“You should never stop telling people how they make you feel.”

I loved Tate and Cassie, but what I loved most was the underlying themes of family and parent relationships and how complicated they can be. Sometimes trying to understand our parents we have to remember how much life they lived before they had us and how it shaped them.

Don’t get me wrong this was also a fun steamy summer read, with characters from the first two books in the series and some lighthearted fun. I just loved that is also felt like more than that!

Read if you like:

☀️ Small town beach romance
☀️ Dual POV
☀️ Complicated family relationships
☀️ Cinnamon roll hero

My favorite of the series! I was even a little emotional at the ending. Finally a book from the series where I liked both characters; Cassie’s backstory was especially relatable personally and tugged at my heartstrings. And that curveball reveal/twist towards the end of the book?! My jaw was on the floor. Overall, a super enjoyable steamy, small town, summer read! Glad I read them in order but definitely can be read on their own or out of order. I listened to the audiobook and thought both narrators did a great job!

For me, Elle Kennedy doesn't miss! This is a great addition to a fun but angsty series. The summer vibes in this book are so perfect, and Kennedy’s storytelling puts you right in Avalon Bay. I’ve been waiting for Tate’s story for so long!

This is easily my favorite of the Avalon Bay series. I loved the friends to lovers trope and the golden boy / awkward girl dynamic.

My main issues were that once Cassie and Tate got together she suddenly stopped being awkward and rambly which was a huge bit that was played up the first half of the book. Also, the third act family drama was a bit much especially since the resolution to that bit was so rushed but overall I loved this book.

So dang cute. I loved the first book, the second fell flat for me, but loved this one. Tate is the swooniest book boyfriend. I could have done without the mention of Cassie’s chest a million times but otherwise, great story. Really sad no one punched Cassie’s mom by the end.

I have read all of the other books in this series, and this one is BY FAR the best! The characters are relatable and seem reasonable, they have a great inner voice! The spicy scenes are among the best of any summer romance I read this year! Super spicy, but not at all cheesy or cringey! We follow a 21 year old who is getting ready to start her senior year of college, but takes a summer in the town where her Dad lives to spend some time with him. She has big plans to have a summer fling, but ends up befriending a local guy. After spending time in the friend zone and counseling her through a few encounters, OF COURSE, he turns to more than friends. But unlike other books where that's the end, we get to follow their early romance and watch them navigate the twists and turns of a few family secrets. I loved the addition of a plot that was more than just the two of them getting together. Highly recommend!

This is my first book by Elle Kennedy, but it won't be my last. I loved Cassie's internal monologue as she progressed from awkward and unsure to being a confident young woman. Tate was a little bit cocky but also sweet and I loved his relationship with his parents. The story contains plenty of family drama on all sides, sentimentality, and the romance between Tate & Cassie is both steamy and sweet. I'll definitely be reading the rest in this series, and look for this author in the future.

🌟New ARC Book Review🌟

Title: The Summer Girl
Author: Elle Kennedy
Rating: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: What do you remember fondly about your first boyfriend/girlfriend? Where are they now?
My first boyfriend was the nicest guy, he’s been married twice and has 2 kids.

I really enjoyed this summer beach read. Cassie is a college student who is visiting her grandmother in Avalon Bay. Her grandmother recently sold the family hotel and it’s now being renovated in advance of the Grand Opening.

Cassie is a virgin, she’s never found a guy she wants to be with. She decides that she’s going to have a summer fling, and she meets the perfect candidate right after she arrives.

His name is Tate, and he’s a nice, extremely good looking local who teaches sailing at the country club, and can sail just about anything. He’s also house sitting at the house next to Cassie’s grandmother.

Cassie proposes her fling idea to him, and she’s shocked when he turns her down, saying he’ll be her friend and her wingman. They start spending time together, and do a little flirting through windows that face each other.

I love their chemistry, and they seemed to belong together no matter what happens around them. I’m impressed with how well the author handled Cassie’s first sexual experience. I recommend this one, 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely loved this book! I loved the evolution of the characters relationships! I like having the side characters be past book characters so you can see how past couples are thriving - but these two are my favorite Avalon Bay couple!

As always, Elle Kennedy puts out a winner. I will say I didn't love this one as much as Bad Girl Reputation but Cassie is a welcome addition to the Avalon Bay crew and it's a fun and light read for the summer. Not surprising though as Elle is a consistent pre-order for me.

im an autumn/winter person to my core, but this book is desperately making me pretend i could be a summer person. its a great beach read. i just need to find me a sailor. doesnt matter that i get sea sick. if hes anything like tate, im on that boat. lol.

and i think its that lighthearted, whimsical fun that comes from summer flings that i enjoyed the most about this story. its balanced well with moments of sincerity and depth, but also entertaining in the process.

because of its atmosphere and sweetness, this a great book if you want something where you can sit back, relax, turn off your brain, and just enjoy some adorable characters trying their best to navigate friendship and feelings.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Cassie and Tate. Cassie is a senior in college. Tate works at the family boat store. They meet on the beach. There is an instant attraction. Cassie is staying at her grandmother house. They start hanging out together. There are issues but together they work through them and fall in love.

A sizzler of a romance. Some raw language, but a good quick beach read. Fun characters and setting.

Thank you so much to St Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for an arc of The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy.

I loved this book! After finishing this arc I purchased a physical copy to have on my shelf. I just love Elle Kennedy’s writing so much. It’s so easy to become immersed in her writing and characters. I am now going to immediately pick up the rest of this series!

I highly recommend this one!

Book Review: The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
This review may contain minor spoilers.

The Summer Girl is the third book in Elle Kennedy's Avalon Bay series and follows Cassie (said summer girl) and Tate. The two embark on a summer fling before moving on to the next chapter in their lives. This book also includes insta-love, adventure, and strangers to almost lovers to friends to lovers.

I enjoyed both Cassie and Tate's characters, individually and as a couple. They were fun to follow and watch grow. The relationship between each of them and their parents was extremely relatable - from experiencing parts in life or idolizing others' connection.

One weakness to the story was Tate's argument for why he couldn't fling with Cassie. It felt flimsy at best and they very quickly threw it aside when presented with opportunities to be together. I wish there was another reason to add to the "will they, won't they" tension.

Overall I enjoyed this book as much as the first in the series. Loved getting to see the other couples and seeing a new side of the Bay.

I received an eARC from NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for my honest review.

Elle Kennedy is a master of the new adult fiction. I was enthralled by the the Avalon Bay series - who doesn't love books set on the shore in the summer? And this one was no exception. Great read.

The Summer Girl
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Elle Kennedy

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: College student Cassie Soul hasn’t spent an entire summer in Avalon Bay in years, not since her parents divorced and her mother spitefully whisked her away to Boston. Now that her grandmother is selling the boardwalk hotel that’s been in their family for five decades, Cassie returns to the quaint beach town to spend time with family, ring in her twenty-first birthday…and maybe find herself a summer fling. On her first night in town, she finds the perfect candidate: Tate Bartlett, Avalon Bay’s fun-loving golden boy. Tate, sailing instructor and lovable player, is no stranger to flings. In fact, he’s always down for a good time. But the moment he meets Cassie, he knows she’s not the girl you play games with. Cassie is gorgeous, hilarious, and, frankly, the coolest person he’s ever met. The last thing he wants to do is risk breaking her heart, and so he reluctantly puts her in the friend-zone…only to realize he made a huge mistake. Soon, his attraction to Cassie becomes impossible to ignore. He wants that fling now. Big-time. And maybe even something more. As Cassie and Tate walk the line between friends and lovers, they’re about to discover that their situation is the least complicated part of this equation. Because Avalon Bay is full of secrets—and their relationship might not survive when those secrets come to light.

My Thoughts: This is book no. three in the Avalon Bay series. While this can be read as a standalone book, you will get a better sense of the supporting characters and small town by reading the previous two novels. Cassie is home for the summer and returns to Boston it the fall for her last year at college. Her grandmother sold the family hotel and is selling the family house at the end of the summer. She meets Tate, known playboy. A friendship sparks and they both want more on the cusp of some Avalon Bay secrets. This follows the tropes of friends to lovers and summer fling. Content warnings of supporting character infidelity and emotional abuse, and toxic parent.

The story is narrated by Cassie and Tate in this dual narration. Cassie is insecure, caring, avoids confrontation, even at her expense, and is sometimes afraid to stand in her truth. Tate is a bit of a playboy, charming, cares about others, and is loyal to a fault. While third act break ups are common in this type of novel, I was taken back by it and started yelling at the book. I won’t say more to not spoil for other readers. The message of the story really is hope, hope that we can stand in our truth at all times, hope for love, and hope for found family. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, compassion, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, humorous, thought-provoking, endearing, and engaging.

I had the opportunity to have the digital and audiobook for this novel. This was a lighthearted, endearing, sweet read. My only con is that the ending felt rushed and left me wanting a little more. However, I love Kennedy’s writing style and did throughly enjoy this book, mostly. I would absolutely recommend this one and all from this series to other readers.

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy
Status: Available Now, Not KU
Reading Method: eARC from @netgalley & Libby audio

📖 🎧 Writing &/or Audio Style : Writing style was pretty decent, some parts felt a little juvenile but the characters were all college aged and made me feel old. Overall the audio was pretty good. I don’t love Teddy Hamilton’s female voices and wish it had been recorded duet, but it was tolerable.

👥 Characters & Relationships: The characters and their relationships were well done. I loved both Tate & Cassie.

⁉️Plot, Intrigue & Logic: As far as Virgin Heroine tropes go, I thought this was well done as it wasn’t really fetishized. Overall the plot was enjoyable.

🏞️Atmosphere & Setting: Gave me Sweet Magnolia vibes. That’s probably not even accurate but it worked for me 😂

🥰Enjoyment: So this was the second novel I have tried from this author. The first one (in a different series) was practically an immediate DNF. Because of that I was a bit nervous to start this one but I was pleasantly surprised. That said, I’m still old and reading about a bunch of college kids just might not be for me anymore.

🚨 For Reader Awareness: Narcissistic relationship and consequences

📣Recommended for fans of: Spicy college aged romances

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin, for the ARC of The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy. This novel is the third installment in the Avalon Bay series. I did not read the previous two, and I wasn't confused - this can absolutely be read as a stand alone. I enjoyed this new adult romance. Cassie and Tate were likable characters, and there was plenty of drama to keep the pages turning. This is a lighthearted, fun read just made for summer.
Grab an ice cold beverage, head into the sunshine, and enjoy The Summer Girl!

I love Elle Kennedy's work, and this is just adding to my love. It is a great continuation of the Avalon Bay crew. I think Cassie and Tate are the cutest, and they deserve the world.