As someone who often daydreams about my second life where I am musically talented and excellent at playing the drums, I was happy to live vicariously through Kayla and The Lilly’s.

Ty was a great character and I loved how they moved through the world, even with so many things already against them from the start.

They were perfect for each other and were able to do that thing where they are what the other person needs in the moment, even if they weren’t looking or hoping for anything. It was cute and fun and rock and roll 🤘🏽 😎

Thanks to #NetGallery and publisher for a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Genre: Romance MF
Format: Audio
POV: Single
Spice: 🌶️ /5
Age suggestion: 18+

I'm disappointed that Book of the Month chose not to continue with the second Lilly's book, after I had really loved The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes. I think contemporary fiction novels about black women in Rock music are few and far between, and these novels in particular (while also being love stories) are something I'd really like to see more of since so many books BOTM chooses by black authors are traumatic. I think there is a lot of value in having books that are quite different than the normal offerings, and I wish I could have also had a matching set when the others come out. Alas, I was super psyched to get the audiobook from Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, because I got to hear the book which added a really fun, different experience for me that I enjoyed a lot. The two different narrators were really wonderful, and I will 100% look up other work that they've done.

I like that the love story in the book is not technically the main focus, and it didn't feel very forced to me which was also quite enjoyable. The characters are super likable (you already know Kayla a little bit if you read TGWSIHE) and Ty is wonderful. Both characters are trying to move forward and away from their respective pasts, and the book is filled with really fun characters along the way. Ty's Grandfather, Van, was 100% my favorite.

You don't have to read TGWSIHE to enjoy this book. You'll miss the fall-out with Candy which is a subplot, but nothing else is super ties in in a way where this book isn't enjoyable. I think that is really interesting, but great for people who may not want to double back. You will spoil the couple from the first novel, and a bit of the plot over there, but if you don't care about that you can always double back as well.

Overall, I was happy to find The Lilly's again, and catch up with where they are now. I hope it doesn't take 3 years to get the next one!

The second book in The Lillys featuring the drummer as our FMC. I absolutely loved this second installment of Xio’s slow burn friends to lovers rockstar romance. This was so beautiful and so well written. Loved the exposition into Kayla’s character and discussions into her family dynamics. Loved Ty’s quiet strength and how just unapologetically himself he was. From the simple scenes of them sitting down next to each other relaxing with an audiobook to fighting tooth and nail for justice for each other, I loved how they both grew into their own, how they gained confidence, how they simply captivated each other. With this series, Xio truly writes from the heart and with so much knowledge of the music industry. I seriously can’t wait for all the other girls’ stories.
(+) bisexual MMC, bisexual FMC (everyone in the band is basically bisexual), grief and loss of family members

This fell way flat for me. This kind of dragged on for what seemed like forever, which left it hard for me to get engaged in this listen. Took me a long time to power through this listen, hoping somewhere I would start enjoying this, but it just didn’t do it for me. Narrators did a great job of their own characters, but when they changed their voices to be other characters, it was kind of cringe worthy. It actually took everything in me not to shut this down early, but I wasn’t feeling like a quitter this week.

Thank you to Dreamscape Audio and Netgalley for the change to listen to this ARC.

It was really good but Xio never dissapoints. She really encapsulated teen angsts, rock music and first loves

There was a lot to enjoy about this book. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the elements of the band.

Girls With Bad Reputations was an entertaining romance/women’s fiction. The characters were well thought out with great backstories, and the supporting characters were all unique with stories of their own ready to be explored and told. I thought the contrast between the female and male main characters were contrasting in a way that was also complementary to their love story. And I loved how the scenes were based on the female main character’s band tour. Very fun!

The story addressed important situations/circumstances as well, which made this story not only fun, but relevant and needed.

I listened to the audiobook, which had two wonderful narrators who brought the characters to life. They complemented each other well. I listened at 2x speed with 1.75x speed being my “normal”.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this advanced audio copy.

Girls with Bad Reputations is #2 in The Lillys series. This book centers around the drummer, Kayla and how she falls for the tour bud driver, Ty.

This book is fire. Following Kayla and Ty's journey on tour while also braiding in history of where they have come from. The audiobook has Benjamin Charles and Tyla Colier going back and forth from Ty and Kayla's perspective. This is perhaps my favorite part of the book.

Indie Rockers, book nerds, and navigating challenging pasts, this book is worth the listen.

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook.

Story: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Audio: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you @ntegallery and @ dreamscape_media for giving me access ot this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a wonderful blend of heartbreak, love and found family. I adored The Lily’s and the dynamic of the 4 women in this band. It was beautiful to see Kayla become the woman she strives to be away from the pressures of others. Her story and the rising success of her band The Lily’s seemed to over shadow the romance portion of this book but I have no issue with that!

I loved the topics this books addressed and I believe it addressed them really well. I saw the parental pressures, a found family, systemic racism and the very beautiful way consent can be woven into a healthy relationship. The communication in this book was fantastic!

This story was one that felt so incredibly real and as such pulled me in. I will definitely read more of @xioaxelrod in the future!

The characters are dynamic and electric. Their personalities and stories started the story off with promise. While I continued to love them throughout the book, the storyline went in a more “family drama” direction than I cared for. That is not to say that that aspect was not done well - it was, I’m just not a fan of those particular plot lines.

One of the things I appreciated the most was the clear and skilled communication between our main characters. Haters of the miscommunication trope will find a fast friend in this sweet romance. Another amazing bonus: it is extremely consent heavy!!

Thank you Xio Axelrod and NetGalley for my advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review! My opinions are my own.

Plot - 4
Writing and Editing - 4
Character Development - 4
Narration - 5
Personal Bias - 3
Final Score - 4

I loved the second installment of this series. I cannot wait for more from The Lillys as they are getting their big break! Just a fun and heartwarming story of a group of found family as each member works their way through past and present trauma. The audiobooks for this series are all phenomenal and bring this story to life. #GirlswithBadReputations #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley for this arc & a chance to step outside of my comfort zone with new fiction books. This just wasn’t my cup of tea , nothing genuine wrong I’m just not ready or not a fan of grief.

I found myself struggling with this book, ultimately deciding to DNF it at the 29% mark. Having enjoyed the audiobook of the first installment, "The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes," I was eager for the opportunity to listen to the sequel, "Girls with Bad Reputations." Unfortunately, it did not resonate with me as I had hoped.

While the book wasn't inherently "bad" — the writing flowed well, and it encompassed the tropes I typically enjoy — the pace was dragging. Despite making multiple attempts to listen, I couldn't shake the sense that the story was progressing too slowly for my taste. As a mood reader, I considered that perhaps my mindset wasn't aligned with the book's atmosphere during my initial attempts. However, my struggles continued after setting it aside and coming back after reading something else.

Perhaps I will come back to this at another time and try it again, but as of right now I just couldn't get into it.

The narration was very smooth, however it didn't keep me engaged. I often found myself getting distracted while listening and having to rewind the book to relisten to what I missed.

This audiobook listen was a re-read of this book for me and it was phenomenal! I loved the Dual POV narrators for Kayla and Ty. They did a fantastic job embodying the characters and portraying their emotions. I thought the audio was very well done.

This book was wonderful!!! A black girl drummer in a rock band, living her truth, while being and amazing person!!! I loved every bit of it. I loved Kayla's story, and seeing her being so soft and vulnerable, yet strong and determined to come into her own. The relationship with her mom tripped me out sometimes but I was so happy to see her navigate it in a way that was healthy for her. Seeing her finally freeing herself to express her true feelings and be seen in all her fullness by her mom was such a joy to watch. Sometimes parents want the best for use without realizing how much their machinations can suffocate the growth of the very child they are aiming to successfully propel into this harsh world. The romance between Kayla and Ty was so sweet and wholesome!! I loved Ty's personality,the way he cared for his grandfather, his consideration for Kayla, and him just living in his truth and not letting society dictate the way he showed up in this world. The band members and Kayla's dad were also a wonderful cast to this story. My favorite character was Ty's grandpa, I couldn't get enough of his cooking and love for Ty. This book tackled some big topics, but I appreciated the approach and resolutions we got by the end.
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape media for the audio book. The narrators were awesome and really brought the characters to life.

3.75⭐, 2🌶️

Did I choose chaos and listened to this book before reading book one of the series? Yes. HOWEVER, props to Xio because I feel like I didn't miss much (probably some details about Candy in the band and obviously a lot of information about Toni and Seb's relationship.) I'll likely go back and read it because I generally enjoyed this book and loved the girls of The Lily's

Overall, this book felt a bit longer than necessary. The romance felt secondary to both Kayla and Ty's family/ life problems. It was nice that their relationship was low drama, but it just didn't keep me as enthralled as some other books, especially as a Rockstar romance!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of Girls with Bad Reputations, written by Xio Axelrod, narrated by Benjamin Charles and Tyla Collier.

Cute romance book loved the characters, the story, and how their relationship developed. Also enjoyed Kayla she was focused on what she wanted to do in her own life. She was a fantastic drummer. Let’s not forget sweet Ty who is loving and cares so much about his grandpa and even though life was not fair to him he was positive and would keep going forward.

𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐚𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 (𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐿𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑦𝑠 #2)
𝐁𝐲 𝐗𝐢𝐨 𝐀𝐱𝐞𝐥𝐫𝐨𝐝
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟐.𝟔.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒


Thank you @sourcebookscasa for the #gifted book.

Thank you @dreamscape_media for the gifted audiobook.

I love that Kayla is a female drummer in a rock band! I love that this book addresses that most people assume she’s not the drummer, too. Kayla is a great character; not only is she the drummer for the Lillys, who are about to go on their first official tour, but she’s hiding part of who she is from her bandmates and the world.

As they set out on tour, they hire Ty as their tour bus driver, and Kayla immediately finds she loves talking with Ty. The press looks to dig into their personal lives as Kayla and Ty grow closer - both are afraid of what they will uncover.

I didn’t read the first book, which is not a must, but it may help you understand the dynamics between the bandmates better. Nevertheless, I enjoyed Kayla and Ty’s blossoming relationship, especially when you add Kayla’s overbearing mother and Ty’s super sweet relationship with his granddad.

The descriptions of band and tour life, plus great friendships, made this a fun and entertaining read / listen. But be ready to get hit with some deep feels, too.

Girls With Bad Reputations is a continuation of the journey of The Lillies, an all girl rock band trying to get their big break. In this episode, we go on festival tour and meet drummer Kayla and tour bus driver Ty. Both are keeping some secrets and trying to live their lives on their terms. As an audiobook listener, I was tickled that Ty listens to audiobooks while driving the bus (one earbud for safety!). We have more drama from the label and their former band mate, which isn’t resolved yet. I recommend reading the series in order because of the label and former band mate drama, and the growth of the band.

When I read the first book in The Lillys series, I fell in love with Kayla - the badass, book loving drummer of the group. Getting to know Kayla on a deeper level in this book was such a pleasure.

Kayla and Ty's love is quiet and comfortable, blooming organically. The slow burn was so deliciously painful, but so, so worth it. I enjoyed getting to know Ty - his relationship with his grandfather was adorable.

I cannot wait to get more of The Lillys. Loved the narrators of this book - they did such a wonderful job bringing Kayla & Ty to life.