This was such a fun read and I read it so fast! It had a great plot and the characters kept it exciting! I felt so connected to the plot and was very invested in the story! Overall a wonderful book!

This child-good best friends to second chance lovers was a win. I thoroughly enjoyed the main couple. I have enjoyed many of Elle Kennedy’s books. This wasn’t my favorite but it was an enjoyable read. The tension was palpable. The characters were eye catching and notable. Even if you weren’t a fan of book 1 I would recommend giving this one a chance. The writing was my favorite style but I pushed through. It was very cookie cutter but that doesn’t bother me. I don’t think it’s for everyone but if you enjoy a good push and pull relationship you will probably enjoy this read.

i received an arc from netgalley. this is more of a 2.5 but i rounded up. idk it had a lot of problems and the cop storyline was just nasty and just really unnecessary. it took so long to get into it too. i have to say i do like this series and i will be continuing if there’s more. i also liked the storyline with the mom. this book wasn’t good but it also wasn’t bad.

From the first mention of Gen in “good girl behavior” I wanted to know more. I was so excited to learn her story was coming next.
Plus learning more about Evan.. Bad boy with a motorcycle? Yes please

The push and pull of rekindling an old love was making my heart hurt, I was rooting for them every step of the way. I love the fire Gen holds and how Evan is constantly at her mercy.

This was a wonderful story about growing up and putting yourself on a better path. Trusting yourself to make the right choices and hoping those in your life make the right choices for themselves.

The Hartley twins have stolen my heart, along with Avalon Bay and Elle Kennedy never stops amazing me with unique and sweet stories of love.

Gen and Evan were such a pleasant surprise for me! I was so excited to return to Avalon Bay, but I wasn’t sure if the characters would grab me in the same way as Mac and Cooper. The drinking, fighting, tense Evan you get to know in Good Girl Complex gains depth and heart in this story. Gen comes back to town and the world-tipped-on-its-axis feeling he’s had for a year seems to right itself. She’s back and there’s no way he’s letting her get away this time. What follows is a story about second chances, growing up, and finding purpose. I love this rowdy bunch.

received an ARC of Bad Girl Reputation through netgalley!

“What? I might’ve turned a new leaf, but you can’t expect me to always turn the other cheek. Even Jesus had limits, baby.”

Elle Kennedy has done it again, to pretty much no one’s surprise. The sequel to good girl complex focuses on Evan Hartley, the twin brother we grew to love last book and his on again off again ex, Gen. I’m not usually one to jump on the ex trope. Usually, they broke up for a reason, a reason good enough to not bother again. BUT BOY WAS I WRONG. The banter in this book was TOP TIER. The back and forth between Gen and Evan is a 10/10 that we SO did not get in the first books. It’s so push/pull and chocked full of (yeah can’t even pretend it’s not) toxic red flags. *Alexa, play “Jealousy, Jealousy” by Olivia Rodrigo*

I’m not going to lie, I was so nervous I wouldn’t like this book, purely based on the ex trope. The first few chapters had me mourning any possible plot for the next two hundred some pages. We’ve just met the exes and they’re already getting back together? What’s the rest of the book supposed to be? Little did I know sometimes you have to get together to rip back apart.

“She’s woven into my fabric, I can’t rip her out without tearing myself apart”

Chemistry was never the issue between these two. There is quite literally no off button. There’s so much flirting and sexual tension that it borders on almost too much. However, I’ll be the first to say that their relationship wasn’t my favorite thing about this book. Gen and Evan both had some really big self improvement plans ahead of them. Both of our MCs are known for their flippant, sarcastic, party all night kind of attitudes and are driven to change throughout the book. With issues like sobriety, SA, and finding self worth through grieving, it makes this book more than just a happy-go-lucky romcom. It was such a great read for me and I can’t wait for everyone to get to meet Gen! (She definitely has the one up on Mac 😉)

“Damn Fred, why do you always go right to arson” -Evan Hartley, (said once, probably thought often)

Bad Girl Reputation is the follow-up novel to Good Girl Complex, and I was so excited to have the opportunity to read this! I have to admit, at first I was a little skeptical about Genevieve and Evan's relationship, but as the book progressed, I started to really understand why people love the "it's always been you" trope. Keep in mind, my hesitation only came from the fact that I don't think their relationship was totally healthy to begin with. It does change and progress of course, but that was my initial thought. However, I was extremely invested in the storyline by the end and ADORE the ending of this book! The character development (not only with Gen, but Evan as well) makes the characters feel that much more relatable and real. I ended up really loving Genevieve and Evan together, and I am so happy to have gotten to watch their story unfold in such a real way. Elle Kennedy certainly knows how to make her readers wish they, too, had a Hartley brother in their lives.

If you're looking for the "it's always been you" trope, adorable banter, great character growth/healing, and the kind of spice only a rom-com with a cartoon cover can provide (you know what I mean), then absolutely check out both Good Girl Complex and Bad Girl Reputation.

OH MY GOD THIS BOOK IS SO GOOODDDDD!!!! The chemistry between Gen and Evan is absolutely P O P P I N G and every time their in a room together 🔥🔥🔥🙈🙈 I really, really love the character development in this book. And even tho normally second chance romance is not my thing, Elle Kennedy DOES IT SOOOO WELLLLL

Gen and Evan have been in an on-and-off relationship since they were quite young. Their relationship def had some toxic tendencies so Gen decides to jump ship and yeets out of town to work on herself. A year later, she's forced to return to their small beach town for her mother's funeral, and Gen not only has to find her new place in life, but reconnects with Evan.

The growth the two characters go through, with themselves, their families, and together, is so inspiring. You can tell in the beginning of the book the two are definitely not meant to be together, but as they mature and find themselves, they begin to really blossom.

The relationship is both steamy and sweet, and I've never wanted a bad boy more 😫😫 This def made me want to read the first book as well, so looking forward to more Elle Kennedy!!

This was a fast & easy read. The character development was amazing, as was the relationship development. I'm so glad I gave this book a chance because it certainly did not disappoint. It was a funny & light hearted story of two people who are trying to do better getting a second chance.

This book was entertaining, but I can't get over how toxic and immature all the characters are. I thought the main characters were sexy but would never encourage two people like that to be together. Whew! I don't think that this book is supposed to be super deep, so I will give it the benefit of the doubt because I was entertained reading it (and I read it quickly). I also have not read Good Girl Complex and will be reading that to get Mac and Cooper's story.
I feel like all of Elle Kennedy's books are like this. I loved the Off Campus series but felt pretty similarly regarding the immaturity and toxicity. If you're looking for a quick read with drama, toxic men, and sex, these are for you. I would definitely take this book on a beach vacation to read while drinking a margarita.

*Thank you Netgalley, Elle Kennedy, and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.*

This book is the second book in the series set in Avalon Bay. It centers around Cooper’s twin brother Evan while he tries to woo his ex girlfriend Genevieve into falling back into love with him. This is a second chance romance with a great beach background and a large cast of dynamic characters, some you love and some you don’t.

I had a few misgivings when I started this book. I was very concerned that this book would rely heavily on toxic behaviors in the relationship between Evan and Gen. Luckily that wasn’t the case and I was happy to see the couple progressing and better themselves individually.

The best part of that process was they worked on themselves before trying to come together as a couple. They both truly wanted to change and not have the heavy weight of their past continuing to affect their lives. They wanted to be better so they made small changes that had big impacts.

I am surprised but I think I might like this book even more than the first one. The history was great between the two and I loved their passion and chemistry for each other. This definitely won’t be the last book I read from this author.

While I enjoyed the premise, I found the execution to fall a bit flat. A second chance romance, it has a lot of potential but I found Evan to be a bit over the top and immature. He sets out to be a better person for Genevieve who has done just that. But for Evan it seems contrived and sudden. At the end I was waiting for a dramatic scene or plot twist but never really foe that. This one was just ok for me.

this was a book I was really looking forward to reading after I finished the first one. this book is about Evan, Cooper’s twin, and his long time, on/off again girlfriend Genevieve. Gen skipped town a year ago without so much as a goodbye to Evan. Evan did his best to try and move on, but when they reunite at her mom’s funeral…it’s like no time has passed. Gen is trying to get rid of her “bar girl” reputation, and that means trying to avoid they guy she used to get into so much trouble with. Evan wants to prove that he can change too, and help her realize that they belong together.

I have to say that I enjoyed this book more than the first one. Gen and Evan have so much history together, and while not all of it may be good…they still know each other better than anyone else. this book is about redemption, change, and love. just like the first book, I wish the ending was a little longer and not so rushed…but it still made me happy!

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Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this ARC!

*Spoilers!*

Genevieve West is the self-proclaimed bad girl and comes back for her mother's funeral after moving away from her hometown. There she encounters her ex-boyfriend Evan Hartley who also is bad news. They have a long history of doing the wrong thing together. After they have a heated moment a few feet away from all her family she realizes she needs to make a change. Her dad asks her to help out with the family business and that's where she promises to herself, she won't have anything to do with Evan.

Slowly but surely, she starts to better herself not just romantically but, in her sobriety, as well. I really enjoyed seeing her realize she's a good person and her past mistakes don't define her. It also brushes off on Evan who at first tries to better himself to get back with her, he later then realizes it's also for himself and his relationships with his family. I liked the push and the pull of their relationship and especially their sexual tension.

I also connected with Genevieve's large family. She is the only girl with five brothers. I have five sisters, so reading about their different relationships pulled on my heart strings. This book was all about second chances which I think the author did well and had me rooting for both Evan and Genevieve.


While I did enjoy Bad Girl Reputation it wasn't my favorite. I found myself rushing a few parts just to get to the end. I still would recommend it if someone was looking for a book with good sexual tension, complicated family relations and second chances.

Outer Banks meets One Tree Hill! Elle Kennedy knows how to write the best book boyfriends! Another great book with lots of lovable characters. I love all the recurring characters we met in the first book. This book is a second chance love story that tugs at your heart while also making you laugh!

Thank you Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars

I had read Good Girl Reputation previously and wasn't a big fan of it. Since I had read a loved pretty much everything else Elle Kennedy has written, I decided to try this next book in the series. I am so glad because I enjoyed Bad Girl Reputation way more than Good Girl Reputation.

Elle Kennedy has a knack for you loving (most) characters in her books, which makes it easy for series continuation. When I read GGR, I loved Evan. Did he make a ton of mistakes? yes. Did he sleep around? yes. But he was written where you could tell he had a good heart.

In BGR, Evan is reunited with Genevieve, his love who had left Avalon Bay previously without saying a word and taking his heart with her. Gen was hesitant to start seeing Evan again, and even starts dating someone else, but the reader can tell the pull and magnetism they both had to each other. We also see Evan work to change himself for the better because he wants to and not because Gen expects it. The growth for these two characters was a big theme in this book, and is a challenge for most couples in real life. How do you grow up and grow together at the same time?

Of course Cooper and Mac are back, seeing as they live with Evan, and Cooper is as grumpy as ever. We got a good introduction to Gen's family and Evan and Cooper's mom even makes a reappearance. I love second chance books, so this was a cute one for me to read.

I would love to see Alana's story as she navigates between Wyatt and Tate next.

3.5 stars for the second installment of the Avalon Bay series.

Let me start off by saying Elle Kennedy's Off-Campus series is truly perfection. I devoured it. Sadly, it also means that I have high expectations for her writing --- and both books in this series fell short of those standards.

I was excited to learn more of the back story behind the second Hartley twin, Evan, and his long time on-again, off-again girlfriend, Gen. I know the whole point was they were both trying to reform their wayward ways to see if they could work together as tamer adults, but too often they were just immature assholes to one another.

These characters don't have the same depth and excitement as other Elle Kennedy couples. While it was a fun read, definitely enjoyed some of her other works much more (Read the Deal if you haven't already --- seriously).

While I was disappointed by both of these books, I will definitely come back for thirds if we get more of Tate + Alana.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is the kind of book I used to love when I was first getting into romance, but isn’t so much for me anymore. Darker characters, dives right into steaminess, etc. I can appreciate it, but I think I’m not the main audience here anymore.

This was my 1st time reading Elle Kennedy and she did not disappoint. I was worried I might miss some things since I have not read Good Girl Complex yet, but that was not the case. This book is great as a stand alone story. I loved the main characters and enjoyed their banter. I loved seeing them both grow together and help eachother become better people. Overall the plot was very enjoyable and there was just the right amount of spice. I'm looking forward to reading more of Kennedy's work.

Not the worst, but not the best. To be fair, I think I would have liked this book more without comparing it to her previous work. The Risk is (in my opinion) Elle Kennedy’s best work and I keep hoping to find that same witty/sexy banter in her new books. This one didn’t have that, so again I’m disappointed but it’s my own fault. This book did have a good amount of angst and the story was interesting enough to keep me reading.