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.

4.5 stats

This latest instalment in the Avalon Bay series was fun, steamy, and truly the perfect summer read! It’s my favourite book in the series so far and I binged it within 24 hours because I couldn’t put it down.

Cassie, our FMC was such a sweetheart and so funny and relatable. Cassie is looking for a fun summer fling and propositions Tate, however he gently turns her down and suggests being friends. But as these two spend more and more time together, and their chemistry grows, they can’t deny how attracted they are to each other.

I was utterly caught off guard by the depth or the story and by a plot twist that I didn’t see coming at all. Author Elle Kennedy did such a great job of combining a fun and light summer romance with more serious topics, such as insecurities about self-worth and about one’s body image, familial expectations, and narcissism. This made the story and the characters feel so real. My heart was racing and I couldn’t help crying from the raw emotions portrayed.

I received the audiobook and really enjoyed the dual narration. My only critique is that while the female narrator gave the MMC a slight southern accent, the male narrator didn’t alter his voice and sounded more “northern” (despite Tate being described as having a slight Georgian accent).

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

This was my first Elle Kennedy book. I listened to the audio. I liked both narrators, for the most part-although the male narrator’s imitation of female voices was a little grating.
They characters had good chemistry-but I didn’t enjoy the spicy scenes-it just seemed like a surface relationship and I didn’t really enjoy the way Tate constantly referred to Cassie’s body parts so crudely.
I really liked Cassie’s dealing with her family issues. As someone with a narcissistic mother, who had to be cut from my life, I could relate to her struggles.
There were funny scenes and overall I think this was an enjoyable read.

I’ve been an Elle Kennedy fan for a long time, but this book made me loudly gasp. Thank goodness no one was around! All I’ll say is WINDOW! Swooooon! The audio was chefs kiss but now I must get the hard copy too! I have to have it on my shelves!! Highly recommend anything Elle Kennedy! The spice was top notch and the tension was sooo good!

I think I’m done trying Elle Kennedy books. It might just be the Avalon Bay series, but I really don’t like that the MMCs are so generally icky and unkind to their love interests. It isn’t an enemies to lovers or rivals vibe, but genuinely unpleasant people, and that keeps me from investing in these stories.

I had so much fun reading this sweet, moving and steamy romance, it really is the perfect summer read! Cassie is visiting Avalon Bay for the summer and staying with her grandmother. She is looking for a summer fling, to get some experience before she goes back for her senior year of college. Tate is a local who hides behind his surfer/player reputation but is hardworking, smart, charming, and sensitive. They have a couple meet cutes that are awkward and sweet, and they soon become friends. Cassie wants him to be her summer fling, but he likes her too much, turning her down, but offering to be her wingman instead. They live next door to each other, and end up spending lots of time together, having fun and even flirting a bit. Their attraction grows, and they soon agree to a summer fling with no expectations. But the more time they spend together, the more they begin to wonder if they could be more. But when family starts to get in the way, are they strong enough to fight for something/someone they never saw coming, who now owns their heart?
I loved Tate, and Cassie together, they were sweet, awkward at times, and had fun together. I felt their fiery chemistry from their very first interaction. Cassie was a great character, she was strong, supportive, and fun. I loved Tate and thought he was charming, kind, and romantic. I also loved all their friends who added so much fun and humor to this story as well.
Caitlyn Elizabeth & Teddy Hamilton were brilliant as Cassie and Tate, delivering a performance that was completely addictive. Hamilton's expressive voice showed Tate's fun and charming side, as well as his vulnerabilities, making him even more swoony. Elizabeth shined portraying Cassie's strength, and determination, and also her growth from awkward to seductress. I really enjoyed both their abilities to bring these characters to life and make me love Cassie and Tate even more.
This romance melted my heart instantly with it's fabulous characters, heartfelt emotions and beautiful storyline. I was completely captivated and couldn't put it down!

The Summer Girl is the 3rd book in the Avalon Bay series. Cassie comes to the small town of Avalon Bay to spend the summer with her grandmother. She meets Tate at a party and soon learns that he is also her neighbor. They become quick friends and Cassie uses Tate as her wing man. Tate doesn't want to be just her wingman. Cassie and Tate go from neighbors to friends to lovers. This audio book was great to follow along with the two narrators. This is the first audio book I have listened too that had a male voice for the man in the book. Both narrators made the this a great and fun book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan audio, and Elle Kennedy for the copy of this audiobook for a review in exchange. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
#netgalley, #thesummergirl, #avalonbay, #ellekennedy, #macmillanaudio

Such a perf summer romance about a summer fling that turns into true love. 💛 There was some depth to this, though, too. Female main character’s mom is a narcissist and there is a cheating scandal with minor characters. I was so sucked into this!

As the titles says this is such a perfect summer romance and if you’ve read the first two books in the series you know that’s it’s a treat to be back in Avalon Bay. Cassie is looking for a summer fling and when she propositions Tate and he turns her down they decide they’re better off as friends. That actually surprised me in a good way as I thought it showed maturity and a good nature in Cassie especially as she’s so young, I just really liked her character so much, I found her to be endearing and just super likable. Tate was also a great hero, I thought his honesty was refreshing and he did make me swoon a little. You get dual narration and the audio performance from Caitlin Elizabeth and Teddy Hamilton was absolutely perfect. Definitely recommended as a great summer read, some spice, some emotion and great summery vibes.

I recently listened to the audiobook for The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy, the third installment in the Avalon Bay series. Although I hadn't read the previous two books, I found that this story can easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone.

The protagonist, Cassandra Sole, returns to Avalon Bay, her former hometown, for the entire summer before her senior year of college. Having moved to Boston with her mother after a difficult divorce, Cassie is spending the summer with her maternal grandmother in a beautiful waterfront home. In Avalon Bay, she also reunites with her father, stepmother Nia, and her two half-sisters.

Excited to be back for the summer, Cassie decides to embark on a summer fling. The novel opens with her at a beachfront party, where she feels out of place among the unfamiliar faces. Seeking solace by the beach, she accidentally overhears a breakup between a girl and a guy named Tate Bartlett. Cassie is instantly drawn to Tate, considering him one of the most attractive guys she has ever encountered. It comes as no surprise when she discovers he is known in the bay for his casual relationships, despite also being a genuinely nice person.

As fate would have it, Cassie and Tate's paths keep crossing, with Tate even house-sitting the property next to her grandmother's. Their bedrooms face each other, creating opportunities for further interaction. As their friendship develops, their chemistry becomes undeniable. They share a passionate kiss at a party, prompting Cassie to ask Tate to be her summer fling. However, Tate turns her down not because he lacks interest, but because he recognizes that she isn't the type of girl who can handle a purely casual relationship. Instead, he becomes her confidant and ally. Through spending time together, a genuine bond forms between them. One night, after indulging in too much champagne, Tate discovers Cassie is a virgin and realizes he cannot take advantage of her.

Eventually, their mutual attraction overrides Tate’s rational thinking, and they embark on their summer fling. As the summer draws to a close, both Cassie and Tate dread its end but remain grateful for having met. Just as they start wondering what the future holds for them, Cassie's narcissistic mother delivers shocking news that shatters their lives. This revelation leads Cassie to confront her emotionally uninvolved father and triggers a panic attack, while with her distant stepmother.
As the story unfolds, readers will discover the additional challenges that await Cassie and Tate in The Summer Girl.

While this book initially appears to be a steamy romance between two young adults, it delves much deeper. It explores themes such as parental expectations, insecurities about self-worth, narcissism, family legacies, infidelity, and blended families. Though it may seem like a lot, these elements are masterfully woven together.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to The Summer Girl audiobook. My only minor critique is that Tate's accent sounded more northern than southern, but this did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the third in a series based on a small tourist town. Elle Kennedy describes the conflict of locals and wealthy tourists as a side story in each of their novels. Cassie and Tate coming from different worlds slate around each other, finally agree for a just for now relationship, bit feeling and crazy family members get in the way. Elle Kennedy crafts a story that keeps you interested from the beginning to the end.

A perfectly adorable summer romance book. Great read to start the summer. The premise was cute and well executed, the characters were very likeable, and the setting was giving summer vibes. I totally thought I predicted the ending in the first few chapters and I was super wrong which was enjoyable.

The audiobook male narrator didn’t match Tate for me and everytime we switched to his POV I felt like it took me out of the story.

We return to Avalon Bay for
What I believe to be the spiciest installment yet & has the two leads with the most chemistry.

Cassie Soul has just returned for the last time after the family business that has tied her to the area is sold. She’s spending one more summer with her grandmother before her senior year of college.

Case meets Tate Bartlette at a party when she arrives after hearing him be dumped by his FWB, oh and he’s also her neighbor for the summer.

Things heat up between the two but then there are several self-made conflicts. I had to remind myself that I too was (at times) a bit illogical with romantic encounters in my early twenties. However, I think overall it works.

I found that the narrators did a good job and are appropriate for this sort of spicy romance story.

4 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest reviews.

This is an easy read that’s perfect to bring on a summer vacay. Beaches, romance, a fancy hotel — all the summer vibes! I also appreciated the mention of Gilmore Girls in one of the chapters (my favorite!) There were some cheesy/cringe-worthy moments, but overall, it was a good read!

Such a sweet summer read! When a by-chance meeting creates an opportunity for a summer fling you gotta take it! The narrators were amazing…and I laughed out loud, got frustrated, giggled, gasped, and smiled my way through this read. So fun!

4 stars!

I really enjoyed The Summer Girl despite not reading the first two books in the Avalon Bay series! (I'm definitely going to go back and read them now though! 😊

✨friends to lovers
✨the girl next door
✨Dual POV

This is such a fun summer beach read! The beach town setting and fun cast of characters made this an easy, quick & enjoyable read.

I think it can be read as a standalone without much confusion but I am excited to read more about the side characters in this one!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press & Netgalley for the ARC!

4 stars
I very much enjoyed reading this book. The Avalon Bay series is fun and spicy, and this was my favorite of them, thus far. That being said, I'm not a fan of the male narrator on this audiobook. I thought the female was perfect, but the male did not sound like a young adult. Much too slick and polished for the character. Nonetheless, I enjoyed revisiting Avalon Bay and getting another opportunity to enjoy Cassie and Tate's story.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the chance to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

I love this series and I have to say this was one if not my favorite of the series so far.

I loved the characters and the storyline plus it’s always great when we get to see previous characters and what’s been going on with them later in a series.

I loved how Cassie was connected through her grandmother to the Beacon hotel.

Tate and Cassie were so cute and I loved their relationship. However Cassie and her toxic relationship with her mom was horrible to listen to. I hated her Mom! I think Cassie could have and should have handled the relationship with her Mom differently but had she, it would have changed the story so….

I received the audiobook arc through Netgalley for my honest review.

This was my first Avalon Bay novel and the first book of Elle's that wasn't with Sarina Bowen. I have been itching to start my Elle Kennedy era as a Canadian hockey lover for a while now. But, it is summer! And as a Canadian, I know that the warm weather is short-lived! So I figured I would really immerse myself into the summer vibes by kicking off with this arc:D!

Even though this is part of a series, it is 100% a standalone story. I never felt like I missed out on any of the plot or character developments by skipping the first two. (But you can bet once I read the cameos of the other couplings in the series, I had to add the other two books right onto my TBR.)

When I first started, I thought that I may be too old to be reading about a girl just about to turn 21 who is staying with her grandma and looking for a hot summer fling. But, I didn't let that stop me from continuing and I am glad I kept going!

As the story started to get more developed and I learned more about our main girl, I realized that even as someone older I could relate to her. She was actually a smart, fun girl who knew what she wanted. I liked her! Our MMC was also really likable and had me rooting for him from the beginning of their very awkward meet-cute. The banter, flirting, and sweet nothings between both of them were very wholesome and I adored them together. There was def spice there but maybe a 2.5/5?

The story had a lot of different twists and turns that I didn't see coming. The story is so much more than just a cute story of a summer hook-up. There was a ton of character development, real family dynamics, friendships, and a real coming-of-age feeling. The pacing was really good and I never felt anything was rushed or dragged.

Elle got me! Right in the heartstrings! I got far more emotionally attached to these characters and what happened to them. The story kept a hold on me right until the very end!

Finishing this story was bittersweet! While I loved knowing how the story ended, I am actually really sad that the story was over. I would have loved to see a longer epilogue, but I'm hoping for an Avalon Bay #4 ...