Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Good Girl Complex

Although the ending was extremely predictable, it was still a good read! Another reminder that family is the people you choose and it’s important to have a gang to be there for you always.

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daisy1_f's review

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emotional funny lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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cassiereadsbooks_'s review

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emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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rrubin97's review

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Girl meets boy from wrong side of the tracks. Boy is an ass and uses her. She falls for him and her reforms but is still an ass.

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lauren610's review

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This book is so full of red flags and toxic relationship dynamics, it's not even funny. **Spoilers ahead**
Her first boyfriend treats her like absolute shit and she just takes it and laps up the crumbs of attention he gives her. Their relationship is extremely problematic, verging on emotionally abusive if not full on emotionally abusive. But ok, fine. Maybe this is her back story so that she makes better decisions in the future and we can compare her next relationship to this one and see how healthy it is in comparison. But NOPE. Cooper is almost as bad as Preston. He is constantly infantilizing her, disrespecting her, and then making *her* feel like she is in the wrong and needs to be the one to apologize being hurt from his disrespect. There are many scenes that display this, but the scene where he didn't stop to get ice before the party is so problematic. He tells her he will get ice, arrives without ice, then makes her feel stupid for being disappointed by this, saying, (not an exact quote) "I didn't get ice because I wanted to get home faster so I could be there to help you, would you have wanted me to take longer and not be here??" Everyone else even says Mac has a point and they still follow their pattern of Cooper being an immature piece of shit and Mac being a doormat.

On top of that, everyone in this book is so violent?? Someone is always slapping, punching, or throwing something at someone instead of just talking it out. Everyone in this damn book needs therapy. The author should probably get therapy as well if this is what they think reads as romance.

And if that all wasn't enough, the plot is bad as well. She created an app and apparently in the span of only 1 year it turned into a business that earns her enough to buy a hotel and renovate it? And like, did she sell the app or do they just like never need her help or input on anything ever? The only thing we hear about it is so everyone knows she's a successful business person.

She breaks up with her boyfriend who her parents adore,

and we don't really hear about their views on that after that night? Lots of plot holes and forgotten characters here that are only brought in when it's convenient to move the story along, not to establish any character development etc.

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sami_leigh's review

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I had high hopes for this book, which were swiftly thrown off of a cliff with the first utterance of a cheating trope. While the unfolding backstory and subsequent character development of Cooper and his brother Evan were well thought out, these characters were left to carry the entire book solo. Mac showed some personal growth in her decisions to forge her own path, though her gullibility becomes a running joke, along with the joke that is made of her

when the revenge plot blows up. I could’ve gotten on side with this story if Cooper hadn’t known who Mac was when they met - perhaps finding out later and keeping it from her - but this revenge plot goes beyond toxic.

I had hoped the supporting characters - Coop’s ‘gang’ - would redeem themselves

after actively encouraging a plot to break down the character of a women they’ve never met all because her boyfriend is a certifiable asshole. Grow up.

They lacked depth, however, and Mac doesn’t develop a support system beyond her dorm mate - who isn’t much help

-meaning once the third Act comes this character is still alone, without anyone to help her pick up the pieces. So instead of going and picking them up herself, she runs to the people who actually sparked the whole revenge plot and convinced Cooper to continue with it…I am utterly lost.

The ending left much to be desired. Ultimately, people didn’t own their behaviour and work to become better, and while Mac wasn’t all that likeable as a character, after what she has persevered through in her life she deserved a better support system by the end.

I would consider reading the sequel if only to see the real love story play out; that between Evan and Daisy, their dog.

Tropes: Cheating, opposites attract, good-girl bad-boy.
Some good banter.
Some diversity rep.
🌶🌶

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sophlouise_'s review

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adventurous funny sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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xriekex's review

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Nothing too exciting, really. Fulfilled most beach read tropes. Did not like most main characters at first, warmed up to them a bit but we're not my favourites

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