I’ve never read Elle Kennedy before, and I didn’t read the previous book in this series, so I have nothing to base my opinions on, but I didn’t love this book as much as I hoped to. I appreciated that the story focuses on the growth arcs of the two main characters, but every single character in this book needs that reality check. They’re all in roughly their early to mid 20s, and it seems like no one has bothered to really leave town and move on, and all they do is have parties and friends k and get high.

I struggled too with the AMOUNT of characters mentioned in the book, it was pretty hard to keep them all straight. The other bit I struggled with was that EVERY relationship featured in this book, whether between the MCs or the secondary characters, was problematic! It’s hard to champion for a couple when all you’ve seen from them is a toxic AF relationship.

I was given an ARC by NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own.

*Thank you to St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for the ARC*

My initial impression after finishing this book? I’m sad. I was approved for this book before I had a chance to read Good Girl Complex so I tore through that one so I was nice and ready for Bad Girl Reputation. The issue with series is it’s impossible not to compare one with the other and I really, really liked GGC so I hoped I would love BGR, but I just didn’t get the same fuzzy feelings I usually do from Kennedy’s books. Not to say that it wasn’t a cute story and still a solid 4 stars, but I’m sad cause I was left wanting…more! I had a nibble of Genevieve and Evan in book one, but I wanted a feast in book two. Instead I was left with a sampler platter, delicious but, you know.

The premise of BGR is simply “what happens when the party girl and the bad boy grow up” as succinctly stated by Gen herself. After leaving town and her wild antics behind (on again/off again bf Evan included), Gen returns in hopes of starting fresh. But Evan wants to pick up where they left off, old habits and all, until he realizes he also needs to change. A second chance romance filled with chaotic trips down memory lane and sparks that won’t stop flying between the fiery former couple ensue.

My favorite parts of the book are how honest and vulnerable the characters are. Although they’re supposed to come off as destructive and too cool for school, they’re upfront and communicative about their feelings, even though these types of characters tend to put up a front. For instance (spoiler warning), Evan is refreshingly realistic about his negligent mother and comes clean about how Gen’s ghosting made him feel instead of just putting on a tough guy act. Instead of playing it cool or trying to hurt her they way she hurt him, he’s upfront about his feelings, even though he’s admittedly got abandonment issues with his mom already.

I also love characters who know one another inside and out and are just in tune with each other without needing to convey much. It sparks joy.

However, an aspect I desperately WANTED to love was the woo that Evan promised Gen to get her back for good. I was so ready to fall (back) in love right along Gen but I’ll just have to accept the fact that his inner growth and their strong mutual attraction was enough. *deep sigh*

Although it’s the second book of the series, it can be read as a standalone as long as you don’t mind some spoilers from the love story in the first part. A quick gripe about sequels though, sometimes there’s too much back detail and more world building to set up for future plots. I kept imagining side characters ending up with their own story lines so it took me out of the moment at times thinking ahead.

Overall, I did enjoy Bad Girl Reputation and would highly recommend it for fans of Good Girl Complex since Mac and Cooper are featured throughout. It does deal with heavy topics such as CW: alcohol/drug use, abuse of authority, sexual assault, death of a parent, and depression but there’s lots of light hearted moments and witty banter to break things up. Publishes in October ‘22.

Elle Kennedy does it again and she hooked me from start to finish with a story so different from what she has us used to but at the same time so good.

Gen and Evan are exes who have a past together, an intense and turbulent relationship full of passion, love and friendship but also bad decisions, their relationship has been toxic for both of them, and Gen is willing to prove after her return to the town that she is not the same girl who left, that she has changed and wants to stay clean and this requires staying away from Evan and all their noxious past, but Evan is willing to fight for her and show her that they can be good together.

This is a unique, intense and angsty story, about friendship, redemption, forgiveness and love,, I love Evan and Gen, their sizzling chemistry spills off the pages, their emotional connection is epic, their love is deep and intense. I love the dynamics of friends and I hope the author gives us more of this world, get ready for a roller coaster of emotions, highly recommended for fans of:
second chances
angst
intense emotional connection
epic banter
fierce chemistry

Just incase anyone was wondering if I’m predictable, here it is.

Starting another ARC mid-series and putting it down to start at the beginning. (Someone remind me of this when I’m drooling over an advance book that’s number 16 in a series, commitment)

Speaking of commitment that’s what one of our main characters, Evan, was not looking for over the past year. Instead he was chasing the memory of his long time best friend/girlfriend (Genevieve) who straight up ghosted him.

Gen left town with no explanations and didn’t come home until a year later when her mom passed away. Determined to put her “bad girl” tendencies to rest she gives up on the vices that could lead her astray including Evan.

Is Avalon Bay big enough to keep her from her best friend?

Things to note: said best friend is almost the definition of irresistible.(Did I mention he’s a twin?) Evan is notorious for his panty dropping charm. Who knows what could happen if he put in a little effort..

Cheers to NetGalley for this ARC

If i could describe this book in one word, it'd be: hot. I am dying to read more Elle Kennedy books!! Thank you netgalley + the publisher for the ARC.

This one just felt too young and immature for me. I got tired of the antics and them being jealous and breaking up/getting back together every five minutes. Honestly I feel like Harrison dodged a bullet.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this book and was excited to see Evan’s love story come together. This was definitely a redemption story for both of them. Curious to see if a third book comes out for Avalon Bay!

Really enjoyed this book! The characterization of Evan and Gen really came through in the writing. Gen was hard to empathize with at first, trying to change her reputation by pushing people away. Her development got better throughout the book. The real standout is Evan and his growth. Love a bad boy on a reformation journey. Fun read, perfect for a cozy read.

4.5 ⭐️
Gen and Evan - best friends since childhood, lovers in the most passionate sense, but also very passionate fighters - bad boy/girl reputation, one’s fire and one’s gasoline; depending on the situation the can switch roles. Because of this, Gen up and left without a second thought to goodbye only to return after the passing of her mother. Gen is welcomed back home to this persona she tried so hard to push away, realizing as much as Evan brings out the worst in her behaviors, she can’t live without him.

This book is 🌶🌶🌶🌶
But also so many messages in the character development that I really enjoyed. You’re growing up in your 20s, and I would be lying if I said that was easy.

I loved the entire premise of the story, the subplots were on par - highly recommend.

This felt much different than a traditional elle kennedy book and i can’t quite place why- but i absolutely loved it. This book was full of second chances, forgiveness, self-reflection, and love. & sprinkled in some heavier topics like problematic law enforcement, addiction, neglectful parents, etc. - Which i think was done well and didn’t make the book feel too heavy.

Gen and Evan had been in an on again off again relationship with a tendency to go on wild, reckless endeavors. After an unfortunate run in with a piece of shit officer, Gen realized she needed to escape the life she was living and skipped town. After her mother passes, she returns to town again. Gen and Evan have such a magnetic relationship and they find themselves drawn back to one another instantly. But Gen worries that Evan will destroy the better version of herself she created and allow her fall back into old habits.

*From here on might contain spoilers (kinda)*


Gen and Evan had such a connection that i actually believed in so deeply, which i think is often hard to depict in a book. They are genuinely perfect for one another and if they would’ve ended up with anyone else i would’ve rioted.

I really loved the idea of self-refection and improvement that was in this. i thought it was portrayed in a very realistic manner. & i loved that Evan was so supportive of her and what she believed in while also helping her realize that she didn’t need to be perfect. & that the work she put into herself was real and not a facade she created. & the growth that Evan had was incredible. He had an amazing character development between Good Girl Complex and this book.

Riley was such a fun addition to this story and i really loved seeing the dynamic between him and Evan. As Well as Harrison, i thought he was cute. There was a whole slew of secondary characters and i really enjoyed all of them.

Evan and Coopers mother, Shelley, always hits a little too close to home. But i’m really happy they got to reconnect that relationship and i’m rooting that they get a happy ending with her.

My only gripes with the book would be that

A) Cooper didn’t feel at all like the same character from Good Girl Complex but that could just be me. Cooper and Evan are fighting like their highschool classmates not brothers.

B) Evan and Gen didn’t get “back together” until like 10 pages to the end. Which is fine, i just wanted a little bit more. I would’ve taken more of them and little less of the side plots. I didn’t feel like i got to see enough of their relationship. The ending just felt a little rushed.

C) I didn’t really like the Randall plot line, it felt a little not thought out and “let me throw an antagonist in here” kind of situation.

I throughly enjoyed this book and Elle Kennedy just has a way of captivating her readers with her writing. & i will continue to read anything she writes because i’m obsessed with her. It was a great romance, a little heavy, but great nonetheless. Great for anyone who loves a second chance/redemption story. 4/5

Thank you so so much to Netgally and St. Martins Press for providing me with an earc in exchange for my honest review. I am always so incredibly grateful!

I went into Bad Girl Reputation blind. I had heard about Good Girl Complex, but I had not read it. I’m always interested in the stories where the character with a bad reputation is trying to turn their life around. That is exactly what Genevieve is trying to do when she comes home after her mother passes away. That becomes difficult to do as she encounters Evan, her ex.

Evan and Gen both struggle to put the past behind them and become better versions of themselves. This book gets right to the heart at what it means to face the demons of your past and the forgiveness that is needed to move on, as well as the strength needed to take a second chance at love.

I loved every bit of this story! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC! All opinions expressed are my own.

Bad Girl Reputation was a very heartwarming book about sacrifice and redemption!

Gen and Evan have been thick as thieves since children but as they got older that bond grew! These two were a mix of fun and consequences! When Gen’s actions become too much she bolts in search of a fresh start! Now that she’s home she has to face who she once was, grow from her mistakes and hold strong to who she wants to be!

I really loved how strong willed Gen was. There were times when I wanted to grab her from the book and hug her. She really had some learning to do but she never shied away! I admired that she faces her demons and didn’t flee! I also loved how sincere and full of love Evan was! You could feel the fate between the two and how intertwined their lives were! Evan could’ve laughed at Gen and said good riddance but he didn’t! He stood beside her and together they found their way!

Evan and Gen sizzle. This was such a fantastic second chance romance, one I’ve anticipated since reading Good Girl Complex. Evan’s melancholy over his lost love in book 1 prepped me for something deep and gut wrenching. But the reality was so much better than I anticipated! I loved watching Evan evolve, how much he loved Gen and how it was the heroine who turned the relationship around! He was absolutely the protective type but he’s also soft and tender. The combination was hot! I loved the ride these two took and can’t wait for more from Avalon Bay. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a bad girl who has a good heart. I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

This is book 2 in the Avalon Bay Series, and I did not read the first one (Good Girl Complex) yet. This book can absolutely be read as a stand alone. Though, I am now really interested in book 1 and have it on my TBR.

This book was delightful. It is a contemporary romance about childhood friends turned lovers, who are giving it a second chance after a year apart. The chemistry and banter between the 2 MCs is fantastic! There is just the right amount of back story, that I was really invested in the MCs, their relationship with each other as well as side characters, and the resolution of some past problems. This book takes place in a beautiful small coastal town. The writing about the setting was great. I could picture it so easily and it just seems dreamy. The book ends happily, and everything is tied up nicely in the epilogue. I highly recommend it!

I’ve read some of Elle Kennedy’s books before so I knew I was going to like this one. It’s so easy to read and so enjoyable, very much a summer vibe. I loved Gen and Evan. Their whole will they won’t they dynamic was so fun and made me laugh at times.
I honestly didn’t read the first book but I don’t think you really have to. I liked Mac and Cooper in what little content they got, Mac seems like a fun girl so I might give her book a chance!!
All in all I wouls recommend if you want a quick fun read!!

Elle Kennedy is one of my favorite authors. I will read anything from her.
Personally, I thought this was WAY better than Good Girl Complex & feel this could be read as a stand-alone.
This has that Elle Kennedy charm that we all know and love. I really enjoyed Genevieve and Evan and having the dual POVs added to the story.
This book was driven by character development rather than plot. I loved that we were able to witness their second chances, growth, redemption and forgiveness.

I thought this book was captivating and extremely well written. It was so easy to fall in love with Gen and Evan from the very beginning. I loved how there were many twists and turns throughout the book, and the small town vibe with all the characters. I loved that it was fast paced and right to the point. I even shed a few tears.

Just so boring. I didn’t care about any of the characters at all. I’m still utterly baffled how Elle Kennedy wrote this AND the Off-Campus series because it feels like two completely different authors.

This was an amazing childhood friends-to-lovers/ second chance romance! Gen moves back to her small beach town after her mom's death and has to face Evan, her ex that she left with no explanation a year ago. She is attempting to clean up her "bad girl" image, which means avoiding Evan, despite their strong chemistry/attraction, because he represents the past she is so focused on moving on from. 5/5 read, love any and everything by Elle Kennedy, so this was an amazing read I was able to have ARC access to thanks to NetGalley. :)

So glad I could read and review this eARC before it releases this fall. I loved this cute + spicy romance. I especially enjoyed getting to dive into the story of Evan and Genevieve. This was a story of redemption and a second chance at love. Getting to hear both perspectives really made this book that much better.

I was rooting for their relationship the entire time I read this book. I loved the character development from both main characters. Their toxic push-pull relationship evolved and became so much more as the story developed. I loved the spice and heat between Evan and Gen.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this little series. A fun and fast paced read that I will be recommending!