Chasing The Troublemaker

by Angel W.

Genres: Second Chance, Contemporary

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 23, 2026

Reviews

[Lory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing the Troublemaker by Angel W. had me completely invested in Emma's journey from beginning to end. If you thought she'd been through enough in the previous book, think again. Everything that happened before only set the stage for an even more emotional, heartbreaking, and unforgettable story.

I loved how this book explores life after high school the uncertainty, messy relationships, difficult family dynamics, and the challenge of figuring out who you are when everything around you seems to be falling apart. Emma is such a beautifully flawed and relatable character, and my heart broke for her over and over. Add in the fallout with her sister, her parents sending her away to "keep the peace," and the lingering pain from everything that happened with Trevor, and the emotional stakes never let up. Every disappointment she faced with her family made me love her even more, and I absolutely adored her aunt, who became the steady source of love and support Emma desperately needed.

The relationship between Emma and Brendon is anything but simple. Their emotional push and pull, the heartbreak, the hope, and all the complicated feelings kept me turning the pages, rooting for them even when everything seemed impossible.

The ending felt like a satisfying conclusion to Emma and Brendon's story while still leaving me wanting just a little more. I would have loved to see a glimpse into their future and watch more of their relationship blossom after everything they'd endured. Even so, it was a beautiful, emotional ending that stayed with me long after I finished the last page.

If you enjoy emotional coming of age romances filled with family drama, heartbreak, healing, complicated love, and characters you'll genuinely care about, I highly recommend picking this one up.

📌Voluntarily reviewed. I received no compensation, and all opinions are my own.

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you thought Emma had already been through enough, this book proves there was still so much more to come. It delivers an emotional and unforgettable story about life after high school, messy relationships, family struggles, and finding yourself when everything feels like it’s falling apart.
Emma is a beautifully flawed and relatable character, and my heart broke for her throughout the book. Between the fallout with her sister, being sent away by her parents to “keep the peace,” and the lingering pain from everything with Trevor, the emotional stakes never let up. I especially loved her aunt, who became the love and support Emma desperately needed.
Emma and Brendon’s relationship was complicated, heartbreaking, and full of hope. Their emotional push and pull kept me turning the pages and rooting for them until the very end. The conclusion felt satisfying while still leaving me wishing for a little more of their future together.
A beautiful coming-of-age romance filled with family drama, healing, heartbreak, and characters you can’t help but care about. I highly recommend it.

[Anne Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Thank you.” “For what?” “For seeing me,” I said. “I don’t think anyone really did. And… I don’t think I saw myself either. When you hear people say, ‘You’re not good enough’, or, ‘You’ll never be anything but a loser’, you start to believe it. Trying to be anything else feels pointless. So you become what they expect. But you didn’t make it feel pointless. You made it feel worth it.”

In was so excited when I seen this book come into my email I have been hanging out for it since I read the first one and the conclusion did not disappoint.

When we ended the first one we were at the end of prom and Emma had just found out about the list and that Brendon knew about it and she couldn't forgive him. When we start this book it is after and we find out that Emma is now living with her auntie in NYC and Brendon is also there for college but neither known this.

When a surprise encounter brings them back together will it help them find their love again or is the fact that Trevor and the others are facing court over the photos going to be too much.

[Megan Colon]

This is a great second chance romance. I didn’t read book 1 but this was so good that I didn’t need it. Book 2 seemed to pick up after book 1 ended. It has Emma and Brendon trying to figure out their new lives after the incident in high school. Once I learned what it was I was totally on her side. I love how Brendon stood by her to show how loyal he was. Sadly it didn’t help and in the end they still went their separate ways. Could you believe it fate had them in the same city? Hence here is their second chance but Emma isn’t making it easy for Brendon. Every push and he pushed harder. Their love was so hard when they finally gave in to it. I was here for it. If you like: second chance, he falls first, found family, forgiveness, family drama then this is for you. Definitely awesome book. Hope there will be a book 3.

[Leigh The Spoonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the sequel to Loving the Golden Boy which saw FMC Emma and MMC Brendan fall in love. This book continues the story where they meet a few challenges before an ultimate HEA.
I loved Emma’s character all the way through book 1 with her bad girl redemption arc and couldn’t wait to see how her character developed in book 2, I was not disappointed. I have such a soft spot for Emma, always feeling not good enough, not feeling wanted by her family and feeling pushed out. She manages to be a prickly but loveable character. This then gives us Brendan the sweetest MMC who can somehow look past all her sharp edges and see the soft Emma that needs to be loved but can’t always express that. The type of boyfriend all us emotionally damaged girls pray for.
This was a good story, loveable main characters and a great ending to this story.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kisses and Punches: Brendon and Emma

Starting off months after what happened in Loving The Golden Boy… this is a complicated story…

Her sister is refusing contact after what happened, her parents sent her away, she’s split from Brendon, yet he’s not out of her life completely…

Some decisions are made that make it complicated, and I honestly didn’t know what to make of them. I wasn’t a fan of Brendon’s actions at times. For someone who was ‘obsessed’ with her, he seemed to move on pretty well. I mean, a pretty face, a drunken hookup, and a conversation, and if he didn’t run into her, he would have had a new girlfriend….

I was raging at her family, and I wanted Emma to wash her hands of everyone.
And I do wish that there was a bit more to their ending…

[Steph Whitelaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved & devoured the first book “Loving the Golden Boy”. I still enjoyed this second book but not as much as the first one. It was a good ending to Emma & Brendon’s duet. For me it was the characters in this book & their actions that annoyed me. If a book can make me feel anything. I know the authors writing is good 🙂

I really disliked how Emma’s parents treated her & basically sent her away & only focused & protected Elena. When Emma was only trying to help & defend her twin sister & the other girls in the town. She is still being treated as a troublemaker by her parents, sister & town folk, regardless of her recent efforts.

Emma continues to be a strong main character, in this second part she starts a new life in New York. She accidentally bumps in to Brendon whilst there. Brendon also annoyed me in this book. I didn’t like how he never went after Emma to explain things. Instead he stands & apologies to Jen, when it’s Emma he’s meant to be deeply in love with.

[Tasha Goulet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chasing!

Chasing The Troublemaker is the second part in this m/f series. And it was one emotional ride.

I have to admit that part way through this second book I was ready to throw my Kindle against the wall. I was frustrated with how things were going. I get invested in the story and the characters and it's tough when things aren't lining up the way I want. And I know it's the direction of the author that matters so I calmed down and kept going.

And I'm glad I did.

Emma's journey was a hard one and I'm glad that she found support. I'm still going very upset that it didn't come from the most obvious place it should've. But the HEA at the end did help make up for some of the emotional swings.

[Miss E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional end to the Kisses & Punches duet.
I was SO annoyed with her sister not being able to look past her own hurt and fear, but even more so at their parents.
Brendon is definitely the golden boy and he is irrevocably in love with Emma. But will she ever learn to trust him again?

The New York aunt, Lola, is SO good for Emma, as is her new Boss. They definitely both heal some broken part inside her, but the hardest pain to overcome, is the pain of the heart.

I liked this conclusion and it was good to see the roles reversed at some point. I definitely liked that it was the FMC that was the "bad boy" in the story for once. Not that she is in any way, but some times you "become" what others keep telling you that you are - until you set yourself free.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first question is: will there be another book? There was so much build up, which was great, but it ended so abruptly I felt like we didn’t really get closure for a lot of things. But maybe that’s just me. Emma is a troubled girl who never felt like she fit in. She’s constantly getting into trouble and feels like the black sheep of her family. Which I feel is absolutely correct while reading this. To me, it just seemed like everybody tolerated her except for Brenden. Brenden was patient, loyal, and a big teddy bear. While I wasn’t a fan of how this ended it was still a good sequel to the series.

[Amanda Schumacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin! I loved the story and how it unfolds.. I had a wtf moment at the end of the book.. but this was amazing! Emma's journey with her sister, parents, aunt and Brendon is extremely complex. After the whole photo bragging deal with Trevor at homecoming - Emma decided she wants revenge in the way of justice. She gets her hands on proof that these things happened and took them to the police. this really pisses Elena off and her parents send her away to her Aunt in New York. She finds a job with a tattoo artist. Soooo much happens and you just have to read it! Its totally worth it

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 in Angel W's Kisses and Punches series. A great addition to the series/duo that can be read as a standalone but picks up where book 1 leaves off so...yeah, pick up and read Loving the Golden Boy (book 1) first just because I know you'll love it! Okay, so like I said, this picks up where book 1 leaves off and we've got the stage set for an unforgettable journey between Emma and Brendon. I loved the complexity the balance of heartbreak and hope with all the feels. A well written and captivating romance that is sure to please!

This book was given to me for free at my request and I voluntarily provided this review.

[Kez Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a satisfying conclusion to the duology, and great to see Brendon and Emma grow as characters. It's an emotional second chance romance, a chance for redemption and closure, and a journey of healing and learning.
I still disliked Emma's parents and sister and the whole town's attitude towards Emma. It annoyed me how easily they all dismissed her and labelled her as the problem, despite how hard she tries for justice. I liked Emma's Aunt and that she found a way to be herself in New York and make new connections.
It's relatable and messy, and paints a great picture of young love and resilience.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw a poor review on the previously published version of this and I hesitated before picking it up. I should have known this was going to be as emotionally jarring as the authors previous works and worth reading!
It was a lovely conclusion for Emma and Brendon even if it was filled with drama and heartbreak and a turbulent on off situationship.
The core feeling of bone deep love between the two leads is beautiful.
My love for the complicated character of Emma grew and grew with each disappointed scene with her family and I adored her aunt who was a fantastic support for her.
Loved it.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing The Troublemaker is the amazing, emotionally charged conclusion to Emma and Brendon's story. If you haven't read Loving the Golden Boy yet I highly suggest that you do. It thoroughly introduces you to all of the characters, helps you realize all of the obstacles Emma has/is facing, and helps you realize how precious Emma and Brendon are. Emma is still a spirited, amazing FMC, who has a big heart, wants to do what is right, and stand up for others. Brendon is still protective, supportive, and encourages Emma to do what is right and live to her potential. But there are a couple times that I wanted to throttle Brendon and throw my Kindle. Don't even get me started on her parents and sister! I really enjoyed The Kisses and Punches Duet! It was an emotional rollercoaster that captivated me from the beginning. I loved the angst, unpredictability, and of course Emma and Brendon. I can't wait to see what Angel W. graces us with next!

[Shayay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the 2nd part to this duet. I like that Emma is a strong female character and she stands up for herself and others. Unfortunately, others look down on her and don’t support her. Family drama and second chances are at work in this story. Emma and Brenden run into each other again, but they didn’t exactly have a clean ending. There’s still that chemistry there though, so they begin to work back towards a possible future together. Wasn’t too keen on Brenden at times in this book, but Emma is good for him. They make a cute couple! Enjoyed this duology!

[Laci Steimel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super sweet read, with a bit of heartbreak. It begins pretty much right after the end of the first book. I loved Emma's growth through out the book, and how she really grew into herself after she moved in with her aunt, and got the job at the tattoo shop. There were a couple tense moments after she ran into and met Brendon a few times, but ultimately, her growth was fabulous, as well as Brendon's. I adore how patient he was with her, no matter what they went through, and how supportive he stayed, even when it was hard. Such a sweet book!

[Lazarra Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two in the series, Emma & Brendans story. They have a troubled past, their relationship is full of push and pull, back and forth and often heart breaking but still you can't help but root for them to succeed.
Poor Emma has been through the ringer she has lots of baggage but I think it adds to her character and makes her all the more loveable and relatable. She is a great FMC.
If you love Second Chance, Finding Yourself, Found Family, Overcoming Strife, Found Family tropes, I would definately recommend.

[Sky · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Chasing The Troublemaker” by Angel W. is absolutely amazing! The way it dives into life right after high school, with all the drama and relationship growth, is next level. I’m totally hooked on these characters and the intense parental drama adds so much depth. The ending feels like it could be the final chapter, but honestly, I *need* a third book! There are too many questions left unanswered, and I’m desperate for more—please, Angel W., give us the next installment!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brendon has ruined things with Emma and now he will do anything to gain her back even if he has to commit a crime. He broke her heart once and she will not let it happen again so she will do what she can get the photos of her sister with other girls from him. Once she has done that her heart will be locked up so tight no one can get to it again. See how she deal with it all and how she gets the photos back

[Brenda Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a High School prom disaster, Emma is sent to live with her Aunt and come to terms with being the ousted twin. Ex Brendon gets into college in the same town. Eventually they have a run in where things come to a head and decisions are made.

With family and facing the consequences of actions something’s are never just straight forward, but accepting who you are and where to go from there is a powerful lesson.

Highly recommend emotional reading.

[Theresa Masker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Kisses and Punches series. I recommend reading the first book if you haven't already. I don't know why but this book hit hard. It was an emotional ride for sure. I can't even fathom having a family like Emma does. What goes on between Emma and Brendan is complicated to say the least. I felt so bad for Emma at times. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would read it again. Give it a try. You won't regret it.

[Arabela Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books give the vibe of what would happen if a real person in the story, Emma, met the book boyfriend, Brandon, whose only purpose is to make her seen, loved, and cherished. In this second book, you realize that moving on isn't easy, especially when destiny has other plans for you. With the frustration of having her hands tied and being unable to help the wounded one with proper justice, the growth of Emma is what makes this story resonate so deeply with readers like myself.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You learned to fight because it was safer than being hurt.”

Not sure I liked how the epilogue played out, seemed kinda forced to make it a HEA. Throughout both books I really disliked Emma’s parents for how they treated her; same goes for how Elena acted like the only one who was hurting. Love her aunt & how she gets her & was there for her.

[Suzanne McNeill Taviner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great read about second chances, trust and love. I loved that Emma stood up for the people she cared about, even if they didn't appreciate it! And Brendon, he was so earnest and regretful of what he'd done, I could understand why Emma didn't want to forgive him but, their connection was intense and they deserved to find out if they would work together.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma once again takes matters into her own hands to try to get justice and it blows up in her face. Sent across the country to get some space, Emma ststts about setting up a new life for herself when Brendon stumbles across her. The push and pull was almost too much when they were both kinda toxic with each other but they finally found the ending that makes sense to their story.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing the Troublemaker is an emotional, messy, and heartfelt end to Emma and Brendon’s story.

Emma’s struggles with her family and her complicated relationship with Brendon hit hard. She had great growth that kept me hooked.

The romance is messy but meaningful, and the ending left me wanting just a bit more!!

[Arielle stahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved that we got to continue with Emma and Brendan's story. Throughout this book Emma's relationship with her family and everyone else has been tested but it doesn't stop her. Im not sure if I loved book one or this one more as they were both amazing , so if your looking for duology to suck you in than you need to read this.

[Vilma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma and Brendon are HS sweethearts who breakup over secrets and lies of omission. When emm leaves home to protect her twin’s fragile sense of peace, she still lands herself in Brendon’s path, although unknowingly.

This romance is deeply emotional, may have slight triggers, but shows the durability of true love.

[Cristal Juarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Kisses & Punches series and follows book one. Emma is struggling with her past and all the issues with her sister and family. It’s a harsh reality of many. She is with Brandon and they have history and major trust issues rightfully so. They do get a HEA after much groveling and proving himself. Her family just sucks!