I enjoyed this read though I think it could have used a little something. I loved the exes to lovers banter. Jack really was a great guy.
I didn't like how many times it referred to "what happened" and how much she hated him without the back story. Though what happened did suck and I can see how it would have caused the rift in their relationship, I didn't feel like it was bad enough to created such a major plot impact. I was like, "Is that it?" I wanted to tell Andie to shut up and listen more than one time. And she was really whiny.
Sarah was a hard character, I mean I know she was Andie's voice of reason and she needed that but at times it was a little bizarre. I thought the way they talked their relationship almost seemed more than friends, though it did turn out to be purely platonic. It seemed a little unhealthy. And then Sarah's additional side story at the end.
In a way, there were so many side issues, the main story plot was a little lost. I did finish the book and overall liked it.

Bad Publicity features so many popular tropes: enemies to lovers, second chance romance, and forced proximity. It also explores some more serious topics, like betrayal and losing a parent, I found myself a bit frustrated at how long it took to get the back story of why she was mad/hurt by Jack, and the emotional bits didn’t quite land.

4.5⭐️

I really enjoyed this one. It’s fast paced and fun, while also exploring the depths of grief, friendship, and forgiveness.

Love the chemistry between Andie and Jack and how he treats her like the most precious thing in the world.

As someone who also lost a dad, I found those feelings of loss beautifully portrayed. I’m normally skeptical about books that touch that subject because it’s not easy to be authentic about them unless you have gone through a similar situation yourself.

Also, I loooove the friendship betweeen Andie and Sara, made me think so much of my own best friend.

When would I recommend to read it? On a weekend, on a flight, when feeling blue 💙

Bianca Gillam’s Bad Publicity is a charming, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers rom-com that delivers plenty of wit, tension, and romantic drama. The novel follows Andie, an ambitious senior book publicist who lands her dream job, only to have her excitement doused by the unwelcome revelation that she’ll be working with Jack Carlson—the man who wrecked her life back in university. Their history is fraught with unresolved tension and lingering resentment, making their forced proximity a delightful setup for sparks to fly.

Gillam immediately hooks readers with the promise of a high-stakes professional and personal reunion. Andie, with her sharp determination and drive to succeed, is relatable and likable as a protagonist. Her internal monologue about surviving a month-long book tour with her nemesis is both humorous and full of palpable anxiety. The setup—working closely with the man who once derailed her—and the added pressure of a career-defining campaign provide plenty of tension and awkward, steamy moments.

Jack Carlson is the perfect foil to Andie’s tightly wound character. He’s successful, infuriatingly handsome, and as Andie soon discovers, a bit more complex than she remembers. Gillam excels at slowly peeling back Jack’s layers, showing his growth since their university days and providing just enough depth to make readers root for him despite the rocky history. Their banter is quick-witted and sharp, keeping the enemies-to-lovers trope alive while hinting at the underlying attraction neither can fully ignore.

What sets Bad Publicity apart from the typical rom-com fare is how it balances humor and romance with deeper themes of forgiveness, personal growth, and second chances. Andie and Jack’s history isn’t just glossed over for the sake of a fun romance; it’s explored in a way that feels real, with both characters forced to confront the hurt and misunderstandings from their past. This emotional complexity adds depth to the slow-burn tension between them, making their eventual romantic progression feel earned and satisfying.

The European book tour backdrop adds a delightful element of travel and adventure to the novel. As Andie and Jack traverse romantic locations like Paris, Rome, and Venice, the story shifts from professional rivalry to personal connection. Gillam’s descriptions of these iconic cities enhance the romantic atmosphere and offer a great contrast to the simmering tension between the two leads. The travel scenes also provide some of the novel’s most heartwarming and comedic moments, helping to break up the emotional intensity of their relationship.

However, while the slow burn works in the novel’s favor for much of the story, the pacing can feel sluggish at times, particularly in the middle. There are moments where the conflict between Andie and Jack feels repetitive, and the resolution to their personal issues could have been sped up to maintain the novel’s momentum. Additionally, some of the secondary characters, like colleagues or side plot points, feel underdeveloped, which occasionally leaves the focus too heavily on Andie and Jack without enough external engagement.

That said, the chemistry between the two leads more than makes up for these minor flaws. Gillam excels at building romantic tension and making the eventual payoff feel worth the wait. Fans of slow-burn romances will appreciate the deliberate pacing and the careful exploration of past hurts that give the romance more emotional weight than your typical light-hearted rom-com.

Final Thoughts:
Bad Publicity is a fun and engaging enemies-to-lovers rom-com that balances humor, emotional depth, and sizzling chemistry. Bianca Gillam’s deft hand at writing sharp banter and layered characters ensures that Andie and Jack’s story is as heartfelt as it is entertaining. While the pacing drags slightly in parts, the novel’s romantic progression and European travel backdrop make it a perfect pick for fans of Emily Henry or Sophie Cousens. If you enjoy a romance that takes its time to develop while offering a mix of laughter and heart, this one is definitely worth a read.

I was so excited about reading Bad Publicity but it fell short. It didn't keep my interest, and the main characters were boring. The female lead, Andie, was so selfish. She didn't think about or care what others, like her mother and best friend, were going through. The main male lead, Jack, allowed Andie to constantly treat him poorly, and when he finally stood up for himself, it was too late. I also never understood their love connection - even when they were in college, there was no story behind how they connected, beyond they shared a class together. Everything was very surface level and not much depth to the writing.

DNF at 50%. Something about this one was not hitting. It felt like there was too much going on at once and also not enough. Halfway in and you still don’t know why she hates this man so much, it really bothered me. Gave it a proper chance but it was not the one for me. Thank you NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actually probably a 3.5⭐️ but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Okay, so I'm a total sucker for European settings and books about books. Bad Publicity totally hit the spot!

I mean, the story is a rollercoaster of emotions. Andie's dealing with grief, being a good daughter, friendship stuffs, and trying to figure out her new job & life all at once. I definitely shed a few tears!😭

But the European backdrop and all the book-related stuff made it so worth it. I could just picture myself wandering through those charming bookstores and sipping coffee in cozy cafes.

Overall, Bad Publicity is a fun-read if you're looking for a slow-burn romance with a sprinkle of messy life to make you feel right at home!

This fun, fast-paced rom-com follows Andie, a book publicist, and Jack, her ex from university, as they navigate a month-long book tour across Europe. The chemistry between them is electric, and their banter is both hilarious and heartwarming.

Andie and Jack’s journey is filled with witty exchanges, unexpected twists, and plenty of romantic tension. The European settings add a charming backdrop to their evolving relationship, making the story even more engaging. Gillam’s writing is sharp and full of humor, making it easy to get lost in the world she’s created.

If you love enemies-to-lovers stories with plenty of humor, romance, and a touch of adventure, “Bad Publicity” is a must-read. It’s a delightful escape that will leave you smiling long after you’ve turned the last page!

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. I struggled to get into the story and wanted to DNF several times. Andie was unlikable and flat, Jack was pitiable but also a total doormat. The biggest issue I had was pacing-it took 70% of the book to find out what happened between the main characters and I didn’t think the wait was worth it. There are a few plot points that felt forced and unnecessary as though they were placed into the story only to serve as growth catalysts for Andie yet they failed to make her relatable or likable.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book was only ok for me.

Andie is a publicist and unbeknownst to get, she gets assigned an author. Jack. He's someone she already knows. And hates.

The venom behind the thoughts, and words, Andie feels about Jack were a lot. As I read on, I kept waiting for the big reveal. To see what unforgivable thing Jack had done. When I read it I was shocked. Not by what Jack had done, but by Andie's reaction to it. It's not as if what he did was ok in any way BUT Andie never gave him a chance to explain himself. I'm not saying she totally overreacted, but maybe she did. I don't know.

I'm glad I finished the book to get at least a little closure with their whole story. The book was fine, but not great.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was given early access to Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam and I was pleasantly surprised with how enraptured I was with the plot! It was a good pace throughout with enough breadcrumbs to keep me curious on what happened to Andie and Jack. I love that the book tours through Europe in some of my favorite cities. The whole time I needed to know what happened in Edinburgh!

This story touches on topics of grief, loss, feelings of isolation and guilt. As someone who has recently lost a loved one, I could relate so much to Andie and her journey of recovery. I think the author did a great job of capturing Andie's inner monologue while going through her turbulent emotions.

However, since the book touches on such serious topics I do feel as though the ending was a bit rushed through to try and tie things off in a clean way. Didn't ruin the book but it wasn't as satisfying as I would have liked it to be.

less of a romance and more of a story following parent loss grief. The characters have little personality and the story moves so quickly - I’m pretty sure 3 weeks passes within 20 pages?? The idea of the story drew me in, and I do think it is well written, but it needs more substance! I think adding in Jack’s POV would have helped immerse the reader in the story a little better. Or honestly just anything regarding Jack.

I loved the nod to publishing and the complexities therein. This was a fun read. I just wish the MFC had been a little less angsty and weepy.

3 stars

I liked the idea for this book but unfortunately the execution fell flat for me. This book was so fast paced it almost felt like a montage in a movie. All the scenes were so short and had very little depth. I constantly found that I was wanting more explanation, more conversation, more detail. I couldn’t get a sense of how the characters were feeling or any growth between the love interests. You’re also just thrown into the book with no explanation or set up. Almost immediately they’re on the book tour and you don’t really get a chance to get to know the main character at all. Speaking of the tour, they’re traveling to a bunch of Europe countries and there was so much opportunity for fun setting and adventure but it barely played a part and I found I never really remembered where they were because it was glossed over so much.
A main plot point in this book is that Andie and Jack are exes and had some big falling out and now they’re enemies (at least, on Andies part. jack seems to want to put everything in the past). You don’t find out about this falling out until 75% into the book and it really doesn’t make the buildup worth it. I was so frustrated and felt like Andie’s refusal to talk about it with jack was so over the top.
I also did not like Andie. She was so unprofessional and selfish. She was supposed to be jacks publicist but she was so rude to him and was constantly causing him to run late for events and didn’t listen to anything he said. She also didn’t treat her best friend or her mom very well. She gave off the vibe of someone who has to be the center of attention. She was mad at her best friend for moving in with her boyfriend and not being constantly available to listen to her complain. And then she completely ignored her mom talking about her engagement and upcoming wedding, even though this was a really big, emotional moment for both of them and she just wasn’t there for her.
I had a hard time with this book. It felt like a first draft or an outline where there were a lot of good ideas it just needed a lot more depth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

TW: Death of a parent off page

Andie has landed her dream job as a senior publicist and hopes to take the New York publishing industry by storm. As luck would have it, her first major client is also her worst enemy, Jack Carlson, who’s not only still as handsome as ever, but also wildly successful. The two must work together as they travel throughout Europe on a major book tour. Will they kill each other or end up falling in love instead?

Enemies to lovers can sometimes be tricky. The reason for the animosity has to be compelling and grounded in such a way that the reader can connect with it. That’s difficult to do because we’re not let in on the conflict between Andie and Jack, until nearly the end of the book, and once we do find out the reason for her hatred it all boils down to the dreaded miscommunication trope. Le sigh! I’m not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope, especially when Andie willfully refuses to talk about what happened in the past. It was difficult to root for her at times. Look what happened was definitely shitty, but it didn’t make sense that she would refuse to talk to Jack, considering he had spent the day of the event trying to get a hold of her and texting her that it was an urgent matter. I’m not going to lie, it was incredibly frustrating.

The two do come to a truce and Andie starts to rediscover the Jack she once knew before their falling out. This is definitely more of a slow burn, and as the two travel from book signing to booking signing they grow closer sharing intimacies about their lives; but when they have to make a last minute pit stop in Edinburgh, the scene of their falling out five years prior, that hard won truce is off and everything they tried to leave in the past comes to a head, and we finally get the much needed conversation.

While this is a love story about reconnection, it is also a story about processing grief. Having lost her father five years earlier, Andie has not properly grieved his passing. Confronted with her mom moving on with a new partner, she must come to terms with his loss and heal, while also honoring his memory.

I do think Ms. Gillam gave Andie a great character arc, and my heart went out to her as she grappled with her grief and came to realize the toll it had taken on her life and relationships. She finally takes the steps to heal.

I do feel the ending was quite abrupt and could’ve done with an epilogue.

Rookie book publicist Andie (is her last name ever revealed?) is paired with successful author Jack Carlson and directed to accompany him on his European book tour. They have a history, but she’s determined not to let get under her skin, or rekindle any old feelings, or forgive him, or even discuss what blew up their relationship. Andie is rude to Jack from the get-go in a you-know-what-you-did kind of way that’s lacking in grace. It’s eventually resolved, but I’m not convinced it’s warranted, even though her reaction is impacted by her trauma. The backstory is he did something unforgiveable when they were young, green, university students. Was it preventable? Maybe. Should they have talked about it and tried to work it out? Maybe. Is it plausible they didn’t? Completely. Does the author drag out the suspense a bit too long? Definitely.

The ups and down sides to being on tour are authentically presented–no surprise, since author Gillam has worked in the publishing field. The charming book stores, tiny crises, travel stress, and connecting with audiences feels real. So does Jack’s generous agreement to pop in at Andie’s mother’s book club while they have a stopover in London. Subplots of Andie’s coping with grief over her father’s death, and her changing relationship with her roommate and best friend Sara add depth.

SPOILER: In the early nineties, before the Internet was so prevalent on college campuses, the boy’s intermural basketball team at my now-defunct school posted a HOT list and SLUT list posted on the door of one of player’s dorm rooms. I remember how angry I was, both that it existed, and that no one (resident advisors? upperclassmen?) saw it as anything but funny. I also remember how glad I was that my freshman escapades never made the list: I was no saint, but I flew under the radar, and since one of the players had a crush on me, he made sure I didn’t get mentioned on either list, though he felt I deserved a spot on the HOT list. “Your name came up,” I remember him telling me… what a blessing there is in digital archive of that scrawled list of girl’s names.

This experience, alongside the portrayal of how a short relationship can have such a profound impact on your life, is what resonated most for me; overall, this is a solid debut novel with some clunky moments that ultimately has wide appeal to fans of the workplace romance, second-chance romance, and enemies-to-lovers tropes.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #BadPublicity via #NetGalley, courtesy of #Penguin; this review will appear on HLBB on the scheduled pub date 5/20/2025.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Books for this ARC!

This book follows Andie working her dream job as a senior book publicist. She gets to work with a big name author, Jack Carlson, who just so happens to be someone from her past, which she would like to forget about.

Bad Publicity is an enemies to lovers story, and second chance romance. There are some heavy topics: grief and abuse/trauma, just a little warning.

Time for my thoughts… At first I really couldn’t get behind Andie. She was always so rude and mean to Jack and we had no idea why this was. It was a bit of a mystery, and I honestly just kept reading to get to the part of what happened. Then it made sense of why she was the way she is, but! I’m not sure if I could really get behind her. Her rudeness and her constantly running away had me like, “Girl! Stop! You’re not giving anyone a chance!”

All in all, I did love the life of a busy publicist. All the traveling, the cozy book stores, spending time with a cute author, I mean how could you be so grumpy? 😂 Anyhoo! I’m not sure if I would consider this a rom-com per se, I think it’s more of a contemporary romance? I didn’t really laugh out loud or giggle at much. I did feel bad for the FMC, as I mentioned there were some heavy topics. I think I’m going to give this book a 3 star out of 5. I liked it, it was good but it wasn’t my favorite romance book.

I didn't love this book -- it relies very heavily on a lot of my least favorite tropes and while there *could* be some very emotionally impactful moments, none of the characters feel authentic enough to connect.

I took a chance on requesting this book, and I was glad that I did! I needed something to get me out of a reading slump, and it definitely helped. I think that it definitely feels like a debut novel, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Some parts of the plot were clunky, but Bad Publicity had a lot of heart.

We follow book publicist Andie on her journey through grieving her father’s death, while working with an author with whom she has a past – enter Jack Carlson. Jack and Andie met while both studying at the University of Edinburgh (I did my masters there, so I loved the little Edinburgh moments!), but due to circumstances unknown to the reader, in the present day, Andie hates Jack. The book chronicles Andie and Jack on the latter’s book tour through Europe, and focuses on their subsequent reconciliation.

I thought that the past conflict served as a compelling mystery throughout the book, and helped keep me reading – however I do think that it dragged on for a bit too long, and the reveal felt rushed and not very impactful. Andie’s grief over her father’s death and how that impacted her relationship with her mother felt realistic and heartfelt. Honestly, I think the book does better as one of family and self-discovery rather than romance – this also comes from the lack of a POV from Jack. Overall, I enjoyed the book and will try out Gillam’s future books!

Bad Publicity is a fast read, but it left me with mixed feelings. The pacing felt off, making the story drag in places it shouldn’t have. The relationship between the protagonist and her best friend was particularly odd, especially the interactions with the friend’s boyfriend, which gave off some weird vibes. The constant cycle of breakups and makeups among the characters became tiresome quickly. As for the big “drama” that was supposed to drive the plot—it was disappointingly underwhelming. Despite these issues, the book was an easy read, so if you’re looking for something light without expecting too much, it might be worth picking up.