“The Summer Girl” is my first read by Elle Kennedy. While I found the book fun and engaging, it wasn’t a story that I found memorable and I’d say it’s a 3-3.5/5 star read for me.

Cassie Soul is spending her summer in Avalon Bay, the beach town she grew up in but hasn’t spent quality time in since her parents divorced years ago. This summer, though, she plans on spending time with her grandmother before she moves and seeing the reopening of the hotel her grandparents built and ran for decades. She also plans on having a bit of fun by finding herself a summer fling. In steps Tate Bartlett, town lover boy and sailing instructor, who knows his way around girls and flings. From their first meeting, Tate likes Cassie, maybe too much, and doesn’t want to break her heart with a fling gone bad. However, the more time they spend together, the more they both realize there’s too much chemistry there to ignore, and they give in…but what happens when a fling becomes more? And what happens when the other parts of their life converge in a way that makes being together harder than they thought?

While entertaining, I will say I’m not sure this book was for me. In my opinion, the book was raunchier than it needed to be, and the storyline lacked substance. I feel like some pieces of the storyline were a bit random—Cassie’s mom and Tate’s dad being together and all that came from that seemed out of left field and am not sure was needed. I also didn’t feel a lot of depth behind the characters and most of the relationships in this book, which would have helped me become more attached to them.

With that said, this was a fast read for me. I was entertained throughout the book. This may not have been my favorite book, and I might not remember the characters for long after I finish it, but while I was in its pages “The Summer Fling” did what it was supposed to—it kept me reading, turning pages to see how it ends. If that’s what you’re looking for, then this book is for you. If you want a little more from your reads, if you desire a larger connection to the characters and events you read about, I would probably look elsewhere.

**Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the advanced copy for a honest review.**

Oh, Avalon Bay, you have my heart ♥️

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Elle Kennedy for letting me read this ARC.

The Summer Girl is such a great beach read — it’s a fun, easy read with many sincere moments and touches on some deep topics.

Tate is an absolute dream book boyfriend 😍
Cassie is sweet, very naive, and super relatable if you’re a nervous babbler like me 😅

This is a summer fling turned true love story with dual POV (which I love)

Highly recommend if you like: friends to lovers, small town romance, neighbors to lovers, dual POV, family drama.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️ (that window scene! 🥵)

I loved this series!! I was super excited to get to read the third installment early. I think that this third book was a great edition. I loved the character development between these two and the other characters from the previous stories. I enjoyed the conflict and that it wasn’t necessarily between the two main characters but their families. The only thing I was was different was the ending. I felt that their split and then reconciliation had a super quick turnaround. Other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

⛱️2023 Beach Read⛱️

☀️ The Summer Girl book followed the same formula as The Good Girl Complex. It’s a light, and mildly spicy read, with a HEA and includes dealing with relationships between young adults and their parents. The Avalon Bay series includes Bad Girl Reputation, but I didn’t feel like I was missing anything having not read it.

Honestly when I began reading, I was not sure I was going to like this book but had a change of heart when we were introduced to Cassie’s family and Gavin and Gemma. The parent and adult child relationships in this story are what I found most interesting. Yes, Cassie and Tate’s romance was cute with some adorable banter and coming of age scenes, but the growth came through in their relationships with their parents.

The best thing about this book was the beach town itself. I love stories set in beach towns and its web of characters. Even better were the boating references and the adoration that Gavin and Tate have for beautiful boats.🛥️

As long as the reader is ok with a mild spice, then I would recommend this as a young adult, coming of age novel. I definitely think this sweet story will be in a lot of beach bags this summer. 😎

☀️ The Summer Girl
Elle Kennedy
St. Martin’s Press
Pub Date July 18 2023

The Summer Girl follows Cassie who hasn't spent the summer in Avalon Bay in years. She returns to the town to help her grandmother, spend time with her dad, and celebrate her twenty-first birthday. She also wants to find herself a summer fling. Tate lives in the town and he is no stranger to flings. Tate and Casie meet at a party and have an instant connection. Tate thinks Cassie is one of the coolest girls he has ever met. But he doesn't want to hurt her so he puts her in the friend zone. But soon his attraction to Cassie is more than he can take. He decides to go for it. Both know this is just a fling but soon they realize that it might not just be a summer fling. Will they choose to keep things casual or go to the next level in their relationship?

If you know me you know it is not a secret that I am obsessed with Elle Kennedy. The Avalon Bay series is becoming one of my favorites by her. Every single book in this series I have rated 5 stars. This one I think is now my favorite in this series. This was one of those books that I really did not want to end. I loved every single second of this one. I highly suggest this series ( and everything that Elle Kennedy writes). I was so elated to have been chosen for an advance copy of this book. You do not need to read the other books in this series to read this one. Although, the other ones are incredible. Thank you Elle Kennedy for this book and this series. I loved this book so much. I think it might end up being my favorite book of the year ( Good Girl Complex was my favorite book of the year last year). 

Thank you Elle Kennedy, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

4.5 stars

I wanted something light to read and knew that Elle Kennedy's Avalon Bay series would fit the bill. This New Adult series focuses on the residents of a fictional town called Avalon Bay. The characters are young, and gorgeous, and prone to partying and hooking up - until they meet that special someone. There's the townies and the summer people, and sometimes they mesh, and sometimes they don't.

In this installment, "summer girl" Cassie Soul is in town as her wealthy grandmother packs up her home, to leave Avalon Bay. Cassie is looking for a summer fling, a chance to rid herself of her "v-card". Tate Bartlett is a townie, who loves `em and leaves 'em, because he's never found the one. He dreams of sailing the seven seas, but first he has to help his dad run their boat dealership.

Of course, they get together. The original fling is starting to grow roots, but some interesting complications come along - some that totally took me by surprise!

This is a perfect beach read. Enough depth to give it character but not too much to drag it down. Looking forward to future peeks into the world of Avalon Bay!

Thank you St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Thanks so much to Elle Kennedy and NetGalley for my ARC of The Summer Girl!

The third installment in the Avalon Bay series, The Summer Girl follows Cassie, former local now living in Boston, and Tate, Avalon Bay’s resident playboy. Tate agrees to be Cassie’s summer fling but the two agree on one condition: no catching feelings. Will they both be able to follow through, or will one of them break their terms?

This was a super cute book and continuation of the Avalon Bay series. The characters were relatable, the plot cute and low-angst, and the spice was as good as readers of Elle Kennedy can expect! I also really enjoyed the subtle check-ins with characters from the series’ previous books, now as side characters in Cassie and Tate’s book. This book definitely makes me want to take a summer-long vacation to a beach town and find a hot, boat captain fling that turns to more. I’d recommend this book to fans of Elle Kennedy’s other works, as well as books by Ali Hazelwood, Abby Jimenez, and Lucy Score! Bring along The Summer Girl as a beach vacation read when it publishes on July 18, 2023!

Dual POV
Strangers to friends to lovers
Summer fling
Beach town
Catching feelings

This book was great! I couldn't put it down! The premise was fresh and new, which is hard for me to say as I read so much each year! Sometimes it feels as though I keep reading similar stories, but this was a so original!

I thought this book was pretty boring honestly. I just didn't feel connected to the story or the characters. I love books that are placed in the summer time and I love that feeling but I just didn't get that with this book.

Every time Elle Kennedy walks me into the town of Avalon Bay I fall in love. In That Summer Girl, we are reintroduced to Tate Bartlett & meet Cassie Soul. Cassie, in town, visiting her grandma & for the re-grand opening of the Beacon Hotel, which has been in her family for 50+ years.
Cassie, a very lovable, kind girl is looking & searching for passion & summer fling when she accidentally runs into Tate Bartlett. Tate, a beloved member of Avalon Bay, who is always looking for a hookup, takes one look at Cassie and knows something is different about her.Tate, is instantly charmed by Cassie. Will Tate & Cassie find their summer fling or more? This book is full of witty banter,spice, & all the feels. 5 stars. Elle Kennedy always knows how to pull on my heart strings & engulf me into her books quick. I also love that this book is Dual POV. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffins, & Elle Kennedy for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was able to read this thanks to Netgalley and I am so thrilled to learn after reading it that it’s part of a series.

This was a fun, spicy read that suddenly got deep and emotional. It’s also the first time I’ve read a book where the conflict was separate from the FMC/MMC but they were still very much a part of it.

I was really moved by how different the FMC/MMC’s parents were and the different backgrounds and traits that gave them. And I appreciated how the FMC found her voice to address her toxic mother and communicate with her father.

Before all the emotion though, we also have a virgin FMC just looking for a summer fling. She finds herself friend zoned and it was fun reading the MMC’s regret in doing that and how he made up for it.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book was such a fun read! I genuinely liked both characters and their romantic chemistry felt real and not over the top.
While reading this book I kept thinking about how much I enjoyed the first book (but not the second) and I think it's because the writing seemed more authentic and not like fanfiction? Another thing I noticed about this book is that the characters weren't getting black out drunk all the time. I think that really helped the main characters chemistry and the storyline feel real There were only a couple moments where I cringed at the dialogue but thankfully those were few and far in between.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC, it was so fun to read this early.

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy is part of the Avalon Bay series. I wanted to read it because I adored book one and two. This one was okay, My favorite of the three will always be book two, but this one was sweet.

The beginning was a bit slow for me, but it did pick up a bit. I enjoyed the romance between Tate and Cassie. Their first steamy scene together was probably my favorite scene. I liked the build up to that moment.

Mostly my favorite parts was when I got a glimpse of my favorite characters from the previous books. Like Gen and Mack. It was also nice to get a view into the Beacon Hotel and it's past.

The twist in the book definitely took me by surprise I was not expecting it. I like when a book can surprise me.

I would recommend this book if you enjoyed the others in the series.

Thank you for the advanced read on this book. I literally couldn’t put it down - a smart, sweet, juicy summer read! Very fun summer book!

This was by far the best Avalon Bay novel. I fell in love with Tate and Cassie. Tate is the best temporary boy next door and fling turned lovers I could ever ask for. Both characters went through so much together and Cassie made a major break through. Beautifully written.

Elle Kennedy's books have been hit or miss for me. The misogyny present in some of her books, including this one, makes it hard for me to be able to recommend them.

This book follows Cassie and Tate who are spending the summer as neighbors and develop a friendship that becomes something more. I like the summer vibes, but not much else.

The virginity trope rears it's ugly head again in this book, and perhaps it's more of a personal gripe, but I really hate hate that trope. Especially the way that it is handled here.

Overall, I really wanted to love this book because there are few things I love more than a summer romance, but this just fell flat for me.

I really enjoyed this one. The story was a bit different than what I thought was going to be presented, so i loved that twist. I also loved the hardships that Cassie comes over because it's a realistic and relatable. I loved the characters and how they developed throughout the story. The beach vibes were also do fun because now I'm craving summer.

Solid 4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cassie returns to her home town for the summer and is looking for a summer fling. The first guy she encounters is none other than play boy, Tate. She approaches him for a summer fling and he turns her down!! Like hello humiliation and how do you even recover from that 😮🫠

Shockingly, Tate and Cassie become neighbors (she’s staying with her grandmother for the summer and he is house sitting next door)! They become fast friends — which I love me a good friends to lovers book!!

Things I loved about this book:
- Tate telling Cassie her feelings were valid and to stick up for herself
- Seeing a guy cry and have emotions 🙌🏻
- Watching Cassie form a relationship with her dad/stepmom and her getting out of an abusive relationship
- The “core” friendship gang accepting Cassie and having her compete in the “Beach Games” 🐠
- Tate and Cassie accomplishing some of their lifelong goals and dreams apart from each other


There’s also a shocking discovery between the 2 families later on into the book which literally maybe me gasp 😱

Tropes:
Friends to lover, playboy/virgin, neighbors, summer fling

I haven’t read the first two books in this series, so it’s possible that I’m missing some character building and development from those. As it is, the Summer Girl fell pretty flat for me. The characters felt two dimensional and stereotypical. There’s also a lot of strange body shaming and painfully corny dialogue, and I found myself cringing every few chapters. The story itself works well as a cookie cutter romcom, so if you’re in the mood for a no frills, basic romcom then this could definitely scratch that itch.

The Summer Girl will be released July 18th. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC of The Summer Girl in exchange for my honest review!

3.25 stars

As a fan of Elle Kennedy's romance novels, I was excited to dive into The Summer Girl, her third entry in the Avalon Bay series. The romance between Cassie and Tate started out charmingly enough, their chemistry and the breezy atmosphere making it all pretty fun. But then I noticed how the narration repeatedly refers to Cassie's apparently massive breasts, doing it in a way that almost made me feel like this aspect was the only significant thing about her character. It gets toned down as the book progresses, but it's still not something I cared for.

Another element that bugged me even more was the book's deployment of the virgin trope. Cassie is a virgin when she gets together with Tate, so there's a whole bunch of talk about how concerned they are (though the concern is more on her side) when it comes to her having sex. The thing is, Kennedy falls back on an incredibly outdated portrayal of virginity that claims you're a virgin until—well, how shall I word this here—the P enters the V. If you do anything else, the book seemingly doesn't consider those things as giving up your V-card. It was frustrating to read about, considering how much virginity persists to live in our world as a social construct, its prominent roots in purity culture, and the misogyny it helps to perpetuate. This whole aspect was enough for me to knock my rating down half a star.

I know I just spent a good chunk of this review criticizing the book's usage of the virgin trope, but I want to make it clear that I did like quite a bit about this book. It isn't just for the romance, either. I also appreciated its handling of the relationships that Cassie and Tate each have with their own parents. I can't really say that much more without dropping spoilers, but I'll just praise Kennedy for adding heart to the story by exploring some interesting nuances in those dynamics, especially in the third act.

Overall, I'm landing on a score of 3.25 out of 5 for The Summer Girl. If I were to recommend a Kennedy romance to a friend, I wouldn't necessarily rush to pick this one, but I'm still glad I got the chance to read an eARC of it. I'll definitely continue to pick up more of Kennedy's work.