Likes:
I haven’t read an Elle Kennedy book in years and I think it was the hockey series, Off Campus, that I had read some of. Good Girl Complex is set in a much different scene, a beachside town, which I love and can relate to since I live in a touristy place. Mac is the rich girl, but the good girl who is yearning for something different. And Cooper is the rough around the edges, sexy local construction worker, good with his hands (and apparently other things) guy that runs his fists into Mac’s boyfriend, Preston. What starts off as a revenge plan to humiliate Preston, turns into something more for Cooper and Mac.

We get a feeling for Mac and Cooper right from the start. Cooper is making ends meet living in this coastal town where the rich come to play and go to school at Garnet college. He is a hot boy who all the girls drool over and he is confident about himself. Cooper has an interesting group of friends who are his chosen family. They are a tight knit group that looks out for one another but they also hate the rich people they basically work for. Mac is the rich girl with horrible, cold parents who don’t really care about her as a person, just as a prop. I love that Mac is self sufficient though. She created an app that has made her a millionaire in her own right and at only the age of 20! When Mac and Cooper meet the attraction is there from the start, but there are things in the way like Mac’s boyfriend and her plan for her future, or more like her parents’ plan.

There is a big cast of characters and I wonder if this will be like the author’s other books and become a series? I’m not sure. There are a lot of names to remember but I think each one was unique enough that they stood out on their own. I liked Steph a lot, she was cool. Evan, Cooper’s twin, grew on me though he has a lot of issues to deal with. He and Cooper had a rough upbringing so it’s only normal they would have issues.

I got emotionally invested in Cooper and Mac’s relationship and was rooting for them to work out. I liked how he was rough and intense but easy going as well. Mac, even though trapped by wealth, really did deserve someone who wasn’t condescending like Preston, he was awful. The happy ending was awesome because I really did love Mac and Cooper together. They had friendship, respected one another, yes they fought but you know Cooper wasn’t going anywhere – he was so into Mac and I thought that was so cute! Also the heat between them is perfect!

Random Notes:
Triggers: parental neglect, toxic relationship

One thing I had a problem with – and yes this is a ME problem and maybe I’m just a prude or just old but I was not feeling the friends with benefit relationships in Cooper’s circle. I get the whole “friends with benefits” thing but wow it happens a lot in Cooper’s circle of friends! It gets so complicated when someone catches feelings in a friends with benefits deal as we see with Cooper and Heidi.

The parents in this story are awful. The only kind family figure was Levi who is Cooper and Evan’s uncle.

FINAL THOUGHTS~~
Why you should read it:

*craving for a good New Adult contemporary romance book
*lots of feels between Cooper and Mac – from friendship to all kinds of heat in the bedroom
*complete book where loose ends are tied up nicely, good pacing

Why you might not want to read it:

*rich girl/poor boy trope – predictable

My Thoughts:

This whole book is predictable with it’s rich girl/hot poor boy trope but for me it ticked all the boxes I was looking for in a New Adult contemporary romance book. I love opposites attract and wow was there attraction between them. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a New Adult book and I devoured this in one sitting! I enjoyed it from start to finish with Cooper’s bad boy rep, and Mac on the verge of breaking free from her rich girl plans. I was smiling when they got their happy ending because Cooper and Mac are a good couple together and deserve love.

Oh my gosh! I received an ARC copy of Good Girl Complex and I finished it within 6 hours...I always pride myself on giving honest reviews for books so that people who have read some books on my shelf can get my honest thoughts, so here we go... This book was everything that I never got from Rom-Coms. I like Rom-Coms and have read some amazing ones, but something I found that most lacked was good spice and characters that felt real enough. This book kept me pulled in from the beginning. With the two love interests incredible (and very steamy) chemistry, and the summer vibes that this book gave out, I find myself constantly daydreaming about the world Elle Kennedy created! Both love interests have so much substance and when they go against each other, it is both very tension filled and adorable. This is a book that, (if we weren’t in a pandemic) I would vacation somewhere hot with a poolside bar and read this book. For ones who adored the spice and tension in the Off Campus Series, and want a Rom-Com, New Adult style book that feels like a warm hug, I would definitely give this book a try. Elle Kennedy you did it again!!!! 😭😭🙌🙌💗💗

Unlike most twenty-year-olds, all Mac really wants to do is focus on growing her internet business, but first she must get a college degree at her parents’ insistence. That means moving to the beachside town of Avalon Bay, a community made up of locals and the wealthy students of Garnet College.

Mac’s had plenty of practice suppressing her wilder impulses, but when she meets local bad boy Cooper Hartley, that ability is suddenly tested. Cooper is rough around the edges. Raw. Candid. A threat to her ordered existence. Their friendship soon becomes the realest thing in her life.

Despite his disdain for the trust-fund kids he sees coming and going from his town, Cooper soon realizes Mac isn’t just another rich clone and falls for her. Hard. But as Mac finally starts feeling accepted by Cooper and his friends, the secret he’s been keeping from her threatens the only place she’s ever felt at home

I love all of Elle Kennedy's books and this one is no exception. Love the characters and how well they all get along together. The friends and their banter are the highlights for me. It's sweet and romantic. The ending is perfect. Terrific book!

Thanks to the publisher for providing an arc.

Thank you so much netgalley and the publisher providing an arc!

As usual, Elle Kennedy didn’t disappoint.
I really like the characters. the world-building, and how the author can create a world that has the capability of making us vicariously live through it, feeling all those emotions and living the moments as if it’s our very own.

I feel like the introduction was a bit too slow-paced for me. The characters are fairly interesting.
Henceforth, it was quite a good read.

✨GOOD GIRL COMPLEX by Elle Kennedy✨

★★★★★

Ms. QUEEN Elle Kennedy did it again!!!!!!! This book will have a special place in my heart forever and ever and I can’t wait for everyone to get to read it when it comes out on February 1, 2022.

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

🍋 Drink: Spiked Frozen Raspberry Lemonade

Grab your blender and add 1.5 cups of Natalie’s Raspberry Lemonade, 2 oz of Spiked Raspberry Seltzer, 2 oz of raspberry vodka (or regular), 1.5 oz of fresh squeezed lemon juice, 1 cup of ice, and blend!

Pour into a glass of your choice, garnish with a lemon wedge and Voila!

Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

This drink felt like the perfect match for this book - beachy and holding on to summer for as long as possible, definitely something you’d order at one of the local bars!

🌟 Review: Elle Kennedy can do NO wrong. This book was so amazing, the characters are so lovable, you feel their pain and the balance between sweet + emotional is just perfect.

If you loved the Off Campus series, this book will be your new obsession - no doubt about it.

Elle Kennedy has been a hit or miss author for me in the past, but GOOD GIRL COMPLEX was right on target.

This title follows rich kid (and self-made CEO) Mackenzie to a coastal college town as she grudgingly fulfills her promise to her parents to attend school, even though she is already a successful business owner. Little does she know, her long-term boyfriend has ruffled a few feathers in town and local bad boy Cooper has hatched a revenge plan involving breaking Mackenzie's heart.

The star of this book for me was the character development. Mackenzie, Cooper, and their cast of friends and family all shone as interesting, three-dimensional characters. Their conversations were thoughtful and I was really invested in their happiness. I was also impressed by the perfect balance of steamy and adorable. Full disclosure: there is a puppy rescue.

Could I please request an epilogue and Evan's book ASAP???

Elle Kennedy has done it again! The romance between Cooper and Mackenzie is just ✨chefs kiss✨. The side characters are amazing as per usual. (Daisy was the star of the show)
I do wish we had an epilogue though.

3.5 stars for Good Girl Complex. I’m a fan of Elle Kennedy and I think this is much better than some of the other books she has written. I would have liked to see the characters go a little deeper. Their “make or break” conflict was pretty predictable. I think Preston should have been a bigger issue. I felt like the characters didn’t really have to “fix” anything, everything just resolved on its own. It was a fun and quick read though, and I really enjoyed Mac and Cooper’s story. I would love a story about Evan next!

A local gets fired after standing up to a trust fund kid and as payback, the local plans to seduce the guys girlfriend. What he doesn’t expect in this plan is for him to actually like the girl. A classic trope expertly executed.

If you’ve ever read an Elle Kennedy book then you will be no stranger in what to expect. Full of complex characters with heart, friendships that stand the test of time, and banter that has sparks that almost fly off the page.

Good Girl Complex is no different. It took a minute for me to warm up to the characters themselves but their banter and connection wasn’t part of that.

This was a fun read.

Small town boy meets rich daddy’s girl. Except, maybe Mackenzie is more than what Cooper sees on the surface. I love fake bet relationship to dating troupes.
What starts as a revenge bet to get back at the guy who got him fired, Cooper wants to take something from Preston, something that this entitled rich boy will actually miss, his girlfriend.
It always starts like this. You get in over your head and say stuff you are later going to regret. Cooper starts to realize that Mackenzie isn’t another one of the ‘clones’ who pass through his coastal town. He sees more behind the image she projects to others, and it dawns on him, he might actually be falling for this girl.
Mackenzie has grown up knowing one thing, don’t rock the boat. Her life has been laid out before her and she knows how it’s going to end. Married to Preston and a stay at home house wife who has no passion of her own. Mackenzie is starting to realize, that’s not enough anymore. She wants more than the life she was born into.
I didn’t like that Cooper didn’t say anything about why he first went up to Mackenzie before sleeping with her. Especially since he actually likes her and she was already broken up with Preston at this point, so no reason for the lie. 🤷🏻‍♀️ what are you going to do though? Everything eventually worked it self out.
I did have a feeling this whole time that the truth was going to come from Heidi because she was jealous.. and what do you know, it was her. Girls always gotta be putting each other down.
This books was amazing overall and I cannot wait till it’s released in February 2022. It seems so far away.

Overall, I liked this book. I would not recommend this for a curriculum or course, but would encourage older, mature students to read this on their own. There are themes of being independent and going against a plan that wasn’t designed for you, along with escaping the clutches of family who no longer fit into the life you’ve made because of betrayal. I enjoyed the “fight” in both characters. The intimate scenes may be too much for students in high school, but again, those about to graduate may resonate with the main character who is also trying to find her own path after high school.

I recently got into Elle Kennedy's books and they have been fun, guilty pleasure reads. This one has a good girl/rich bad boy trope. Honestly, this was such a fun book. I went in knowing what to expect- it's not something I'd reread, but I enjoyed it.

In typical Elle Kennedy fashion this book has me hooked. I've thoroughly enjoyed every one of her books to date so when I saw this one I was more than intrigued to see what she had up her sleeves and it certainly did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the dynamic of Collin and Mackenzie, the playful banter they had from the beginning of Collins hopeful arrangement was so enjoyable and I found myself rooting for them. I also loved Mac's constant inner battle put out so clear for the reader convincing herself not to feel was she was inevitably feeling through the dual POVS. While I don't typically gravitate towards books with cheating, I selfishly loved Collin and just wanted them to be together. One of those books I wish I could read again for the first time.

4.5/5 Stars!!

Good Girl Complex is the perfect summer beach read, with likable characters, a fun setting, and a cute dog. The chemistry between Mac and Cooper was obvious and real, and their whole dynamic gave off "Noah & Allie" vibes, and their banter was effortless and entertaining. Add in a cute dog to the mix, and you have a winner.

This book left me feeling a little... underwhelmed.

This book follows Mac who moves to a small college town even though she really has no desire to be in college but she feels obligated since it's what her parents and boyfriend expect of her. Mac is already successful in her own right since she has created her own app just after graduating prep school. Then she meets Cooper. a townie and they strike up an unlikely friendship when he realizes she does not act like the other '' rich kids ''.

The plot is by no means original I feel like I've read at least 3 different books that had plots very similar to this one which made the story very predictable. I think where this book gained some points was the characters for me. Mac felt well fleshed out and even though we come from extremely different backgrounds I still found myself being able to relate to Mac and understand why she made the choices she did. Cooper was definitely swoon-worthy and I loved the banter between him and Mac. Also, the romance between them made sense and didn't feel rushed. I also enjoyed reading about Cooper's friend group and especially loved his twin brother, Evan. I really hope Evan gets his own book. That boy deserves to find love and heal! Mac and Even friendship so cute!

So overall, I did enjoy this book just didn't love it. I was left feeling a little unsatisfied.

Elle Kennedy fans get ready for your next favourite read!!

I was lucky enough to be granted a NetGalley preview of this one and I am so happy! I am in love with this book. One day read and it hit every yearning I had for a Kennedy style story. I was craving a college romance and Kennedy provided in every way she promises! This book is easily one of my favourites of hers.


Mackenzie is the good girl-always doing what she can to make everyone around her, especially her parents and boyfriend happy, all while putting aside what she really wants. Cooper is the stereotypical bad boy, hardworking but comes with baggage and a temper that gets him into trouble. The two cross paths in a interesting way, neither expecting the connection they find. Do they pretend they aren’t feeling anything, or go with their gut and take a risk?

I loved the characters in this story, I do wish Bonnie and Daisy had a bigger appearance! Mac and Cooper both go on a journey to become their true selves and realize what they really want in life. Their connection is sexy and undeniable. The flirting and the spice kept me on my toes and grinning the entire story. Both characters are very passionate, stubborn and loyal. They are complete opposites, which is lovely to read as I believe they’re realistic! It’s something that shouldn’t work but did. I like how the story shows relationships where friends are family as that happens often in life! I kinda wanna go back and read it all over again! No complaints on this one it was perfect.

This was such a great read. It was witty and made me laugh. I instantly fell in love with the characters and story line.

Good Girl Complex is on the surface a light and fun romantic beach read. However, under the surface, it touches on some very real and interesting class issues.

It follows the story of Mac and Cooper, two people who come from totally different worlds that find themselves thrown together in one small beach side college town. What starts as an effort for Cooper to get back at Mac's boyfriend turns into a real relationship between two very different people. The book tells us what happens as they try to navigate the differences between them and try to figure out whether love truly is enough.

I loved this book! The main characters were likeable. There is more to them than meets the eye in the first couple chapters. I really enjoyed the pacing as well. Perfect, lighthearted summer read!!

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m an absolute sucker for contemporary romance, so this book was already sold in my mind. But the way you get to watch Mackenzie and Cooper’s love story unfold is incomparable. It took me far too long to read, but it was worth every second of it. I’m glad I savored it.

By the end of the book, I had cried many times. The raw emotion Elle Kennedy manages to make you feel for these characters is incredible. She has the power to make you feel every emotion the characters are feeling. There are lovable side characters to root for. A great budding romance that’s a little forbidden between a rich girl and a poor boy. Plus a cute dog thrown in there.

Overall, it’s perfect. This was the first book I’ve ever read by Elle Kennedy, and it’s safe to say I will be checking out more of her work. I was in awe of this book and the writing while reading it. When this book officially releases in early 2022, go ahead and buy it. Binge it. You will love it.