The storyline was okay. As for the audiobook format it came off very childish and the narrator’s voices did not fit the characters.

I want to start off by saying that I am a huge fan of Teddy Hamilton and he along with Caitlin Elizabeth made this book for me! They were the perfect casting choices. I have listened to all three Avalon Bay novels by Elle Kennedy and all were great. The Summer Girl is officially my favorite of the three and I think the narrators helped solidify that! I was so emotionally invested in Tate and Cassie’s individual stories and their story as a couple. Their banter was top notch, as all Elle Kennedy couples are, but there was just something about these two. I connected so much to Cassie and loved her little sisters and how much they loved her and I was so happy we got so much of her backstory. I felt that it truly benefitted the book. I laughed and I cried listening to this book and I truly can’t wait to listen again soon! Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book for an honest review.

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Discusses cheating and an almost forced abortion. Deals with a narcissistic parent. Contains explicit sexual content.

“The Summer Girl” follows Cassie Soul, an almost senior university student living it up in her last summer before college is over. She hasn’t been to Avalon Bay in ages but is back for one last summer with her grandmother, who is selling the hotel that has been in the family for decades. All Cassie is looking for is a summer fling, she just wants some fun and a great summer. And so in comes Tate Bartlett, a sailing instructor and perfect fling material—except he feels the chemistry he has with Cassie is too precious and so pushes for it to stay platonic… but with feelings this strong, will they be able to not cave into the attraction? And beyond that, if they do, will it even stay as a summer fling?

It is not secret I’m a huge fan of the Avalon Bay series, and Cassie’s story definitely didn’t disappoint. Elle Kennedy comes back to this coastal town as spicy as ever and I was there for it—the only caveat was Cassie’s mother, whose narcissistic tendencies really seemed outlandish and straight-on annoying. I was mad half the time but I was also giddy and giggling half the time, so take that as it is.

I honestly cannot recommend the Avalon Bay series enough. “Good Girl Complex”, “Bad Girl Reputation”, and “The Summer Girl” bring in the perfect summer-y series. With mostly likable characters and worthy heroes and heroines, this romance trilogy with captivate your heart, no questions asked.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: July 18, 2023

A great summer listen with some funny stories and likeable characters. I really enjoyed listening to this! The story had great little twists and adventures that had you rooting for the best outcome. Can't wait to read more by the author!

This book was leagues above the first two. It was so good! Cassie and Tate are my favorite couple in this series!

The relationships were so well done, all of them. The friendships, the familial relationships, and the romantic ones. The writing was great! Elle Kennedy really stepped up her game with this book.

If Elle keeps writing stories like this, I will keep reading them.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I want to spend a summer in Avalon Bay, Elle Kennedy's vivid descriptions make it seem like the place to be when the air gets hot and the ocean starts to beckon.

Avalon Bay is a quaint picturesque local for this romance, the 3rd in the series. Cassie and Ted eventually decide to be friends with benefits since she only is around for summer, but as we know the best-laid plans.... well don't work out. This story also has a nice blend of family drama intertwined. Familial ties are at the heart of this story and factor into whether or not the romance can last- these relationships are between Cassie and her mother, Cassie and her father, Cassie and her stepmother, and between Ted and his parents.

Caitlin Elizabeth did a great job in providing the voice of Cassie Soul. Her voice was youthful and sweet. Similarly, Teddy Hamilton's portrayal of Tate Bartlett was also commendable. pleasant voice for Tate Bartlett.

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook version to review.

I would say this is a fun and easy, relaxing and entertaining read.
Really liked main characters Cassie and Tate and the supporting cast. How their relationship evolved was predictable but cute. The side stories were ok, but not necessary. I thought Caitlin Elizabeth's narration was great. Teddy Hamilton wasn't my favourite but did a good job. Although I did enjoy the story, there was so much that felt immature with the dialogue. Every time I read "tits" or "rack" I had to roll my eyes because who talks like that? And there was so much of it at some points I was just cringing. Also, I would say the last 20% of the booked, the story took a turn for the dramatic and it was unnecessary for the story. For me, it was like a completely separate storyline and I lost all interest in Cassie and Tate.

I would probably give 2.5 stars, but bumping it down to a 2.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the arc.

Can be read as a stand alone, even though it is book 3 in a series.
Its a great summer book. And as a fall girlie, that's saying a lot. Its the type of book that makes me wish I was a summer girl. Absolutely love the narrators. they're able to portray the youthful age of the book. The way they're able to embrace the breathless lust of young love, is just *chefs kiss*. Perfection.

So I LOVED Good Girl Complex and liked Bad Girl Reputation but this one fell a little flat for me.

I liked Cassie and I really liked Tate. The romance between them was fun and I enjoyed reading how they were able to get over some of their past issues to find love.

My problem was for the first time ever, I felt like I was a little too old for the storyline. A lot of the initial concerns/conflicts were juvenile and SO much was based around their parents. As an adult in my 30’s, I of course love and respect my parents but I am too old for them to make decisions for me. Now I know the characters are young and it makes sense for that to matter but I just couldn’t get over it!

I still love Avalon Bay and plan to read more in this series if she continues.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Read this if you like:
⛵️ A player finds love
⛵️ Family drama
⛵️ Summers at the beach

The narrators were good though I felt the female voice was a little whiny at times.

"The Summer Girl" by Elle Kennedy is a light, beachy read that revolves around Cassie, a portrait artist, and her quest for a summer fling in the charming town of Avalon Bay. While on the surface, the story is shallow and light, the author tries to add some depth by delving into complex family dynamics, but it falls short in terms of engaging storytelling and character development.

Cassie's summer adventure begins with the goal of losing her virginity and experiencing a memorable romance. Enter Tate, the local charming golden boy, with whom Cassie finds an unexpected connection. However, what starts as a fling soon turns into love, complicating their casual summer plans. Aside from the romance, the novel also explores Cassie's strained relationships with her divorced parents, her mother being a narcissist, and her father seeming indifference to her life.

The inclusion of family drama and the potential for character growth offer glimpses of depth in the story, but they fail to make up for the lackluster dialogue and unconvincing romantic storyline. The banter between Cassie and Tate feels forced and sometimes cringe-worthy, detracting from the overall reading experience.

The chemistry between Cassie and Tate lacks authenticity, and the romance lacks emotional depth. The character development for both leads remains superficial, and some plot twists feel contrived and unnecessary. The book's pacing and engagement also falter. I struggled to maintain interest in the middle of the story.

In the end, "The Summer Girl" falls short of expectations. While the family dynamics add a glimmer of depth, the weak dialogue and underdeveloped romantic storyline hinder the overall enjoyment of the book. For those seeking a quick, breezy read, this might suffice, but it lacks the engaging storytelling and well-crafted characters I would have needed to rate it higher.

Cute, sweet book revolving around Cassie, a young woman, who is spending the summer with her gram. But her gram is phenomenal! She loves spending time with her! But, she has just sold the hotel that has been in their family for over 50 years!
And Tate, a young guy, who seems to be a real player with the women, but also, leaves them on good terms so that they all love him.
She’s from a broken home. Her parents split up over a decade ago. Her Mom got custody of her, and her Dad didn’t even fight for her… and she’s still hurting…
She and her Mom have a difficult relationship, still…
He’s from a solid family. His parents are married and so in love! And, he has a great relationship with them.
They meet up on her first weekend there…she wants badly to have a fling with him, but he wants to keep her in the friend zone.
It progresses from here. We learn so much more about their families…and friends…and the twists that come will shock you!
Very sweet, but felt to me like more of a young adult book…
So, only 3-3 1/2 stars for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC of the audiobook.
Releases today, July 18th, so if it sounds good, look for it today!

It was going well until it shifted to the male main character's point of view. I'm sure he gets better but I don't have the patience to wait it out.

DNF at 6%

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I can’t tell you how much I love this series! It’s so good and absolutely perfect for the summer. Cassie and Tate we’re so much fun to read. I absolutely love the connection that they have with one another and how much goodness they bring out in one another. They have great chemistry, wonderful banter and so cute together! I also had the pleasure of listening to this book on audio, and it was such a great experience. The narrators did a wonderful job bringing our main characters to life. If you’re looking for a sweet summer read for a day by the pool or at the beach this is the perfect book for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Summer Girl is the third book in the Avalon Bay series by Elle Kennedy and it is the best one yet. I really enjoyed this steamy beach read. This could be a stand alone, but the characters from the previous books to make an appearance in this story. The friends to lovers trope is strong with a few sizzling scenes which is always fun for a lite beach read. The female generational relationships are dysfunctional, but only makes the story stronger. Mainly, I really liked the slow burn and couldn’t put the book down, well actually, stop listening. The audiobook was great. The story was narrated by two actors and the male lead has a dreamy voice.

3.5 Stars

*Can be read as a standalone.*

This was a light-hearted and fun read about Cassie and her journey to find a summer fling. It's a typical YA romance with a few steamy scenes. Even though the drama at the end was rushed and came out of nowhere, I enjoyed it because it brought more depth to the storyline. I only wished it didn't all happen at the end.

If you're a fan of YA romance and summer flings check this novel out.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Elle Kennedy, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

This was my first Elle Kennedy novel and I enjoyed the story. It was waaaay more “spicy” than I prefer & especially the Tate sections were pretty vulgar. It was what a guy that age would have talked like though. I thought Cassie’s Mum Victoria was a real piece of work & an anomaly in their family. Lydia & Cassie are great but Victoria was gross. No kid deserves a Mom like that. I really wanted to know what happened with the auction since Cassie was trying to win the spa package but they never resolved that. The window scene was super steamy & I kept thinking they were going to get caught by someone. I liked the storyline and I loved the ending. On the whole I think this was a fun summer read.

The alternating narrators were fabulous and added so much to the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my review.

This was a very sweet romance, but it wasn’t JUST romance. I loved the main character and her growth throughout the story, and also her family dynamic. The narration was excellent as well.

The audio on this book was very good, the narrators did a great job. I just couldn't get into this one, which is just an issue of mine, not anything with the writing.

This will be a great summer read for those looking for a quick and light read. I enjoyed the story, the characters, and the narrator.

Cassie's grandmother is selling the hotel in Avalon Bay that has been in the family for decades. Now, Cassie heads there for the last time to celebrate her birthday and find a summer fling. She finds Tate, a local sailing instructor, who is the perfect candidate.

As the two walk the lines between friends and lovers, they discover there is so much more beneath the surface. It was such a sweet romance and possibly my favorite of the three books in the series.