Thank you @sourcebookscasa @netgalley for book 2 of the Lily's. Though it can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend you read the first book since it gives you more background into the characters. This centers on Kayla, the drummer and her journey of self discovery and her relationship with her family. The Lily's are about to go on their first festival tour and they meet, Ty, the new bus driver. There is an instant connection between the two through their love for books.

I loved their friendship and how they were so mature and no big drama between the two. The story makes you appreciate the strong friendship within the band but also the people that supports the band. I loved the relationship between Ty and his grand pop which was so special. I can't wait to read the next story.

4.5⭐️
Girls With Bad Reputations is the second book of The Lilly’s series of interconnected standalones. It is recommended that you read book one first but I didn’t and didn’t have any problem understanding what was going on. But I am excited to go back and read it now! In this book we have Kayla who is the drummer of the up and coming all girl rock band. I absolutely loved Kayla! She was strong, feisty and passionate. And then we have Ty. He is a kilt wearing sweetheart that I just wanted to wrap my arms around and hug him! I loved the slow burn of their relationship but I do wish there was a bit more romance in their story. I loved Ty and Kayla together and how they were there for each other. And I especially loved how they bonded over books! This story was about love, friendship, and overcoming obstacles that life throws you. This author has a way with words that makes you feel like you are a part of the story.

Kayla is a drummer in a band named The Lilly's. Her mother has high expectations for her, and so Kayla has kept her life hidden from her. Ty's expulsion from college leads him to work as the tour bus driver for The Lilly's. Despite their different backgrounds, Kayla and Ty develop a friendship that gradually turns into something more. I enjoyed watching their love and respect for each other grow through the pages of this story. It's evident that the author has done extensive research on the music industry and knows it well. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves rock star love stories.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. This review is purely from my perspective, and all opinions are my own. I am under no obligation to review the book.

Girls with Bad Reputations once again proved how powerful Xio Axelrod's writing is. Ty and Kayla had me mesmerized from the beginning to an end. It is set in the exciting world of musical madness where an all girls band is making their mark against all odds. In middle of the ups and downs, the love story of Kayla and Ty blooms. It addresses some burning social issues and takes us to the core of some really difficult but relevant questions.

Kayla has a dual life. In one hand, she is Little Miss Yolanda, the perfect little girl in the bestselling books written by her mother. But she is also the drummer of The Lillys. Music is where her soul lies. If her identity comes out, it will devastate and disappoint her famous mother. But The Lillys are rising to fame and the exposure is bound to happen. On the tour, she meets their bus driver Tyrell Baldwin aka Ty. He is a talented academician but a false complaint of plagiarism and assault has ruined everything. Together, they will find love and healing but not before an emotional rollercoaster.


I love to read romance where music is a character. Each and every band member of The Lillys has unique story to tell. The band is more like a family. It was so heartwarming to see their connection and how they fight together against all the challenges. Kayla has an extra layer for her family issues. Her mother tried to mold her into a perfect rule following daughter and that was suffocating to her. For her mother, there is no alternate road to excellence than academic achievements and mixing with the right people. But since losing her brother, drums was her passion. And she found a group of amazing supportive people. Ty was a victim of systems. His color, his upbringing and his background were used as an weapon and he was unfairly convicted and stripped off of his academic achievements. He has a lot of shame and guilt inside. But first his grandfather ( I love that man so much) and then Kayla slowly put together his pieces. He has such a soothing and calming presence. His admiration and pride for Kayla is so deep. His support gave Kayla the extra courage to confront her mother and make her realize that she is missing so much in her talented daughter's life. Ty and Kayla have a very special connection. The chemistry was slowly building. They are both master of words and literature is their love language. The music plays an integral part as the author takes us through the ever changing and exciting world of music festivals, music label politics and band rivalry. But above all, friendship and love shine brightly here. Ty and Kayla both let go of the past and had a new beginning.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

Burdened by expectations to be her mother’s perfect daughter, Kayla finds freedom as the drummer in an up-and-coming rock band. On her first tour, she bonds deeply with gentle bus-driver Ty. But when the press exposes their secrets, she faces an impossible choice: sacrifice her dreams or risk destroying those she loves.

This follow-up to “The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes” has the same strong characterization and deep emotion as the first book in the series. Ty is a sweetheart, while Kayla is likable and relatable. They’re a perfect match. Can’t wait for the next book!

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

4.5 -“Be careful who you’re quick to call your friends. It’s best to be around people who enhance you, not diminish you.”

I truly adore the way Xio Axelrod writes. She manages to really pull you into the story and creates characters that are so endearing as a reader.. And I really enjoyed The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes, but I loved this one even more.

Kayla is such an incredible character. I loved how resilient she is and how she continues to follow her dreams of being a drummer. She’s talented and smart, and you can really feel the pain of her childhood. As it moves along in the story, it gets resolved in this realistic way that doesn’t feel overdramatized. She tries to stay hidden to protect her family's reputation, but as the band continues to blaze through the festival circuit, there's no way that can continue. She's forced to confront her feelings towards her mother and the trauma that lies there. It's incredibly relatable for anyone who has a difficult relationship with a parent.

And Ty. I just want to give him a hug. He’s been through so much and what he finds in Kayla is the perfect complement. He feels responsible for his grandfather and is haunted by his past, so he tried to stay hidden away from the band. But the way he has persevered is so inspiring. The chemistry he has with Kayla is so effortless that you can’t help but root for him. They connect on such a deep level and have so much in common. I also love that there isn't really a third act break-up. There are outside issue that they are dealing with and the face them together in such a mature way.

Also, the representation here is really fabulous. We get queer, gender nonconforming, and BIPOC main characters alongside this incredible found family. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention how much Axelrod puts into this book. The end has the sheet music for the Lillys song “Hurt U” and an about the band section. I absolutely can’t wait to see where this series goes next.

"Girls with Bad Reputation" by Xio Axelrod is a captivating and empowering novel that explores the journey of Kayla Whitman, a young woman breaking free from societal expectations. With a compelling storyline and well-developed characters, this book delves into themes of self-discovery, love, and the pursuit of dreams. A must-read for those seeking a story of resilience and finding one's true identity. I didn’t realise that it was part of a follow-up from a first book. It is not my usual style but worth the read

This was a great sequel focusing on Kayla! I loved the backstories of all the characters and the way they were woven together. Some of the dialog felt stiff throughout the book, but I really enjoyed this book!

Such a great listen! This is actually the second book in the Lilly’s series but I wasn’t aware there was a first book so, in my opinion, you can read this one as a standalone! I enjoyed Kayla and Ty’s story. Each come from their own unique kind of childhood hardships and experiences.

This is the first book by this author I’ve read but I really enjoyed it and now want to read the first book!

Thank you for the ALC for my honest review!

Xio Axelrod is a phenomenal writer, and I was so excited to read Girls with Bad Reputations. I adored The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes, and I had high hopes for the second in the series--and IT DELIVERED.

I loved being back with the Lillys, this time getting to know Kayla, the LIllys' fiery haired, incredibly talented drummer extraordinaire. The Lillys are headed out on their first tour circuit, and Ty is hired to be their bus driver. His dreams of being a teacher were derailed by false allegations of plagiarism and assault. Getting his CDL was his backup. With locs, painted nails, nose ring, and utility kilts, he isn't exactly run of the mill, but there's something magnetic about him that draws Kayla in. Their friendship unfolds naturally as they spend time together on and off the bus, and when they decide to take the next step, they both fall hard and fast.

The conflict in the story doesn't come in the form of a third act breakup. (Which I loved.) They're solid from Day 1. The conflict is instead between Kayla and her parents' expectations--between her dreams and passions and the life they had mapped out for her. She has kept her true identity and her past a secret from the Lillys because she didn't want to be judged on her family's name but on her own merit.

I honestly loved this book so so much. I listened to the audiobook, so I kept finding things to do just so I could keep listening. Benjamin Charles and Tyla Collier delivered an excellent dual narration as Ty and Kayla. Their performances were engaging and brought the characters to life.

The other Lillys were obviously important to the plot as well, as well as the ongoing drama with Candy, the Lillys former guitarist, current PITA.

If you love romances with complex, layered backstories and a love that feels effortless, I'd highly recommend Girls With Bad Reputations.

TW: sibling death (off page)

How can you not enjoy a book where the hero takes a job just because it will allow him to listen to audiobooks?! I liked Girls with Bad Reputations even more than the first book in the series - the plot was interesting, and the characters (including side) were so well developed. I am excited to see where this series goes - we definitely got more intrigue with Candi, and I can't wait to see what happens next for the Lillys!

This was a fun next instalment in the Lillys series that follows an up and coming all girl band as they tour around and has the drummer, Mikayla falling for their bookish, demisexual kilt-wearing bus driver Tyrell despite his own bad reputation.

Full of heart and emotional depth, this was a slow burn romance with a great cast of unique and diverse characters. I really enjoyed it especially the audio book narration by Benjamin Charles and Tyla Collier. Recommended for fans of authors like Jasmine Guillory.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Steam level: some open door scenes

It is so good to be back with the Lillys again as they navigate their rising stardom, toxic people and romance, both new and old. The book focuses on the band's drummer, Kayla, and their tour bus driver, Ty. Kayla is trying to separate herself from her childhood and carries a secret about her real identity. Ty is trying to put his life back together after a series of false accusations ruins everything. He's also taking care of his grandfather and this dynamic provides us with one of the book's best relationships.

Kayla and Ty bond over their shared love of reading and knowledge and as the two grow closer, they let their walls down and their secrets out.

I especially loved the progression of Kayla's relationship with her mother. I found myself tense every time the two were on page together and when Kayla finally exploded, I may have screamed 'it's about time" in my head.

As if all of this isn't enough, the band is finally starting to get their name out there and see more and more success while setting up the focus for book three. I love the family the author has created in The Lillys and I can't wait to see where the band goes next!

Girls with Bad Reputations comes out February 6, 2024 from Sourcebooks Casablanca. I want to thank the publisher and the author, Xio Axelrod for an early copy. I absolutely loved it.

Tropes: forced proximity, age gap (she's older), found family

First of all, look at this stunning cover! If that doesn’t grab you right away you should know that Xio did it again!

I really enjoyed The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes and could not wait for book two in this series to be released (it’s out Feb 6, 2024!).

The Lillys are an all female rock band who are taking the music world by storm, and I felt like I was right there with them on their tour bus and watching their shows.

Girls with Bad Reputations follows drummer Kayla as she falls in love with tour bus driver Ty. The two bond over their love of books, which is always fun to read about.

This book is full of family pressure, secrets, found family relationships, ex band mate drama, personal growth, family growth, and being comfortable with the person you are and I really loved seeing that all come to life on the page.

Ty’s relationship with his Pop Pop is absolutely delightful. And the growth Kayla and her mother go through was refreshing to see. So much tension!

My favorite quote was “Haven’t you ever met someone, and the moment you met them, your heart suddenly made sense to you?” So swoony!

Thank you to the publisher and to Xio and @xiobooks for an early copy! I enjoyed it so much!

I can’t wait to see where the Lillys go next!

Girls with Bad Reputations is the second novel in the Lillys series after The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes. While you could likely read these out of order, it would benefit you to start at the beginning and fall in love with some of the other characters first.

The power of the drummer to keep the band together is sometimes overlooked, but not for the Lillys. Kayla has been drumming since she was a teenager, a love that was shared with her brother Zachary. Kayla had a privileged childhood, but the expectations from her family led her to separate her life with the band and the family she grew up with. As the Lillys gain momentum and popularity, Kayla worries that her two worlds are on a collision course and people will end up disappointed.

The Lillys are headed out on tour on their very own tour bus. The driver, Ty, is his own person, who is comfortable wearing a kilt and is a huge book nerd. He is nervous about joining the band on tour, but finds his place slowly. Ty is also hiding a secret after being falsely accused of a crime. He hopes his past doesn't find its way to ruin the present.

Being in each other's orbit, Kayla and Ty have a quick bond that starts their friendship off easily. With both of them being book nerds, they find a rhythm that works for them, as they are drawn to one another. Their stories being told simultaneously in dual POV, we watch both of them battle to keep their worlds apart, while trying to grow together. Their journey made for the most fantastic story. I loved this novel so much!

This book was definitely worth the wait! Xio is a master at creating and building characters you can't get enough of. Amazing.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

I received a free ARC from Sourcebooks/Casablanca and NetGalley; and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.

I loved the first book in this series “The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes” and knew I’d enjoy reading Kayla/Kathy’s story. Honestly I hope we get a book for every band member!

There’s a a lot going on here and it’s packed with thoughtful writing. I enjoyed Ty’s story which highlighted the injustices of the system for Black people. Kayla grew up privileged and is estranged from her parents after fearing she will ruin her mothers life long work and kids publishing contract is she gets outed as a member of the Lillys. I think Kayla and Ty really had good chemistry. I liked that we get more conversation between them than steamy scenes because it fits and allows us to see them and their relationship really grow and mature even if on a short timeline. They’re both struggling in their own ways neither insignificant just different and I loved that they worked to support each other. Family was a real connector and plot for this whether it’s blood family or chosen/found family it doesn’t matter they’re all family.

The thing that held this back from 5 stars for me was that there wasn’t enough tying up of the deep plots. We get a lot about Kayla’s pressure from her mother and how she perceives it but we barely get Kayla and her mom’s heart to heart making things right and then is like poof everything is right between them and the world after a 3 minute conversation. What about her brother’s death that weighed heavily on them both. We never get closure on Ty’s Pop-Pop. We get closure on Ty’s criminal charges but not about the university and really wanted more there especially with why the girl told lies like she did. I think there were too many deep topics and while some we dove into, some we just skimmed the surface and it left me wanting. Also not sure the Candi drama needed a place in this book. She was enough in the first one and felt more like filler.

Overall another great read by Xio. Can’t wait for the next.

3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Girls with Bad Reputations is the second in Xio Axelrod’s music romance series, The Lillys, although it can be read as a standalone. With the lengthy period between release dates, I practically forgot I had mixed feelings about the first one, and while in some ways this one was better, this one also suffered in its own way.
I did really like both the leads this time around. Kayla in particular is delightful with her spunky personality, contrasted with her secret about her being the inspiration for the lead character in her mother’s children’s book series. Ty, meanwhile, is also trying to get back on his feet and get his life back together after being falsely accused of a crime. At the heart of the book is a great story of kindred spirits who bond over their respective desire to distance themselves from the bad parts of their lives and live authentically on their terms. And they bond over books too, which is always a win for me.
And while the band stuff is a tough balancing act, I did enjoy the level of drama it added for these two who had a lot of secrets to keep. And the dynamics between the band themselves are so interesting.
And while I can respect that Axelrod wanted to give equal page time to both these distinct things (even at the risk of not being exactly “genre romance”), and that going for a longer book was the best way to do that, I felt like a lot of times, the story dragged, because there was simultaneously so much, yet not much, happening. It’s rare for me that contemporaries merit a page-count of over 400 pages (or whatever the word count equivalent is), and the result just feels a little bloated. Although it’s strange that I’m surprised; while I conveniently forgot this, given how forgettable most things not band-related in book one were, that book was similar in length.
While I felt very mixed about this book, I’m very much in the minority, and as far as long contemporaries go, it’s definitely one of the better ones out there. If longer, slow-burn contemporary romance is your thing, and you’re also interested in the drama of being in a band and navigating the music world, I’d recommend checking this out!

I love a good rockstar romance and I LOVED that this one the FMC was the rockstar. Kayla is the drummer for the girls group the Lillys. I loved the descriptions of her as such, she really is a badass drummer with talent. She strikes up some chemistry with Ty their tour bus driver that takes them both by surprise. Ty isn’t what she was expecting, he’s the same age as her for one and into the same classics. I loved their connection over their mutual interests that eventually ended up in tingly crush energy and then something more.

The only thing holding me back from a full 5 stars is that this covered deep topics but I felt never got all that deep with them. Some content warnings for this include (but not limited to) death of a sibling, incarceration, false imprisonment/accusations, depression, parental death (historical), parental abuse. This covers a LOT and I don’t think it had enough time to dive in to each one fully. I know at face value these are intense things that really can affect a person but it was a tad limited in seeing that full effect. Kayla’s relationship with her parents, mother in particular, and the pressure put on her was probably the one covered the best and most thoroughly.

The band dynamic definitely has found family vibes and there’s a subplot side drama with a member who had to be kicked out stirring up trouble. I personally didn’t find that particularly interesting but I’m trying to not let it affect my rating, it was just an overarching threat I’m assuming to keep things compelling.

The true winning plot in this is definitely the romance. I loved them together.

Thank you to sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC!

Not just a romance but a story about the family we make. Kayla is a drummer with the Lilys and Ty is the driver of their tour bus. Each has more nuance and substance than the other initially believes. They build their relationship over shared joys. I liked this for the details of the tour and for the positive vibe. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this novel, it is not my norm but I was captivated from the start. Kayla is the drummer of an all-girl rock band, and Ty is a college dropout who is driving their tour bus. Ty leaving school was due to circumstances beyond his control and had nothing to do with his desire. They click immediately but don't start a relationship right away. They find that they both have a love of reading and that it leads to many great conversations while driving from rock festival to rock festival, which eventually leads to friendship and a physical relationship.
Ty and Kayla are both Black Americans, however, they grew up in totally different circumstances with different expectations. Kayla was expected to always be a model Black girl and not to do anything that might reflect poorly on her or her family or their race in general. Ty's family wanted him to succeed at whatever his dreams were and to not fall into bad habits. Throughout this story, Xio encourages the reader to confront biases common in American society from whether girls can be drummers to whether all Black men are guilty until proven otherwise. It allowed me to view someone else's lived experience and to consider once again how I see those who are different from me.
Ty and Kayla are both Bi or at least this was my impression when reading and Ty seems to be demi. While these are my impressions from reading the story and not something that is highlighted. This is the second in a series and can be read as a standalone. There is some carry-over drama from a former band member but it is all explained in a way that any reader can follow along. I will be going back and reading the first novel in this series.