Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for sharing this audio ARC of The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy!

Friends- you are going to love the audio! Narrating super stars Teddy Hamilton and Caitlin Elizabeth narrate beautifully. It is dual point of view so we get to hear both voices. They do an excellent job representing their characters- Cassie and Tate. Teddy definitely has that easy going surfer bro vibe that represents Tate perfectly. Caitlin's voice is vibrant and enthusiastic, perfect for the creative and cautious Cassie.

The story is great too! Cassie and Tate are two loveable young adults setting out on a summer fling or are they? This book captures the fun of summer time and youthful adventures. It also tackles interesting family dynamics without losing the fun. If you are looking for a beach read or listen check this one out.

I should also mention this is a part of an ongoing series. It is the third installment of the Avalon Bay series and a cross over with the Briar U series. I do not think you need to have read the other books in either series to enjoy this. I only read the first book in the series and didn't love it. In my opinion the plot and writing improved with this book.

2.5*
I want to start by saying I have read Elle Kennedy books before and really enjoyed them, but this book was not it.
Every single chapter comments on how tiny she is and how big and gigantic her boobs are. Her only personality trait seems to be that she has big boobs but she's skinny. We get it.
She also spends a lot of time staring out the window watching her neighbor change, and comments on how she knows if it were the other way around then it would be considered wrong, and would get in trouble. But there are no repercussions for her watching him naked, without his consent.
The other thing that really bothered me about this book was during the summer games Cassie comments about a character being a "big is, like 200 pounds". The character is described as being over 6 feet tall, so 200 lbs would not make him overweight. This also implies that 200lbs is overweight and that's just not the case, there are plenty of instances where 200lbs is a perfectly healthy weight for someone. 200 lbs is not a huge number. This was clear fatphobia.

So was this a cute summer read? Sure. But not without its issues.

The Summer Girl was a pleasant quick romance. It stands out among the pack by touching on toxic relationships, body shaming and the importance of standing up for oneself. Elle Kennedy is a very good writer that always provides her readers with a pleasant escape.

This was awesome! The story was amazing and the narration matched it so well! I couldn’t have done it better. I’m also really hoping we get a sequel to their relationship!

This book was more than just a light fluffy summer read. It was so relatable to me as someone whose parents divorced when I was young. All the fallout and complex emotions and relationships that came from that hit very close to home. Cassie was such a sweet big sister to her way younger siblings even dealing with the sadness that comes from feeling like an outsider in her own family.

But it really was a fun read and I devoured it in a day. I loved Cassie and her friends and how they interacted and cared for each other. Tate was yummy and of course I love everything that Teddy Hamilton narrates so that drew me right in. I loved the banter and friendship that developed between Cassie and Tate! I do want to throw a hot coffee on Cassie’s mom though. I had no idea this was the 3rd book in the series when I requested it but it didn’t matter because it can be read as a stand-alone.

Both of the narrators did a great job and I love when books that are dual POV have dual narration as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audio book. All thoughts are my own.

this was a sweet, cute, fun story! I loved Cassie & wanted her to have all the love & acceptance she so fully deserves! & Tate is a sweetheart from the very beginning, I love his relationship with his parents & always wanted to do the right thing. Cassie & Tate have a cute relationship right from the start & I loved seeing it progress from friendship to more.
I really felt for Cassie and her relationship with her parents. her dad & stepmother do love her but don’t know how to properly show her that knowing she had a such a narcissistic & emotionally abusive mother. I LOVED the twin girls, they were a highlight of the story.
I didn’t love the ending, the way Cassie’s mother behaves & the way Tate’s parents expect Tate to move on so quickly from such heart shattering information. I really felt for Tate, realizing his wonderful parents had such a heartbreaking moment years before. It is so soul crushing to hear the people we love most are capable of such hurt. I wish he’d been given the chance to grieve the loss of the relationship he once had with his parents and time to be comfortable in this knew one.
I felt the end could have been developed more for Tate & Cassie coming back together, too.
Overall, I really loved this story, five star read until like the 90% mark for me.
thank you for the ARC!!!

review now posted on @MariasBookRecs, instagram, and goodreads.

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy
Book #3 in the Avalon Bay series
FIVE Stars

The Summer Girl is my first Elle Kennedy and my first in the Avalon Bay series, it won't be my last though! Can I please live in Avalon Bay?! Right off the cover of this book got me, then to find out it's half narrated by Teddy Hamilton? Instant yes from me and ZERO regret.

Cassie Soul is headed home to Avalon Bay, it's been a while but it's her grandmother's last summer before selling her house and Cassie is going to help. Cassie's grandparents used to own an Inn in Avalon Bay but after losing her grandfather and none of the children wishing to take over her grandmother decides to sell. (She sells it to a lady I'd love to read more about and will because hers is the first book in this series) Cassie is on summer break and decides she will help her grandmother clear out the house while having one last Avalon Bay summer. Maybe she'll even find a fling. Enter Tate Bartlett, but too bad when he says he thinks they should just be friends. Can they both stick to that? There is so much fun in this book but also sadness. Cassie's mom is a classic narc, she feels abandoned by her dad and disliked by her step mother.

Anyway, this book was awesome and you should absolutely give it a try!

#TheSummerGirl #ElleKennedy #AvalonBay
#TeddyHamilton #CaitlinElizabeth #ALCReview
#NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #Audiobook
#ReadAllTheBooks #AllDayReading #ReadAllDay
#Romance #Contemporary #ContemporaryRomance
#NewAdult #ChickLit #AdultRomance

**I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Elle Kennedy for an ARC of this book! This will be available on 7/18/23!**

To start, I haven't read the first two, but after reading a few reviews, I was told it wouldn't effect this book. I totally agree! There were moments where I could tell that there were characters that probably had more back story, it didn't impede on the experience at all. This can definitely be read as a standalone.

This book was so lighthearted and fun. It had some deeper aspects, but the whole thing totally captured the "summer-fling-in-a-small-beach-town" aspect. It had the pining, some unrequitedness, and a little bit of spice.

I had some problems with the writing. The number of times it was mentioned that Cassie is just "so short and small and lanky with the biggest boobs ever and omg they're just so big" really distracted the story. While it is mentioned that being told by her mother about a breast reduction was a major insecurity for her, it could've been fleshed out in a much more mature way. Tate was also very flatly written as a playboy but somehow no bad blood with anyone. I wish these two had more depth to their characters other than the little we were given. Granted, I haven't read the other books so I can't speak to any background provided in those.

While I love a good camp-esque theme, this was a little overdone. Beach Days was such a fun concept, but I didn't need multiple chapters to read about it. It didn't progress the story or the characters at all, except for us to have another "i know my knockers are so totally big, but believe it or not, I'm still really good at balancing" moment and an excuse for her parents to be in the same place at the same time.

I loved the way the family drama came together. I felt so mad on Cassie's behalf. The author worked through the miscommunication really well. Her mom really was the villain and was written in such a believable but heartbreaking way. The twist at the end literally made me gasp.

Was this the best book I've read? No. frankly the writing and character building felt very amateur. Did I still read this in a day? Yes. It was light, fluffy, and good to read after a book hangover. This is my first Elle Kennedy novel I can definitely see myself reading more by her.

3.5 ⭐️

This was cute!

This book follows Cassie and Tate. Cassie is only in Avalon Bay for the summer to visit with her grandmother before she moves. Tate is house sitting the house next door to Cassie's grandmother so they are constantly running into each other. Tate is sort of the playboy of the town and Cassie is just looking for a summer fling. When she approaches him he immediately friend zones her because he thinks she will fall for him and decides he's going to be her wingman instead.

I think my favourite thing about this book is how Tate was portrayed as a character. The "playboy" is a very common character type in romance and one that I find is often done in a way I don't like. This book was an exception to that. I liked that we see Tate interacting with or talking about some of the girls he has hooked up with in the past and he never speaks or thinks negatively of them. He is very upfront about what he's willing to give and at no point leads anyone on. In fact he's still friends with a lot of the girls he's hooked up with. I thought it was a nice change of pace from the usual playboy guys not caring about the girls they've been with or speaking about them negatively after hooking up with them. There was none of that "they meant nothing" or "I didn't care about them" or anything like that going on. He did what he wanted but wasn't a dick about it which I really appreciated.

I also really enjoyed the setting of this one. I know the whole series takes place in the same town but I felt like this one was a little more outdoorsy and summery which I liked given that we are heading into that season now.

My only complaint is I felt like I didn't get a ton of information about either of the main characters. We learn a little about Tate's jobs and that Cassie is still in school but that was really it. I don't remember any mention of any hobbies, interests, fave TV shows, nothing. I would have liked a little more in that area.

Overall, this was enjoyable and would probably be a really good beach read. The audiobook narrators were also great!

I love Elle Kennedy! This book was a summer girl romance and was perfect for a beach read. I think I would prefer it as a real book and not an audiobook but overall it was easy to get through. It was not a 5 star read but I loved the characters. It was an entertaining read.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up!!

I really enjoyed this third installment in the Avalon Bay series by Elle Kennedy. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for the audio ARC.

This is a basic summer fling turned more. A very quick and engaging read - though I will say, the FMC lacked depth. I feel as though the characters read like high schoolers. I did enjoy the small twist near the end, but it was clearly a set up for the third act breakup.

The audiobook was very well done. I always enjoy Teddy Hamilton's work.

I love the Avalon Bay series so I was extremely excited to see the next book on NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

This book is a dual POV just like the other two books in the series. I love this because we get to see what both our main characters are thinking/ feeling and see their motivations behind their actions and extra character development.

This is a fun, entertaining read with a bit of spice. At first I was a little nervous since this book is not about Alana and Tate but Cassie is a great character to get behind and (almost) made me forget about Alana.

The dialogue was a little cheesy, but it’s a summer romance novel so it’s expected and bareable. The conflict was realistic and the characters reacted in levelheaded ways and supported each other throughout. This one is definitely more of a swoony romance than books 1 and 2.

Obsessed.

With the series. The town. The people. The Hartley’s and their better halves. And now with Tate and Cassie.

Tate and Cassie go through all of it in this book. From heartache to first love to family drama (the drama! I am shocked.) to moving on to friendships it’s all here.

Go to this town, cheer on these characters (except Tori. Never Tori.) and fall for them one page at a time.

Read it!

it was a little bit too much drama for me, but i overall had a fun time. definitely not my favorite elle kennedy book lol.

This audiobook performance was smooth and the narrators were well-casted. Which is very important for me when it comes to audiobooks. I need to be pulled into the story and I was.

Cassie is visiting Avalon Bay for the summer, a place she has not visited since her parent's divorce.  After witnessing Tate get dumped the two discover that they are neighbors and a friendship develops. Cassie decides to have a summer fling and Tate agrees to be her wingman.  The more time they spend together, the closer they get and their relationship begins to evolve into more.

I loved the atmosphere of Avalon Bay, it gives summer beach vibes and feels like a vacation.  Knowing this is the 3rd book in the series, I was interested in seeing how these characters would tie into the first two books. It was fun to get to see characters from the previous books and I wanted to go back and read them again since it’s been a while. But it’s not necessary, this can be read as a standalone. 

The writing and pacing flowed well and the story pulled me in, but I didn’t feel like I connected with the characters.  If I’m honest there was a lot of focus on Cassie’s boobs and talk about Tate being a player. I wasn’t sold on him being a player, he was dumped at the beginning of the book and I found him to be a really good guy and a huge cinnamon roll.  

There was plenty of romance and spice but what stood out was the focus on family relationships.  Cassie and Tate, cute friends-to-lovers, romance propelled the plot forward but central to the story was their relationships with their families. I adored Tate and his relationship with his parents from the very beginning.  We also see him working through his career decisions and what his dad wanted for him.  Most of all we see Cassie's relationship with her dad and step-mom family evolve. We won’t even mention her mom…ugh!  She had a good relationship with her grandmother, who was a bit of a spitfire, and an adorable one with her twin half-sisters.  

It had some cute banter and steamy moments, the window scene for sure.   Most of all it had a HUGE twist that I didn’t see coming. Seriously, the reveal pained me.  I may not have connected with the main characters but I fell in love with several of the supporting characters.  For the plot to take that turn, I felt like the rug was pulled out from under me.  I felt every bit of the shock, pain, and turmoil as the characters.

This entertaining book had spice, tension, and drama wrapped up in a lighthearted package.

This is EASILY my favorite book in the Avalon Bay series — I was not expecting to like it so much. Although I liked the first two books in the series, I didn’t think they were anything special. But I was pleasantly surprised with this one!

I adored Cassie and Tate’s characters, both individually and as a couple. I was invested in both of their side stories. This book had a third act “breakup” (which I don’t necessarily love), but the conflict was unique so I didn’t mind it.

I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a summer romance, especially if you have read the first two books in the Avalon Bay series or are a fan of Elle Kennedy.

i’m such an audiobook girly and i was able to listen to this while also reading along to an e-arc copy of the books and it was such a fun experience! i loved both the narrators and felt they did a fantastic job as the characters!

i looooved this book so much! the first two in this series were meh to be but i found the plot and characters in this book so much more enjoyable and relatable! super fun summer read <3 4.5 stars

A fun summer fling book! Perfect for a beach read. This one is a dual POV, friends to lovers with a bit of family drama. Cassie is not only navigating her summer friendship/fwb with Tate, but also through her strained relationship with her mother, step-mother and father. I loved how she grew, stood up for herself and ultimately how she faced tough decisions.

This book is an easy, fun read, perfect to throw in the beach bag. It has fun bits, spicy scenes, drama moments and more.
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Have never been an audiobook fan but I loved reading this book so I thought I’d give it a listen. The narrator does an amazing job and now I’m audiobook person. Who knew.

I love Elle Kennedy. And I have really enjoyed all the Avalon Bay series. This was no exception. It's a light hearted 3/5 spice level read. I enjoyed that the FMC finally started standing up for herself. And I guess the book followed a somewhat realistic arc when dealing with the conflict in the story. I would recommend this for a summer read.