I'll admit, I grabbed this because of the author and the fact that this wasn't related to the <i>Off-Campus</i> books. Because while I loved that series -- though admittedly lost some love with the spin-off -- I wanted to see what Kennedy could do in a new space, with new concepts, and different characters.

The answer, however, is.. there wasn't much new-ness to this.

This is a fairly typical rich girl/good girl/highsociety girl meets poor boy/bad boy/local boy set-up and it does all the things you would expect it to do. There's nothing groundbreaking or fresh about how this all played out. There doesn't necessarily have to be -- because tropes we all love exist because we like to return to them -- but I wanted something new, something different, to make this stand out. Because as is there's nothing memorable about this and I will likely forget most of it by the time it's released (reading and reviewing this in September 2021).

At the very least, some exciting chemistry or sizzle could've taken the edge off but honestly.. there wasn't much of that, either. Another thing that did not standout.

If the aforementioned tropes, along with the secret mentioned in the summary (which, though is very early on addressed, I won't mention due to spoilers), do it for you, I think you'll enjoy. But I think this is the last Kennedy I'll request to review; I might still pick up the author if something appeals but I have a feeling I may have outgrown her.

I have read and enjoyed the Off-Campus Series by Elle Kennedy and had high hopes for Good Girl Complex, but unfortunately it was simply not my cup of tea.

I found Cooper and Mackenzie to be immature and one dimensional and the "villain" was well, honestly, boring. The conflict did not come until the very end of the story and by that time I wasn't very invested in the outcome.

Overall, Good Girl Complex simply did not live up to my expectations.

Such a cute, fun read! I was drawn to this book by the adorable cover. I loved the good girl meets bad boy storyline. Mackenzie and Cooper brought the steam and amazing chemistry! It was an easy read and I finished it fast.

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martins Press for an ARC in return for my honest review.

Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus series meets Outer Banks in this college/class division/beachside new adult romance!

Female lead Mac is the rich girl “Princess” that in a surprise twist is also a self made millionaire that is forced to attend college by her parents.

Bad boy Cooper has just been fired from his job after getting into a fight with Mac’s boyfriend and makes a bet with his friends that he can convince her to fall for him in an act of revenge.

What follows is all the drama, steam, and familiarity of her previous Off Campus books set in a picturesque setting.

We are introduced to a new group of friends and I am anxious to find out if there will be spin offs for their stories!

If you have read and loved any of Elle Kennedy’s previous books, you will be sure to love this one as well!

**4.5 Stars**

I love Elle Kennedy. She has always been and will always be a one click author for me. It's been a while since she's ventured out of the Briar world, so I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. I'll be honest, I was even a little nervous. However, I am so happy to say it did not disappoint.

One of the things I loved most about this book was how awesome Mac is. She's not a vapid rich girl, she doesn't look down her nose at anyone, and she just wants to be happy and make it on her own merit. She is everything I love in a h. I also loved the way she handled the inevitable conflict at the end. Girl knew her worth and wasn't going to settle for less.

Cooper was great, but I totally wanted to shake him at some points. I really liked how he treated Mac, with the exception of the initial bet. He always stood up for her when it came to his friends and even his brother. He put their happiness first and I thought it was really brave and admirable. He was honestly almost everything I love in a good book boyfriend. I say "almost" because, well obviously, he was a huge jerk for making the bet in the first place.

The side characters were also really great. That's definitely something I have to give Elle Kennedy credit for- she always does great with side characters. The only one who kind of felt useless was Bonnie. I'm not entirely sure why she was even there, to be honest. That being said, it's not like she was a detriment to the story so I'm not mad about it. And Evan? Man I hope if this is a series that he gets a book. And Tate, too. That man intrigues me.

The reason I am knocking a half of a star off is because WHY IS THERE NO EPILOGUE?! I didn't realize it was the last page until it was the last page. This is absolutely a book that needs one. Where is the big finished project reveal?! Where is the HEA?! This is definitely a HFN without the epilogue. COME ON, ELLE! GIVE US AN EPILOGUE!

Overall, I loved this book and will happily read it again. I hope if she records an audio for it she picks fantastic narrators because I would absolutely love to listen to it.

<i> ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review </i>

I liked the character development through the novel. It was definitely reminiscent of the After series, but with a *mostly* healthier male lead. If there's a sequel, I'll read it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for sending this arc for an honest review!

“Mackenzie “Mac” Cabot is a people pleaser. Her demanding parents. Her prep school friends. Her long-time boyfriend. It’s exhausting, really, always following the rules” yes… as the synopsis said. Exhausting…. Because she is totally not living the dream I would want. I cant even get a boy to talk to me let alone look at me. This book was beyond what I expected. When I originally read the title and synopsis I was like “good girl complex”? Could never be me. And not only that I thought I would hate the main charcater little did I know I would turn out to love her. And the romance? After he moving yea HALLMARK BEACH MOVIE AT ITS FINEST. I honestly do wish I read this over the summer. It was definitely a beach:summer read.

Two people from opposing sides of the tracks who meet in circumstances that force them to be together in a complicated and sensual way... that's something I want to read!

There's a lot to love about this story, including the passion between the main characters, Coop and Mac. A small-town boy and an upscale girl. Elle does an excellent job of highlighting that money does not equal a happy home and that family is what you make it. Cooper was my absolute favorite. He is such a likable guy, and I was pulling for him the entire time.

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✧
4/5 Stars

Synopsis: Mackenzie “Mac” Cabot is a college student who seemingly has her whole life planned out, with her long-time boyfriend Preston by her side. She has her very successful business but her parents don’t agree. Preston and her parents want her to basically become a housewife. Cooper is a classic bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Mac is what Cooper would call a “Clone”, where as Cooper was raised with a absent father and a drunk mother, Mac grew up in a life of privilege. When Cooper gets into a fight with Preston at a bar, Cooper decides to get revenge by making Preston’s girlfriend to fall in love with him. But he doesn’t consider that it may be him falling in love.

I’m going to be honest, I saw that Elle Kennedy wrote this and automatically knew I wanted to read it. She is the queen of college romances and she never disappoints.

This book is so cute and the romance is top tier. I usually like character driven books more but this had the perfect balance between plot and character growth. The side characters had good plots as well. My favorite character has to be Evan though. He was so funny and I definitely will need an Evan book in the future. This book showed the ups and down of relationships such as lying, jealousy, and moving in. This book definitely has some cliches in it but, cliches are cliches for a reason. They are popular, the bad boy makes the good girl fall in love with him feels right out of After but it works. I feel like this book would get five stars if it wrapped up better. I wish there was an epilogue that showed then a few years in the future. This could have been the case because Kennedy may be writing sequels, but I would have loved to see a big wrap up.

Favorite Quotes:
1. “She’s the girl my daydreams daydream about”
2. “Don’t let anyone hold you back, because life is too damn short. Build your empire. Slay your dragons”
3. “Maybe we never got the family we deserved, but we ended up with the one we needed”
4. “ ‘I want to make sure your boys have a legacy you’re proud of in this town’ ”
5. “Before her I didn’t even bother looking ahead even five years”
6. “And in that moment I vow, even if it takes me the rest of my life, to show this girl she didn’t waste her heart on me”

Good Girl Complex is everything what I could only dream about! This book is masterpiece with the biggest capital M ever. I was not only reading a book - it was for me the next level of adventure!

I fell captivated by this author and these characters! From the beginning I couldn't put this book down. Good Girl Complex is breathtaking, sweet, funny and so angsty at the same moment!

Elle Kennedy done amazing job with tjis book, her words are magical and, I already know.... The Good Girl Complex means Elle Kennedy at the finest. There's no other author, who can mix together sinfully delicious banter with young people around. I enjoyed every single page of this flawless story, it was not only reading a good book - Good Girl Complex is like a crack to my bookjunkie's heart.

I adored how Elle created new world for her fans. I think, some people might wait for another "Off Campus" series, but let's be clear... This series is not like our fave hockey boys. Good Girl Complex is totally different, but the same amazing. I couldn't get enough of Cooper,Mak and their friends until the last pages. The banter, chemistry all the twists, ups and downs... It's pure perfection! Once You'll read - You'll find out.

Cooper and Mackenzie... I have no words to describe, how deep I fall in love with them. They are everything from the first pages. They are strong and independent, if they love... They are ready for every kind of sacrifice. I don't want to spoil too much, because I always think, it's the best to go blind into certain stories.

Good Girl Complex is one of them. I love Cooper, I love Mackenzie... and I cannot wait for more.

Absolutely must read title!

Good Girl Complex gave me the perfect wrong side of the tracks trope that was once overused and is now difficult to find. The entire cast of characters really captivated me and gave me the found family feels. I also really enjoyed the setting of the rich and prestigious college that was in the middle of quaint little beach town.

More money more problems right? Mackenzie has a lot to worry about, money not being one of them. Her dad is a powerful US senator and her mom runs a bunch of charity organizations. They filled their quota to have a kid and them promptly forgot about her unless they could strategically use her. The typical stuff you’d expect from a 1% family. Mac was a breathe of fresh air though, she wanted more than to fit into the mold her parents had created for her. She was beautiful of course but also smart as heck along with being so kind and compassionate. Not the typical “clone” the locals dub the rich college kids.

Cooper was the boy your mother warned you about. Tatted up and walking around with a chip on his shoulder he’s the dark haired bad boy you want to take a walk on the dark side with. Truth is he’s a total cinnamon roll though with a big heart that’s been broken a few times. His story was truly heartbreaking but he had the best friends, brother and uncle who tried to always support him. His life hadn’t been easy and the clones that invade his town every year that treat him like crap don’t make it any easier. One takes it too far and ends up costing Coop his job, so of course revenge is in order and what’s better than stealing a rich pricks girlfriend? He didn’t quite plan on truly falling for her though and Mac might be the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

Even as I’m writing this now, I’m not sure if I’d label this relationship as toxic or not. Both Coop and Mac are headstrong and stubborn which leads to a lot of fights. Their chemistry was off the charts and they definitely had sparks. The tension was unreal and I found myself groaning anytime Mac was a good girl. There were so many cute moments though and I enjoyed their banter and silly nothing fights. They really believed in each other’s dreams though and we’re so supportive of the other going after said dreams. I’d like to think they make it and wish we’d gotten an epilogue.

I really enjoyed this book and ended up reading it in one sitting. It never lulled and I was constantly on edge waiting to see how it was all going to play out. There was the perfect amount of steam and I loved Coop and Mac’s little moments. I know they’ll steal your heart like they did mine.

I really loved this book! It was just the cutest story with some emotional undertones mixed with betrayal and heart break. If you wished for something like Outer Banks romance mixed with the movie After, then this is the book for you! It was definitely a combination I never knew I needed, but loved through and through! This book was written so well and had so much depth.

There isn’t much I didn’t care for, but the ending was one of them. It just felt very rushed, even though the beginning was slow until about halfway through. There’s one major plot point that doesn’t get resolved until the absolute end and I swear it was maybe 10-15 pages of filler, even though it’s practically the entire point of the book. I just wish we would have gotten a little more depth for what was a major problem.

This book is a stand alone (as far as a I know for the time being) and we do not leave on a cliffhanger. If you’re looking for a cute contemporary romance with some dark tones, then here it is! If you love John B and Sarah Cameron from Outer Banks or Tessa and Hardin from the After movie (sorry I haven’t read the book), then this would be a perfect book for you!

I absolutely recommend this book! It was beautifully written and was a pretty fun read! This is my first Elle Kennedy book and I adore her writing style now! I’m really looking forward to reading more books from her!

Good girl / bad boy trope ✅
Rich girl / poor boy trope ✅
Girl from the right side of the track/ boy from the wrong side of the track ✅✅

The Good Girl Complex has the tropes in spades plus some!!! I decided not to read the blurb and just dive right into this novel and fell head over heels foe the plot.

Mackenzie is an adorable character. Although I haven’t been able to put my feet in her shoes in some of her circumstances - I’m not rich - I have been there, done that when it comes to the relationship scenarios. I’m glad that a Cooper was there to swoop in and diabolically save her - even if he had altering motives.

This was a light and easy read. There were a few “steamy” scenes but I didn’t feel like the novel focused on keeping a steam factor up high. Instead, the author focused on plot and story telling. It was a great romance story that leaves you with a happily ever after!

I received a copy from berg alley for review.

Unfortunately this book was a no from me, I really tried to give it a chance but I ended up dnf'ing.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of Good Girl Complex in exchange for an honest review.

Good Girl Complex is a story of opposites attract. I really enjoyed reading how the characters evolved. I really liked the premise of the story and kept waiting for the other shoe to drop in their relationship. I highly recommend this book to all the romance book lovers who love a good bad boy and good girl relationship.

I never read the Off-Campus series, so I was really excited to receive an arc of this book. The plot was a bit simple and pretty predictable, but still enjoyable. Things definitely picked up towards the second half of the book. I did like that it had some strong 10 Things I Hate About You vibes, as that's one of my favorite movies. The romance was cute and it was funny. I’d say this book was 3/5 for me, it was a bit cliche but it was still pretty good.

I loved this book and hope its the beginning of a new series by Kennedy. Cooper and Mac were wonderful together. I loved how in detailed they were along with other characters that I hope we get to see in future books!

Thank you to NetGalley the publisher and author for providing a free copy of this book for review.

I wasn't anticipating, what I consider, over-the-top profanity and level of rage in Cooper. I wasn't able to finish. The description said he was raw and rough around the edges, but the cover design doesn't communicate the degree. Personally, not able to go there. May be fine for others.

Elle Kennedy has done it again! The characters portrayed in this book are so relatable and genuine in the way they interact with each other, that I cannot help but get attached. Reading this while it's still technically "summer" helped me feel more immersed in this read. The story is just a cute, swoon worthy romance for the summer! I cannot wait to see what other books Elle Kennedy has in store for us readers!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I like Elle Kennedy, so I knew at the very least, it would be a good read. And I was right, but it wasn't the best depiction of the three different tropes included in this novel.

Tropes included:
1. Poor boy and rich girl
2. Making a bet/conquest
3. Cheating

The book is told in alternating points of view, Mackenzie and Cooper. I liked Mackenzie's character, but I think Cooper could use a bit more work. Their romance is kind of instalove as it is all based on attraction and chemistry and how they cannot resist the urge to act on it. But as the novel progresses, it gets better and obviously has more substance. Also, it is a New Adult novel, so the sex is descriptive.

Overall, it's not bad, but I wasn't as invested in the characters or what happens to them in the end.