Cassie is searching for a summer fling while staying with her grandma in Avalon Bay. Tate, the yacht instructor currently house sitting for her grandma's neighbor, seems like the perfect candidate until he friend zones her. As they spend more time together, staying just friends gets more difficult.

Although I liked Cassie and Tate together, it was hard to see them being more than a fling. The chemistry was present but I was not sure if I saw or felt enough for them to have something more long-term.

There's a lot going on in the book, but Kennedy somehow manages to make it flow together so well. From the romance to navigating famlial relationships, it never feels overwhelming or that not enough time is spent on each of these elements. (3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars)

Read this if you enjoy:
✨️summer flings
✨️small town romance
✨️awkward first meetings

Cassie Soul is preparing to spend her summer for the first time since her parents divorce in Avalon Bay. During the summer she has a checklist: spend time with her family, ring in her 21st birthday and have a summer fling. After an awkward first meeting, she meets the perfect candidate, Tate Bartlett, Avalon Bay’s fun loving golden boy. But not wanting to break Cassie’s heart,he friendzones her. As they get closer he realizes that he has made a mistake and wants the fling now, and maybe something more. As they take the step between friends to lovers, they discover that Avalon Bay is full of secrets and those secrets may tear them apart.
Elle Kennedy has done it again. I have been a fan of her books since the Off Campus books and the Avalon bay series doesn’t disappoint. This was a perfect beach read, my one complaint was that I wasn’t on the beach to read it. The relationship between Tate and Cassie was cute and had the perfect level of spice I’m a sucker for the friends to lovers trope, and this book did a good job of it. I also enjoyed how the story intertwined the family drama into the story. Thanks NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: New Adult Romance
Setting: Avalon Bay
Time: current day
Format: 📖
Release Date: July 18, 2023
Length: 401 pages

When I requested this book, I did not realize it was part of a series, I have to assume that reading it as a standalone did not make a different.

The Summer Girl is a friend to lover story. Cassie Soul’s has not been to Avalon Bay since her parents divorced. Now that grandmother has decided to sell the family boardwalk hotel Cassie has decided to spend one last summer at Avalon Bay .. to help her grandmother, spend time with her dad, her stepmom and two little sisters, celebrate her twenty-first birthday and have a summer fling. Her first night in Avalon looked very promising .. Tate Bartlett seems to fit the bill to have her summer fling with.

Tate is spending his fourth summer staying at the Jackson lavishness waterfront property. When he finds out that Cassie is his next door neighbor, having a fling with her and maybe breaking her heart he decided as much as he desires more, friends is what it will be and Cassie’s wingman. As Tate becomes more and more attracted to Cassie, he realizes that this only friendship thing was a big mistake. As these two start to traverse from friendship to lovers .. that this is the least complicate thing happening in their lives.

I was hoping this was going to be a fun quick summer read – it really was not. In fact, three stars is rather high. Cassie’s character was ok, but I found her rather insecure, she seemed to focus that her boobs were too big. Tate .. humm .. typical playboy. I really did not connect with these two characters. Cassie Mom’s little secret kind of came out of nowhere but it added a little excitement at the end. The book is better geared to transition a YA to new adult – it just was not for me.

Thank you, Elle Kennedy, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel is due to be released on July 18, 2023.

4⭐️

This is such a great summer read; it fulfilled my expectations of its super cute cover + title, and it being a continuation of the Avalon Bay series. Loved Cassie and Tate so much!!

I'm not usually the biggest fan of romances that start from flings, just because of how often it's seen in real life (with all of what seems to be this generations 'situationships'). Fortunately for me, this book actually made it work, and the characters had enough depth and chemistry that I was rooting for them the entire time.

The other plotlines in the story really got to me as well, and I actually teared up near the end. So while it was a fun and lighthearted book, it also pulled at the heart strings.

With everything going on, it was somewhat of a stretched out read. It wasn't as "short and sweet" as Bad Girl Reputation for example, but still had the spice and tension I expected from Elle Kennedy:) This was a fun read, with really lovable characters.

The Summer Girl releases tomorrow so happy release day, and thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

I went into this unsure how I would feel. I was excited when the first book in this series came out but as the series has progressed, I’ve found myself not craving the stories. That being said, I feel that this book is a good standard contemporary romance. It didn’t blow me out of the water, but I did enjoy it and it was a fun read.

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy was such a fun read. It’s the perfect kind of book to pick up while you’re lounging by the pool on a hot summer day.

I’ve enjoyed every book I’ve read by Elle Kennedy and I must admit that this is actually the first book I’ve read from the Avalon Bay series… whoops! This is actually book #3 in the series, but it can totally be read as a standalone.

Cassie and Tate’s story begins when Cassie arrives at Avalon Bay and decides she wants a summer fling. Tate is the perfect candidate as he is known for never being in a serious relationship. When Cassie proposes this to Tate, he agrees, but Tate soon realizes that Cassie is not “fling material” she is “serious material” and so he decides to friend-zone her.

I absolutely LOVED Cassie and Tate’s story. It was nice to see their relationship grow from acquaintances to friends to falling in love with each other. Their chemistry was great and they had so many adorable moments that made me all giddy and warm and fuzzy while reading.

I recommend you pick this one up. There’s flirtation, friendship, romance, steaminess, and a sprinkle of drama towards the end that’ll make you want to continue reading to find out how their story unfolds.


*A huge thanks to Elle Kennedy, NetGalley, and St Martin’s Press for providing me with an eARC for review. All thoughts are my own.*

This has been my favorite of the series so far! I immediately loved Cassie and Tate. The way they hit it off right away and were able to take that chemistry & banter and grow their friendship was adorable! I loved how they were there for each other no matter what the situation. Tate made Cassie see her worth and pushed her to stand up for herself. Cassie helped him realize he wanted more than he was used to in relationships and more than he thought his future would be. There were definitely some harder, angsty parts throughout, but that's not surprising as most of the characters in this series have dealt with some pretty difficult stuff. Elle writes really relatable characters, even if their struggles are not the same as yours, it's easy to put yourself in their shoes because she makes you really feel for them. Thank you to Elle, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this ARC!

Ah- the best in the series so far! Cassie and Tate are so delightful together! This friends to lovers story is really sweet and bingeable. With a heroine who is so sweet, a hero with amazing golden retriever energy, and palpable chemistry, this is is such a dreamy beach read!

Our heroine Cassie is in Avalon Bay for the summer to visit her grandma as per tradition, only this summer isn't a normal summer. Her grandmother has sold their family hotel, the Beacon, after half a century of owning it. Needless to say, this summer will be different- but Cassie needs an escape for her daily life, including her toxic mother. What better to help take your mind off things than going away- and perhaps even having a vacation fling! Cue our delicious hero Tate, a serial dater who is just epically charming and likable. He's got a gig housesitting next door to Cassie for the summer, and the two strike up a lovable and engrossing friendship.

The friendship part of this story is what made it so great- it feels authentic and genuinely created. The relationship evolves so naturally- like OG Elle Kennedy vibes. They have an open and honest friendship, one that gives their relationship a real emotional underpinning. The chemistry is great! Tate is so dreamy and adorable- total teddy bear hero- and Cassie is cutely awkward and so lovable.

The characters are really endearing, their chemistry is beautifully created, and I loved the whole vibe. While there are some serious elements they deal with, it's mostly light and breezy. The best yet of the Avalon Bay world!

This is a very sexy beach read. Read it by the water at the beach because you are going to need to jump in and cool off after more than a few extra spicy parts. This lighthearted, sexy romance between Tate and Cassie brings back old friends from Avalon Bay and reminds us of the sexy hockey boys waiting at Briar when summer is over. The fun (and at times outright funny) parts are pleasantly balanced with sincere moments. It’s a sweet story of family and friendship and of course over the top sexy characters that we have come to expect from Elle Kennedy. This one was by far my favorite in the series because though it is incredibly spicy at times, it had a solid storyline and great characters.

3.5 Stars! A cute summer read! Elle Kennedy's The Summer Girl follows Cassie during her first summer vacation back in Avalon Bay after her parents divorce. During her summer off from college, she makes it her mission to find a summer fling. She runs straight into her neighbor Tate and finds a potential candidate. This was my first Elle Kennedy read and I enjoyed it!

*may contain spoilers*
Cassie & Tate. They are so superior. I can hands down say that this was the best book in the series. All of the books in this series are great but this one in particular had the juice that made me not be able to put it down. I’m so in love with Cassie and Tate. The way he loves her and helps her love herself even though her mother tears her down. Their laughs. Their relationship with each other so great. I especially loved the little twist that was added towards the end 🫣. My heart dropped so fast. I was not even expecting it. I gasped so loud 😅. My heart broke for both Tate and Cassie in that moment because he was watching his perfect family crumble while Cassie was shocked that her mother would do such a thing. I LOVED Cassie’s grandma so much. She loved Cassie with her entire heart and looked out for her. It melted my heart. I love Nia being there for Cassie when she broke down and encouraging her to tell her dad how she felt. Literally had me crying. It so pissed me off when Tate’s mom told him to stop seeing Cassie because it was a reminder. I was furious at his mom and her mom. This book broke me and put me back together. This book is so amazing. Truly recommend giving it a read. I can’t imagine not reading this book now that I’ve read it!

This book was better than the previous. I liked the main characters more and felt their stories had better depth. I loved the full circle on The Beacon Hotel transformation. it’s a New Adult series; this was a virgin heroine meets playboy trope.

THE SUMMER GIRL - ELLE KENNEDY
PUB DATE: JULY 18, 2023
⭐️: 4/5
🌶️: 2.5/5 (some spicy scenes)

This was such a fun book to read and was my favorite so far in the Avalon Bat series! Cassie comes to the bay for the summer to stay with her grandmother and help her in the transition of saying goodbye to their family hotel. During her stay, Cassie wants to have a no-strings-attached summer fling before going back to Massachusetts for college. At a Locals party, Cassie meets Tate - a hot local sailor who is equally funny and nice. When things don’t go as planned for Cassie and Tate, it catapults them both into a summer full of surprises.
Cassie and Tate’s friendship was a really heartwarming thing to witness - not only are you rooting for them romantically but you also want their friendship to keep blooming. The dual POV also makes this book 10x better because it adds so much tension 🔥 (Also the window scene?! 🪟🥵)
I also loved that this book touched on a bunch of different topics like family issues, narcissism, body image, and the importance of being vulnerable with your loved ones.
I highly recommend this book even if you haven’t read the previous two Avalon Bay novels!

Arc from @stmartinspress @netgalley

This was such a quick, fun read and the perfect summery beach read! It was my first book by this author and there are 2 other books in the series but it can be read as a stand-alone and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. I loved the characters and the dual POV. It had the friends to lovers trope which is one of my favorites and had just the right amount of spice without overdoing it. And of course, I loved the happily ever after! Definitely check this one out if you’re looking for a quick summer read that’ll leave you smiling.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for my early digital copy for my honest thoughts and review!

Overall Grade: 4.5 stars

Tropes: virgin heroine; player hero; good girl/bad boy; summer fling; new adult; band of brothers/found family; small-town; insta-attraction; standalone in an interconnected series

Elle Kennedy’s The Summer Girl, book 3 of her Avalon Bay series, is the perfect summer read. Set in Avalon Bay, a small town with a townies/tourist vibe, it’s the type of book you find yourself reading on the beach. I haven’t read the first two books of this series, but this is Elle Kennedy, and I dived into this book without a look back. Thankfully, Kennedy makes it easy on her first-time reader to this series, introducing us to the broader group of characters and offering nods to the storylines of the first two books. In fact, The Summer Girl has prompted me to read those first two books because the story between Cassie and Tate is just too good.

The chemistry between these next-door neighbors is a four-alarm fire. Kennedy deftly takes her virgin heroine, Cassie, and pairs her with Tate, despite all of their attempts to keep their friendship platonic. However, any reader can see and feel their attraction. Kennedy carefully draws out their inclination for each other until just the right point. Then, she crafts a complication that comes from right field which makes your head spin. The entire time, she has you rooting for Tate and Cassie, but an Elle Kennedy coupling is never easy. She draws you in so deeply, and she forces you to wait until the very end for their happily ever after.

Add to this the reality of families. Tate’s character represents a loving family. In contrast, Cassie’s family dynamic has created a skewed sense of self and family history. Tate helps Cassie find her voice and draw appropriate boundaries, allowing Kennedy to underscore the psychology of families and their impact on our construction of self. One minute, she has you swooning for her characters’ romantic journey; the next, she’s emphasizing the power of forgiveness and letting go of people who bring us harm. Kennedy has curated a balance of fun and thoughtfulness through her story.

If The Summer Girl is any indication of the texture of the Avalon Bay series, I’m excited to read more of the stories in this steamy enclave.

This sweet yet steamy summer romance is a perfect beach read. It’s the third in the series (behind GOOD GIRL COMPLEX & BAD GIRL REPUTATION), however it can totally be read as a standalone.

Cassie is spending summer break in Avalon Bay with her grandmother, and she meets Tate - the local playboy who spends his summers housesitting for the neighbors next door. They make a pact to remain just friends for the summer, but as summer heats up so does the chemistry 🔥 making some promises harder to keep 😉

Having not read the first two, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I found it so easy to get into Cassie & Tate’s story and pretty quickly invested in what comes next. Took this to the beach and nearly finished in one day! It was a perfect balance of a fun storyline with a little steam and some deeper moments as well as Cassie & Tate got to know each other a bit better. It was overall a great summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my gifted copy. Full review on my IG @manis.and.manuscripts on pub day!

Oh my goodness, this book was absolutely lovely and i am so grateful to have gotten an early review copy of it. I loved every minute of Tate and Cassies story. I loved the first two books and this one did not disappoint one bit. Cassie and Tate are perfect for each other and their story is so cute, but it doesn't come with all happiness, they do have to face a few struggles and the plot twists had me saying what the heck quite a few times. The ending was everything I hoped for and I cannot recommend this series enough. You should absolutely read it, you will not regret it! I would like to warn as their are mentions of a topic that can be sensitive to some readers and would suggest you read the warnings prior!

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy is a captivating and emotionally charged romance novel. The characters are well-written with intriguing backstories. I was turning the pages as fast as possible to see what will happen next.

“Every part of me is yours.”

Elle Kennedy strikes gold once again with her scorching, small town, new adult romance, "The Summer Girl." Whether you're diving into the series or starting fresh, this standalone novel is a must-read. Follow Cassie's journey as she returns to Avalon Bay, seeking refuge from her critical mother and craving a summer fling. Enter Tate, the irresistible playboy and sailing instructor who becomes her unexpected wingman.Yet, as fate would have it, the magnetic pull between them becomes too strong to resist. Prepare for some fireworks.

This story will have you laughing, blushing, and reminiscing about those youthful nights of sneaking into someone’s room. The chemistry between Cassie and Tate is electric, and their love story will leave you breathless.

I was swept away by the idyllic setting, the steamy chemistry between Cassie and Tate, and the heartwarming moments that made me me feel like I’m in university again. With a palpable sexual tension and a captivating small-town romance, "The Summer Girl" is a book you’ll want to add to your beach reads.

If you've read the previous books, you'll be thrilled to catch up with Tate's friends in some fun scenes that add an extra layer of enjoyment. But don't worry, if you're new to the series, you won't be confused!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley.

Cassie Soul is from Avalon Bay but after her parents divorce, she was taken to Boston. Now for this summer, she's back in Avalon Bay to stay with her grandmother to say goodbye to the hotel that was in her family for fifty years. But Cassie isn't just looking for a summer with her grandmother, she's also hoping to find the perfect summer fling. Tate is a sailing instructor, ladies man, and always down for a good time. When he meets Cassie by getting dumped by his current fling, he feels drawn to her. The two become friends after Tate realizes that she might not be the fling type that Cassie thinks she is. But as time continues, the two realize that their attraction pulls them together more and more.

Tate was my favorite character from the first two books in this series so I knew I was going to love the book that captures his story. And I was right! Elle Kennedy does such a great job of summertime romances. It feels lighthearted, but each book has deep aspects that pull you to like the characters and feel deeply for them. Cassie definitely had that for me. Her growth into becoming able to speak for herself and stand up for what she wants really captured my heart. I found myself tearing through this book and loved that their story still has a lot left after the epilogue.

I recommend this book to all those looking for a summer romance, friends to lovers plot, and honestly just fans of Elle Kennedy.