REVIEW: Bad Reputation by Emma Barry

Bad Reputation by Emma Barry: Cole James is tired of his old character’s himbo vibe following him around Hollywood, with the fans and industry execs having a hard time separating the real Cole from the teen soapy character that he played over a decade ago. Cole needs to rebrand and fast if he wants to stay relevant in the ever changing world of Hollywood, which is why he desperately needs this new role in Waverley, a historical romance, to really be a hit. If there is one thing Maggie Niven won’t do is allow her voice to be censored, so when she gets fired for directing a slightly divisive play, Maggie decides maybe she needs a bit of a fresh start and where better than in Hollywood.

A new town, a new job and a new Maggie, well that was her plan as the new intimacy coach for Waverley. The only problem being the star of the show is a tiny bit distracting. The last thing Cole expected was for Maggie to walk into his life but now that she has, he can’t keep his eyes off her… with filming underway some very real feelings begin to brew between Maggie and Cole, but with both of their reputations and careers on the line can they really risk having an onset romance?

I really enjoyed this book, Bad Reputation was a lot deeper than I had expected but in a good way. I loved the way Barry crafted this story, using slightly older characters and highlighting regardless of age sometimes we all need is a fresh start. This book was so easy to get immersed in. Getting to follow Cole and Maggie as they tried to figure out their next chapter in life, while stumbling upon their perfect match at the least ideal time, really just had a feeling of relatability to it that I truly enjoyed.

Maggie was a great leading lady, I will say that her termination from her teaching job felt a bit unfair, but at least it lead her to finding Cole. I found her character easy to relate to and I completely understood her struggles in settling into a new career, after thinking that she had found her calling only to have it snatched away. It was really nice getting to see her explore her new career as an intimacy coach and also as the reader getting to understand what really goes into all the steamy scenes we love to watch. Now for our hero, well I loved the growth of Cole. A large part of his character journey was getting to see him make amends for his past actions, while we don’t really get to see what he had done in the past, it was nice getting to see him being so conscious and aware of himself now.

With both Maggie and Cole being a bit more mature, so was their relationship. There wasn’t any big upsets or unneeded angst, yes there was build up and a bit of drama but nothing that would seem extra or out of place in a real life situation. I really liked the way their relationship grew and getting to see the natural progression of their connection. I think once they both realized that they had faced a trauma this brought them closer and gave each other a better understanding of one and other. Now for the steam, well lets just say as an intimacy coach, Maggie had no problems heating up the pages with Cole. These two had more than enough sexual chemistry to power the entire show.

All in all I really enjoyed reading Bad Reputation, this book deals with past traumas, new beginnings, taking a risk on love and really delivering a sweet love story.

Book Info:

Publication: October 1, 2024 | Montlake |

Cole James’s reputation as Hollywood’s favorite himbo no longer suits him. His fans can’t separate the real man from the character he played on a soapy teen drama decades ago. But that’s going to change with Waverley, the hit streaming historical romance series.

Maggie Niven hates her own notoriety. Fired for directing a divisive play, Maggie takes her fight against censorship public. When Hollywood comes calling, she becomes the new intimacy coordinator for Waverley. But it’s harder than she imagined to focus on the job.

Cole isn’t what she expected—and Maggie is more than he dreamed of. As filming gets underway, the cast’s old traumas lead to real intimacy, and Cole and Maggie struggle with feelings they shouldn’t have. Having an affair on set could destroy his comeback and her new career.

The show must go on. But if Cole and Maggie want a happy ending, they’ll have to start doing things their own way.