I absolutely loved this book! I liked the concept as soon as I read the blurb and the book itself did not disappoint!! I haven’t really got into a book in a while, but this one had me crying and laughing out loud. I found Andie to be flawed but totally relatable, such a well written character. Definitely a read I will be recommending to others when it is published.

I really enjoyed this 'close-proximity/enemies to lovers' novel. It's the first one I've read by Bianca Gillam but I'd definitely look to pick up her other titles.
Andie is a British ex-pat living in New York, having just landed her dream job at an important publishing house. She's in transition, slightly mourning the loss of her flatmate and their fun friendship as she has left to move in with her boyfriend. However, she's determined that this new job is a harbinger of things moving forward.
Until - her new boss gives her first publicity assignment as accompanying her ex boyfriend, a hot history writer, on his European book tour. Andie shaken up but vows that she will be the consummate professional as she recrosses the Atlantic to assist Jack.

As the two find themselves in close proximity, the past keeps resurfacing, with Gillam teasing us about what might have happened between the pair.

I thought she handled the subjects of grief and trauma really sensitively as well as grown up friendships and how important they are.

4/5 from me. Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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!

Loved this clever and charming romcom. I was so drawn to it thanks to the cover & premise. Gillam's writing style is really easy to follow. I particularly enjoyed the settings as we travelled around the book events with the characters. Grief and the aftermath of losing a loved one was handled thoughtfully and gently.

Would recommend this one to anyone going on holiday. Perfect beachy binge read. Can't wait to read what Bianca writes next ✨️

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! I had the perfect blend of comedy and heart and how the two characters overcame their personal obstacles was graceful.

True to its title I feel this book has been badly publicised i.e. massively overhyped - I have seen this everywhere and it is still MONTHs until its release date.
This book is a slow burn that could have been concluded in a lot less pages. It is what I would class as an easy read that you would maybe take on holiday and read on the beach while sunbathing.

I am stuck between 2-3 stars because I do feel this has an audience, I am just not it.

I LOVED THIS BOOK.

📚 Forced Proximity
🐉 Enemies to Lovers
📚 Slow Burn
🐉 Second Chance

Bad Publicity is a beautiful story thay follows Andie, who just landed her dream job as a senior publicist, and Jack, her client who also happens to be her ex...
Andie is tasked with promoting Jack's latest fiction book on a month long tour around some of the most romantic places in Europe. Can she handle this trip with the man who broke her heart?

This is written so beautifully. I fell for these characters so quickly and adored their story. The elements of grief and loss are navigated in such a realistic way and truly show the struggles a family can have when they lose someone suddenly. Andie and Sara also have such a sweet friendship that suffers the true-to-life bumps of new relationships.

Highly highly highly recommend. I had to force myself to put it down to go to work!

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

I LOVED this book SO much.

I didn’t know what I was getting myself into but I loved every single second. Forced proximity of two people who have a LOT of history, the sexual tension was off the charts.

It is a wild journey of discovery for Andie, and Jack is a brilliant male love interest. He does beg, and it was brilliant.

It’s hilarious - laugh out loud funny - it is also heartwarming and witty.

Perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Tessa Bailey.

A great debut! A cute and enjoyable read but also delves into deeper emotions and subjects such as grief. The characters are great, the plot is exciting and I really enjoyed reading it.

Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam is an average rom-com read. Throughout the book we are "dangled the carrot" of the two main characters having an eventful history together in Edinburgh however no details are given for too long. This makes it difficult to root for the heroine and she simply comes across as mean and unprofessional. Had the back story been given a earlier in the story with the miscommunication being dealt with later I feel this would have made for a much better story.
It's an easy read and if it was included in my prime or unlimited reads I'd recommend it but I wouldn't suggest it as a novel for my readers.

Jack and Andie have a very complicated and upsetting past and I wish it was explained a little earlier in the novel as it was hard to root for Andie when she is being horrible and rude to Jack. It all becomes clear in the end though.
I enjoyed this novel but I felt the pacing and storytelling was slightly jumbled and unusual. Definitely an enjoyable and it tackles grief beautifully.

*"Bad Publicity" by Bianca Gillam is a sharp and engaging novel that dives into the chaotic world of public relations, fame, and scandal. Gillam’s witty and fast-paced storytelling brings readers into the high-stakes world of image management, where one wrong move can lead to disastrous consequences. The protagonist’s journey through the murky waters of PR is filled with humor, tension, and surprising twists, making it a captivating read. With its strong characters and clever insights into the price of fame, *Bad Publicity* offers both entertainment and a thought-provoking take on media and celebrity culture.*

⭐️2.75

I loved the sound Bad Publicity from the blurb and the cover is attractive, but the main character was so frustrating for me.

I did enjoy reading about the MC’s job as a publicist, working at a publishing house but she was unprofessional most of the time. I’m 34 and I just couldn’t get on with the decisions made.

The carrot was dangled early on of the reasons behind the whole situation, but we didn’t find out what until very very late on. The whole book therefore ended up being all miscommunication where no one talks to each other.

Not one for me sorry. If the miscommunication trope is your thing, this one is for you!

This was such a fun read!
I ate this book up in a day (no lie)
This is a prime example of miscommunication which had me screaming at Jack & Andie a little bit.
But I LOVED the enemies to lovers trope (one of my faves).
This is perfect if you want a fun easy read with lots of cutsey romantic bits.
Loved it!

Andie has finally landed her dream job, being senior publicist, and is ready to conquer the publishing world.
When she finds out that she'll have to take care of and organize a month-long tour of the most romantic places for the great author Jack Carlson, it will be really hard for her not to screw things up.
Just as Jack did during their college days.
Not least because messing things up would be tantamount to losing her job, and she absolutely must avoid that.

Right from the title, Bad publicity, I would have expected a self-respecting enemies-to-lovers. But the whole story, also aided by the little development, I found it rather flat and uninvolving.
The enemies to lovers I was hoping to read about is actually not there, and the chemistry between the main characters is almost absent.
I was a bit disappointed; the premise wasn't bad.

Super enjoyable enemies to lovers romcom. Loved the multiple settings of New York and the book tour, especially the visit to Shakespeare and co. in Paris (if only it was that easy to visit in real life!)

You might not like this book if you dislike miscommunication because Andie is not good at communicating with anyone and it causes her all kinds of problems.

I loved the exploration of grief, I thought it was really well done and the author gave plenty of space for it in a book which predominantly focuses on romantic love.

The only thing I struggled with was Andie's relationship with her friend Sara and her boyfriend James, this part of the book felt a bit rushed and unresolved.

This would be a great cosy autumnal read and I sped through it very quickly.

After reading some other reviews I was a bit hesitant to read this book Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam. But I am surprised how much I enjoyed this. I really enjoyed it.
Andie has been living in New York for five years. She has never got over the death of her father and because of this stays away from her loving mother. She has just got a new job as a senior publicist and can’t wait to start her dream job and work her way up in the big city of New York. So, when she finds out who she will be working with and going on a European book tour with. She is horrified.
Author Jack Carlson who messed her life up 5 years ago when they were both at university. Jack has had a successful career so far as a nonfiction author. But now he is written his first fiction book, and she doesn’t want to mess it up, even though she doesn’t really want anything to do with him. 5 years ago, she told him she did not want to ever see him again.
This is a great read not only about second chances in a romantic sense. But also, about grief of a loved one and learning how to get over it and live again. This had interesting characters but the protagonist I thought was quite annoying and self-centred and only thought that she was the only one with having problems. This had a will, or won’t they get back together scenario that kept me guessing until the end. 4 stars from me.

I absolutely loved the premise of this book, it was what initially drew me to want to read it. I don't think there was anything wrong with the plot or the characters. I just think that nothing really stood out to me, the biggest thing that made it somewhat hard for me to fully invest in this book was the fact that I could not get into the writing style. I don't know what there was but for me, I was not particularly vibing with the writing, it felt a little meh at places. This book is definitely great for those, who just want a simple, easy romance read, it is easy to see why people fall in love with stories like this.

I really enjoyed this book. The author clearly knows her way around a story, it kept me entranced all the way through and wanting to know how the narrative was going to unfold. A great read, definitely one to slip into your suitcase and enjoy on your summer holidays.