Good Girl Complex (Avalon Bay, 1) Paperback – February 1, 2022

４／５ ⭐ ＯＶＥＲＡＬＬ３／５ 🌶 ＳＴＥＡＭ"First of all, they say? Who's they and who cares? Every relationship is different. Some people want, some people want passion. We define our own relationship. And second, I hate to break it to you, but we're both argumentative jack*****."I have seen lots of mixed reviews on Good Girl Complex. Mostly, people saying it's pretty much an exact replica of another popular book, or this book is glorifying toxic relationships, and there was no epilogue. The horror!!It's okay not to like a book. And, it's ok that a book isn't for you. But, I have to disagree on the fact that Good Girl Complex is almost an exact replica of that popular book that's been turned into a movie (I'm sure you guys know what I'm talking about). So, just in case people don't know this, books can have the same tropes without them being a copy of another book. That's all this was. Good girl falls for "bad boy", if that's even what you want to call Cooper. Also, the relationship started with a lie. But, okay, that doesn't make it the same. And, I honestly didn't find Cooper and Mackenzie's relationship to be all that toxic. They argued and liked it, so what! I'm beginning to wonder if I read the same book as these other reviewers. I was kind of anticipating a 1 star read, and this is probably why I don't normally read reviews beforehand.Ok, sorry for the Ted talk!I read this book fairly quickly because I found it hard to put down. I enjoyed Cooper and Mackenzie's banter; the plot was good, and I really liked the characters. The chemistry could've been a tad better, but in all, it was a solid 4-star read for me. The character's developed like they should've, and I was thoroughly entertained with the drama. Thank you, Elle Kennedy, for writing another wonderful book. I can't wait to read Bad Girl Reputation.If you've been steering clear of this one because of other people's opinions, I absolutely recommend it, even if only to form your own opinion.Happy Reading 💛

Good Girl Complex is a a delicious slow-burn, opposites attract, angsty, and entertaining new adult romance that just solidified the MAJOR CRUSH I already have for this author. Elle Kennedy's stories, for me, are honestly one in a million and her latest novel is just another example of her exceptional talent. This book just hit all of the right spots for me.Mac and Cooper just totally worked from the first few words. I loved them together—loved how they slowly came together. Even with the snark—especially with the snark—at the start. I loved their banter, connection and the attraction between the two. That said, this book was not at all what I was expecting. I mean, I don't even really know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this angsty deliciousness that toyed with my emotions and didn't always feel comfortable. However, I was completely won over by all the swoons and I was completely addicted to this story. This was one of those unicorn reads where I'm sucked in by the intensity of the storyline, and don't come up for air until the very last page. I lost time reading this book but I loved every minute of it.This book was opposites attract deliciousness that I devoured and left desperate for more. And while I would have loved an epilogue, I simply adored this book and these characters. I was crazy about this book, even the parts that made me uncomfortable. I loved the angsty twists that were inevitably smoothed and comforted and set aglow by the evolution of Mac and Cooper’s story. I loved most of the secondary characters (Hello Evan!) and cannot wait to see where this series goes from here. So much potential. I'm already completely intrigued, 100% invested, and absolutely greedy for more! This is a major hit for me and I absolutely recommend!

[spoiler alert]I am a huge fan of the Briar U series and the Off Campus series. So buying things Elle Kennedy writes is normally a reflex, and I pre orderded Bad Girl Reputation as well, even if I have zero information about the content.I binged Good Girl Complex in 2 days. There were things I loved, and things I did not like.Having read other 'few star reviews' I would have to agree that some of the conflicts were resolved too easily and too quickly. It seems pretty unlikely that her parents would cave after Mac's decision to drop out of college, for instance. Also, the way Mac started to connect with the other girls seemed pretty far fetched: climbing on a roof in the middle of a thunderstorm to fix the hole there? Sure (insert eyeroll here).Overall, there were too many story elements in one book that did not relate to each other. It would have made for a better book if the author had been more selective with them and found more depth in the ones she chose.Right now, we have a website that shares controversial and personal stories. I was hoping for the website to publish something about Preston, Mac's boyfriend, and to have a conflict there.The hotel she buys - I was hoping for Prestons father to swoop in with a developer and to try to take it from Mac, unless she agrees to take Preston back.The twin's mother - I was hoping for her to blackmail Mac's parents for money (sharing stories with the press about who Mac is dating, that the congressman's daughter chose the wild road in life, scandals, etcetera).Preston sort of drifted away after the break up. Sure, he tried to call and text, but it seems unlikely he wouldn't have found out about Cooper sooner.All in all, this could have been a more balanced book without wanting to include so many story elements. Less is more. Same goes for the supporting cast: there were too many, with stories that somehow stopped. What about Tate? What's his issue and why was it presented in this book if it doesn't have any role in this story? Same for Evan and Gen. I am assuming either Tate or Evan will be main character in the new book?Still an enjoyable read, because the author really showed character development in the main characters, making the comparison between the ways they had been neglected in life by their parents - one with a lot of money, one without any money. Those were interesting elements.