cover image Good Girl Complex

Good Girl Complex

Elle Kennedy. Griffin, $16.99 trade paper (368p) ISBN 978-1-250-79673-8

Bestseller Kennedy (the Off Campus series) pairs compatible 20-somethings in this simple but heartfelt romance. Bartender Cooper Hartley gets fired after he steps in to save a coworker from being sexually harassed by rich boy Preston Kincaid. Cooper and his twin brother, Evan, decide to exact revenge on the trust fund brat by persuading his attractive girlfriend to fall for Cooper instead. Though smart, sweet-natured Mackenzie “Mac” Cabot is already a successful entrepreneur running the popular website Boyfriendfails, she’s obediently dating Preston and attending prestigious Garnet College to please her well-to-do-socialite parents. She isn’t at all who Cooper expects her to be, and, as he falls for her, his revenge plan falls apart. Their relationship gains momentum naturally, moving from sometimes superficial banter to more personal dialogue that still maintains its playfulness. Mac’s growing self-confidence is cheer-worthy, while Cooper’s sensitivity thanks to a difficult family life will win readers over. His increased emotional attachment to Mac is endearing, as is his continued support for Mac devoting her energy to her business, over her parents’ goals for her. With plenty of steam alongside the youthful romance, this winsome story about following one’s heart will especially appeal to hopeless romantics. (Feb.)