I'm not usually a big fan of the second chance lovers storyline, but this one captivated me. I really like Gen and Evan, and I loved watching their relationship unfold. It was definitely more of a physical connection than an emotional one. I'd definitely suggest this one if you're looking for a book with lots of spice and horniness, but lacking the "feels", with a bit of added toxicity.

I did it!!! I finished it! This was hard to get through. I was bored almost the whole time. I don’t think I’ll read the next one in the series. I probably should have DNF. I couldn’t connect to Evan or Genevieve. I didn’t feel like there was much plot. It was mostly focused on character development, but since I didn’t really like the characters this made it hard for me to like this book. Thank you NetGalley and Saint Martin Press for the digital arc.

Gen and Evan were childhood sweethearts. Gen suddenly left town not even as much as a goodbyes. She broke Evan’s heart. Years later, Gen was forced come back to take care of family business. Evan is still there and all the feelings came rushing back. Gen and Evan relationships were messy when they were younger. It seems that when they met again as adult, one is still stuck in the past, not quite grown up and the other has matured. These two are like moth to a flame. They cannot help but drawn to each other physically, still toxic. Chemistry is explosive no problem there, but they both need a little more to find the HEA especially now they are no longer young love. Plenty of angst, push and pull, and make up sex. I enjoy the banters and awesome chemistry. I like this one ok but I love the summer girl (Avalon#3).

For the most part, I enjoyed Evan and Gen's story. I was really intrigued by all the hints to their history in the first book so I couldn't wait to read this one. I liked Evan in the first book but he really annoyed me in the first half of this book. Their relationship was way too immature throughout the first half but once they figured themselves out, the story got so much better. I loved their chemistry and need for one another. You could tell they were soulmates and it was interesting to read their story. If you are a fan of the first book I recommend you read this one. Can't wait for the next one!!

i couldn't get through the first book in this series, the main character was very shallow and read like a school project, or a journal entry from a teenager.

I loved this book so much. I love the depth of the characters and getting to know more about this town and this group of friends.

I really liked this book! Gen goes home for her mother’s funeral, back to Avalon Bay where she left Evan, her boyfriend. Gen and Evan were magnets for trouble, and as much as she wants him, Gen has changed her lifestyle and doesn’t drink and get into trouble anymore. Their attraction for each other is as fierce as ever.
Unfortunately, Evan hasn’t made those same changes yet. His exploits are legendary, and both he and Gen have bad reputations in town.
Gen wants to be with Evan, but can he change and act like the grown up he’s become?

I recommend this book, 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Bad Girl Reputation is the 2nd book in the Avalon Bay series. It is a second-chance romance that follows Evan (Cooper’s twin brother from Good Girl Complex) and his ex-girlfriend Genevieve, who is back in town for her mother’s funeral and doing her best to avoid him.

This was a quick and easy read that I think many people would enjoy if they’re just getting into reading or looking for a fun summer read.

Unfortunately, this book was just alright for me. While I do think it was better than Good Girl Complex, I just wasn’t invested in the characters or their relationship. I wasn’t convinced that Evan and Gen were in love or that their feelings went beyond anything physical.

Overall, this series just isn’t as great as the Off-Campus series so far and I don’t think I will be continuing with the next book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for the ARC!

I am a big fan of Elle Kennedy and I was so excited when I saw that I had been approved for the eARC of Bad Girl Reputation! I loved the first book of the Avalon Bay series so I couldn't wait for Gen and Evan's story. Typically I'm not a big fan of second chance romances but Gen and Evan took my by surprise. Their chemistry was off the charts and I couldn't help falling in love with the both of them. The spice was just right! Thank you St. Martin's Press for the quick and easy read!

Thank you to NetGalley and happy pub day to this amazing book! I've been a Elle Kennedy fan for a bit, so I was really looking forward to this book. I am not typically a second chance romance lover, so I expected to like the second book in the Avalon Bay series a little less than the first, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I liked Bad Girl Reputation more than Good Girl Complex (both were great though!).

One of my favorite things in this book was seeing proper character development. I liked how much Gen and Evan grew throughout the book and how much their love for one another drove it. I also liked how the character development also extended to other characters such as Shelley. I would have liked to see a little more of the interactions between Mac and Gen. I also think it would have been fun to see more of Riley interacting with Gen, Cooper and Mac as well. I really enjoyed those scenes with Riley.

Overall, this book was really great, definitely recommend, and I'm curious to see if there's any other love stories that we'll get to read about from Avalon Bay! Highly recommend!

I was so thrilled when I saw this ARC got approved! I loved the first book in the Avalon Bay series, and Elle Kennedy is an automatic buy for me! I enjoyed all parts of this book, the plot, the characters, the bits of spice. It did not disappoint. I was so excited to run out and get a physical copy as soon as it hit the shelves! I cannot wait to read more of her books!

🍺Book Review:
Title: Bad Girl Reputation
By: Elle Kennedy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

Loved, loved, loved Genevieve and Evan's love/hate, hot/cold (although it's usually boiling), push/pull relationship! The chemical, physical, universal attraction is intense, and I'm here for it!

Genevieve West is back for her mother's funeral in Avalon Bay. She fled from her hometown about a year ago due to a run in with the creepy, arrogant sheriff's deputy who basically assaults and tries to ruin her. She doesn't have plans on staying very long. And if she can avoid her ex boyfriend, Evan, even better.

Evan Hartley, town bad boy, has never stopped loving Genevieve. His friends and family want him to move on but that's easier said then done. Especially when he catches sight of her after so much time apart. But Evan will need to prove he's ready to grow up and live a better life because Genevieve is over the drama and turmoil that Avalon Bay brings.

I loved this book! Just enough spice and so funny! Great book @ellekennedy33! I bought my own copy to add to my collection.

Published October 4, 2022

Thank you, @netgalley and @stmartinspress, for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

2.5/5 stars
I can not say I like Bad Girl Reputation very much. I feel the writing is choppy and the plot is too confusing. It is a let down for me since I was expecting so much from Miss Kennedy and liked the first book.
I also do not feel hot from the chemistry between Evan and Gen. I would say their push and pull somehow lukewarm.
Overall an OK read.

I just couldnt get into this one, maybe I needed to read the other book in the series? Im gonna give this another shot at a later time.

I thought this book was great! It felt like a great follow up to the previous book, very seamless. The MMC was incredibly dreamy and even though the FMC could be frustrating at times, I still loved her. The plot felt full of life and the HEA was just what I needed.

I would read the phone book if Elle Kennedy wrote it. This story is no exception and I enjoyed every second of these sassy characters.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Elle Kennedy for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I want to live in Avalon Bay! Every time I read about Avalon Bay I am carried away. In the second Avalon Bay book, you meet Cooper's twin brother Evan and his long time love Gen. Their relationship has had some toxic tendencies and Gen has tried her hardest over the last year to turn a new leaf in her life. But when her mom dies and she ends up back in Avalon Bay, she is afraid to fall right back in with Evan. She has worked too hard to go back to her old ways.

The growth of Gen and Evan throughout the book is so inspiring. Their relationship is steamy and sweet and makes me want more of Avalon Bay.

This was a great follow up to Good Girl Complex! I liked getting a more in depth look at Evan and Genevieve’s story and following along with them. I think this author is so good at romance writing and I’m thrilled to have been given a copy of this book to read.

Thank you to SMP Romance, NetGalley and Elle Kennedy for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I have posted in past and with my review of Good Girl Reputation that I was getting really frustrated with Elle Kennedy books - for a few specific reasons. Her characters are all white, skinny and for the most part, rich. I feel like this book, just like the entire Off-Campus and BriarU series, has a lack of diversity. The fact of the matter is, Elle Kennedy writes white kids and struggling young adults really well, and that’s what these books are.

I wanted to give this series one more shot but this is what I didn't like. The games and just the toxic nature of this couples past relationship was just not a winner. The cop storyline was not needed. The lack of context beyond the surface level of their dynamics with their moms. So many freaking names of friends and brothers I could not keep track of who was who. Cooper and Evan's dynamic, my god you are freaking brothers act like it.

There was a theme of second chances and forgiveness. Gen and Evan did have amazing great chemistry. Gen was so determined to change and I loved her confidence but also her vulnerability. I really loved that this was childhood friends to lovers, there is so much history with that dynamic.

Overall, if you like Elle Kennedy’s books, I promise you will enjoy this one too. I just don't think she is the author for me at this time.

I am a huge fan of the Off Campus series and love Elle Kennedy's collaborations with Sarina Bowen but this one fell a little short for me. I am not a fan of the miscommunication trope and this book brought it in strong. I wish I felt stronger chemistry for Evan and Gen but it just wasn't doing it for me with this one.