This book..wow. Just wow. Elle Kennedy is a cult favorite for smut books but this is her first book geared towards an audience that goes into the stores to buy the books and wants an illustrated cover. I absolutely loved Cooper and Mac. It was just so perfect and the right amount of spice.

I really enjoyed this book and loved the characters! It was so cute and fun, and once I got into it, I couldn't put it down!! A quick and enjoyable read and it will not disappoint!

I've read the first 30 percent of this book but I am struggling to get in to the story. At this time I have decided to not finish it for now. I did somewhat enjoy what I have read so far but it is not enough to push my to keep going for now.

I enjoyed this small town storyline. This opposites attract with a twist will captivate you from the beginning to the end. Cooper and Mackenzie have great chemistry and flirty banter. Definitely worth the read.

3.5 stars!

I did enjoy this book, but it's one of those situations where if you start to think too hard about it, that enjoyment turns into frustration. So if you just read for a fun and good time, you'll be good, like brain candy! I love Elle Kennedy's writing style, so this was a quick read that was easy to get into and some loveable characters in a fantastic location! But the plot was a bit messy, which made the pacing feel off, and there were a few tropes that could have been avoided and made things much better!

I do want to mention, especially since it's not in the blurb, that this is a revenge-plot book, and I really didn't think it was necessary! I think if they would have met organically with everything else the same, it would have still completely worked. Also, there is a lot of infidelity that happens, both in conversation and on-page, so if that's a potential trigger for you, read cautiously! Mac is in a relationship for the first 50% of the book and Cooper's goal is to break her and her boyfriend up for revenge. Now granted, her boyfriend (and frankly her family too) is an absolute trash excuse for a human being, and he deserved it. But it's hard to pace a romance so it works when the whole first half of the book the heroine in a relationship with someone else. Also, cheating is seen as the norm in their friend group, so again, if that or love triangles isn't your thing, this might not be the book for you.

The characters do read very young, but EK does paint a gorgeous picture of this seaside town and the people within it. Was the plot chaotic and a bit all over the place? Yes. Were there things I wanted more and less of? Absolutely. Did I still find myself carried through the story? Sure did! So this is a nice, fun, but definitely new adult, read.

Good Girl Complex is full of angsty love and self discovery between Mackenzie “Mac” and Cooper. Mac reluctantly agrees to go to college and get a degree but she would rather be focused on her business than becoming a figurehead in her already arranged life. One night Mac meets Cooper and something changes in her life-she was half asleep until Cooper opened her eyes and she shakes up her life. Finally doing what she wants Mac starts a new business endeavor as well as a relationship with Cooper.

Cooper didn’t expect Mac-he thought she would be just another clone but boy was he wrong. In Mac he found support and encouragement which led to his desire to be better and invest in himself. They both judged each other quickly, assuming they were opposites, but they soon realized they are more alike than different. Mac and Cooper form a deep connection on top of their physical attraction leading to a meaningful relationship but not without a few bumps in the road.

This was my first Elle Kennedy book I’ve read- I have several of hers sitting on my tbr waiting and now I’m moving them closer to the top. I loved the dual POVs and the depth of Mac and Cooper. This was so much more than a budding love story it was about personal growth and found family. Excellent read.

Rating 4.5 stars


Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Rich girl/ bad "Townie" boy -- I was excited for this book that I was graciously given an ARC for by Net Galley; however, it didn't live up to what I've come to expect from Elle Kennedy. Not even the presence of an adorable rescue pup helped this book work its way to 4 or 5 stars. The major conflict was telegraphed for the reader in the first couple chapters, it felt slow at times, wasn't particularly spicy, and the setting felt generic. My biggest gripe is that Mac is meant to be a "Good Girl" but she isn't -- she owns a well-loved internet page, is ultra-privileged, and is going to college to appease her parents. These traits a good girl do not make. Her choices and characterization fit other tropes much better. Cooper is the bad boy Townie and he pursues Mac as a way to take revenge on the privileged college kids that take over his college town during the school year. I was much more interested in the character growth of his brother, Evan.

Mac has always followed the rules. Growing up part of the elite society, she’s always followed certain expectations from her parents and her boyfriend, but she’s tried of it. But when she goes to college and meets local body boy, Cooper, he turns her world upside down. Cooper usually hates trust fund kids, but as he gets to know Mac, he starts falling for her, but a secret he’s keeping could ruin it all.

Once I started this one, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the growth that occurred in both Mac and Cooper’s lives and how they were able to learn from each other and grow as a result of knowing each other. This unlikely couple had me rooting for them and it was so fun to see them surprise even themselves. There were a lot of fun side characters as well, and I’m hoping for some spin off stories for some of their friends!!

I loved how the audiobook had two narrators - I think it really helped solidify the two perspectives and really get into both characters heads. The narration was full of emotion and I thought both narrators did a great job!

Thanks to SMP Romance, MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copies.

Good Girl Complex takes place in Avalon Bay, a coastal college town where homegrown townies and rich college kids clash. Local bad boy, Cooper, wants to get back at the rich kid who lost him his job by seducing his girlfriend, Mackenzie (Mac). Of course, they end up falling for each other. But their backgrounds are completely opposite - Mac grew up very wealthy and Cooper has dealt with absent parents who didn't provide. This creates a lot of tension throughout their relationship, not to mention that the relationship started with a lie.

Ultimately I think the problems I had with this book were that it was just SO unrealistic. If anyone actually commutes to college in a helicopter, I will eat my hat. And it's not just one character that has the richiest of rich upbringings. Additionally, some of the writing and things characters said were just so cringy - people don't actually talk like that. The ending also felt very rushed and the couple did not in any way resolve their issues. And boy did they fight a lot/have a lot of angst. The characters were likeable enough but I also wasn't compelled by any of them and I don't have any desire to read the rest of what I assume will eventually be a series.

2.5 stars rounded down.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a love story about two people from different upbringings. Rich sheltered college girl and the broke scrappy hot guy from town. It was a good read and it flowed really well, and they were a couple you wanted to see get a happy ending. Also the end was super sweet. The big problem or main dilemma really wasn't that big and didn't really boil over until later than I thought it would. But I liked both the main characters, and I loved Conner's brother, too. And I wouldn't mind reading about something horrible happening to Mac's ex hahaha, he was the worst.

I’ll be honest, I almost bailed here. I actually scanned from about 10% on. I took this as a light-hearted romcom from its cover. But no. This is a revenge romance/rich girl, poor boy trope filled with mean-spirited, immature young adults (early 20s).

Cooper, a local “townie” bartender fights Preston, a “clone” rich college boy who becomes too handsy with his waitress friend. Cooper is fired. He and his “high school” friends plot revenge by having Cooper “take” Preston’s gf Mackenzie away from him. What are we, six-years-old on the playground??!

Reading about a bunch of immature adult friends sitting around and laughingly plan for Mac’s fall and Preston’s humiliation is not my idea of an entertaining book. This whole story felt like it might have been written two decades ago, with “hot”, testosterone-driven guys racking up conquests left and right, whether by foul or fair means. Ugh!!

Yes, there was a HEA, but after wading through the mire, cheating, and lots of “hot” times, it wasn’t worth much to me.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsGriffin for providing me the free early arc of #GoodGirlComplex for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

I personally have not read any other novels from Elle Kennedy. However, I was so into and dedicated to this novel that was an early edition graciously given to me from NetGalley.

The book has a lot of characters, not all main and not all important but it helps to keep them straight.

The arc was great and I was rooting Mac on the entire time.

My only qualm with this is I would have loved to hear more from her parents towards the end of the book about her hotel. Maybe this means there might be a sequel??

Elle Kennedy is a staple in NA romance. There are few others who combine a simple storyline with every day, relatable issues so well, even if one of the characters is rich as sin and the other poor as dirt. Welcome to THE GOOD GIRL COMPLEX.

I loved Cooper and Mac. I read in other reviews that people tend to dislike Mac - not sure why. I thought she was a sweet, hard-working person, despite having been born with the literal silver spoon. She stood out because of her down-to-earth approach, even though she tried to solve every problem with money. Cooper taught her a lot in this regard.

Cooper, likewise, learned a lot from Mac. Being a proper douchebag at the beginning, he soon comes to love Mac's sweet nature. She teaches him how to be a better person. [I wasn't a big fan of the cheating part since I think there always has to be a really good reason for it. A boyfriend who is a two-timing jerk isn't one. (hide spoiler)]

THE GOOD GIRL COMPLEX is all you want and expect of this author. Lots of smiles and laughs, epic one-liners, likable characters who still have an edge. This rich-girl-poor-boy story is a cute new start to this series and I'm looking forward to what else Elle has in store for us!

3.5 ⭐️

Tatted bad boy Cooper Hartley gets into it with an entitled rich university student Preston, costing Cooper his job. To get his revenge, operation get Preston’s girlfriend is in effect. Mackenzie is of the same entitled breed, but I there’s more to her as a person, and Cooper develops real feelings. With polar opposite lifestyles, could Mackenzie and Cooper handle being in a relationship?

Ok, real talk. I loved that this was an NA romance, and I loved Kennedy’s writing. Smooth as butter flow we’re talking here. But, the whole infidelity, lying, and using people—not really my jam. I got AFTER vibes, too. I did enjoy the other characters (whom I assume will have their own books too) and the personalities, dialogue… I still enjoyed it! The grand gesture was sweet. And, I always love a tatted bad boy.

I absolutely loved reading Good Girl Complex.. There was so much character growth between the characters and I loved the friendships in the book.

Don't be deceived by the cover, there is definitely some spice and I loved it.

I liked how this was new adult book. I haven't read many books that are set in college and I loved that the girl did her own thing with her website and another thing that happened in the books.

I also loved how the romance plot changed too.

Good Girl Complex is my first five star rating of the year and I definitely would reread it in the future.

Okay, first of all disclaimer: the tropes in this book are usually tropes I avoid. I'm not sure if I wasn't aware of what the actual storyline would be, or if I was just blinded by devotion to Elle Kennedy books (because, for real, she's written a long list of faves), but I picked this one up anyway and discovered early on that it was packed with troublesome tropes.

Because of that, I felt like I had a really hard time <i>investing</i> in the story. See, what's troublesome about these tropes for me is that I am braced for impact for the entire story. Are they cute together? Sure. But I know what's coming. Were there some adorably sweet moments? Sure. But...wait for itttttt. Was my heart won over completely by the addition of a rescue puppy that they were mutually adoring of? Sure. Buttttttt.

So that's kind of how the story went for me. It was <i>good</i>. It was engaging in a way that made me not want to put it down and I genuinely <i>liked</i> these characters, for the most part, both as individuals and as a couple. I really liked Cooper's story arc and the family bits pulled my heart completely into the story. But I'm not sure those things were enough to overcome the fact that it also stressed me out a little bit.

So, in the end - <i>Good-Girl Complex</i> wasn't my favorite Elle Kennedy story, but it was a solid start to a new series. I'm not sure how I feel about most of the secondary characters at this point, but I'm definitely interested in doing a deeper dive on them and can't wait to get more in the future! ~ Shelly, 3 Stars

Omg Cooper Hartley sounds like a dream! Mackenzie and Cooper grew up completely different but both go through similar situations making them more alike than they think. A good girl falls for a bad boy and he does not disappoint. The book gave me a little bit of Outerbanks feels and a bit of the After series plot but it was great nonetheless. Elle Kennedy did a great job and I felt like I understand the characters well and loved seeing their romance grow and see how they ended.

This book started off strong for me. I was immediately drawn to Cooper and the beach town setting. I was horrified but intrigued at the same time by the revenge plot storyline. I liked how Mackenzie and Cooper met and their instant chemistry and connection. Cooper was cocky as hell but I was into it! Their was some major forbidden romance tension building between the two and I enjoyed it.

I think ultimately I couldn't say that I loved this book because of the characters. It's a new adult book with college aged characters and I think I'm starting to realize that this subgenre isn't for me. Characters in this age group are a bit too immature for my taste and I found myself rolling my eyes or shaking my head at some of the things they were saying or doing.

This book was entertaining because of all the high drama and the steaminess, but overall, it wasn't for me.

Cooper Hartley and his twin Evan grew up in the shadow of Garnet College, a school filled with rich entitled “clones.” When Cooper sees one of them harassing his friend, he picks a fight, and the clones, Preston Kincaid, threatens the bar owner until Cooper is fired. Cooper and his friends hatch up a revenge plot: Cooper is going to try to lure Preston’s girlfriend away from him and then publicly dump her. Mackenzie Cabot has a good girl complex - the daughter of a wealthy senator, image has always been everything, and she thinks perfecting hers will garner more attention from her parents. Mac and Preston have been together for four years, and she assumes he is her endgame; she’s wife material after all. But bit by bit as Mac gets to know Cooper and come into her own, she chafes against the path laid out before her and aches to make her own decisions.

Look, this book wasn’t for me. It’s not a bad book, but I’m not the target audience and it isn’t what I usually read. It’s NA college romance, and I couldn’t get over how young all of the characters felt. Stylistically, I don’t care for first-person present-tense writing, either. I highlight the revenge plot here in my review, because the blurb doesn’t mention it and it’s the motivation behind Cooper’s pursuit of Mac.

That said, there were definitely things I liked. Mac doggedly pursues her own passions, at first within the bounds of the image she’s curated, and then as she grows she’s able to step out side of those expectations. The chemistry between Cooper and Mac is palpable, and despite the revenge plot motivation, you want to cheer for them the whole time. While the external struggles that Cooper and Mac feel are very different, and can be attributed to poor-kid vs rich-kid problems, Elle Kennedy is careful not to privilege one character’s emotional baggage over the other. It’s also so easy (too easy?) to hate Preston and his friends.

Pick this one up if you enjoy new adult romance, campus drama, and coming of age + romance growth arcs.

Huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for sharing this e-arc with me. The following review reflects my reading experience!

I’ve been loving romance lately so when I read the blurb for Good Girl Complex I knew I had to read it. This book is a fun romance with mild steam. I really enjoyed it! I will say that the beginning with Cooper’s reason for going after Mackenzie is a bit problematic. However, I still found Good Girl Complex enjoyable. It was fun, fast-paced, and full of good romance!

Good Girl Complex is set to be released on February 1st, 2022.