Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this arc.

I’ve enjoyed the previous Avalon Bay books (Good Girl Complex and Bad Girl Reputation) but they had not quite lived up to the experience of books like The Deal for me. It’s the kind of reading high I’m always chasing and I’m pleased to say that The Summer Girl brings it. (So much so that I am currently happily falling down an Off Campus re-reading rabbit hole with no regrets.) This time the banter and the vibe and the plot all worked for me and I spent most all of the book in a happy reading daze.

One of the things I loved about the entire Off Campus series (and its offshoots) was the banter between the friends; the hockey guys, the girls and their own group of friends. It’s present in the Avalon Bay series too but in The Summer Girl it shines more brightly. It gave me those feel-good vibes you do so well.

Equally in The Summer Girl there are strong female friendships as well – Cassie’s good friend back in Boston and her local friend from her childhood, as well as the new friends she makes with Mac and Gen and their crew.

Right up until the last 5-10% of the book I was pretty much in my reading happy place. I didn’t love the ending (well, except for the very end because of course) – I had hoped to see some things on page which were all done off page – especially an important conversation Cassie was to have with her dad – and I got a bit grumpy with Tate’s mother at one point. Still, the bleak part doesn’t last long for readers and Tate and Cassie are happy and in love – where they belong – by the time THE END rolls around.

I gobbled up this book like the tastiest treat. I felt disappointed at the end only because the book had finished. The Summer Girl is of course a different book to The Deal or The Mistake or any of my other favourites of these books. But it has everything in it that makes it the best of Elle Kennedy’s stories. Readers who loved the Off Campus books will probably love The Summer Girl too. I know I did.

DNF. The MMC gave me the worst ick, and I could not for the life of me understand why everyone kept trying to convince the reader he was a great guy when he literally only talked about “tits and asses.” Once the FMC defended him and said “if it was anyone else I’d be offended” — big nope from me.

This summer read had a great beachy bonfire feel and Cassie and Tate had a fun first meeting and they only get better. The character growth and drama are interesting.

I'm looking forward to more Avalon Bay books!

Thank you #Netgalley for this ARC of The Summer Girl.

A fun, light hearted return to Avalon Bay. The perfect beach read for some romance and fun. Cassie and Tate's relationship had a perfect build from the first awkward bonfire moment all the way through to the end. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC.

thank you so much to netgalley and st. martin’s griffin for the e-arc!! the summer girl is by far my favourite in the avalon bay series!! it was so so good, i loved tate and cassie! their relationship formed in a good way, the pacing of the book was phenomenal and didn’t have any of those lulls that some romance novels have. i liked how they (cassie and tate) tied in with the twins and the gang! genuinely tate is such a sweet mc he is a lot better than the typical frat boy and i will give him brownie points for that! he is so caring and compassionate towards cassie it made my heart melt big time!! we love gate! and cassie i’m so proud of her, seeing her grow throughout the book was a delight! she gains confidence in who she is, stands up to those who hurt her and does what’s best for her!! the way she reconnects with her family and develops a better relationship with them made me cry a lil, we love strong family bonds! i have noticed a trend (unsure if thats it) how most of kennedy’s characters have terrible mom’s which is interesting to note i feel like we mostly see terrible dad’s in books and media. just a random observation of mine, anywho this book is a perfect beach read!! loveable characters, a solid storyline, and the right amount of smut! i hope she continues on with this series, she will always be an instant read author for me and

This is the perfect summer romance.
Cassie returns to Avalon Bay to say goodbye to the inn that’s been in her family for years. She spends the summer with her grandma and meets Tate, a hot guy at a beach party, who she runs into while he’s getting dumped by his FWB.

It just so happens he’s house sitting her grandma’s neighbors house and after trying so hard not to become flings for each other, they decide they can’t keep their eyes or hands off each other.

This was perfectly spicy. There is some Seggsy boat time and sneaking into bedrooms at night. The chemistry between these two was just what I needed. I loved following their friends to flings to lovers.

Cassie’s mom was a narcissistic bish, and the worst character in the book, but all that aside I liked this one a lot and it made for a great summer romance!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

a cute and charming emotional romance that was delightful.

thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for this review copy.

4.5 Stars rounded up! We return to the beach town of Avalon Bay in The Summer Girl, where rising college senior Cassie spends the summer at her grandma’s home at the Bay. She’s determined to have a summer fling, and when she meets the very attractive and charismatic Tate, she’s immediately smitten. Even though there are immediate sparks, Tate wants to keep their relationship platonic and work on being friends. As the summer goes on, they form undeniable chemistry and explore the possibilities of a situationship for the rest of summer.

I feel like each book is better than the last in this series, but The Summer Girl can definitely be read as a standalone with minimal spoilers. Even though the characters definitely feel young and a bit surface-level, this was a nice summer escape read that would be perfect to enjoy by the pool or beach. Teddy Hamilton and Caitlin Elizabeth voice these characters flawlessly in this 12 hour audiobook.

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the advanced review copies.

This was another great addition to Elle’s Avalon Bay series! These are perfect summer beach reads! I love seeing the characters from previous books come back into the next one. Looking forward to more!

I love Elle Kennedy's books because reading them is like spending time with an old friend. I know exactly what I'm going to get, and that includes steamy romance, sharp and witty banter, and wonderful characters.

In this return to Avalon Bay, we meet Cassie, who has been coming to the island every summer for years. Cassie is looking for a summer fling this year before she heads back for her senior year of college. Tate is one of the full time island islanders, and they meet when Cassie overhears him getting dumped by his friends with benefits girl. There is an instant attraction, but Tate doesn't want to do his usual love 'em and leave 'em routine with Cassie and instead insists on just being friends.

One of the things that makes it so easy to love Elle Kennedy is that her romances are never just simple love stories, there are always lessons weaved into her storytelling, and this one is no different. Cassie struggles with her own self esteem due to a narcissistic mother and a father who has pushed her out of his new family. Tate is a player because he can't imagine finding a relationship to match up with the impossible yard stick of his parents' perfect marriage.

This was an easy book to love, and is what I've come to expect from Elle Kennedy. Reading about the lives and loves of the people on Avalon Bay is something I've come to look forward to each summer, and I hope we get to see even more from them!

Thank you to St Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This is the 3rd book in the Avalon Bay series, and in my opinion this is the best one so far.

Cassie and Tate are by far my favourite couple in this series. They love each other, they respect each other, and they're good to each other. Tate isn't like the Hartley twins from the previous two books, who at times I found unpalatable because of their toxicity. Tate is genuinely a good guy who loves his family, friends, and eventually Cassie. There were so many factors thrown at these two that they worked through together, and even when they hit an obstacle they couldn't cross and the third-act breakup hit, it actually made so much sense in the greater story and knowing what we do about these two characters. I also really liked how the third-act breakup was resolved, it made sense in the greater context and overall worked really well.

Like I said, this was my favourite book of the series thus far, and it can be read as a standalone. However, I do think the series overall is quite well done and definitely worth reading!

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Once again, Elle Kennedy has given us a fun summer read loaded with swoon-worthy men. Cassie is back in Avalon Bay to spend the summer with her grandmother before moving her up to Boston. Tate is the fun-loving sailing instructor at the local club who doesn’t do relationships and is housesitting next door to Cassie for the summer.

I love the friendship these two start up after Tate sends Cassie firmly to the friend zone after a hot kiss. Tate then decides to be Cassie’s wingman to help her find her “summer fling” she craves.

This was a fun read, just like the previous two Avalon Bay books and I do enjoy getting to see old characters. If you’ve read any Kennedy in the past and enjoyed it then you’ll probably find yourself loving this town and her inhabitants too.

This is the best installment of Avalon Bay! I love Tate and Cassie together.

There were so many real characters in this book, and by that I mean people who make mistakes but keep on trying their best. Of course, we see this with Cassie’s father, who tries to keep a relationship with her in the only way she knows how. We also see this in Cassie’s stepmother, who loves Cassie in her own way. Tate’s parents also show how to move forward after mistakes (though we don’t get the full picture until the end of the book).

The character that stood out to me most was Cassie’s mother Victoria. She was portrayed so accurately as a narcissistic mother, and Cassie’s response to her was written so accurately to how the daughter of a narcissistic parent would act. I don’t know that I’ve ever read a romance novel that examines this relationship dynamic in such detail. The way Victoria criticized Cassie’s body and clothes every time chance she had, the way Victoria made comments about the food that Cassie ate, the way Cassie felt pressured to keep the peace between Victoria and everyone else, the way Cassie broke down crying after Victoria’s comments but only behind the safety of a closed door. All so heartbreaking, all so accurate.

I don’t quite know if I believe Tate’s actions near the end of the book, but I loved to read a happy ending for Cassie and Tate.

Definitely recommend for a summer read!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5)
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

What a fun summer read! Spicy, low angst, and kept me on my toes with a twist towards the end that I didn’t see coming! If you haven’t read any of the other Avalon Bay books, no worries — this one is okay to pick up as a standalone. This was my first Elle Kennedy book and I look forward to reading more of her work! My only complaint is that I wish it was a little longer, as some moments felt rushed, especially the end. But overall, definitely an enjoyable read!

Thank you NetGalley, Elle Kennedy, and St. Martin’s Press for a free copy of The Summer Girl (coming out July 18th!) in exchange for an honest review.


For 2023, I’ll be using this rating scale:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I mourned the ending of this journey 🥹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ really enjoyed and would recommend
⭐️⭐️⭐️ it was fine
⭐️⭐️ I didn’t enjoy this journey
⭐️ I dnf’d or wish I’d dnf’d
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ this is smutty smutty erotica 🥵
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ medium burn
🌶️🌶️🌶️ slow burn
🌶️🌶️ romantic b plot / closed door / YA romance
🌶️ no romance / nonfiction

I love Elle Kennedy's writing style and this book was no exception! The characters were so wonderfully fleshed out and relatable. I found myself both laughing out loud at multiple points in the story and having my heartstrings pulled by this story I'd grown attached to. Hilarious, spicy, and heartwarming. You won't be able to put it down!

Book Review
Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy

3rd
In Avalon bay series

MCs
Ginger and Gate aka Cassandra and Tate

Tropes and Thoughts
Beacon hotel- I envisioned the wrap around porch, swings and sand
Grandma- love a meddling senior whose wisdom is imparted with heavy sarcasm and love
Turtles and Dogs
Blended families
Difficult relationship with toxic parent
Infidelity and summer flings
Sailing and boat porn
Sandcastles and surf
Just enough family drama to make things interesting
Little bit of growing pains- self discovery- new adults figuring out their shit

Over all a great summer read

Thanks to @smpromance @netgalley @stmartinspress for my eARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own

I gotta say, this was my favourite book so far in the Avalon Bay series! The second book was kind of a miss for me but I enjoyed this one. I loved the characters and loved how Cassie’s character developed. It was funny, sad, with absolutely shocking twists.

Another great quintessential beach read!
Cassie is visiting Avalon Bay for the summer to say goodbye to her grandmother’s hotel. But Cassie is looking for something to make the summer more exciting - a summer fling! She then meets Tate, and they are forced to navigate their unique summer fling story together.

I loved that this book had some twists/conflict that made it unique from other “summer fling” stories. Rather than following the basic premise of a summer fling story, Kennedy wrote Tate and Cassie as complex characters with interesting histories, making the ending much more interesting!

Also this one had plenty of spice 🌶

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy

Characters: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Overall Enjoyment: 5/5


This was a delightful romance with laughter, family drama, and a story of friends whose friendship blossoms into more, This book is book three in the Avalon Bay series but after not having read any of the previous ones, I did not find it hard to follow along or understand the characters. This was a stand alone read or at least I had no problems reading it. It was a slow start But picked up pretty quickly. Certainly would be a great summer read while at the beach or lake for the day.

Cassie has returned to Avalon Bay after years of being away due in part to her parents divorce. She is back this time because her grandmother is selling the hotel that has been in the family for quite a few years. Claire has other ideas as well. Her 21st birthday has to be celebrated with family and she hopes to meet a guy and make some memories to take back with her.

Now we get to meet tall, dark, and very handsome Tate Bartlett. Avalon Bay’s sailing instructor and all around fun guy. The two meet and while there is initial attraction, Tate wants to just be friends with Cassie. Afraid he will break her heart, but….some things are just plain unavoidable. The attraction between these two is pretty hot and I wanted to reach into the book and make one of them decide to make the first move.. Fortunately for me, one of them or both, I will keep that a secret, took the chance.

The characters are very relatable, well developed and flawed and Kennedy’s writing is very captivating and whole hearted. You can tell that the writer wanted to reader to experience something more than just a love between two people. Kennedy took her time while writing to bring everything together in a slow burn fashion which you the reade will enjoy.

Release Date July 18, 2023

5 out of 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Elle Kennedy wrote another incredible beach read! Cassie is visiting Avalon Bay for the summer to say goodbye to her grandmother’s hotel. But Cassie is looking for something to make the summer more exciting - a summer fling! She then meets Tate, and they are forced to navigate their unique summer fling story together.

I loved that this book had some twists/conflict that made it unique from other “summer fling” stories. Rather than following the basic premise of a summer fling story, Kennedy wrote Tate and Cassie as complex characters with interesting histories, making the ending much more interesting!

If you are looking for a book to get you back into the summer feels, look no further. You won’t regret this one - and if you’re anything like me, you will finish it in 2 days because you won’t be able to put it down.