I could not get over the immaturity phrases and the way that he was talking like a teenage douche not a 21 year old. I was really really disappointed in this book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I think I've gotten far enough into the Avalon Bay books to discover I might just not be the biggest fan of this series, but alas, because I liked Kennedy's Off Campus and Briar U series so much, I was really hoping at least ONE of these would give me the same bliss. Unfortunately, this was a miss as well. Cassie was just not an enjoyable character to read and the plot dragged so much. Cassie and Tate sound great in theory, but I really was just not feeling their romance, and the reveal just didn't floor me or even keep me interested. I like Kennedy's writing, honestly, and I kept reading because the idea of the Avalon Bay books is really fun. I just don't think they were greatly executed.

A summer romance that has everything you want. Why have I never read an Elle Kennedy before? I loved the setting of Avalon Bay with the townies and the tourists. The town was quintessential summer holiday. I loved all the characters and the very real family dynamics. I thought it was just going to be a sweet young love but the emotional roller coaster that Tate and Cassie's story put me through was perfection.
The tension and banter between these two burned off the pages.
This is the 3rd of the series but can be read as a standalone. I can't wait to go back and read all of the stories of Avalon Bay.
I would recommend to any one that likes coming of age romance, sexy banter and small town contemporary romance.

My 1st ARC!!!!! So happy I got to read this before it comes out in July. I love Elle Kennedy books, I enjoyed the mention that Cassie goes to Briar U which ties in Elle Kennedys other series of books. For a romance story it really had all the feel good parts but also touched on hard relationships with parents which really resonated with me. Tate and Cassie’s love was so sweet, I did feel like the end was a little rushed but it was such a perfect feel good book.

I love a friends to lovers trope, and Elle Kennedy did not disappoint! This is the perfect summer read, and I can't wait to add a physical copy to my library!

(3.5) Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this novel! First off, this book had insane chemistry! Elle Kennedy always does a great job showing how her characters are pining for one another. I adored Tate, which was huge for me because I do sometimes find characters in these types of books a little bit annoying and trying too hard to be "not like other girls." Lastly, I thought that the subplots about family in this novel were very well done and added dimension to a classic Kennedy novel.

I was so excited to head back to Avalon Bay with this book! Kennedy does another fantastic job of setting the scene with Summer Girl, bringing the small beach town to life for all of her readers. While this book incorporates many of the characters from the first two books, it also felt like it stood on its own.

YA hasn’t been my go-to for awhile, but this series falls squarely between YA and contemporary romance. The characters are at the crossroads in their life of where they’ll go post-college. I think it’s easy to forget how deeply you can feel in relationships at that age. That it’s possible to know who you want to spend the rest of your life with at such a young age. Readers shouldn’t discount Tate and Cassie’s love story just because of their ages (21 and 23). Kennedy does a fantastic job of writing their story.

I loved so many things about this one. Tate is house-sitting the home next to Cassie’s grandmother’s house. She grew up in Avalon Bay & he moved there with his parents when he was 12. Their friendship starts off so perfectly, with the spark of genuine friendship being so well-written. You see a lot of romantic spark in books, but I loved the way Kennedy built their friendship first. He didn’t want anything serious with her & neither did she want anything serious with him. But their feelings for each other grow & they fall for each other.

I was surprised by the “conflict” we get later in the book. Usually, we see the characters get together, then break up or separate for some reason or another, but the conflict that comes between them is unique and unexpected. If I’m being honest, it sucked me into the story even more. Both characters grow a lot in this story, which made it even more enjoyable to read.

Kennedy states in her author’s note/acknowledgements at the end that this series puts a smile on her face from the time she starts chapter 1 until the end of the last chapter. I felt the same sentiment. It’s obvious she enjoys writing this series. When an author loves what they write, it’s easy for readers to fall in love with the story line, too.

I own Good Girl Complex which is this series first book, however I read Summer Girl first even though it is the third book. I did not find that it was necessary to read them in order. I enjoyed the story of Cassie and Tate meeting over the summer and attempting a casual no strings attached fling (we all know how that usually ends in romance books haha) and was happy that they also focused on their families as well. It’s nice to have a little bit of depth in a romance. I thought it was a solid cutesy romance but nothing earth shattering. Would recommend for someone who is looking for something easy to read but still solid. Will definitely be going back to read the first two as well. Would be a good vacation/beach read!

Knowing from the other two in this series where the book was set I thought where better to read it than relaxing on the Carolina shoreline? I delayed reading this ARCS to be able to enjoy it where it deserved to be read. I Loved all of the Briar U, Off Campus series, and Good Girl, was I was ready to be amazed.

However, as I kept reading I found myself being distracted by everything because the story just didn't hold my attention. There was nothing wrong with the story I could point it; it was just a little flat. It took a while to really get going and the story felt too young for the characters. There didn't seem to be any real connection between Tate and Cassie besides convienence of location.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love everything Elle Kennedy writes and The Summer Girl is going to be everyone’s favorite beach read in 2023!
Tate and Cassie meet in Avalon Bay the summer of Cassie’s Senior year at Briar U… i love that we have an extension of The Deal. Cassie…Wants a Summer Fling but Tate convinced her to settle for a Platonic Relationship. Cassie can’t seem to get over the feeling she has for Tate and slowly works her way into his life until their past becomes the present and ruins any chance of the future.

When Cassie returns to Avalon Bay to visit her grandmother, she decides to look for a summer fling that will end before she returns to Boston. Insert notorious playboy Tate. These two decide to get together for the summer with no strings attached. So what happens when the summer ends and they have some strings forming?
The Summer Girl is the third book in the Avalon Bay series by Elle Kennedy and features Cassie and Tate as the main characters. I liked this book better than the second one and thought it was a great addition to the series. The plot of this book was good. It wasn't outlandish or anything like that. The characters were good and each had their own thing going on. Cassie is the sweet college girl who bottles her emotions and Tate is the local good boy who has probably slept with most of the Bay. Both of them are extremely nice and easy to read about. The only thing that was annoying was how Cassie would let things bubble inside her, but that's a part of character. Everything else is good and easy to follow. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others. It was a cute and simple romance book by one of my favourite authors so I obviously enjoyed it. I gave this book 4/5 stars. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy a new to me by I'll be checking out more books by. The third book in the Avalon Bay series. Still really enjoyed this book even without having read the previous books in the series. Great storyline and likable characters.

This was a cute story about first love. Although it was predictable, I still enjoyed the book and really appreciated how caring, sweet and attentive Cassie and Tate were to one another. Their characters were developed well outside of their romance. This felt like a YA novel to me, especially with the dialogue between the larger friend group.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC.

I am in the minority with this latest book by Elle Kennedy. Every other sentence seems to drop the “F” bomb and this book is not for me. DNF at 35%. I gave it a chance and it was not winning me over. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release.

This book was so good and the chemistry between Tate and Cassie I was just soaking up every minute of it! And the ending just warmed my heart so much!

Cassandra is visiting Avalon Bay for the summer. She stays with her grandmother who was the previous owner of the famous Beacon hotel. She sold it to some of the girls we know from the previous novels, Mackenzie?! Anyway....
Cassie is on the lookout for a summer fling. It's the last summer before her senior year at college.
The first night she meets Tate, who turns out to be her neighbour for the summer. Sparks are flying, until Tate puts her in the friend zone. Advices by Mackenzie. Cassie is taken aback, but continues to look for her fling, with Tate as her wingman.
Of course things are not as simple as that.
This is a dual POV, friends to lovers story.
I read that some people expected some other character to be the heroine in this one. I don't have a problem with it being Cassie, as I don't know better. Have not read the first novels.
I liked Cassie as a character. I really did. She is sweet but not too naive. She is more than nice and I love that she babbles when she is nervous. She is one of these girls who have no idea that she is gorgeous.
That's a tiny minus for me, I find it cliched. She also doubts herself a lot. But she grows through the book.
The difficult relationship with her parents is also covered, which I lied. Her father married again and she feels abandoned. She loves her stepsisters, but I get the feeling that involves.
Her mother is a piece of work, text book narcissistic.

Wow. I loved the first one and this series just gets better and better! Her writing never disappoints and is so fast to read! Tate is the best bad boy and gentleman. Cassie is the good girl and confident women try to be! I was really surprised with the mother situation at the end. Her mother reminds of my own birth mother and it is a very toxic and abusive relationship. I’m so glad Tate immediately told her and helped her not just as a lover but as a compassionate friend and human being. Themes: friends to lovers, virgins, toxic/abusive relationships, summer lovin’

This is the perfect book for summer. I loved how Cassie and Tate’s relationship developed and I love the setting Avalon Bay.

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy

This book is my favorite book in this series not only because it has cameo scenes from the former characters from Avalon Bay but because of how it's about love not only romantic love but also self love and familial love I like how Tate builds up Cassie's confidence and how Cassie grows as the story goes.

I love how Tate's love for his family prevails even at the cost of his own happiness.

I love the plot twist I'm so affected by it it end up giving me a slight reading slump because I kind of knew what's going to happen next and I didn't want it to happen but I'm glad the transition of it was fast so I ended up finishing the whole book.


I can't wait for another great read thank you NetGalley and St. Martin

Cassie is visiting for a final summer in Avalon Bay when she comes across beautiful relationship-phobic Tate house sitting next door. The queen of New Adult has written a spicy no strings attached friends to lovers romance and I loved it so much!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy.