Elle Kennedy is amazing and I love her books. This was the second one in the Avalon Bay series. I love dual POV books and this one didn’t miss!

So, when I first started this book I honestly didn’t know if I was going to like it or not. I don’t LOVE second-chance romances but I gotta say, this one was done well. Genevieve and Evan had a wild and toxic past and the beginning of this story felt as if they were just falling into the same patterns so i’ll admit, I was worried! HOWEVER as the story went on, I found myself really falling in love with these two characters and their journeys of growth—both together and separately. Their chemistry was also off the CHARTS!

Gen stuck to her guns and I really liked that about her. I loved that she not only wanted to be better for herself but for the people around her. I enjoyed the dynamic of her family and I LOVED her dad 🥹

Evan kind of annoyed me in the beginning as he seemed super immature and petty. However as the story went on I found myself loving his journey and I LOVED his big brother vibes with Riley. It was so wholesome 🥲

This was a story about growth, second chances, forgiving, and self-realization. This ended up being a much deeper story than I was expecting and I’m so happy about that. I really connected to the characters and thoroughly enjoyed the story as whole.

Also that epilogue! Loved it. It was really a full-circle kind of moment for the characters in this story and I adored it.

Thank you Netgalley and St.Martin’s Press for sending me an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review!

This book sadly just wasn't for me. It was like a bad movie you can't look away from - the only reason I finished it.
This is far from a good romance. The main characters are chaotic, toxic, and just plain terrible for each other. The side characters are just as intolerable.
If you are looking for a good chivalrous romance that reminds you of adulthood and not messy high school romance, this book is not it.
Considering I finished it, 2/5.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me an ARC for an honest review.

Bad Girl Reputation is another hit by Elle Kennedy. As this is the second book to the series, one is always quick to assume that it will not be as good as the first. Given this isn't Elle Kennedy's first rodeo, clearly she knows how to keep the reader invested and truly second guess which book was better.

When a romance novel is about younger adults, it is easy to judge the characters as a little reckless and and childish. However, from the beginning of the story, the reader understands the push and pull that Gen and Evan have been dealing with over their entire young adult lives which plays into their irrational behavior.

This angsty back and forth keeps the reader turning each page as quick as they can in order to see if Gen and Evan are actually made for one another or truly just each others kryptonite. Elle takes us on a journey watching both Gen and Evan learning to make better choices for themselves and leading a life worth living. Throughout the entire story you are rooting for both Evan and Gen to realize that they are both deserving of leading a good, successful life.

At the end of this adventure, Gen and Evan learn that they don't need to be apart to live a peaceful life. Realizing they are each others confidants and support system is the icing on the cake.

Nothing but good things to say about this book. Another great one from Elle.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing early access to this book!

I really enjoyed this second chance romance! I wasn’t a huge fan of the first book Good Girl Complex, but this one I connected with a little more. I’m giving this 3.5 ⭐️ And would definitely recommend it. A fast, entertaining read!

3 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

This is probably one of the first books I am reviewing that I really have very little to say.. the story was ok. Nothing too crazy or exciting. The characters are somewhat lackluster and typical for most of romance novels: super hot guy and beautiful girl. A bit unoriginal. Their relationship is very toxic at the start and they seem to work through things…… though it seems kind of rushed and sudden at the end. I am pretty underwhelmed by this one.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book for an honest review

Bad Girl Reputation ticked the boxes for a second chance romance told from a dual point-of-view. Going back to Avalon Bay, we come across the rekindling between Genevieve and Evan. Their past can make them seem wrong for each other but throughout the novel we see the growth that each character goes through as they try to find their way back. It's great to see character appearances from Good Girl Complex to tie in both books and Elle Kennedy gave us that and much more. She made a story ideal for those who have hope in second chances!

I love Elle Kennedy - the Off-Campus series is one of my favorite series and the Briar U and After Hours series are also really great. Avalon Bay is definitely a step into a more "mainstream" spicy romance with the cartoon-y cover (instead of a sexy scene or shirtless guy). I preferred Good Girl Complex to Bad Girl Reputation as far as this series goes. The characters in Bad Girl Reputation aren't super memorable, likeable, or relatable. I like the idea of a second chance romance but this feels a bit immature.

Read/Listen If You Like:
❤️ Second Chance Romance
❤️ Small Town Setting
❤️ Imperfect Characters
❤️ Dual POV
❤️ Some Spice

Book Review:

This book brings us back to Avalon Bay and flips to Cooper’s twin for his story to be told as we get to see the relationship between Cooper and Genevieve unfold.

This story is a second chance romance with the ‘bad boy’ and ‘bad girl’ characters coming together and deciding whether they are good for each other or not, and if it’s time to grow up or keep on the path of ‘bad behavior’

We get to see a bit more of the struggles for adults with bad parents and how that effects the relationships they have with others when foundational relationships are not good.

This one also has a couple spicy scenes and they were pretty well done compared to other spicy scenes I’ve read lately.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Griffin for ARC copies of this one! I am so thankful to receive it and read it in advance of its release!

This was my first Elle Kennedy read and I had a great time with it. I enjoyed the story and it was overall a fun quick read. My issues were mainly with the likeability of the characters, and the believability of their transformations. I just didn't buy all of it and felt like maybe their motivations/steps toward being better weren't quite fleshed out enough. I will for sure be keeping an eye out for other Elle Kennedy stories!

Thank you #Netgalley for the early copy!

Was happy to get to read the second installment of the Avalon Bay Series by Elle Kennedy. I think she did a great job tying in additional characters while still maintaining the key figures for book 1. This time we follow Gen who comes back to Avalon Bay after her mother died. Gen has a history with the Hartley twins, particularly her high school love, Evan. Though they both know they are bad for each other, they can't keep their hands off each other. We follow how each tries to better themselves both for their future, individual and relationship futures. We look at second chances and if you put your mind to it, you can move on for the better.

Title: Bad Girl Reputation

🖤 Genre/Trope: Cont. Romance, high school sweethearts, second chance romance, Avalon Bay character series: Book 2

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥3/5

💥Heavy Profanity💥

🔥Woah! From the first chapter, the heat of attraction between Genevieve and Evan is palpable! The reader cannot help but be invested in the relationship they once shared and hold onto the sliver of hope for a future together.

🔥Genevieve is on the road to redemption, but when Avalon Bay suddenly calls her back to town, she’s forced to tiptoe around the skeletons of her past. Gen is strong willed. The courage she demonstrates throughout the book demands the reader’s respect. You can’t help but want to stand in her corner!

🔥A walking firecracker, Evan is self destructive and impulsive. Gen left Avalon Bay in the rear view mirror, leaving Evan along with it. When she reappears, their natural bond calls them together. Their past is proof of a toxic lifestyle, and Gen is determined to walk the straight and narrow. He’s insistent on wooing her, but in order to do so, Evan must represent the epitome of responsibility. That may not be as easy as he anticipated. He’s hard headed, thoughtful, and rough around the edges. Evan’s undeniable charm will entice any reader’s love!

🔥Their two wrongs make something REALLY right! Seeing their individual growth and how it affects their relationship was captivating. I loved everything about their story and look forward to what lies ahead in Avalon Bay!

Side note: We get a sprinkling of Cooper and Mac from the first book of this series! Each book can be read as a standalone.

-Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy. Publication Date: October 4, 2022.

I enjoyed the storyline between Gen and Evan far more than that between Cooper and Mackenzie in Good Girl Complex. The first book in the series was the exact plot of After, while this plot was more original and intriguing. I enjoyed the dynamic between Gen and Evan. I felt Gen was a good female lead and was not one dimensional. I definitely found myself rooting for the two to rekindle their relationship. Perhaps that’s because the first book helped set up Evan as a sweetheart on the inside. I also felt this was well written!! I’d recommend this as a cute, quick read.

Unfortunately, I didn't read Good Girl Complex before this and will be going backwards.. but I do love going into books completely blind - I did JUST that.

I'm a SUCKER for childhood best friends to lovers/second chance tropes so this was a win for me. Elle Kennedy might just be one of my top authors.

ARC provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley but as always, that doesn't effect my review.

TW: Parental death, heavy drinking, drug use, sexual assault

Elle Kennedy has long since been a quick and easy read for me and is one of those authors I can come to for something to pick me up when I get bogged down after reading loads of Fantasy. I admit I'm not really into second chance romances but since getting to meet and know Evan from the first book I of course needed to know who the mysterious Gen was, it was an easy decision to sign up for this ARC.

Genevieve West makes her way back to Avalon Bay for the death of her mother. They have never been close but the event brings her back after a year long hiatus. She took off suddenly without so much as a goodbye to her on again off again boyfriend Evan and has tried to make herself over this past year. Force herself to grow up finally. She's put away the drinking, she's had a steady job her own place. And now being forced back to Avalon Bay she's putting herself to the test by being in situations that where before she would wind up getting into big time trouble. Evan, seeing how Gen is trying to reform herself, believes the only way to end up back with the love of his life is to reform himself as well.

These two are full of sparks right off the bat and their chemistry was insane. I really enjoyed their spice and banter, they were sexy as hell. I found their growth to be good and I did like the plot of the story. The only thing I will say I didn't care for besides Officer Randall (UGH EWW) was that we were mostly told what wild and crazy things they did, not really shown. It would've been cool to have a few flashback scenes of their shenanigans. I also really liked Gen's family, her dad especially. The way he told her no matter what she did he was always going to be there for her because she's his daughter tore me up, my dad is similar that way and it just resonated with me.

The way this one ended points heavily toward a third installment based on Alana and Wyatt and maybe Tate? Their whole situation is confusing to me so I will probably read this one too so I can figure them out.

I would recommend Bad Girl Reputation to any romance lovers looking for a quick steamy read! Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

I love dark, gritty, working class characters and this book is absolutely, positively 100% everything I could ever want in a romance. Not even kidding. I read and listened to it in one day because I could not put it down.

If you read Good Girl Complex, you are already familiar with the characters (if not, no big deal because they are all re-introduced, but I do recommend reading that one too because it was also a 5 star read for me!).

Gen - a bad girl - comes back to the college beach town where she grew up for the funeral of the mother that she never thought loved her (she learns SO MUCH about her mom from her dad over the course of the weeks she is there, including a scene that made me WEEP!). Why did Gen leave? Because of a jerky cop who abused his power and continues to do so throughout the book until it all comes to a glorious, empowering head!

And then there is Evan - sexy, swoon worthy, hot headed, book boyfriend extraordinaire - and all the ways he wants to be and has always been and will always be there for Gen. They've been friends and more since they were kids..

If you like strong female characters and open door romance, don't miss this one!

sooo i didnt like good girl reputation but i still wanted to pick up this book since i usually enjoy elle kennedy’s books. this portrayed woman soo badly like the only woman that wasnt weird or mean or whatever was the main character?? this was second chance romance trope without all the good aspects about it, like there was no real development and them getting back together kinda felt out of the blue. (i’m exaggerating but i personally thing it truly felt unnatural). this was also bad girl x bad boy which sounds fun but it was so cliche. anyways this was boring i don’t recommend

This one is 3.5 stars for me. It was a good follow up to Good Girl Complex, but it was slow for me. I think Evan and Gen both kind of got on my nerves, which is why I couldn't get as into it as I typically would. Genevieve especially with the Deputy Randall situation. How can she blame herself for breaking up his family when he is the one that was inappropriate towards her? And how does she not go to his superiors when he first starts using his badge to harass her? With that said, I did like that it was about starting over and how difficult that can be, especially in a small town.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

1.5 stars unfortunately 🫣.

I wanted to like this SO bad. I usually love Elle Kennedy and was so excited to receive this ARC. Unfortunately this just fell completely flat for me.

The story starts out with our female MC coming back to her hometown after being gone for a year. She left because she felt like she had a “bad reputation” and needed to “fix herself”. So she comes back for a family situation and sees her ex boyfriend at this event. They are literally making out in the bathroom a few pages later. And so the weird cycle of “let’s be together, no we’re bad for each other, let’s be together, no we’re bad for each other” begins. I think what made this so hard was that because the story jumps right in at this point and doesn’t give any background info on the characters or their romance in the past, I emotionally didn’t connect with any of them. So as they had moments of growth, I literally couldn’t care less because I didn’t care about any of them.

The secondary characters were boring and annoying and, again, all “bad”. Which what does that even mean?

Then there’s the weird storyline with a rogue and creepy and predatory cop. Which I hated because ew.

Then we had our actual 3rd act breakup scene that literally lasted .2 seconds and as soon as Gen asked Evan to meet to discuss he literally just forgot all the reasons he wanted to not be with her? It just was not good unfortunately and I’m so so so so sad about it. I wanted to love it. I really did.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for providing me an ARC to review!

Well, that was underwhelming. At least it wasn't problematic like Good Girl Complex, I guess. Personally, I think Elle Kennedy's writing style, as well as her characters are very awkwardly dated. Her stories often read like problematic, early 2010's romcoms. The main female character is always supposed to be a badass, but the way this is shown is by having all the other female characters around her be incredibly one dimensional to make her look better, and the men around her will often openly compare all the women in the book without any repercussions. This book is no exception from this pattern. However, the main problem I have with Bad Girl Reputation had nothing to do with the writing style or cliche characters, as sadly, I was expecting that. It had to do with the lack of plot, stakes, and character growth. This book follows Genevieve and Evan, two exes, however we never really see their relationship develop. They constantly state that they are bad for one another, and then they'll tell a short anecdote about when they were kids and first falling in love. Then, at the very end of the book, after being on again off again for years, they decide their love is worth it and get together, but there is nothing to say that this is the end of their story. We haven't seen them grow as characters or partners. There have been no scenes of their relationship or the status quo changing in ways that it hasn't already done so before. Everything was very cyclic, so when you get to the epilogue, there is no sense that this is the the end or that Genevieve and Evan have at all grown, matured, or even fallen deeper in love. This made the entire reading experience very weird, as I never could tell what point of the plot I was supposed to be at and if things were going to pick up more or if this was it. Overall, I'm sure some people will enjoy this as a quick and easy read, but personally I found it quite dull.