I enjoyed this book. The cover and synopsis was intriguing. My issues with it that was the story didn't quite fit into the rom-com trope like I was expecting. It felt more women's fiction than romance to me. The female lead was compelling and I like her story. The romance never really connected with me but I enjoyed because I connected with her. The author's writing was great though and I look forward to more stories from her.

Andie was one frustrating fmc. I wanted to scream at her to let people just talk. She would literally cut everyone off just because she didn't want to hear what people had to say. All the miscommunication, would of been solved if you just let people say what they needed to say, even if you don't want to hear it.
I felt for Jack, he did everything to resolve things but got so much push back from Andie.
There is much diversity, and things honestly fell flat for me. I wish the author luck on her future books, but unfortunately this book just wasn't for me.

2 stars.

Bianca Gillam does a great job of capturing how grief and trauma, which when ignored, create bigger problems - in particular to relationships. I’d love to have rated this novel higher, but the overall flow of the novel just doesn’t fully work for me.

Loves: book industry, slow burn, enemies to lovers, second chance, descriptions of scenery, Jack’s need to impress his father, Jack’s character

Dislikes: story flow, not sharing what the incident was until very late in the book, Andie’s treatment of pretty much everyone (inclusive of verbal abuse at times), side characters often glossed over, ending

This book will likely be enjoyed if you are looking for women’s literature. If you are looking for true rom-com, this should probably be a pass for you. I’m middle of the road, so will be interested in reading more of Bianca’s books.

This book is so good. If you have a hard time with characters who run away from their problems and their feelings, this book probably isn’t for you. This book is a romance, but grief is inextricably a part of the romance. The main character is trying to run from grief within all aspects of her life and it takes her quite awhile to step outside of herself and let her family, friends, and loved ones in. The process is slow, but it feels more real that way. It’s not a super steamy book, but the characters are invested in each other and I find that far more romantic.

Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam is a complicated read. It had everything I want from a romance novel: forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, and a second chance romance between Andie and Jack that left me swooning. It also deals. well with issues of grief, and slut shaming. These issues appropriately often take the forefront of the story, with an excellent best friend character to move it forward. For readers looking for a late twenties 'coming-to-terms' story I would recommend, though I fear readers seeking primarily romance will be unhappy with the balance in this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my review e-arc.

Andie is excited about her new job. After years of working in publishing, she’s just been promoted to senior publicist. She will be working with fiction authors on promoting their books, starting with her top author Jack Carlson. When her new boss hands her the list of authors she’ll be working with, Andie is taken aback by his name on the list. He is known as a non-fiction author, and this is his first novel. The publisher is excited about it, so they’ve got him going on tour in Europe. And since his last European tour was a confused mess, he’s insisting that a publicist go with him and make sure all the details are taken care of. And Andie just got the job of being that publicist.

Andie knows Jack from university, where their friendship ended badly and suddenly. For Andie, that incident was followed by a personal tragedy, so it still burns hot in her memory. But she really wants this job, so if that means traveling through Europe for weeks with the person she can’t stand, then she will swallow her personal feelings and do the job the best she can.

The tour starts smoothly. The publicity team back in New York did all of the prep work, making sure they had flights and hotels and knew the schedule for appearances. Andie and Jack act professionally and the interviews and book signings are a success. Andie has time to answer emails from some of her other authors, and she’s on track to get through the tour okay. But when Jack’s book hits the bestseller lists, all bets are off.

Andie hears from her boss that because of the popularity of his book, they were able to schedule him some appearances in Edinburgh. And Andie tries to stay professional, but being back in the city that broke her before means that her facade is coming loose. Her best friend in New York is dealing with her own issues, and her mother is distracted with her grief group. Andie is left to deal with her pain alone, as well as her feelings for Jack, which go back and forth between anger and attraction. Everything is on the line for Andie. Will she be able to keep her job and her sanity, or will she see it all get swept away from her?

Bad Publicity is a debut novel about the ones who get away and the chances we get in life to make things right. Readers who love books about publishing will enjoy the insider view of publicity, and fans of enemies-to-lovers romances will find something to love here. There is a lot of bookstore love as well as some genuinely funny travel scenes.

This book is not perfect. Readers are left in the dark about what happened in Edinburgh that damaged Andie so much; it is not revealed until deep into the story, but it’s the excuse she uses to push everyone away from the beginning. Because of that, she comes across as unlikable and selfish, and it’s hard to root for her. Eventually we get the whole story, but I worry that readers may have already given up on her and stopped reading. The writing is strong, and the characters have a lot of potential. I thought the ending was strong, and that helped a lot. I wanted to like Bad Publicity more than I did, but I did still enjoy the story. It may not be for every reader, but I’m glad I read it.

Egalleys for Bad Publicity were provided by Penguin Books through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.

Is there such a thing as bad publicity? This fast paced, well written novel gives this age old question a fabulous twist.

I've been so excited to read this book since it was announced as I've also worked in the work of book publicity. I'm glad I saw several of the reviews before I dived in because, as many people have mentioned, this isn't the fun rom-com that the title and cover depict, so it can be a bit misleading. I do think it should come with a trigger warning for grief. However, knowing I was going into a story about grief (as well as a second chance/enemies trope), I had my expectations in check. The inside baseball about publishing and how touring is not as glamorous as it seems, was spot on. Andie and Jack's relationship had a great slow burn, and the character of Andie really has a great overall arc.

I'm still devastated over this book.

I know this is about living with loss, but the way that it touches on the complexities of grief is so heartbreaking because it's so true. I've heard that grief comes in waves, and while that analogy feels right, to actually get to see someone else go through it illustrates it so much better. Andie is hit with her emotions the moment she goes back home and has to see all her loved ones' favorite things, all the places they spent time together, all the memories that are intertwined with so many other feelings.

The guilt of not being present enough and taking attention away from them, the stress of pretending that it's okay for the people who we think need our "strength", and to have a traumatic experience to contend with on top of everything else, I was sobbing right along with Andie. Sometimes, it's a lot, and sometimes, the best way out is through.

Jack is also a sweet man in a difficult position. All he wants is to do right by Andie, and it seems like he just can't figure out how. Meanwhile, the real villain of this story is a full-on sociopath with zero redeeming qualities. I'm so upset that portion of the story had no consequences for him, but I'm also not surprised considering the circumstances.

While this is a contemporary romance, and that part is such a focal point, it seems like a vehicle to understand Andie's solo trajectory—and honestly, I am more interested in that journey. I love that she can hold herself accountable and, eventually, takes active steps to heal herself and fix her relationships. This might be the beginning of her recovery, because facing feelings is so tough, but I'm so happy she's finally allowing herself to live.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bianca Gillam for the ARC!

Jack...you let me down.

This is an enemies to something...I really, really liked that Andie held her grudge against Jack for so long. I am so tired, exhausted of so called enemies to lovers with the men doing no groveling, no apologies and are forgiven in less than a paragraph. This book sucked me in cuz I had to know the dirty Jack did Andie and he did her DIRTY! He is the one who chose to wrong her and she is rightly angry with him. He does not deserve to be forgiven. He took a lot from her and did it on his own accord to save himself. PS, its at 70% in we find out the dirty he did Andie.

Its a good first book with the F word used a lot. I don't mind. The tropes are there: only one bed, enemies to lovers, second chances, author on a book tour.
Recommend.

First off - congratulations to the author on publishing! While this is definitely a quirky book, I intent to be honest with this review.

I unfortunately cannot finish this book. Out of respect for myself, I had to stop right around when the FMC receives a call about returning to the root of her trauma (63% mark). Just because Andie is willing to lie and fake enthusiasm about her predicament does not mean I can force myself to do the same. I simply cannot continue reading a story that's not getting along with me. Life is too short for books you don't like!

I will, however, give the benefit of the doubt that the ARC edition I've been reading is the unedited version. There were a lot of errors relating to grammar and punctuation, most commonly seen throughout dialogue between the characters. I'm hoping the published edition has been fine-tuned!

When I started this book, I was very excited to read about Andie's situation. I'm facing a similar predicament, myself - I may (very soon) find myself in a professional workspace with an individual that is the root of major trauma for me, and my body has been wracked with anxiety since finding this out. However, I immediately knew the sensible thing to do was seek guidance from a professional. The best thing you can do is to talk things out with someone equipped to help you. The absolute WORST thing you can do is follow Andie's lead in bottling up your emotions and refusing to acknowledge what's going on around you.

It was extremely frustrating to endure Andie's irrational train of thought. It felt like I was getting whiplash from how quickly she goes back and forth with everything. Oftentimes, the assumptions she made left me so confused. Even her lack of thought during pivotal points in the story were maddening.

If the author is using this story as a form of therapy to help work through trauma and grief, I applaud them for trying to better themself. But it is very bold to assume a mind similar to Andie's is going to get you anywhere productive in life.

That being said, I will attach the link to my Goodreads updates & review!

1/5 stars.

------------------

Updating my review because curiosity got the best of me.

After skipping ahead a chapter or two, I finally made it to the drama - what really happened in the past between Andie and Jack. I finished the book from here, and let me tell you, it was so gratifying to finally see Andie process her emotions and talk openly with someone for the first time.

As much as I did appreciate the "all's well that ends well" ending, I can't justify a higher rating for the first 75% of the book. I stand by my opinion that Andie is extremely irrational. Her immaturity reflects in her actions, reactions, and intentions. It feels like she went from being a toddler with temper tantrums to suddenly displaying grace and emotional maturity with no real story to show her growth in between.

I'm glad everyone got their own happily ever after.

1.5/5 stars.

Bianca Gillam's debut novel, Bad Publicity, is a captivating enemies-to-lovers romance that masterfully blends humor, emotional depth, and the allure of European settings. The story follows Andie, a senior publicist at a New York publishing house, who is assigned to manage a month-long book tour with Jack Carlson, a bestselling author and her former university classmate who betrayed her years ago. As they navigate the complexities of their past and present, their journey unfolds across romantic European locales, offering readers a rich tapestry of emotions and settings.
Gillam's writing is both engaging and emotionally intelligent, capturing the nuances of grief, love, and second chances. The characters are well-developed, with Andie's struggles with loss and Jack's attempts at redemption adding depth to the narrative. The slow-burn romance is complemented by witty dialogue and a strong supporting cast, particularly Andie's best friend, Sara, who provides both comic relief and emotional support.
While some readers may find the pacing in certain sections a bit slow, the overall journey is rewarding. Bad Publicity is a delightful read for fans of contemporary romance, offering a perfect balance of heart, humor, and heartfelt moments.

Andie begins her new job as a book publicist. Her first book campaign assignment is for a debut novel written by Jack. She knew Jack in college years ago and there is a big mysterious rift between them that doesn’t get explained till over three quarters of the way in the story. In the meantime she has to be on tour with him promoting his book in Europe. Andie is also still processing her grief over the death of her father five years ago.

Sadly, I didn't love Andie. She needs some real therapy to help with her grief. And she comes off so rude to Jack without ever letting him explain his side of the things. And honestly when I learned what his side was, I wasn’t on his side either. I just didn’t find this funny or romantic. It does cover more serious matters but that isn’t how the book is advertised to me as a reader.

I would give the writer a second chance as the more serious topics (are handled well. This just wasn’t the “sparkling rom-com” I expected.

This story was a roller coaster for me. I think I originally saw a cute cover and being a sucker about books that involve the "book world", I knew I wanted to read it. What I did not expect was the emotionally journey that this book took me on. I think I felt every emotion known to man kind at some point in this story, including a few dashes of rage. At times I definitely found myself so angry with Andie but as I sat with it, I realized that grief can make us act in unexplainable ways and Bianca Gillam actually did a great job writing that story. But ultimately, I loved the second chance these characters got and their chemistry as the story went on.

Thank you to Net Galley, Penguin Group, and Bianca Gillam for an eARC of this story.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up. I have a lot of confidence in Bianca's writing and as this is her debut, I look forward to seeing where her writing goes from here!

This book to me was a tale of loss, love and how those 2 things together can completely throw your world on its head to the point of a person not thinking rationally. Between the past conflict with the MCs from 5 years ago to the present and being back in each other's orbits, Andie had a lot to come to terms with and move beyond. There were definitely times I wanted to be get in her head and shake some sense into her but at the same time, I know unprocessed grief and anger can lead you to a difficult place.

I would have loved to see a bit more of Jack's perspective throughout the book instead of just the reveal of what happened in the past and see what kind of development he had. The romance/spice was on the light side for sure but it was still nicely done.

All in all, I think this is a very good debut for this author and would like to see where she goes in the future!

I was initially drawn to Bianca Gillam's debut novel, Bad Publicity, by its eye-catching cover and enticing description, which promised a delightful rom-com set in the intriguing world of publishing. The writing itself is quite good, showcasing Bianca Gilliam's talent for crafting engaging prose and character development. The story arc is interesting and keeps readers invested throughout.

However, I must admit that as a romance comedy, the book feels somewhat lukewarm. The romantic elements take a backseat to the main character's grief journey, which, while poignant and well-explored, overshadowed the expected rom-com flair I was hoping for. This shift in focus may be a plus for readers looking for a heartfelt exploration of loss, as it provides a solid narrative about moving on and finding oneself again.

Ultimately, Bad Publicity offers a compelling story for those interested in themes of grief and healing, but if you’re seeking a lighthearted romp filled with romantic escapades, you might find it lacking in that area. Overall, it’s a worthwhile read, just not the rom-com experience I anticipated.

A slow burn, forced proximity, second chance romance that sees a publicist and a bestselling author forced to work together on a book tour as they rehash their complicated past and grapple with present day feelings. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it to fans of authors like Emily Henry. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC copy in exchange for my honest review!

this didn’t hit like i wanted it to, i was really excited for this and it felt like i was missing something major the whole time, im not quite sure what that was but it felt like it was missing a soul

thank you to netgalley for an arc of this in exchange for my honest feedback

Bad Publicity is a story told in the first-person present POV and is marketed as a cute romance (I mean, look at that adorable cover), but this is misleading. It explores heavier themes but without the tension and chemistry expected in a rom com.

The set-up was promising: Andie, a book publicist, gets assigned to an author, Jack, with whom she went to school in Edinburgh. It’s implied they may have dated but he did something horrible and they parted on awful terms - but we don’t know exactly what went down.

By 15%, I was already tempted to DNF. By that point, Andie had endured several events and an international flight with Jack, all while refusing to speak to him. We know she hates him but there’s no tension because they don’t speak. It got old fast. By 25%, I was desperate for more dialogue and action!

At that point, I was curious and decided to peek at other reviews. When I learned that the reveal of what happened with Jack doesn’t occur until the 80% mark, that was the finally straw. A story should hook you from the get go and the pace should build from there, but this one just didn’t deliver. It’s the author’s debut, so I look forward to seeing how her writing improves with future projects.

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

This was a tough one for me. I so badly wanted to root for our girl Andie, but I spent the first third of the book overwhelmed by a mix of confusion and raw female rage. We <i>know</i> Jack did something terrible—something potentially worth sabotaging her career over—but we’re left in the dark for so long that it’s hard to fully align with Andie’s anger. Without that context, I found myself feeling unexpectedly sympathetic toward Jack. And then, when the reveal finally came? Emotional whiplash. It was far worse than I anticipated, and suddenly I didn’t know how to feel. I was just sad. EVERYONE came out of The Event emotionally wrecked (except maybe Robbie. THAT ASS.).

Romance-wise, this is definitely a slowwwwww burn—embers before flame—with the familiar tension of a second-chance romance layered over a pseudo enemies-to-lovers dynamic. The chemistry is there, but it simmers under years of hurt and misunderstanding. It’s subtle, restrained, and emotionally complex.

Ultimately, I think my expectations going in affected my experience. I was anticipating something more lighthearted, and I wasn’t prepared for the emotional weight or the depth of the themes. I also just spent a large portion of the book irrationally angry (see: aforementioned female rage). In a different mindset, this could easily be a 4-star read for me. As it stands, I’d give the beginning 1.5 stars and the ending 4, averaging out to a solid 2.5/3-star experience. This feels like one of those books that would hit differently—and more powerfully—on a reread, now that I know what’s coming.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group, and Bianca Gillam for the privilege of receiving this ARC in exchange for an honest review.