Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC. The Summer Girl is the third book in the Avalon Bay series and a close second to Good Girl Complex. Cassie returns to the Bay for the summer and is determined to have a “fling” while there. She meets Tate, who quickly friend-zones her, but agrees to be her wingman. They struggle to remain just friends and their love story unfolds with an unexpected twist along the way.

Elle Kennedy has upped her spice level to 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, this is definitely an adult read. She also continues to have characters struggle with their mothers, which seems very repetitive. I do enjoy the sprinkle of previous characters throughout her books.

This is the perfect beach read. I really enjoyed reading about Cassie and Tate. Cassie's mom had me absolutely furious in this book. I loved all the other characters.
I definitely recommend this if you want a good romance that will just suck you in.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Summer Girl
Elle Kennedy

Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Recommended: Yes!

This was by far my favorite of the series so far! There’s just something about Elle Kennedy’s reformed players that are so amazing.

Read if you like…
* Small Beach Town
* Reformed Player
* Friends to Lovers
* Cameos From Previous Books

I have never read an Elle Kennedy book before reading The Summer Girl, but I will now go back to read her other books set in Avalon Bay.

While this book started off a little slow, it really picked up and I enjoyed most of the characters, one was so hateful, but that was the point. The characters are well thought out and relatable and I adored the chemistry between Cass and Tate.

This is a great, quick read, with some spice and drama.

This book is the third installment of the Avalon Bay series. Cassie has returned to Avalon Bay for the summer to stay with her grandmother, and befriends Tate, who is staying next door. Cassie is hoping to find a summer fling, and at first, Tate is only interested in being her friend. However, before long, their attraction is too strong to deny. Will this friends to lovers romance be able to make it past the summer?

I have read this entire series, and this book was by far my favorite. Both Tate and Cassie are likable characters who are easy to root for. I enjoyed Cassie’s relationship with her grandmother and the development with her father and stepmother was great. I didn’t see the family drama near the end coming- it was a good side plot addition that created conflict in a surprising and unique way. I’d definitely recommend this book to rom com lovers, especially if you enjoy small beach town vibes, friends to lovers, and some spice!

Thank you to Elle Kennedy, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Elle Kennedy back at it again! I swear, every book I read just gets better and better. I’ve read this series and I’ve loved it since the very beginning. Her writing is just *chefs kiss*. I can’t get enough of it or these characters.

“The Summer Girl” is my first read by Elle Kennedy. While I found the book fun and engaging, it wasn’t a story that I found memorable and I’d say it’s a 3-3.5/5 star read for me.

Cassie Soul is spending her summer in Avalon Bay, the beach town she grew up in but hasn’t spent quality time in since her parents divorced years ago. This summer, though, she plans on spending time with her grandmother before she moves and seeing the reopening of the hotel her grandparents built and ran for decades. She also plans on having a bit of fun by finding herself a summer fling. In steps Tate Bartlett, town lover boy and sailing instructor, who knows his way around girls and flings. From their first meeting, Tate likes Cassie, maybe too much, and doesn’t want to break her heart with a fling gone bad. However, the more time they spend together, the more they both realize there’s too much chemistry there to ignore, and they give in…but what happens when a fling becomes more? And what happens when the other parts of their life converge in a way that makes being together harder than they thought?

While entertaining, I will say I’m not sure this book was for me. In my opinion, the book was raunchier than it needed to be, and the storyline lacked substance. I feel like some pieces of the storyline were a bit random—Cassie’s mom and Tate’s dad being together and all that came from that seemed out of left field and am not sure was needed. I also didn’t feel a lot of depth behind the characters and most of the relationships in this book, which would have helped me become more attached to them.

With that said, this was a fast read for me. I was entertained throughout the book. This may not have been my favorite book, and I might not remember the characters for long after I finish it, but while I was in its pages “The Summer Fling” did what it was supposed to—it kept me reading, turning pages to see how it ends. If that’s what you’re looking for, then this book is for you. If you want a little more from your reads, if you desire a larger connection to the characters and events you read about, I would probably look elsewhere.

**Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the advanced copy for a honest review.**

Oh, Avalon Bay, you have my heart ♥️

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Elle Kennedy for letting me read this ARC.

The Summer Girl is such a great beach read — it’s a fun, easy read with many sincere moments and touches on some deep topics.

Tate is an absolute dream book boyfriend 😍
Cassie is sweet, very naive, and super relatable if you’re a nervous babbler like me 😅

This is a summer fling turned true love story with dual POV (which I love)

Highly recommend if you like: friends to lovers, small town romance, neighbors to lovers, dual POV, family drama.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️ (that window scene! 🥵)

I loved this series!! I was super excited to get to read the third installment early. I think that this third book was a great edition. I loved the character development between these two and the other characters from the previous stories. I enjoyed the conflict and that it wasn’t necessarily between the two main characters but their families. The only thing I was was different was the ending. I felt that their split and then reconciliation had a super quick turnaround. Other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

⛱️2023 Beach Read⛱️

☀️ The Summer Girl book followed the same formula as The Good Girl Complex. It’s a light, and mildly spicy read, with a HEA and includes dealing with relationships between young adults and their parents. The Avalon Bay series includes Bad Girl Reputation, but I didn’t feel like I was missing anything having not read it.

Honestly when I began reading, I was not sure I was going to like this book but had a change of heart when we were introduced to Cassie’s family and Gavin and Gemma. The parent and adult child relationships in this story are what I found most interesting. Yes, Cassie and Tate’s romance was cute with some adorable banter and coming of age scenes, but the growth came through in their relationships with their parents.

The best thing about this book was the beach town itself. I love stories set in beach towns and its web of characters. Even better were the boating references and the adoration that Gavin and Tate have for beautiful boats.🛥️

As long as the reader is ok with a mild spice, then I would recommend this as a young adult, coming of age novel. I definitely think this sweet story will be in a lot of beach bags this summer. 😎

☀️ The Summer Girl
Elle Kennedy
St. Martin’s Press
Pub Date July 18 2023

The Summer Girl follows Cassie who hasn't spent the summer in Avalon Bay in years. She returns to the town to help her grandmother, spend time with her dad, and celebrate her twenty-first birthday. She also wants to find herself a summer fling. Tate lives in the town and he is no stranger to flings. Tate and Casie meet at a party and have an instant connection. Tate thinks Cassie is one of the coolest girls he has ever met. But he doesn't want to hurt her so he puts her in the friend zone. But soon his attraction to Cassie is more than he can take. He decides to go for it. Both know this is just a fling but soon they realize that it might not just be a summer fling. Will they choose to keep things casual or go to the next level in their relationship?

If you know me you know it is not a secret that I am obsessed with Elle Kennedy. The Avalon Bay series is becoming one of my favorites by her. Every single book in this series I have rated 5 stars. This one I think is now my favorite in this series. This was one of those books that I really did not want to end. I loved every single second of this one. I highly suggest this series ( and everything that Elle Kennedy writes). I was so elated to have been chosen for an advance copy of this book. You do not need to read the other books in this series to read this one. Although, the other ones are incredible. Thank you Elle Kennedy for this book and this series. I loved this book so much. I think it might end up being my favorite book of the year ( Good Girl Complex was my favorite book of the year last year). 

Thank you Elle Kennedy, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

4.5 stars

I wanted something light to read and knew that Elle Kennedy's Avalon Bay series would fit the bill. This New Adult series focuses on the residents of a fictional town called Avalon Bay. The characters are young, and gorgeous, and prone to partying and hooking up - until they meet that special someone. There's the townies and the summer people, and sometimes they mesh, and sometimes they don't.

In this installment, "summer girl" Cassie Soul is in town as her wealthy grandmother packs up her home, to leave Avalon Bay. Cassie is looking for a summer fling, a chance to rid herself of her "v-card". Tate Bartlett is a townie, who loves `em and leaves 'em, because he's never found the one. He dreams of sailing the seven seas, but first he has to help his dad run their boat dealership.

Of course, they get together. The original fling is starting to grow roots, but some interesting complications come along - some that totally took me by surprise!

This is a perfect beach read. Enough depth to give it character but not too much to drag it down. Looking forward to future peeks into the world of Avalon Bay!

Thank you St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Thanks so much to Elle Kennedy and NetGalley for my ARC of The Summer Girl!

The third installment in the Avalon Bay series, The Summer Girl follows Cassie, former local now living in Boston, and Tate, Avalon Bay’s resident playboy. Tate agrees to be Cassie’s summer fling but the two agree on one condition: no catching feelings. Will they both be able to follow through, or will one of them break their terms?

This was a super cute book and continuation of the Avalon Bay series. The characters were relatable, the plot cute and low-angst, and the spice was as good as readers of Elle Kennedy can expect! I also really enjoyed the subtle check-ins with characters from the series’ previous books, now as side characters in Cassie and Tate’s book. This book definitely makes me want to take a summer-long vacation to a beach town and find a hot, boat captain fling that turns to more. I’d recommend this book to fans of Elle Kennedy’s other works, as well as books by Ali Hazelwood, Abby Jimenez, and Lucy Score! Bring along The Summer Girl as a beach vacation read when it publishes on July 18, 2023!

Dual POV
Strangers to friends to lovers
Summer fling
Beach town
Catching feelings

I thought this book was pretty boring honestly. I just didn't feel connected to the story or the characters. I love books that are placed in the summer time and I love that feeling but I just didn't get that with this book.

Every time Elle Kennedy walks me into the town of Avalon Bay I fall in love. In That Summer Girl, we are reintroduced to Tate Bartlett & meet Cassie Soul. Cassie, in town, visiting her grandma & for the re-grand opening of the Beacon Hotel, which has been in her family for 50+ years.
Cassie, a very lovable, kind girl is looking & searching for passion & summer fling when she accidentally runs into Tate Bartlett. Tate, a beloved member of Avalon Bay, who is always looking for a hookup, takes one look at Cassie and knows something is different about her.Tate, is instantly charmed by Cassie. Will Tate & Cassie find their summer fling or more? This book is full of witty banter,spice, & all the feels. 5 stars. Elle Kennedy always knows how to pull on my heart strings & engulf me into her books quick. I also love that this book is Dual POV. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffins, & Elle Kennedy for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was able to read this thanks to Netgalley and I am so thrilled to learn after reading it that it’s part of a series.

This was a fun, spicy read that suddenly got deep and emotional. It’s also the first time I’ve read a book where the conflict was separate from the FMC/MMC but they were still very much a part of it.

I was really moved by how different the FMC/MMC’s parents were and the different backgrounds and traits that gave them. And I appreciated how the FMC found her voice to address her toxic mother and communicate with her father.

Before all the emotion though, we also have a virgin FMC just looking for a summer fling. She finds herself friend zoned and it was fun reading the MMC’s regret in doing that and how he made up for it.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book was such a fun read! I genuinely liked both characters and their romantic chemistry felt real and not over the top.
While reading this book I kept thinking about how much I enjoyed the first book (but not the second) and I think it's because the writing seemed more authentic and not like fanfiction? Another thing I noticed about this book is that the characters weren't getting black out drunk all the time. I think that really helped the main characters chemistry and the storyline feel real There were only a couple moments where I cringed at the dialogue but thankfully those were few and far in between.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC, it was so fun to read this early.

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy is part of the Avalon Bay series. I wanted to read it because I adored book one and two. This one was okay, My favorite of the three will always be book two, but this one was sweet.

The beginning was a bit slow for me, but it did pick up a bit. I enjoyed the romance between Tate and Cassie. Their first steamy scene together was probably my favorite scene. I liked the build up to that moment.

Mostly my favorite parts was when I got a glimpse of my favorite characters from the previous books. Like Gen and Mack. It was also nice to get a view into the Beacon Hotel and it's past.

The twist in the book definitely took me by surprise I was not expecting it. I like when a book can surprise me.

I would recommend this book if you enjoyed the others in the series.

Thank you for the advanced read on this book. I literally couldn’t put it down - a smart, sweet, juicy summer read! Very fun summer book!

This was by far the best Avalon Bay novel. I fell in love with Tate and Cassie. Tate is the best temporary boy next door and fling turned lovers I could ever ask for. Both characters went through so much together and Cassie made a major break through. Beautifully written.