, Ren, Alanna. I can already see the wheels turning with potential for more books within this series, and I am greatly looking forward to reading every one of them!

I thought this was a pretty good read. I did like the first book better though, but this is a nice summer read!

This was my first Elle Kennedy read, and it did not disappoint. For someone who hadn't read Good Girl Complex, it made me want to read that story without causing any confusion during this installment in the series. This book was a second-chance romance after Genevieve basically ghosted her longtime on-again, off-again boyfriend, Evan. She comes back to Avalon Bay to help her father after her mother's death, and of course this brings her back to Evan, and the messy connection between the two of them. I enjoyed the natural chemistry between our two MCs-- they are clearly meant for each other. What I didn't enjoy was the lack of self-worth basically assigned to Genevieve by herself and others in the community, sometimes including Evan. That made it slightly difficult to read, although the progression of her character and relationships helped. All in all, if you like steamy second-chance romances with off-the-charts chemistry, this one is for you!

Genevieve and Evan have a history of making bad decisions together. When Genevieve comes back to town for her mothers funeral she runs back into Evan after leaving unexpectedly a year prior.

Throughout the story you see two character grow up. The question throughout the book was will they both be able to leave behind their bad reputation and be their best versions of theirselves together or will it break them apart.

This book was amazing! So well written and a great romance read.

A new Avalon Bay? Oh yes, please!
I devoured Good Girl Complex and needless to say BGR didn't disappoint me.

This second chance love story hit all the right spots.
Genevieve and Evan are engaging characters. Seriously I couldn't get enough of their story.
The storyline had me hooked from the beginning, the characters were so likeable.
This is one of those books that will undoubtedly leave me in a slump for days because I want to be back with Genevieve and Evan.
Such a fun and steamy romance, that had me in such a fog.
Elle Kennedy, knows how to tell one remarkable story.
I just love her damn books!

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

St. Martin's Griffin,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

Genevieve (Gen) and Evan have been making trouble, drinking, and causing problems together for years. Until about a year ago when Gen decided to clean up her act after a night she considers to be her bottom. She moves to another state and starts over until her mom dies and she has to return to Avalon Bay to help her dad run the family business. Now she is back in Evan's orbit but trying to break the chain of destruction that always seems to occur when those two are together. Can Evan show her he can be the kind of man she is looking for now?

This is he second book in the Avalon Bay series. If you enjoyed the first one, I anticipate you will like this one as well. The book is about people in their 20's and their lack of experience with real life and youth definitely shows in the story line, but if you know that going in its not a big deal. I liked Evan and Gen and their chemistry was certainly off the charts. I enjoyed seeing how Gen had grown up from their destructive path and was trying to get her life together. The best part of the book was watching Evan's transformation over the course of the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more stories from Avalon Bay.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Gen West moves back to her hometown after the death of her mother. Evan Hartley is Gen’s former best friend and ex-boyfriend and a contractor who renovates homes in their coastal town. I seem to be in the minority of readers who did not enjoy this novel much. Maybe I am getting too old for Elle Kennedy characters because they are always so young and immature. Right off the bat I felt uneasy about Gen and Evan’s relationship because they start hooking up in the bathroom right after her mother’s funeral. I’m sure Elle Kennedy was trying to show their explosive chemistry and how they couldn’t deny their attraction, but it just left a bad taste. I also felt like both Gen and Evan were kind of terrible people. They showed some growth and maturity by the end of the novel, but for three-quarters of it I was begging one of them to call a therapist for their emotional detachment and anger management issues. The sex is hot, but it just felt shallow because Gen was so against a real relationship with Evan again. If you’re into YA, former best friends, and second chance romance, this might be for you.

CW: alcohol addiction in parent, death of parent, corrupt local law enforcement, mention of SA

This was the first book that I’ve read by Elle Kennedy, and it will not be the last! I loved the dynamic between Genevieve and Evan. It was a beautiful story of what happens when the party girl and the bad boy grow up into legit adults. The character growth for both of them throughout the story is so impressive. I’m also a huge fan of any spicy romances, and this did not disappoint.

this was such a fun read i really enjoyed this!! this was infinitesimally better than the story and prequel
good girl complex. bad girl reputation is a story about
forgiveness, second chances and learning how to love.
this is probably my favourite elle kennedy book! I loved
the main couple, but also loved reading about mac and
cooper again. the drama in this book was truly better than
in the first installment. so happy I spent time reading this
one!

I've read a ton of Elle Kennedy's books at this point. I absolutely devoured the Off Campus series and its spinoff Briar U and it's very clear to me that Elle is consistently becoming a better writer. The writing in Good Girl Complex and Bad Girl Reputation was so much improved from the early Off Campus books and the characters are so compelling. I love the twins so much and both Mac and Gen are women I want to root for. However, this series has, so far, been much less smutty and quite a bit less fun than Off Campus and Briar U. The best of Elle's books are the ones with the most tension (The Score) and Bad Girl Reputation is lacking that. Evan and Gen seem fated to be together from the jump and despite their push and pull weren't many moments that made me feel giddy and anxious for the outcome. Regardless, this was a cute summer read and I definitely enjoyed it.

I absolutely love anything that Elle Kennedy writes. This book is no different. I did prefer Good Girl Complex to this book.

This book was a reunited lovers story of Evan and Gen. Gen came home for her mothers funeral and right off the bar almost makes an impulsive decision to sleep with Evan which attests to the type of relationship they had before Gen left. Gen is convinced she’s going to go home while Evan is determined to get her back. Throughout the story Gen deals with a trauma that happened to her after which she wanted to run to Evan but he was still in a party state. These decisions make Gen leave. These issues aren’t really resolved in the book. She left for specific reasons and it seems like Evan was only concerned with Gens brothers coming around and liking him. Gen never brings up the fact that Evan got into continuous fights and slept with so many girls while she was gone.

Overall I loved this book. These are issues that could have been resolved in the beginning of their relationship. These are not dealbreakers to me because everyone lives their life. I just wish we had some parts where they sat down and had an adult conversation. I did love this book but Cooper and Mac still have my heart.

Bad Girl Reputation follows Evan and Gen as they are reunited after being apart for over a year.

The two had what we could describe as a toxic on and off-again relationship in the past where they enabled each other's destructive behavior.

But from the moment Gen walks back into Evan's life, everything is different. She has changed. She is no longer the partying bad girl that wants the bad boy. So Evan has choices to make, either shape up or ship out.

I loved the banter between the two. It was comfortable and easy.

This book was about personal growth and learning to love again.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martins Press, for my E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.