I’ve read all three in the Avalon Bay series! This one was the slowest of the three, but I did really enjoy the characters.
Spicy rating is 🌶️🌶️🌶️ take until about 50% tho.

Cassie is in Avalon Bay for the summer visiting her grandma, dad, and siblings. She just wants a summer fling before her senior year of college.
Tate is helping his dad run the boat shop and doing sailing lessons whom is smart, handsome, and has a way to melting a woman’s heart without breaking it.
When Cassie and Tate meet it’s instant chemistry. The problem is Tate is warned by his friends to not have a fling with Cassie because she’s too important to potential hurt. Cassie isn’t fragile and wants freedom. She sees nothing wrong with having a fun summer with the Avalon Bay fling master.
How will their summer turn out? Do they end up expressing their feelings or just have fun?

Rating: 4.25 ⭐️
Spice: 2.5 🌶️

It’s the summer before her senior year of college and Cassie wants a fling. She’s staying with her grandma for the summer in Avalon Bay and right next door is the hottest guy she’s ever seen, Tate. He’s the perfect candidate! Cassie and Tate start the summer as friends, but can’t deny their attraction.

Cassie is relatable in that she’s a little awkward when first meeting someone (like me), but it’s nice to see her growth. Tate is a confident, happy guy who never judges Cassie for her quirks. They are a great match!

This is a perfect summer read—small beach town, bonfires, boats, and a hot fling—what more could you want? I prefer it over the first two books in the series which were more angsty. There is some family drama in this one and difficult situations with parents, but it’s not at the center of the story. I think it can be read as a standalone.

I received this as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

Thank you St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the arc of The Summer Girls! I love Elle Kennedy and I love this series and visiting Avalon Bay.

Cassandra (or Cassie to her close friends) grew up in Avalon Bay, until her parents divorce forced her to move to Boston with her controlling and narcissistic mother. She’s back for the summer, though, to help her grandma pack up their family house as she prepares to move. While Cassie is in Avalon Bay, she’s determined to have a “summer fling” filled with passion and sexual chemistry. Who does she meet but none other than Tate, the local surfer blondie who is known for his hookups.
Tate moved to Avalon Bay with his parents when he was in middle school/early high school. His parents are his best friends, and holds the standard that any relationship worth being in must match how in-love his parents are — hence all the hookups and no real relationships.
Cassie and Tate soon become close friends, and it’s up to Tate whether or not that friendship is going to stay platonic, or if he’ll be Cassie’s summer fling.

Like I said previously, I love this series! I’m a sucker for a romance book set in a beach town, and Elle delivers every time. I loved both of the main characters, and I think they’re my fav couple so far. Although I do like a bad boy (like Evan) and tattoos (like Cooper), there’s something about a sweet surfer boy close to his parents that’s also my cup of tea.
I also enjoyed how Tate’s character evolved throughout the book, and how it came to a shock that he could no longer hold his parents on the pedestal he once placed them.
Cassie’s character has gone through some shit, and Tate and her two close girlfriends (and eventually the local girls like Gen and Mac) stick by her and help her find the confidence she needs to break ties with her mom. Cassie also goes through body positivity struggles, which I relate to. Tate stands by her though and never lets her forget how beautiful she is, inside and out.

Anyone who loves Elle Kennedy and books that take place on the beach should definitely pick up The Summer Girl!

4⭐️ and 2.5🌶️

I listened to the audiobook and read the e-book of The Summer Girl and I LOVED both! It’s my new favorite in the Avalon Bay series, and is a wonderful summer read! It was full of great banter, drama, and a wonderful love story.

My favorite book in this series!! Also it can be read as a stand alone. I really also think this is such a great beach summer read. A summertime friends to lovers story. This set of books takes place in small beach town called Avalon Bay. This story focuses on Cassie Soul she is a college senior and coming back to Avalon Bay where she grew up to spend summer with her grandmother. Cassie finds herself at a party one of the first nights and happens to meet Tate. Their chemistry seems amazing. Cassie is just looking for a summer fling. But Tate is sort of like a town player- however, a good guy. He pushes Cassie away as he doesn’t want a serious relationship right now and is afraid that’s what Cassie really wants. They find themselves coming back to one orla other time and time again. Especially since they are neighbors for the summer- the window scene!!Tate seems to be her knight in shining armor rescuing or just being there for a Cassie in tough times. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

"The Summer Girl" is a friends to lovers romance that captures the essence of summer love. While the premise seemed promising, it fell flat for me due to its sluggish pacing and lack of complexity.

The plot takes a significant amount of time to gain momentum, leaving me feeling impatient. It's unfortunate because the setting and the potential for a captivating romance were evident, but the narrative's dragging nature made it difficult to stay engaged. The plot twist near the end saved the book for me.

There are constant references to Cassie's big boobs, babbling, and copper versus ginger hair. The emphasis on superficial qualities diminishes her to a one-dimensional character, Tate is portrayed as a respectful player. All his "hook ups," except one in high school, seem to have caught no feelings for him. It just seems too good to be true.

Despite its flaws, "The Summer Girl" does have moments of charm and chemistry between the main characters, which keeps the story from being a total disappointment. Readers who enjoy lighthearted romances may find some enjoyment here, but those seeking more substantial character development and a better-paced plot might want to explore other options.

I received an advanced copy from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Thank you, Elle Kennedy, St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for the gifted eARC.

Cassie is back in Avalon Bay for the summer because her grandmother is selling the hotel she owns. Cassie's hoping to not only have a fun summer with her family but also to have a fun summer fling. At her first party, Cassie meets Tate, an Avalon Bay local. Tate's a sailing instructor who's known for his one night stands. Despite his player status, the girls in town love him. Cassie is one girl that Tate has decided to keep in the friend zone. She's funny and sweet, and he doesn't want to break her heart. The more time Tate spends with Cassie, the more he realizes he's made a huge mistake, and he really wants a fling with her. Eventually, maybe even something more.

Summer Girl is the third book of the Avalon Bay series but can easily be read as a standalone. This is by far my favorite book of the series. Cassie's character is so multilayered. She's fun and funny, and when she's nervous, she has the tendency to overshare. She also has major confidence problems and won't stand up for herself due to trauma caused by her mom. Tate is the perfect man for Cassie. He finds her oversharing endearing, and he teaches her how to be assertive and stand up for herself. Cassie and Tate are so fun together. They click like they've known each other for years. I could've kept reading their story forever. There's also added drama in the story that I did not see coming. I hope that Elle Kennedy continues to write books for this series because Avalon Bay and its residents have become a place I love to escape to.

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy is such a fun summer read. College Senior Cassie has a complicated past with Avalon Bay after her parent's messy divorce and her grandmother selling her family's legacy. Nonetheless, Cassie is excited to spend the summer with her grandmother and hopefully have an exciting summer fling.
Tate moved to Avalon Bay at 12 and quickly fell in love with the seaside village, his family's life with his dad's boat shop, his parent's endless love, and a massive group of friends. With summer just around the corner, Tate looks forward to the new group of summer girls who take on Avalon Bay, working and sailing.
When Tate and Cassie meet, they have apparent chemistry, highlighted by the teasing and fun conversations that follow their interactions. The two have a fun summer as they become a summer fling, but what happens when family drama comes out and there may be deeper feelings than just an innocent summer fling?
This book has such a great cast of characters and locations that this is the perfect summer or beach read. While this book deals with changing family dynamics and the importance of family, it does not take away from the overall fun vibe that comes from this book. I loved getting to read both Cassie's and Tate's points of view.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light summery read with a little bit of spice and a whole lot of attraction.

The perfect summer read. Avalon Bay radiates summer vibes and makes me wish I could spend my summers there. Cassie is such a relatable, easy-to-love character. I enjoyed following her summer journey while she grows and finds love. Tate was just as easy to love with his cheeky yet respectful personality. The Summer Girl was a great addition to the Avalon Bay series and I’m hoping there’s more to follow!

What a fun read! It was perfect for summer. Elle Kennedy is a top tier romance author and The Summer Girl did not disappoint!

I really love the setting of Avalon Bay. I think it really adds to the beach vibe in this series.

Cassie has grown up in Avalon Bay but after her parents' divorce she moved to Boston with her mother. She's not as close to her dad and his new family as she'd like, and her mom is hypercritical of her. She just wants one last summer with her Grandmother in the Bay before the family home is sold, to celebrate her twenty-first birthday, and maybe a summer fling...

As long as you keep in mind these books are new adult romances, you won't mind these characters. Very much in their early twenties, every character is trying to figure out who they are and what they want to be when they grow up. They're all navigating relationships - with each other, with their families, with other friends. I liked Tate, the male main character in this story. He's honest, kind, fun-loving and just a decent guy. With so many authors giving us toxic male characters, this one is a delight.

A fun, summer beach read.

4 Stars!
Cassie Soul attends college at Briar U in Boston. She’s about to start her senior year, but first she’s spending the summer with family in the South Carolina beach town she grew up in. Avalon Bay has always been the place she considers home. Her family once owned a hotel there that was part of their family for decades. She hasn’t spent much time in Avalon Bay since her parents divorce, so she’s looking forward to relaxing in her favorite small town. Also on her agenda is a passionate summer fling. She’d love a hookup to remember, and on her first night in town she crosses paths with the hottest guy she’s ever seen. Tate Bartlett is the golden boy of Avalon Bay. He’s fun, gorgeous and has a reputation as a playboy. Could her plan work out perfectly, or will she unexpectedly be friend zoned?

Tate Bartlett stays busy working at the yacht club and Bartlett Marine, his family’s business. He likes to have a good time, but doesn’t often get feelings involved when dating. Then he meets Cassie. She’s a temptation he doesn’t plan to act on, so he decides to ignore the attraction between them. Will he continue to be able to resist her, or will he decide he wants more?

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy is the third book in the Avalon Bay series. It’s a small town, opposites attract, neighbors, friends to lovers romance full of emotion, humor, fantastic banter and sizzling chemistry. I love this world and enjoyed getting more of all these characters and couples. <333

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and Elle Kennedy for sending this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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The Summer Girl follows Cassie and Tate. Cassie is visiting her Grandma in Avalon Bay to help her with her house and celebrate the re opening of the Beacon Hotel, which, Cassie’s Grandma opened originally! Cassie is looking for one thing - a summer fling. Tate, a super hot sailor is house sitting for the people who live next to Cassie’s Grandma. The two kiss and realize that there’s a spark. What happens when they start to “fling each other?” Will they fall in love or in the dark?
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Elle. Kennedy. Does. It. Again. This book was cute, sexy, fun, and had me kicking my feet giggling. I enjoyed this read so much. I have LOVED the Avalon Bay series and would love another book in it. It was so great to see a character outside of the twins, don’t get me wrong, I do love them though! I think Tate is such a fun character and he had so many moments that made me swoon but also that made me want to cry tears of happiness and sadness. I liked Cassie’s character too. She is super spunky and sweet and I think she brought great energy to Avalon Bay. I loved this.

Cassie wants to have a summer fling. Her grandmother is selling her house in Avalon Bay and moving to Boston, her relationship with her divorced parents is fraught, and she wants something for herself. Tate is a bit of a player, but everyone playing knows the rules and comes out friends. When they finally decided to fling, they are both determined not to catch feelings. However, Avalon Bay has its share of secrets and Cassie and Tate may not have a choice.

I struggled a little bit in the will-they-won't-they section of the book, but the overall vibes between the characters kept me reading. Cassie's mother was a real piece of work and I breathed a sigh of relief as that situation ended. Overall, I enjoyed the read and rooted for the HEA and I really enjoyed the setting of Avalon Bay and the extended cast of characters.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

I requested The Summer Girl based on the cover art, and I thought it would make for a great summer read, and I was correct in my assumption!

After downloading the ARC, I was worried when I realized that this book is part of a series, however it was perfectly fine as a stand alone read.

Cassie is headed to Avalon Bay for the summer to spend time with her grandmother, as their family hotel is sold. While there, Cassie intends to have the summer fling she's been hoping for.

What makes this book different, is that while there's quite a bit of spice, we are also given a great story around relationships. I initially thought maybe it was just another book about a spicy fling, but we get much more depth here.

I would recommend this solid summer read! This is my first read by this author, and I will seek out her other works.

I've enjoyed the Avalon Bay series so far. It takes place in a wonderful location that always makes me feel like I want to be there, despite the fact that I don't like the heat. You have some great characters (including some difficult side characters as well as some amazing comical characters). There are some serious situations and since these are young adults, you also have the angst that goes along with them. You have the wisdom of the more seasoned adults and the precocious children. And you get your happy ending. I expected this story to be about the same but somewhere in the final third of the book, it became so much more for me. That punch to the gut that has you swallowing down your emotions so you don't cry (I lost that battle right until the end). Is it a good beach read? Sure but, for whatever reason, I felt more emotional than in any previous Elle Kennedy book that I've read. I wasn't positive we'd get an HEA for Cass and Tate, but the journey was worth it.

Elle Kennedy is hitting her stride in the Avalon Bay series with The Summer Girl. Cassie and Tate are a perfect beach read couple full of friends to lovers goodness. The banter was some of Elle Kennedy's best. There was a third act break up, but it was understandable given the family drama that ensues.

I LOVED Tate! Of all the Avalon Bay boys, I think he’s the biggest winner.

And Cassie is a pretty great FMC as well.

It will give you all the feels, in both a lovey-dovey sexy way and a deep-hearted truths kinda way. And the window scene?! It’s like Taylor Swift’s ‘You Belong With Me’ video got an R rating for explicit sexual content 😅

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I liked the characters and the plot moved at a decent pace. It had a good blend of romance and drama (especially family drama). The twist at the end was definitely unexpected!

This is the third book in the Avalon Bay series; let me tell you, it's the best one yet! Cassie, a college student, heads back to Avalon Bay for the summer, hoping to find a fling. Enter Tate, the charming sailing instructor, and notorious player, who initially puts her in the friend zone, but that doesn't last long. Their friendship feels incredibly genuine, and their chemistry is irresistible. The story has profound moments, but overall, it's a light and perfect beach read. The characters are endearing, and I especially loved the heartwarming bond between Cassie and her grandma. If audiobooks are your thing, the version narrated by Caitlin Elizabeth and Teddy Hamilton is worth checking out. Caitlin's voice suits Cassie's character beautifully, exuding charm and sweetness. Teddy Hamilton's narration is excellent, though some wished for a better female voice portrayal. Nonetheless, both narrators skillfully capture the emotions and banter, making the audiobook a fun and dreamy summer escape!