Good Girl Complex (Avalon Bay #1)by Elle Kennedy
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Synopsis:
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. Unlike most twenty-year-olds, all she really 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.
Mac's 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.
“Yeah, real wild night you’re having,” I drawl, gesturing at her glass of water. “Someone’s got a good girl complex, huh?”
“I’m dying to find out how insulting me is going to win you this bet.”
“Stick around a find out.”
Good Girl Complex literally came out of nowhere and surprised me in all the best ways possible. I struggle to find (and love) contemporary romance books. I’ve had a handful launch their way into my favorites, but so, so many have been 3 stars or less. I’m so happy this one was a winner and has made excited to read more of Elle Kennedy.
Every time he texts me, I say this will be the last time, then I hold my breath, type a reply, hit send, and wait for my next fix.
Why do I do this to myself?
There are two main reasons this book works for me: Cooper and Mac. (And by honorable mention – Daisy!). Mac, the good girl freshman who is dating a douchebag. Cooper, the bad boy local who is determined to get revenge on said douchebag by stealing his girlfriend. Of course, sparks fly and suddenly the revenge plan doesn’t seem like such a good idea.
While the major plot points aren’t exactly a surprise, the story works so well because of the characters and the off-the-charts chemistry between Mac and Coop. Mac is a strong but mild girl when we meet her, but with Cooper’s support, she becomes so strong and resilient. She’s funny and smart and vulnerable and I couldn’t help but root for her the whole time.
Cooper is so stubborn, witty and has buckets of charisma. Even when he’s making poor decisions, you can’t help but root for him too. He didn’t have the best childhood and while it is so different from Mac’s, it’s really sweet seeing them bond over it. And as difficult as they can be, his group of friends/family is a great touch. I want to be friends with all them.
“I’m not fucking anyone else. I don’t want you fucking anyone else. If anyone looks at you funny, I’m breaking their face. How’s that work?”
It isn’t exactly poetry, but it might the most romantic thing a guy’s ever said to me.
This was literally my first Elle Kennedy book and I can’t wait for more. I’m really excited to continue with this series and even try some of her older stuff to see if I love that too. But at the end of the day, I really feel like this book is going to hold a special place in my heart. The push-pull between Cooper and Mac is one of my favorites I’ve ever read and I have no doubt this is going to become a comfort read for me.
Cooper Hartley walks into a room and I lose my whole damn mind. I hate it. I love it.
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