Bad Reputation by Emma Barry has an intriguing premise with plenty of potential, but it ultimately fell a bit short of delivering the emotional punch I was hoping for. The idea of a workplace romance between a reformed Hollywood heartthrob and an accidental intimacy coordinator had me excited, but the execution felt uneven.

Cole and Maggie’s chemistry was enjoyable, and I appreciated how the story explored themes of identity, redemption, and the challenges of navigating personal and professional boundaries. However, the pacing of their relationship felt rushed at times, making it hard to fully invest in their connection.

While the behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment industry and the role of an intimacy coordinator added a unique layer, the narrative sometimes got bogged down by overly detailed descriptions that slowed the story’s momentum. The secondary characters and subplots were interesting but didn’t feel fully fleshed out, leaving some storylines unresolved.

Overall, Bad Reputation is a smart, thoughtful romance with great moments of wit and insight, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Fans of Chick Magnet or those intrigued by Hollywood romance tropes might still find it worth the read.

Emma Barry's Bad Reputation was a super intriguing concept to me, as I just read a long-form article on the role of intimacy coordinators in the film industry in the wake of the #MeToo movement. That said, this is a slow-burn romance that explores some more complex themes in a nuanced way.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. I also got a copy of this as a pre-release Amazon First Reads but obviously sat on it for quite a while. The title of it may throw you off on what you are actually going to get but you won't regret it. While I wanted the love story to move a bit faster, the end was worth it. Maggie and Cole were very careful of each other which is frustrating as a romance reader but gratifying for the overall plot. Slow burn that still has some heat gets 3.5 stars from me.

Absolutely brilliant book!
I am a big fan of this author and love the writing style!
I cant wait to read more!

Bad Reputation has a fun setting and a really cool concept — I enjoyed getting the Hollywood behind-the-scenes angle and the backstory for the FMC in particular. I did struggle getting into this book a little and found it slow moving at times. Plus, while by the end I was fully bought into the romance, I struggled with the accelerated pace of and how little detail there was in the “falling in love” process. Overall, it was a fun read but not my favorite.

3 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Bad Reputation took a really long time setting up Cole and Maggie's characters (and did so beautifully) but it took so long I thought there really wouldn't be much space for the romance - but boy was I wrong. It gave Austen level slow burn, mutual pining and such gorgeous character development that you couldn't help but root for them. I'll be re-reading this one for years to come!

f you are looking for a fun, romantic, read during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, then look no further than Emma Barry’s newest title Bad Reputation! After Maggie is fired as a high school theater director for producing a play that was deemed “too controversial” by the parents and school board, she is ready for a life reset. The pieces start to fall into place when she is hired as an intimacy coordinator on the set of the hit historical romance show, Waverly. On set, she will be directing former teen heartthrob, Cole James, who is looking to redefine his own image. Maggie thinks she can help, that is if she can keep her head in the game and her eyes off of Cole’s abs! This one was a slow burn but well worth the build up at the end. Barry will ensnare you with a look into the intricacies of Hollywood life and the depth and growth of her characters. Pick this one up for a fun escape!💕 Thank you to @netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #romancebookstagram #hollywoodlovestory #badreputationbook #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookaddict #readerlife #emmabarry

Bad Reputation follows the lives of Cole and Maggie, who are both going through a bit of a career change. Cole is a successful actor who's trying to break away from his usual roles of machismo for something with more depth. Maggie is forced out of her lifelong job as a teacher after she was unjustly fired due to standing up for her beliefs. Due to the notoriety of her case, she found work in Hollywood as an intimacy coordinator, which is a job centered around choreographing scenes of a romantic nature. The two meet on the set of Cole's latest role.

There's a lot to appreciate in regards to this book and the many themes throughout. Firstly, it references abuse in the entertainment industry. It also discusses how the lives of the rich and famous are frequently overexposed for the sake of it, and explores the idea that how someone is viewed publicly doesn't necessarily correlate with who they are as a person. The author also normalizes friendship between a man and woman without it having to be sexual in nature. The romance itself is also more of a slow-burn which allowed the relationship to grow over time.

Cole and Maggie are both likeable characters, and are overall a great couple. The only conflicts they face are external, showcasing theirs as a positive relationship full of support and real love. Something I would've liked to have seen different is how Maggie's career turned out in the end, but I understand why it was done this way. Oftentimes (really always) women are penalized far harsher than men and see more significant consequences.

Overall I enjoyed Bad Reputation. Despite not being a fan of the romance genre myself, I found it fairly entertaining and enjoyed many of its themes. I think those who are fans will probably love it. I rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars, which I'll round up to 5. It's a great book, and I'll be sure to look out for more from Emma Barry.

Honestly if I hadn’t been selected to review this book I’m not sure I would have picked it up on the shelves, and boy would I have been missing out! Maggie got dealt a rough hand at the start of the book when she lost her job teaching. However, I’m glad she got fired so we could go on this journey with her. I love the bond and redemption she helped Tasha achieve. The growth of Cole as not only a person, but also as an actor was fantastic. And the rat at the end and the way it was handled *chefs kiss*. This is one of those books I’d watch if it was adapted into a movie.

Maggie is a recently dismissed teacher who has been fired for performing a controversial play, and she is searching for her next move. Cole is a former teen actor struggling to get work that takes him seriously. After appearing on a female focused talk show, Maggie gets a new job as an intimacy coordinator for the latest historical romance on a popular streaming service. Cole happens to be half of this season’s main couple. Navigating the steamy scenes and fighting their growing attraction to each other causes no end of enjoyment for the readers. I absolutely loved this book.

This is my first book by this author and it definitely won't be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this and can't wait to read more of her books. This was a great, slow burn romance. It took me a bit to really get into it, but I really enjoyed it after the first 20%.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Fun slowburn read. Good character development, but a lot of resolution in the last 25% of the book. I feel like there could have been more development of the agent's relationship earlier in the story.

I really enjoyed this book. It features the story of Maggie who had previously worked as a school drama teacher but was forced to leave due to complaints. Maggie then begins a new career as an intimacy coordinator for a famous drama series. Here she meets Cole, a Hollywood star who looks set to break her heart.

Cole James’s reputation as Hollywood’s favorite himbo no longer suits him. His fans can’t separate the real man from the character he played on a soapy teen drama decades ago. But that’s going to change with Waverley, the hit streaming historical romance series.

Maggie Niven hates her own notoriety. Fired for directing a divisive play, Maggie takes her fight against censorship public. When Hollywood comes calling, she becomes the new intimacy coordinator for Waverley. But it’s harder than she imagined to focus on the job.

Cole isn’t what she expected—and Maggie is more than he dreamed of. As filming gets underway, the cast’s old traumas lead to real intimacy, and Cole and Maggie struggle with feelings they shouldn’t have. Having an affair on set could destroy his comeback and her new career.

The show must go on. But if Cole and Maggie want a happy ending, they’ll have to start doing things their own way.

Loved it

I received an advance reader copy (ARC) of *Bad Reputation* in exchange for my honest opinion, and I found it to be a really enjoyable read with a fun premise. The story of Maggie and Cole meeting on the set of a show reminiscent of *Outlander* immediately caught my interest. I had never encountered a narrative involving an intimacy coordinator, and I thought the development of their friendship into love was very sweet. However, I did wish they had gotten together a bit sooner, as the slow burn felt a little drawn out for my liking. Overall, it was an entertaining read with a heartwarming ending for two characters trying to overcome their bad reputations in their careers.

I would also like to express my gratitude to Montlake for providing the ARC.

Cole has a reputation as a himbo from being on a soapy teen drama - but he’s determined to make a comeback on Waverly - the new hit streaming historical romance series.⁣
⁣
Maggie has a reputation for being THAT teacher - the one who got fired for fighting censorship. Tired of teaching and the baggage that comes with it, she gets a job as an intimacy coordinator on this hit new show… Waverly.⁣
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And intimacy there is! Only it’s definitely not something either should pursue when trying for a re-do... or is it??⁣
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I love some good behind the scenes TV show drama! Maggie and Cole are both adorable and had all the chemistry - but must fight it to preserve their careers. Overcoming struggles and putting the past behind them is definitely a challenge for both characters, but the swoony moments and emotional connections make the wait truly worthwhile.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬:
 
I had a very hard time getting into this; it progressed very slowly, and even when it got "better," it was still unlikable. Many times, I wanted to just give up and DNF, but I was determined to finish.
 
The romance was bland, poorly done, and very cringeworthy. I couldn’t stand the heroine, Maggie, which made it even harder to root for the couple. It all felt rushed, not at all well established. Super Insta-lust. How does she “love” him when they hardly interact?! I would’ve preferred more of a slow burn.
 
One thing I did like about this, however, was the writing, and I look forward to seeing what Emma Barry has coming up next!
 
Just because this wasn’t the right book for me doesn’t mean it’s not the right one for you. I strongly encourage anyone to read this if they’re interested!
 
(NO hate to the author!!!)

Emma Barry does it again. She is one of my top five favorite contemporary romance authors. Her take on work place romances achieves the perfect balance between realistic and soapy drama. Overwhelmingly enjoyed!!!!

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

This was a fun read. No third act break up which was refreshing. Just two people finding love and mutual respect.

I am, however, sick of Taylor Swift references in titles of romances.

Great Build up

This made me feel likeI was watching the behind the scenes production of Outlander and want to feel like you are amerced in the production and Hollywood elements this is the book for you.

Firstly it took me the first 20% of the book to adapt to the third person narration/POV of the book.

Cole James has a heart of gold and deserves all the swooning. He plays the long game for about 70% of the book but it pays off and does right by Maggie. These two are supportive and really make each other thrive.

Emma Barry makes so many great call outs relevant to the society we know as Hollywood.

I was sent a free book and am voluntarily leaving this honest review. Thank you to Emma Barry and Montlake for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.