I came into this series with “The Summer Girl” being my first book. It’s part of a series but I didn’t need to read the first two books to enjoy or understand it. This story can be read as a standalone.

Cassie and Tate’s story reminds me of when I was a teenager. I always looked forward to summer and vacations to the beach, especially if there were opportunities to meet cute boys.

This book hooked me from the beginning but I think it will hold a special place in my heart. I appreciate whenever a novel portrays real life struggles. The narcissistic character didn’t take away from the story, in fact it made it feel more realistic.

Being emotionally abused as a kid, the story doesn’t trigger me but instead reinforces that it wasn’t my fault. I truly think that if this book helps bring awareness to just one victim, it’s done its job.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Every book in this series keeps getting better and better. Tate and Cassie have such a sweet, genuine bond and are great characters.

Tate is prime ⓑⓞⓞⓚ ⓑⓞⓨⓕⓡⓘⓔⓝⓓ material and I can’t wait to see everyone else fall in love with him!!

**HOT TAKE- Tate rivals Garrett Graham for Elle Kennedy’s best book boyfriend**

Also, was SO excited when I read that Cassie goes to Briar U. 💞

Release Date: July 18, 2023

#ellekennedy #thesummergirl #stmartinspress #summer #dualpov #friendstolovers #smalltown #beachread #familydrama #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #currentlyreading #books #romance #bookboyfriend #briaru #garrettgraham

Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for a voluntary review.

I am pretty late to the Elle Kennedy game, only discovering her books a few weeks ago. In that time I have devoured the first two books of the Avalon Bay series and when I saw this on Netgalley I RAN to request it. And well... I started this book 5 hours ago and haven't moved from my seat since.

I loved Tate's character from book one and was excited to see that this book gave us his story. Cassie was a great FMC with a problematic family dynamic, something a lot of us can relate to and it was great reading her personal growth story where she realised her selfworth (with thanks to Tate) and stood up to her witch of a mother. I loved how the story centred around the hotel which was the main focal point in book one, and really enjoyed seeing more of Mac and the Hartley twins in this story too.

Tate is a gent through and through, couldn't fault him which was refreshing as most books in these genres tend to see the MMC mess up and be the bad guy for an act, but no, what a loyal, good hearted human.

I don't want to spoil the story but damn did not see the third act plot twist coming and at the 90% mark I was like noooooooo don't break my heart, alas, I am okay.

Fab book, really enjoyed it. What could have made it 5 stars? I'd have liked to have seen the epilogue a bit further in the future so I could figure out if this story was a HFN or HEA. Either way, loved it!

I loved the first two books and was so excited to be approved for this one! Although they can be read as standalones. This is a fun beach read. Friends to lovers trope which I love. I also enjoyed it bing in dual POV. Good spice too!

This was my favorite of the series, it was a fun mix up and definitely felt like a change post Hartley brothers. At this point in the series we know enough about the town and dynamics that this book really focused on the couple with enough of the past characters sprinkled in that it was a great balance. We've seen Tate across the first two stories hooking up with any girl he wants and not taking much seriously. When Alana ending their FWB situation lines up with the first day of his house sitting for the summer, it seems like perfect timing to realize the cute girl he met at the bonfire lives next door. Cassie is staying with her grandmother for the summer while on break from school (shout out Briar, sadly no mention of the hockey team though) and is looking for a summer fling, preferably with the cute boy next door. I love a sunshine x sunshine, friends to lovers so this was perfect.

Super cute summer romance. I loved the chemistry between Cassie and Tate, and the backstory of all the family drama. I wish there was a bit more spice in the second half of the book, but overall a solid story about family and love.

I would easily give this 4.5 stars!
I loved this. It was a perfectly breezy, spicy, sweet, summertime romance. I loved both of the main characters and really enjoyed the dual POV and how the author managed to make them so distinct. I also loved the side arcs: the trauma that comes from narcissistic parents and divorce, but also the inherent 'blindness' of 'perfect romance'.
I would highly, highly recommend! I did not realize this was a series, but will absolutely go pick up the other two.

The 3rd book of the Avalon Bay series was a gem. I loved returning to the small beach town and all of my fave characters from the previous two books!

The chemistry between Cassie and Tate was believable and well-paced. The banter was fantastic, and it was fun to see how their relationship progressed throughout the story. Don’t get me started on that window scene!

Elle Kennedy is one of my faves & I hope she continues to add more books to this series!

This is the third book in the Avalon Bay series (but can be read as a standalone) and is by far my favorite! It follows Tate and Cassie from both of their POVs. Tate is known as a f-boy, but is still friendly with everyone he's hooked up with because he's honest and respectful. Cassie is visiting her grandmother for the summer, with occasional visits to her father and his new family. She is looking for a passionate summer fling to gain some more experience and have some fun. After she hears Tate's current f-buddy end their physical relationship and then meets him, she thinks she's found her candidate. After their first very passionate kiss, Mac (from book #1) warns Tate off bc Cassie's grandmother asked Mac to look out for her. He realizes he really likes Cassie as a person and doesn't want to ruin that. He talks to her about it and decides to be her wingman. They are good friends and enjoy each other's company until a very steamy window scene moves their relationship to the more physical side.

I absolutely loved this book. Cassie is inexperienced but not blind to life. Her mother is a narcissist and she has learned how to deal with how she is treated. She makes a lot of assumptions about her father and his new family. She grows a lot in the book, especially with Tate as her friend and giving her advice and letting her practice with him. She also babbles when she gets nervous, which made for some pretty funny scenes. The last few chapters of the book were full of emotions. I would highly recommend this book; it made me laugh, it made me cry, and it warmed my heart with the growth of the characters.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book!

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy is a fun, fast beachy read that also delves into some heavier topics like toxic relationships and the struggles of children of divorce. I have enjoyed all of the books set in Avalon Bay, and find the characters that populate this community to be rich and interesting. There are several stories still left to tell.

This particular Avalon Bay story centers on the friendship/burgeoning relationship between Tate, a local guy, and Cassie, a college girl in town for the summer. Tate is really intriguing to me as a lead character because he doesn't totally fall into the tropes that I think a lot of male protagonists in romance novels so often do. Most of the time these characters are portrayed as very macho, caveman-like creatures that are ready to come to blows with anyone else of the male species that glances sideways at the female character. That archtype is so tired and overdone, and has popped up in Kennedy's writing before. I am relieved that it does not this time. Instead he seems like a more typical young guy in his twenties who's falling for a girl for the first time.

However, the real star of the show is Cassie. In town to spend the summer with her grandmother, we quickly learn that there's more to her story than a typical young coed on summer break. Cassie is semi-estranged from her father though she longs to be treated as full and beloved member of his new family, and she has been under the thumb of her toxic, narcissictic mother for most of her life. That particular issue has turned her into a people-pleaser, and, though you want to scream at her to stand up for herself for much of the story, you can't help but feel a little heartbroken for her as she navigates the fallout of a truly tough childhood.

While I am a high school librarian, and, therefore, would not stock this book in my library due to the graphic sex scenes (although, personally, I loved them!), I would highly recommend this book to friends. It was highly enjoyable!

The Summer Girl

Thank you NetGalley and Elle Kennedy for access to this title! I so enjoyed it!

Wow. I flew through this book just like the other two in the series. I loved returning to Avalon Bay and hearing more about the characters I’ve grown to love. I finished this book three days ago and haven’t stopped thinking about it. I will be buying a copy of this book without a doubt.

This is the third book in the Avalon Bay series and it follows Cassie and Tate. Tate is the well-loved play boy of the town and I enjoyed getting his story after reading little about him in the other books. Cassie is in town just for the summer visiting family and decides to have a summer fling before senior year of college. She has her sights set on Tate.

There was so plenty of spice in this story but it also tells important stories about family and learning to be your own person.

#fictionbooks #ellekennedy #romancebooks #avalonbayseries #booksta #books

The Summer Girl is another amazing romance book by Elle Kennedy! I loved Tate and Cassie's chemistry and the constant banter. I thought how they met was hilarious and so fitting to their personalities. Both Tate and Cassie had amazing character development that truly made me believe they were meant to be together. I already can't wait for the next book that Elle Kennedy writes!
Thank you Netgalley and St.Martin's Press for the ARC!

Who has two thumbs and has a girl crush on the cover of “The Summer Girl”?

That would be meeeeeeee.

I am also a crazy, slightly obsessed fan of Elle Kennedy. I mean who could really blame me, am I right or am I right ?

The Summer Girl is one heck of a book! Talk about an instant addiction, once you pick this book up you will not be able to put it down so make sure you clear your schedule .

As numerously noted, I’m a summer addict so everything that this book is about is music to my ears . Whether you are on the beach or want to be, you will thoroughly love this book.

Teaser :

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. Cassie is gorgeous, hilarious, and, frankly, the coolest person he’s ever met. 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. Soon, his attraction to Cassie becomes impossible to ignore. He wants that fling now. Big-time.

And maybe even something more.

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.

A classic cookie cutter romance from Tessa Bailey! The banter is ripe, the men are always huge (in every dimension wink), the subplots are good, and the characters likeable. The plot moves at a good pace and you can't help but get sucked into the story and the emotions. My only negative review is the way virginity is fetishized is incredibly uncomfortable. The male main character has a scene explicitly outlining how virginity is so sexy and a turn on and as a female reader, this is not comfortable and borders not acceptable. Virginity is treated too delicately and put on a pedestal which is harmful for some readers.

I read most of this book in one sitting. It was a bit slow to start, but then I really enjoyed the character development, as well as the plot. Although there are several heavier themes, mostly it’s a great love story that goes from summer fling to the real thing.

Absolutely loved this book! And so much better then the first two books in this series. Cassie and Tate were adorable and I loved reading about their romance. The conflict was good. It never felt unreal or forced.

LOVE! Elle Kennedy can do no wrong, and this confirmed that yet again. Loved seeing Cassie’s character grow throughout the story, and this summer based book made the winter weather a bit more manageable. Highly recommend!

This is my favorite book in the entire Avalon Bay series! This had everything I wanted and more! I loved Cassie and Tate! The banter, the plot, the character development! All A+ so happy with this one!

Thank you so much Elle Kennedy, NetGalley, and St Martins Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Last question do we get another book in this series!? Inquiring minds need to know! (It’s me! I’m inquiring minds)!

To preface: this was my first book from the author and I did not read the previous novels in this series, understanding it follows different characters.

I loved the opening chapter, a funny meet-cute between Cassie and Tate during a bonfire, it was the perfect cozy summer setting. I was hoping the book would build on that mood, on the surface this seems like an easy beach read but the setting and characters made it very juvenile. It felt more like a college spring break instead of a summer.

Ultimately it didn’t blow me away and Cassie was a bit boring, I did not care for the description of her body and how it kept going back to her breast size.

Maybe I was looking for something more heartwarming, this may be more enjoyable if you liked the previous installments or are of college age.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy of this book, this is my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy

This was my first book from the author, although I had heard of her and want to read the others. Also, since I didn’t read the others in the series, I didn’t feel like I missed anything relevant to this story about Cassandra and Tate.

It was a dual point of view book, which I really enjoy and felt like it was spicy in parts but not too much, just enough.

Cassandra is visiting Avalon Bay for the Summer and wants to have a summer fling and nothing more, in comes Tate the “player”, her neighbor for the summer and he just wants to be friends or her wingman. soon enough Tate realizes he needs more than a friendship. There is family drama, love drama, friend drama all wrapped up in this book.