I would rate this as my second favorite in the series! The audiobook was very well done, love the male narrator!!
The characters were a little too “perfect”, yet likable. I really enjoyed Cassie’s character growth at the end.
The spice had a nice buildup and the spicy scenes were done very tastefully.
Overall, 4 out of 5 for me!

I loved this audiobook! The narrators did great and were easy to understand.
Tate and Cassie had awesome banter! They were flirty, and their story tied in wonderful with the series! I enjoyed how well they fit in with the twins and their gfs from the first 2 books. The whole gang was fun. This is the third book in a series but can easily be read as a standalone. It's a fun summer read for sure!
If you have read Elle Kennedy before, you know she brings in LOL moments with spice! Great combo 🤣

Release Date: 07/18/2023 ♡
Thank you so much to Elle Kennedy netgally and Macmillion audio for this ALC ❤️

"The Summer Girl" is a delightful and enchanting novel that encapsulates the essence of a perfect summer read. Set against the backdrop of a quaint coastal town, the book follows the journey of the titular character as she navigates a transformative summer filled with self-discovery, romance, and personal growth. The author skillfully captures the magic of the season, transporting readers to sun-drenched beaches, charming cafes, and idyllic landscapes that evoke a sense of nostalgia and warmth.

One of the strengths of "The Summer Girl" lies in its vivid and evocative descriptions. The author's ability to paint a picture with words immerses readers in the sights, sounds, and tastes of the coastal setting, making it come alive in their imaginations. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their own unique journeys and struggles. The protagonist's personal growth and transformation throughout the summer are portrayed with authenticity and depth, creating a narrative that resonates with readers on a profound level.

The novel beautifully balances light-hearted moments with deeper emotional undertones, creating a rich tapestry of themes including love, friendship, and the pursuit of dreams. The story flows smoothly, keeping readers engaged and invested in the characters' lives. "The Summer Girl" is a heartwarming and uplifting tale that captures the spirit of summer and reminds us of the transformative power of embracing new experiences.

In conclusion, "The Summer Girl" is a captivating and memorable novel that captures the essence of the season and the joys of self-discovery. With its engaging storytelling, vivid imagery, and relatable characters, it is a book that will transport readers to a world of sun, sand, and endless possibilities. Whether you're lounging on the beach or curled up on a rainy day, this charming tale is the perfect companion for a summer escape.

"The Summer Girl" by Elle Kennedy is a delightful standalone NA romance that captures the essence of summer love and personal growth.

Tropes:
✔️ summer fling to lovers
✔️ reformed player
✔️ new adult / college

The story revolves around Cassie, a college student who returns to her quaint beach town, Avalon Bay, for the summer. With her twenty-first birthday approaching, Cassie hopes to find a summer fling while spending time with her family.

Enter Tate Bartlett, Avalon Bay's fun-loving golden boy and sailing instructor. Their initial attraction is undeniable, but Tate decides to keep Cassie in the friend-zone to protect her heart. However, as their friendship develops, they both realize that their connection runs much deeper.

Despite the challenges Cassie has faced, she maintains a positive outlook on life, which is both admirable and relatable. The author skillfully explores Cassie's growth and her ability to see the silver lining in every situation.

Tate is equally captivating, as he breaks away from the typical player archetype by being genuinely kind and supportive. The slow-burn romance between Cassie and Tate is heartwarming, as they navigate the blurred lines between friendship and love.

Elle Kennedy's writing style is engaging and captivating, making it difficult to put the book down. The narration is superb, enhancing the overall reading experience.

"The Summer Girl" is a very satisfying read that blends romance and personal growth, perfect for the summer. Fans of YA romance will enjoy following Cassie and Tate's journey as they discover the true depth of their feelings for each other. Elle Kennedy's storytelling prowess shines through, leaving readers eagerly anticipating more stories.

The Summer Girl is the third in The Avalon Bay Series! Surprisingly, this one is my favorite so far. I usually dislike the losing the v card trope, but this one was fun and flirty with a bit of drama and mystery. Tate is just an overall winner in the men department!! Cassie had a lot to overcome, but I loved watching her grow!! There is a scene I’m still in shock over. This series is a college beach town with rich kids(clones) vs locals and lots of drama. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen in exchange for a review.

2 stars.

"The Summer Girl" is Elle Kennedy's third book in her Avalon Bay series and is, in my opinion, the least successful entry by far. Most readers will likely find this to be a fluffy, fun, sexy summer read (apart from the last 25% or so), but I didn't like it and was glad when it was over. I liked the other two stories in this series ("Good Girl Complex" and "Bad Girl Reputation"), but the writing here is so juvenile and cringey that I couldn't help but roll my eyes nearly every chapter. "Lip licking is my kryptonite"? "Will you fling me?" No ma'am. Main male character Tate is so overly obsessed with main female character Cassie being a virgin that it has now permanently given me the ick and has turned me off of this plot point for eternity. Maybe it was audiobook narrator Teddy Hamilton's voice over work, but I was seriously skeeved out by how obsessive and weird he was about her virginity!
I also loathed how body shame-y this installment feels. I know it is supposed to serve a purpose that Cassie is constantly berated by her mom for being a "bimbo" for wearing crop top shirts and pointing out her physical flaws, but it just made me feel gross about the book as a whole. Cassie is yet another in a long line of characters who is obsessed with but also insecure about her HugeGiantOhSoBigBoobs. There is way too much emphasis on her massive-chest-to-teeny-tiny-body proportions. I grow tired of the frequent emphasis on female characters who are just sOoOOoOoO small that they might break if mishandled! OOoO what am I going to DoOOo?!? I didn't buy Cassie and Tate together. They have good banter between each other, but they have virtually no chemistry. I found her to be grating, boring, and desperate and him to be misogynistic (while claiming to be a gentleman). Their steamy scenes felt rushed and not overly exciting or built up in a natural way. The family drama parts didn't bother me, but the repeated "fart attacks" from dogs and turtles did (I love a well-placed fart joke, but they were lazy and pointless here). Will I take another trip to Avalon Bay if Elle Kennedy writes another installment? Most likely yes. I think she's usually a great writer, but this book is a misstep for me. As I mentioned above, I didn't like the audiobook narrators here. Teddy Hamilton usually does a fantastic voice over, but he just can't make this material good. I liked Caitlin Elizabeth a little bit better, but she sounds so much younger than Hamilton that it was strange hearing them knowing they are right around the same age.

Thank you to NetGalley, Elle Kennedy, and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for my review.

I’ve read every book in this series and I liked this one with the exception of my least favorite trope — FMC being a virgin. I don’t think there’s really any good way of doing that trope that doesn’t feel icky. That being said, I did enjoy the banter and pretty much everything else.

My obsession with Elle Kennedy is growing! I loved The Summer Girl, the newest addition to the Avalon Bay series. I loved Tate and Cassie’s banter and I love that her books show healthy communication and normalize speaking up for what you need out of a relationship. Great read!! 5 stars!

I had to dnf this audiobook. It was just not for me. I think I’m too old for story. I’m sure 20 years old and younger will enjoy the book.

This was a fun listen! I enjoyed being back at Avalon Bay :) I think the first one, Good Girl Complex still stands as my favorite but I did enjoy this one better than Bad Girl Reputation. This was my first in the series to listen as an audiobook, I read the first two so maybe that made a difference.

It sure was nice to listen to it on a beach. I did like Cassie's narration better than I did Tate's. I appreciated the use of two different narrators for the different perspectives but I guess I need to get more used to a male narrator.

Cassie is visiting her family in Avalon Bay for the summer, and is hoping to find a summer fling. Enter Tate, the hot playboy who seems perfect for it. But Tate doesn’t want to get involved, thinking Cassie will end up getting hurt when things end and she goes back to school. But the more they keep running into each other, the harder it is for him to deny his feelings too.

This is the third book in the Avalon Bay series, and might be my favorite one so far! From the way Cassie and Tate met, to their developing friendship and more, their banter and chemistry seemed so natural. I loved the reappearance of past characters throughout the town, and the events and beach games were fun. Cassie’s family dynamic was a lot though, and the drama that ensued was the only reason this one came down to 4 stars for me. But otherwise, I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook

4.75 stars! I absolutely loved this book! The narration was excellent, and really brought the characters to life. Cassie was fun and relatable, wonderfully done by Caitlin Elizabeth. Tate was adorable and super swoon worthy, voiced by none other than Mr Teddy Hamilton.
Obviously, with all romance books, a little predictability is expected, but with that comes the pressure for a great author to give us something new. I sobbed a little sob towards the end of this book. I honestly didn’t see the twist coming, and it broke my heart.
I think I probably related to Cassie so much because of her mother. That woman was one hell of a villain, and I absolutely hated her. It’s never easy to grow up in that sort of toxic environment, and I think that struggle was really well portrayed here.
I take away a quarter star for a bit of story line that was made into a bit of a big deal, but never really was brought up again. What the heck happened with the silent auction?!
All in all, a great read! I haven’t read any of the other books in the series, so I’d say it’s not necessarily required, but after meeting the side characters in this book, I’m definitely interested in going back to find out their stories.

What a fun summer read! The Summer Girl wove a complicated family dynamic and a summer fling together in a nice beach read/escape book. Enjoyed the dual narrators and the character development.

3.5 stars rounded up

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a copy of Summer girl in exchange of my honest opinion.

Kicking off the summer reads and this one was quite good! Cassandra is at Avalon bay for the summer where her family has a big house and decided it's time for have a summer fling. Of course the guy she is interested in just want to be friends.

This was a very interesting read because while there were some heavy themes, the book comes of as light, specially because there is one person that is the villain while the rest of town are "good". Usually I would think that's an over simplification of the plot but for a summer read I think it's fine.
Cassandra relationship with Tate was actually quite cute. Friends to lovers, it get quite steamy at some points and I thought it was overall very healthy. The third act breakup was a bit ordinary but it was quickly resolved.
What I thought it took almost as much as importance as the main characters romantic relationships was her relationship with her family. Cassandra is a child of a divorce, and not an amicable one. Dealing with her narcissist mother, and her feelings of abandonment from her father was a big deal for her in this book and I thought her character evolved nicely when she was able to voice her feelings.

Overall is mostly a light and easy read for the summer

This was a great 3rd book in this series, id' say my favorite one so far! I have really liked the Avalon Bay characters and I love what the author did for Tate's story. Player turned loverboy, him and Cassie have a fun summer fling that unexpectedly turns into a great summer romance story. These two have fantastic banter and natural chemistry. Cassie's character was something I really connected with. Being a child of divorce, I understood a lot of her feelings of her parent's non-existent relationship, her tainted relationship with her father due to her mother's deception, and having new siblings with her father's remarriage. I felt really understood by her emotions and thoughts, and also am glad that we both in the end have a similar experience of a happy ending with our fathers and family. Cassie's grown confidence was developed really well throughout the book in many different aspects of her life. I can say the same thing for Tate's story too. He very dedicated to his family and kind of to a fault. He definitely finds himself with the help of Cassie's reassurance and also has a great character development storyline. Overall, this is a fun summer read! I definitely recommend reading it if you have read the other two in the series.

Elle Kennedy you made me smile, laugh and well feel a little hmm somewhere... but with that being said i also cried as i feel so close to the main character when it comes to relationships with her parents.. I mean the lack of and i totally understand. This was one book i felt was so freaking good. I want more but i also have now realized the narrator's did such a good job delivering this book to my splendid ears BUT and i mean BUTT!! haha Teddy Hamilton literally is my new favorite male narrator.

This is a book review of an Advanced Readers Copy of The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy. Thank you @netgalley @stmartinspress @macmillan.audio and @ellekennedy33 for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review!

Cassie Soul returns to Avalon Bay for the summer, where she was born and raised until her parents divorced. She’s staying with her grandma and hanging with friends, and decides she’s on the lookout for a summer fling. She finds the perfect candidate in Tate Bartlett, who is house sitting next door, a sailing instructor, and the hottest guy Cassie has ever seen!

Tate is very familiar with having flings but is wary of becoming more than friends with Cassie. He knows Cassie is the type of girl you don’t just have a fling with! However, his attraction to her soon overcomes him and he can’t resist.

Add in some complicated family dynamics, fun friends, and some unexpected secrets and you’ve got yourself a fun, romantic book that is perfect to read during the summer!

Overall, I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. This is the 3rd book in the Avalon Bay series and while I haven’t read the first two (yet), this book definitely can stand on its own as a story. I’ve read the descriptions of the previous two books and the main characters in those make an appearance in this book, which is always fun! I am definitely going to read/listen to those two.

There was an unexpected surprise dropped 85% of the way into the book that gave the story a new twist. I didn’t see it coming at all!

I did enjoy Cassie as a main character, who had some unresolved issues with family members that she was struggling with that you see play out. Tate was a nice supportive friend to Cassie when she needed someone to encourage her to speak her mind and voice her needs in life.

You will like this book if you like:
🌊 Small, beach town romances
🩵 Summer flings
⛵️ Hot sailing instructor
☀️ Dual POV
🏖️ Witty banter
🏝️ Complicated family dynamics
💚 Friends to Lovers

4.5 ⭐️

“We’re friends.”
“We are,” he agrees.
“Friends shouldn’t do this.”
“Probably not.”

y’all this book was SO much fun. tate and cassie have officially taken the lead as my favorite avalon bay couple. in typical elle kennedy fashion the fun and banter starts right away with these two and doesn’t let up the entire story.

tate was so easy to fall in love with, the towns hot fuck boy but the sweetest of fuck boys that wont hurt anyones feelings? yes please sign me up. cassie is also the cutest thing and was so easy to adore. the way she was constantly babbling and getting awkward around tate bc he was so cute cracked me up.

also the spicy times my lord, the window scene?!?!?!??! i die.

if you’re in the mood for a fun friends to lovers summer read this is definitely the book for you!!

i have to say, the only reason it is 4.5 for me is the conflict and third act break up at the end just sent me in a rage. i will give props to the fact it wasn’t a typical break up but still fuck both of the moms for all of that.

This book was such a treat! It was my first ever NetGalley advance reading copy, and it definitely didn't disappoint!

I haven't read the first two Avalon Bay books before this one, but really feel like it can be read as a stand alone.

📘 BOOK REVIEW: The Summer Girl
by Elle Kennedy
⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️

I feel like this book was just what I needed to kick off the summer season! ☀️

I really enjoyed how this story played out with Cassie looking for a summer fling and Tate looking a bit like a player. The chemistry and banter between the two main characters was entertaining. I honestly didn't expect this book to have some spice in it, but it was definitely a delightful surprise. Especially with the male voice for Tate on the audiobook... That voice was HOT! 🥵

I loved that, on top of the romance building up between them, we also got deeper into their personal lives and problems. I find it so much easier to connect with characters when I know so much more about them. The story even provided a twist I never saw coming at the end!

All this to say, this book was really good and I will be adding the other Avalon Bay books to my to be read pile! I also secretly hope we get another book following Cassie and Tate! ❤️

Thank you so much to Elle Kennedy and St. Martins Press for this ARC audiobook on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I have been planning to pick up an Elle Kennedy book for a while now as I have heard nothing but great things about her writing from all of my friends, so I was really excited when the opportunity to read the audio ARC for The Summer Girl came up. Also, not only is it narrated by one of my favorite audiobook narrators of all time, Caitlin Elizabeth/Kelly who also narrates The Folk of the Air series, we also get Teddy Hamilton dual narrating with her who also absolutely slays the narration of Xaden in Fourth Wing so I was pumped to see that duo! And y’all, WHAT A DUO they make! Seriously y’all, this pairing is perfection. They both fit the characters flawlessly and brought so much life to the characters, plot and spice. (Folks trust me, audio spice is where it’s at and Teddy Hamilton will show you why!) This pairing felt really natural and I’d love to read them together again!

The story itself is a fun and spicy contemporary romance filled with the search for summer love set amidst the beach town of Avalon Bay. I was looking for something light, spicy, fun and funny to read and this was all the above, and so much more! It ticked off all the boxes for whit, humor and banter I needed in my current book slump, while also delivering cheek burning scenes to leave me grinning like that grinch gif we all know and love. I often reach for contemporary romance as a reset when I’m not sure what to read, just read a heavy fantasy, or I am being extra mood readery and couldn’t rec this more for curing all the above.

When I started The Summer Girl, little did I know that it would not only single handedly cure my Fourth Wing book hangover, but I would also relate so heavily to our female main character Cassie, who is definitely not a ginger. Cassie is a glass is always half full type of girl like myself, and while this can be a strength in life, as Cassie finds, it can also get you into trouble when you were always searching for the silver linings, maybe avoiding the reality of life’s hardships, or letting your boundaries not exist in the name of being easygoing. Cassie has a wonderful journey of discovery in this book that really made me feel seen, and uncovered some self love I’d been lacking in the boundary department. It was quickly for me more than just another fun quick read which was a fantastic surprise.

Cassie is easy to love, and easier to root for as she is looking for a summer love type of fling in Avalon Bay before she heads back to college. While looking for Mr Right Now she meets Tate in the most awkward way possible, by overhearing him getting dumped. Their entire first interaction made me feel so seen because I too am the awkward “omfg I can’t believe what just came out of my mouth my brain is not in charge I swear!” type of person, so it really felt like I was reading myself on the page when Cassie repeatedly puts her foot into her mouth amidst rambling nonsense after this and many more awkward Tate encounters. (Hi it’s me, I’m the problem it’s me!) Thankfully, Tate seems to enjoy her quirkiness, and fate brings them together for another happenstance meeting when it turns out he is housesitting for the summer next-door to her grandmothers house, where she is staying. From there on out we go on a really great ride as these two cultivate a really unique and honest friendship, while glaringly ignoring the very clear sparks exploding between them….until they don’t. I’ll let you unravel their story as it unfolds because I wouldn’t dare spoil Elle Kennedy’s incredible comedic timing, but!! Let me tell you it is IMPOSSIBLE to not root for them. This story isn’t just another summer fling poolside read, it’s honest, and filled with self discovery, honesty, learning to love yourself better and finding exactly what you really needed when you weren’t looking for anything but casual. The spice is equally as honest, real, balanced well with the plot, and yes y’all we get a lip bite worthy GOOD GIRL. This book will in no way leave you wanting more…well besides the next book in the Avalon series. Overall a smash hit for my first trip into Elle Kennedy, and will definitely not be the last now that I’m officially off to go buy everything in her catalog that I can get my hands on!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for this ARC in audio format in exchange for an honest review, as always my views are my own.