4.5 ⭐️

“We’re friends.”
“We are,” he agrees.
“Friends shouldn’t do this.”
“Probably not.”

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!!

i have to say, the only reason it is 4.5 for me is the conflict and third act break up at the end just sent me in a rage. i will give props to the fact it wasn’t a typical break up but still fuck both of the moms for all of that.

Overall a pretty good book. Kinda of predictable and cliche for a lot of the beginning of the book. I almost stopped reading it. But I’m glad I finished it through. Definitely an interesting twist and a good albeit quick thrown on ending after all that work up to it. Definitely not my favorite of her books. But doable for a quick beach read.

This was my first book by Elle Kennedy and I rather enjoyed it. I’ve heard of her other series and while this is the third in the Avalon Bay series, it’s a standalone so I wasn’t super lost while reading. The Summer Girl is a quintessential beachy summer read packed with a lot of fun tropes. I liked that the story was multi-faceted and touched not only on the romance/spice (which were GREAT), but also on family relationships and drama. I feel like I really got to know Cassie and Tate as characters. The banter was fun and I really liked how the main characters struck up their friendship. This was a quick read for me and the twist at the end kept things very interesting!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy of the book in exchange for my review! It is always appreciated!

A enjoyable summer read for a afternoon of escapism. Two people drawn together are different yet have so much in common. A seaside setting, a wonderful Grandmother and a amazing small beach town is the draw for the reader of this book. I enjoyed this read.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

Summary
Cassandra grew up in Avalon Bay but moved away when her parents divorced 12 years ago. She comes back occasionally to visit her grandma, and is here this summer in search of a fling. Tate is known around the Bay as the guy who will hook up but never settle down. Sounds like the perfect collision when these two stumble into each other on the beach, then realize they'll be living next door to each other for the next 2 months.

Why did I pick up this book?
I was gifted this Advanced Reader Copy by NetGalley. I requested a copy because I really enjoyed the first two books in this series and was planning on reading this one anyways!

What did I enjoy about it?
As per usual, the couple not only found love in each other but found the courage to be themselves or take a leap they likely wouldn't have without the other person. Call me a sap, but I love this part of Rom Coms, and I liked the arcs she wrote for these two characters. Additionally, the third act plot twist absolutely took me by surprise and left me shocked, which I can't say happens often. Solid, addictive, spicy writing I've come to expect and adore from Kennedy.

What did I not enjoy about it?
The most annoying part of this book was that the majority of Cassandra's personality is her insecurities, with the central focus around her huge boobs. This physical aspect felt unnecessary and I think her parental relationships would've been enough to give her low self-esteem without this element that was harped on constantly.

I really enjoyed this easy fun read by Elle Kennedy. It was a fun storyline about two unlikely people picking each other out. I loved all the details of the hotel that was being renovated and I loved the Grandmother. Cassie had a hard relationship with her Mom. Tate turned out to be so good for Cassie. Definitely a great book for a book club and lots of discussion questions could be talked about.

I first read The Good Girl Complex within days of getting it and then followed the Bad Girl Reputation that I equally loved. But this novel, dare I say was way better than the other two novels. It wasn’t that the writing was better or even the characters. It was just that I adore Cassie’s relationship with Tate. While reading the two other books I expected, Tate to be this huge playboy. Instead, what we got was someone who charismatic, loyal, and super protective of Cassie.

Other may look at Cassie’s character and find her annoying, with all her rambling. They might even think that she is a push over but I find that once you finish the novel you will come to understand why Cassie acts the way she does. For me, I could relate to Cassie, and her people pleasing tendencies. It was nice to see Tate, teaching Cassie how to set boundaries.

I think most of all the reason why I loved this book was that it was hilarious! I even spat out my smoothie because I was laughing so hard. I also had so much fun reading, when they were doing summer games, and the amount of trash talking that the past couples say to each other was A+

Now let’s talk about the villain of the story, because I think we could all relate to how this person made Cassie feel. Not only is this person full of passive aggressive comments but they severally talks about Cassie’s body and makes her feel as if she isn’t pretty enough. I felt emotionally whiplash with this character, and part of me wanted to shake Cassie for trusting this person. When a secret came out towards the end of the book, my mouth was left gaping open. I knew something was going to happen, but not that!

I would recommend this book for anyone who loves summer theme romance novels. I promise that you will be left wanting more!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC!

This book is the 3rd one in the Avalon Bay series. I devoured this just like I did with the first 2. Elle Kennedy never disappoints me with her books.

Cassie stays for the summer in Avalon with her grandmother and is on the hunt for a summer fling.

The first night in town, she stumbles into Tate at a bonfire, who turns out will be her neighbor for the summer. They hit it off right from the beginning, and everything is great until Tate friend-zones her. Cassie is still wanting to find a summer fling, and Tate decides to be her wingman and try and help her find one.
Of course, that isn’t as easy when feelings start to become present between the both of them.

While reading this, I fell more and more in love with their relationship and friendship. And I was not excepting the twist at the end of the book.

This book is a dual POV.
Friends to lovers
The spice in the book was excellent it wasn’t overpowering, but it was still very good.

Elle Kennedy’s books are such good quick reads, I highly recommend this series and this book alone!

Well, this is such a fun book. Seeing some old favorite characters from Avalon Bay AND getting to watch Tate and Cassie’s story unfold. It was very cute. Easy to read.

Oh my goodness. I’m just going to start off by saying this is HANDS DOWN my favourite Elle Kennedy Book I’ve ever read.

Cassandra goes back to her home town to spend time with her Grandmother and say goodbye to the Hotel that has been in their family for 50 years. Before Cassie’s grandmother moves away and moves on with her life.

She goes to Avalon Bay looking for a summer fling. And she may have gotten a little more than what she bargained for…
She meets Tate accidentally by eavesdropping on him getting dumped by his former fling. When she suggests to have a fling with her he declines and advises instead to be her wingman.

The chemistry and banter between the 2 is just absolutely perfection. I love them.

Then there’s the family aspects. Cassie and her mom do not get along she’s a narcissist. Cassie and her fathers relationship is weird. They love being together but she feels like his new wife doesn’t like her. And she feels like a burden. But Cassie loves her 2, 6 year old twin sisters and would do anything for them.

I just love all of the dimensions in this book. It covers literally everything. The ending nearly murdered me, it twists a knife in your heart and then it gets mended. I just, it was a whirlwind of a book and I loved it with all my heart. If I say too much more I’ll give away too many spoilers.

Thank you so so much NetGalley for this ARC. One of my favourites of the year by far! Our July 18th!

This was definitely my favorite book from the series. Cassie and Tate were really great characters and I loved the chemistry they had. This starts out with Cassie looking to have a fling and turns into a friends to lovers situation.
Cassie's connections to Avalon Bay were fun and her family is very complicated. That part of the story was so interesting and a bit suspenseful.
Tate really surprised me. For a player, he is well respected and a stand up guy.
You get to revisit all of the previous characters and add in a spunky Grandma and feisty twins and it was a great read.

This Elle Kennedy series has been so much fun to read. Tate and Cassie were fun characters to read about -- this might be my favorite in the Avalon Bay series so far. I think what I loved so much about this book, and this series, is that it manages to be both sweet and silly while at the same time bringing just the write amount of depth to the characters.

Summer girl is the third book in the Avalon bay series. You do not need to read the other two to follow the story. This was a great coming of age summer romance. It was a little slow in the beginning but got faster towards the end. I would have liked an epilogue because I always like to know what happens after the HEA.

Cassie is spending the whole summer in Avalon Bay with her grandmother who has sold the legendary hotel that has been a landmark for decades. As a summer girl (versus a local) turning twenty-one she's hoping to enjoy this one last summer with a summer fling! She meets and hits it off with Tate immediately! They get along so well and have so much fun, that Tate doesn't want to ruin their friendship by getting involved. So he friend zones her. So despite their mutual attraction to each other, they try to maintain that fine line. But that's not the only minefield they have to walk this summer. The other relationships around them have just as much impact on their summer!
I loved the premise of this story and I loved the main characters. Definitely a good beach and summer read. The drawbacks for me, and this is just me because I know so many absolutely loved this book, but some of the dialogue was off putting and the amount of time spent on the size of Cassie's breasts and how many different terms could be used to describe them. It seemed out of place at times and too much of a focus.
I do know this is part of a series, and I have not read the other books and didn't feel like I needed to. I imagine it's a series focusing on different characters so you'd be fine jumping into this one!

ARC REVIEW

That Summer Girl
By: Elle Kennedy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Publishing Date: 7/18/2023

Cassie is spending the summer with her grandmother in Avalon Bay. Upon arriving in the quaint beach town, Cassie meets Tate. ( who is house sitting next door to her grandmother's house) Tate has experienced his fair share of hookups, and Cassie realizes he would be the perfect candidate for a " summer fling."  It's her last summer before starting college, and she wants to gain some experience.  Tate considers the offer, but after learning Cassie is a virgin, he is worried she will catch feelings and politely declines her offer. Instead, he decides to be her "wing man."  But when Cassie and Tate dance between friends and lovers, lines get blurred, and so do both of their feelings....

This is my favorite of the Avalon Bay series so far! Even though this is #3 of the series, you could definitely read this without reading the first 2. The characters from Good Girl Complex  and Bad Girl Reputation are mentioned, but not enough to affect the story.

My favorite part about this series is the location. Avalon Bay is the PERFECT beach town to get lost in. I recommend reading these in the summer because it's the pefect summer time escape. (Or winter if you are missing that summer feeling)

This book has multiple layers .....romance, some spice ( not a TON), family relationships, family drama, and even some infedility! I enjoyed all the story lines and the story did a really good job of holding my interest.

I recommend picking this one up next month, especially if you read the first 2.

Enjoy your vacation to Avalon Bay!


Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the arc! Always appreciative!

I really liked Cassie, she's fun and nice and, to me at least, very relatable. Her learned lesson that just because someone is family doesn't mean they have a right to bring in your life made me really proud of her, and I think it's something more people need to hear.
I loved Tate too. Except for his name. His name is a little silly, and then the author had the audacity to also put in a character named Landon, which is a name I happen to love.
He was really supportive of her though, and their relationship progression was so natural. They didn't have a lot of big talks about the status of their relationship, they just had a very mutual understanding of where it was. Their third act breakup was even on such good terms that I had a hard time being mad at it. I was mad at other characters for being the cause of it, but I understood it. It was the kind of breakup that I think actually works for a reunion though, and if they keep being used so much in romance I want there to be more like this.

Included in this post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuK1YXsg6mw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Thank you Netgalley and the publish for the e-ARC of The Summer Girl, which comes out July 18th!

Cassie hasn’t spent a summer at Avalon Bay in years since her parents divorce. Her grandmother is selling the hotel that’s been in the family for years so she decides to spend one last summer there again. Her only goal isn’t to reconnect with family, she’s also hoping to have a summer fling.

This was a great book to kick off your summer beach reads! Cassie’s story unfortunately is my least favorite of the Avalon Bay series, but it was still an enjoyable quick read

First and Foremost a most sincere thanks to the publishers, to the author Elle Kennedy, and of course to Netgalley for providing an advanced reading copy of this book. I will only be giving this a good review if I can be the summer girl.... Pretty please.. I loved all things about this book. It gave love.
It gave fun and antics. Most of all it was real in ways that romance books often aren't. four stars would rec and would read again!

I loved getting back to Avalon Bay! This series and this book are perfect for summer. They’re cute, lighthearted, and a little spicy. Tate and Cassie’s relationship works so well in this story, because they’re both genuine and likable characters.

The town of Avalon Bay transported me as I read and I want to take a long trip to this picturesque town. Dealing with family, relationships, and navigating young adulthood is what these books are about. I appreciated that while it’s lots of fun, there are moments of seriousness and depth that balance this into the perfect story. A great addition to the Avalon Bay Series!