As always, Elle Kennedy puts out a winner. I will say I didn't love this one as much as Bad Girl Reputation but Cassie is a welcome addition to the Avalon Bay crew and it's a fun and light read for the summer. Not surprising though as Elle is a consistent pre-order for me.

im an autumn/winter person to my core, but this book is desperately making me pretend i could be a summer person. its a great beach read. i just need to find me a sailor. doesnt matter that i get sea sick. if hes anything like tate, im on that boat. lol.

and i think its that lighthearted, whimsical fun that comes from summer flings that i enjoyed the most about this story. its balanced well with moments of sincerity and depth, but also entertaining in the process.

because of its atmosphere and sweetness, this a great book if you want something where you can sit back, relax, turn off your brain, and just enjoy some adorable characters trying their best to navigate friendship and feelings.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Cassie and Tate. Cassie is a senior in college. Tate works at the family boat store. They meet on the beach. There is an instant attraction. Cassie is staying at her grandmother house. They start hanging out together. There are issues but together they work through them and fall in love.

A sizzler of a romance. Some raw language, but a good quick beach read. Fun characters and setting.

Thank you so much to St Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for an arc of The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy.

I loved this book! After finishing this arc I purchased a physical copy to have on my shelf. I just love Elle Kennedy’s writing so much. It’s so easy to become immersed in her writing and characters. I am now going to immediately pick up the rest of this series!

I highly recommend this one!

Book Review: The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
This review may contain minor spoilers.

The Summer Girl is the third book in Elle Kennedy's Avalon Bay series and follows Cassie (said summer girl) and Tate. The two embark on a summer fling before moving on to the next chapter in their lives. This book also includes insta-love, adventure, and strangers to almost lovers to friends to lovers.

I enjoyed both Cassie and Tate's characters, individually and as a couple. They were fun to follow and watch grow. The relationship between each of them and their parents was extremely relatable - from experiencing parts in life or idolizing others' connection.

One weakness to the story was Tate's argument for why he couldn't fling with Cassie. It felt flimsy at best and they very quickly threw it aside when presented with opportunities to be together. I wish there was another reason to add to the "will they, won't they" tension.

Overall I enjoyed this book as much as the first in the series. Loved getting to see the other couples and seeing a new side of the Bay.

I received an eARC from NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for my honest review.

Elle Kennedy is a master of the new adult fiction. I was enthralled by the the Avalon Bay series - who doesn't love books set on the shore in the summer? And this one was no exception. Great read.

The Summer Girl
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Elle Kennedy

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: College student Cassie Soul hasn’t spent an entire summer in Avalon Bay in years, not since her parents divorced and her mother spitefully whisked her away to Boston. Now that her grandmother is selling the boardwalk hotel that’s been in their family for five decades, Cassie returns to the quaint beach town to spend time with family, ring in her twenty-first birthday…and maybe find herself a summer fling. On her first night in town, she finds the perfect candidate: Tate Bartlett, Avalon Bay’s fun-loving golden boy. Tate, sailing instructor and lovable player, is no stranger to flings. In fact, he’s always down for a good time. But the moment he meets Cassie, he knows she’s not the girl you play games with. Cassie is gorgeous, hilarious, and, frankly, the coolest person he’s ever met. The last thing he wants to do is risk breaking her heart, and so he reluctantly puts her in the friend-zone…only to realize he made a huge mistake. Soon, his attraction to Cassie becomes impossible to ignore. He wants that fling now. Big-time. And maybe even something more. As Cassie and Tate walk the line between friends and lovers, they’re about to discover that their situation is the least complicated part of this equation. Because Avalon Bay is full of secrets—and their relationship might not survive when those secrets come to light.

My Thoughts: This is book no. three in the Avalon Bay series. While this can be read as a standalone book, you will get a better sense of the supporting characters and small town by reading the previous two novels. Cassie is home for the summer and returns to Boston it the fall for her last year at college. Her grandmother sold the family hotel and is selling the family house at the end of the summer. She meets Tate, known playboy. A friendship sparks and they both want more on the cusp of some Avalon Bay secrets. This follows the tropes of friends to lovers and summer fling. Content warnings of supporting character infidelity and emotional abuse, and toxic parent.

The story is narrated by Cassie and Tate in this dual narration. Cassie is insecure, caring, avoids confrontation, even at her expense, and is sometimes afraid to stand in her truth. Tate is a bit of a playboy, charming, cares about others, and is loyal to a fault. While third act break ups are common in this type of novel, I was taken back by it and started yelling at the book. I won’t say more to not spoil for other readers. The message of the story really is hope, hope that we can stand in our truth at all times, hope for love, and hope for found family. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, compassion, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, humorous, thought-provoking, endearing, and engaging.

I had the opportunity to have the digital and audiobook for this novel. This was a lighthearted, endearing, sweet read. My only con is that the ending felt rushed and left me wanting a little more. However, I love Kennedy’s writing style and did throughly enjoy this book, mostly. I would absolutely recommend this one and all from this series to other readers.

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy
Status: Available Now, Not KU
Reading Method: eARC from @netgalley & Libby audio

📖 🎧 Writing &/or Audio Style : Writing style was pretty decent, some parts felt a little juvenile but the characters were all college aged and made me feel old. Overall the audio was pretty good. I don’t love Teddy Hamilton’s female voices and wish it had been recorded duet, but it was tolerable.

👥 Characters & Relationships: The characters and their relationships were well done. I loved both Tate & Cassie.

⁉️Plot, Intrigue & Logic: As far as Virgin Heroine tropes go, I thought this was well done as it wasn’t really fetishized. Overall the plot was enjoyable.

🏞️Atmosphere & Setting: Gave me Sweet Magnolia vibes. That’s probably not even accurate but it worked for me 😂

🥰Enjoyment: So this was the second novel I have tried from this author. The first one (in a different series) was practically an immediate DNF. Because of that I was a bit nervous to start this one but I was pleasantly surprised. That said, I’m still old and reading about a bunch of college kids just might not be for me anymore.

🚨 For Reader Awareness: Narcissistic relationship and consequences

📣Recommended for fans of: Spicy college aged romances

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin, for the ARC of The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy. This novel is the third installment in the Avalon Bay series. I did not read the previous two, and I wasn't confused - this can absolutely be read as a stand alone. I enjoyed this new adult romance. Cassie and Tate were likable characters, and there was plenty of drama to keep the pages turning. This is a lighthearted, fun read just made for summer.
Grab an ice cold beverage, head into the sunshine, and enjoy The Summer Girl!

I love Elle Kennedy's work, and this is just adding to my love. It is a great continuation of the Avalon Bay crew. I think Cassie and Tate are the cutest, and they deserve the world.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book.

This is part three of a series by Elle Kennedy and many have raved about the first two books, but I didn’t read them.

I have to admit that within the first few chapters I almost quit reading this book as it seemed a bit too adolescent and unrealistic in how Cassie going about her a summer fling. However, I’m not a quitter and I continued to read. The secrets and drama kept me engaged enough to the finish the book. I always up for a romance but this one didn’t catch me like others.

Thank you, NetGalley for this advanced copy of The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy. I absolutely LOVE this series. Elle Kennedy does it again with another great book. Summer flings, family drama, and fresh starts.

This book was cute! It felt like YA to me, except that it was much spicier than I’d expect from a YA book! It looks like this is part of a series and I’d be curious to read more of the books.

4.5 Stars: The Summer Girl is the third book in the Avalon Bay series and although it can be read as a standalone story, I enjoyed catching up with the main characters from previous books in the series. Cassie Soul used to live in Avalon Bay, until her parents divorced and her mother got custody of her and they moved to Boston. Her grandparents owned the Boardwalk Hotel, but with his death, she is no longer able to run and maintain it. None of her children want to operate it, so she sold it and it is being reopened. Cassie returns to Avalon Bay to spend one last summer with her grandmother before she moves to live closer to her grandchildren. There will be grand opening gala that all her family will be attending as well as birthday celebration as she is turning 21. Her friends are hoping that Cassie will find someone and have a summer fling. There is a lot to look forward to this summer, especially spending time with her father, 2 half-sisters and step-mom.

I really enjoyed this story. Cassie and Tate narrated the story giving us both of their POVs which worked well, with a bit of overlap. Cassie has a lot of baggage from the divorce, being raised by a narcissist and not being liked by her step-mom. She is also sad that this will be her last chance to spend time in Avalon Bay with her grandma. She meets a handsome young man the first night there, but he is a local and just recently broke up with his girlfriend, but there is something that pulls them to each other. I loved both Cassie and Tate. Tate has been in previous books, so I knew a little about him, but this story showed us a lot more and made me appreciate this man, who may have been a "player" but was not a cad and never jumped around. Their romance was a slow build, with friendship first. The setting of Avalon Bay is a great one and having Tate and Cassie living next to each other added to the tension. Cassie's mother makes an appearance and is she ever a piece of work. I won't say more about her, but I'm surprised Cassie was as kind and level headed as she was. I enjoyed seeing Cassied grow, develop and realize that all was not the way she perceived. There is some angst and drama that has to be worked through before a happy ever after, but it was well done! There is some open door romance, but I skimmed those parts and still enjoyed this story.

What a sweet yet interesting story. Tate and Cassie are so likable. There's back and forth and the "summer fling" between them. Tate may act the playboy but he's so likable and honorable. Cassie is just the nicest, most likable which is amazing given her parental situation. Her mother, the narcissist. Her father, the distracted with his new family. Whereas Tate's Homelife is idyllic. Or so it seems. First there's Tate's rejection of Cassie because he doesn't want to break her heart. Then there's the far deeper feelings on both their parts. Than the family drama's. There's plenty here to keep the reader involved.

The Summer Girl is the epitome of a good summer read. I had not read books one and two and it didn't bagger at all. This book works very well as a standalone.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this review opportunity.

This was such a good book in the Avalon Bay series! It was a friends-to-lovers story well done... I thought both Cassie and Tate were very likable. Loved the magnetic pull they had on each other.

The Summer Girl' is the third book in the Avalon Bay series but it can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed the book and can be read fast.

This was my favorite of the Avalon Bay series so far!
Cassie and Tate were such great characters!
I loved how fast paced this book felt.
the banter and connection the characters had was A+.
and oooh did i love the slow burn(Which is one of my least favorite tropes)
But it was so wonderfully executed in this book!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this review opportunity.

My favorite of the Avalon Bay books!!

I greatly enjoyed the pace of the relationship development from friends to more between Cassie and Tate. I also LOVE the dual POV. I think that getting both sides thoughts throughout the story really added a lot to my enjoyment.

Cassie was a really sweet main character and I enjoyed that while Tate may have been with a lot of girls, he wasn't a jerk about it. The connection to the Beacon Hotel was really cool and I enjoyed being able to see the progress that Gen and Mac were making on that front.

I also have to say that I squealed when Cassie said she went to Briar! What a fun cross over moment to the Off-Campus series.

Definitely recommend the whole series and this book especially.

This was such a good book in the Avalon Bay series! I loved the banter and the chemistry between the characters.. I thought both Cassie and Tate were very likeable. It was such a good slow burn with them being neighbors all summer. So good!