Cassie wants to have a summer fling. Her grandmother is selling her house in Avalon Bay and moving to Boston, her relationship with her divorced parents is fraught, and she wants something for herself. Tate is a bit of a player, but everyone playing knows the rules and comes out friends. When they finally decided to fling, they are both determined not to catch feelings. However, Avalon Bay has its share of secrets and Cassie and Tate may not have a choice.

I struggled a little bit in the will-they-won't-they section of the book, but the overall vibes between the characters kept me reading. Cassie's mother was a real piece of work and I breathed a sigh of relief as that situation ended. Overall, I enjoyed the read and rooted for the HEA and I really enjoyed the setting of Avalon Bay and the extended cast of characters.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

I requested The Summer Girl based on the cover art, and I thought it would make for a great summer read, and I was correct in my assumption!

After downloading the ARC, I was worried when I realized that this book is part of a series, however it was perfectly fine as a stand alone read.

Cassie is headed to Avalon Bay for the summer to spend time with her grandmother, as their family hotel is sold. While there, Cassie intends to have the summer fling she's been hoping for.

What makes this book different, is that while there's quite a bit of spice, we are also given a great story around relationships. I initially thought maybe it was just another book about a spicy fling, but we get much more depth here.

I would recommend this solid summer read! This is my first read by this author, and I will seek out her other works.

I've enjoyed the Avalon Bay series so far. It takes place in a wonderful location that always makes me feel like I want to be there, despite the fact that I don't like the heat. You have some great characters (including some difficult side characters as well as some amazing comical characters). There are some serious situations and since these are young adults, you also have the angst that goes along with them. You have the wisdom of the more seasoned adults and the precocious children. And you get your happy ending. I expected this story to be about the same but somewhere in the final third of the book, it became so much more for me. That punch to the gut that has you swallowing down your emotions so you don't cry (I lost that battle right until the end). Is it a good beach read? Sure but, for whatever reason, I felt more emotional than in any previous Elle Kennedy book that I've read. I wasn't positive we'd get an HEA for Cass and Tate, but the journey was worth it.

Elle Kennedy is hitting her stride in the Avalon Bay series with The Summer Girl. Cassie and Tate are a perfect beach read couple full of friends to lovers goodness. The banter was some of Elle Kennedy's best. There was a third act break up, but it was understandable given the family drama that ensues.

I LOVED Tate! Of all the Avalon Bay boys, I think he’s the biggest winner.

And Cassie is a pretty great FMC as well.

It will give you all the feels, in both a lovey-dovey sexy way and a deep-hearted truths kinda way. And the window scene?! It’s like Taylor Swift’s ‘You Belong With Me’ video got an R rating for explicit sexual content 😅

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I liked the characters and the plot moved at a decent pace. It had a good blend of romance and drama (especially family drama). The twist at the end was definitely unexpected!

This is the third book in the Avalon Bay series; let me tell you, it's the best one yet! Cassie, a college student, heads back to Avalon Bay for the summer, hoping to find a fling. Enter Tate, the charming sailing instructor, and notorious player, who initially puts her in the friend zone, but that doesn't last long. Their friendship feels incredibly genuine, and their chemistry is irresistible. The story has profound moments, but overall, it's a light and perfect beach read. The characters are endearing, and I especially loved the heartwarming bond between Cassie and her grandma. If audiobooks are your thing, the version narrated by Caitlin Elizabeth and Teddy Hamilton is worth checking out. Caitlin's voice suits Cassie's character beautifully, exuding charm and sweetness. Teddy Hamilton's narration is excellent, though some wished for a better female voice portrayal. Nonetheless, both narrators skillfully capture the emotions and banter, making the audiobook a fun and dreamy summer escape!

I really liked this book and will definitely read more from Elle Kennedy! This was my first time reading any of her novels and the writing is really good, I loved the characters, and the side characters played a big role in the story which I always love. It was a sweet and fun romance, not exactly closed door but not THAT open either. Definitely a perfect, fun summer read that has the vibes.

Cassie is back in Avalon Bay for her last summer and this year she has big plans. Every summer she watches other people have these passionate but fleeting flings and she wants one of her own. Never mind that she’s never actually slept with a guy before. She’s determined that this will be her first summer fling.

So when she meets Tate, the town’s lovable player who has never had a serious relationship she thinks she’s hit the jackpot. But Tate is worried about her getting too invested so he plants her firmly in the friend zone and vows to help her find her fling. The problem is that the more time he spends as her wingman the more he realizes he should have taken her up on her offer. And when he does he’s shocked when he finds he’s the one getting feelings involved.

This is hands down my favorite book in the Avalon Bay series and I would go so far as to say it’s one of my favorite books she’s has ever written. The chemistry between Cassie and Tate is unmatched. Even as her wingman it was clear that no one had even a flicker of the heat that they did.

What took me by surprise is how well she incorporated the family drama aspect into the story. While Cassie and Tate’s relationship was a central piece, their career aspirations and family issues played a large role and honestly had me just as involved as the relationship. Especially when everything hit the fan and long buried secrets came out.

This one also had that found family vibe that I live for and I love how with each book the friend group gets bigger and closer. I think Cassie was the perfect addition to the gang and I can’t wait to spend more time in Avalon Bay!

4.25 stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thanks so much to St Martins Press and NetGalley for the eARC of this book!

This was such a fun summer read. As my first Elle Kennedy book, I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this (third book in a series lol oops) but I can say I really enjoyed it. I absolutely loved Tate, but personally wasn’t a huge fan of that particular third act breakup. Cassie was a really great FMC. Her dealings with her mother were so familiar it hurt, and I really connected with her in so many ways.

Definitely recommend for that next summer read.

2.5 stars, rounded up.

This book was very much not for me. The MCs meet in the first chapter and then nothing happens for 150 pages. Very slow start.

In no particular order, here are some other things that bugged me:
- This is the first book I've read in the Avalon Bay series and, honestly, I found the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous really off-putting. FMC throws around thousands of dollars of other people's money with no concerns. Didn't love it.
- FMC is one of those women who thinks that, despite having had all sorts of sexual experiences, she's still a virgin because she hasn't had penetrative sex yet. Are there seriously people this age that still think like this??
- For some weird reason, BIPOC people are never referred to as such, they're always tagged by having "dark hair" and other vague contextual clues.

To be fair to the author, I'm pretty far outside the New Adult demographic and this story very much skews young. I'm just way past the stage where I'm angsting about my relationship with my parents and fumbling through first relationships. Younger reader may have an easier time relating.

I have so enjoyed this series. Interconnected standalone series that give you a little taste of the previous couples. I couldn’t remember 100% the previous books, but there was enough in this that reminded me without spoiling the other stories if you read them out of order.

Tate and Cassie’s story was another spicy delight with real, deep character connections. There are some deep topics in this- check content warnings (body image, manipulation, narcissistic parent, divorce, cheating, miscarriage, mentions of abortion, etc.). A lot heavy than I initially thought it would be. Probably a little heavier for a summer read.

I loved the growth I saw from the characters just in 300 pages. Elle Kennedy is a great go to author.

Special thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this digital ARC.

When I first began reading this book, I assumed it must be a young adult novel because the dialogue and writing felt very juvenile. I soon realized it was not, but I just couldn't connect with the writing or the characters.

Thank you Netgally and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a care free story about summer vacations. A girl who is at a family home on an island for the summer is determined to have a summer fling. Enter Tate. She just happens to witness an awkward break up and gets caught. Which then puts into motion a flirty friendship that then leads to more. It was a fun story that is easy to get lost in, especially when we are in the middle of summer! It was fun!

I have not read the previous two books from this series, but that didn't matter. I wholeheartedly loved and enjoyed every minute of this novel. It's one that will completely captivate you from page one and would be a perfect beach read!

I felt like a young adult again getting wrapped up in Cassie and Tate's story. It took a turn that I wasn't expecting. That was a little heartbreaking, but I can see why the story had to go there.

The little sisters were adorable. The relationship between Cassie and her step mom was great. Not every step parent & step child gets to have that connection and bond, and while it was due to a narcissistic mother, it was a beautiful part of the book to watch play out through the pages.

Cassie's grandmother was precious, but Cassie's mother needs serious help!

All in all, it had me in my feels from the hard and heartbreaking moments to the swoony & steamy moments. I recommend you read this one.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the e-ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cassie is visiting the bay for the summer and staying with her grandmother. She grew up here, but once her parents got divorced she moved north. Around the time Cassie left, Tate's family arrived. Tate teaches sailing lessons and helps run his family's business. He's a bit of a playboy, but also a sweet and sunshiny character. I was a little worried about picking up this book since I have not yet read the first two books in the Avalon Bay series but it was great as a stand-alone so there was no need to worry. Of course, I enjoyed this book so much that I feel like I need to go back and read the first two as soon as possible. Cassie’s mom was a narcissistic self centered, and the worst character in the book, but. I appreciate the author giving children permission to remove themselves from toxic relationships. I think more people need to be aware of toxic behavior and no matter who they are in your life you have permission to remove people from your life that does not align with your happiness.
Thank you Netgalley, St Martins Press and Elle Kennedy

This book (and series) was so much freaking fun!! I didn’t want to put it down once I started. Elle really never lets us down when it comes to her books and this was no exception. It was such a perfect summer read. I loved the beach town setting and the gradual progression from neighbors to friends to more.

Cassie is so adorably awkward. It made her character so endearing and you couldn’t help but love her. Tate was really such a sweetheart too. He has this playboy reputation, but he’s just a cinnamon roll at heart. This one is fairly low angst until the end, which unexpectedly made me tear up. It was a twist that I didn’t see coming (love that) and it really tugged at my heartstrings. These 2 together were so sweet and I really wanted the best for them.

The cute banter, the setting, the spice, THE WINDOW SCENE…it was all perfection. Cassie was supposed to just be a summer girl but you couldn’t help but want her to be Tate’s forever girl!

This book is my favorite by far in the Avalon Bay series!! It contains all the classic Elle Kennedy writing we love- good banter, good spice, and a story that sucks you in immediately. Thanks so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Elle Kennedy for this ARC!
 
The Summer Girl follows Cassie as she spends one last summer with her grandma in Avalon Bay before her grandma moves to the northeast to be closer to the rest of her family. They’ve sold their hotel to Mackenzie Cabot (from Good Girl Complex) and the hotel is just about to open at the end of the summer. When Cassie accidentally eavesdrops on Tate as his FWB situation is ending, they keep running into each other, especially since Tate is house-sitting right next door to where Cassie is spending the summer looking for a summer fling. When Tate agrees to help her find a fling, both realize that they may just find what they’re looking for in each other.
 
If you love wingman-turned-fling, good banter, competition (Beach Games time!!), and spice, this book is the one for you. If you’re new to Elle Kennedy and this is your first book by her, I HIGHLY recommend reading my two favorite series by her- Off Campus and Briar U which are incredible college hockey romance books!

In this third return to Avalon Bay, virgin Cassie Soul is looking for a summer fling. She wants fun, sun and to get some experience in bed. She meets Tate Bartlett, a "player" who is more than happy to give Cassie the summer she is looking for. After Tate is warned away because Cassie is a nice girl and nice girls catch feelings, he decides to be Cassie's wingman as she looks for her summer fling. Yeah, right! You can see from a mile away that these two are going to fall for each other.

Tate is sweet and kind and amazing. He finds himself falling when he's never done that before, so he has a bit of a shock realizing the depth of his feelings. He's also very careful with Cassie's heart, I thought, and the family drama that plays out seemed realistic as well as heartbreaking. Cassie's mother is a piece of work, and she manages to tank a few lives (she thinks) as she visits Avalon Bay, causing major distress during the grand re-opening of The Beacon. I did like how the book revisits the couples in the first two books in the series.

Overall, this is a very pleasant romance, almost a rom-com in terms of the banter between the main characters. I kept reading because I really liked Tate and Cassie and I was rooting for them all the way. This book left me with a huge smile on my face. The Summer Girl is a fun read with plenty of flirting, romance and just a little drama to make everything interesting. A good addition to the series.

I liked this one a lot more than I thought I would. This trope isn't my favorite but it worked in here. I found both characters really likable. They were great together. While I haven't read the other books in this series, I didn't feel lost. I figured out what the previous books were about as the other couples appeared in here multiple times. There was quite a bit of family drama. It was definitely hard to read at times but it added some necessary conflict to the story. I would recommend.