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Bad in Bed
An experiment in self-discovery yields intoxicating chemistry in this sizzling new audio-first romance by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood!
Billie van Buren’s orderly world comes unraveled when her years-long engagement ends in humiliation. It’s bad enough that the messy break-up disappoints her family and threatens to tear apart her friend group. What Billie—a brilliant but sheltered doctoral student—really didn’t need was for her ex-fiancé to publicly disparage her bedroom skills, leaving her confidence shattered.
Dr. Maxwell Austin, a medical fellow, is reckless, charming, and self-assured—everything Billie isn’t. Opposites should attract, but barring the occasional bickering and teasing session, Billie and Max prefer to steer clear of each other. That is, until Billie’s statistics skills bring them together.
There’s nothing wrong with professionally collaborating with one’s longtime frenemy. Enlisting his help to become more confident in bed through hands-on practice, though… That’s a whole different matter. As Max helps Billie embrace her own pleasure and challenge her insecurities, their no-strings relationship evolves into something deeper, propelling Billie and Max into uncharted territory. And Billie just might discover that love is her most significant finding yet…
Billie van Buren’s orderly world comes unraveled when her years-long engagement ends in humiliation. It’s bad enough that the messy break-up disappoints her family and threatens to tear apart her friend group. What Billie—a brilliant but sheltered doctoral student—really didn’t need was for her ex-fiancé to publicly disparage her bedroom skills, leaving her confidence shattered.
Dr. Maxwell Austin, a medical fellow, is reckless, charming, and self-assured—everything Billie isn’t. Opposites should attract, but barring the occasional bickering and teasing session, Billie and Max prefer to steer clear of each other. That is, until Billie’s statistics skills bring them together.
There’s nothing wrong with professionally collaborating with one’s longtime frenemy. Enlisting his help to become more confident in bed through hands-on practice, though… That’s a whole different matter. As Max helps Billie embrace her own pleasure and challenge her insecurities, their no-strings relationship evolves into something deeper, propelling Billie and Max into uncharted territory. And Billie just might discover that love is her most significant finding yet…
Audible Audio
First published October 22, 2026
About the author
Ali Hazelwood
38 books198k followersI'm Ali, and I write contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia. I love cats, Nutella, and side ponytails. I'm also currently learning to crochet, so as you can tell I'm a super busy gal with an intense and exciting life!
I only use Goodreads as a reader, to review and hype books that I've loved (many of these book are ARCs received from fellow authors).
I only use Goodreads as a reader, to review and hype books that I've loved (many of these book are ARCs received from fellow authors).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 350 reviews
Want to Read
September 18, 2026someone rescue Ali from whichever basement Amazon has her tied up in
Want to Read
September 18, 2026ali, wdym this is only coming out on audio at first? don’t tell me the eyeball girls have to wait a year plus for the print version — when, i beg?? 😭
September 17, 2026
Thoughts
Everyone and their mother knows my love for Ali's writing so I may be biased when it comes to her but honestly this book was everything my heavy heart needed ❤️🩹 I loved everything about it from start to end ( well a part from the drama towards the end ) but it needed to happen it's a book after all lol
I loved the FMC; as usual Ali always makes her FMCs feel relatable whether it's personality, inner conflicts or family drama. I loved the MMC just as much; in fact where can I find my real life Max --- she'd be dissing herself and he'd be doing the complete opposite -- I need to find my person ASAP lol 🥲
Oh and I should mention I loved the full cast audiobook, I know I'm a consumer of Kindle and audio but it's audiobooks like these that enhance the experience. Also once a Teddy Hamilton listener; always a Teddy Hamilton listener 🙌🏻
I'm back in Hazelwood drought until the next release 💔
Plot Summary
After a humiliating breakup leaves Billie questioning her confidence, the last person she expects to turn to is Max, a charming and reckless doctor she’s spent years bickering with. When their professional collaboration leads to an unexpected arrangement to help Billie explore her confidence and intimacy, their casual relationship soon becomes more complicated. As feelings develop, they must decide whether to risk their friendship for something deeper.
My Bookstagram
Everyone and their mother knows my love for Ali's writing so I may be biased when it comes to her but honestly this book was everything my heavy heart needed ❤️🩹 I loved everything about it from start to end ( well a part from the drama towards the end ) but it needed to happen it's a book after all lol
I loved the FMC; as usual Ali always makes her FMCs feel relatable whether it's personality, inner conflicts or family drama. I loved the MMC just as much; in fact where can I find my real life Max --- she'd be dissing herself and he'd be doing the complete opposite -- I need to find my person ASAP lol 🥲
Oh and I should mention I loved the full cast audiobook, I know I'm a consumer of Kindle and audio but it's audiobooks like these that enhance the experience. Also once a Teddy Hamilton listener; always a Teddy Hamilton listener 🙌🏻
I'm back in Hazelwood drought until the next release 💔
Plot Summary
After a humiliating breakup leaves Billie questioning her confidence, the last person she expects to turn to is Max, a charming and reckless doctor she’s spent years bickering with. When their professional collaboration leads to an unexpected arrangement to help Billie explore her confidence and intimacy, their casual relationship soon becomes more complicated. As feelings develop, they must decide whether to risk their friendship for something deeper.
My Bookstagram
September 17, 2026
We’ve been BLESSED by another impeccable Ali romance full of yearning, witty banter & dripping smuttiness!! SIZE DIFFERENCE is what we need. SIZE DIFFERENCE is what we crave.
💦 🩺💛 🛌 💛 🩺 💦
After dumping her fiancé Billie is ready to shed her prudishly conservative upbringing & EXPAND her bedroom horizons 🛌 who better to show her that sex can be fun than the playfully teasing frenemy! Of course, he’s been in-love with her for a decade so the YEARNING is dripping…but so is she during her lessons!
IN LOVE WITH THIS DYNAMIC! Billie’s upbringing has made her feel shame about sex and here comes a dirty-talking doctor who eagerly tells her he had to 💦 in the car because she got him too hyped up! SHE IS SHOOK! The opposite attract has never been more true with her methodical overthinking vs his carefree puppy dog attitude!
🩺 sex lessons with a HUGE problem…of making him actually fit!
🩺 the banter. the chemistry. the yearning.
🩺 HE TALKS HER THROUGH IT! This man’s dirty talk is insane!
NEVER met an mmc written by Ali that I didn’t like BUT Max might be my favorite! He is chaotically witty & infinitely charismatic. HE IS SO INTO HER!! He is down bad for her brain & her body and can’t believe his luck when she casually chooses him to solve her predicament.
The narration was perfection. I WISH IT WAS LONGER. I NEED MORE OF THESE TWO. PLEASE.
💦 🩺💛 🛌 💛 🩺 💦
After dumping her fiancé Billie is ready to shed her prudishly conservative upbringing & EXPAND her bedroom horizons 🛌 who better to show her that sex can be fun than the playfully teasing frenemy! Of course, he’s been in-love with her for a decade so the YEARNING is dripping…but so is she during her lessons!
IN LOVE WITH THIS DYNAMIC! Billie’s upbringing has made her feel shame about sex and here comes a dirty-talking doctor who eagerly tells her he had to 💦 in the car because she got him too hyped up! SHE IS SHOOK! The opposite attract has never been more true with her methodical overthinking vs his carefree puppy dog attitude!
🩺 sex lessons with a HUGE problem…of making him actually fit!
🩺 the banter. the chemistry. the yearning.
🩺 HE TALKS HER THROUGH IT! This man’s dirty talk is insane!
NEVER met an mmc written by Ali that I didn’t like BUT Max might be my favorite! He is chaotically witty & infinitely charismatic. HE IS SO INTO HER!! He is down bad for her brain & her body and can’t believe his luck when she casually chooses him to solve her predicament.
The narration was perfection. I WISH IT WAS LONGER. I NEED MORE OF THESE TWO. PLEASE.
October 22, 2026
FERAL over them
Read
September 17, 2026She's always writing girls in distress 🙄 while the male leads have perfect professional and personal lives
October 22, 2026
4/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️
5/5 🎙️
There is a lot I liked about this, but enough I didn’t like to keep it from being five stars. This book really suffers from the FMC being the only flawed character who needs to arc. She is this meek, weak willed thing who has to find herself after a breakup of a long engagement and also cutting off her family. She’s just a mess. Enter our Hero who is ready to do everything for her…except be honest about his feelings. Because why would we expect open and honest communication from grown adults with grown up jobs?
Do they have chemistry? Absolutely. Spicy scenes are amazingggg. Size Queen Ali strikes again! I enjoyed the full friendship group they had, but it might have been easier in an eyeball read. Is the audiobook production insane? Yes. I just could not get over the complete lack of communication and the way the FMC was portrayed to be able to enjoy this as much as I anticipated. This should be been an easy win for me. I love Ali Hazelwood and a full cast audiobook?? Sign me up! Weirdly, I didn’t hate Teddy Hamilton in this. I’ve been having Teddy Hamilton fatigue like crazy, but I think he works as this character. Brooke Bloomingdale did a great job as well
3/5 🌶️
5/5 🎙️
There is a lot I liked about this, but enough I didn’t like to keep it from being five stars. This book really suffers from the FMC being the only flawed character who needs to arc. She is this meek, weak willed thing who has to find herself after a breakup of a long engagement and also cutting off her family. She’s just a mess. Enter our Hero who is ready to do everything for her…except be honest about his feelings. Because why would we expect open and honest communication from grown adults with grown up jobs?
Do they have chemistry? Absolutely. Spicy scenes are amazingggg. Size Queen Ali strikes again! I enjoyed the full friendship group they had, but it might have been easier in an eyeball read. Is the audiobook production insane? Yes. I just could not get over the complete lack of communication and the way the FMC was portrayed to be able to enjoy this as much as I anticipated. This should be been an easy win for me. I love Ali Hazelwood and a full cast audiobook?? Sign me up! Weirdly, I didn’t hate Teddy Hamilton in this. I’ve been having Teddy Hamilton fatigue like crazy, but I think he works as this character. Brooke Bloomingdale did a great job as well
October 23, 2026
read this literally the day it dropped, perfect timing mother thank you! excellent full cast production, a classic Ali Hazelwood romance in every way!
Want to Read
September 18, 2026Didn't "read" it yet, just wanted to know and plead: I wanna //read// this, I don't like audiobooks, I can't get into the story by only listening it, I need the words :( will we ever have a written version, like the videogame one?
Want to Read
September 24, 2026why an audiobooooooooooook !!???!!!!!
October 23, 2026
I think Ali actually spent her neuroscience days figuring out how to mimic drugs in her books
October 23, 2026
I < u Ali hazelwood u can do no wrong!!!!
Except: I wish there was more yearning from max 😭 I love love loved their relationship and the hint to the fact that max has loved her for a long time but like Harrison was like “Billie he had a shrine for you!” And that wasn’t expanded on??? TELL ME the extent to which he loved her!!! Tell me how he fell for her!! Their relationship was so sweet and he was clearly gone for her but I wanted history.
Also. Dare I say I wanted more plot in my romance novel? Because of the lack of history it also felt like nothing was really happening. Especially given the synopsis, which made it feel like Billie’s ex talking about her being boring in bed was a major plot point (also like…….. the title) but actually it was never even revealed to her closest friends? Actually the more I write this review the more I feel like there are loose ends that weren’t tied up. Hello ao3? It’s me, aneesa.
I thoroughly had a wonderful time listening to this (it did come out today and I had to stop myself from finishing it before 2pm so that I could listen to the last 2 hours while I made dinner) like it was so so so sweet but again some things felt like they were lacking
Except: I wish there was more yearning from max 😭 I love love loved their relationship and the hint to the fact that max has loved her for a long time but like Harrison was like “Billie he had a shrine for you!” And that wasn’t expanded on??? TELL ME the extent to which he loved her!!! Tell me how he fell for her!! Their relationship was so sweet and he was clearly gone for her but I wanted history.
Also. Dare I say I wanted more plot in my romance novel? Because of the lack of history it also felt like nothing was really happening. Especially given the synopsis, which made it feel like Billie’s ex talking about her being boring in bed was a major plot point (also like…….. the title) but actually it was never even revealed to her closest friends? Actually the more I write this review the more I feel like there are loose ends that weren’t tied up. Hello ao3? It’s me, aneesa.
I thoroughly had a wonderful time listening to this (it did come out today and I had to stop myself from finishing it before 2pm so that I could listen to the last 2 hours while I made dinner) like it was so so so sweet but again some things felt like they were lacking
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2026
i enjoyed this very much. always so nice to get an AH audiobook original. i can’t wait for the physical to come out so i can have maxbillie in my hands. prob the most reylo romance she’s written in a while tbh. ali pls publish prime plsssss 😭🙏
October 23, 2026
In Ali Hazelwood we trust. Billie van Buren is my actual twin, I related to her so much and she has entered my top five Ali Hazelwood fmcs 🤸♀️🫶🏻😁
October 23, 2026
The obtuseness of the FMC to the MMC’s infatuation was annoying, but she eventually gets there and it do be spicy. I could relate to the FMC’s difficulty with shutting off her brain & unlearning what she was taught growing up.
October 22, 2026
My favorite Ali yet 🫶🏻
October 23, 2026
It was a total fluke that I ended up reading Bad in Bed by Ali Hazelwood and Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune back-to-back. I randomly grabbed the Hazelwood book for free on Audible, and then got super lucky with Libby’s Skip-the-Line feature for Carley Fortune's.
The real kicker, though, is how similar their plots are. Both stories kick off with the heroines getting absolutely blindsided by terrible breakups—Billie’s ex publicly insults her bedroom skills, and Frankie’s fiancé dumps her via a note on the morning of their wedding. To cope, both women enter into these highly structured, "safe" arrangements: Billie starts "practice" sessions with her medical frenemy, Dr. Maxwell Austin, while Frankie takes off on a 7-day Tofino trip with her childhood best friend, George.
In both books, what was supposed to be a temporary fix completely backfires into major emotional and romantic tension.
The real kicker, though, is how similar their plots are. Both stories kick off with the heroines getting absolutely blindsided by terrible breakups—Billie’s ex publicly insults her bedroom skills, and Frankie’s fiancé dumps her via a note on the morning of their wedding. To cope, both women enter into these highly structured, "safe" arrangements: Billie starts "practice" sessions with her medical frenemy, Dr. Maxwell Austin, while Frankie takes off on a 7-day Tofino trip with her childhood best friend, George.
In both books, what was supposed to be a temporary fix completely backfires into major emotional and romantic tension.
October 22, 2026
*Giggles and screams in her inside voice, obviously*
Let’s start with the fact that this one has Ali’s signature man-down-bad feature. I cannot believe how much I fall for it time and time again.
And tho it was super fun to listen to, I just didn’t like the FMC. I’m not gonna go and turn this into slander, not my style, but girl, is Connecticut high society a religious cult you escaped, or? Max tho? Ummm, yes, double please and then repeat.
I also have to add that I’m just not really into the lessons-in-sex trope. Like, at all? So, all things considered, I still had a great time. That’s Miss Hazelwood for me!
Also, Belarus mentioned? As Ali’s #1 fan in my country, I feel seen. Like, oh my god?
Let’s start with the fact that this one has Ali’s signature man-down-bad feature. I cannot believe how much I fall for it time and time again.
And tho it was super fun to listen to, I just didn’t like the FMC. I’m not gonna go and turn this into slander, not my style, but girl, is Connecticut high society a religious cult you escaped, or? Max tho? Ummm, yes, double please and then repeat.
I also have to add that I’m just not really into the lessons-in-sex trope. Like, at all? So, all things considered, I still had a great time. That’s Miss Hazelwood for me!
Also, Belarus mentioned? As Ali’s #1 fan in my country, I feel seen. Like, oh my god?
October 23, 2026
*spectacular, give me 14 of them right now*
October 23, 2026
wake up everyone! new Ali Hazelwood mmc description just dropped:
graceful bulky cat
(i’m glad we’re moving on from McMansion and Mount Everest, but graceful bulky CAT?? sure Ali, whatever you say? 😂❤️)
this one was a classic Ali Hazelwood story, but i wanted nothing moree (and boy did i get it 😛)
probably had her boldest and dirtiest mmc?? Max was WAITING waiting for his chance. god damn, he left Lukas, Koen, everyone else behind 💀 but i’m happy for him 😂 10 years is a lot of time, and it always makes me sad knowing how long they’ve been hiding their feelings but i loved the tension and yearning as always 😋
this might be her funniest book too (although it was mostly just Max making innuendos—which were hilariouss 🤣🤣) but it had a pretty light tone throughout.
i wouldddd, however, love to see some yearning happening not because our silly little fmc cannot read basic human cues, even if she can get scholarships and grants for postdoc work, but because of some genuine right-person-wrong-time situation :> atp i’m just jealous of these fmcs for pulling guys with ZERO communication skills 😒 like HOWW
but talking about the audiobook: this was my first full-cast audiobook, and i loveddddd it. such a good performance by everyone! would love to lock myself in a room and listen to it on repeat 🤭
this one was a classic Ali Hazelwood story, but i wanted nothing moree (and boy did i get it 😛)
probably had her boldest and dirtiest mmc?? Max was WAITING waiting for his chance. god damn, he left Lukas, Koen, everyone else behind 💀 but i’m happy for him 😂 10 years is a lot of time, and it always makes me sad knowing how long they’ve been hiding their feelings but i loved the tension and yearning as always 😋
this might be her funniest book too (although it was mostly just Max making innuendos—which were hilariouss 🤣🤣) but it had a pretty light tone throughout.
i wouldddd, however, love to see some yearning happening not because our silly little fmc cannot read basic human cues, even if she can get scholarships and grants for postdoc work, but because of some genuine right-person-wrong-time situation :> atp i’m just jealous of these fmcs for pulling guys with ZERO communication skills 😒 like HOWW
but talking about the audiobook: this was my first full-cast audiobook, and i loveddddd it. such a good performance by everyone! would love to lock myself in a room and listen to it on repeat 🤭
October 23, 2026
audio / 5* / audible
OK, GO OFF WITH THE AUDIO FIRSTS ALI HAZELWOOD!!! If you are still somewhere on the fence about audiobooks allow Ali to hold your hand… maybe two and guide you because I am ABSOLUTELY FERAL for Max and Billie! To be honest, this wasn’t even on my radar but when Audible says play… I play!
Max brought back yearning all on his own. What do you mean he almost had to watch the love of his life almost marry his ex-best friend? ALL THE WHILE THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE HAD NO IDEA! Omg.
This was everything! Rom-com, found family, women in STEM, sex lessons, fake whatevering (it’s never really fake and I truly love the trope for that reason) and a smile from ear to ear HEA.
Fit this into your TBR, and then move it right to the top, Ali has outdone herself.
I will recommend this forever.
OK, GO OFF WITH THE AUDIO FIRSTS ALI HAZELWOOD!!! If you are still somewhere on the fence about audiobooks allow Ali to hold your hand… maybe two and guide you because I am ABSOLUTELY FERAL for Max and Billie! To be honest, this wasn’t even on my radar but when Audible says play… I play!
Max brought back yearning all on his own. What do you mean he almost had to watch the love of his life almost marry his ex-best friend? ALL THE WHILE THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE HAD NO IDEA! Omg.
This was everything! Rom-com, found family, women in STEM, sex lessons, fake whatevering (it’s never really fake and I truly love the trope for that reason) and a smile from ear to ear HEA.
Fit this into your TBR, and then move it right to the top, Ali has outdone herself.
I will recommend this forever.
October 23, 2026
This book was DELICIOUS! 🥵🔥 Ali Hazelwood really knows how to deliver everything I need in a romance, and Bad in Bed did NOT disappoint!
The banter between Max and Billie was everything! I absolutely loved their dynamic, and the frenemy-to-lovers trope was done SO well. Add in all that spice, the tension, and the chemistry, and I was completely sold! 🫠❤️🔥
And can we talk about Teddy Hamilton as Max?! 😍 His narration was AMAZING and made an already delicious story even better!
Spice, banter, tension and frenemy-to-lovers? Sign me UP! This was everything I want in a romance book, and I loved every second of it. An easy 5 stars! ⭐️
The banter between Max and Billie was everything! I absolutely loved their dynamic, and the frenemy-to-lovers trope was done SO well. Add in all that spice, the tension, and the chemistry, and I was completely sold! 🫠❤️🔥
And can we talk about Teddy Hamilton as Max?! 😍 His narration was AMAZING and made an already delicious story even better!
Spice, banter, tension and frenemy-to-lovers? Sign me UP! This was everything I want in a romance book, and I loved every second of it. An easy 5 stars! ⭐️
October 23, 2026
She never misses. Ily Ali, thanks for feeding us.
Review of advance copy
4⭐️
I can't wait for this to be out in print so that I can buy Alyssa a copy and black out all the smut. Alyssa you're gonna DIE for the like 100 pages that'll be left. They'll be life-changing, I swear!!!
I can't wait for this to be out in print so that I can buy Alyssa a copy and black out all the smut. Alyssa you're gonna DIE for the like 100 pages that'll be left. They'll be life-changing, I swear!!!
October 23, 2026
STEM FMC: PhD candidate in biostatistics; STEM MMC: critical care fellow (MD)
This felt much more like her og stem romances. Ali definitely has a formula and sticks to it. It still works but it feels a bit overdone. Single POV from the FMC, he’s huge, he’s been in love with her for years and she doesn’t know it, etc. Ali took the whole “it’ll fit” trope to an insane level with this one… I actually felt bad for him. I loved both of the MCs though. Billie was very easy to relate to: perfectionist people pleaser who is very organized and particular about following rules and meeting expectations. The ending was a bit of a flat tire for me after the rest of the book. I wanted one more spicy scene or more profound love declaration or something… I don’t know. I can’t put my finger on exactly what was missing but it felt rushed and deflated at the end.
Surprise tie ins: limerence game and Millicent Smith!!!
This felt much more like her og stem romances. Ali definitely has a formula and sticks to it. It still works but it feels a bit overdone. Single POV from the FMC, he’s huge, he’s been in love with her for years and she doesn’t know it, etc. Ali took the whole “it’ll fit” trope to an insane level with this one… I actually felt bad for him. I loved both of the MCs though. Billie was very easy to relate to: perfectionist people pleaser who is very organized and particular about following rules and meeting expectations. The ending was a bit of a flat tire for me after the rest of the book. I wanted one more spicy scene or more profound love declaration or something… I don’t know. I can’t put my finger on exactly what was missing but it felt rushed and deflated at the end.
Surprise tie ins: limerence game and Millicent Smith!!!
October 23, 2026
5⭐️
Dare I say this might be my new favorite Ali Hazelwood book ?
This lasted me literally hours and it came at a perfect time when I was craving some good hot romance book.
Oh Ali the way you write man needs to be studied and you should be included in a team in a lab where they make these men 😭❤️
I want a part 2 SOOO BAD
Dare I say this might be my new favorite Ali Hazelwood book ?
This lasted me literally hours and it came at a perfect time when I was craving some good hot romance book.
Oh Ali the way you write man needs to be studied and you should be included in a team in a lab where they make these men 😭❤️
I want a part 2 SOOO BAD
October 24, 2026
I don’t think that I have ever read an Ali Hazelwood book that I did not love. This story was so heartwarming. The yearning and the things Max said to Billy. My heart could not take it. Sooo beautiful!! The narration was fantastic as well. Great listen!
October 23, 2026
Giggling, blushing, screaming, gasping the whole damn time. I have NEVER EVER met a character more obnoxiously funny and hot than Max, hello!!!!!! So freaking good and the audio book was amazing, I loved that each character had a different voice actor.
October 23, 2026
I didn't realize this little nugget from AH was coming out this week, so it was a nice surprise.
October 24, 2026
Classic Ali. Truly a very predictable story but I ate it up and will every time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 350 reviews