Single Sundays: While this blog may be focused on reviewing book series as a whole, we can’t forget about the good ole’ standalone novel! On Sundays, I will review a novel that is considered to be a standalone novel. Here is this week’s offering:
Synopsis for The Bad Boy’s Good Girl (from Goodreads):
Logan King was trouble.I knew it from the moment I laid eyes on him. But when I challenged him, I had no idea he’d take his revenge so far.
To make up for his inexcusable behavior, his parents gave me a scholarship to King’s Prep Academy. My mom insisted that I accept. Now, I’m the poor, public school girl attending an elite academy for the rich.
Even worse, Logan is here. He rules the school, and he wants me gone.
But I have a dream to chase, and no one, not even a King, will stop me.
*previously published on Kindle Vella as The Boys of King’s Prep Academy*
SERIESous’ Top Picks: Favourite Author (O’Gorman)
Author: Cookie O’Gorman and Michelle Pennington
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: First Person, Multiple
Publication Date: June 4, 2022
Source & Format: ARC–eBook
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
The Boy’s of King’s Prep Academy is the only Cookie O’Gorman novel I haven’t read by her. I love her sweet YA romances; they never fail to put a smile on my face. So I was excited to read the revised version of the original Kindle Vella Series.
I’ve had some hits and missed with the high-school-bully trope with their over the top antics and the shock factor but knowing Cookie’s other reads, I knew this would be a sweet yet angsty read.
The Concept:
Originally written as a series of individual episodes (like a serial), it shows a little in this new version. Most chapters end on a cliffhanger of sorts to keep you reading. I also felt like chapters were more robust in order to give readers a solid episode to read.
The Plot:
After a not-so-meet-cute between our leads that was filled with drama, the next 50% or so seems a little tame and slow in comparison. I struggled with the pacing as a result. Perhaps if we had more stolen looks and brimming sexual tension between Ava and Logan in that first half, I wouldn’t have minded the slow burn as much. But they rarely seem to interact at all or at least enough to convince me that Logan was falling for her so hard and fast.
The Characters:
Logan has great character development throughout the book. It was nice to see him let some of his angst go and become a stronger person.
Ava is a strong match for him but she also shows some vulnerability that I appreciated.
I’ll be honest, I’m not sure why Chris has some POV chapters. I’m not sure if it was to introduce a potential rival to the romance or to plant the seeds for a future sequel.
The Romance:
I’ve read a few “high-school-bully” trope romances over the last year and this one was refreshing in the sense that it didn’t try to shock you with crazy sexscapades or violence. Instead, it’s a sweet romance between two people who realize that there is more to the other person than they first assumed.
My Rating: 3/5
Perfect for fans who want to partake in the hate to love you prep school YA romance genre but don’t want all the grit and sex that usually comes with it. It’s sweet but angsty and has a lot of depth to it!
Read if You Like: slow burn romances, sweet romances
Avoid if You: want a grittier high-school-bully romance
- Always by Ellery Rhodes (Always Series #1)
- Breathe by Abbi Glines (Sea Breeze Series #1)
- Shattered by H M Ward (The Secret Life of Trystan Scott Series #1)
- Things I Wanted to Say but Never Did by Monica Murphy
