The premise of this book sounded so good. But it took so long to get to the main issue from years ago, only for it to be a miscommunication trope. Not even miscommunication, no communication. That really annoyed me.

Ever want to throw a book across the room? Yeah, that was this one for me. Bad Publicity had potential, but the payoff just didn’t deliver. And to call this a “rom-com” is laughable. You spend nearly the entire book waiting to understand what happened five years ago between the FMC and MMC, only to be met with the classic “if you’d just let them finish their sentence, it wouldn’t have been that bad” trope.

I get what the author was going for—a slow unraveling of past hurt—but it ended up creating more confusion than intrigue, and made it hard to connect with the characters. The FMC, in particular, was difficult to warm up to. Her strained dynamic with her mother and refusal to communicate made her feel closed off and at times even unlikable.

This felt less like a romance and more like a slow, frustrating exploration of grief and unresolved emotion. If you like vague tension and ambiguous flashbacks, this might work for you—but I needed more emotional clarity and character depth than I got here.

I had to DNF this book, and honestly, it was a bit of a disappointment. The main female character, who also serves as the narrator, was tough to connect with. Right from the start, her treatment of her mom made her come off as unlikable, and some of her decisions just felt unnecessarily frustrating.

As I read on, I kept waiting for her to fully address the issues she had with Jack, but instead, there were only vague hints this allowed for me as a reader to come up with my own conclusions that suggested something really traumatic had happened between them. To me, this story didn’t read like a romance at all; it felt more like a journey through grief and the significance of friendship. It’s a shame it didn’t resonate with me the way I’d hoped.

Bad Publicity, the debut novel by Bianca Gillam, offers a romantic comedy layered with themes of grief, unresolved relationships, and professional identify. The novel centers on Andie, a New York book publicist who must engage a high-profile European book tour, with none other than her college ex, Jack Carlson as the featured author. The setup is ripe for tension: Andie, new hired at her dream job, finds herself thrown into a professional whirlwind when she's forced to work closely with Jack, the man who left a signficiant emotional mark during her university years. What should be a career-defining moment becomes an emotional minefield, as the two embark on a tour across Europe grappling with old wounds and new challenges.

From my standpoint, the book was slow to develop. The early chapters did little to pull me in. I found myself immedately frustrated with Andie, who despite landing her dream job, comes across as unprofessional and emotionally immature when faced with Jack on her first day. Rather than showing the resilience and competence expected in such a moment, her aloof behavior was off-putting. Frankly, it made me question her credibility and set a sour tone that lingered throughout much of the story.

The pacing doesn't do much to compensate. The narrative unfolds slowly, with emotional revelations and romantic developments delayed to the point of diminishing their impact. While the story does attempt to tackle grief and personal growth, those themes feel overshadowed by a lack of urgency and chemistry between the leads.

While Bad Publicity may appeal to readers who enjoy introspective, character driven romances with a slow-burn structure, it may test the patience of those looking of sharper dialouge, stronger pacing, or more dynamic protagonists.

What a phenomenal debut about the power of heartache & healing. Then add a good slow burn + enemies-to-lovers into the mix and it’s just about perfect.

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The story follows Andie as she lands her dream job as a publicist, but soon comes to find out that the first author she’s paired to work with is none other than the man who broke her heart 5 years ago while at University. For the next month she has to figure out how to function on tour with the one person she swore she’d never see again.

It starts out slow, but the tension slowly begins to build as you read more and more. I was so on edge and anxious to find out what happened between Andie and Jack to understand why it was fueling her hatred toward him. Then when it was revealed… it’s so heartbreaking to see how easily things can go downhill from just one decision and miscommunication.

This story was such an accurate representation of the journey and battle of grief, and how difficult it can be to break from that cycle. And also how easily it can affect not only the person dealing with it, but others around them as well. Friends, family, lovers, etc.

Follow Andie as she navigates through her heartache and loneliness, and how she learns to listen to and appreciate the people close to her. But most of all how opening up and confronting grief, instead of running and hiding from it, can be the first step to the path of healing.

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4.5 ⭐️ for me. The beginning was difficult for me to get into. I wasn’t liking the characters as much as I was wanting to, but it progressively got better as the book continued.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.

This book has been waiting ever so patiently in my arc tbr queue and I’m mentally kicking myself for not reading it sooner! It was a beautiful tale of love and loss and second chances and moving forward.. my only issue with it is that it ended 😅 I need more!

4 Stars – Fun, Sharp, and Full of Heart!

Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam is such a refreshing, fun read — packed with witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and a great look behind the curtain of fame and media. From the start, I was hooked by the sharp writing and the relatable, messy characters. Bianca’s style is fast-paced and filled with so much heart, making the story feel alive. While there were a few moments where I wanted just a little more depth or development in parts, overall the journey was incredibly satisfying. Bad Publicity is a smart, addictive romance that I definitely recommend — it’s the perfect book to escape into when you want something sharp, fun, and full of feeling!

Bad Publicity is a heartfelt story that feels much more like a journey through grief and healing than a traditional romance, and if you go into it knowing that, there’s a lot to appreciate.

Andie’s struggle with loss is raw, real, and written with a lot of care. Bianca Gillam clearly poured a lot of heart into showing how messy grief can be, and those moments are where the book truly shines. Jack, the love interest, is a patient, quietly supportive presence, and their shared history adds some nice emotional depth.

That said, if you’re like me and you prefer your romances on the spicier side, just know going in that this one leans much more toward emotional slow-burn and personal growth than swoony chemistry or steamy moments. The romance takes a backseat to Andie’s healing, and while that makes sense for her character, it does mean the relationship feels a little understated.

Overall, this is a lovely, bittersweet story about second chances and finding yourself again after loss. If you're looking for something tender and introspective (rather than high-heat romance), Bad Publicity might be a great fit for you.

Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam is a stellar example of the much loved enemies to lovers trope, but where some enemies to lovers novels fall flat, Gillam’s novel had so much depth.

In the book, Andie has landed her dream job, but the downside… She’s forced to work with Jack Carlson, a former classmate from university. While on a book tour together through Europe, Jack edges his way back under her skin, in good ways and bad, and their reunion begs the question: can their professional relationship withstand their entire trip to Europe, especially when that means facing what happened back at university?

What I loved so much about this novel was the dynamic between Andie and Jack. Together, there were fireworks between these characters. They made each other better, but they also had the power to bring out the worst as well. And while they worked so well together and kept the novel’s plot moving, they also stood so strongly on their own.

Both Andie and Jack – but especially Andie – had such strong backstories that even the moments we saw where these two characters were not together, still felt just as important as the ones where they were together. I especially loved pealing back Andie’s layers and learning more of who she is as a person; her backstory left me in tears at some moments and seeing her growth throughout the story made me feel so proud of her by the end.

And Jack… If you love a golden retriever boyfriend, meet Jack Carlson. I don’t have enough good things to say about his character. While Andie had moments where she could (understandably) be infuriating, Jack always knew the thing to say or do.

I think what stands out so much about Gillam’s novel is that you love the romance just as much as you love seeing the characters grow. Some novels have only romance or only character development, and I think this novel was so expertly driven by both of these things.

Can’t recommend it enough! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing me with the proof in exchange for an honest review!

Andie is plowing through life five years after her father's death and an incident in college-- both forced her to flee London for a job in America.

She built a calm, emotion free life where she succeeded at her chosen profession-- book publishing.

Now her best friend moved out and her new job put her right back into close quarters with the catalyst for that college incident she fled from years ago.

The novel wonders can Andie do her job and stay sane?

"Bad Publicity" is a romance wrapped in grief-- unknowingly in some senses.

Andie references her father's death and references the incident with Jack in college-- but never goes deeper. The reader doesn't even learn for most of the book. It's a scary time Andie put in a box in her head and never addressed.

Bianca Gillam's novel forces her to confront these things, to go to areas very far from her comfort zone and pushes the reader with her.

I read this not long after the death of my mother and found myself identifying and weeping along with Andie as I read.

The book is a sweet and eye opening look at rebuilding your life after grief-- what you need and what you can handle.

Will they, won't they? If you are looking for your next enemies-to-lovers second chance romance, look no further than Bad Publicity. This is Bianca Gillam's debut novel and I for one can't wait for more!

I hate to say it, but I didn't like the main character, which means for the most part I didn't like the book. While marketed as a romance, most of the book deals with our main character struggling with the loss of her father, five years ago. She's forced to go on book tour with a guy who betrayed her around the same time, but we don't know what happened until basically the end of the book. I just found Andie to be annoying and complainy instead of dealing with her problems. She pushes her mom and best friend away because they don't tell her what she wants to hear, or because she's too wrapped up in her own problems. Now do I get it, to an extent? Sure. But it went beyond that extent. I also didn't think the "romance" was necessary or relevant or anything. The characters didn't know each other well pre-drama 5-years ago and they don't know each other that well now, so I don't see how they fell in love. Jack (the love interest) has no personality and is basically a punching bag in the sense that Andie screws up, pushes him away, and he "takes her back" no questions asked. The publicist/travel part was fun to see, but I think that was about the only thing I found somewhat engaging.

"Bad Publicity" had an interesting premise and some genuinely funny moments, particularly in the witty banter between the main characters. I appreciated the author's attempt to explore the chaotic world of public relations and the pressures of maintaining an image. However, the plot felt a little uneven in places, and some of the secondary characters could have been more developed. While I enjoyed parts of the story and found it entertaining enough to finish, it didn't quite leave a lasting impression. It's a decent read if you're looking for something lighthearted, but it wasn't a standout for me.

3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book has all the ingredients for a solid second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance, an ambitious heroine, a globe-trotting book tour, and a past nemesis turned unexpected love interest.
The setup was fun and gave me early Emily Henry vibes, with smart banter and that familiar slow-burn tension!!

However, while the premise pulled me in, the execution didn’t fully land for me. Andie’s internal conflict felt real, but her actions often seemed inconsistent or confusing, which made it hard to stay fully invested in her emotional journey. I appreciated that the story tackled some deeper themes beneath the rom-com packaging, but the tonal shifts didn’t always blend smoothly..

That said, the travel settings were a highlight!
The locations weren’t overly described, but there was enough detail to ground the story and give it that escapist feel. I also appreciated that the enemies-to-lovers arc felt more grounded than usual, though I wish the emotional development between Andie and Jack had been explored more deeply on-page.

Overall, a decent read with an intriguing setup and some strong moments, but it left me wanting a bit more consistency and depth.

"A sparkling novel of second-chance romance and rebuilding after loss, in which an unexpected reunion could lead to a career-ending catastrophe or a new lease on life and love. . ."

At first I felt like I was reading an Emily Henry meets The Hating Game type of novel, and I was hopeful! Then the uncertainty of the female MC's actions just left a sour taste in my mouth. Having an unreliable narrator was not the way to go for this novel. It feels like he did something almost illegal to her. So it's very uncomfortable to read.

I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver. While the writing was solid and Jack, the male lead, was wonderful, Andie, the protagonist, was incredibly hard to like. I understand the impact of trauma and don’t dismiss it, but the author took Andie’s character to an extreme that made her emotional intelligence seem non-existent. She came across as selfish and juvenile, which made her difficult to connect with. It was especially frustrating because the writing itself was engaging. I really wanted to like Andie, but it just didn’t happen. I wish Gillam had spent more time developing Andie’s character early on, giving us a chance to understand and love her before revealing her more self-destructive side. To make matters worse, she has someone as wonderful as Jack completely devoted to her. This story had the potential to be something special, but it focused too much on Andie’s self-inflicted struggles. Honestly, I found myself wishing for better for Jack, and as a result, the ending felt unsatisfying.

Bad Publicity is a fun, fast-paced romp through the messy world of fame, lies, and PR disasters. Bianca Gillam serves up scandal, sass, and just the right amount of heart in a story that feels like a binge-worthy drama you can’t look away from. The twists keep coming, the characters bring the drama, and the stakes are deliciously high. It’s witty, wild, and totally addictive—perfect for anyone who loves their fiction with a side of chaos and a whole lot of attitude.

3.5/5 stars
Griet is such a monster to over come and the way the author spoke about Andie's grief is something I know a lot of people can relate to. I just feel like the romance was on the back burner with this one. This book should be categorized as a
"Finding Yourself" kind of book verses a romcom. The center of the book had more to do with healing, moving on, and learning how to be happy with yourself than it was about romance. Don't get me wrong, this story was beautifully written and made my heart break to the point where I had tears streaming down my face from it.
I have read quite a few "enemies to lovers," "second chances" where grief is present, but so is the romance aspect of it. I feel that Andie and Jacks back story was something different, maybe less serious or a situation that wouldn't hold as much resentment or animosity then their romance would have been more pronounced.
I still enjoyed this book immensely and adored every character. Sara is someone who you clearly want as your best friend. Supportive in every way, but will also call you out on your wrong doings and how seeing someone you love hurt themselves, is also hurting you too. Jack was the definition of patience. He was so patient, kind and was just there for Andie and when he heart was breaking for her, ugh mine broke too.
I would definitely recommend this book to someone who enjoys contemporary books, with a side of romance.

A quick, easy, enjoyable read.

Only reason I couldn't give it another star is it felt like there were too many plot lines happening at once that all were revealed at the same time. I wish some revelations came earlier in the book. This also felt like more of a contemporary romance than a rom-com. But overall I enjoyed the characters and finished it in a day!

Okay, it wasn't easy to turn my tangled thoughts into something slightly organized.

Andie's dream job as a senior book publicist quickly becomes complicated when she discovers her main author is Jack Carlson, the man who ruined her life in university five years ago. Now, she needs to figure out how to survive a month-long European book tour with him. She is determined not to let their complicated past derail her career opportunity – even if she occasionally fantasizes about running him over with a car.

The main themes of this book are grief and friendship. The romance is in the background.
Since the first few chapters, I had no empathy towards Andie. I found her extremely annoying and rude to her mother. I understand she was avoiding all thoughts about her father, therefore, not giving much attention to her mom, she never griefed properly and still doesn’t want to face those feelings but damn.
And for a second, I even thought she might have been romantically in love with her best friend. Maybe I'm just bitter and lonely.

I was waiting to feel butterflies like I always do when I read romcoms, but that didn't happen with Bad Publicity. As I mentioned, the romance is in the background. Andie hates Jack with all her might for something hideous he did to her that we have no idea what it is. I felt like they barely interacted throughout the story, so I couldn't even root for them. Also, because Andie is the least likable character I've ever read in a while.

I'm not saying this is a bad book. It's well written, but it's not a rom-com. Andie, trying to deal with the death of her father, is the biggest story here. And that's why I'm rating it a 2-star, because I came here for a silly enemies-to-lovers, but it's a bit deeper than that, without any warning. That should be mentioned somewhere in the summary.

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