Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - Bad Girl Reputation

I hated this book. Just being honest and blunt, it wasn’t great. The writing style is fine; it’s an easy read. But so many frustrating little things add up to one big disappointment. To begin, I didn’t know this was a sequel. Fortunately it doesn’t read like one, though. But the characters are so annoying. Genevieve literally cannot get out of her own way, and the constant back and forth between her and Evan is so tiring. “I want you so bad, but no I can’t! Okay maybe just a little.. but no, I shouldn’t!” Come on. Over and over with that same schtick. Here’s a list in page order of ridiculous things that happen:

1. Gen is sober, for over a year. She describes a one-time relapse where she ends up in a strangers bed with no memory of the night, and how she can’t continue on drinking and partying like she used to. She turns down every single drink offered to her, declines drinks basically pushed in her hands. But all of a sudden, when she’s on a FAKE DATE with Harrison, she’s totally fine with having a glass of wine? “It’s not like I’m pounding shots or downing cocktails. I won’t even get a buzz..” says what sober, recovering alcoholic? This is the big point that pulled me away from the story, honestly, and shows careless writing. Seriously, a recovering alcoholic is going to be okay with one glass of wine? Just lazy.
2. The whole cop ordeal. ACAB all the way, but it seems so pointless and misguided to have the whole “drunk angry creep cop” storyline play out. There wasn’t any need, Gen had turned a new leaf of sobriety and not partying, why is this cop still showing up at every turn and somehow knows whenever there’s substances involved? Again, just lazy writing. There’s no real danger, so they had to come up with some enemy to ruin the character’s plans. It’s just a weak attempt at real conflict.
3. The first time Gen and Evan have sex again, it’s on a public beach. They fall asleep naked and she wakes up late for work, furious at herself for falling back with Evan and not being responsible. She makes it this huge ordeal about not being able to follow through with her obligations when she’s involved with him, when in reality it’s so simple. Her panic could’ve easily been avoided by a damn alarm on her phone. It’s ridiculous, and sets off the on-and-off-again between them.
4. Evan volunteers at a nursing home with his brothers dog. He’s visiting an elderly man with a beloved pet bird. Evan opens the bird cage, bird gets out, dog eats bird, elderly man is heartbroken and furious. Just another insanely pointless addition. This later comes back up when Evan and Gen run into the elderly man while on the boardwalk, and he chases them into a clown house. Which again, leads to nothing and adds nothing to the story.
5. Skip all of Chapter 19. Doesn’t add anything to the story and is just an overwhelmingly boring recap of a pokers night.
6. Genevieve is such a downer, really an unlovable character. She is constantly droning on about how she needs to stay away from Evan and be with someone different, but the second she finds a completely different and genuine good guy, all she can do is insult and make fun of him to herself. “The kind of guy I’d be making fun of…one of the yuppie tools… he’s far too nice..” Everything about Harrison, from his dad humor to his khaki pants, puts her off. She goes on about how nice he is, happy and optimistic, but how it only makes her feel more bitter and empty. There’s seriously something wrong with her. I get just not feeling attraction, but it’s like she craves sharp edges, and couldn’t stand to be with a kind, gentle man who’d treat her properly. She entertains Evan right in front of her date many times, allowing him to barge in and interrupt them again and again, simply because it excites her to see her ex jealous. She admits to herself that she has no attraction to Harrison, but “..there’s no harm in giving this a shot and letting him grow on me.” Yeah, no harm in leading the nice guy on and trying to force a relationship that clearly won’t work, just to get back at your ex.
7. Just the overall toxicity of Gen and Evan. Misery loves company. They both fully see how destructive and chaotic they are together, yet they both continue treating it like some sort of game. It’s pathetic and gets old quickly. Predictability isn’t a good trait in a book.
8. When Evan finally gets the courage to be a man and leave Gen alone for good, it’s at the worst time possible, right after she’s released from jail. He should’ve broken up with her forever ago, but no, he decides in her weak moment, “now’s the time!” And then literally the next day Gen PROPOSES TO HIM. With a blow pop. What am I even reading at this point.

I’m glad it’s over. Again, it’s an easy book to get through and an alright read. I just got stuck on the stupid little things, which matter to me. Do not recommend simply for those bits.

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xlaurareads's review against another edition

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emotional 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

4.25

another great book by elle kennedy! i fell for evan hartley in good girl complex and couldn't wait to read his and gen's story and let me tell you - i wasn't disappointed! gen is such an amazing character and a real badass and i loved how the author described her inner conflict and made her and evan resolve all their issues and re-establish their relationship in a healthy way. i also liked how the author included story elements revolving around the twin's mother and included all the characters from the first book and drew a connection between the couples. the storyline around rusty randall was a bit annoying, but just because that man really was a pain in the ass - i'm glad the issue around him was resolved, as well. all in all, this was a stellar book which i read in only two days and liked a lot; however, i kinda missed the little "something" and a bit more plot for it to be a 5-star read.

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cluckieduck's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.5

"Change is a choice we make every day, a thousand times a day. We choose to do this one thing better. Then the next. And the next."

While I didn't particularly enjoy Good Girl Complex I really wanted to read about Evan & Gen's relationship. Evan was introduced in Good Girl Complex as the identical twin to its male lead Cooper, but we only heard about Gen because of how her supposed actions affected Evan and influenced his dickish behaviour, so I was very interested to get more of a backstory on their past. Unfortunately, what we get is a very toxic second-chance romance between a girl trying to shed her party-girl image and live a sober life and a guy who can't take 'no' for an answer and doesn't believe that his supposed 'best friend' is being genuine in wanting to change her ways.

"Evan and I have always had this tension between us. Pushing and pulling. Making each other jealous and manipulating a response. It's all part of the bad habits I'm trying to break. Yet, in doing so, I'm repeating the steps."

I think I may be ageing out of enjoying Elle Kennedy because I just found it, overall, to be quite juvenile. And yes, comparatively, 22 is young, but their actions (Evan's more so) were so immature. I also didn't appreciate that Gen kept stringing along Harrison knowing full-well that their relationship was going nowhere while she still had feelings (and kept hooking up with!!) Evan. That was totally unfair.

Everything wrapped up much to quickly and neatly, throwing up happy resolutions between so many intertwining relationships, it was a bit of an eye-roll. I won't be continuing with the series after this.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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lucindanorine's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring 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

3.5

Overall I thought this was a really cute book. The audiobook narrators did a fantastic job! High school "sweethearts" that have to over come their own faults to make life work! I wish it had been more diverse, but it was definitely cute!

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