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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed Elle Kennedy’s previous work; I struggled with the first book so went into this with low expectations. But I adored it, I was to hug Gen throughout this book.
This book has two points of view. The first is former bad girl Genevieve West and when she returns home for her mother’s funeral, she’s prepared to keep her distance from her ex-boyfriend, Evan Hartley. Their history is rife with turbulence. And passion. A hell of a lot of passion which she’s trying desperately to forget. But it’s impossible not to run into Evan in the small coastal town where they once ran wild. And the moment she sees her gorgeous ex again, it’s clear to Gen that Evan is still as unruly, sexy and irresistible as ever. This time around, however, she’s resolved to walk a new path. No more partying. No more foolish mistakes. Her plan is to temporarily remain in town to help her father run his business, but the second he finds someone else, she’s out of there and back to Charleston. The second point of view is Evan Hartley, and he has other ideas. He knows they can be good together, but he just must convince Gen of that even if it means turning over a new leaf himself. But can a bad reputation ever truly be shed? Do second chances really work? Gen and Evan are about to find out.
I liked that the loose ends from the previous book have been answered. We got to know that Mac finished the hotel and that it could be doing well, I'm sure we will learn in the next book. The locals accept Mac, and she is comfortable and settled. I love Gen and as someone who has cut ties with her parent, I know how it feels when you are supposed to feel something but don’t, hers was a bit more extreme with it being a funeral compared to what I'm going through, but I liked feeling like I'm seen and understood. I liked that Gen was wanting to change her ways but then she had other people being like don’t dull yourself completely. I liked the gang within Avalon Bay and how they are all getting up to trouble and growing up together, but they also go to bat for each other and look after each other. Both characters had growth and development which I enjoyed a lot and felt like I didn’t have to pay attention a lot, but it was still enjoyable.
I didn’t like the third-act breakup that happened and was fixed within one chapter. It just didn’t feel like it was needed. I felt like more could have been explored with the dirty cop, I would have loved for the town to expose him or him getting arrested. I would have preferred Gen or the twins to beat the crap out of him.
I have no clue who the third book could be about unless it’s Gen’s friend or someone from the friendship group, I just hope it’s not Lauren I think her name was, the petty one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexual assault
Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Police brutality
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3/5 ⭐️‘s
Bad Girl Reputation is a second chance/childhood friends to lovers romance that should’ve been right up my alley, but I honestly (and sadly ☹️) had such a hard time with this book.
It was definitely a fun and quick read overall, but it really took me until about the 70-80% mark to finally get invested in the story. I was kind of frustrated with how immature Evan and Gen were for most of the book and although they had really great chemistry and tension, it still felt mostly surface level to me. If we didn’t get those small conversations about their pasts and things they did together, I would have no idea these two had known each other for so many years.
I was also kind of disappointed that Evan was so eager and adamant about reforming his bad boy antics for Gen instead of just doing it for himself. For me that just proved that there really wasn’t enough growth between these two to believe that they aren’t still toxic for each other. Any development that they did have just felt really rushed and forced and didn’t convince me that Evan & Gen would actually last long term.
I really really loved the idea behind this book, with two characters that have bad reputations turning a new leaf and overcoming their past mistakes, but unfortunately it just didn’t pan out for me.
Thank you to netgalley & St Martin’s Press for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
Bad Girl Reputation is a second chance/childhood friends to lovers romance that should’ve been right up my alley, but I honestly (and sadly ☹️) had such a hard time with this book.
It was definitely a fun and quick read overall, but it really took me until about the 70-80% mark to finally get invested in the story. I was kind of frustrated with how immature Evan and Gen were for most of the book and although they had really great chemistry and tension, it still felt mostly surface level to me. If we didn’t get those small conversations about their pasts and things they did together, I would have no idea these two had known each other for so many years.
I was also kind of disappointed that Evan was so eager and adamant about reforming his bad boy antics for Gen instead of just doing it for himself. For me that just proved that there really wasn’t enough growth between these two to believe that they aren’t still toxic for each other. Any development that they did have just felt really rushed and forced and didn’t convince me that Evan & Gen would actually last long term.
I really really loved the idea behind this book, with two characters that have bad reputations turning a new leaf and overcoming their past mistakes, but unfortunately it just didn’t pan out for me.
Thank you to netgalley & St Martin’s Press for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!