Cover Image: The Summer Girl

The Summer Girl

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Member Reviews

Elle Kennedy can not write a bad novel, I absolutely love diving into her stories. This is the perfect beach read; lighthearted and funny with moments of sincerity and depth.

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This a fun summer beach read with all the necessities: light and easy read, page-turning, sexy and fun novel. This is part of a series which has similar characters but can be read as a stand-alone.

There is an interesting storyline aside from the lovelorn involving preserving the history of the town and its buildings. This story is the undercurrent which is carried through all the books providing the tie amongst the characters. For this reason I would recommend reading them in order.

The novel’s setting is the beach town of Avalon Bay in North Carolina where affluent people stay to escape for the summer from the chaos of their busy city lives. This story centers around Cassie Soul who is staying with her grandmother, Lydia Tanner, well-known owner of the Beacon Hotel. Mackenzie Cabot from Good Girl Complex will be renovating and restoring the hotel since bought it from Lydia. The hotel represents historical significance for the Tanner family which is the thread which strings the series together. Cassie, a college student, has been living in Boston with her mother and has come to Avalon Bay as her father is re-marrying in NC.

Cassie attends a party at Luke's house where she is introduced to the locals who live in Avalon Bay. After her parents divorce, her mother took her to live in Boston so she doesn't know her father or new step-sister very well. She decides that she will have a carefree summer as she celebrates her 21st birthday. It doesn't take long for her to find a "summer fling" when she overhears Tate Bartlett being dumped by his girlfriend. The sailing instructor is no stranger to flings but does not want to break Cassie's heart and decides she needs to stay in the friend zone. How long will he be able to keep his distance from the fun loving sweet Cassie. There are many events planned for this to be an eventful summer.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for providing this digital book for review consideration. I have read this book and all opinions expressed are my own.

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Picked this up thinking it would be a fun summer romance, and while I enjoyed some of the banter between the two characters, I hated everything else about them. The virgin, innocent FMC with giant boobs who doesn;t know how beautiful she is and the experienced playboy MMC who comes along to show her the wonderful world of sex is one of my least favorite tropes, and everything about this made me cringe. This book featured numerous female characters, and yet I'm not sure it even passed the bechdel test as every conversation revolved around boys. Three stars for the awesome grandma, the complicated family aspects, and the banter. The spice was also top tier. Please do not read if you respect women, but feel free to pick up solely for the spice -- that's about all this book was good for.

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I love Elle Kennedys “The Deal” series so of course I am always down to check out her other works. This book was funny, and cringy (but in the best way). This was a great read!

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The main character in this book was annoying to me. The emotional abuse by her mother was brushed over too much and never addressed by others who witnessed it.

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The Summer Girl was such a great addition to the world of Avalon Bay. I felt like I was able to really connect with the main character and the struggle she is going through with her family. As always another amazing book from the mind of Elle Kennedy.

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"The Summer Girl" by Elle Kennedy is a steamy and exhilarating romance that whisks readers away to a sun-soaked paradise filled with passion and intrigue. Set against the backdrop of a picturesque seaside town, the novel follows the sizzling chemistry between its vibrant protagonists as they embark on a summer fling that ignites sparks neither can deny. With its evocative setting, palpable tension, and irresistible charm, Kennedy's storytelling sweeps readers off their feet and leaves them longing for their own summer romance. Whether you're lounging on the beach or curled up at home, "The Summer Girl" is the perfect escape for anyone craving a dose of love, laughter, and adventure.

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Not for me. Cassie and Tate's relationship was too much lust-at-first-sight for me to find it cute.

Additionally, the conflicts were all frustrating.

First, the reason why Tate didn't want to date Cassie to begin with was incredibly weak, and then he didn't even have a good reason to change his mind part of the way through the book. This felt like it needed a more compelling reason.

And second, the third act conflict was so frustrating. I know Cassie had a not so great relationship with her mom, but it honestly felt like Cassie's mom was getting a little of unneeded hate from all sides, especially compared to how Tate's dad was treated. It felt like it could have been used as a moment for Cassie to understand her mom's bitterness, but it really just came across as her mom having no depth.

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I LOVED this book so much!! I fell in love with the characters and (most) of their families! I loved the setting, the friendships made, and watching the relationships form. There's a bit of spice with a lot of chemistry, and I couldn't put this one down!! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

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The quintessential summer read! I loved returning to Avalon Bay and Cassie and Tate are probably my favourite couple of the series so far.

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Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book! The title and this beautiful cover drew me in and i was excited to read this book! I will be recommending this book to others for readers advisory.

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Little did I know when I requested this book that there are two that came before. Immediate add to cart after reading this one! When Cassie returns to Avalon Bay for the summer with her grandmother before the sale of her families hotel The Beacon she isn’t looking for love. Cassie has a complicated relationship with both of her parents that sees trials and tribulations throughout this book ultimately leading Cassie to closure from her childhood. Cue in Tate and some of his friends from the area and Cassie is on the path to having a great summer. Overall a great read with a bit of spice.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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As always, Elle Kennedy knocks it out of the park. The Avalon Bay series quickly became a favourite of mine, providing that much needed escape from reality. Cassie and Tate are such a cute couple and I absolutely adored the friends to lovers plot.

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A cute beach read!

Both MC's are likeable. They clearly have chemistry. good communication and are just overall a cute match.

I wish the story didn't take so long to "start".

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This is the third book in the Avalon Bay series. This book totally made up for book #2 in the series. I was not a fan of the second book, I almost didn’t want to pick this one up, but I am glad I did. This book is the perfect beach read. It’s dual POV, friends to lovers, and some family drama in it. This book is such a quick and easy read. I recommend checking it out!

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My first series by Elle Kennedy and I am in. I already own her backlist, and so I need to get on it. I loved it.

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Elle Kennedy does not miss! I loved the setting and characters of this book. It was great seeing characters from the other books and a glimpse of where they are now. I would read this woman’s grocery lists!

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I didn't love the first two books in this series... in my opinion, it doesn't have the same "UUUMPH" as the Off-Campus or BriarU series. I think my deep admiration for the first two series was what pushed me through the first two books of this series and then somehow brainwashed me into reading this new third book.

I LOVE small-town summer tropes. It is my absolute favorite. Cassie, a college senior, is spending the summer in Avalon Bay with her grandmother while figuring out what she wants to do after college. Never having been in a relationship, Cassie is hoping to find a summer fling and thinks that Tate, her very handsome and very temporary next-door neighbor, would be the perfect candidate. I will say, that Elle Kennedy has a unique way of playing on women's insecurities and glamorizing the beauty of men... she doesn't have my favorite writing style.

My rating system is find of comical, but 3 stars for me means I was able to read it.... didn't like it, didn't love it, but finished and didn't "DNR"...
Vibes:
* beach setting 10/10
** steaaaamy-ish
* shared/overlapping characters (!!, my favorite)

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I was excited to learn there would be a new installment in the Avalon Bay series. It’s youthful, it’s fun and who doesn’t need a good beach read?

This book delivered on romance and drama. A well developed plot involving Cassie, a former Avalon Bay resident, who was visiting to help her grandmother close down her house and help her pack for a move to Boston. Cassie is such a delightful character, smart and funny, with a penchant for silver linings and unresolved issues with her parents. It was easy to relate to her and her struggles. Cassie wants to “fling” with the boy next door, Tate, who is a townie but house sitting for a couple. They meet, sparks fly…but can they find that elusive happily ever after? You will have to read it and find out!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

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Great addition to the series of Avalon Bay! Sometimes it is fun to come back to a series and see old and new characters in a different light. Sweet romance with summer vibes. The perfect beach read.

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