This one started out great! I immediately wanted to keep listening. Both Gen and Evan had great character arcs from start to finish. (Especially Gen!) I love that Gen was the bad girl and Evan is the bad boy! Their chemistry and steam were off the charts!! The story was well written and had absolutely everything it needed to have for an enjoyable story. (Great conflict, plot points etc) I don’t know why, but it just kind of dragged for me a bit in the middle. I’m thinking maybe because of the age of the characters. I don’t read a lot of new adult novels. I know they are typically more angsty novels. I think in certain parts, I was irritated by how immature Evan could be. I do think he redeemed himself in the end. Overall, it was a decent story. I thought the narrator did at great job! Huge thanks to the audiobook publisher, author and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this audiobook.

Genevieve just lost her mom— who she was never close to— and her dad needs her help to save the family business. Long time on-again off-again leading man Evan has missed her ever since she fled town a year ago. Jen is determined to stay away from him, but will she?

Would recommend for anyone looking for a fun quick summer read!

Story line and character development was pretty average in the modern romance genre. You didn’t get very much of her working for her family business; mostly just drama with friends and Evan’s family. I wasn’t a huge fan of the sex in public throughout the book.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book to provide my honest feedback.

In Elle Kennedy's Acknowledgments in the back of the book she wrote, "Their story is one of redemption, forgiveness and second chances and the difficulties that come with shedding your past and trying to be a better, healthier version of yourself". I could not describe the book better. I saw myself in these characters, going home and having that person that was such an important part of who you were but that pull of trying to grow up and move on. Gen was trying to grow and change and shake her "Bad Girl Reputation". She really felt like that had to be without Evan. But they were magnetic and getting to read that journey of finding each other again was just beautiful. Their connection was hot and spicy and just real.

I was given the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook from NetGalley and the publisher. I loved the narration, they really kept me in the story. Thank you for the opportunity to enjoy this book!

Precisely written book about a love story going through it's ups and downs.

Gen is a small town girl who suddenly has to go back home for her mother's funeral. She had left a year prior to get away from her life there as well as her ex, Evan. With hopes of not bumping into him as she remains to help the family business, she learned that it is hard to stay away and not see him in the small town. Gen swears she is not going to get involved with Evan and tries desperately to avoid him but their bond keeps bringing them back to one another.

This book was very steamy and very believing of a true story. The narrators to the audiobook did an amazing job representing both Gen and Evan's personalities and provided what the author was going for. I will definitely be reading more books from this author in the future.

A bad boy with a dirty mouth and the party girl that’s trying to reform herself and stay away while he is not having it trope lovers, this one’s for you. Even though this was the 2nd book in this series, I had no issues keeping up. I enjoyed both of the main characters, though they have a huge circle of friends that were a bit difficult to keep straight, I am sure that’s just because I haven’t read the first book.
The audiobook was excellent, read in both a female and male perspective.
Solid 4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for the book in exchange for review

Not your typical bad girl finds her way type of a story, in the best way possible. Genevieve and Evan are quite the pair, full of passion and both with twists in their family stories that impact their present and past. In the beginning was worried that I might not connect enough with the characters at first, but they grew on me and I started rooting them. This was a fun listen, and the narrators we're great.

Genevieve wants nothing more than keep her distance from her ex, Evan, when she returns home for her mother's funeral. But Evan has other plans...
This second-chance romance is book 2 of the Avalon Bay series, and I liked it much better than the first one. The characters are immature and irrational, but the chemistry and the drama is good. This is a quick and easy read that I really enjoyed.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

To be quite honest I didn’t finish this book because I lost interest about seven chapters in. I lost intrigue in the plot, the narrators voice was hard to listen to, very dull and monotoned. There was no hook or originality in the story and the characters just felt flat to me. I dislike having to give books by an author I really enjoy bad reviews. But I pride myself on honesty. I appreciate the opportunity to be an ARC reader though. Thank you NetGalley.

Elle Kennedy is one of the top New Adult romance authors right now, Bad Girl Reputation, the second in her Avalon By series, is a second chance romance that really explored what it means to come home.

Genevieve left Avalon Bay without a word. One drunken night, she hit rock bottom and knew she had to grow up, but she couldn’t do that surrounded by reminders of her reckless decisions—including her ex-boyfriend, Evan Hartley.

She returns to the bay for her mom’s funeral, and she ends up staying to help her dad and brothers with the family business. In a town this small, it’s impossible to avoid Evan and their long history of passion and bad decisions. The electricity between them is still as undeniable as ever, but can they work through the hurt and the broken trust in order to have a future?

I loved Bad Girl Reputation so much more than the first book in the Avalon Bay series. Good Girl Complex was a little too similar to the premise of After, and I thought Cooper was a jerk. BUT Gen and Evan? I was rooting for them from page one. Even though there were elements of this history that were toxic, I felt like they acknowledged it and tried to change for the better. They were complex characters with real issues to deal with, and they grew as individuals and as a couple throughout the story. And their chemistry was off the charts. Elle Kennedy writes excellent steam. Top notch. A+.

Lee Samuels and Summer Morton delivered wonderful performances as Evan and Gen in the audiobook recording of Bad Girl Reputation. If audiobooks are your thing (I’m obsessed with them), their narration adds a fun dimension to the reading experience.

The first thing I want to call out is while this is the second installment in the Avalon Bay series (Good Girl Complex being the first), but I would consider the books to be interconnected standalones. You do not need to have read Good Girl Complex to pick this book up.

Elle Kennedy gives us this story about a loveable duo of bad boy and bad girl types who cannot seem to stay away from each other no matter how many times they get burned. This story gives you multiple love interests and second chance romance for those that like those tropes.

This book had a good mix of romance, spice, and plot to keep me entertained all the way throughout, but I did struggle a bit getting through some really messy decision making on the way to the ending, which I did actually like. If I could give incremental stars I probably would actually give this a 3.75, because while I did enjoy it, I don't think it was anything extraordinary. Probably a great beach read or palate cleanser for a lot of people!

DISCLAIMER: I received an advanced readers copy of this audiobook through #NetGalley, however, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

A story about two people destined to be together even though fate and circumstances keep pulling them apart. A story about running from your past only to find it catches up with you eventually and that facing it is the only true way to move forward. This was a cute romantic comedy. Not the best I’ve read but worthy nonetheless. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

DNFed. Choice of vocabulary is not what I’m into, giving me serious ick. The moment the main female character is talking about what her mom’s “vag” must have looked like after six kids was when I dipped out. Both main characters are sucky people in my eyes. Lemme know if you thought it was worth pushing through.

First Netgalley ARC I haven’t been able to get through. Will not share negative review on social media.

I can always count on a good, fun read with Elle Kennedy. She’s one of those authors that I will automatically but her book because I know it will be well written and an easy read. It took me a day to read Bad Girl Reputation and lately I’ve been really struggling with sitting and reading an actual book. So in a way this one got me out of my reading slump!

If you’re looking for a fun and easy read, I would definitely recommend BGR!

The audio was wonderful and the narrators did a great job!

Genevieve, former bad girl, returns to her hometown when her mother passes away. While there, she runs into her ex-boyfriend, Evan, and it stirs up lots of old memories. Evan and Gen used to cause all sorts of problems when they were in high school. A year ago, Gen left town to get her act together. She decided to stop drinking, all the drugs, and most importantly, got away from Evan who encouraged her to do those things. She planned to come back to her hometown and stay temporarily to help her dad manage their family business. The longer she stays, the more roots she starts putting down and more connected she becomes. What will that mean for Gen and Evan in the long run?

I really enjoyed how Evan and Gen both showed growth and that they were willing to work for something that they knew could work, just in different circumstances. Evan knows he wants Gen, but he needs to get his act together to be with her. Gen sticks to the changes that she has made and even pushes away her old best-friends offer of drugs. There is some drama with a police officer who thinks he can do anything he wants, but other than that, the rest of the book is pretty predictable and sweet.

When Genevieve (Gen) returns to Avalon Bay for her mother’s funeral, she’s forced back in the proximity of her Ex (who she never really got over), Evan Hartley. Evan is one half of Avalon Bay’s notorious Hartley twins.

This is Gen & Evan’s 2nd chance push-pull romance. It’s their story of watching them constantly fight their attraction only to be pulled in again. As much as I love this author and her prior books, this story fell short of my expectations. The plot line was a bit predictable, and the characters didn’t have a lot of depth for me to invest in them as I had in prior books. Maybe it’s the newish setting - Avalon Bay - that’s not jiving? I am not sure. Perhaps their story will resonate with you better. It’s still a sweet 2nd chance small-town romance.

I listened to the audiobook, and narrators Summer Morton & Lee Samuels did a fabulous job performing this piece. Their performance kept my attention and brought out the dialogue well.

This can be read as a stand-alone (the first book is Evan’s twin brother, Cooper’s, story).

3.5 STARS
RELEASES 10.03.22

Audio ARC from MacMillan audio generously provided by the publisher (via NetGalley) for an honest review.

What happens when the party girl and bad boy grow up?

I enjoyed this new adult story with LOTS of character growth. Gen and Evan are high school sweethearts with lots of chemistry, but their relationship was toxic. Evan was a real a$$hole in the beginning, so I didn’t think it would be possible for me to root for him. Meanwhile, I was rooting for Gen right from the start. She is trying so hard to turn her life around, and I FULLY support taking actions that may be considered selfish, if it’s what’s best for you in a messy situation. After hearing a few truth bombs dropped on him, Evan really got it together in a way that felt believable with the potential to be long lasting. The turn around with Evan’s mother also warmed my heart.

Lee Samuels and Summer Morton did a lovely job narrating.

You’ll especially enjoy this book if you love:
-Second chance romances
-It’s aways been you trope
-Dual POV
-Reformed bad boys
-Strong female lead
-Protective brothers in the F$#& Around and Find Out Society
-Spice level 4/5
-Entertaining supportive characters that make you laugh (the senior citizen home scene was the beat!)

Content Warnings: Parental abandonment and crooked cop

I liked this story, but the narration of the audiobook was a bit of a miss with me. I listened to Good Girl complex only a few days before and I liked this story nearly as much, but the narration not nearly as much. Particularly Evan came off sounding like a total creep. This is one I would recommend for print.

This is the second book in the Avalon Bay series. This time the story centers around Genevieve who returns to her home town after the death of her mother. When she comes back she is forced to face her ex, Evan. Their relationship was filled with ups and downs and lots of passion. Genevieve is trying prove that she is no longer the wild, partying girl of the past. She cannot ignore the intense attraction that she still has to Evan. He has not been able to get over her. The two are like magnets that cannot stay away from each other.

I felt that the immaturity of the pair at times got in the way of the story. Their relationship was somewhat toxic and I struggled finding their romance as anything more than physical. It did have some very sweet moments and I enjoyed the character growth as the story went on.

The narrator for the audiobook did a good job, the story fell a little flat for me.

3 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I lovvvvveee this series! The characters. The setting. The banter. And to top it off, this was a steamy second chance romance. There’s just something about Elle Kennedy’s writing that sticks with me and I hope there is another book in this small town. This novel had weight and tenderness too. I really enjoyed following these characters and the romances.

As a big fan of Elle Kennedy, I was super excited to get a copy to listen! This is the second book in the Avalon Bay series, that features Genevieve and Evan who have a whirlwind second chance romance. While the first book in this series had me on the fence about Avalon Bay, I can confidently say that book two actually made me fall in love with this new set of characters that Elle has created.

This was a lay back and chill type of listen. The story line was fun and brainless, with characters who acted their age. Sure some decisions were immature but in Avalon Bay it matches the vibe. This actually made the book a lot more enjoyable. The vibes matched the setting.

Evan and Genevieve definitely have a physical connection with one another but I actually enjoyed seeing their second chance romance bloom and further develop into something potentially deeper. It's no question in my mind that they are meant to be with one another because their chemistry is spicy! Definitely gave me Off Campus spice vibes which as a huge OC fan, I found I loved in this series too.

Love that this was a chill read and something I could listen to and laugh and smile about. Definitely a fan of Avalon Bay!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!