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Bad Publicity
Yesterday they were just exes.
Today they're a writer and a publicist... on tour in Europe... for a month.
When Andie lands her dream job as a senior book publicist, she's ready to take the world of New York publishing by storm.
Until her first day, when she discovers that her biggest author is Jack Carlson – the same Jack who ruined her life in university. Who she hasn't spoken to in five years. Who is not only still infuriatingly hot but incredibly successful. And whose campaign she definitely cannot mess up, if she wants to keep her job.
To make matters even worse, the central part of this career-defining campaign is a book tour. For a month, Andie will have to travel across Europe with the man who, if she were being totally honest, she'd like to hit with her car.
But she will not lose this opportunity, especially not because of him. One month on tour with Jack Carlson, visiting some of the most romantic spots in Europe. Deep breath. She can do this.
Today they're a writer and a publicist... on tour in Europe... for a month.
When Andie lands her dream job as a senior book publicist, she's ready to take the world of New York publishing by storm.
Until her first day, when she discovers that her biggest author is Jack Carlson – the same Jack who ruined her life in university. Who she hasn't spoken to in five years. Who is not only still infuriatingly hot but incredibly successful. And whose campaign she definitely cannot mess up, if she wants to keep her job.
To make matters even worse, the central part of this career-defining campaign is a book tour. For a month, Andie will have to travel across Europe with the man who, if she were being totally honest, she'd like to hit with her car.
But she will not lose this opportunity, especially not because of him. One month on tour with Jack Carlson, visiting some of the most romantic spots in Europe. Deep breath. She can do this.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 27, 2025
143 people are currently reading
21656 people want to read
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May 20, 2025
જ⁀➴ 2 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Bianca Gillam, and Penguin Books for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Update (5/20/2025): Bad Publicity is officially published and out in the world! (I strongly suggest going into this story knowing it's NOT a rom-com.)
.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･
Welp, my 50th book read this year was...kind of a disaster. I genuinely think someone on the publishing end messed up in the marketing of this book, because I understand where the low ratings are coming from now. For a book that's marketed as a second-chance romance, this was the most depressing romance book I've ever read in my life.
Andie wants a fresh start. After a disaster at her university in Edinburgh leaves her upset and heartbroken over Jack Carlson, she attempts to move on from everything. Five years later, when she lands a job as a senior book publicist, she runs into Jack again when she finds out her first book campaign she'll be working on is for his debut fiction novel. He's the last person she wants to see, but she'll have to spend a month on the road with him traveling across Europe to Berlin, Paris, Dublin, and London and try not to kill him--or redevelop feelings for him--in the process.
All in all, I didn't think that the writing was absolutely horrible for a debut. I flew through the entire book in one day; the chapters were short and the story was engaging enough to keep me reading because I love a book that dives into the publishing industry and what happens behind the scenes with all our favorite books that we read and the book tours and campaigns the authors go on to promote their book.
If you read the official synopsis/blurb of the book, you'll assume right away that you're signing up for the "sparkling rom-com" that is a laugh-out-loud, palate cleansing, second-chance romance, right? NOPE. Not once did I laugh. Not once did I giggle and kick my feet.
Whoever did the marketing or the blurb for this book has some serious explaining to do, because what was supposed to be a rom-com turned into a story about Andie processing her grief over the death of her father, who passed away five years ago. The majority of the story is Andie (mostly) running away from her problems instead of facing them head-on. I understand that people process grief in different ways, and there's no set timeline for grief and how long you can mourn someone for. However, it was getting to the point where she was self-sabotaging herself and her relationships with the people she loves. I felt bad for her best friend Sara; she had to sit there and almost push her issues aside to try to make sure Andie was okay the entire way through her book tour and I don't think Andie ever once cared to ask if Sara was okay and doing well in NYC. I didn't think the subplot with Sara's life in NYC was relevant to the story at all, though; it was kind of irrelevant to the entire story and it didn't feel necessary to include.
As for the whole "second-chance romance" aspect to the book, we don't even know WHY Andie is upset with Jack until around the 80% mark of the story. We get the first 80% of the book, which is Andie being passive-aggressive and rude to Jack with literally no explanation or backstory as to why she treated him the way she does, and I found it totally uncalled for...until the 80% mark. It was a totally valid reason for her to be upset with him for what he did, but there were SO many times where Jack wanted to explain his side of things to her and she would just refuse to listen or cut him off and walk away. Once we get Andie's perspective on what happened, I literally said, "Oh fuck no," and wondered why she still had feelings for him even though he did what he did. Once we get to hear Jack's side of the story, it makes a little more sense and things start to fall into place a little more, but I wish that this was explained earlier on in the story. Does it justify anything he did to Andie? No, but I can see how there was a gray area in his choice in doing so.
If you're looking for a happy ending to this story...look somewhere else, unfortunately. I can see why the story needed to end the way it did, but for a story so depressing and advertised as a rom-com, you would think that it would have an HEA. Nope! The epilogue is somewhat open-ended and you can come up with your own ending in a way depending on how you look at it, but I think I set myself up with that one, thinking that a depressing book would have anything else but a somewhat depressing ending.
Overall, I think that advertising this book as a rom-com is giving the book bad publicity (pun intended) in its own right. It wasn't a "sparkling rom-com," it was a contemporary fiction book about grief, processing it, and finding a new way to move on in life. I think that if more people went into this book knowing that--and I should emphasize that the synopsis doesn't give ANY indication of that being anywhere in the book-- then more people would have a better opinion on the book overall. However, to disguise a book with such heavy topics as a rom-com is doing readers a disservice.
.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･
Trigger/content warnings: death of a family member, blackmail, physical assault, cyberbullying, slut shaming
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: This is my 50th book this year!🎉 I already surpassed the number of books I read last year (45), and my reading challenge goal right now is set at 55 books. I'm going to change it once I hit 55, whenever that happens, but I definitely give all my ARC reading the credit for pushing me to stay on top of my deadlines and read more!
This is from a debut author (again!), so I can't wait to see what this book has in store. They had me at second-chance romance!💞 The low ratings--it's sitting at a 3.31 rating at the time of writing this--makes me a little nervous, but I hope this works for me because I've had so many 2-star reads this month🤞🏼🍀
This is ARC 7/8 for May (can't believe I read that much already), and ARC 2/3 for my next deadline on 5/20!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bianca Gillam, and Penguin Books for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Update (5/20/2025): Bad Publicity is officially published and out in the world! (I strongly suggest going into this story knowing it's NOT a rom-com.)
"All I'm saying, love, is that everyone has flaws. You're impressively aware of yours. But that doesn't mean you don't deserve to love and be loved."
.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･
Welp, my 50th book read this year was...kind of a disaster. I genuinely think someone on the publishing end messed up in the marketing of this book, because I understand where the low ratings are coming from now. For a book that's marketed as a second-chance romance, this was the most depressing romance book I've ever read in my life.
Andie wants a fresh start. After a disaster at her university in Edinburgh leaves her upset and heartbroken over Jack Carlson, she attempts to move on from everything. Five years later, when she lands a job as a senior book publicist, she runs into Jack again when she finds out her first book campaign she'll be working on is for his debut fiction novel. He's the last person she wants to see, but she'll have to spend a month on the road with him traveling across Europe to Berlin, Paris, Dublin, and London and try not to kill him--or redevelop feelings for him--in the process.
All in all, I didn't think that the writing was absolutely horrible for a debut. I flew through the entire book in one day; the chapters were short and the story was engaging enough to keep me reading because I love a book that dives into the publishing industry and what happens behind the scenes with all our favorite books that we read and the book tours and campaigns the authors go on to promote their book.
If you read the official synopsis/blurb of the book, you'll assume right away that you're signing up for the "sparkling rom-com" that is a laugh-out-loud, palate cleansing, second-chance romance, right? NOPE. Not once did I laugh. Not once did I giggle and kick my feet.
Whoever did the marketing or the blurb for this book has some serious explaining to do, because what was supposed to be a rom-com turned into a story about Andie processing her grief over the death of her father, who passed away five years ago. The majority of the story is Andie (mostly) running away from her problems instead of facing them head-on. I understand that people process grief in different ways, and there's no set timeline for grief and how long you can mourn someone for. However, it was getting to the point where she was self-sabotaging herself and her relationships with the people she loves. I felt bad for her best friend Sara; she had to sit there and almost push her issues aside to try to make sure Andie was okay the entire way through her book tour and I don't think Andie ever once cared to ask if Sara was okay and doing well in NYC. I didn't think the subplot with Sara's life in NYC was relevant to the story at all, though; it was kind of irrelevant to the entire story and it didn't feel necessary to include.
As for the whole "second-chance romance" aspect to the book, we don't even know WHY Andie is upset with Jack until around the 80% mark of the story. We get the first 80% of the book, which is Andie being passive-aggressive and rude to Jack with literally no explanation or backstory as to why she treated him the way she does, and I found it totally uncalled for...until the 80% mark. It was a totally valid reason for her to be upset with him for what he did, but there were SO many times where Jack wanted to explain his side of things to her and she would just refuse to listen or cut him off and walk away. Once we get Andie's perspective on what happened, I literally said, "Oh fuck no," and wondered why she still had feelings for him even though he did what he did. Once we get to hear Jack's side of the story, it makes a little more sense and things start to fall into place a little more, but I wish that this was explained earlier on in the story. Does it justify anything he did to Andie? No, but I can see how there was a gray area in his choice in doing so.
If you're looking for a happy ending to this story...look somewhere else, unfortunately. I can see why the story needed to end the way it did, but for a story so depressing and advertised as a rom-com, you would think that it would have an HEA. Nope! The epilogue is somewhat open-ended and you can come up with your own ending in a way depending on how you look at it, but I think I set myself up with that one, thinking that a depressing book would have anything else but a somewhat depressing ending.
Overall, I think that advertising this book as a rom-com is giving the book bad publicity (pun intended) in its own right. It wasn't a "sparkling rom-com," it was a contemporary fiction book about grief, processing it, and finding a new way to move on in life. I think that if more people went into this book knowing that--and I should emphasize that the synopsis doesn't give ANY indication of that being anywhere in the book-- then more people would have a better opinion on the book overall. However, to disguise a book with such heavy topics as a rom-com is doing readers a disservice.
.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･
Trigger/content warnings: death of a family member, blackmail, physical assault, cyberbullying, slut shaming
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: This is my 50th book this year!🎉 I already surpassed the number of books I read last year (45), and my reading challenge goal right now is set at 55 books. I'm going to change it once I hit 55, whenever that happens, but I definitely give all my ARC reading the credit for pushing me to stay on top of my deadlines and read more!
This is from a debut author (again!), so I can't wait to see what this book has in store. They had me at second-chance romance!💞 The low ratings--it's sitting at a 3.31 rating at the time of writing this--makes me a little nervous, but I hope this works for me because I've had so many 2-star reads this month🤞🏼🍀
This is ARC 7/8 for May (can't believe I read that much already), and ARC 2/3 for my next deadline on 5/20!
March 2, 2025
I think this author wanted, or maybe needed to write a book about grief, but was told that romance sells better, so she wrote, or tried to write a romance instead.
However, there was very little romance in this book. The main story was about Andie’s struggles with her grief, and with the mysterious horrible something that Jack had done when they were students. (We only found out what it was at about 75% of the book😩). The big reveal made me roll my eyes because of how contrived the whole thing was and how little “history” Andie and Jack had. (Also, why was there absolutely zero comeuppance for the villain??)
Since the book was about Andie, Jack’s character was not fully developed, and as a result the romance felt flat. There was barely any chemistry and the focus was on their “history” instead of the present or a possible future.
Overall too depressing to be enjoyable.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
However, there was very little romance in this book. The main story was about Andie’s struggles with her grief, and with the mysterious horrible something that Jack had done when they were students. (We only found out what it was at about 75% of the book😩). The big reveal made me roll my eyes because of how contrived the whole thing was and how little “history” Andie and Jack had. (Also, why was there absolutely zero comeuppance for the villain??)
Since the book was about Andie, Jack’s character was not fully developed, and as a result the romance felt flat. There was barely any chemistry and the focus was on their “history” instead of the present or a possible future.
Overall too depressing to be enjoyable.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 3, 2025
જ⁀➴ 4.5 stars ⋆⭒˚.⋆
⁀➴ 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬
🤍 publicist x author
📚 book tour
🤍 grief rep
📚 second chance
🤍 slow burn
📚 forced proximity
𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: right where you left me ‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹
⤿ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 may 27
⤿ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 may 28
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
this was marketed as a romance and similar to emily henry - all i took from that was that this was for emily henry fans and i didn’t really care about the romance tbh because i’m lowkey sick of all the romcoms.
so some key things to keep in mind - do NOT go into this expecting a romance and you’d most likely enjoy it more than the most popular reviews of this book… another thing - aren’t emhen books ‘marketed’ as romance and it’s usually 75-90% grief, trauma, friendships, etc and then romance. people STILL eat those up (myself included) so just keep an open mind lol
also i don’t think i even read the blurb… just saw an insta mutual get this book and was like this looks interesting LOL. because the blurb is in fact very much not accurate
this was such a quick, fast paced read - finished in 2 hours 😙
i think this book and emhen books have made me realize how much i adore contemporary fiction novels with a sprinkle of romance 🤭💕
i’d 100% recommend this if you’re looking for a different, grief/mental health focused, book with second chances. it’s a pretty realistic and serious novel, not really any giggling scenes or swoony.
something i didn’t particularly get… andie and jack weren’t even a couple. like they hooked up once and then it went crashing down 😭 which was kinda of insane to me but holding a grudge from a guy you didn’t even date…. it’s fair but like really? i thought they had been dating for years or something 😭 oh well
don’t really have much to say but if you liked happy place + promise me sunshine i think you’d enjoy this!!!
𝐩𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ౨ৎ
so i haven't heard a lot about this book... but a lot of people didnt really this
it's for emhen fans so i have to try this!!
⁀➴ 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬
🤍 publicist x author
📚 book tour
🤍 grief rep
📚 second chance
🤍 slow burn
📚 forced proximity
𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: right where you left me ‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹
⤿ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 may 27
⤿ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 may 28
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
this was marketed as a romance and similar to emily henry - all i took from that was that this was for emily henry fans and i didn’t really care about the romance tbh because i’m lowkey sick of all the romcoms.
so some key things to keep in mind - do NOT go into this expecting a romance and you’d most likely enjoy it more than the most popular reviews of this book… another thing - aren’t emhen books ‘marketed’ as romance and it’s usually 75-90% grief, trauma, friendships, etc and then romance. people STILL eat those up (myself included) so just keep an open mind lol
also i don’t think i even read the blurb… just saw an insta mutual get this book and was like this looks interesting LOL. because the blurb is in fact very much not accurate
this was such a quick, fast paced read - finished in 2 hours 😙
i think this book and emhen books have made me realize how much i adore contemporary fiction novels with a sprinkle of romance 🤭💕
i’d 100% recommend this if you’re looking for a different, grief/mental health focused, book with second chances. it’s a pretty realistic and serious novel, not really any giggling scenes or swoony.
something i didn’t particularly get… andie and jack weren’t even a couple. like they hooked up once and then it went crashing down 😭 which was kinda of insane to me but holding a grudge from a guy you didn’t even date…. it’s fair but like really? i thought they had been dating for years or something 😭 oh well
don’t really have much to say but if you liked happy place + promise me sunshine i think you’d enjoy this!!!
𝐩𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ౨ৎ
so i haven't heard a lot about this book... but a lot of people didnt really this
it's for emhen fans so i have to try this!!
March 18, 2025
Bought in an airport. Read on a 90 minute flight. Wish I’d just looked out the window at the nothingness of the English Channel instead.
September 17, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I'll start with the good. Books written from the POV of someone who works in the literary industry are some of my favorites. It's like reading about the adventures of a dear bookish friend. It is also really interesting reading about the inner workings of the publishing industry and book tours. Jack was exceptionally sweet and understanding almost to a fault (he was pretty much a doormat by the end of the book). I loved him as a character, although I questioned all of his life choices. He was interesting and, honestly, the only reason I liked this book.
Now for the bad. The pacing of this book felt really off. Andie keeps referencing some big, horrible event that happened between her and Jack, but we don't get any context until about 75% of the way through. Normally, I wouldn't mind this, but the FMC references it excessively. It got to the point where I was more frustrated than curious, and by the 50% mark I was just reading so that I could figure out what Jack could have possibly done wrong to make Andie act like such a ugly troll to him for pretty much the entire book. I really just didn't enjoy the back half of the book because of this.
And finally, the ugly. Andie, they could literally never make me like you. If Andie has no haters, then I am dead. Almost all of her problems (quite literally) were of her own making and would not have been as big of a deal if she went to see a real therapist to process her grief instead of talking to her best friend and mother like they're her therapists. She makes the fact that she has problems and trauma into other people's problems by being mean to them for seemingly no good reason and expects people to cater to her feelings without thinking about how her actions affect others. News flash: just because you have trauma doesn't mean you get to act like a total A-hole to the people around you. You are still responsible for your actions. Andie is literally one of the most unlikable characters I've ever read about, and it really ruined the book for me. She's unprofessional, immature, and incredibly selfish. I'm supposed to root for someone who acts like an emotionally immature troglodyte for the majority of the book? I think not.
I'm giving this book 1 star. Between the pacing and the incredibly unlikable FMC, I didn't just not enjoy this book, I actively disliked it. I will not be purchasing or recommending it to anyone.
I'll start with the good. Books written from the POV of someone who works in the literary industry are some of my favorites. It's like reading about the adventures of a dear bookish friend. It is also really interesting reading about the inner workings of the publishing industry and book tours. Jack was exceptionally sweet and understanding almost to a fault (he was pretty much a doormat by the end of the book). I loved him as a character, although I questioned all of his life choices. He was interesting and, honestly, the only reason I liked this book.
Now for the bad. The pacing of this book felt really off. Andie keeps referencing some big, horrible event that happened between her and Jack, but we don't get any context until about 75% of the way through. Normally, I wouldn't mind this, but the FMC references it excessively. It got to the point where I was more frustrated than curious, and by the 50% mark I was just reading so that I could figure out what Jack could have possibly done wrong to make Andie act like such a ugly troll to him for pretty much the entire book. I really just didn't enjoy the back half of the book because of this.
And finally, the ugly. Andie, they could literally never make me like you. If Andie has no haters, then I am dead. Almost all of her problems (quite literally) were of her own making and would not have been as big of a deal if she went to see a real therapist to process her grief instead of talking to her best friend and mother like they're her therapists. She makes the fact that she has problems and trauma into other people's problems by being mean to them for seemingly no good reason and expects people to cater to her feelings without thinking about how her actions affect others. News flash: just because you have trauma doesn't mean you get to act like a total A-hole to the people around you. You are still responsible for your actions. Andie is literally one of the most unlikable characters I've ever read about, and it really ruined the book for me. She's unprofessional, immature, and incredibly selfish. I'm supposed to root for someone who acts like an emotionally immature troglodyte for the majority of the book? I think not.
I'm giving this book 1 star. Between the pacing and the incredibly unlikable FMC, I didn't just not enjoy this book, I actively disliked it. I will not be purchasing or recommending it to anyone.
August 16, 2025
What a phenomenal debut about the power of heartache & healing. Then add a good slow burn + enemies-to-lovers into the mix and it’s just about perfect.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
The story follows Andie as she lands her dream job as a publicist, but soon comes to find out that the first author she’s paired to work with is none other than the man who broke her heart 5 years ago while at University. For the next month she has to figure out how to function on tour with the one person she swore she’d never see again.
It starts out slow, but the tension slowly begins to build as you read more and more. I was so on edge and anxious to find out what happened between Andie and Jack to understand why it was fueling her hatred toward him. Then when it was revealed… it’s so heartbreaking to see how easily things can go downhill from just one decision and miscommunication.
This story was such an accurate representation of the journey and battle of grief, and how difficult it can be to break from that cycle. And also how easily it can affect not only the person dealing with it, but others around them as well. Friends, family, lovers, etc.
Follow Andie as she navigates through her heartache and loneliness, and how she learns to listen to and appreciate the people close to her. But most of all how opening up and confronting grief, instead of running and hiding from it, can be the first step to the path of healing.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
"I want to be part of your story."
"You're my whole book, Charlie."
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
4.5 ⭐️ for me. The beginning was difficult for me to get into. I wasn’t liking the characters as much as I was wanting to, but it progressively got better as the book continued.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
The story follows Andie as she lands her dream job as a publicist, but soon comes to find out that the first author she’s paired to work with is none other than the man who broke her heart 5 years ago while at University. For the next month she has to figure out how to function on tour with the one person she swore she’d never see again.
It starts out slow, but the tension slowly begins to build as you read more and more. I was so on edge and anxious to find out what happened between Andie and Jack to understand why it was fueling her hatred toward him. Then when it was revealed… it’s so heartbreaking to see how easily things can go downhill from just one decision and miscommunication.
This story was such an accurate representation of the journey and battle of grief, and how difficult it can be to break from that cycle. And also how easily it can affect not only the person dealing with it, but others around them as well. Friends, family, lovers, etc.
Follow Andie as she navigates through her heartache and loneliness, and how she learns to listen to and appreciate the people close to her. But most of all how opening up and confronting grief, instead of running and hiding from it, can be the first step to the path of healing.
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"I want to be part of your story."
"You're my whole book, Charlie."
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4.5 ⭐️ for me. The beginning was difficult for me to get into. I wasn’t liking the characters as much as I was wanting to, but it progressively got better as the book continued.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
July 22, 2025
3.5⭐️
op haar eerste werkdag als pr-medewerker bij een uitgeverij komt Andie erachter dat ze moet samenwerken met auteur Jack, haar soort van ex van de universiteit. ze hebben een historie en gingen niet zo goed uit elkaar.
Andie is vijf jaar later nog erg boos op Jack, maar wat er precies gebeurd is weten we nog niet. ik vond het wel een beetje storend dat Andie gewoon niet wilde praten/communiceren met Jack. ook heeft ze een beetje een rocky relatie met haar moeder na de dood van Andie’s vader, dat verlies heeft ze zelf nog niet verwerkt.
dit was een fijne second chance romance met romcom vibes! de schrijfstijl is makkelijk en vlot. je zit heel snel in het verhaal. ik had alleen net wat meer chemie gewild tussen Andie en Jack. maar al met al heb ik me vermaakt en was het een goed boek om tussendoor te lezen!
bedankt voor dit recensie-exemplaar HarperCollins Holland!
op haar eerste werkdag als pr-medewerker bij een uitgeverij komt Andie erachter dat ze moet samenwerken met auteur Jack, haar soort van ex van de universiteit. ze hebben een historie en gingen niet zo goed uit elkaar.
Andie is vijf jaar later nog erg boos op Jack, maar wat er precies gebeurd is weten we nog niet. ik vond het wel een beetje storend dat Andie gewoon niet wilde praten/communiceren met Jack. ook heeft ze een beetje een rocky relatie met haar moeder na de dood van Andie’s vader, dat verlies heeft ze zelf nog niet verwerkt.
dit was een fijne second chance romance met romcom vibes! de schrijfstijl is makkelijk en vlot. je zit heel snel in het verhaal. ik had alleen net wat meer chemie gewild tussen Andie en Jack. maar al met al heb ik me vermaakt en was het een goed boek om tussendoor te lezen!
bedankt voor dit recensie-exemplaar HarperCollins Holland!
March 5, 2025
Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam was just a brilliant read. It had everything and more I want from a romance novel: forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, and a second chance romance that left me swooning. This novel is a perfect amount of angst, humour, and emotional, heartwarming moments.
The story focusses on Andie and Jack, our MCs, who are former lovers with a complicated past. They are forced together due to work commitments, which spark numerous emotions for them both, from intense hatred to undeniable attraction.
The author does such an amazing job at that slow-burn romance, keeping us on the edge of our seats by building the tension awaiting that reunion. While the miscommunication trope is such a frustrating element in romance novels for me, the author actually handles it with finesse. The tension and underlying hatred between Andie and Jack make their journey towards reconciliation all the more satisfying.
The author's portrayal of Andie's grief and loss was such a well-written addition to the romance story; it was scattered throughout the book, making it feel authentic. The sensitive topic is handled, allowing Andie's pain to shine through while also showcasing her resilience and strength. I fully shed tears while reading it.
Overall, Bad Publicity is a must-read for romance fans like me. The writing is engaging, and the characters are unforgettable. With its perfect blend of angst, humour, and heartwarming moments, this story is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Huge thanks to NetGallery and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for sending me this ARC—all opinions are my own, of course!
The story focusses on Andie and Jack, our MCs, who are former lovers with a complicated past. They are forced together due to work commitments, which spark numerous emotions for them both, from intense hatred to undeniable attraction.
The author does such an amazing job at that slow-burn romance, keeping us on the edge of our seats by building the tension awaiting that reunion. While the miscommunication trope is such a frustrating element in romance novels for me, the author actually handles it with finesse. The tension and underlying hatred between Andie and Jack make their journey towards reconciliation all the more satisfying.
The author's portrayal of Andie's grief and loss was such a well-written addition to the romance story; it was scattered throughout the book, making it feel authentic. The sensitive topic is handled, allowing Andie's pain to shine through while also showcasing her resilience and strength. I fully shed tears while reading it.
Overall, Bad Publicity is a must-read for romance fans like me. The writing is engaging, and the characters are unforgettable. With its perfect blend of angst, humour, and heartwarming moments, this story is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Huge thanks to NetGallery and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for sending me this ARC—all opinions are my own, of course!
May 19, 2025
DNF @29% - I won this through Penguin and GoodReads and am sad to say it's a DNF. I really wanted to love this bookish romance but it was boring and didn't seem to be going anywhere.
Thank you to both GoodReads and Penguin for this ARC.
Thank you to both GoodReads and Penguin for this ARC.
March 27, 2025
Girl this book should be getting bad publicity.
It’s clear that the author was trying to write enemies to lovers but unfortunately did not understand the assignment at all and it was so disappointing.
First of all, it would be a crime to even call this “enemies to lovers” BECAUSE THERE’S NO CONTENT OF THEM BEING ENEMIES??? Basically, Andie was holding a grudge for something (albeit very shitty) Jack did to her in university, and when they are forced to work together they immediately call a truce and decide to act civil with each other rather than dredging up the past. This resulted in them having short, small talk-y conversations which lacked substance the whole book. Moreover, even when the author tried to write them having a “deep” conversation, it felt so half assed cringe. Where was the ANGST? THE PINING? THE YEARNINGGGG??
If I’m being completely honest, Bad Publicity did not even feel like a romance book. It’s mostly about this woman having a mid-life crisis about her grief from losing her father and the fact that she hasn’t really been able to confront her feelings for a long time. As a result, Jack, her supposed love interest, was an extremely underdeveloped character. I genuinely could not tell you one thing I learnt about that man except that he’s an author with daddy issues. All of this combined means their romance fell so flat for me. I didn’t care about either of them individually or together. Their chemistry and love for each other were so unconvincing I just wanted the book to end.
Also I feel that it’s important to note that the cover says it’s “perfect for fans of Emily Henry” which lowkey is an insult to Emily Henry and her fans. How one could ever compare her masterpieces to THIS is beyond me… don’t waste your time reading it!
It’s clear that the author was trying to write enemies to lovers but unfortunately did not understand the assignment at all and it was so disappointing.
First of all, it would be a crime to even call this “enemies to lovers” BECAUSE THERE’S NO CONTENT OF THEM BEING ENEMIES??? Basically, Andie was holding a grudge for something (albeit very shitty) Jack did to her in university, and when they are forced to work together they immediately call a truce and decide to act civil with each other rather than dredging up the past. This resulted in them having short, small talk-y conversations which lacked substance the whole book. Moreover, even when the author tried to write them having a “deep” conversation, it felt so half assed cringe. Where was the ANGST? THE PINING? THE YEARNINGGGG??
If I’m being completely honest, Bad Publicity did not even feel like a romance book. It’s mostly about this woman having a mid-life crisis about her grief from losing her father and the fact that she hasn’t really been able to confront her feelings for a long time. As a result, Jack, her supposed love interest, was an extremely underdeveloped character. I genuinely could not tell you one thing I learnt about that man except that he’s an author with daddy issues. All of this combined means their romance fell so flat for me. I didn’t care about either of them individually or together. Their chemistry and love for each other were so unconvincing I just wanted the book to end.
Also I feel that it’s important to note that the cover says it’s “perfect for fans of Emily Henry” which lowkey is an insult to Emily Henry and her fans. How one could ever compare her masterpieces to THIS is beyond me… don’t waste your time reading it!
April 9, 2025
1.5 stars.
This was, indeed, a case of bad publicity.
This was neither rom, nor com.
I really didn’t enjoy this, I completely lost interest in the entire story because I felt like I was lied to from the moment I picked up this book.
The pacing was slow, the story was dull, Andie was insufferable, the random Sara side plot was redundant, and Jack had the personality of a wet flannel.
Where was the humour? Where was the romance? Considering it’s marketed as a romance book, I’m still yet to find any in it.
I HATE the miscommunication trope, and the whole conflict between the two main characters heavily relies on it.
Going into this, I didn’t want to read a book about grief, where the female protagonist flat-out bullies the male MC for over three quarters of the book. I wanted a Romantic Comedy about exes in forced proximity to each other, (and they’re not even really exes!?) whilst exploring the world of publishing on a book tour.
Not for me at all. I’m exceptionally disappointed because I’d been really looking forward to picking this one up.
This was, indeed, a case of bad publicity.
This was neither rom, nor com.
I really didn’t enjoy this, I completely lost interest in the entire story because I felt like I was lied to from the moment I picked up this book.
The pacing was slow, the story was dull, Andie was insufferable, the random Sara side plot was redundant, and Jack had the personality of a wet flannel.
Where was the humour? Where was the romance? Considering it’s marketed as a romance book, I’m still yet to find any in it.
I HATE the miscommunication trope, and the whole conflict between the two main characters heavily relies on it.
Going into this, I didn’t want to read a book about grief, where the female protagonist flat-out bullies the male MC for over three quarters of the book. I wanted a Romantic Comedy about exes in forced proximity to each other, (and they’re not even really exes!?) whilst exploring the world of publishing on a book tour.
Not for me at all. I’m exceptionally disappointed because I’d been really looking forward to picking this one up.
May 17, 2025
Те саме, що і подивитись абсолютно передбачувану романтичну комедію в кіно - за місяць вже не згадаєш, про що там було, героям треба просто поговорити, головна жахлива проблема накручена і висмоктана з пальця…
Але ти свідомо йдеш на це, бо знаєш, що тебе очікує 😂👌🏻 хоч героїня дратувала, але герой такий бубочка і навколокнижкова тематика мені завжди подобається, тому норм, нехай буде 😌
Але ти свідомо йдеш на це, бо знаєш, що тебе очікує 😂👌🏻 хоч героїня дратувала, але герой такий бубочка і навколокнижкова тематика мені завжди подобається, тому норм, нехай буде 😌
August 19, 2024
♡ Bad Publicity review ♡
4/5 stars
This book was such a cute romance book! I loved reading about Andie and Jack's relationship and I definitely recommend this.
♡ What I liked ♡
Andie and Jack were such a cute couple, the angst and tension between them was perfect.
The way Andie's grief about her father was captured was so well done, it added a lot of emotion to the book.
I loved both Andie and Jack's characters so much
The plot was exciting.
♡ What I disliked ♡
THE ENDING WAS SO FRUSTRATING, I would've loved more of a conclusion between Andie and Jack, and more cute moments between them.
I did not like Andie's best friend Sarah at all. She annoyed me so much.
4/5 stars
This book was such a cute romance book! I loved reading about Andie and Jack's relationship and I definitely recommend this.
♡ What I liked ♡
Andie and Jack were such a cute couple, the angst and tension between them was perfect.
The way Andie's grief about her father was captured was so well done, it added a lot of emotion to the book.
I loved both Andie and Jack's characters so much
The plot was exciting.
♡ What I disliked ♡
THE ENDING WAS SO FRUSTRATING, I would've loved more of a conclusion between Andie and Jack, and more cute moments between them.
I did not like Andie's best friend Sarah at all. She annoyed me so much.
April 22, 2025
3.5/5 stars
Grief is such a monster to over come and the way the author spoke about Andie’s grief is something I know a lot of people can relate to. I just feel like the romance was on the back burner with this one. This book should be categorized as a “Finding Yourself” kind of book verses a romcom. The center of the book had more to do with healing, moving on, and learning how to be happy with yourself than it was about romance. Don’t get me wrong, this story was beautifully written and made my heart break to the point where I had tears streaming down my face from it.
I have read quite a few “enemies to lovers,” “second chances” where grief is present, but so is the romance aspect of it. I feel that Andie and Jacks back story was something different, maybe less serious or a situation that wouldn’t hold as much resentment or animosity then their romance would have been more pronounced.
I still enjoyed this book immensely and adored every character. Sara is someone who you clearly want as your best friend. Supportive in every way, but will also call you out on your wrong doings and how seeing someone you love hurt themselves, is also hurting you too. Jack was the definition of patience. He was so patient, kind and was just there for Andie and when he heart was breaking for her, ugh mine broke too.
I would definitely recommend this book to someone who enjoys contemporary books, with a side of romance.
*Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC!*
Grief is such a monster to over come and the way the author spoke about Andie’s grief is something I know a lot of people can relate to. I just feel like the romance was on the back burner with this one. This book should be categorized as a “Finding Yourself” kind of book verses a romcom. The center of the book had more to do with healing, moving on, and learning how to be happy with yourself than it was about romance. Don’t get me wrong, this story was beautifully written and made my heart break to the point where I had tears streaming down my face from it.
I have read quite a few “enemies to lovers,” “second chances” where grief is present, but so is the romance aspect of it. I feel that Andie and Jacks back story was something different, maybe less serious or a situation that wouldn’t hold as much resentment or animosity then their romance would have been more pronounced.
I still enjoyed this book immensely and adored every character. Sara is someone who you clearly want as your best friend. Supportive in every way, but will also call you out on your wrong doings and how seeing someone you love hurt themselves, is also hurting you too. Jack was the definition of patience. He was so patient, kind and was just there for Andie and when he heart was breaking for her, ugh mine broke too.
I would definitely recommend this book to someone who enjoys contemporary books, with a side of romance.
*Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC!*
March 14, 2025
I understand that people process grief differently, but this book is marketed as a rom-com—so where’s the comedy? The romance? The CHEMISTRY?? None of it exists. Instead, we’re stuck with an insufferable main character who spends seventy percent of the book obsessing over her grief and a so-called “catastrophic” event in Edinburgh… only for it to—spoiler alert—turn out not as catastrophic as the definition of the word would lead you to believe. Just your stereotypical dose of overblown male assholery and poor communication skills (and even that just goes against the character’s job who herself says “My job in book publicity, which meant communicating with journalists on a daily basis”)—how original. And the ”romantic trip to Europe” promised in the blurb? Don’t expect it to be a saving grace. Nope. It could just as well be Detroit for all the lifeless, cliché details we get. As for Jack, the love interest, is utterly spineless and bland. In fact, the entire cast lacks depth, personality, or any remotely likable qualities.
So, no romance, no vivid travel experiences, and just grief rolling around in endless, repetitive cycles—like dirty laundry stuck in a washing machine. Even the setup, featuring an author and his publicist, is just another bait-and-switch to lure readers in. Who doesn’t love a bookish, internationally set romance? I mean, the book cover is super cute, isn’t it? Too bad Bianca Gillam had all the right ingredients for a swoon-worthy rom-com—and still butchered the recipe. Finishing this required a lot of skimming on my part.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin books for the ARC, sorry the review isn’t higher.
So, no romance, no vivid travel experiences, and just grief rolling around in endless, repetitive cycles—like dirty laundry stuck in a washing machine. Even the setup, featuring an author and his publicist, is just another bait-and-switch to lure readers in. Who doesn’t love a bookish, internationally set romance? I mean, the book cover is super cute, isn’t it? Too bad Bianca Gillam had all the right ingredients for a swoon-worthy rom-com—and still butchered the recipe. Finishing this required a lot of skimming on my part.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin books for the ARC, sorry the review isn’t higher.
October 8, 2024
Thank Netgalley Penguin books for an early copy of Bad Publicity, Bad Publicity I'm sure you guess it: is an enemies to lovers romance is a very typical reading experience. Andie are main character get this big job as a book publicity to travel through Europe on a book tour for a month the catch is she work alone side her enemies who she haven’t seen in five years name Jake to make his book tour the biggest it every been. I'm not a big fan of enemies to lovers I really request this book because of all the book references ( which we definitely get) Throughout the month book tour we find out why Andie hate Jake so much and this was the problem for me was Andie she annoyed me so much and also the reveal THE WHY . Topic of grief was handled extremely well and makes you connect to the book in a very deep way. The writer is very simple, simple is good I fell into the book very quick but once I put It down I won't think of it again, but again it's your very typical enemies to lovers book but one thing I did love and I thought was interesting was Andie been the “bad publicity” is because all the anger she has toward Jake which was hurt her.
December 13, 2024
Thank you, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, for this early copy of Bad Publicity!
I was super excited to dive into this book—everything about the premise was right up my alley! Unfortunately, I had a really hard time finishing it.
By 50%, I had completely lost engagement, and I even considered DNFing it several times. 😔
My Main Issue: The Protagonist
While I always appreciate a story that explores grief (a theme that can elevate a book when done well), the execution here fell flat. The protagonist came across as whiny and petty, so self-centered that she couldn’t really connect with or understand the people around her.
Example: The subplot where she assumes her mother and her new partner want to start gardening? Ridiculous.
Even though she did improve by the end, it was too late for me to care. I was already so disconnected from her that her development didn’t resonate.
Jack, the MMC, was decent—sweet, kind, and likable—but totally overshadowed by Andy, who felt like a walking disaster. Andy just couldn’t catch a break in my opinion (and not in the good "flawed protagonist" way).
The Writing Style
I found the prose extremely dull, bogged down by long-winded descriptions and explanations that added little to the story. Meanwhile, the interesting parts—like Andy’s trauma—were skipped over or delayed far too long.
By 65%, we still hadn’t uncovered the key details of her backstory:
- The argument with Jack.
- Hints of a possible assault or violent past with another boy.
- The sudden death of her father.
- The detachment from her mother.
When the explanations finally arrived, they felt so flat they bordered on laughable. 😕
Final Thoughts
While the book had potential, the pacing, character development, and prose left me frustrated. I wanted to love this, but it just didn’t work for me.
⭐ Rating: 2/5
For more bookish content follow me on instagram at@onetoomanybooks.ac 💫📚
I was super excited to dive into this book—everything about the premise was right up my alley! Unfortunately, I had a really hard time finishing it.
By 50%, I had completely lost engagement, and I even considered DNFing it several times. 😔
My Main Issue: The Protagonist
While I always appreciate a story that explores grief (a theme that can elevate a book when done well), the execution here fell flat. The protagonist came across as whiny and petty, so self-centered that she couldn’t really connect with or understand the people around her.
Example: The subplot where she assumes her mother and her new partner want to start gardening? Ridiculous.
Even though she did improve by the end, it was too late for me to care. I was already so disconnected from her that her development didn’t resonate.
Jack, the MMC, was decent—sweet, kind, and likable—but totally overshadowed by Andy, who felt like a walking disaster. Andy just couldn’t catch a break in my opinion (and not in the good "flawed protagonist" way).
The Writing Style
I found the prose extremely dull, bogged down by long-winded descriptions and explanations that added little to the story. Meanwhile, the interesting parts—like Andy’s trauma—were skipped over or delayed far too long.
By 65%, we still hadn’t uncovered the key details of her backstory:
- The argument with Jack.
- Hints of a possible assault or violent past with another boy.
- The sudden death of her father.
- The detachment from her mother.
When the explanations finally arrived, they felt so flat they bordered on laughable. 😕
Final Thoughts
While the book had potential, the pacing, character development, and prose left me frustrated. I wanted to love this, but it just didn’t work for me.
⭐ Rating: 2/5
For more bookish content follow me on instagram at@onetoomanybooks.ac 💫📚
August 22, 2025
3,5 ⭐
А знаєте, як для дебюту, то зовсім непогано.
Так же було цікаво дізнатися, у чому причини 5-річної образи. Я собі надумала значно серйознішу, але в принципі для мене вийшло логічно.
Єдине, що не дуже зайшла інфантильна, егоїстична поведінка головної героїні. Вона імпульсивна і різка, не дає можливості іншим відповісти на її претензії. Я б їй дуже порадила відвідати психолога і розібратися, чому ж вона насправді від усього втікає.
І здивувало, що головний герой стільки років мовчав і не намагався порозумітися раніше, аж поки доля їх знову не зіштовхнула.
А знаєте, як для дебюту, то зовсім непогано.
Так же було цікаво дізнатися, у чому причини 5-річної образи. Я собі надумала значно серйознішу, але в принципі для мене вийшло логічно.
Єдине, що не дуже зайшла інфантильна, егоїстична поведінка головної героїні. Вона імпульсивна і різка, не дає можливості іншим відповісти на її претензії. Я б їй дуже порадила відвідати психолога і розібратися, чому ж вона насправді від усього втікає.
І здивувало, що головний герой стільки років мовчав і не намагався порозумітися раніше, аж поки доля їх знову не зіштовхнула.
October 11, 2024
netgalley arc woop woop
this was a BOOK
i missed this genre of writer x editor(ok publicit) i literally wanted to be a writer as a kid for this
anywayyyy recommended lovess
the three stars is because it’s standard but that doesn’t deny it’s great! 3.5! save me jack save me
this was a BOOK
i missed this genre of writer x editor(ok publicit) i literally wanted to be a writer as a kid for this
anywayyyy recommended lovess
the three stars is because it’s standard but that doesn’t deny it’s great! 3.5! save me jack save me
July 13, 2025
Ну, що я можу сказати. Ну таке. Реклама цієї книги була не поганою, а ось сама книга — на трієчку.
Я не побачила жодної логіки у вчинках героїні. Причина її ненависті до головного героя — відверто притягнута за вуха, як і страждання через втрату батька стільки років потому.
Ну і її метання від «я не хочу бути з тобою, бо ти мене не вартий» до «я не можу бути з тобою, бо я тебе не варта» — це просто капець. Як і пів року паузи у фіналі.
Єдине, що тішило — Джек. Суцільний зелений прапорець.
Місцями — гумор. І її дружба з Сарою.
Сподобались сцени в барі (нагадали «27 суконь») та їхня остання ніч перед її від’їздом в Англію.
А так… ну зовсім таке
Я не побачила жодної логіки у вчинках героїні. Причина її ненависті до головного героя — відверто притягнута за вуха, як і страждання через втрату батька стільки років потому.
Ну і її метання від «я не хочу бути з тобою, бо ти мене не вартий» до «я не можу бути з тобою, бо я тебе не варта» — це просто капець. Як і пів року паузи у фіналі.
Єдине, що тішило — Джек. Суцільний зелений прапорець.
Місцями — гумор. І її дружба з Сарою.
Сподобались сцени в барі (нагадали «27 суконь») та їхня остання ніч перед її від’їздом в Англію.
А так… ну зовсім таке
May 14, 2025
3.5-4 stars. There were a lot of layers to this book that battled for importance, some easier to connect with than others, but all created a very human character in Andie.
To start, I want to defend her. I knew while I was reading I could probably go to reviews and find plenty calling Andie an “unlikable” FMC. Did she frustrate me at times with her questionable choices and not realizing how selfish she was being at times? Yes, but who among us hasn’t been exactly that person? I know I’m certainly guilty of getting wrapped up in everything I might be struggling with in my own life and not recognizing when those close to me are also struggling with something. Andie was realistically fallible, and the important thing was that she experienced growth and wanted to work on herself.
When it came to the romance between Andie and Jack, I went back and forth on being invested and wanting them to move on if they weren’t going to talk about whatever happened in the past. I’m all for not knowing everything up front and waiting for an event to be revealed, but the book was nearly over before it was all finally explained. Without knowing if the event was something that was bad enough to explain Andie’s initial reaction (it was) but redeemable enough to want the two of them to work things out (undecided) made it challenging to fully root for them. There was some great tension between them, but the push and pull going on for so long without details gave me a bit of whiplash.
The real story for me came in Andie’s personal journey toward processing the various forms of grieving she needed to face and to see her finally stop running away from the difficult emotions. The way she handled things was far from perfect, but there was authenticity in the mess, and I personally appreciated it.
Thank you to Penguin Books via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
To start, I want to defend her. I knew while I was reading I could probably go to reviews and find plenty calling Andie an “unlikable” FMC. Did she frustrate me at times with her questionable choices and not realizing how selfish she was being at times? Yes, but who among us hasn’t been exactly that person? I know I’m certainly guilty of getting wrapped up in everything I might be struggling with in my own life and not recognizing when those close to me are also struggling with something. Andie was realistically fallible, and the important thing was that she experienced growth and wanted to work on herself.
When it came to the romance between Andie and Jack, I went back and forth on being invested and wanting them to move on if they weren’t going to talk about whatever happened in the past. I’m all for not knowing everything up front and waiting for an event to be revealed, but the book was nearly over before it was all finally explained. Without knowing if the event was something that was bad enough to explain Andie’s initial reaction (it was) but redeemable enough to want the two of them to work things out (undecided) made it challenging to fully root for them. There was some great tension between them, but the push and pull going on for so long without details gave me a bit of whiplash.
The real story for me came in Andie’s personal journey toward processing the various forms of grieving she needed to face and to see her finally stop running away from the difficult emotions. The way she handled things was far from perfect, but there was authenticity in the mess, and I personally appreciated it.
Thank you to Penguin Books via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2025
I found this to be a cute romance as well as a quick read! It reminded me of The Rule Book by Sarah Adams, as the FMC and MMC in both stories have a romantic history that has since fizzled (to say the least..) but now must work together professionally. However in Bad Publicity, I especially enjoyed this read for its book-related context. Our FMC, Andie, is a newly minted senior book publicist and her newest author is none other than our MMC, Jack. As they travel together across New York, London, Paris and beyond for Jack’s book tour, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of wanderlust- this book made me want to visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris, grab a pint at a pub in Ireland, as well as a particular bookstore reading corner in New York City. I also appreciated the more real and raw topics of grief and navigating relationship changes over time. Overall I enjoyed this read and will be keeping my eyes peeled for Bianca Gillam’s next release!
November 17, 2025
In dit boek volgen we Andie, die pr-medewerker is geworden van een uitgeverij. Echter, hun belangrijkste auteur is Jack, en dat is dezelfde Jack van haar studie. Een soort van ex die ze nu echt totaal niet meer mag. Ze moeten samen op een boektour door Europa voor zijn nieuwste titel en dat brengt een aantal wrijvingen met zich mee. 🙈
De schrijfstijl van Bianca Gillam is echt onwijs fijn. 🩷 Ik heb ook geluisterd naar het audioboek en ben er zo doorheen gevlogen. Ik ben niet de grootste fan van second chance romanceboeken, en dat ben ik na dit boek eigenlijk nog steeds niet, haha (🤭), maar ik vond de tour door Europa erg leuk om te lezen! Het leukst daaraan vond ik namelijk dat ik recent nog in Dublin ben geweest, en toen dat een locatie op de tour bleek te zijn, was ik zo weer terug in deze stad. 🇮🇪
Ik wil HarperCollins en World of Romance bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar. Ik heb het boek uiteindelijk 3 sterren gegeven. ⭐
De schrijfstijl van Bianca Gillam is echt onwijs fijn. 🩷 Ik heb ook geluisterd naar het audioboek en ben er zo doorheen gevlogen. Ik ben niet de grootste fan van second chance romanceboeken, en dat ben ik na dit boek eigenlijk nog steeds niet, haha (🤭), maar ik vond de tour door Europa erg leuk om te lezen! Het leukst daaraan vond ik namelijk dat ik recent nog in Dublin ben geweest, en toen dat een locatie op de tour bleek te zijn, was ik zo weer terug in deze stad. 🇮🇪
Ik wil HarperCollins en World of Romance bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar. Ik heb het boek uiteindelijk 3 sterren gegeven. ⭐
April 6, 2025
this was surprisingly really cute. publisher x writer, second chance, forced proximity. i felt like i fell straight into a classic 2000s rom-com and i’m so here for it! i loved the best friend in this & how honest she was with Andie. like most second chance, i just wish they communicated earlier to save the unnecessary anger Andie has towards Jack across so many wasted years!! definitely recommend for a cute fluffy quick palette cleanser!
October 14, 2025
3.5/5
Bad Publicity tells the story of Andie who has just gotten promoted to Sr. book publicist in New York. Her first assignment is to accompany renowned author Jack Carlson on the Europe book tour for his first fiction book; however there is a minor complication about this. Andie and Jack have a complicated past that Andie has worked very hard to overcome. Throughout the book, we read about the many obstacles and challenges Andie is facing (changes in friendships, relationship with parents, grief, etc).
Overall, it was an entertaining read that combines aspects of literary fiction with some aspects of romance.
Thank you Penguin Group - Penguin books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Bad Publicity tells the story of Andie who has just gotten promoted to Sr. book publicist in New York. Her first assignment is to accompany renowned author Jack Carlson on the Europe book tour for his first fiction book; however there is a minor complication about this. Andie and Jack have a complicated past that Andie has worked very hard to overcome. Throughout the book, we read about the many obstacles and challenges Andie is facing (changes in friendships, relationship with parents, grief, etc).
Overall, it was an entertaining read that combines aspects of literary fiction with some aspects of romance.
Thank you Penguin Group - Penguin books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
November 25, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
i won a proof of this novel at YALC london, love that!
this book is advertised as an enemies to lovers romcom vibe which confused me when reading, because although romance features, honestly this is a book about grief. anythinggggg with heavy emphasis on grief is going to GET me, it makes stories so much more real and i do think that was written well! but fair warning for romcom girlies, the romance is almost the subplot. honestly Andie (fmc) emotes far more passionately about her best friend and mum than Jack(mmc).
for me this book is too heavy on description - e.g. for some reason you’re told exactly what Andie does on each flight she takes even when it’s just sleeping or reading. and she takes a FEW flights. small micro details that i didn’t feel necessary for the narrative when i would have loved some more dialogue between Andie and Jack instead to build up that chemistry or their individual personalities as they both felt quite flat. Andie refers to herself as sarcastic at one point and I thought to myself, girl name one time you’ve been anything other than deadly serious.
the plot also relies heavily on Andie’s ability to cut people off mid sentence. she doesn’t have time for your sermons people!!!!
overall an easy read with themes on grief and reinvention. warning: low-key makes you want to go to Ireland.
i won a proof of this novel at YALC london, love that!
this book is advertised as an enemies to lovers romcom vibe which confused me when reading, because although romance features, honestly this is a book about grief. anythinggggg with heavy emphasis on grief is going to GET me, it makes stories so much more real and i do think that was written well! but fair warning for romcom girlies, the romance is almost the subplot. honestly Andie (fmc) emotes far more passionately about her best friend and mum than Jack(mmc).
for me this book is too heavy on description - e.g. for some reason you’re told exactly what Andie does on each flight she takes even when it’s just sleeping or reading. and she takes a FEW flights. small micro details that i didn’t feel necessary for the narrative when i would have loved some more dialogue between Andie and Jack instead to build up that chemistry or their individual personalities as they both felt quite flat. Andie refers to herself as sarcastic at one point and I thought to myself, girl name one time you’ve been anything other than deadly serious.
the plot also relies heavily on Andie’s ability to cut people off mid sentence. she doesn’t have time for your sermons people!!!!
overall an easy read with themes on grief and reinvention. warning: low-key makes you want to go to Ireland.
September 21, 2025
Книга не погана, читається легко й приємно���.
Спершу Енді дратувала своєю ненавистю та різкістю, але поступово стає зрозуміло, що за цим стоїть її біль і втрата батька. Проблема лише в тому, що вона постійно відкладала вирішення, і це іноді втомлювало😑.
Натомість Джек же виглядав терплячим і врівноваженим, але й він наламав дров, тож без помилок не обійшлося😊.
Разом вони створили пару, яка водночас дратує й зачаровує☺.
Оцінка: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Спершу Енді дратувала своєю ненавистю та різкістю, але поступово стає зрозуміло, що за цим стоїть її біль і втрата батька. Проблема лише в тому, що вона постійно відкладала вирішення, і це іноді втомлювало😑.
Натомість Джек же виглядав терплячим і врівноваженим, але й він наламав дров, тож без помилок не обійшлося😊.
Разом вони створили пару, яка водночас дратує й зачаровує☺.
Оцінка: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
April 2, 2025
This was cute! It was a read that flowed nicely, however I feel as if the overarching theme of grief was not what I was expecting going into it. It wasn’t mentioned at all in the blurb. I also didn’t think it was quite enemies to lovers. Enemies usually go both ways and root deeper than the relationship that they had. I wasn’t wowed by it but it was a good book! Felt special getting an ARC of this :)
August 20, 2025
[UA & EN below]
"Погана реклама" задає та тримає темп із першої сторінки — жодних зайвих відступів, кожен розділ рухає історію вперед. У ній легко впізнати себе чи знайомих: буденні суперечки, робочі проблеми та моменти складних рішень. Персонажі відчуваються реальними, із сильними та слабкими сторонами. Фінал очікуваний та щасливий, але не в цукровій глазурі — є місце компромісам і реальним наслідкам. Авторка не розмінюється на порожню драму із щасливим завершенням, натомість дає чітку, динамічну історію, яку читаєш легко, а після завершення лишається відчуття, що пройшов цей шлях разом із героями. Виважене, чітке й приємне читання.
This book keeps a steady pace from the first page — no pointless detours, every chapter moves the story forward. You can easily see yourself or someone you know in it: everyday arguments, work problems, and those moments when you must make tough choices. The characters feel real, with both strengths and flaws, without fake perfection. The ending is bright but not sugar-coated — there’s room for compromises and real-life consequences. The author doesn’t waste time on empty drama, instead offering a clear, engaging story that’s easy to read but still leaves you with the feeling that you’ve truly walked the road alongside the characters. A grounded, sharp, and memorable read.
"Погана реклама" задає та тримає темп із першої сторінки — жодних зайвих відступів, кожен розділ рухає історію вперед. У ній легко впізнати себе чи знайомих: буденні суперечки, робочі проблеми та моменти складних рішень. Персонажі відчуваються реальними, із сильними та слабкими сторонами. Фінал очікуваний та щасливий, але не в цукровій глазурі — є місце компромісам і реальним наслідкам. Авторка не розмінюється на порожню драму із щасливим завершенням, натомість дає чітку, динамічну історію, яку читаєш легко, а після завершення лишається відчуття, що пройшов цей шлях разом із героями. Виважене, чітке й приємне читання.
This book keeps a steady pace from the first page — no pointless detours, every chapter moves the story forward. You can easily see yourself or someone you know in it: everyday arguments, work problems, and those moments when you must make tough choices. The characters feel real, with both strengths and flaws, without fake perfection. The ending is bright but not sugar-coated — there’s room for compromises and real-life consequences. The author doesn’t waste time on empty drama, instead offering a clear, engaging story that’s easy to read but still leaves you with the feeling that you’ve truly walked the road alongside the characters. A grounded, sharp, and memorable read.
January 2, 2025
The cover looks like a rom com book, but it’s not. There was zero chemistry between the characters. The first 100 pages were of Andie being so relentlessly rude to Jack, not in a fun banter enemies to lovers way, in a legitimate hatred way. I’m in my peaceful girl era okay I don’t need to read about how much she hates him, we get it.
1/2 of the book really was just recounts of them at different publicity events, arguing but also sharing a sliver of a tender moment that apparently makes them fall in love. I was bored.
The climactic part felt rushed, out of place, there was no proper build up. I’ll repeat myself - zero chemistry. I just didn’t care.
The flashback chapters were a much needed reprieve from the bland and monotonous present day chapters. It’s like the storyline cycle was a loop of: ‘hate Jack, ignore my mum, brief text exchange with Sara, grieve dad again’.
I echo other reviews about how this book is just an ode to grief with a feminist power storyline twirled in at the end. That came out of nowhere and was really unexpected.
I didn’t like this book, it felt like a chore to read, there was no believable romance and it wasn’t fun.
1/2 of the book really was just recounts of them at different publicity events, arguing but also sharing a sliver of a tender moment that apparently makes them fall in love. I was bored.
The climactic part felt rushed, out of place, there was no proper build up. I’ll repeat myself - zero chemistry. I just didn’t care.
The flashback chapters were a much needed reprieve from the bland and monotonous present day chapters. It’s like the storyline cycle was a loop of: ‘hate Jack, ignore my mum, brief text exchange with Sara, grieve dad again’.
I echo other reviews about how this book is just an ode to grief with a feminist power storyline twirled in at the end. That came out of nowhere and was really unexpected.
I didn’t like this book, it felt like a chore to read, there was no believable romance and it wasn’t fun.
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