I personally enjoy books centered around publicty and I think because it is one of my favorite tropes, I enjoyed this more than some other reviewers. This is much more than a romance and I appreciated seeing how the character grew throughtout the novel, alongside a romance developing. There were a lot of past feelings to overcome and I felt like the story pacing worked well for me!

This book left me wanting more and feeling a bit frustrated. I feel like the author wanted to write a different type of book and somehow ended up trying to write a romance novel, but it just didn't work. The characters felt like they need more depth and we as the reader needed more background knowledge. It was just okay overall. Not the worst book I've read but definitely not a top tier one either.

Okay, so calling Bad Publicity an “enemies to lovers” felt a bit generous — honestly, there wasn’t much actual enemy energy between Andie and Jack. They had some history from university, sure, but once they were forced to work together, they pretty much agreed to keep things civil and not stir up the past. Which meant most of their interactions were kind of surface-level small talk that didn’t pack much punch.

Even when the story aimed for some deeper conversations, it didn’t quite land for me — I was craving more of that classic angst, the slow burn pining, and all the emotional tension that usually makes these romances so addictive. It felt a bit like it was just skimming the surface.

What surprised me most is that the book leaned heavily into Andie’s personal journey dealing with grief and a mid-life crisis, which was handled with sensitivity and depth. But because of that focus, Jack ended up feeling a bit underdeveloped. I honestly struggled to get a solid sense of who he really was beyond being an author with some family baggage.

All of this meant their romance didn’t quite click for me. The chemistry felt low-key and not quite convincing enough to fully invest in their story. Still, the emotional themes were interesting, and the writing has its moments — just not the swoony romance I was hoping for.

Bianca Gillam’s debut is giving rom-com with emotional baggage- but in a good way! I really loved her writing style and the premise had me hooked.

This isn’t your standard fluffy rom-com. It dives into grief and healing, especially around the loss of Andie’s dad, which adds depth but might surprise readers expecting a breezy love story with quirky banter. There are jokes- but there are also tissues.

Andie was super well-developed and easy to root for, while Jack took his sweet time opening up—like, sir, who are you??

I still thought this was a promising and heartfelt debut. If you love second-chance romances with a little more weight, this one’s worth the read. Can’t wait to see what Bianca writes next!

(Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the e-ARC. Please keep the emotionally complex rom-coms coming!)

3.75 stars

Bad Publicity had all the ingredients for a standout romance—grief, personal growth, an irresistible setting, and that classic forced proximity dynamic. I was especially intrigued by the premise: a book publicist stuck on a European book tour with the man who broke her heart years ago? Sign me up.

But while the tension and chemistry were there, I found myself frustrated by how long we had to wait to learn what actually happened between the main characters. When the reveal did come, it was huge—but it wasn’t given the emotional weight or conversation I felt it deserved. Without true closure or accountability for both the MMC and another character from the past, the ending felt a little too neat for me.

There’s definitely an audience for this one: it’s a slow burn, enemies to lovers, with a strong sense of setting and lots of angst. If you love when the tension simmers for chapters on end, this might be your cup of tea. I just wish we got to see the healing and resolution, not just assume it with time.

(Also, lowkey hoping for a sequel to tie up some of the loose ends about what happened previously and really redeem Jack’s character.)

A fun lil workplace rom com. Pretty predictable but it was a fun enough read. I do wish some of the friendship aspects were more fleshed out rather than just internal dialogue

3.5 stars! As an enemies-to-lovers romcom set in the publishing world, this book sounded like it would be right up my alley. I really enjoyed so many things about it, while other aspects unfortunately fell a little flat. BAD PUBLICITY follows Andie, who has recently landed her dream job as a senior book publicist. The only problem? Her biggest author is none other than Jack Carlson, the guy who ruined her life in college. Andie hasn’t seen or spoken to Jack in five years, but now she’ll have to accompany him on a book tour across Europe. To complicate matters, Jack is charming, handsome, successful, and not quite the person Andie remembers from years ago. Can she keep her job and keep her distance from Jack? Or will the book tour bring up feelings they both can’t ignore?

This was a super promising debut from Bianca Gillam! I really enjoyed her writing style, and the premise of the book was great. The descriptions of the different places Andie and Jack visited, and of the publishing world, were also definite highlights for me. Andie was so well-developed, but I felt like Jack was a little harder to get to know (albeit super sweet!) until about 75% into the story.

Additionally, I also felt like the tone of the book was a little heavier than I initially thought it would be (not necessarily a bad thing, but it seemed more like purely a romcom going in). The story focuses strongly on grief and how Andie copes with the loss of her dad, which I thought was overall well-done, but did make the book feel heavier than readers looking for a romantic comedy might be expecting. Still, I would recommend this one, particularly for fans of second-chance romances! I’d be interested in seeing what the author writes next. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC.

Bianca Gillam starts Bad Publicity on a bit of a mystery. We meet Andie, new publicist to Jack, a former, possible ex-lover and popular novelist. Whatever happened between in the past was too terrible that it keep our heroine running away. I expected a light romance, but was left contemplating meaning after grief and loss. I felt like Andie's best friend Sam. Sometimes the best way is through.

This felt more like a book about grief than a romance. Andie’s processing a lot, and while that’s a valid story to tell, it made the romantic plot feel secondary and underdeveloped. Jack barely got any depth, and by the time we find out what happened between them in the past (very late in the book), it didn’t feel worth the buildup. The tension and chemistry just weren’t really there. I liked the writing and the setup, but overall it leaned more heavy than heartfelt.

While I loved the description of the book, it just didn’t hit right for me.
We know nothing about the big mess up and reason why Andie so passionately “hates” Jack (re: she’s just mean for seemingly no reason). By the time we find out… I was already over it and didn’t really care.
There is a lot of bouncing around and felt like no consistency. One moment we’re at a favorite bookshop reading, the next Jack has shown up and they’re suddenly getting it on? The writing isn’t consistent either. Sentences just end without even using ‘—‘ to indicate a character being cut off mid-sentence.

I so badly wanted to love this book, but it just wasn’t for me.

I was ready to give up on this one after two chapters. Enemies to lovers is not my cup of tea, generally. The FMC had a vendetta against the MMC that we didn’t learn more about until about 70% into the book.

FMC is also making self-destructive decisions & is pretty annoying in how she’s second-guessing everyone around her. Girl, it’s you who’s the issue here.

It was hard to connect to the FMC, and a lot of it has to do with her immaturity & lack of awareness.

I opened this book not knowing much about it. I needed an escape. I read it in one go. Engaging, some often used tropes, but not at all in a "not this again" way. I would recommend this to someone looking for a few hours of enjoyment.

I really wanted to like this book. The subject matter was interesting to me, but just had no sympathy for the characters. And the big reveal was not what I expected, either.

Ugh... this was a hard one for me.

Unfortunately, this was not for me. I dnfed by 23 percent. Sadly, I just think I wasn't the right reader.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Bianca Gillam's Bad Publicity is second-chance romance that explores grief and regret when two people have an unexpected reunion. If you go into this book thinking you're going to get some fluffy rom-com, you're going to be disappointed. So, please go into this book with an open mind and you might just surprise yourself.

Andie lands her dream job as a senior book publicist. She shows up on her first day to discover her biggest author is Jack Carlson. The same Jack that she has spoken to in five years since he turned her life upside down during their time together at university. In order to keep her dream job, she has to make sure Jack's campaign goes smoothly, which entails going on a book tour with Jack through Europe.

I'll admit, Andie drove me crazy at times, but I completely understand it. She's still trying to process her grief over her father dying and that's no small feat. And I wanted to hate Jack once I learned what he did to Andie all those years ago. While this book did not end the way I would have liked it to end, I feel like Bianca wrapped it up in the best way possible for both Andie and Jack.

Thank you to Penguin Books for the e-ARC!

I really wish I liked this book but it was a struggle for me. I REALLY wanted to love Andie but and Jack together and in the end I am happy they ended up together but it felt like the process to getting there was really long and far too drawn out. Holding a grudge for 5 years and not processing her own grief from her fathers passing lead to a wide disconnect for them and although I understand the tragedy of it all, I found myself wishing Sara had been blunt with her much earlier than the end of the book.

3.75 rounded up!
Enjoyed this book. The writing is good and I really enjoyed the progression and speed of the relationship. While some of it was slower than other parts, I really connected with the parental grief and mental health parts. Overall it was good book!!

This story hits on alot. Grief, a college sex scandal of sorts, and finding your eay back to yourself. The characters were deep, realistic and relatable.

Love, grief, and healing do go hand in hand. This book took that theme and ran with it in the most heartfelt, beautifully messy way. Bianca Gillam does a great job balancing the emotional weight of loss while adding sparks of a rekindling connection.

I adored Andie, but Jack absolutely stole the show for me—10/10, no notes. His warmth, wit, and quiet depth made every scene with him feel like a comfort. Watching the characters navigate their pain, awkward moments, and the push-pull of vulnerability made this story feel real in all the right ways.

If you’re into romance with heart, humor, and healing, Bad Publicity is worth the read. Just be ready to feel a lot—and cry a lot, obviously.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

Bad Publicity is the kind of romance that hits you right in the feelings. Andie’s dream job should be a fresh start, but instead, she’s stuck working with Jack, the guy who turned her life upside down years ago. Now they’re on a month-long book tour across Europe, and avoiding him isn’t an option.

The tension between them is real, full of old wounds, sharp banter, and that undeniable spark. As they navigate one unforgettable city after another, their relationship shifts from resentment to something deeper. But it’s not just about romance, it’s about grief, forgiveness, and figuring out how to move forward when life doesn’t go as planned.

It’s emotional, messy, and completely addictive. If you love stories where love and personal growth go hand in hand, this one delivers.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC!