Elle Kennedy

Good Girl Complex

She does everything right. So what could go wrong?

Mackenzie “Mac” Cabot is a people pleaser. Her demanding parents. Her prep school friends. Her long-time boyfriend. It’s exhausting, really, always following the rules. All she wants to do is focus on growing her internet business, but first she must get a college degree at her parents’ insistence. That means moving to the beachside town of Avalon Bay, a community made up of locals and the wealthy students of Garnet College.

Twenty-year-old Mac has had plenty of practice suppressing her wilder impulses, but when she meets local bad boy Cooper Hartley, that ability is suddenly tested. Cooper is rough around the edges. Raw. Candid. A threat to her ordered existence. Their friendship soon becomes the realest thing in her life.

Despite his disdain for the trust-fund kids he sees coming and going from his town, Cooper soon realizes Mac isn’t just another rich clone and falls for her. Hard. But as Mac finally starts feeling accepted by Cooper and his friends, the secret he’s been keeping from her threatens the only place she’s ever felt at home.

a steamy and addictive college romance (An Avalon Bay Novel, #1)

Kaila Nesbitt

She looks up at me with the thousands of tiny lights of the boardwalk shining in her eyes. “I can’t believe you remembered.”

“I remember every word you’ve ever said to me.”

"A big commitment?" She's smiling. Grinning, actually. I think this chick is laughing at me.

"I'm not afraid of commitment, if that's what you're suggesting."

Sanne nebbeling

After loving Elle Kennedy’s previous books, I know that this one was going to be a great read for the Light Spring evenings and I was not disappointed at all, this was the perfect book after finishing a fantast series that I read back-to-back, and this was the perfect pallet cleanser that I needed to just reset!

At twenty Mackenzie “Mac” Cabot has still not grown out of the need to please everyone and do as others think she should. Growing up in a rich family Mac’s parents dismissed her accomplishment of creating an app that generated a seven-figure bank account and only wanted Mac to get a college degree. Mac enrols in Garnet College located in the beachside town of Avalon Bay where she meets Cooper Hartley. Cooper is so obviously a bad boy, but Mac just can’t seem to get him out of her mind even though she has been in a long-time relationship with her parent approved boyfriend. Mac keeps telling herself it’s just a friendship with Cooper, until it’s not.

Mac is one of the best main characters, she is determined to just create a life for herself that she wants and wants to build her own success alongside realising that she cannot please everyone at once and needs to make choices for herself. Mac could be a great representation to live life the way you desire, and it is okay to prioritize yourself in some cases while still being there for everyone else.

I felt like this story was about chasing your dream, being true to yourself, and finding the people who love the “real” you. There was humor, heat, and a lot of heart in this tale too. Overall, this was a solid start to this series. I saw so many possibilities as I met each member of the cast, and I am excited to go back to Avalon bay.

Ian Brakspear

After loving Elle Kennedy’s previous books, I know that this one was going to be a great read for the Light Spring evenings and I was not disappointed at all, this was the perfect book after finishing a fantast series that I read back-to-back, and this was the perfect pallet cleanser that I needed to just reset!

 

At twenty Mackenzie “Mac” Cabot has still not grown out of the need to please everyone and do as others think she should. Growing up in a rich family Mac’s parents dismissed her accomplishment of creating an app that generated a seven-figure bank account and only wanted Mac to get a college degree. Mac enrols in Garnet College located in the beachside town of Avalon Bay where she meets Cooper Hartley. Cooper is so obviously a bad boy, but Mac just can’t seem to get him out of her mind even though she has been in a long-time relationship with her parent approved boyfriend. Mac keeps telling herself it’s just a friendship with Cooper, until it’s not.

 

Mac is one of the best main characters, she is determined to just create a life for herself that she wants and wants to build her own success alongside realising that she cannot please everyone at once and needs to make choices for herself. Mac could be a great representation to live life the way you desire, and it is okay to prioritize yourself in some cases while still being there for everyone else.

 

I felt like this story was about chasing your dream, being true to yourself, and finding the people who love the “real” you. There was humor, heat, and a lot of heart in this tale too. Overall, this was a solid start to this series. I saw so many possibilities as I met each member of the cast, and I am excited to go back to Avalon bay.

It’s a classic romance with a little more background, cute moments and scary moments, I will say that the ending did let me down a little.. I just expected a bit more, it felt slightly rushed.

Robyn Harley

destiny

this was like step up revolution without the dancing

Fantastic book, I love the banter between cooper and mac but not a big fan of the end. He was forgiven way too quickly, would’ve been better if the grovelling wasn’t the last tiny bit of the book

Britany byrne 

Samantha Huster

I keep wanting the Elle Kennedy from the Off Campus series and I don't think I'm finding that in her other books. I love her and her cast of characters though so I will continue to support her in the hopes I find that magic in her writing again.

Sara Uribe

I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

By the luck of whatever, I was fortunate enough to get an early copy of this audiobook and it really surprised me. Though this was not my first time reading Elle Kennedy, 

Mackenzie and Cooper are by no means perfect. They both have flaws and issues that they have to work through throughout the book to become better versions of themselves. I loved how quickly they became friends with one another, it’s like they knew each other forever and Cooper really allowed Mackenzie to open up and feel free to talk about things she doesn’t talk to anyone about. I loved watching the connection grow into something that they didn’t expect. Though the chemistry that these two have is absolutely undeniable and for anyone reading this book could see it coming from a mile away. I really hope that this becomes a series of standalones. There’s so many great side characters, especially Cooper’s brother, Evan. I'd be really interested in hearing what his story is! The one thing I really didn’t like was that there was no epilogue to the story. It kind of just ended. I would have really appreciated a little bit more to feel satisfied with how everything played out. But overall, I enjoyed this book!

As far as audio goes I thought that Joe Arden and Ava Erickson did a fantastic job as Cooper and Mackenzie! I honestly couldn’t picture anyone else being their voices. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

P.s. I honestly couldn’t help but compare this book to After by Anna Todd, it just wasn’t as toxic.

Elin Renkema

I really liked the concept of the book and for me it was very well done. Rrally connected with the characters, but we could have had some more of them on the end together as a couple

Ellen

this was an interesting read. definitely not elle kennedy’s best, but it was an easy filler read. I mean I finished it in a day after being in a huge reading slump. there were defs things that bugged me here and there regrading mac & cooper, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless! I just wouldn’t jump to read this book lol.

Tara Bounkeovisane

Wilma Lindmark

This book is very similar to After by Anna Todd. But I love After so that didn't bother me much just that this was very predictable because of it since it follows it very closely. So much that I expected Kennedy to write that it was inspired by After. So if you liked after and want a quick read you should read it but nothing you have to read because you will not miss a master work. 

Cooper is the typical bad boy and Mac is an ambitious, privileged girl that does as her parents want. Nothing new but also a combo I like. I think it relied to heavily on opposites attract and I didn't enjoy the cheating trope... Because when it comes I kind of have to ignore it and that bothers me somewhat.

Beatrix Haase

I enjoyed this. I bought the second book so I'll let you know how that one goes.

Catherine Duplessis

4.5 ⭐️

It’s my first Elle Kennedy read and it was WAY better than I expected. In my experience, « steamy » rhymed with « cringy », so my expectations for an interesting story was a bit low. I was pleasantly surprised. I could’ve read this book in one sitting. There are so many characters and they are all fun to follow and complexed. The love story is predictable, but not too much. The steamy bits are well balanced as well. Well done!

This is a very good first book for the series. Already added the second one in my TBR.

Sloan MacDonald

meh. almost put it on my DNF shelf when I figured out it was a “make this girl fall for me and fuck her for revenge” trope because ✨trauma✨ but ended up powering through cause fuck it.

Kiley H

This book was such a cute summer romance read but omg I was SO over Preston.

Amez

I'm giving this book a 4 out of 5 because I loved it. I loved the plot I loved the characters. Loved the writing and the alternating pov style. It has the after series vibes which I also liked. Some parts are sad and some are a little spicy. But it was a little bit too slow-paced for me. Overall a good book. Would recommend.

bella <3

Shawna Delellis

“After” meets “Outer Banks” in this rivalry/revenge romance. 
Great characters, dreamy visuals and laugh out loud humor had me eating this book up. Also.. Cooper Hartley 🥵 
I really enjoy Elle Kennedy’s writing and interesting plots!

sienna

this book was okay, could've been better but it wasn't boring. i was 100% interested but didn't connect with the characters at all.

Jennifer mitchell

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I overhyped this book so much in my head that it was destined to fall short in some way. I saw the words "Elle Kennedy" and "new college romance series" and immediately thought we were getting Off Campus 2.0. This book isn't that, so I was left slightly disappointed based on my own incorrect assumptions about what this book would be.

That being said, this was still a great romance book with a fun group of characters and I'm excited to see how the other books in this series will play out.

Things I liked:
-The writing style. I'm just a sucker for the way EK writes. The chapters are short and the dialogue is always realistic so it makes the book extremely easy to read and get through.
-Chemistry between the main characters and their connection to the side characters. There was one scene in particular about halfway through when the characters were first getting together that left me screaming out loud because it was so cute and swoon worthy. The main characters have great chemistry together and I was rooting for them from the beginning. The side characters were entertaining as well, and I'm excited to read more about them as more books are released.
-FUNNY!!! Despite the fact that this book deals with some hard topics and has its heavy moments, there are great moments of comedic relief thrown in there. I'll just say one word - Patricia. (Trust me, when you read it you'll get it).

Things I didn't like:
-The main premise of the book/reason the characters got together. It's very icky and rubbed me the wrong way, but I do think the resolution of it was handled nicely in the end. 
-NO EPILOGUE. Literally a crime that the book ended where it did and there was no epilogue.

Overall thoughts:
Another solid contemporary romance from Elle Kennedy. It didn't fully live up to my expectations, but that's entirely my own fault for setting the expectations so high. 

Reader warning: This book contains a cheating trope, which I know a lot of us hate (myself included). I personally thought it was resolved nicely in the end, but it's definitely a large part of the story and something to be aware of while reading.

Kasey Montagnat

what the hell was that ending… I feel like it just skipped over so many things. i would rather read after again then have to re read this again

Courtney

4.5 Stars!

Rich girl meets bad boy townie in Elle Kennedy’s new NA romance, Good Girl Complex. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Elle Kennedy’s new book and hope she makes it into a series. This book is an easy read with likeable characters, sassy banter, sexual tension and a rich girl meets down on his luck townie. 

We meet Mac and Cooper, our two main characters in Avalon Bay along with a series of side characters (Evan, Preston, Bonnie, Steph). Mac & Cooper are from different sides of the proverbial track. Mac is a people pleasing girl from a rich family and it’s accompanying rich lifestyle and Cooper is a bit of a badboy townie who is scraping by working a few jobs. Elle really took her time developing these two characters, giving them personalities, hopes,dreams, flaws and of course the sexual tension we know from other Elle Kennedy novels. 

Good Girl Complex has the vibes of “Outer Banks” and “the Notebook.” Mac and Cooper have undeniable chemistry and the circumstances behind their entire meeting (a big part of the plot) is a hard trope to pull off without getting cringey, but Elle Kennedy made it work smoothly and provided a resolution that worked so well. 

The only reason I did not give a full 5 stars is because I needed an epilogue- I needed more of their story a few months or so down the line. 

I definitely recommend adding Good Girl Complex to your TBR & picking it up in February 2022. 


I was provided an ARC of Good Girl Complex as part of Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

“And then you showed up and I started getting ideas. Maybe I didn’t have to settle for slightly better than nothing. Maybe I could even be happy” 

I highlighted this specific quote purely because it was one that immediately stuck out for me. 

For most of my life I had convinced myself that I was the common denominator in all the bad things that would occur. I didn’t believe that I would get a happy ending or anything close to it, I had accepted that I would just have to learn to be happy with whatever life threw at me. It’s so refreshing to see characters that have been handed the most crappiest cards - characters that are relatable in ways that aren’t ‘oh they’re so quirky’ or ‘they love books and i do too’ but in a profound way that means something to me.

Full of romance, hijinks, and longing, Good Girl Complex is Elle Kennedy at her very best... 'A deliciously sexy story' VI KEELAND, No.1 New York Times bestselling author She does everything right. So what could go wrong? Mackenzie 'Mac' Cabot is a people pleaser. It's exhausting, really, always following the rules. Mac has dreams of her own but to please her parents she moves to the beachside town of Avalon Bay to get her college degree. Twenty-year-old Mac has had plenty of practice suppressing her wilder impulses, but when she meets local bad boy Cooper Hartley, that ability is suddenly tested. Cooper is rough around the edges. Raw. Candid. A threat to her ordered existence. Their friendship soon becomes the realest thing in her life. Despite his disdain for the trust-fund kids he sees coming and going from his town, Cooper soon realizes Mac isn't just another rich clone and falls for her. Hard. But as Mac finally starts feeling accepted by Cooper and his friends, the secret he's been keeping from her threatens the only place she's ever felt at home. Why readers love Good Girl Complex: 'Delicious, complicated and drama-filled. . . Impossible to put down' L. J. Shen, USA Today bestselling author 'Elle Kennedy delivers another sexy and addictive read' Tijan, New York Times bestselling author 'With plenty of steam alongside the youthful romance, this winsome story about following one's heart will especially appeal to hopeless romantics' Publishers Weekly

a heartwarming modern romance from the TikTok sensation

Nicole anderson

Really good def worth the read, hard to get into but good

Good Girl Complex

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