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.

Cassie is in Avalon Bay for the summer and wants to have a summer fling. She meets Tate after hearing him get dumped on the beach. She starts running into him everywhere she goes. He’s good looking, he would be perfect for that summer fling.
We also have some family drama. Cassie’s parents are divorced and Cassie has lived with her mom who always degrades her. Cassie’s father got remarried and has 2 twin daughters. Tate’s parents have had a marriage that has lasted 25 years.

A beautiful beach, Family drama, romance and the right amount of spice, this book is the perfect summer read. I loved the book from the very first page. It brought be in and had me laughing out loud. It features dual point of views from both Cassie and Tate. I listened to the audiobook and I really enjoyed the narrators for both main characters. And the French voice for the step mom was wonderful. This is the 3rd book from the Avalon Bay series but the first I have read and I definitely want to add the other 2 books to my list. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you so much NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook. It was perfect!

I have been told forever to read Elle Kennedy - so I went right in! I should have done my due diligence before listening. This is a YA book (it's college-age characters, but they seemed a little more immature than 21 & 23-year-olds to me!)...I am not much of a YA reader anymore..but all that being said - this was an enjoyable story. I came into the series on the 3rd book but didn't feel like I missed too much - I jumped right in and felt like I knew the characters.

This is a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance that was enjoyable throughout the book. Elle Kennedy threw in a curve ball that I never saw coming. I really enjoyed Elle Kennedy's writing, I felt like I was in Avalon Bay with these characters, and I want a summer like Tate and Cassidy and friends.

This may not have been my favorite book, but this would be a PERFECT summer/beach read!

This was definitely my favorite book from the series. Cassie and Tate were really great characters and I loved the chemistry they had. This starts out with Cassie looking to have a fling and turns into a friends to lovers situation.
Cassie's connections to Avalon Bay were fun and her family is very complicated. That part of the story was so interesting and a bit suspenseful.
Tate really surprised me. For a player, he is well respected and a stand up guy.
You get to revisit all of the previous characters and add in a spunky Grandma and feisty twins and it was a great read.

I listened to this on audio and the narration was really good. Teddy Hamilton can do nothing wrong. Caitlyn Elizabeth was brilliant. I loved the way she narrated the twin girls. So adorable.

‘The Summer Girl’ is everything a fun, steamy, beachy summer read should be. Complete with next door neighbours strangers-to-friends-to-lovers romance, beach games, sailing, and an absolute golden retriever of a mmc.

Cassie and Tate have a sweet kind of chemistry that sets them apart from their preceding ‘Avalon Bay’ couples. A potential miscommunication trope is subverted swiftly and healthily between the couple, and all romantic rivals are set aside kindly and with no hard feelings.

Generally speaking, I don’t love a virginity kink in a romance, but Kennedy handles it well and avoids infantilising her fmc entirely, so I’ll take it. What I do love is a protagonist with outside problems like toxic family dynamics and struggles with a sense of self. Their respective familial relationships and hurdles leave Tate and Cassie feeling grounded and fleshed out.

As narrators go, it doesn’t get much more complimentary than Caitlin Elizabeth and Teddy Hamilton. Both voice over artists knock it out of the park (as always) and the contrast of their tones and cadences is pleasant rather than jarring.

While less spicy than ‘Bad Girl Reputation’ and less dramatic than ‘Good Girl Complex,’ this might be my favourite installment in the ‘Avalon Bay’ books so far for the characterisation, chemistry, and lower stakes beachy fun.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Elle Kennedy for the opportunity to enjoy this advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

Included in this post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuK1YXsg6mw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Aghghhhhh... so close to a 4 star review... until the end. At around the 80% mark, this fun summer read became a bit too heavy for me. I'm not quite sure if authors are trying to follow in the footsteps of Colleen Hoover's trauma porn trend, but this just wasn't it for me! I haven't read any of Kennedy's other titles, but I hope they aren't the same as this.

Obviously, content warnings: <spoiler> Narcissistic parent, miscarriage, abortion, and affairs </spoiler>

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced audiobook download in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook.

Ugh this was soooooo close to being really good. The problem is the reason the couple can't be together. I mean, at least it's not a miscommunication, but I really thought I was going to get a book where the couple just....figures out they love each other and ta-da! We're good, but ALAS.

I have heard mixed things about the other two books in this series, and I've read a couple other Elle Kennedy books and it's always a bit hit and miss. Is it going to be a little toxic? Is it going to be a miscommunication? This one was...essentially neither, which was delightful.

The audio was done well, and Teddy Hamilton always knocks it out of the park as the male narrator.

If you need a contemporary romance with fairly low stakes, this is a great option.

I had a hard time rating this book because I’m not usually a big audiobook person, I prefer to read them.. but, I must say I did absolutely love this story! I love the friends to lovers trope and I think it was executed very well. Cassie and Tate are so adorable. What I liked about this story was that the spice didn’t consume the whole book. I really enjoyed Elle Kennedys writing in this. If you like friends to lovers, family drama and summer reads, I would recommend this to you!
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

I received this audiobook's ALC (Advanced Listener Copy) from NetGalley & Macmillan Audio.
5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🎧

I had to sit with this one for a bit because I wanted to review this book just the right way.
Cassie who has every right to want to be bitter and hate the world really does see the best part of it. No matter how hard it has been on her, she really does see the silver lining. I loved this about her and I also hated it, ok maybe not hated but I didn’t like that she had to be this way because of her past.

Tate is kind of awesome if I am being frank, I loved that even though he was just dumped he meets Cassie and he isn’t a dick to her at all he is kind. I love that in his interactions with her, he sees just how special she is. And even though there is attraction on both sides for them they choose to be friends.

But sometimes just friends can’t always work, and we see that too.
It really is a story of new beginnings and even more, growing up. I loved it, and I want more from this world from these characters.
The narration was freaking fantastic.

I absolutely loved this book!

Loved everything about it, the friends to lovers aspect was portrayed so well. I loved their friendship and their relationship was just perfect.

Tate was amazing, it was so great to see a loving supportive character that wanted Cassie to find her voice.

I was actually emotional while reading this, the family dilemmas were very real and relatable. I appreciated the conflict, it was something totally understandable. Tate and Cassie supported and loved each other throughout the whole book.

It was the perfect summer read, I listened to the audiobook and the narration was perfect. Absolutely recommend.

Thank you to Netgally and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with this ARC in exchange of an honest review

I wasn’t going to read this because I didn’t like the first book in this series that much and I HATED the second book. I decided to give this one a try anyway and I’m so glad that I did because I really really liked this one!

In this book we follow Cassie and Tate. Cassie is spending the summer with her grandmother in Avalon Bay where she meets Tate whose house sitting the house next door. Cassie is looking for a summer fling because she wants to get more experience.

I really liked the romance in this, Tate and Cassie were super cute. Tate was a really great love interest, I fell so hard for him! He reminded me a bit of Garrett Graham so if you liked him in The Deal, I think you’ll love Tate.

I really liked Elle Kennedys writing in this, as I have in all of the other books I’ve read by this author. I find Elle Kennedy’s writing so easy to get through and so easy to binge.

I’d definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a cute summer romance, even if you didn’t like the first two books in this series. I found this one was so much better! The audiobook was really great as well, loved the narrators.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC of this book!

This is a cute summer read. Very much open door romance but its not too much. It doesn't consume the story. I enjoyed the family drama in the book. Overall we have a lot going on but it was done well!

I loved both narrators. I love when a book uses multiple, it bring it to the next level.

I really enjoyed this book, as the third books in the Avalon Bay series I have become comfortable in this fictional world and am pretty familiar with all the reoccurring characters.

Tate was a sweetheart, I loved his personality and the way that he fits into his friend group. I felt for Cassie and for her strained familial relationships. But I love her grandma! What a great character and person to have by your side.

The ending really threw me. I was not expecting the final conflict of the book and I thought that it was really interesting to see how it all panned out for each of the characters.

As an audiobook this was a great read. Very easy to listen to and each of the narrators did a fabulous job. I would recommend the audiobook specifically.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my review