Bad Publicity – 5/5 ✩
Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam is a stellar example of the much loved enemies to lovers trope, but where some enemies to lovers novels fall flat, Gillam’s novel had so much depth.
In the book, Andie has landed her dream job, but the downside… She’s forced to work with Jack Carlson, a former classmate from university. While on a book tour together through Europe, Jack edges his way back under her skin, in good ways and bad, and their reunion begs the question: can their professional relationship withstand their entire trip to Europe, especially when that means facing what happened back at university?
What I loved so much about this novel was the dynamic between Andie and Jack. Together, there were fireworks between these characters. They made each other better, but they also had the power to bring out the worst as well. And while they worked so well together and kept the novel’s plot moving, they also stood so strongly on their own.
Both Andie and Jack – but especially Andie – had such strong backstories that even the moments we saw where these two characters were not together, still felt just as important as the ones where they were together. I especially loved pealing back Andie’s layers and learning more of who she is as a person; her backstory left me in tears at some moments and seeing her growth throughout the story made me feel so proud of her by the end.
And Jack… If you love a golden retriever boyfriend, meet Jack Carlson. I don’t have enough good things to say about his character. While Andie had moments where she could (understandably) be infuriating, Jack always knew the thing to say or do.
I think what stands out so much about Gillam’s novel is that you love the romance just as much as you love seeing the characters grow. Some novels have only romance or only character development, and I think this novel was so expertly driven by both of these things.
Can’t recommend it enough! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing me with the proof in exchange for an honest review!
Also… any Dawson’s Creek fans out there? Andie? Jack? Just gave me a little giggle seeing these two names together.
Anchored Musings 