Well this book was just a big dose of serotonin. I absolutely loved Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy. Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this book. I finished it in one day, and it was even a normal day with work and afterschool kid activities.
 
Cassie is spending the summer with her grandmother in the Southern beach town she grew up in until her parent’s divorced. Her grandmother is moving at the end of summer so this is truly her last summer in Avalon Bay. About to enter her senior year of college (at none other than Briar U), Cassie is looking to gain some experience with boys and have a summer fling.
 
This is where Tate enters. Tate, a local who works at the yacht club and the family business, is beloved by everyone in Avalon Bay. He’s blond, built, and been with just about every girl in town. But he refusing to have a fling with Cassie. If you loved Garrett Graham in The Deal, then you will love Tate (he had me convinced of his charm the first time I met him, which is quite hilarious).
 
Cassie and Tate are both surrounded by a large friend group, which in the beginning was slightly confusing but by the end I had all the names and personalities down. Cassie’s grandmother is a charming presence and Tate’s family mimics an 80s sitcom. While the book is a romance, the nature of Tate and Cassie’s family differences are highlighted throughout the entire book.
 
What starts as friendship blossoms to something more but it can’t last. This book has some predictable qualities, as most romances do. That said, there were some unpredictable elements that truly surprised me.

A fun easy beach read; Bonus points for spicy. This is the 3rd installment of the Avalon Bay series. All the characters are pretty likeable. The story itself provides enough drama and depth to keep things interesting. The chemistry between the two lead characters is palpable. I really enjoyed this book!

This book is a part of a larger series of Avalon Bay but this book can be read as a standalone. The character of Cassie is an new and fresh perspective on college girls as she is aware she doesn't have that much experience but wants to have a real connection. Tate on the other hand did not start off strong. His perspective heavily sexualized Cassie and focused a lot on her body and sexual appeal without really a reason why. It felt out of place and turned me a bit away from the book. However throughout the book his character was improved. There was obviously intention with making him less sex absorbed as the story went on, but it still doesn't set him up for a positive start. I thought it was off putting. The ending felt very forced in terms of conflict but I feel like the last chapter tied it back together well.

This is my first time reading Ms. Kennedy after she gave us the masterpiece that is Garrett Graham and … I wasn't over the moon. I'm glad that I went into this book (the 3rd in the series) completely oblivious to what happens in the other two books. The plot was just drama filled and not with the MC's but with their parents!!! INSANE like just write a book about them at the point. Not gonna lie the window scene was spicy honey but other than that very lacking!
I 100% know that these too break up after the epilogue.

5/5 stars - Another amazing book by Elle Kennedy!!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for sending me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I requested to review this book the second I saw that it was available on NetGalley. I absolutely enjoyed reading the other two Avalon Bay books! Like the other two books, this can be read as a standalone but it does contain minor spoilers if you don't read it in order. I recommend reading them as they came out.

This book features Cassie and Tate. Cassie comes back to Avalon Bay for one last summer looking for a summer fling. She meets Tate, the resident hookup king, on her first night in town. They spark an interesting friendship that eventually leads to more.

The book was a quick read that contains everything a summer romance should have. It has a great balance of plot and romance. Main trope in my opinion is friends to lovers.

3.5-4 ⭐️ NetGalley advanced copy. Enjoyed the story. Loved the characters. Haven’t read the first 2 books of the series and didn’t feel like I was missing anything. Perfect beach read!

Can I give this ten stars?? EASILY the best book out of the Avalon Bay series. The other two were good but I can honestly say this is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It was so cute and I couldn’t find a single thing I hated about Tate or Cassie. They were perfect in this story. Cassie is so relatable and Tate is a great guy, just a bit of a player. So of course I knew he’d change his ways 🤷‍♀️

I love a good small town beach setting, and then you throw in a friends to lovers trope and I’m sold. Once I started this, I was immediately hooked and I didn’t wanna stop. The kind of book you wanna stay up all night reading.

So so good. When I finished it, I genuinely smiled to myself and was just so content. I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes a cute beach romance.

Also solid shoutout to Briar U at the end, I love the connection.

I love the Avalon Bay series so I was extremely excited to see the next book on NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins for an advanced copy of this ebook.

This book is a dual POV just like the other two books in the series. I love this because we get to see what both our main characters are thinking/ feeling and see their motivations behind their actions and character development.

This is a fun, entertaining read with a bit of spice. At first I was a little nervous since this book is not about Alana and Tate but Cassie is a great character to get behind and (almost) made me forget about Alana.

The dialogue was a little cheesy, but it’s a summer romance novel so it’s expected and bareable. The conflict was realistic and the characters reacted in levelheaded ways and supported each other throughout. This one is definitely more of a swoony romance than books 1 and 2.

I loved this book, possibly more than the other two in Avalon Bay.... I know, I'm sorry. But Tate and Cassie were simply team too much. Too much cuteness, too much witty banter too much angst and spice and communication, but in all the best ways.

I don't even know where to start, really, because it's hard not to give away spoilers.... bear with me here....

Cassie is back in Avalon Bay to help her grandmother Lydia pack up her house to move her north to Boston. Lydia is the former owner of the Beacon, which Mac bought in The Good Girl Complex. Cassie has one mission, okay two. First to help her grandmother and most importantly to have a summer Fling. Cassie is a virgin and just wants to gain experience in a no pressure. Fling and as luck would have it, she runs into Tate the local F***boy of Avalon Bay on her first night.

Luckily, Mac steps in and sets Tate straight. He will break Cassie's little heart, so he decides they should be friends and that he will be her wingman. The banter between Tate and Cassie had me grinning through this whole book. Both Tate and Cassie come from very different backgrounds and find comfort with each other's company.

This book does have a 3rd act breakup (kind of more 4th quarter, but i digress), but it's not like you think there is no miscommunication, which is so refreshing. But it's literally the only 3rd act break up that's elicited a physically draining of my tear ducts. 😭😭😭😭 The author takes this overdone trope and spins it on its head. And I love her for that!

As far as spice level goes, I'll put it at a three star, maybe 2.5, but the window scene has me really leaning more toward a three. It doesn't take up a lot of the book, but I think for verbiage.... if you don't like the P word for kitty, you may be offended while reading. 🤣

That being said, watching both MCs grow up and grow together over this summer, I so enjoyed it. I'm in my mid 30's and it brought me back to carefree summers of my early 20s. If you like the following, you will enjoy this book:

*small town romance
*slow burn
*friends to lovers
*virgin
*he falls first
*opposites attract

I feel like I should add, since I've gone ahead and given spoilers already.... that Cassie deals with a very unhealthy relationship with her mom, who is a narcissistic person that I think boarders of a sociopath, but hey, I'm not a professional. So, if you're sensitive to that, just take it into consideration.

This book is a part of the Avalon Bay series but can most definitely be read as a standalone.

Thank you Netgalley and St.Martins Press for the chance to read this Arc!

This story is about Cassandra. Cassandra is visiting her grandmother at Avalon Bay for the summer and is looking for a summer romance, a fling if you will! She finds it with the boy next door Tate! Sparks fly almost immediately! Cassie thinks this is perfect as Tate is known as a playboy and they definitely won’t catch feelings for one another! Through their fling they both work through family problems, and help each other grow in ways they never imagined. Will this relationship turn into more than a fling!? Find out but reading this book ASAP!!

I just reviewed The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy. #NetGalley

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for sending and allowing me to read this book.
AHHHHH! I was so excited to receive this, I love Elle Kennedy's books so much. Even though I should've waited until summer to read this I just couldn't wait. Her writing is top tier and I can't wait for her future stuff.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book is the third novel in the Avalon Bay series.

Unfortunately this book didn't do it for me. As much as I wanted to like Cassie I just couldn't. She was boring and completely unrelatable. The pace of this book was very slow and I was really uninterested in the plot.

I jumped in to this book without reading any of the previous books that have took place in Avalon Bay. I instantly fell for both main characters and their awkward meet cute. I felt for Cassie and her up bringing and completely understood her personality. Tate is so swoony. I loved the chemistry between Cassie and Tate, the will they wont they, to will they be even more or not, all of this kept me turning the pages. Some of Cassies home life is a jagged pill and we also learn more about Tate's and it all broke my heart. I felt all of the emotions that these two felt.

I also loved the side characters that Im sure are two couples from previously released books, from the little background information and snipbits we get of these couples and friends I am now moving on to read the other books in this world.

This book was longer than I expected and I appreciate the time that was put into developing these relationships. It's a sweet romance with steam and some bumpy roads too, it really had it all.

I have to note that one part that was confusing for me, turtle names in a pet shop were said but tafter the visit a new name is brought up that was never introduced. We go from Jay-z to him being Keanu Reeves, it was a bit confusing. But I'll take it since it as just turtle names.

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy is the third book in the Avalon Bay Series. This is Cassie and Tate’s story.
 
Cassie is the sweetest person ever. Her family situation is a bit complicated as her mother is a very vile person and her dad is remarried. I really liked how family plays a role in the book and that is also true for Tate’s family. She grew up in Avalon Bay and her grandma owned a hotel but since sold it. Therefore, the summer is very nostalgic and with amazing memories. This year Cassie wants to make the most of her summer including a fling before going back to college.
 
And Tate might be the perfect man for it. Their first meeting is a bit awkward and afterwards their paths just cross again and again. Tate also house sits next to Cassie and the neighbor aspect was great as well. He loves water and does everything from sailing to surfing. Tate is more of a player, but with Cassie that quickly changes, and he realizes the perks of an actual relationship.
 
Cassie and Tate start off as friends and I loved how they get to know each other more on every page and they start confiding into each other. They work great as a couple even though they are quite opposite in a lot of ways. This book is just cute, and heartwarming and I had an amazing time reading it. Furthermore, I’m quite sad that the Avalon Bay Series is now over and in my opinion this series is great and totally underrated.
 
Overall, The Summer Girl is the epitome of summer wrapped in a romance and I totally recommend it. 4 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy of The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy. I have enjoyed Elle's previous work, and this one was no different. This is a lighthearted beach read that had me wishing for the sunny shoreline...and maybe a little more.

I didn't realize this was a part three, so I'm looking forward to reading the first two books and revisiting this afterward for all the name drops.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Summer Girl is the third installment in the Avalon Bay series by Elle Kennedy. I haven't read the first two, but I had no trouble following along with what was going on with the plot and the characters, so you can read this as a standalone if you'd like. With that said, I think that's all I'm going to be reading from this series. Here's why.

First of all, the rich white people vibe of this book just put me off. Imagine your grandmother giving you $5,000 to use on a silent auction (that was never mentioned again, btw. Did Cassie win that spa package or not?). The entire mention or allusion to the wealth that flowed freely was kind of gross. It didn't have to be mentioned nearly as often as it was, especially in the first half of the book.

Second, it was kind of.. boring. Tate was boring, Cassie was boring. There wasn't anything outstanding about either one of them. Nothing that really helped them be the FMC and MMC of an entire book. I think my favorite character was Nia, Cassie's father's Haitian second wife. I'd read a book about her in a heartbeat.

After having enjoyed Elle Kennedy's books in the past this one left me.. underwhelmed. With boring protagonists and insufferable wealth, I'll make sure I keep away from this series going forward.

UHHH OKAY ELLE KENNEDY! So I really enjoyed the Avalon Bay series so far but The Summer Girl was just everything I needed in a book! I love love love Tate & Cassie (ahem, Gate & Ginger) and honestly would read more and more books about just them, like I don't feel like I could ever get enough of them! I kept reading thinking I knew exactly what was going to happen and then was proved wrong again and again! I usually love the comfort of a easily predictable romance but this just was perfection! Hands down my fave couple and book of Avalon Bay! It was spicy, dual POV and just full of good family drama, fast friends trying to figure out some feelings while flinging (lol) and plenty of summer fun! Also, loved getting little glimpes of our fave past avalon bay couples and some fun beach competition thrown in for good measure!

I was so excited to head back to Avalon Bay with this book! Kennedy does another fantastic job of setting the scene with Summer Girl, bringing the small beach town to life for all of her readers. While this book incorporates many of the characters from the first two books, it also felt like it stood on its own.

YA hasn’t been my go-to for awhile, but this series falls squarely between YA and contemporary romance. The characters are at the crossroads in their life of where they’ll go post-college. I think it’s easy to forget how deeply you can feel in relationships at that age. That it’s possible to know who you want to spend the rest of your life with at such a young age. Readers shouldn’t discount Tate and Cassie’s love story just because of their ages (21 and 23). Kennedy does a fantastic job of writing their story.

I loved so many things about this one. Tate is house-sitting the home next to Cassie’s grandmother’s house. She grew up in Avalon Bay & he moved there with his parents when he was 12. Their friendship starts off so perfectly, with the spark of genuine friendship being so well-written. You see a lot of romantic spark in books, but I loved the way Kennedy built their friendship first. He didn’t want anything serious with her & neither did she want anything serious with him. But their feelings for each other grow & they fall for each other.

I was surprised by the “conflict” we get later in the book. Usually, we see the characters get together, then break up or separate for some reason or another, but the conflict that comes between them is unique and unexpected. If I’m being honest, it sucked me into the story even more. Both characters grow a lot in this story, which made it even more enjoyable to read.

Kennedy states in her author’s note/acknowledgements at the end that this series puts a smile on her face from the time she starts chapter 1 until the end of the last chapter. I felt the same sentiment. It’s obvious she enjoys writing this series. When an author loves what they write, it’s easy for readers to fall in love with the story line, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Be sure to check this book out when it releases in July!

**I was excited to receive a complimentary copy of The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy from NetGalley. Opinions in this review are completely my own.**

I have read other books by Elle Kennedy and enjoyed them. I think they are the perfect kind of read when I'm trying to unwind from work or a day at the beach.

I enjoyed reading The Summer Girl. I liked "Gate" and "Ginger" together. They were sweet and I will admit that I went the full range of emotions through this book. I absolutely hated Tori, but we are meant to. I could relate a little too well to Cassie's feelings about having comments made about her body as I have had that happen to me too. It can really affect your self esteem. I like how Tate helped encourage Cassie to stand up for herself and talk about what she needs. I'm going to go back and read the other 2 books in this series over Spring Break (I didn't realize it was a series when I requested it).

We are back in Avalon Bay! The Summer Girl begins with Cassie overhearing Alana's breakup with Tate. It's a perfect scene to introduce their personalities, as she feels so much secondhand embarrassment. She is looking for a summer fling, and Tate seems like the perfect choice. But despite their chemistry, they end up in the friend zone, worried that she will catch feelings.

The two of them are constantly bumping into each other. Cassie's awkward babbling is hilarious and so relatable. It's such a fun start. And I loved all the scenes with the characters from the two previous books.

That lighthearted aspects are paired with a lot of intense family drama, especially with Cassie's family. I really enjoyed some of her funny exchanges with her dad, but her mother is horrific.

This book has so much drama and emotional intensity. At times, it felt a bit over-the-top. But I loved Tate and Cassie and her constant search for the silver lining in everything. This book was a lovely escape to a small beach town for the summer.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

CW: Miscarriage, toxic family relationship