As a certified slow-burn addict and a die-hard Mariana Zapata fan (seriously, she's the queen of slow-burn in my book), this one had me absolutely losing my mind. I was practically yelling at the two main characters, "Just get it together already!" The pining was ''real''—I could feel the tension, and I understood the stakes—but it was also so frustrating because all I wanted was for them to be happy! Pining is great and all, but come on, being together is where the real joy is at! 😅🤣

#BadReputation #NetGalley

Heat Factor: They resist their feelings for sooooo long…until they don’t any more

Character Chemistry: Pining, because a) we can’t be together, obviously and b) even if we could be, she/he doesn’t like me like that

Plot: Maggie gets a job as the intimacy coordinator for the prestige show that Cole is acting in

Overall: This is a romance that is Saying Something

You know how some books, the title is just a fun, catchy collection of words? Not in this case. Maggie and Cole are both deeply invested in questions of reputation, to the point where it shapes their actions, both in their work and in their burgeoning relationship.

Cole is constantly working to rehabilitate his reputation, after being a complete wanker on the very first show he worked on, back when he was barely an adult. He wants to be a star, and taking his pants off for a prestige drama is the next stepping stone. Maggie had to leave her job teaching high school drama after a kerfluffle about staging a show with sexual themes. She’s now working as an intimacy coordinator—a new kind of job, that she is new to doing—and knows that being hired again means maintaining a spotless reputation in her dealings with the cast.

In fact, Cole and Maggie’s focus on reputation is so much the case that now, in retrospect, I don’t remember much about the romance at all (besides the fact that there is LOTS of pining)—but I do remember the political conversations this book is engaging in. This is both a good thing and a bad thing.

On the one hand, because the book is speaking to the moment, it feels immediate and engaging. I thought the reputation stuff was really interesting, especially the way it was tied into bigger questions about censorship and canceling teachers and smut. (Here’s a short essay Barry wrote about sex in film.) As a smut enthusiast, reading a book about people filming the sex scenes for Poldark in an ethical and thoughtful manner was fun!

On the other hand, having a book speak to a particular moment also dates it. In this case, there’s a subplot that felt extremely 2016—there’s a producer who is very clearly a Harvey Weinstein stand-in who gets his #MeToo comeuppance. And in fact, Barry states in the Acknowledgments that Bad Reputation was built on the scaffolding of a draft she first wrote in November 2015.

I can only hope that in ten years the rabid censorship of anything related to sex in schools will have ended and readers will say, “Huh, this book reads very mid-2020s.”

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

I've never really understood what people mean when they say that the main characters do, or don't, have 'chemistry' but I understand now. None of the couples here have any chemistry. The pacing of the book is off, with endless descriptions of filming and TV show taking up the first two thirds of this book. The actual plot is crammed in to the bits afterwards, and feels like an afterthought. There is one 'twist' at 80 percent that I didn't see coming - because it makes no actual sense.
I admire the fact that Emma Barry is trying to make this book about more than just romance - power, professionalism, me too and freedom of speech all feature. But you can't do all that and then stomp all over your boundaries for love, as if love makes it ok, as long as it is true love (which I wasn't feeling, see the note about chemistry, above).
The other problem with this book is that Cole is trying to make right how he acted 20 years before, but no bad behaviour, other than being a bit careless and partying is ever identified. Same with Vincent, the terrible predator. There are plenty of opportunities to tell us what both these characters allegedly did, but all we actually get is what they didn't do. It's quite odd and rips the power out of the book.
I really had to struggle to finish this, and if I hadn't received a free e-Arc from NetGalley in exchange for a review, I wouldn't have bothered.

Thanks to NetGalley for access to an earc.

I really liked this. Maggie is great and Cole is a giant teddy bear (with abs). I love that he is so gone on her. That they meet while working together ( putting liits on intimacy) means we get a lot of space for their relationship to grow. though they aren't together until the last thirsd it doesn't feel like a slow burn.

As always, I like the dual-POV! Highly recommend.

This book is everything; sharp, witty, and filled with that electric tension that makes you want to root for the couple despite the stakes. The push and pull between Cole and Maggie’s undeniable connection and their desire to keep things professional had me hooked. It’s a romance that’s not just about falling for each other but about redefining their careers and themselves in a cutthroat industry. If you love stories with depth, humor, and sizzling tension, this one will keep you turning the pages.

Yeah, not for me.
I don't read contemporary romance very often, but now and then I get curious by some titles, and this book seemed funny, by reading the synopsis. But sadly I couldn't connect or care about the main character or her background.
Romance readers might enjoy this book better.

I loved how this started off and definitely thought it had the potential for me to love it. The plot was interesting but I thought it could’ve been executed better. The romance also felt too insta-love for me and that’s a trope I always struggle with.

In his youth, Cole James played the loved-by-all bad boy on Central Square. He was the darling of the show, and to this day, fans only remember him for that role. Now in his early 40s, Cole’s worked hard to become a better actor, make right his mistakes of the past, and has a chance for real stardom on the hit streaming show, Waverley.

Maggie is a former high school drama teacher who was fired after a complaint that the production she was directing for the students was too risqué. Although she won her wrongful termination suit, she gave up her 16-year teaching career. While speaking about the situation on a press appearance, the director of Waverley asked her if she’d like a job as the show’s intimacy coordinator.

Bad Reputation is the wonderful story about learning and moving on from the past while on the road to discovering who you are meant to become. It’s equal parts personal and romantic journey, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with this couple. Maggie and Cole are both sensitive, caring souls who click immediately, but understand there is a line drawn in the sand. Barry draws out longing sighs and almost kisses for over half the book. They grow close over shared stories and the innate intimacy of their working conditions. The tension Barry creates as they get to know one another and struggle to maintain professionalism is palpable. And I love that they don’t compromise their professional morals. It’s slow and perfect.

Barry creates likable characters for whom I want to cheer. They are flawed and have insecurities, but they love with their whole self and genuinely want to be the best versions of themselves. Cole and Maggie’s romance works because the pair are on equal ground. Each thinks the other is amazing but they aren’t worthy, yet they are willing to try to be worthy rather than walk away. And I absolutely LOVE that even at her lowest and doubting it all, Maggie never questions their love. I feel like this message/storyline isn’t given enough page time in romances, and I appreciate how Barry spins their journey to an HEA.

In the end, I adored Bad Reputation and the main couple Maggie and Cole. I love how the author takes time to build their relationship, making it rock solid. I appreciate the curves tossed their way and how the characters handle themselves. I highly recommend this contemporary romance to all.

My Rating: A

Thank you Netgally and Emma Barry for the ARC. Bad reputation was a sweet and cute read. Not a book I would typically read that’s why I requested it. Not mad about it either. 😉

I found BAD REPUTATION to be a very refreshing and wholesome read with an interesting look into behind the scenes in filmmaking, especially when it comes to filming intimate scenes. Maggie and Cole's relationship was very healthy, mature, and believable, making it easy to be connected to the characters. And who knew two actors and an intimacy coordinator talking about their blocking/movements and intentional character choices could be a whole art form itself? This book makes consent and intentionality so sexy. With's Cole's acting career and Maggie's new career, they both have a lot of lose if they start an affair on set, so by them resisting and being mature about their connection in a way builds both tension and trust between the two.

Thank you to Montlake via NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Okay, Emma, you just need to get this to a tv show ASAP! This was just hands down, phenomenal! I can not even begin to say how much i adored the main characters and the love! Wonderfully done! Loved every page. -Kelsey Vogeney (instagram: little_blue_book_hutch)

3 Stars! It starts off a bit slow, and I’ll admit, it was hard to really get into at first. The pacing in the beginning feels a little sluggish, but once it picks up, it turns into a pretty solid read.

The story revolves around Cole and Maggie, who work behind the scenes on a Hollywood movie set. Cole is the serious, no-nonsense type, while Maggie is more of a firecracker with a bit of a rebellious streak—and they’ve got some complicated history between them. Their chemistry is undeniable, but the slow-burn romance takes a while to really kick in.

What I found most interesting was the Hollywood setting. There’s plenty of behind-the-scenes drama, from PR issues to the constant pressure of making the movie run smoothly, which adds a lot of tension to the story. Once the plot finally gets moving, it’s fun to see how Maggie and Cole navigate the chaos of the movie industry and their own tangled emotions.

Overall, even though it takes a bit of patience to get through the slower start, Bad Reputation ends up being a pretty good read. The Hollywood backdrop, mixed with a slow-burn romance and some sharp dialogue, makes it worth sticking with!

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to receive the ARC!

2.5 ⭐️

The premise of this story really intrigued me- a movie star and an intimacy coordinator?? This felt like it should have been HOT and spicy!!! While there was some spice, this was a slow burn romance that didn’t hit the mark for me. I love a romance between a “normal” and a star but the chemistry between Cole and Maggie felt forced.

Thanks NetGalley for an ARC!

One of the reasons I’ve taken to gorging on historical romances lately is that it’s giving me something I’ve been finding lacking in contemporaries. The pining, the longing, the actual romance, the tenderness and yes, the steam, it all seems to have dissipated to some degree in contemporaries with a few notable exceptions.

One such exception is Emma Barry’s latest, Bad Reputation, which has all the classic hallmarks of a slow burn romance, full of mutual pining and tension and plenty of chemistry between the two leads.

Cole James is an actor best known for his starring role years ago on a soapy teen drama (think Dawson’s Creek) desperately trying to resuscitate his flailing career. Cast as the newest lead on the very sexy hit streaming show Waverly (think Bridgerton but with more sword fighting) he finally gets his chance to remake his reputation, from a has been himbo to a serious actor.

Maggie Niven is also in need of a reputation makeover. The former high school drama teacher, notorious for being fired for directing a polarizing play, is on her second act as a first-time intimacy coordinator on Waverly, desperate to rise from the ashes of her burned out teaching career.

Both of these characters are driven by a need to prove themselves after professional catastrophes have derailed their careers and when they meet on the set of Waverly and sparks fly, they are both determined to shove their feelings aside in order to maintain strict professional boundaries.

However, that seems harder to do especially after months filming in Scotland and it’s tough to distinguish who falls first and who falls harder. Scotland proves to be a most romantic backdrop against which they explore the gorgeous scenery with hikes and visits to pubs and private visits to botanical gardens.

As the two begin to draw closer, there is the additional complication of their jobs. As a first time intimacy coordinator, Maggie is tasked with making sure the cast feels protected and taken care of especially when shooting those very steamy scenes. It’s a fascinating glimpse into a career path we’ve all heard so much about in recent years but very few of us actually know much about. Maggie wants to keep things strictly professional which means no crossing boundaries with the leading man. Add in the fact that the leading lady has her own host of issues to work out and is initially reluctant to work with Maggie who desperately wants to make a go of her new career path.

As much as I adored the chemistry and slow burning romance growing between Cole and Maggie, one of my truly favorite things about this book is the commentary it makes on how much we, as an audience, demand of the actors and ignore their humanity all for the sake of our own entertainment. Maggie’s insistence on asking Cole specifically whether he’s alright with baring his backside and Cole’s almost dismissive response that this is what he’s basically been hired to do is a poignant reminder that far too often, we fail to see performers as actual human beings with thoughts and feelings and their own agency.

This also leads to the second thing I love about this book – the consent. I would expect a book that has an intimacy coordinator as the heroine to nail the consent and boy does it. Cole and Maggie’s first time is a masterclass in consent – honestly, all writers should take a look – and the consent is explicit and also incredibly sexy. Cole asking Maggie to tell him exactly what works for her and how to make sex pleasurable for her is delightfully dirty as well as highlighting that for Cole, centering the female pleasure takes precedence.

The story touches on a lot of timely issues from a big time producer with a long history of taking advantage of his leading ladies to a teacher losing her entire career over the issue of what kind of theater is appropriate for high school students. Above it all, is a beautiful, tender romance between two people struggling to find the balance between meeting their professional demands and following their own hearts and trying to do what’s right.

I really enjoyed this book a lot, it felt relevant and timely, with a romance that checked all my boxes, full of longing and pining and two characters who clearly adored each other.

Bad Reputation is a cute workplace romance about two people who seem to be down on their luck and trying to make a weird situation a good one.
Cole James was once a popular teen star on a popular teen drama, but the teen days are gone. Now Cole is just trying to make it in the adult tv world with current popular historical romance. On the other side, Maggie Niven is trying to make it as a new intimacy coordinator after losing her job as a drama teacher.
when Cole and Maggie's world collide they have a connection that they know they have to hide because you can't be good at your job when you want to be bad with your coworker. This book is definitely different than most books with the setting being on the tv set and it's cute to see the lengths that Maggie goes to to put the others at ease. Check out Bad Reputation for a Good time!

I enjoyed Bad Reputation so much. Zagging away from her prickly characters in Funny Guy, Emma Barry gives us two sweetheart characters and puts them in a situation where they must pine respectfully for a big chunk of the book. The yearning is delicious. When they are done with the yearning, they make consent sexy.

When the book begins, Maggie’s beloved career as a high school drama teacher is over and she is tired of being the face of the fight against censorship. When she meets a television producer on a talk show, she’s encouraged to explore becoming an intimacy coordinator. Cole was a star of a soapy teen drama and is still closely tied to the character he played. He is trying to build a career he can be proud of and prove that he has outgrown his too famous too young behavior. He’s cast in a historical romance television series as a cad who grows up and becomes a better man. Maggie is hired as the intimacy coordinator. They both feel like they have a lot to prove.

Though there is an immediate attraction, Cole knows from his own past that image is everything and Maggie can’t afford for him to act on his attraction. We never get much in the way of specifics about Cole’s past behavior, and that’s ok, because what matters to the story is how he feels about it and the choices he’s made to be a better person. Cole makes an effort to get to know and become friends with Maggie. I love that they spent time together and built a friendship while discretely pining. They don’t even talk about it until her contract is over.

“Some days,” he finally managed to get out, “kissing you is the only thing I want to do.”

A pause. An endless, endless pause. Then, “Cole.”

Emma Barry remains in my top tier of romance authors. I love the way she writes about characters falling in love. If she wrote a royal romance, her prince would definitely consider giving up his crown for the woman he loves. What Cole has to give up is his invisible crown of thorns, and he does it to give Maggie the space and safety to build her own castle. Now I begin the wait for the next Emma Barry romance.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Montlake and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

My sincere thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read Bad Reputation and give my unbiased opinion of it in the following review.

Cole and Maggie are both trying to overcome bad reputations. Cole for being a Hollywood himbo and Maggie for choosing a play for her high school drama group that some deemed not appropriate for high school. Cole, now in his early forties, wants to be taken seriously in Hollywood. Maggie wants to prove she is worthy of her new position as an intimacy coordinator for Waverly, a television mini-series similar to Bridgerton or Outlander. Cole and Maggie are drawn to each other from almost the first day. Is it a good idea for them to get involved? Do they overcome their bad reputations once and for all?

I very much enjoyed the descriptions of what it was like on the set of a popular show. The job of an intimacy coordinator sounds like it is not for the faint of heart. I admired how Maggie took on the job with everything she had and was not afraid to stand up for her actors. I loved how the job was explained, and the scenes of the show were written. The author had to have done a lot of research and work to make all of it very authentic. I loved the tension between Cole and Maggie as they got to know each other and their attraction built. It was a nice slow burn. When they finally were able to be together, the chemistry I was seeing in the first almost 3/4 of the book was not there for me. It was just missing something. There was no real third act break up, but there was a little conflict that caused a slight bump in the road leading to the HEA. Overall, I liked the book. Emma Barry is one of my favorites and I'll keep checking on what she has coming next.

Thank you to my friends at @otrpr #partner for the gifted copy of this book!

I always love when I get the opportunity to read a new author and this one was no different! This book is perfect for people that are fans of Hollywood and some behind the scenes look of what happens on set. In this book we follow Cole who is a bit of a washed up C list actor who made some undesirable choices when he was young and dumb! Now that he’s older he’s trying to shake this reputation and get back into the spotlight. He lands a gig and has to work with Maggie who is an intimacy coordinator. Unique right?! Cole is trying to stay focused but it’s hard when sparks immediately fly when he’s asking Maggie. A workplace romance is brewing but it may not be the best choice for both of their reputations! 👀

This book was a slow burn romance filled with characters that had a lot of flaws. I found it interesting where Barry ended up taking their backstories and enjoyed the journey and growth she had them go through. I also really appreciate learning more about the TV and film industry. It definitely solidified me never wanting to work in Hollywood 😂 Kudos to Barry also teaching me about intimacy coordinators…I found myself googling is this really a thing? IT IS! If you’re in the mood for a dramatic romcom full of lots of emotion give this one a try!

I learned so much from this book about the TV and film industry. Not that I was seeking out that information, but it was very educational. I appreciate the author's explanations of how those intimate scenes on the screen are really shot. 

This was also an entertaining romance novel. Maggie was fired from her job as a drama teacher because someone was offended by the play she chose. This is very common (sadly) in today's world. Instead of using this as a teaching moment, people (parents) use this as a way to shelter their children. Cole is still trying to live down his breakout role 16 years ago. However, life will change for both of these characters and for the better.

I liked that these characters are a little older and not in their 20s. They were more relatable since I am not in my 20s anymore. They have gained a little wisdom but still don't have everything figured out. Maggie is very professional in her approach to this new job as an Intimacy Coordinator. I never knew this profession existed until this book, but it makes sense. Plus, this was a perfect job for Maggie, considering her years of teaching drama and understanding how a scene should be set, but also taking into consideration how the actors feel.

The book does move along at a casual pace. Not too fast and not too slow. The story picks up after this show is shot, and they are back in LA. There are a few twists I didn't expect, but it helped move the story along to come to its conclusion. I enjoyed watching Cole and Maggie's relationship blossom. It wasn't easy, and there were moments for them to work through, but they didn't give up. I even liked Tasha's story. She may be a minor character, but she has some growing to do as well. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will have to pick up something else by this author. We give it 5 paws up.

While that description might not appeal to some, let me get into what the book's about first. We meet Maggie, a drama teacher who was recently fired for trying to put on a play. While the play was for high schoolers, parents and the school board spoke out against her so she was fired. It ended up being a huge court case and it made Maggie fall out of love with teaching.

Due to that, she ends up on a talk show where she meets the creator of Waverley who hires her to be the show's intimacy coordinator. Who is starring on the show? Cole James. James played in a teen drama as a kid and since then, has mostly been known as his character. It's so bad that people don't even think he can handle a role on Waverley.

Even though Cole and Maggie get along immediately, Maggie doesn't hit it off with the show's other lead: Tasha. We eventually find out some backstory about Tasha which is related to some past trauma due to a predatory producer. If you're sensitive to that, please be sure to tread with caution as Tasha does have some moments during the story.

However, the book also does an excellent job of showing us what an intimacy coordinator is and what they do. It's a job that most people don't talk about and is something that hasn't been featured in a romance book I've read before. Honestly, it's such a fun twist on a regular Hollywood style romance and I loved that.

The other thing I adored was just how slow and tension-filled the romance between Maggie and Cole was. It was clear they didn't want to cross boundaries while working but seeing them fight their attraction for each other was delicious. While things did go the more predictable route, it was awesome to see how everything played out for them. Lastly, I just loved Cole's character and how he was portrayed. I'm sure a lot of teen actors and child stars go through the same struggles he did. Most of us see them as just one character and it's hard to reconcile that in our minds but I think Emma Barry did an awesome job, showing that.