My favorite of the series so far! I really liked Cassie as a main character, the family issues, and the spice level. A really good friends to lovers story!

REVIEW FOR THE SUMMER GIRL

5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, SMPRomance and Elle Kennedy for the gifted copy!

I waited a while before diving into this series as I had heard mixed reviews. I ended up loving Good Girl Complex, liked Bad Girl Reputation, and now I WORSHIP The Summer Girl. I loved getting to know Tate and meeting Cassie. Their chemistry was so pure, and seeing the good side of Tate was appreciated as I've always had a soft spot for him in previous books. I blew through this book as I couldn't put it down, and I am craving to return to Avalon Bay (although realistically, I kind of like the "series" ending here).

I also liked how the familial drama was handled in this story. Most times, I feel that we are often told "family is family, you can't cut them out of your life" but honestly? Yes you can. Family may be blood, but if they are horrible people you don't need that toxic energy. It was refreshing to see that in this story, although I felt there was some accountability that was overlooked.

Overall, my favorite of this series! I will now proceed to read Elle Kennedy's backlist books lol

Such a cute read! I haven't read the other books in the series, but I could still follow along without reading them. I really enjoyed Cassie and Tate's relationship. Good read overall!

*Thank you @stmartinspress for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF.*

This is by far my favorite book in this series. I really loved Tate and Cassie. They are a cute couple, felt very real and had great chemistry. I also appreciated that their lives were real: college, summer jobs, figuring out what to do after college, parent and friend issues. It was so well written. There were a few things that wrapped up kind of quick that I wish we got more of (like her talking with her dad about years of feelings) but overall a good book!

Definitely my favorite from the series so far. Love Cassie and Tate so much!!! There were definitely times where my heart was hurting because she wanted more, and he doesn't. Those kind of situations in books always tend to hurt. Lol

Cassie's parents divorced so she came back to town to see her father. Cassie witnessed Tate getting dumped by his friends with benefit girl. Definitely an awkward situation for Cassie and Tate, but the chemistry between them was already igniting. Tate happens to house sit the house across from Cassie's grandma's house. I love the way how their friendship builds up to a relationship. It was really well written. Cassie wanted to lose her virginity and be like those summer girl who has a fling with a man just for the summer. Tate volunteered to be the one who helps her to find the right guy. But what happens when they saw each other through the window and cross a line that friends doesn't do?

LOVE this book so much!!! Highly recommend!!

Easily one of my most swoon worthy summer reads, The Summer Girl, jumps right back into the world of Avalon Bay with one of my new favorite couples, Tate Bartlett and Cassie Soul. Despite her complicated relationship between her family and the Avalon Bay area, Cassie’s sweet, anxious babbling easily steals any page in which she appears. Out of all the amazingly written female characters in the Avalon Bay series, Cassie is the one who I felt was the most relatable. She was smart and capable, but at the same time, easily frazzled when encountering the unforgettable Tate Bartlett.

Tate Bartlett is sweet and generous, despite his playboy reputation. While there are many amazing men to choose from in the Avalon Bay series, Tate is my absolute favorite. The little glimpses into his family life and his own future ambitions took an already wonderful character to another level. There were times when the drama felt a little forced, and I would have loved to see more of the relationship develop without the forced nature of the climax scene.

My favorite part was seeing into the stories of our previous leading characters. It was great to see that not only had some really amazing characters developed within their own books, but they also continued that development beyond what we saw on the pages. The world created by Elle Kennedy is so perfect because of the sheer number of details that span across all three books. It makes me believe that with one step, I could jump right into Avalon Bay.

4.5/5 stars

A huge thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Cassie is looking for a summer fling. She is back visiting Avalon bay before her family home is sold. When she arrives she meets Tate and she is smitten. Tate realizes that Cassie s not a person to have a fling with. So Tate resists. But eventually he can't help himself

This tale is a perfect summer romance mixed with some family drama. You will keep turning the pages to see what will happen next and a twist you won't see coming.

If you are looking for a perfect beach read this is it! I loved this novel and whipped through it in about a day and a half! I don't know why I haven't really read this author? I am so glad i received this ARC

Thank you St Martins press and netgalley for this ARC

If you’re looking for the Quintessential summer love story, this is it!!! Neighbors (yet awkward friends) to lovers trope with summer love and beach town and all the summer vibes! It’s a new adult novel, so I think the cast of college/recent graduates adds to that summer love vibe. Very fun!

This was another great read by Elle Kennedy! I was definitely interested in Tate’s story once we got to see him in the last book and I wasn’t disappointed. Tate and Cassie’s relationship was delicious and amazing, I love how he respected her and made her feel appreciated. The small town summer romance vibes were everything I wanted. I love how Cassie grew and was able to finally stand up for herself and respect herself and I loved Tate’s playboy to one-woman man arc.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! At first I kept thinking that it read kind of young. But I reminded myself that the characters are 21 and 23, so it actually read exactly how that she bracket acts and talks. This story had depth and emotion in it, and the perfect amount of spice!

The Summer Girl was such a fun summer read. This was the best one yet in Elle Kennedy’s ‘Avalon Bay’ series. I couldn’t get enough of Cassie and her love interest in this book. This one is the perfect addition to add to your beach bag!

Another lovely and bingeable romance from Avalon Bay!

The small town setting and the frequent call backs to the previous books in the series made this book feel familiar, but I truly think that this one shines really well on its own too. Cassie and Tate were such dynamic and complex characters who handled the challenges thrown at them well. I didn’t love the third act conflict, but the plot twist that got them there was definitely unexpected. The resolution of the book was also something I thought was done really well. However, as with Good Girl Complex, I was really hoping for some more time with the characters after the resolution.

Read this book (and series!) if you like:
- small town settings
- good girl/bad boy dynamics
- close group of friends and side characters
- some spice

I’ve really enjoyed every book in the series thus far, and I’m hoping to see more in this world soon!! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Contemporary romance📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A cute beach read!

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Fun summer reads
Great chemistry
Adorable characters
Friends (neighbors) to lovers
Summer flings
Lighthearted reads
Dual POV
Light spice

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Avalon Bay!
All the summer vibes

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
The conflict felt rushed and it made we angry

Absolutely loved this story. I was happy and angry and all of the emotions while reading it. I actually wanted to be able to reach into the book and strangle a particular character.

This is the third installment in the Avalon Bay series, featuring Cassie and Tate. Readers will still enjoy this as a standalone, but its fun to read it in series order, if only to catch up with the couples from the first two books in the series and see how they are doing. Cassie grew up in Avalon Bay, but has been away at college. She is home for the summer staying with her grandmother for the last time before the Beacon hotel which has been in her family for generations reopens under new ownership. She isn't planning to meet anyone in the short time she is in town for the summer, but the runs into town playboy, irresistible Tate Bartlett, and she finds herself drawn to his charm, genuine care, and friendship. What starts as a possible summer fling for Cassie and Tate ends up becoming so much more as the two spend time together and secrets are revealed. Great romance and also very humorous at times. Can't wait for the next release!

This book made me want to be besties with Cassie and Tate and live in Avalon Bay and work at the hotel for the rest of my life. It was the perfect amount of sweet, spice, and sassy and without spoiling anything, made me develop a variety of strong feelings towards each of the characters! Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

This was such a fun read! I can't wait for more by this author. I would absolutely recommend! If you are looking for a book to get you back into reading. This is it!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Publication date: July 18, 2023

The Summer Girl is the third in the Avalon Bay series by Elle Kennedy. These do not need to be read in order (I have actually only read the 2nd and 3rd books so far) and are the spicy Rom-Com I’ve come to expect from this author.

Cassie Soul is a Summer Girl, visiting Avalon Bay for the summer. She was actually born and spent the first few years of her life growing up in Avalon Bay but her parents divorce drove her and her mom to Boston with rare visits back.

Cassie is staying with her grandmother the former owner of the Beacon Hotel in her last summer on the island. While spending time with her grandmother is her first priority, Cassie has her sights set on a summer fling. Finding the right guy to spend the summer with, no string attached.

Cassie meets Tate Bartlett almost as soon as she arrives. He’s the perfect candidate for her summer fling, good looking, a bit of a player and not into long term relationships. Their prospects look good until Tate sticks Cassie in the friend zone.

As the summer wears on, Cassie and Tate can’t deny their attraction to each other and cross the friend zone line. Vowing to ensure they keep their feelings intact and maintain their summer fling free of emotional connections. As the summer comes to an end, neither Cassie or Tate want o admit their feeling have grown into more than just a fling.

I loved Cassie and Tate’s story! This was a four star read for me. I highly recommend for any romance readers out there but be warned, there is a good amount of spice included in this one!

#NetGalley #avalonbay #thesummergirl #ellekennedy

Cassie wants a summer fling (her first) for her last summer at the beach before her family sells their home. Tate is the townie player she has chosen to meet her needs. They dance around each other for a bit as Cassie harps on her body image and mommy issues. When I was in my 20s, I might have enjoyed the story, but in my 40s I just found it superficial and immature. I could have done without all the crass body part references. I didn't find it spicy, just skanky. The characters were shallow, and what diversity was included in the story seemed introduced just to check a box. Overall, it was OK for a book to pass the time, but it didn't leave me with anything. Perhaps I'm not the right demographic.

2.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to #NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Outerbanks vibe, summery, angsty, salty, sweet.
Perfectttt beach read! This series really nails the small beach town, vacation romance vibe.