.ok yessssssss, I loved everything about this one. I didn't read the 1st book yet and after this I may have to now go back and read Toni and Seb's story but hiii yesss helloooo a new book boyfriend is born. Of course i loved Kayla, drummer extraordinaire who has her own family baggage going on but Ty mi amor!! Our hero is a pan black man who is a bookworm and wears a kilt and has his ears and nose pierced mmhmm. These two together were so sweet and cute.

I loved how their relationship grew and they just talked things out? Their openness with each other was really refreshing. I love how much they're both enamored with each other in different ways, and they just pay attention. For eg: Ty giving Kayla his straw because he knows she needs something to tap with and she doesn't have her drum sticks. small gestures like this maaaan, so cuuute in romance.

Their romance was a good balance with the rise of the Lillys! I loved getting to each know each member of the band and at no time did I feel like the romance was overshadowed.

Whew, Kayla's issues with her mom come to a head which was much needed and so does the stuff Ty had to deal with, with his past and fears about his grandfather's health etc.

The author did a great job with showcasing the music industry I think. (she's a recording artiste herself so!) Even though some of the descriptions of things did go over my head lol it wasn't too jargon heavy or anything like that to the point of bogging down the flow of the story.

Loved Kayla and Ty, loved all the other characters as well (except Candi she can kick rocks meh!) and I can' wait to see whose book is next. I'm really intrigued by whatever's going on with Tiff so *eye emoji*

I read the first book in this series, The Lillys, and I super enjoyed it so when I saw book two on NetGalley, I requested it. In this second book about the members of the badass girl band, The Lillys, we get to know the drummer, Kayla, and the man who ends up being their tour bus driver, Ty. While they come from seemingly different backgrounds, they bond over their favorite books and music. Their love story takes place over the course of two festival touring circuits, with family drama and former bandmate drama weaving in and out of their narratives. Kayla has been hiding what she's doing from her family because she fears their reaction and is trying to avoid a fight. Ty, meanwhile, is doing his best to take care of and support his only real family member, his grandpa, while grappling with the guilt and horror and anger he has after he was falsely accused of plagiarism and assault. Needless to say, both Kayla and Ty are working through some things and it's interesting to see how they begin to lean on each other and the band as they figure things out. Their love story is sweet and gentle and fun.

In addition to their story, the story of the band is equally engaging. I am very curious about Tiff and Lilly, as well as what's going to happen with Candi and their record label. Their band seems like they're on the cusp of mega stardom while their label seems intent on making every step of their rise to fame incredibly difficult, which makes zero sense....something I'm sure will be addressed in later novels.

All in all a great read that has me eager for the rest of the series.

Drummer Kayla Whitman and her band, The Lillys, are about to make it big. On the road for their first big tour, the band-turned-found-family adds one more member to the crew: bus driver Ty Baldwin. Kayla is immediately drawn to Ty’s gentle demeanor and his love of literature, but they both need to offload burdens from their past to make room for a new relationship. Ty is a dreamy book boyfriend, but I fell head over heels for his grandfather and loved every moment he graced the page.

I read Axelrod's last book and I jumped on this as fast as I could. I was not disappointed. I loved a kilt wearing character. I loved the way the names had the power of the characteristics that each character was supposed to be inhabiting and a signal for the shifts in how the characters were perceived. I would have loved to punch Candi. I wanted to boycott YMI. I want to hear their music and go to one of their concerts. I read this as a standalone, it's been way too long since I read "Stars in her eyes" but I want to go back and read them again together and see how much more I see having read them as a companion.

Girls with Bad Reputations is the second book in The Lillys series. Kayla is a drummer in The Lillys, yet she has always been told that she needs to be quieter to fit in. As the band becomes more well known, she must decide whether she is comfortable with the additional publicity. Luckily, tour bus driver Ty is a sweet and calm presence in the chaos of touring. The band goes through its share of challenges, including ex-bandmates and media drama. Is Kayla ready to choose the music world over everything?

While this series was new to me, it was very easy to become quickly invested. I loved how both Ty and Kayla never conformed to expectations and instead found ways to authentically be themselves. I enjoyed the way they used books and music to connect. I also loved Ty’s relationship with his grandpa and the important caretaking conversations they had. Kayla also has difficult conversations with her mom. Kayla has become someone other than who her mother envisioned her to be and wonders if she will still be accepted for who she is.

In Girls with Bad Reputations, Kayla gains confidence and belief in herself as a musician. She truly comes into her own! Her relationship with Ty is sweet and realistic. I loved their scenes together! The other members of The Lillys are charismatic and engaging. I can’t wait to see where Kayla and the Lillys go next!

Readers who enjoy the power of music, characters coming into their own, and strong ensemble casts will love Girls With Bad Reputations.

Thank you to Xio Axelrod, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

Thank you to NetGalley, author Xio Axelrod, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I'm really glad that I revisited the first book in The Lillys series before reading this one because Girls with Bad Reputations picked up right where The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes left off. And I loved that about this book! Axelrod does an amazing job of continuing the story and The Lillys' journey on as their band grows without rehashing the previous book, which was refreshing. This was Kayla's story from the very beginning, and I found her to be very relatable. I could definitely understand the feeling of not being who your parents want you to be, and I think Axelrod did a great job of representing anxiety between both her and Ty. I thought their relationship was beautifully portrayed, although not quite as magnetic as Seb and Toni for me. I did love with these being romance books that also are contemporary fiction books with the band plot that we got to see more of Seb and Toni, as well as Tiff and Lilly! The book was well-balanced between giving space for the band, romance, and both of Kayla and Ty's stories. I didn't love just quite how quickly Kayla and her mom resolved things, but for a fiction book, that is a minor complaint. I'm already ready to dive into the next book about The Lillys and learn more about Tiff and Lilly!

Great story! So fun! A little short on romance. Women's fiction might be a more fitting category. This is definitely the story about a woman coming into her own. Loved that!

I absolutely love the Lilly's series. Xio has made a great cast of women, who grow in unity and support of each other throughout both books. Seeing them champion each other, learn about each other, try to be the best they can be to each other really makes these books. It's what I loved the most about Girl With Stars in Her Eyes. BUT THIS BOOK????? Ty and Kayla SHONE.

Kayla - a badass drummer who is battling internal and family expectations of what excellence means. I loved seeing a rich, bougie, Black family! And then Ty who is a Black, bisexual, truck driver trying to pick up the pieces from white supremacy and weaponized white woman tears impacting his school career. He is pushing back on expectations of what it means to be a Black man, as someone who is bisexual and writes poetry. Shining light on the multitudes of Black men!!!!!! And he wears utility kilts.... I just.

They are so hot together, so swoony together, so sweet together. Their slow burn and support of each other. Plus don't even get me started on Ty's grandpa!!!!!!! I loved him and their relationship. Overall this book is a slam dunk!

For Kayla, chasing her dreams means hiding from her past. Girls with Bad Reputations is for anyone who struggled with finding themselves when they were drowning in opinions - parents, friends, society. GwBR is filled with Black love, nerds, and joy as it calls out respectability politics and classism. You’ll find yourself yelling at characters to get their act together & holding them close as life throws them loop after loop. Xio Axelrod gives us a fast-paced queer romance that is a must pack for your next road trip.

An added bonus to this book is that Xio released singles of The Lillys. Available where you find music online.

Note that this is the second in a series but holds up on its own.

Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the ARC in return for an honest review. I enjoyed this book and felt that the characters were very real and well rounded. Their personal challenges and their romance was super well done too.

Oh my goodness, I LOVED this book. Solid five star read for me!

“Her brain did funny things when he was around, not to mention her heart.”

It follows Kayla Whitman, their electric drummer, who has been performing in secret from her family due to their judgements and expectations, and Ty Baldwin, their new tour bus driver who previously in academia but plans were derailed after false accusations. Kayla sun Ty were SO good together and their chemistry was crackling.

“You make my head spin,” he whispered into the space between them.

Plus, there’s lots of behind the scenes of an up-and-coming all-girl rock band which was so fun and energizing to read. Xio really knows the music industry and it shows. I switched back & forth between ebook and audiobook, and enjoyed the narration of Benjamin Charles and Tyla Collier, too.

I Received an advanced reading copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

This brought feel-good warm fuzzies of a lovable couple falling hard and fast and also wove in some tough but tenderly, thoughtfully explored topics. Big fan of the all-female rock band empowerment and joy, their supportive entourage, and the fun they had on their road to success.

Content notes: misogyny, toxic family relationships, grief, death of a sibling, death of a parent, ailing caregiver and grandparent, racist injustice in the criminal justice system.

Thank you Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the advance review copy; all opinions are my own!

Girls With Bad Decisions by Xio Axelrod
The Lilly’s series #2. Girl rock band contemporary romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series. This book takes place directly after the first book and the couple from the first book are secondary characters / part of the band, in this book.
Kayla Whitman started to learn to play the drums from her older brother. After he died, she has put her focus and dreams on being a drummer in a rock band. She’s also living a secretive life with the band by using a different name. Her band mates don’t know her real name or that she grew up with restrictions of being proper, quiet, and behaved.
Ty Baldwin is the new driver on the band’s tour of county and State Fairs. He’s constantly reading which makes him a kindred spirit for Kayla and the two soon grow close. He’s had some legal trouble in the past but he just wants to move forward now with a good job to help take care of his grandfather.
But the past isn’t easily forgotten or hidden.

I was so excited to start this second book. I really loved Toni and Seb’s story. This starts shortly after the first from Kayla’s POV. Kayla is impressed with the other women in the group and their talents. She doesn’t realize the key role she plays and often refers to herself as “just the drummer”. Her past is a bit sad and you want her to succeed.
Kayla and Ty together are adorable with their love of books, and carving out their own style. Both have family issues they don’t want to address but they can’t get away with ignoring.
It’s has both sweet and rock and roll vibes and with the band on the route to success, I’m looking forward to the next book of the Lilly’s.
4.5

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

We pick up with the Lillys after the events to of the first book. They touring the festival circuit generating some buzz for their first album. The story focuses on Kayla, their drummer, and Ty, their tour bus driver.

The story is told primarily in the present but we get some glimpses of Kayla from when she was younger and her relationship with her family, who she has been keeping her music career from. Ty had a dealt with an incident at college which led to some jail time and he is still dealing with that trauma.

Kayla and Ty had that insta-love connection, they had a lot in common and just clicked. Funny enough there is the non-fraternizing clause in Ty’s contract and to be honest, I’m not sure why they bothered. That contract is a relationship magnet.

Even with some of the heavy subjects of the book, I enjoyed the story and how Kayla and Ty worked through their issues and trauma. Plus, the band had to deal with the continuing drama caused by their label and Candi, their former bandmate. I am looking forward to the next book about the Lillys, thinking it might be Tiff’s story, to see how all of this plays out.

Read this if you enjoy:
🎸 Friends to lovers
🎸 Road Trip
🎸 Found Family
🎸 Strong female characters
🎸 Music industry and Rockstars

The author truly did her thing with this book. I absolutely loved it. From the nontraditional characters, to the secondary characters and the storyline, which kept me entertained and captivated from the first word right up until the very end. Van, Tye's grandfather was one of the absolute best secondary characters I've read. I loved how the author brought all of the characters to life. I didn't get a chance to read the first book in this series, but that will be rectified immediately. This was my first book from this author and it surely won't be my last.

All her life, Kayla heard the same refrain: Don't be so loud. Don't act so wild. Don't take up so much space. Now she's the beating heart of an up-and-coming rock band…and the whole world is going to know her name.

Once upon a time, the pressure to be the perfect daughter nearly broke Kayla Whitman. Desperate to find an outlet away from her controlling mother, she picked up a pair of drumsticks, forever altering the rhythm of her life. Since then, she's been determined to make her own way, finding her home with her bandmates even as she fights to keep her past and her present firmly separate.

Things were simple enough when the Lillys were playing local gigs at dive bars, but now they're on their first official tour—and all Kayla can see are warning signs. Desperate to escape the worry churning inside her, Kayla finds solace in quiet tour bus driver Ty Baldwin…and discovers in him a kindred spirit like no one she's ever met before.

Their connection is immediate and intense, but when increasing scrutiny from the press threatens to destroy Ty's newfound peace and Kayla's carefully guarded secrets, Kayla's forced to make an impossible choice: pursue her dream and risk destroying everyone around her? Or give in and lose the chance of ever becoming the person she's always known she could be.

Follow the Lillys as they chase down their dream:

The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes, Book 1

Girls with Bad Reputations, Book 2

My Take:
This series allows us to journey with the Lillys through a contemporary romance series. While not high heat, the books are steamy, and more importantly a love letter to music lovers. Read this if you enjoyed Daisy Jones and the Six and Opal and Nev, but wanted more time with individual members or imagined being with the band.

Xio really knows her stuff and it shows in her writing. I felt like I was a groupie along for the ride. I really loved Kayla and the band. It’s going to be exciting to see what’s next

3.5/5 Stars

Thank you to Sourcebooks Cascablanca and Dreamscapes audio for providing me with an arc and audio arc to review.

I was sent a netgalley widget for an earc of this book and didn’t know what to expect out of it but I actually enjoyed it. It was a bit slow for me but otherwise I really enjoyed the plot and characters. Our characters are flawed and are just trying to live life how they want to live.

Kayla grew up constantly hearing how she had to act, to not be loud, don’t act wild, don’t take up space, and definitely don’t go into music. But desperate to find a safe place she takes up the drums to get away from her mother’s opinions and to follow in her brother’s footsteps. Keeping her rock n roll band secret was easy when they were playing bars and small venues but now they are growing and secrets are going to come out whether they like it or not. Ty is just trying to survive and provide for his grandfather but after he was accused and charged in the public eye of horrible things almost all opportunities disappeared. He gets a job as a bus driver for Kayla’s band, but even when sparks fly between the two they can’t let anything happen until his contract is up due to a no fraternization policy. But when secrets start coming to light they have to figure out how to not let that get to them.

I loved Ty’s arc and seeing him deal with the realities of being accused and charged of assault in the public eye as a black man even though he is innocent. We see him have nightmares and run into people who still just see him as that but we also see Kayla instantly reassure him that theres no way he did that and she believes him instantly. Kayla grew up being forced into this picture perfect role, perfect daughter, perfect student, perfect person. She finally is breaking out of her shell with the Lilly’s but she struggles with keeping the band and her family separate as she doesn’t think her family will accept her being in a band.

I exclusively listened to the audiobook and I really liked the narrators. I don’t know if I would have finished this without the audiobook as it helped with it being slower than most books I read. Both Tyla Collier and Benjamin Charles did an amazing job as Kayla and Ty. I am super picky with male narrators but I really liked Benjamin in this book.

I do recommend this and I do plan on reading the first book in the series as I liked the writing style and characters.

5 STARS!

Xio Axelrod could write a phone book and I would read it. My god, she is such a brilliant writer! I absolutely loved Kayla and Ty's story in The Lilly's series. Kayla is the drummer for the band, and Ty winds up becoming their tour bus driver. They find a quick and deep connection with one another that is irresistible, smoldering, and teeming with chemistry. They both bring baggage to the table. Kayla has a fraught relationship with her perfectionist mother, who has tried her damndest to control Kayla's life and keep her away from music, one of the few things that keeps her tethered to her brother Zach, who passed away when he was a teenager. Kayla was the inspiration for her mother's children's book series "Little Miss Yolanda," the perfect A+ child who can do no wrong. Becoming a rock and roll star is antithetical to everything her family stands for, and is in direct opposition to everything Little Miss Yolanda is. Ty was raised by his grandfather, who means the world to him and has had various health issues throughout the years. Ty thought he had it made when he was going to college, until someone he considered a "friend" lied and said he plagiarised her work and physically assaulted her. The university took the woman's side, kicking Ty out of school with no evidence to support her claim. He has been trying to pick up the pieces of his shattered life ever since. Eventually, he becomes the tour bus driver for the Lilly's, comes slowly out of his more introverted shell, meets Kayla, and the rest, as they say, is history. Even though Kayla and Ty are a relatively young couple, they feel like mature and realistic characters. Both of them have terrific arcs that feel authentic to their characters. The steam between the two of them is undeniably sensual and incredibly alluring. As with "The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes," the found family element here is strong and makes the story much more rich and complex. The members of the Lilly's have such an indelible bond with one another. Their rock story is chockful to the brim with passion, power, love, respect, and admiration... that, and kick a$$ music! It seems like there are a lot of moving parts to this story, and there are, but Xio Axelrod balances each storyline so no one plot point outshines the other, ensuring that nothing is dropped by the wayside. I absolutely loved this book, and I truly hope you give this series a chance. Xio Axelrod is one of the best romance writers out there right now!!! Llisten to the audiobook, if you can, because narrators Benjamin Charles and Tyla Collier bring these characters to life. This is one of the best audiobooks I have listened to as of late. They did a splendid job differentiating between the characters. Fantastic work!

Thank you to NetGalley, Xio Axelrod, and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I love reading books that are set “behind the scenes”, and reading about a touring rock band was especially fun.

Kayla Whitman is the drummer in an up and coming female rock band. Her mom is the author of a very well known book series about a perfect young girl, based on Kayla. Kayla knows that her career choice has disappointed her mother, and she’s uncomfortable with being the book model so she keeps the band a secret from her mother and the books a secret from her band mates. The more successful the band becomes the more likely her secrets will become public.

Ty Baldwin is the band’s tour bus driver. He’s had a rough time in his past and now he quietly keeps to himself and reads and writes poetry in his spare time. When Kayla and Ty meet, they discover that they’re kindred spirits and spend the long hours on the road getting to know each other and exploring their chemistry.

When the press starts sniffing around them, Kayla knows it’s time to tell the truth to her mother and her newfound family band mates.

I really enjoyed this captivating book, 4 stars.

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