The Summer Girl is everything I was looking for in a summer romance! I could really relate to Cassie as a hardworking, smart and honest girl who wants to step out of her comfort zone and have a summer fling. And Tate was wonderful as a player who was also completely up-front and honest with everyone he interacted with. Some parts of the storyline were predictable, but it's a testament to Elle Kennedy's writing skill that it doesn't even matter, the story is funny, interesting, and even made me shed a few tears.

Caitlin Elizabeth and Teddy Hamilton were the perfect narrators for these characters. Initially I recognized Hamilton's voice as that of the Bromance Book Club series but he brought the male characters in this story to life so vividly that it was only a distraction in the beginning. The characters felt like real people with complex personalities and struggles and that really made the whole story come together for me.

Title: An Empowering Journey of Self-Discovery: A Deep Dive into "The Summer Girl" Audiobook

Rating: 4.5 stars

Elle Kennedy's "The Summer Girl," narrated by Caitlin Elizabeth and Teddy Hamilton, is an audiobook that resonates deeply with the experiences and lessons young women in their twenties can relate to. This Avalon Bay Novel is a powerful exploration of self-respect, personal growth, love, forgiveness, and the complexities of family dynamics.

One of the book's notable strengths lies in its ability to tackle important themes that young women need to hear and understand. It emphasizes the significance of respecting oneself within relationships and when dealing with narcissistic individuals, providing valuable guidance for navigating these complex dynamics. Furthermore, the narrative encourages confronting and working through past issues that may hinder personal growth, allowing listeners to find the courage to move forward.

"The Summer Girl" also explores the journey towards self-love and acceptance, highlighting the importance of finding comfort and appreciation in one's body. It beautifully portrays the quest for genuine love, where individuals are cherished for who they are, showcasing the transformative power of finding a partner who understands and supports them unconditionally. The novel also underscores the value of a strong work ethic and the presence of role models in one's life, both of which can inspire personal and professional success.

Additionally, the audiobook provides a fascinating exploration of Cassie's journey toward understanding her parent's divorce from an adult perspective. It creates intrigue and captivation as listeners anticipate how Cassie will respond to her domestic situation. Moreover, the story presents a satisfying resolution as Cassie finds peace and acceptance by gaining a clearer understanding of her strained relationship with her father, stepmother, and half-siblings.

While "The Summer Girl" captivates listeners with its insightful narrative, the epilogue's ending may leave some feeling slightly awkward. Perhaps using the previous chapter (the last chapter before the epilogue) as the epilogue could have provided a more satisfying sense of closure for the characters and the overall story.

In terms of narration, Teddy Hamilton's performance is outstanding, exceeding expectations with his ability to bring a diverse range of characters to life. His skillful portrayal of Tate and Gavin is particularly praiseworthy. Caitlin Elizabeth's narration is equally commendable, as she successfully captures the essence of Cassie's character, skillfully portraying her as both awkward and confident.

In conclusion, "The Summer Girl" is an audiobook that takes listeners on an empowering journey of self-discovery. With its impactful themes, relatable characters, and exceptional performances by Caitlin Elizabeth and Teddy Hamilton, it is an audiobook that should be on every young woman's must-listen list.

Thank you @netgalley!

4.75 stars!!

The summer vibes on this book!!

It was hilarious from the get go and I loved both main characters from the minute they were introduced.

I enjoyed the way it was sort of a slow burn. Elle Kennedy really does know how to write romance!

I love it so much!

Audiobook:
The narrators were amazing like always! I loved both povs!

Summary:
The Summer Girl takes place in Avalon Bay. Our FMC, Cassandra, has not returned in years since her parent's nasty divorce. However, her grandmother is selling their boardwalk hotel that has been in the family for over fifty years. To honor the hotel’s grand reopening Cassie and the rest of her family are returning to Avalon Bay to give it one final goodbye. Cassie hopes to spend quality time with her father this summer and find that perfect summer fling.

In comes Tate Bartlett. Avalon’s very own F Boy. He is respectful, funny, and drop-dead gorgeous. Checking off all of Cassie’s checkboxes for a passionate fling. Unfortunately for Cassie, Tate believes her to be more of a relationship type and doesn’t wish to hurt their friendship. He instead promises to be her wingman in this search for the perfect man. As the search continues, Tate finds it more difficult to keep this relationship purely platonic. Finally, desire wins out and Cassie and Tate agree to a no-feelings passionate summer fling.

But Tate and Cassie don’t know that Avalon Bay is harboring secrets. Secrets that may tear these two apart.

Tropes:
Friends to Lovers
HEA

My thoughts:

I love Cassie because she is so relatable. She’s considerate, smart, hardworking, and lovable. She always looks for the silver lining in life because of the hardships she dealt with in her childhood. I appreciated how Elle Kennedy wrote about her struggles with her parents. My parents are also divorced, and she perfectly wrote about the emotions and doubts that can come from that. I sobbed at the end, listening to Cassie work through years of held-back emotions.

Tate is such a great MMC. He is sexy, considerate, and funny. I loved how he treated Cassie. There was no miscommunication trope here ❤️ they did a good job of being open to each other. Seeing how they complimented each other in their friendship was so cute. The smut in this book was such a great addition. Not overpowering the plot by any means but adding just enough spice to keep things interesting 😍

I listened to this book as an audiobook by Caitlyn Elizabeth and Teddy Hamilton. Anybody who knows me knows I’m a huge Teddy girlie, and he did NOT disappoint as Tate. It was my first time listening to a narration by Caitlyn, and I enjoyed her as Cassie. I recommend this as an audiobook!

This was the first book I’ve read from Elle Kennedy, but I cannot wait to jump into more of her books. Her characters are so lovable! I recommend this to anyone looking for the perfect summer romance 😘

Thank you to NetGalley and Elle Kennedy for the opportunity to read this ARC; all opinions are my own.

THIS BOOK IS EXACTLY WHAT A SUMMER ROM COM IS SUPPOSE TO BE.
A quick amusing read that gets you ready to experience your own summer fling. This is part of the ongoing series of Avalon Bay, however it can be read as a standalone.

Cassie is an awkward 20 year old who is in Avalon Bay for the summer visiting family but also comes in hope to find a PASSIONATE summer fling. She then meets Tate, who is the most promising prospect. Tate is essentially a fuck boy and even worse, a BLONDE one. The unlikely pair build a friendship with an underlying attraction to one other. The tenison, the dialogue, the SETTING. I felt like I was in the small coastal town with them. Tate is genuine guy that I felt myself falling for. Some of the inner dialogue was cheesy and sometimes made me cringe, but that’s how I remember being when I was 20. If you like the trope for friends to lovers, family drama, second chances, found family, or even if you just want to cool down, this book is for you!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, St Martins Press, and Elle Kennedy for giving me the chance to read this super fun read early!

I did with this book what every reader dreads: I accidentally read the third book in a series without reading the first two? l'm not sure how it happened but it did and nowhere we are, totally in love with Avalon Bay and everyone in it, and absolutely chomping at the bit to go back and read what I've missed!

Cassandra grew up in Avalon Bay,spending time at her Grandparents' house, country clubs with friends, and the hotel on the beach that her Grandparents owned; The Beacon Hotel. But when her parents very messy divorce lands her with her beyond overbearing, narcissistic mother in Boston, she has to leave her father and small beach town behind. Until this summer when she's visiting one last time before Grandma Lydia moves out of her house and says goodbye to The Beacon. And all Cassie wants is an easy summer fling.

No strings attached. No feelings. Just sex.
Tate Bartlett is Avalon Bay's notorious fuck boy... without all the douchey qualities of a fuck boy. Yes, he's known around town to hook up with any and every girl he can, but his reputation for being an all around amazing guy completely overshadows anything else. Tate and his family moved to Avalon Bay nearly a decade ago and ever since, he's been perusing his love for the ocean and sailing. He's a part time sailing instructor at the local yacht club and also works with his father at their family boating repair store.

And Tate is one of the hottest guys in town. He's the perfect candidate for Cassie's summer fling. Right?

Wrong.

After Tate realizes Cassie isn't someone you mess around with, the pair spend a majority of the book figuring out how to just be friends while also being insanely attracted to one another. Which they soon find is definitely not an easy task.

The chemistry they share and their sexual tension is so palpable I just wanted to reach into my Kindle and shake them to get together already! This was such an easy read because Tate and Cassie had such insane chemistry it just flowed so perfectly. The way they have easy conversations right from the start - despite Cassie's hilarious babbling - help push each other to do things they're uncomfortable with, and just feel so at peace and at home with each other made it so much fun to watch them grow as a couple! My only qualm about the book was that I didn’t feel complete at the end. You know that feeling you get when you finish a romance book and are just so happy and content with how it all got pulled together? I didn’t SUPER get that feeling when I finished and I think the only reason J felt that was because I wish we got to see them officially together a bit more. It felt like they finally ended up together and then the book was over. And I just loved them so much I selfishly wanted to see more of them happy and in love!😂

And the huge truth bomb dropped at the end was absolutely insane... I was honestly left screaming at anyone who would listen about how crazy it was!

I loved this read so much and I so hope we get to visit Avalon Bay again soon!!

Thank you to MacMillian and NetGalley for the ARC Audiobook in exchange for my honest feedback. I have read the second book in the series and now the first book. This one is so far my favorite. It is definitely a rom com, but also gives the reader thoughts to ponder about family dynamics. It reminds readers to hold strong boundaries, while also providing much entertainment into the characters' lives. Now to get my hands on the first book of this series!

I absolutely LOVED this audiobook! It was the perfect summer read. The character development was great and the pace was perfect. There were a few cheesy moments, but that is somewhat expected in a romcom, right? This was my first Elle Kennedy novel and I was ver impressed. She knows when to throw in those hooks and keep the reader glued. I loved listening to this audiobook throughout the day. She incorporated realistic situations and handled it with love and care. Thank you netgalley for allowing me to listen to this in advance!

I am not new to Elle Kennedy's work, but this was my first venture into Avalon Bay, so imagine my surprise when the FMC, Cassie, happened to be enrolled at Briar University and in the Bay for the summer!

The Summer Girl is a dual POV romance between two characters in their early 20s who are still trying to figure out where their lives are going. Cassie wants to enjoy her last summer before finishing up college and hopes to find a fling. Tate wants to enjoy housesitting for a wealthy couple and seeing where the summer on the beach takes him. When Cassie happens upon Tate being "not broken up with" on the beach, their summer of friendship begins. Expect a HEA, some emotional turmoil, angst, and spice! The audiobook was well-narrated and very enjoyable!

4.5 stars, but NetGalley doesn't allow for halves!

Thank you to NG, MacMillan Audio, and Elle Kennedy for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Definitely my favorite book from this series! Shy innocent girl andgolden boy is the best trope ever! And there's nothing better than a steamy summer love.

From the first chapter, I knew this book would be a 5⭐️ read. I honestly fell in love with Cassie, she is such a lovable character, and seeing her growth through this book was extraordinary. The ending brought me to tears. Basically the best kind of emotional roller coaster!

I felt so many emotions! The smut was sensational, honestly, no one writes a steamy scene like Elle Kennedy. The chemistry between Cassie and Tate was unquestionable, and the fact that I listened to this as an audiobook was perfect.

This book it's not only a swoony romance but its also about healing. About a girl finding herself and falling in love, while overcoming her insecurities.

I just loved that from the start there was so much fire between Cassie and Tate! And then Tate friendzones our girl, so she wouldn't catch feelings but guess who's the one that falls first? HIM! (honestly, best trope ever!). From there we got some crazy twists and turns that made me speed-read (listen?) to this book to find out what was going to happen and boy was I surprised.

Please, please, please read this book. That's all I can say right now. I just can't stop thinking about this couple! One of my favorite books of the year.

I not an audiobook person, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyway. I didn't get real far before deciding that I'm still not an audio book person but far enough to add this to my TBR! I've read the others in this series so I'm excited to read this one myself.

This is the best book in the Avalon Bay series by Elle Kennedy. I loved the main character Tate. He was exactly what you hope for in a male MC. I will say that at one point I thought I wasn't going to finish the book, but I left it playing in the background for a bit, and got fully immersed again.

This is the third book in the Avalon Bay trilogy and I really enjoyed it! I absolutely loved the first book in the series and didn't care for the second, so this one redeemed that one for me. :)

I LOVED Tate. He was a perfect MC. He balanced out Cassie's anxious energy. I'm not going to lie, I almost DNF'd when I learned about Cassie's...inexperience lol, but I am so glad I kept going! Also, there was a twist in this book that I totally did NOT expect...which I love! (Definitely always up for a good surprise)

Both narrators were great. They kept a good pace and they were pleasant to listen to!

Thanks to Elle Kennedy, MacMillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen!

I really enjoyed the writing style by Elle Kennedy! I had never read a book before by Kennedy and I was pleasantly surprised. This was a very sweet summer fling romance that was easy to follow and a quick read compared to other heavier books.

**Check trigger warnings before!**

That characters felt a little immature and mature at the same time. I also felt that the characters were a little underdeveloped. Overall, I would definitely check out other books by Kennedy in the future. I would really like to see a change in genre.

The Summer Girl, written by Elle Kennedy and narrated by Caitlin Elizabeth and Teddy Hamilton, is such a fun summer read!

Cassie Soul returns to Avalon Bay in search of a summer fling where she meets local hottie, Tate Bartlett. Their steamy relationship evolves over the summer the same time family secrets are finally revealed.

This book was written in dual POV - Cassie, voiced by Caitlin , and Tate, voiced by Teddy. I love audiobooks that are narrated by two different people, I think each character having their own voice creates a better listening experience and also helps the listener become more emotionally involved in the story. I thought both of these narrators brought this book to life and helped me visualize the character's behavior. I really felt Cassie's emotions when Caitlin narrated her scene with Nia towards the end of the book. I think this narration made me more invested into the story and helped me relate to the character.

I thought this book was read at a great pace and was not too slow or too "dramatic". I loved that this audiobook felt natural and flowed at a pace where I could easily picture the characters' dialogue and actions.

I loved the setting of Avalon Bay and how the reader learns how everyone in this small town is connected. I love reading interconnected series and being able to see what couples are like from another perspective. I also loved to see Cassie being accepted into this friend group and feeling more comfortable in Avalon Bay after not loving there full time for many years.

This is a spicy read however it was not all about the sex. I think there was a great balance between Cassie and Tate's spicier scenes and their more genuine conversations that made their relationship not seem so rushed or fake. I think they had great chemistry from the start and the romance did not seem forced. I loved how they were each others' support for their relationship with their parents. I thought Victoria Tanner's character was so well written and added so much dimension to this story. The twist at the end of this book was great! There were many hints to this but the specifics of it were unexpected.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the opportunity to listen to this book!

I absolutely loved this book! It was super easy to follow, quick read and just enough spice! I will recommend this to others. Also glad it was a stand alone as I didn’t read the first two books!

Twenty-year-old Cassie Soul hasn't spent an entire summer in Avalon Bay since her parents divorced and she moved to Boston with her mother years ago. When her grandmother decides to sell the hotel that has been in their family for 50 years, Cassie returns to the beach town to spend time with family and friends, celebrate her 21st birthday, and maybe even find a summer fling. Cassie finds the perfect candidate in Tate Bartlett, the fun-loving golden boy of Avalon Bay. No stranger to flings, Tate reluctantly puts Cassie in the friend-zone not wanting to break her heart. He soon realizes he made a huge mistake when his attraction to Cassie becomes impossible to ignore. As Cassie and Tate go from friends to lovers, their relationship is tested when dark secrets come to light.

This was my first Elle Kennedy book, and I didn't realize it is the third installment of the Avalon Bay series. It works as a standalone, though, and I don't think you need to read the first two books to understand the plot. I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. Told from the points of view of Cassie and Tate, this book had a fun storyline and setting. This was a very spicy book, and Cassie and Tate had strong chemistry. I really liked Cassie, who was extremely relatable. While this was a light summer romance, it also dealt with more serious topics of body image, insecurities, and family drama, and I felt connected to Cassie as she navigated these issues. I was not a fan of Tate, described as the "lovable player," which is a total oxymoron. It was nice to get his perspective on things, but his descriptions of Cassie were often crude.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Caitlin Elizabeth and Teddy Hamilton. They really made the characters come to life and made it fun to listen. The male narrator didn't really "match" Tate for me personally. He was described as having a slight southern accent, but the narrator sounded much more northern.

Overall, an entertaining beach read that I think most readers will enjoy. Read this book if you like:
-Friends to lovers
-Summer flings
-Beach town romances
-Dual POVs

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️The best book so far in the Avalon Bay series and can 100% be read as a standalone (as I forgot about most of the characters in the previous two books).

When Cassie Soul ends up in Avalon Bay for the summer to spend time with her family, she meets Tate Bartlett, a local who is known for being a bit of a player. It isn’t long before a friendship forms, and the attraction makes Cassie determined to have a summer fling without any strings attached. However, as the two spend more time together, they discover that their feelings are way stronger than they ever intended them to be.

While this book was lighthearted and full of humor, there was also a lot of emotional topics integrated throughout the story, which I think makes this unique for an Elle Kennedy read. One of the biggest, was a broken mother/daughter relationship that at times was difficult to read about. However, Cassie’s new support system along with her resilience and positivity, made it easy to cheer her on. I also loved how her two younger half sisters were integrated into the story and all the smiles they brought! With regards to the romance, Tate was a great hero, and I loved the chapters from his POV! The audiobook narration was excellent.

Read if you like:
-Friends to lovers
-Vacation flings
-College age
-Complex family relationships
-Small town beachside setting

Summer Girl is the third contemporary romance in the Avalon Bay series. Cassie Soul is visiting Avalon Bay over the summer to spend time with her grandmother. While she is in town, Cassie is hoping to spend time with her family and find some cute guy to have a summer fling with. Enter Tate Bartlett, a fun loving guy who also has a degree in flings. Will Tate give Cassie the fling she’s been hoping for or something more?

This is the second book I’ve read in this series and I surprisingly wasn’t a fan of the first book I read, but this one was completely different. I connected with these characters from the very beginning and I was so invested in what was going to happen between them. I loved this book and it was the perfect summer read! Cassie and Tate were perfect together and I loved their banter and friendship, as well as the romance. This book was more like what I expect when I pick up an Elle Kennedy book, I connected with the characters and couldn’t wait to see what played out for them. The family secrets and relationships in this book also added a lot to the story. I am team Cassie and Tate all the way! If you are looking for a fun summer read with strong vibes and just the right amount of steamy romance, give this a try!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC version of this book!

Avalon Bay Secrets by Elle Kennedy was my first Avalon Bay book; I enjoyed it so much I read am currently reading the other books in the series.

The story revolves around Cassie, a college student who returns to Avalon Bay after years of being away. Eager to reconnect with her family and experience the joy of summer once again, Cassie hopes to find a summer fling to make her time in Avalon Bay memorable. Enter Tate Bartlett, the town's beloved sailing instructor and carefree playboy. Their initial encounter sparks an instant connection, but Tate's fear of hurting Cassie pushes him to relegate her to the friend-zone.

As Cassie and Tate explore their friendship, their feelings for each other intensify, and they realize that there might be more than just a summer fling at stake.

Overall Avalon Bay Secrets is a great summer read that captures the perfect balance of romance, suspense, and personal growth.