3.5/5 Stars

Thank you to Sourcebooks Cascablanca and Dreamscapes audio for providing me with an arc and audio arc to review.

I was sent a netgalley widget for an earc of this book and didn’t know what to expect out of it but I actually enjoyed it. It was a bit slow for me but otherwise I really enjoyed the plot and characters. Our characters are flawed and are just trying to live life how they want to live.

Kayla grew up constantly hearing how she had to act, to not be loud, don’t act wild, don’t take up space, and definitely don’t go into music. But desperate to find a safe place she takes up the drums to get away from her mother’s opinions and to follow in her brother’s footsteps. Keeping her rock n roll band secret was easy when they were playing bars and small venues but now they are growing and secrets are going to come out whether they like it or not. Ty is just trying to survive and provide for his grandfather but after he was accused and charged in the public eye of horrible things almost all opportunities disappeared. He gets a job as a bus driver for Kayla’s band, but even when sparks fly between the two they can’t let anything happen until his contract is up due to a no fraternization policy. But when secrets start coming to light they have to figure out how to not let that get to them.

I loved Ty’s arc and seeing him deal with the realities of being accused and charged of assault in the public eye as a black man even though he is innocent. We see him have nightmares and run into people who still just see him as that but we also see Kayla instantly reassure him that theres no way he did that and she believes him instantly. Kayla grew up being forced into this picture perfect role, perfect daughter, perfect student, perfect person. She finally is breaking out of her shell with the Lilly’s but she struggles with keeping the band and her family separate as she doesn’t think her family will accept her being in a band.

I exclusively listened to the audiobook and I really liked the narrators. I don’t know if I would have finished this without the audiobook as it helped with it being slower than most books I read. Both Tyla Collier and Benjamin Charles did an amazing job as Kayla and Ty. I am super picky with male narrators but I really liked Benjamin in this book.

I do recommend this and I do plan on reading the first book in the series as I liked the writing style and characters.

5 STARS!

Xio Axelrod could write a phone book and I would read it. My god, she is such a brilliant writer! I absolutely loved Kayla and Ty's story in The Lilly's series. Kayla is the drummer for the band, and Ty winds up becoming their tour bus driver. They find a quick and deep connection with one another that is irresistible, smoldering, and teeming with chemistry. They both bring baggage to the table. Kayla has a fraught relationship with her perfectionist mother, who has tried her damndest to control Kayla's life and keep her away from music, one of the few things that keeps her tethered to her brother Zach, who passed away when he was a teenager. Kayla was the inspiration for her mother's children's book series "Little Miss Yolanda," the perfect A+ child who can do no wrong. Becoming a rock and roll star is antithetical to everything her family stands for, and is in direct opposition to everything Little Miss Yolanda is. Ty was raised by his grandfather, who means the world to him and has had various health issues throughout the years. Ty thought he had it made when he was going to college, until someone he considered a "friend" lied and said he plagiarised her work and physically assaulted her. The university took the woman's side, kicking Ty out of school with no evidence to support her claim. He has been trying to pick up the pieces of his shattered life ever since. Eventually, he becomes the tour bus driver for the Lilly's, comes slowly out of his more introverted shell, meets Kayla, and the rest, as they say, is history. Even though Kayla and Ty are a relatively young couple, they feel like mature and realistic characters. Both of them have terrific arcs that feel authentic to their characters. The steam between the two of them is undeniably sensual and incredibly alluring. As with "The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes," the found family element here is strong and makes the story much more rich and complex. The members of the Lilly's have such an indelible bond with one another. Their rock story is chockful to the brim with passion, power, love, respect, and admiration... that, and kick a$$ music! It seems like there are a lot of moving parts to this story, and there are, but Xio Axelrod balances each storyline so no one plot point outshines the other, ensuring that nothing is dropped by the wayside. I absolutely loved this book, and I truly hope you give this series a chance. Xio Axelrod is one of the best romance writers out there right now!!! Llisten to the audiobook, if you can, because narrators Benjamin Charles and Tyla Collier bring these characters to life. This is one of the best audiobooks I have listened to as of late. They did a splendid job differentiating between the characters. Fantastic work!

Thank you to NetGalley, Xio Axelrod, and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I love reading books that are set “behind the scenes”, and reading about a touring rock band was especially fun.

Kayla Whitman is the drummer in an up and coming female rock band. Her mom is the author of a very well known book series about a perfect young girl, based on Kayla. Kayla knows that her career choice has disappointed her mother, and she’s uncomfortable with being the book model so she keeps the band a secret from her mother and the books a secret from her band mates. The more successful the band becomes the more likely her secrets will become public.

Ty Baldwin is the band’s tour bus driver. He’s had a rough time in his past and now he quietly keeps to himself and reads and writes poetry in his spare time. When Kayla and Ty meet, they discover that they’re kindred spirits and spend the long hours on the road getting to know each other and exploring their chemistry.

When the press starts sniffing around them, Kayla knows it’s time to tell the truth to her mother and her newfound family band mates.

I really enjoyed this captivating book, 4 stars.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you NetGalle, Dreamscape Media, and Sourcebook Casablanca for this amazing book!

Girls with Bad Reputations is not just a love story. The romance was beautiful, a not-so-slow burn, friends-to-lovers story.
But what captivated me in this book were the background stories, where our main characters come from, and why they are the way they are.

Kayla is pulling a double Hanna Montana act. Famous since childhood thanks to a series of books her mother wrote about the perfect child, Little Miss Yolanda, Kathrine - Kayla for friends - wants just to follow her late brother's dream to be a rockstar drummer.

Ty is the perfect student, but when he gets tangled in various injustices, he is forced to quit university and accept any job to help his grandfather out.
Ty is a kind soul, searching for the quiet life he was used to. After his grandfather pushes him to do something for himself he decides to take a job as a bus driver for an all-girl indie rock band, with a no fraternization closet written boldly in his contract.

Ty and Kyla met and they found each other. But like I said at the beginning of the review this book is so much more.
Kyla and her mother's relationship was what struck me the most, but there are various themes that make this book very interesting and I´m sure it will enter soon many people´s hearts.

For the audiobook, the production, like everything Dreamscape, is flawless. The voice actors did a great job interpreting the characters. I loved both of their voices.

Girls with Bad Reputations is the second book in The Lillys series but can be read as a standalone.

This book has it all ....
✔ Strangers to Friends to Lovers
✔ Pan MMC - wears a kilt!
✔ Bad-Ass Female Rockers
✔ Book Nerds in Love
✔ Tour Bus Shenanigans
✔ Secrets
✔ Found Family

Time to meet our heroine Kayla Larrington who is following her dream. There's just one tiny hiccup ... she's avoided her family and hasn't told them what she's really up to. If they knew the truth, would they be supportive of her choices and understand?

Instead of following the path of perfection her mother planned long ago, she's living her best life. All Kayla ever wanted was to live life with stick in hand while drumming on her kit.

Despite her loss, the pain impacts her decisions. If only her family's expectations of what her future looked like and her dreams could be aligned. Could they ever approve?

It's time to hit the road with The Lillys with this all-access behind the scenes from their tour bus to the music stages along the way.

Expect plenty of drama and shenanigans. Most definitely a little spicy heat, and of course lots of music.

Are you ready to meet The Lillys?

Thank you to @sourcebookscasa for an advance reader copy for an honest and fair review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Wow! Pure gold right here! Rockstar romance extraordinare!

I read the first Lilly’s book last year and it was fine, but this one - this one is fire! I completely fell in love with not just Kayla and Ty, but the rest of the band again, and Ty’s Pop. It was a completely different experience and I just loved the entire thing. The characters felt different this time around (yep, even crazy Candy, when they ran into her - I think dealing with her in book 1 was super stressful and part of my issue with it), the vibe was all positivity, and I just loved everything about who Ty was and how he lived his entire life after the crap hand he’d been dealt.

This book is just superb and I completely and totally recommend (not a strong enough word - I demand) every single one of you reading this runs out and gets a copy of it now! It’s incredible and Xio Axelrod is truly such a talented author.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, and this is my honest feedback.

This was my introduction into Xio Axelrod's writing and I loved it! I'm definitely going to have to pick up the first book, because I am so curious about Seb and Toni's story! This is a story for all the girls out there who have been told that they're too much, too loud, or not proper enough. I identified with Kayla so much. That fear and anxiety of letting your parents down and of the expectations of being a perfect daughter. Even when you know that you've already disappointed them, somehow it still matters. Doing what is right for you hurts/harms them, and so I really empathized with Kayla. I loved how over the course of the book we get to see her relationships improve. She opens up to the Lillys and to Ty. Ty is such a strong, steady prescence and even though he had his own demons I loved that they worked through them together.

Highly recommend this book for lovers of rockstar romance, found family, and non-gender conforming MC's!

Here's the thing Xio Axelrod knows how to write a happy romance book. Even when you know something bad is going. to happen you know the relationship is strong enough, no matter what. It's a good feeling and it's a happy feeling. I read her books with so much joy.

Now, this story has so many things going on, in the sense that it talks about the injustices of the world towards Black men. I don't know how many times she shows people's reaction to Ty, just because of his skin color. It hurt, but it's real life for black men.

I loved this book with my whole heart and it's one of the best reads of 2024.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The thing that I kept thinking over and over while I read this book is that’s Xio Axelrod writes real people so well. Her characters always feel so relatable and authentic.

Girls with Bad Reputations is book 2 in The Lillys series and focuses on Kayla, the drummer, and Ty. Kayla has secrets she has been keeping from the band about the suffocating past she’s run away from. Ty had horrible things happen to him that have altered the course of his life.

I love love love how they bond over books and reading. Their feelings for each other grow quickly and I’m pleased that the conflict in the book was not to do with their relationship. It was refreshing to read. There is a steadiness to their relationship that anchored this book.

I also want to note, Axelrod writes a diverse range of characters in a beautifully normalizing way.

This series is so fun, badass, and easy to be in. I’m already ready for the next book.

I received an ARC from the Milk & Cookies Marketing team via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for a physical final copy!

TW: parental death, sibling death, prison system, racism

I finished The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes quickly and was excited to see I was approved to get an arc of this second story in The Lillys series. This book is all about The Lillys' drummer, Kayla who has kept her true identity a secret. We meet Ty their bus driver in this book, who has also not had an easy life. I love that Xio had Ty's character being a bookworm. This story was a good addition to the series. Excited to see whose story is next as we continue to follow the growth in The Lilly's career. Having each bandmember's personalities be so different will keep the stories in the series fresh and give us different views into what each member of the band is gaining from their "found" family.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

There is so much I loved about Girls with Bad Reputations! Like the first book in this series, I was initially drawn to it in part because of its focus on rock music. The main character here, Kayla, is the drummer in an all-girl rock band that’s starting to rise up in the scene. It’s clear that the author has intimate knowledge of playing music, the different parts of instruments, touring, and music industry hurdles. Throughout the novel, readers get to live and breathe the rock band experience, and I soaked up every second of it. (Extra love for the mentions of Billie Joe Armstrong, the frontman of my favorite band, Green Day!)

As much as this is a romance, Girls with Bad Reputations is about the full spectrum of experiences our cast of characters have. Sometimes it’s facing the various prejudices or assumptions of others. Kayla is a woman, and she’s one of very few female drummers in the business. A scene that stands out is how she handles a music store employee who can’t believe she’d be buying drums for herself. Another major theme is racism. Both Kayla and Tyrell are Black and have navigated this world accordingly, sometimes facing unfair expectations or allegations. In Ty’s case, he’s been accused of two crimes he didn’t commit, and his punishment was severe despite the ultimate finding of his innocence. He’s still being affected by that trial both in his employment opportunities and his ability to get accepted to a new university.

Beyond the social issues, there are also complex relationships among family and friends. Kayla has a tough relationship with her snobby, perfectionist mother. She’s also still grieving her older brother, Zach, who died a decade prior. Ty was raised by his grandfather, but at 74, he’s starting to have health issues that Ty worries about. Though Ty is somewhat of a loner at the beginning, he’s soon welcomed into the group surrounding The Lillys, including the four band members and the various people who work with them. I loved seeing the friendships between Kayla and the band and how they all stick together when things get tough. Even the secrets they keep from each other will have a way of coming out and solidifying their bond.

There is so much going on throughout this novel—all of which I greatly enjoyed—but the romance between Kayla and Ty also shines through. It’s a slow-burn love story, with two strangers becoming friends first through their many commonalities. They’re both bookworms, both are somewhat reserved yet ambitious and strong-willed, and they understand each other like no one else does. So many romances get steamy fast, but I love that these two take their time. I also appreciate how they both defy gender norms in their own way and that Ty is bisexual.

Girls with Bad Reputations is the kind of book to get lost in and savor, even though it’s a pretty quick read. I adored all the characters (including seeing the previous book’s couple), enjoyed the themes of music, family, and identity, and loved seeing Kayla and Ty’s romance slowly unfold. The Lillys has been a wonderful series so far, and I can’t wait to join the band again in the next book.

I must say that I kinda loved Kayla and Ty even more than I loved Toni and Seb... I mean I love the whole group

Anywho… Kayla is more or less living a double life keeping her life in the band secret from her parents because her mother would never approve and may have written a series of books using her as the prototype for the perfect daughter despite Kayla hating it... Ty on the other hand is a bit down on his luck having just gotten through an incident that wrecked his life leaving him a bit lost for what to do with his life... his current job leads to him being the tour bus driver for The Lillys as they perform at various music festivals... Kayla and Ty fall hard and fast for each other starting with a love of books and poetry. A lot of the book takes place during their travels with the band dealing with many highs and lows a long the way.

I loved everybody in the series but Ty’s Pop Pop was my favorite person in this book. That’s all I just needed to mention that...

What I love most about the books that o have read by the author is that though it’s romancey there isn’t an unnecessary and tedious needless conflict that breaks up the main characters for no reason... any miscommunication is talked out like adults... it’s the one thing that irks me the most in romances so I appreciate the lack of that in the 3 books I’ve read by her

I really hope Tiff gets a book next 🤞🏾

This book ROCKS! Kayla is a kick-ass drummer in an amazing all-girl group, the Lillys. They are on their way up and they are not moving slowly. This book centers around Kayla, the drummer for the group and while finding her true self on a path not pre-approved by “mom” is working out the complexities and challenges of coming of age and adulting. There is some romance, Ty has his own story. There are challenges and a lot of laughing and enjoying all of what youth has to offer. Reading this book was a huge breath of fresh air. Xio Axelrod has done nothing if not hit another one over the fence. Her insights about music, instrumental prowess, and timing are amazing. Great read, worth your time. Can’t wait for the next book!

I waiting so long for this book to come out and it did not disappoint.
Kayla is the baddest rock star drummer. Ty is the bus driver for the band. Together they make the best story ever. THis book was a I can'rt put down. I loved every minute of it .. The good, the bad ,the tears and the laughter.
It can be read as a stand alone, however you want to read all the books in this series. the two published and then like the rest of us wait patiently for the next one.

This was a cool read that I’m glad I checked out. I was interested in reading a book about a female rock band and had never read this author. I liked the connection between Ty and his Pop pop the most. Although it was a nice read I guess I was expecting more mess since it’s a rock band and the music industry is usually known for being tumultuous and cutthroat. Kayla’s conflict seemed pretty small and I wasn’t sure why it dragged for so long in the story. It all felt like it was one or two conversations away from being solved. The love story was nice but I wish we got more of them together. (Like more dates.) Still a decent read that was well written.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc.

Katherine Yolanda Larrington (Kayla) is the drummer for a female rock band. Tyrell Baldwin (Ty), ends up being their tour bus driver. He also has a bad reputation, but not at all deserved.

The book touches on so many topics, social and moral injustices. The justice system not being blind, but very prejudiced against people of color, as well as the good and bad in the music industry.

Ty and Kayla hit it off from day one, but it’s a slow burn romance because of all the drama surrounding the group and Ty’s dilemma with the justice system. The group gets exactly what they wanted, to be famous; Ty gets his record expunged and Kayla resolves her parental issues.

This is a book that engages you from start to finish. It’s a rockstar romance, where the FMC is it drummer, and a female rock band called the lilies. We met Kayla in the previous book and didn’t really get to know her as much as I wanted to in that book. I was so happy that this book was about Kayla, because I was intrigued by her and Seeing juxtaposition of her present with how she feels about her past as fascinating. Ty is a tour bus driver, but more importantly, he is a Sony hero in that he’s sensitive and he gets Kayla. The romance between Ty and Kayla makes sense and is enjoyable to see The way both tie, and Kayla have to deal with her past when their relationship starts to become public really makes you sad of how public can affect someone’s life. I love the camaraderie between the band members and looking forward to the next book and the series.

We were lucky to receive an ARC of Girl with Bad Reputations, by Xio Axelrod, in addition to interviewing her for our podcast. We'd like to thank her both for joining us for the interview and the ARC of this lovely book. We reviewed the book for our most recent episode, but here are the highlights:

What we liked about the book:
- The relationships between Pop Pop and Ty - it's so dynamic and supportive.
- The indepth look at the music industry.
- The instant chemistry between Ty and Kayla.

What we didn't like as much:
- Editors: JUST LET XIO DO HER THING - SHE'S FANTASTIC AT IT!

This is a total recommend from us; the link to our full podcast review can be found on our website: www.chicklitbookclubpodcast.com

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review. Once again I want to live out my Rockstar dreams because of these books. Also enjoyed the writing style

The Girl with the Bad Reputation, Book #2 The Lillys. I'd recommend reading Book #1 The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes first to get background on the band formation, record label issues, and ex guitarist Candy.

Publication date 2/6/24, read 2/6/24

By: Xio Axelrod-1st time read author for me

Format: 📖 & 🎧

🏃🏾‍♀️Run Time: 14:16

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Dreamscape Media for this ARC and ALC🧡 ! I voluntarily give an honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

The narrators are Tyla Collier and Benjamin Charles with all characters read by them. I believe the voices fit the characters with standouts of Ty and Kayla. Their voices were the most distinct, but I could easily tell the difference between all characters. The reading style did bring the story to life and the pacing was great and flowed easily with the story. The narration and the author were in sync, and they fit together perfectly.

The audiobook's flow was pretty good. The narrators paused and announced every time a new chapter came. The book had a table of contents which helped me follow along with the e-book and audio.

Summary: Kayla is done trying to be perfect for her mother. She's an academic overachiever told to be quiet and make herself small -all her mother's expectations. Kayla's "real" life is as a drummer in The Lillys. They are a female rock band on the way to stardom. Ty is their tour bus driver who connects with Kayla over books. The more famous the band becomes, the more the press threaten their peace.

My Thoughts: the romance was very sweet and Ty is a new book boyfriend of mine . He and Kayla were book lovers looking for their purpose. Together they encourage each other to be whatever they want. I loved the LGBTQIA+ and POC representation. Female empowerment, YES!


My recommendation is to read the audiobook and eBook (if possible) because you can adjust the speed, skip parts easily (if desired), and picture the characters more vividly.


Rating 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐