REVIEW: Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy

 

OUR REVIEW: 

Bad Girl Reputation is the second novel in the Avalon Bay series focusing on the love story of Evan (Cooper's twin) and Genevieve. Admittedly I wasn't too fond of Evan when I met him in Cooper's book. He seemed to be immune to growing up, more than a little naïve, and so very impulsive. While he still has some of those characteristics in Bad Girl Reputation, we get to understand him and watch him make choices that show his willingness to grow and learn and be better. So how does he get there? Genevieve. 

Genevieve left town after a particularly terrible incident and used the year away to make some changes that would keep her out of trouble and give her a better life. She only comes home for the funeral of her mother and to temporarily help out her dad's business. While home she had many opportunities to test out her new self and that first opportunity starts with Evan. These two seem to bring out the worst decision making in each other because as soon as they're together, they forget the rest of the world exists and that anything else matters...at least in the beginning. 

After a series of conversations, both Gen and Evan set out on a path to continue to make better decisions for themselves and to create a future that would give them a healthier relationship with each other and the community. I liked how both of them really fought to develop and keep their better selves, despite the skepticism of the people who seemed to know them best. They didn't let doubts deter them, didn't backslide all that much, and supported each other in trying to be better humans. Even though I even had doubts at how good they could possibly be for each other at first, because of how destructive they seemed, their insistence on staying on their paths of responsibility and showing that they weren't putting on a show was convincing and made me actually question my own bias when it comes to giving people room to change. 

I'm hoping, since there are several secondary characters who seem to be hiding some things, that this book doesn't mark the end of the series but is just getting us started on what's happening in this friend group in Avalon Bay.

BUY IT: Amazon

BLURB:

Bestselling author Elle Kennedy returns to Avalon Bay in this sexy second chance story about two exes who can't stay away from each other, Bad Girl Reputation.

When former bad girl Genevieve West 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 heck 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 somebody else, she’s out of there.

Evan has other ideas. He knows they can be good together, but he just has to convince Genevieve 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? Genevieve and Evan are about to find out.