Elle Kennedy is one of my “one-click” authors. I’ve loved all of her books and I have to say, The Summer Girl, proves just how great her books are. Cassie and Tate are so relatable and from page one, you fall in love with the idea of them. Their banter is fun and their friendship is beautiful. Elle builds a picture of this amazing growing relationship. Throughout the book we are constantly seeing this friendship growing into love. So often, I find that authors focus on the spice but not on the growing relationship. Why do these two characters even like each other? But, in The Summer Girl, Elle Kennedy keeps the focus on Cassie and Tate’s friendship, who they are as people and why they are going to fall in love.. I confess I cried in one of the later chapters and Elle does throw in a somewhat jaw dropping twist near the end. I love that the angst was minimal. In Cassie, Elle created a character that you want to nurture and love. You’re just rooting for her all the way. And Tate, well he’s adorable. He’s funny and kind and just the perfect hero. I highly recommend getting to know Cassie and Tate!

4.5 stars!

Revisiting Avalon Bay is always a nice way to spend a day or two. And The Summer Girl, the third installment in the Avalon Bay series by Elle Kennedy, was everything I wanted it to be and more! Fun, romantic, and surprising, I didn’t want Cassie and Tate’s story to end.

If you’ve read the previous two books in the series—Good Girl Complex and Bad Girl Reputation—you’ll recognize many of the characters. While Cassie is a new addition, Tate has appeared as a side character in the other books. And our lead characters from the first two books are here, as well, since this group of friends is a close one. But like Cassie, we have several new side characters, who only enhance the story. I can’t help wondering who the next book will be about when a side character makes an appearance in a scene. While reading the previous books is not necessary, I highly recommend them!

I adored the setting of The Summer Girl. Not only the setting of Avalon Bay with it’s beachside campfires, but having Cassie and Tate be neighbors for the summer. It led to so many romantic encounters, including one particularly steamy scene that will remain quite memorable.

In this dual point of view romance, Cassie and Tate are beautifully flawed, enigmatic characters. Their chemistry leaps off the page, and they just make sense together. Cassie is kind, to a fault, and Tate, try as he might, can’t resist Cassie. I enjoyed their push and pull, and watching as Tate battled with himself. It’s a sweet friends-to-lovers story!

There is a surprise twist I didn’t see coming, mostly because I was just reading for enjoyment, not thinking too hard about where the story was heading. I wasn’t too sure how I felt about it at first, but Kennedy weaved it so expertly into the existing story, it made the ending that much more satisfying.

There’s plenty to love in this one: beachside parties, late-night chats, magical boat rides, and a local Beach Games event that had me cheering for the characters. If you’re a fan of Elle Kennedy or simply a fan of summer romances, you’ll enjoy The Summer Girl!

not my normal genre of novels but like the author
Another great read!
Cassie, main character heads to spend the summer with grandma. There she is headed into the summer fling ...
Great young adult early twenties read....very light and fun

Summer is the perfect time for a fling and nowhere is a better place than your family's summer beach house with a beloved grandmother, best friend, and months to do whatever comes to you to do. Or so it seems when you're Cassie Soul, about to be a senior in college and desperate for an all-encompassing summer love until you return to college and get serious about making a life for yourself. When Cassie meets Tate Bartlett, she's convinced he is the ideal candidate for her fun summer project -- until they get to know one another and discover they are kindred spirits as inclined to laugh as to surge with the powerful chemistry between them. Elements of this story rang so true, were so poignant, while others were as expected. That said, it was a light and frothy romp, unlike the ultimate story of what Cassie did over summer break. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

The Summer Girl is the third book in the Avalon Bay series, but it can be read as a standalone without issue.

Cassandra Soul has returned to Avalon Bay for the summer for the first time in a very long time. She used to summer here often, but once her parents got divorced, she moved north with her Mom and she didn't come back. Now that her grandmother is selling the Beacon, the hotel that her family has owned for years, the whole family is coming back to say their goodbyes. Cassie is spending one more summer where she did growing up.

Tate Bartlett is house sitting for the summer while also working his regular jobs. He's definitely got his hands full, but he's used to being busy. When Cassie and Tate realize they are neighbors for the summer, sparks are flying. It's quite obvious there is an attraction there, but then Tate makes the decision that it's best if they just stay friends.

Cassie shocks Tate when she asks him to be her wingman in helping her find a summer fling if he won't be her summer fling. He agrees. Can it really be that simple?! Nah!

Cassie has family issues that she has to work through and they affect every part of her life, unfortunately and have for years. Luckily she is able to work through them and she gets some semblance of closure so she can begin to move forward. I thought this was all really well done, especially given all the complexities.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

This was easily my favorite in the Avalon Bay series so far!!

This was the perfect fun, spicy, beachy romance for the summertime. Avalon Bay is such a charming little world, and I'm always excited to go back to it. This time we follow Tate, who was a side character int he first few books, and who has a reputation for hooking up with a lot of the girls in the bay (and always ending things on the best of terms!). He and Cassie become "just friends" despite their obvious and overwhelming chemistry, and their connection really is palpable & jumping off the page. Their banter is hilarious, their friendship is sweet & supportive, and their conflict over how to keep their relationship while not being to keep one another off their mind was a blast to read. When their relationship grows into something more, it is truly so healthy and believable. Their friendship translates so well when they begin their "fling," and I loved following them both as they fell for each other and realized a summer romance truly wasn't going to be enough for them.

Overall, I just loved how this story unfolded, and I felt the chemistry between the couple and related to them so deeply. Tate is genuinely such a good, communicative guy, and his support of Cassie while she's navigating her difficult relationship with her mom is so touching. The setting makes you want to run away to a beach town and fall in love with all the locals and their antics. I just loved it, and I'm excited to see that it seems like this series gets better and better with each book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eArc of this title!

I picked this up without having read the other two books in this series, but it works as a standalone, so no worries, there. This was really a quintessential "beach read." It was light and sweet, and very enjoyable.
Cassie grew up in Avalon Bay, but moved away when her parents got a divorce. She returns to Avalon Bay to spend the summer with her grandmother. She meets Tate, who just happens to be her neighbor for the summer, and they hit it off right away.

Their relationship grown from being a fling into something more important, and eventually they learn to support one another through some issues.

Overall, this was a lovely story that will have wide appeal to romance and summer readers.

This was my 1st Elle Kennedy book. I’ve heard amazing things about her books and figured I’d check it out, not knowing exactly what I was getting into. This book relatable as it is hot 🥵 🔥 and Tate is amazing 😍🥰😘

The gradual progression of Cassie & Tate’s friendship/crush-ship flows so seamlessly. It felt so natural. I also enjoyed seeing Cassie find her voice.

I loved Cassie’s Grandmother. My gma was my best friend so I loved that aspect of the book.
There were things about Cassie’s parents that hit home for me so I could totally relate to Cassie and her frustration with her parental units. I could totally relate to everything about Cassie’s life…except the being rich part 😂🤣.

I could totally see the friendliness from Cassie’s mom, Victoria and where that was headed as I know someone who is very much like Tori. There are always ulterior motives. Cassie kept hoping that the people in her life would be better…but some people won’t change and it’s ok to leave those people behind #grayrockapproach anyone!? #workslikeacharm

I cannot wait to read the other books in the Avalon Bay series! I’m officially an Elle Kennedy fan ❤️

TW: Check them before reading. A lot of this hit home for me but it was more of a “ok so I’m not alone in dealing with this” way and not necessarily triggering for me.

4.5 ⭐️

I really enjoyed The Summer Girl so much more than Bad Girl Reputation!

Cassie is in the Bay for the summer when she meets Tate. Unbeknownst to Cassie, Tate is housesitting next door for the summer. I love that she keeps running into him at the beginning of the novel, and the humorous banter the two often share.

I really enjoy romance books where the male lead is genuinely nice, and Tate definitely is. He makes a decision early on to try and back off and respect Cassie, which results in them building a solid friendship. Of course that friendship develops into something much more along the way! The family drama in this book, especially for Cassie, was unreal as well but I love how Tate pushes Cassie to ultimately speak up to her family about her feelings.

I definitely read this one in two days! Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review!

This is the third book in the Avalon Bay Series. Set in an adorable, small, coastal town, this new adult romance follows Cassie and Tate. Cassie left Avalon Bay as a child when her parents divorced. She is back for the summer for a variety of reasons. Tate is a local who has a reputation of being a really respectful playboy. They end up neighbours for the summer.

I don’t normally love a new adult romance because it makes me feel old, but I really connected with Cassie. Was it her personality or her trauma from her parents divorce and subsequent behaviours or maybe both, I still don’t know. There is lots of family drama in this one but it helps drive the plot in a really great way. There is heat, tension and some enjoyable spice. There is so much fun- beach games, sailing, speed boats, beach bonfires and more. This is a really well rounded book, with a great pace, a hilariously awkward meet cute, a stunning setting and a cast of characters I adored.

Okay whaaaat I loved this one so much! Def my favorite of the series but I also knew I’d love Tate the most (playboy turned to one girl only). This story was done so well from the insta-attraction to the budding friendship to slowly falling in love. I actually loved this third act breakup cause it made sense AND there was some juicy drama I literally gasped out loud at one point.

Highly recommend this one (and honestly you can skip the first two because there’s not much about the twins, but still think the first two are worth the read).

I love Elle Kennedy and this was another great read. Cassandra comes back to Avalon Bay after being away for awhile, unsure about how she feels about the Bay. But once she meets Tate her whole world turns upside down. I truly love Elle Kennedy and her books. The relationships in this book are all complicated in different ways. The relationship between Cassie and her grandmother, her mother, her father and Tate. I loved the way the relationship between her father and step-mother, Nia, developed. I also loved that we got to be back with the cast from the past two books and we got to know them even better. I don't want this series to be over!

TW: cheating, abortion

Another foray back to Avalon Bay, this time introducing us to Cassie & Tate. I've enjoyed all of Kennedy's Avalon Bay novels and The Summer Girl was another fun beach romance.

Thank you to SMP Romance for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

DNF: I think I'm probably just getting too old for this author's work, it all felt so juvenile and unnecessarily drama-filled to me. I wasn't the biggest fan of the hero and some of the dated themes that were used, so I struggled to connect. I adore this series' covers and that's probably why I keep coming back for more, but this whole series was a miss for me. Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing and I won't be rushing out to read more from Kennedy anytime soon. This one is definitely meant for younger readers, but most readers that age probably won't appreciate the vibes this story gives off either.

*Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun summer beach read! I loved the premise and our team MCs, Cassie and Tate. I didn't sense the chemistry between them too much and their relationship seemed to be pretty surface level. There was a lot of banter and spice in this one!

However, I am finding that this series seems much more juvenile than the Off-Campus and Briar U series. There was a lot of talk about the size of Cassie's boobs, which was just not needed.

Welcome back to Avalon Bay!

I was so excited to receive the ARC of The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy because I absolutely love her other books! Elle Kennedy I think you are my summer staple….keep these babies coming! 😉

👏🏼 Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

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. 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.

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.

Thoughts:
☀️ All the summer vibes
💕 Loved the characters and their interactions especially between Cassie and Tate.
🌶️ Spicy moments
🎧 Loved the audiobook. Great job Caitlin Elizabeth and Teddy Hamilton
💔 Family drama and a lot of complex/strong friendships and relationships which made the story come together.
📖 A fun, page turner that I could not put down!

The Summer Girl is Elle Kennedy’s latest installment in her Avalon Bay series. She takes a small, sleepy beach town and turns it into a hotbed of found family, steamy moments, and family intrigue. It’s a great book to read while stretched out under a beach umbrella this summer.

4.5/5 stars

Cassie used to live full time in Avalon Bay until her parents’ divorce, and has settled for short visits since. But when she returns for the entire summer before the reopening of her family’s beach hotel, she decides to make the most of her time before her senior year of college. She meets Tate, and decides a summer fling is in order. Tate doesn’t do relationships at all, though, and is afraid she’ll catch feelings. The two become friends, and as they grow closer, their attraction becomes tough to ignore. Add in some of Cassie’s family drama, and she has more on her plate than she bargained for.

Elle Kennedy writes great new adult romance with angst, humor and a bit of spice. Cassie and Tate are intensely likable characters who are fun to spend time with, both together and on their own. And, I always love a book where the characters vow not to catch feelings for each other. Cassie’s overbearing mother adds in her share of conflict, but I enjoyed the interactions with her dad and his family, and how their relationship has changed since she was a child.

The Summer Girl is the third book in the Avalon Bay series, but it easily works as a standalone. Characters from previous books do appear, and I had a blast catching up with Mac, Cooper, Gen, and Evan.

If you like Elle Kennedy’s new adult books, you’ll like this one. It has banter and quips, involved friend groups, overbearing parents and some steamy times too. I enjoyed every minute in Avalon Bay, and this entire series is a great beach read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cassie grew up in Avalon Bay, but hasn't been back since her parent's divorce. Now her grandmother has sold their family's boardwalk hotel and the new owners have renovated it to look like it did in its glory days. Carrie had returned for the summer to celebrate its reopening, make new friends, and possibly even have a summer fling. When she meets the town's Golden boy Tate Bartlett, there's just something about his easygoing charm that draws her in. He's usually up for a fling, not wanting a serious relationship, but when Cassie asks him, he doesn't want to break her heart. He puts her in the friend zone, offering to help her find a guy, but soon regrets that decision.
This was a great beach read and a great continuation of the Avalon Bay series. I loved the laid back summer vibes, the group gathering for bonfires and drinks. It was good catching up with the previous characters in the series. Cassie and Tate were my favorite couple so far.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Summer Girl is book three of the Avalon Bay series of interconnected standalones. This is by far my favorite of the series! Cassie is back in Avalon Bay to help her grandmother pack up her home so she can go live closer to her family. While she is there she wants to have a summer fling without all the feelings. She just wants to have some fun before she starts her senior year of college. Tate is the town player but when Cassie suggests they have a “friends with benefits” fling, Tate turns her down because he doesn’t want her to catch feelings and get her heart broken. I loved everything about this book…the banter, the angst, the humor, the spice, and the friendships (and getting more of Mac, Cooper, Gen, and Evan). Tate and Cassie are couple goals! I loved the chemistry between them and the sexual tension was there from the get go! I think my favorite part of their relationship was the fun, lighthearted banter between them. It had me laughing out loud several times. However, I wasn’t prepared for the emotions in this book at all! I had to grab a tissue more than once! Overall I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend especially if you are looking for a cute and fun summer read!

Book #3 in the Avalon Bay series...

Great story!! My favorite in the Avalon Bay series. When I first got this ARC, I didn't realize it was the 3rd book in a series. I am so glad that I quickly read the other books in order to prepare for this one.

Gate... I mean... Tate is now in my top 10 for book boyfriends.

I felt all the emotions during this read. There were some intense situations/tropes that would normally turn me off from recommending a book, but this was written well. Never a dull moment.

There was a good mix of characters from the previous books, so I would recommend reading them in order.