Unfortunately, I think this book is not meant for me.

I am a fan of Elle Kennedy's writing because it's simple, funny, and lighthearted. While those themes are explored in this book, I could not overlook the heavy toxicity surrounding the main couple. Evan and Gen have played a game of will-they, won't-they that worked for some time. But as the two grow older it's time to either cut the relationship off for good or grow and be better.

The book was filled with clichés and the resolution was did not meet my expectations. I wholeheartedly wish Evan and Gen had broken up for good.

Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy
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Evan Hartley is Avalon Bay’s party boy trouble maker. He lives on thrill and impulse. Growing up without his mom or dad, he and his twin brother Cooper had to basically grow up on their own (aside from their uncle Levi- bless him). Without the guidance of a parent and the feelings of abandonment, Evan took some paths he could have done without. Evan wasn’t always lonely in his adventures though, he had his partner in crime, Genevieve West.

This dynamic duo is like fire and ice. They are no good for each other but the thought of them with someone else is enraging. Gen hit rock bottom after an embarrassing event and ended up skipping town. Upon the death of her mother she comes back to town with a plan. Stay away from Evan Hartley. That plan lasted a whole .2 seconds before she found herself unable to resist the familiar passion and pull that *is* her Evan. She knows she has to put space between them or her journey of self improvement is going to be derailed…they cannot resist each other and they both know it.

I absolutely loved this second Avalon Bay story. Better than Good Girl Complex even. This book hit so many hard topics while still keeping the light and humor. I really think the second chance trope might be my favorite and this one is no exception. These two characters are toxic to each other but they both realize they have to do better if they want to keep each other. Their story is a story of self improvement, redemption, forgiveness and second chances. They share the difficulties that come with living in the shadow of your past and trying to be a better person.

Read if you like:
•Dual POV
•Redemption stories
•Family mending
•Spice 🌶🌶
•Second chance

TW/CW: Talk of PPD (which I really appreciated), death of parents, corruption/ harassment in law enforcement, drug use, alcohol abuse, sexual assault.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🗓 Publication Date: October 4, 2022
🤍 Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this eARC in exchange for my honest review

I did it again - I didn’t realize that I attempted to read and abandoned the first book in this series, and this book has the same issue. Granted, it’s 100% a personal preference thing, but I don’t like books where the central lead has layers of toxic masculinity. Like very stereotypically prone to anger and punching people - not my vibe at all.

I loved this book so much. I’ve been a huge fan of Elle Kennedy’s and after reading the first book in the series I had to get my hands on this one.

This book was addicting and I loved every second of it. Elle Kennedy has a way of making each of her books unique in their own way and I love it.

This was so much fun!!! I loved the characters I loved the build up and I loved the dynamics Kennedy created. I had a blast reading this as I hope everyone else does when they pick this up!

A sweet take on second chances! This was great. I’ve read Elle Kennedy’s books in the past and it’s always been a known fact to me that yes! I would indeed be on the look out for any future Elle Kennedy works. I really enjoyed this and probably enjoyed it more than I expected to. 5/5 stars!

Genevieve West moved away from Avalon Bay and her on-again-off-again boyfriend Evan Hartley and created a life for herself in Charleston. Now, back home for her mother’s funeral, she’s determined not to fall back into her bad habits and back into Evan’s arms. On the other hand, Evan is determined to win back the love of his life, even if that means setting aside his crazier traits to become the man that Genevieve deserves.

I really enjoyed Good Girl Complex, and was so excited to receive the eARC for Bad Girl Reputation, the continuation of the Avalon Bay series. I also have to say, I liked following Gen and Evan’s relationship a lot better than I liked Mac and Cooper’s too! First off, we already knew the majority of the characters and the dynamics between them, so there was less filler to explain all the scene setting. Also, Mac and Cooper (Evan’s twin brother) didn’t have the history that Gen and Evan did, and the history is part of what made this one interesting. It felt much more like an organic story of two soulmates growing up both individually and together, rather than the more “insta-love” storyline of Good Girl Complex. I love jumping back in and seeing favorites from previous books, and obviously Mac and Cooper were around a lot in this one, although we only heard from Evan’s and Gen’s points of view. Where Good Girl Complex seemed to end abruptly without much closure for the reader, this book had a nice epilogue that lended itself to a much more circular reading experience. One thing I will say though is that for all we were told about how bad Evan and Gen were together, I don’t feel like it was ever truly shown to us, so a lot of their dramatics seemed…overly dramatic. Overall though, a really cute, kinda steamy read that would be perfect as a beach or vacation read! I don’t know if Elle Kennedy is planning on writing more books in the Avalon Bay universe, but I hope she is, because I’ll definitely want to read them!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this eARC for review!

I'm a big fan of Elle Kennedy's books & Bad Girl Reputation did not disappoint! I love a good small-town series, so I was thrilled to hear that the author wrote another book set in Avalon Bay!

Gen and Evan's chemistry was palpable from the start & had me hooked all the way through! I loved the push/pull dynamic as both characters went through their transformational journey. The character growth both Gen & Evan went through was paced exceptionally well. It was believable throughout the book, ending with both characters ultimately becoming better versions of themselves when they finally did (officially) get back together.

I was also happy to see Mac and Cooper woven into the follow-up book organically, where it didn't seem forced. Not to mention Daisy, the sweet pup they rescued in the first book!

This was another hit by Elle Kennedy & I hope there will be a third book coming soon in the series (Alana as the main character, perhaps?). I'll be here for it!

i really enjoyed the first book in this series, good girl complex, and the second i finished it i knew i needed to read the second book! personally i don’t think anything will top the off campus series for me but this was still a good read and i always enjoy elle kennedy’s writing! personally i think i enjoyed this one more! i wasn’t a fan of the cheating trope in the first book but so far i’ve loved all the characters i’ve met :)

Gen is returning to her home town and is worried about reverting back to her wild ways. Determined to keep on the good girl persona she decides to try and keep her distance from Evan the boyfriend she left behind without so much as a goodbye the year before. Evan though isn't going to make it so easy on her.

Young love isn't always so healthy and their relationship had been pretty toxic and upon her return it looks like they might fall into that trap again. What I loved so much about this book is that the characters knew that the relationship wasn't healthy and that they needed to grow up.

This was all about growing up, second chances, acceptance, and coming to terms with who you want to be.

I have read a lot of Elle Kennedy books including Good Girl Complex, the prequel to this novel, but I can easily say that this is one of my favorites from her. It was an easy book to read in one sitting and stays true to what I know about the author's writing. I will be picking up her Briar U series after this as those are the only books I have yet to read from this author.

I was so excited to read about our resident bad boy and bad girl since the first book. I loved this book! It’s a great book about growing as an adult and forgiveness! I think the book was beautifully written!

I absolutely adored good girl complex! It was my first Elle Kennedy book and I soon started the off campus series right after! I was so excited to get this book on netgalley and it didn't disappoint! I loved seeing Evans perspectives and loved seeing Cooper again!

This story was about redemption and overcoming your past. I loved how the side stories and how dedicated Gen was to righting her wrongs. They had some serious heat.. tho I could have used even more steamy scenes ;)

... I really hope there's a book 3 and that it follows Harrison! I also think Kayla deserves a happy ending.

Thank you to netgalley for this earc in exchange for an honest review.

What happens when the party girl and the bad boy grow up? This story follows Genevieve and Evan. Gen left town after she had a run in with the local authorities and didn’t left her on again off again boyfriend before she just up and left. She is trying to reform from her bad girl ways. Evan is still trying to understand why Gen up and left him a year ago. He’s also struggling with a toxic relationship with his mother. This story really shows the growth of both characters, and that true love really does conquer all.

I would definitely recommend this book.

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)