Fun book to read if you're up for laughter and a bit of angst.

Cassandra is spending her last summer in Avalon Bay with her grandmother. Her family owned The Beacon, a classy hotel for over 50 years, but ever since Cassie's grandfather died it'd been too much for her grandmother to run alone. Cassie grew up in the Bay, but when her parents got divorced when she was 12, her mom moved her to Boston. Her father later remarried and they had twin girls and Cassie was replaced.

Cassie decided that this is the summer she plans to get rid of her virginity. She'll be 21 soon and all she needs is a willing partner to have a summer fling. It can't be that hard; can it?

Tate is the local playboy, but he always ends things on good terms. No one ever bad mouths him because he's just a good guy. He just doesn't want a relationship. Working part-time at the Yacht Club and at his dad's marina takes up a lot of time as well. He's saving up to buy a boat of his own and he can't wait.

When he meets Cassie at a party and realizes that she's Lydia's granddaughter, he's surprised. She doesn't act like the usual "rich people" who vacation in town. But when he realizes that she lives next door to the house that he's house sitting for the summer, they become friendly.

When Cassie asks him to be her summer fling, he agrees at first, then minutes later changes his mind and friend zones her. His friend was worried that Cassie's heart would be broken by the end of summer. But being the coward he is, Tate doesn't say anything. So he decides to be her wingman in bars helping her pick up men. Some lines get blurred and Cassie doesn't know what to make of him.

One night on the porch, when Tate overheard Cassie's mom verbally attack her about her looks, he decides not to hold back with Cassie anymore. He needs her to know how beautiful she really is. Slowly they become a couple and feelings begin developing on both sides. But when Cassie's mother does the unthinkable at the reopening of the hotel, Cassie's relationship with Tate is destroyed.

A must read.

this was probably my least favorite from the avalon bay series, but I still absolutely loved every moment between cassie and tate!! 🥰

what I loved most about GOOD GIRL COMPLEX and BAD GIRL REPUTATION was the blend of drama between the “clones” and the natives - along with the general antics of the bay, of course

this one took a different turn with cassie, a “clone” only around for the summer, wanting a summer fling with one of the boys. it was sweet and romantic and completely drama-free (until the end of course 😳), and I almost wanted more!

I wanted more of cassie interacting with the rest of tate’s crew - the beach games chapters were definitely among my favorites due to seeing her with evan, cooper, mac and gen! and beyond all of that, cassie and her family just didn’t pack the same emotional punch that mac and gen did for me

however!! I absolutely adored her relationship with her grandmother and step-sisters! it gave off such a heart-warming vibe that set the tone for the book 🥹

while the drama in this one surrounded cassie’s toddler mother (literally she’s the worst), I didn’t get the sense of urgency for the third act breakup (😐) and the reasoning behind the drama in the first place

I cannot thank st martins press and netgalley enough for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! I took my time with this one!!!!

rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: provence rosé

I so so badly want to love EK’s non hockey related books, and I keep thinking that the next book in this particular series is going to be the one that does it for me, but unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be working out for me ☹️

This book had soooo much potential!! The meet cute in the first chapter was unbelievably charming, but by chapter 4 I was already over how many times the fmc’s massive rack had been mentioned (it had to be /at least/ 10 times 😮‍💨) and listen, as a fellow member of the big tiddie committee, I absolutely understand Cassie’s insecurities about her boobs, but honestly they were just her entire personality and I felt like they were the only thing that Tate /really/ liked about her.

To me, the characters just read really shallow & kind of juvenile/immature. I think I said the same thing about Bad Girl Rep, but these two seem like a couple that would break up shortly after the epilogue.

While this wasn’t my cup of tea, I do think if you’ve enjoyed the first two books in this series, you’d probably enjoy this one too! Thank you to netgalley & St Martin’s Press for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

I just adore this series!

Typically I'm a murder-y book reader. But Elle Kennedy is always my weakness. She writes so beautifully and so genuine. It's always a joy to read her books and watch the story come together.

Cassie & Tate - oh my goodness could these 2 be any sweeter. I loved this entire story and I can't wait to see it there will be a 4th addition to the series.

Read if you like: no strings attached and friends to lovers.
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Cassie is back in Avalon Bay after being away for a while and there she runs into Tate. She hopes that the will become her summer fling.
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This book was so fun and the perfect summer romance. I loved the chemistry and tension between Cassie and Tate and I couldn't stop reading.

The third book in the Avalon Bay series by Elle Kennedy, is just as good as you'd expect a book from Elle Kennedy. This is the most perfect summer read with the best romance, and spice. Just like any Elle Kennedy, I would recommend as the perfect relaxing, fun read. And while you don't have to read the other books in the series first to enjoy it, I highly suggest still doing so as the whole series is a blast!

y’all this book was SO much fun. tate and cassie have officially taken the lead as my favorite avalon bay couple. in typical elle kennedy fashion the fun and banter starts right away with these two and doesn’t let up the entire story.

tate was so easy to fall in love with, the towns hot fuck boy but the sweetest of fuck boys that wont hurt anyones feelings? yes please sign me up. cassie is also the cutest thing and was so easy to adore. the way she was constantly babbling and getting awkward around tate bc he was so cute cracked me up.

also the spicy times my lord, the window scene?!?!?!??! i die.

if you’re in the mood for a fun friends to lovers summer read this is definitely the book for you!!

Awww Tate's story! This was my favorite male character story of Avalon Bay. I was surprised we didn't get more on Alana thought. Cassie and Tate didn't have the obvious chemistry to me at first so it was sweet to see their relationship grow, especially with how caring Tate is. I was truly surprised with his development considering how in the other two books he's seen as such a playboy. The plot twist was a doozy and I honestly didn't know how the book was going to recover everything but was pleasantly surprised with how everything worked out.

Looking at the cover I knew this could be the perfect poolside summer read - and it was a cute friends to lovers story, there were obstacles but none too big to overcome. The book had enough depth to make the characters real and not just shiny and perfect but it stayed light and was a joy to listen to while running errands and watching kids at the pool.
While being the third book in the series this was my second return to Avalon Bay after reading Bad Girl Reputation last summer but these book work as standalones, yes you get an update on the relationships that have developed in previous books but the focus is on the new couple and the update is not an extensive subject - the plot from previous books does not get rehashed so you can still read those after.

As someone who normally doesn’t love friends to lovers stories I loved every second of this it was fun cute sweet. I love the Avalon bay series and this one is even better… Elle Kennedy never disappoint!

The Summer Girl was an easy read about a summer fling that develops into a bit more. It’s a standalone in a series so even though it’s part of the Avalon Bay series, you can read it without having read the others. (I appreciated that because I haven’t read either of the first two books, but I intend to now, though!)

This book started off hilariously with Cassie involuntarily eavesdropping on Tate getting dumped by his current “buddy”. The entertainment continues as Cassie’s new neighbor is none other than Tate. And she’s convinced he’d be the perfect summer fling. The Summer Girl was cheesy cute and witty with just enough drama (especially around the 85%-ish mark). I adored Cassie’s grandmother and her sass but Cassie’s mom can kick rocks. I really wanted more of an ending though. I’m a sappy, full ending lover and this fell a bit short. I’d still give this a 4 stars and recommend if you’re looking for a cute summer read!

Contemporary Romance
Dual POV
Spicy 🌶🌶🌶

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The Summer Girl is great as part of a series but also as a stand alone. Cassie is your typical young 20 something who has gone through her fair share in her young age and has internalized plenty but not yet learned how to speak her mind about it. Enter Tate, the summer golden boy who is just what Cassie needs to come out of her shell and also maybe help him also notice that not everyone sees so much sunshine and roses all the time. The author portrays the situation well and this is, so far my favorite book of the series but toward the end there, while I think Tate is hugely empathetic to Cassie, the way the author chooses to describe how he's empathetic to Cassie is perhaps a bit over the top. I very much enjoyed this book and how it was portrayed. Grandma and the twins are by far the best.

What a perfect beach book! Elle Kennedy develops the chemistry between Cassie and Tate perfectly. The family drama doesn't take away from this friends to lovers romance. I really enjoyed it. Thanks #NetGalley

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

I received this book from NetGalley and the publishers to read and review. All statements above are my true
opinions after fully reading this book.
I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was a fairly quick & very enjoyable read! I can never go wrong with me Elle Kennedy book!

With it being summer time highly recommend the Avalon Bay series and especially "The Summer Girl." This book highlights how sometimes a summer fling is all you need and how you can learn a lot about yourself over a summer too. While the romance in this book is light hearted with a friends to lovers vibe, the familial dramas our characters (especially Cassie) deal with are not. Enjoyed getting to see returns of characters from the other two books, but you don't need to read them in order to enjoy this one.

The Summer Girl

This book is an incredible summer read. Elle Kennedy is the master at crafting characters with complex family dynamics and the FWB to lovers trope. I devoured this book as it inspired me to chase big dreams and connect with the characters as they navigate complex dynamics in a way that still feels relatable to a general audience. The Summer Girl is definitely a book to put to the front of your TBR pile.

I received this novel as an advanced review copy and offer my honest opinion voluntarily.

What's summer without a trip back to Avalon Bay, our favourite fictional beach town where locals and "clones" mingle together and let off some steam.
The Summer Girl follows Cassie, a college student visiting her family in Avalon Bay who's looking for a summer fling, and Tate, Avalon Bay's resident fun-loving player who happens to be housesitting next door. While Tate is hesitant at first, they can't seem to stay away from each other. But Avalon Bay is full of secrets, can their relationship survive when a big secret is revealed?
This series keeps getting better and better and this might be our favourite Avalon Bay book to date.
Cassie had a lot of growing to do like feeling comfortable in her body and sharing her feelings with others. We rooted her on as she grew into herself, and her story had a great payoff in the end.
Tate was the best! So caring and thoughtful in his friendship then fling with Cassie. He also had a lot to work through and they really pushed each other to be better versions of themselves. They were super cute together. We love seeing a player turn into a cuddly bear.
But let's not forget that this is about a summer fling and boy did they fling! Their chemistry and sparks were fire! And while there lots of spice & steam there's still a plot. We also got to revisit some old Avalon Bay friends/couples and watch them participate in a competitive Beach Games!

Read if you like:
• Friends to lovers romance
• Small Beach Town
• Summer fling + maybe more?
• Family drama
• "Teach me" spicy vibes

I loved the first two Avalon Bay books and the third did not disappoint. I really liked Cassie and Tate. I loved the glimpses of characters from the previous books. A fun, quick story- the perfect summer read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the arc. All opinions are my own.

This book was so cute and you don’t have to have read the others to know what is going on. I enjoyed the plot and it was filled with funny moments as well as serious ones.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.