Book number 2 of the Lillys did not disappoint. I love the way the story about the band as a group or found family has developed. Now I'm off to listen the the song on Apple Music - love that Xio Axelrod developed out their website and even one of their songs.

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS for the advanced copy of this book.

The first book in this series has me hooked. The idea of reading about an all girl rock band was different but I absolutely loved it. This book is no different as it picks up where the last book left off with POV of a new band member, Kayla. The story is completely different from the last and it offers new insights into who makes up the band, Ty and Kayla’s love story was so comforting and non conflicting it was nice.

The story was a bit slow though but I liked it. Really looking forward to see whose story we see next in the Lilly’s.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

Incredible! I absolutely loved this one. Such a great book to curl up with. It was hard to pull myself away to do things, but I always looked forward to diving back in. Highly recommend!

Great set-up for a story. All female rock band just starting to really get it together. Kayla, the drummer, comes from an over achieving family rocked by the loss of the eldest son. Ever since, Kayla has hidden her music dreams from the family. When they start out on their first tour, they hire a bookish young man with a troubled past as the bus driver. Instant connection ensues. While I liked the characters, they weren't real enough for me to love them and really care about their story.

With every page Xio Axelrod made me want to tune up my Garage Band accessories and just play. That's what Girls with Bad Reputations does. It just plays... on your heartstrings! Beautiful writing, fun banter, gorgeous romance, and a full cast I rooted for. This book was a song you want to play on repeat!

3.75⭐

There's nothing like falling in love with a cast of characters and then watching them all find love. Kayla was such a fun character to follow as she navigated her past and also killed it on the drums, while sweet Ty found himself and his redemption through love. I love how music is woven into Xio's stories and it truly makes you feel like you're a groupie following this band gain momentum. Though a bit slow at times, this whole series promises such a satisfying next step. I cannot wait for the next book to see the next band member (Tiff I bet!) fall in love and the band embark on tour because I know it will be epic.

I really wanted to like this book, but it was light on the plot and the romance. I felt like I didn't see a lot of the storyline of this amazing girl band, the stakes and what it is really like to deal with the pressures of being on the road -- and I really didn't get the romance between the two main characters either.

I liked Girl with Stars in her Eyes, but this sequel was so much better! I loved Kayla's story and the relationship that brewed between Kayla and Ty. Bookworm romance is so fun!

This book just felt different from the first. Tensions were higher, the girls were closer. It was a ride and I enjoyed every second! Candi was causing more trouble, the girls were gaining more recognition, but there was also the whole side plot about Ty and his past. YMI signed Candi and a new band and was pushing them in the spotlight rather than the uber talented Lillies.

This book touched on prejudice with Ty and the false claims against him and how the color of his skin played a big part in the punishment he received for something he didn't do. It also touched on unrealistic expectations between Kayla and her mom as her mom writes Little Miss Yolanda as this perfect daughter that Kayla doesn't feel she can live up to. There was talk of loss and grief (all close family), deceit, scandal, female rivalry perpetuated by powerful men.

Xio came really far with this one and I hope that Tiff's book is next because that spitfire is my favorite and I can't wait to see what her story looks like!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an e-arc!

I went into this not realizing that this is the second book in a series, but I still very much enjoyed it and cant wait to go back to the first book!

Kayla is a very talented drummer for The Lillys, a rock band that is eager to make its name in the music industry. The band is thrilled to be going on tour and performing at some music festivals, but unfortunately the press can’t seem to let the band’s past go. The band’s former guitarist, Candi, has left the band and formed her own group, which has the same record label as The Lillys. Not only does the media pit them against each other, but the record label does as well. All The Lillys want is to move forward in the music industry and find success, but it seems like some people are determined to try to make that not happen.

When Tyrell gets the opportunity to drive the tour bus for an all girl rock band going on tour, he accepts, but only for the money. He doesn’t love to leave his elderly grandpa alone, who can do most things by himself but seems to be declining more and more. Ty plans to keep to himself and his books on tour like he usually does, until he meets Kayla. As Kayla and Ty find things they have in common, they form a friendship that turns into mutual feelings. However, Ty is weary of crossing any lines due to things that have happened in his past. As the two get closer, Kayla learns about all of the hard things Ty has had to go through.

Kayla is also hiding from most of the people in her life- her parents do not know that she’s in a band, as her mother would not approve- and Ty and her band members don’t know who she really is or what family she comes from. As the band becomes more successful and the press continue to dig into the personal lives of the band members, Kayla can’t help but be worried her secrets will come out.

I really enjoyed this book and thought that Kayla and Ty were both solid, genuine characters. I liked their connection and I especially liked how they communicated with each other when difficult things happened or truths were revealed. There was also a lot of character growth in this book, from Kayla, Ty and even Kayla’s mother. Getting to know The Lillys was also a lot of fun! I will definitely be going back to read The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes and I hope that there will be more books about the other band members in the future!

I definitely think this book is worth the read if you enjoy romances or books about music/bands. Ty will be one of your new favorite book boyfriends!

Okay as a lover of Lilly's #1 - The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes, I was waiting eagerly for this book and Xio did not disappoint. The emotion in this one packs a punch and I loved the strong family bond with the band and with Ty and his grandfather. Both Kayla and Ty navigate hurdles and it was written in such a raw, real way. I loved this one so much!

I love when I go into books completely blind, not sure what to expect. Well if I had any preconceived notions about the title or the cover, reading this exceeded them all.

This book was captivating and kept me reading and intrigued throughout the whole thing. Sure this was a contemporary romance, but it was also so much more.

The background stories of the two main characters were so well developed that the romance was just a piece of everything else that was going on and I loved that, because let’s face it, that’s real life.

Kayla, the main character, is living a double life. Famous since she was a child due to the success of a series of books her mother wrote about the perfect child, Little Miss Yolanda, Kayla yearns to step out of the shadow of this persona her mother has created. Instead, she wants to follow her late brother’s dream and become a drummer. But even as her star begins to rise and her band gains traction she still doubts and questions if is she living her life.

Ty, on the other hand, is dealing with his own setbacks. Forced to quit school because of a huge injustice he is trying to forge a path forward and takes any job he can get, which leads him to becoming a bus driver for Kayla’s band when they tour.

Sparks begin to fly between these two and they realize they have so much in common. I loved how this book was a slow burn, it allowed both characters to get to know each other in a meaningful way.

I realized after I read it that it is part of a series and I’ll read the first one, but I don’t think I missed anything by not reading it first.

Thank you, NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and LibroFm for providing me with an ARC of the Ebook as well as the audio.

Girls with Bad Reputations is an excellent novel which manages to continue Axelrod’s The Lillys series while also standing on its own two feet. All about breaking free of familial obligations and expectations to be true to yourself and those you love, it’s a fantastic novel that manages to also realistically capture the music world.

Kayla Whitman has a mother who disapproves of her rock star lifestyle (and her generally outré existence), but Kayla – having lost her music-loving brother young – is driven by the songs that defined them both. Her band, The Lillys, is everything to her, and she wants desperately to be seen as anyone but the character her mother Gisele fictonalized her into for a series of best-selling children’s books. Which is why her bandmates don’t know that she was the template for Little Miss Yolanda.

Laid back bookworm Ty Baldwin has been hired to drive The Lillys’ bus, but he’s running from a past of his own – a false accusation in college ruined his academic promise – and he’d do just about anything to make money to take care of the grandfather who raised him. He and Kayla instantly connect over the joys and pains of traveling around America.

All the band’s hard work seems to be paying off, with The Lillys finally achieving mainstream success. On top of that, Ty and Kayla are starting to fall for each other. Unfortunately however, the label wants to pit the band against that of The Lillys’ former lead singer, leading to conflict and the threat of old secrets surfacing to wreck her relationship with Ty. Can their true love survive?

I really liked Kayla and Ty, and sympathized with their plights. On top of that, their family issues make them quite sympathetic. The book also provides a nice travelogue, and the natural feeling Axelrod displayes for the rock world makes sense. It was nice to see Kayla’s bandmates, and while this book can be read without knowledge of the previous one, reading The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes would probably help to round things out a bit.

I do feel that the romance is a somewhat secondary to the band drama and Ty’s worries about his grandfather, which is why the grade is an A- and not a flat-out A. But overall Girls with Bad Reputations sings out fearlessly, combining a heartfelt love of traveling and rock and roll with realistic, grounded characters.

This is a fun continuation of this series. Kayla was supposed to fit the mold of the perfect, well behaved daughter but the life of a drummer was not exactly what her family had in mind. She usually finds calm behind the drum set but her anxiety is setting in and she finds peace with the quiet bus driver, Ty. I love discovering more and more about this band in these books and getting to know its members in depth.

Thank you @libro.fm and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is book 2 in a series, however, can be read stand alone as well although book 1 would provide more context with respect to a former bandmate.

Kayla is living two lives. Her family thinks she's one person, whereas her band doesn't know her past. A nosy reporter begins to follow The Lillies around and knows a little bit too much for comfort and asking questions that no one should know about her.

Ty took on the job of driving the band around for their tour. He was accused of a crime years ago that is still haunting him even though there is proof he never did anything wrong. He doesn't want to fight it in fear of what it would do to his grandfather, who raised him and is now in poor health.

The chemistry between Kayla and Ty is instant. They have a lot in common, including reading, and leads to a slow burn romance that is worth the wait. Loved this one and can't wait to read more from this series!

In Brief
In this follow-up to The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes, the Lillys are on the road for their first tour, opening the band up to increased public scrutiny and competition with their former guitarist’s, Candi, new band. Things are getting exciting for this all female rock band as their star rises, but drummer Kayla has a closely guarded secret, both from her band and her family. Following the death of her brother years ago, Kayla took up the drums against her mother’s wishes, and now keeps this secret from her parents, and her past a secret from her band. Things are working out well, though, and their bus driver, Ty, is exceptionally attractive. But reporters are starting to dig into all of them, even Ty, bringing up things they’d rather keep secret or avoided altogether. Thrown into the mix is the shenanigans their record label throws at them, giving to Candi’s band everything the Lillys needed to rocket to the top. Closer to home, though, secrets are about to spill and Kayla and Ty will have to be ready to deal with them. Nicely balanced between the challenges and drama that comes with a rising band going on tour and a sweet, albeit bit of insta-love, romance, Girls with Bad Reputations is a fast read, offering romance, drama, and fun found family moments at every turn. The characters were given delightful personalities that blended well together and a story that pushed them to grow. Fun for fans of music and romance, this novel offers a little something for everyone.

Extended Thoughts
Girls with Bad Reputations is the second book in The Lillys, which follows an up and coming all female rock band dealing with the fallout of falling out with Candi, their guitarist. The first book, The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes, details what happened when the Lillys first parted ways with Candi, ultimately bringing in Toni to take her place and a permanent membership into the band. Following their success at a showcase at the end of the first book, the Lillys are ready to head out on their first official tour. Girls with Bad Reputations takes the reader on tour with the Lillys, diving deep into the secret past of their drummer, Kayla, while their record label pits them against Candi’s new band.

Kayla has been keeping a secret from her band mates, but she only feels like herself when she’s around them, so it’s a secret she’d rather keep. The Lillys have been gaining a lot of attention and are working on putting out their first single and their first album. Their record label has them traveling around the country, jumping from one venue to another. On the bright side, their driver, Ty, is a quiet bookworm who is undeniably attractive. Thanks to being black and befriending someone who would turn out to be the wrong person, Ty has found his academic options severely limited. Despite his grandfather trying to push him to get his life back on track, Ty instead takes the job of driving the Lillys’ tour bus. As hard as they try to be professional, Kayla and Ty are drawn to each other, but the band’s rising star brings more scrutiny, threatening to spill Kayla’s secrets to both her band mates and her family. If that wasn’t enough, their record label is intent on pitting the Lillys against Candi’s new band, giving Candi’s band everything that should have been given to the Lillys.

Where The Girl with Stars in her Eyes focused on Toni and her relationship with Sebastian, the Lillys’ manager, Girls with Bad Reputations is Kayla’s and Ty’s story. This novel focuses on the Lillys and their rising star, taking them all across the country and offering an inside look into how they operate, create new songs, and rehearse and record. But it’s also a sweet romance, even if it comes across as insta-love. It quickly won me over because they took the time to get to know each other after that initial intense attraction. I really enjoyed the balance between the two of them, easily seeing how well they compliment each other and just how perfect they were for each other. I really liked getting to know Kayla better, especially since I didn’t feel I got to know her at all in the first book.

Kayla has a complicated story. She comes from a very dignified family that’s splintered after the death of her older brother. Zach was the one who introduced Kayla to the drums, but their mother never really approved, and certainly didn’t approve of her children playing in bands. So it’s understandable Kayla keeps mum to her mother on what she actually does. At the same time, her band mates have no idea who Kayla’s family is. So far, it’s been working, but, with the increasing public scrutiny and reporters who can and will dig into their sordid pasts, Kayla has to decide what to do with all of her secrets. But I liked her. She’s tough and fiercely loyal. I was delighted she’s such a bookworm, too, and it became a way for her and Ty to really connect. I liked that she felt like she lives on the edge a little, and I was fascinated with the way she was able to walk on both sides of her life, being herself as a drummer and being the daughter her mother expects her to be. But I really loved it when she was forced to deal with both sides, and what that did to her and all of her relationships.

Ty, too, has a complicated story. Bright and bookish, he had a promising future, but getting mixed up in academic troubles thanks to someone he called friend made it difficult for him to realize the future he wanted. So he lives with his grandfather, Van, no matter how much Van tries to push him out the door. I liked Ty. He’s devoted to caring for his grandfather even though Van insists he doesn’t need any help. It’s with a good deal of worry and trepidation that Ty takes the job as the Lillys’ bus driver, but it’ll be good for him and Van. There’s clearly a spark between him and Kayla, but I appreciated how professional he strove to keep the relationship. I liked how they really connected over books, and he was more reserved than Kayla was. It was nice to see her pursuing him more than the other way around. It was fantastic seeing him with his grandfather, and I enjoyed his romance with Kayla and how they always tried to look out for each other.

While Girls with Bad Reputations focuses on the Lillys’ rising fame and a little bit about the supposed feud between the Lillys and Candi’s new band, it really was more of a romance. As time went on, the romance between Kayla and Ty really grew on me. I wasn’t a big fan of how quickly they fell for each other, though I did like how they strove to keep things professional and try to work to develop a friendship based on their mutual love of books. Mostly, though, I liked how supportive they are of each other. As much as they can, they try to be there for each other. It was the little thoughtful things I really liked. And I appreciated it avoided the one thing I hate most in romances. These two really worked hard to communicate with each other, and I liked that they really understood each other, their needs, and the circumstances in their lives that made things a bit of a challenge. This was a really fun romance, and I ended up really loving Kayla and Ty. They were adorable together.

I really enjoyed going on tour with the Lillys. They were really stuck together for much of the novel, and I liked seeing them work and live so closely together. They are all strong women, but they also really rely on each other. I loved how they were all really there for each other, supporting and protecting each other at every turn. Toni, though, felt a little muted in this one, perhaps because she’s happily paired up and the first book was her story. But I liked getting to know Tiff better. She’s a fun character with a big personality. I just wish I could have gotten to know Lilly herself a little better. She came off as very reserved, more so than Ty, but she clearly really cares about her band mates and takes care of them as much as she can. I loved how these women blended so well together and was able to work together with minimal drama. Of course, there’s Kayla’s secret, so I really liked the way it was dealt with. I liked how her secret popped up now and then, bringing it into focus for the reader, but the Lillys waited patiently for Kayla to say something.

Woven in is the tension the Lillys’ record label is trying to ramp up between them and former band mate Candi’s new band. Of course, the Lillys don’t care, choosing to move on, wish Candi well, and do what they love to do. But Candi and her band seem to always be around the corner, with it coming to a head towards the end of the book. I liked how this was deftly woven in, present without being overbearing. It was handled the way I imagine the Lillys would really handle it: brief acknowledgement with no rumination, but with some warranted outrage now and then. It really made me hate the brothers who run the record label, and I found myself fuming now and then, but of course business is business. I did like how it was handled, and I can’t wait to see what comes next for everyone.

Girls with Bad Reputations is a fun addition into The Lillys series. I liked getting to know Kayla better, and her romance with Ty was sweet. I liked that a lot of the drama came not from the romance but from everything else going on. While not exactly fast-paced, the story flew by quickly. I really enjoyed watching Kayla and Ty together and was riveted by how their histories impacted them and each other. All of the characters were also a lot of fun, all with distinct personalities that meshed really well together. Mostly, though, I had a lot of fun traveling around with the Lillys and getting to know all of them a little better.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

In this book we are introduced to Kayla, whose grief propels her fight for her dreams. We see the boundaries she creates with those who do not see the value in her talent. We are also introduced to the found family that is her band mates and their supportive team. Along the way, she meets her match Ty, whose experiences have halted his pursuit of happiness. Together they bring out the best in each other and eventually find the path both are meant to take.

This book dives into deep topics such as grief, broken families, and of course bad reputations. We see how each character has a past they chose to learn and move forward from. We see the challenge in addressing what is uncomfortable to reach one’s full potential. Overall, it’s a great read with badass characters!

Read if you liked How to Kill a Rockstar by Tiffanie DeBartolo, The Bodyguard by Katherine Center, and The Reason Why by Nicole Spindler.

Girls with Bad Reputations, Book 2 in the The Lilly's series finds the girls on the road, their star on the verge of rising, and there is a lot of drama surrounding their hidden personalities, their former bandmate Candi, and the latest newcomer on the scene, bus driver Ty who has a secret past of his own. A lot of romantic drama could have been drawn from so many secrets, but I loved how Kayla and Ty came more together than apart when faced with the challenges brought from external forces stirring up trouble. This series really brings the band to life and gives you a feel of being a part of a burgeoning rock act while creating real characters with whole lives.

This book! I enjoyed this immensely. I first fell in love with Axelrod’s work through “The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes”. When I saw this and read the description; a female main character that is a rockstar drummer I was like “yes, please!” I enjoyed the sweet romance, but my favorite is experiencing Kayla’s journey of coming into her power. She, like most woman, doesn’t realize the key role she plays and often refers to herself as “just the drummer”. Through it all you just want her to know her worth and succeed at whatever she puts her mind to.

i hope you enjoy it too.
And as always Happy Reading!!

I loved coming back to Lillys!! This book was so good, following the drummer Kayla, as she falls for the tour bus driver Ty. They both deal with some heavy things during the book. It was such a great story!

Things I loved about this book:
Kayla!!! I loved learning so much about her. The grief and love she had for her brother was so strong. I love that the drums brought them together.
Ty!! He had some very unfortunate and frankly racist/systemic things happen to him and he deserved good things. I am so glad we got to meet him in this one and see him succeed. The stuff Jordan found out about him 😤
Van. I loved Ty’s Pop-Pop and how cute he was. He just wanted Ty to flourish.
Loved getting to see the band interact and grow. While this was Kayla’s story, the band had some huge moments in this book!!
The band taking the (mostly) higher road when it came to Candi.
The love and support.
When Kayla bought Ty the book 🥹🥹
That ending was so so good! Can’t wait for the next round of the Lillys!
Side note - are Tiff and Lilly into each other?? Kinda feels like there might be something there… 👀👀

@xioaxelrod has a gem of a series here. Loved it!!

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

This book is part of an interconnected series, but could technically be read as a standalone. I’d highly recommend reading the first one first though!

Kayla is the drummer for The Lillys— an all girl band about to make it big. Her whole life she’s been told by her parents what to do and who to be, but now she’s finally doing what she wants. Kayla is keeping her two lives separate— that is until a reporter starts digging up things about The Lillys and those around them.

Tyrell is the new bus driver for The Lillys as they embark on a summer of touring. Ty is quiet and sticks to himself, mainly reading on the bus. Kayla feels an instant connection to Ty, and the two immediately become friends. Ty’s past is dug up by the reporter and he considers pulling away. He has a criminal record that derailed his life—although he was falsely accused by a girl from a prominent family.

I enjoyed this one a lot! It was heavy at times (FMC lost a brother), but overall left me feeling giddy! Ty and Kayla have been through a lot and complement each other!