Is there anything better than when Elle Kennedy is in top form and writing romance novels that just make your heart sing? Probably not.

Cass and Tate are quickly joining the ranks of my favorite Elle Kennedy couples, and I especially loved Cass' Briar U roots (just another reason to love them more than ever). The chemistry between these two is so palpable that it jumps off the page and just made me smile every time they were interacting. The humor, always one of my favorite elements of an Elle Kennedy book, was so distinctly on point, especially when some old Avalon Bay favorites pop up, as well.

But what I really loved most was how both Cassie and Tate grow because of each other. Cassie and Tate each have their own respective troubles with their lives; for Cassie, it is her parents and her feelings of being unloved, and for Tate, it's the idea that he'll never branch out to what he really wants to do. The way they encourage and support each other is so well-written and portrayed, and it makes you root for them all the more.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Comedian Taylor Tomlinson has a joke about the difference between men and women—women are surprised when they find a man who is good in bed, men are surprised when they find a woman they can fall in love with. “I don’t know, I just, like her, dude!” The men say. “I want to like, lick her heart? I don’t know.”

If that joke was a book, it would be The Summer Girl. Cassie is a college student looking for a summer fling, and Tate is a twenty-three year old man with a reputation for hooking up. Sounds fun!

My problem with this book is probably summed up by another Taylor Tomlinson joke: we were all garbage in our twenties. And the characters in this book prove that point (sorry!)

To be fair, I thought Cassie’s side of the story was sweet. She had a strong character arc, finding her courage to stand up to her parents for what she needed from them emotionally. That’s actually a very mature thing, and Elle Kennedy handled it deftly.

It was harder for me to relate to Tate, unsurprisingly. But he was a fine love interest, and again, probably realistic for a character in his early twenties.

I think this book will resonate most with college kids, who are figuring out a lot of the same things as these characters.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for an ARC for the purpose of this review. I’m giving it three stars. This was my first book from Kennedy and I liked her story ideas but found them to be predictable. I do think this will be a fun beach read vs how I just read it in winter! The setting in the book is a fabulous beach town and that carefree summer lifestyle of meeting boys and going out!

3.5 Stars The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy was a great continuation of her Avalon Bay series and I was very excited for Tate to get his book next.

It’s been years since college student Cassie Soul spent the summer in Avalon Bay, ever since she moved away after her parents’ divorce. Cassie is looking to get some experience with a summer hookup and picks none other than Avalon Bay’s golden boy, Tate Bartlett. Tate is instantly attracted to Cassie but, believing she’s the type to want commitment, rejects her proposition and insists that they stick to being friends for the summer. Cassie and Tate try to be friends, but their attraction to each other is hard to ignore, especially when they are living right next door to each other.

This was a sweet friends-to-lovers romance and a very quick and easy read. It helps to have read the first two Avalon Bay books first, but is not necessary. Though it is fun to see what Cooper & Mac and Evan & Gen are up to now. I really hope Elle Kennedy keeps this series going because they are always fun to read.

In case you are new here, I am a HUGE Elle Kennedy fan! Imagine my excitement when I got approved to read an ARC of The Summer Girl this week! Well…the results are in! Tate and Cassie have stolen my heart!!! They are so fun together, but they also support each other at every moment! I was SHOCKED when the story didn’t follow Alana (based off of the cover), but I couldn’t be more glad to be honest because Cassie and Tate are just so flippin adorable! I laughed out loud multiple times from their antics as well as those from Mac, Gen, and the Hartleys! Copper and Gate forever! 💙

Cassie is the grand-daughter of the former owner of the hotel in Avalon Bay. He's back in Avalon Bay for the first time in years and met Tate.... Except they fall for each other of course.

Elle Kennedy is terrific and can do no wrong in my opinion. I do like Cassie and Tate a lot. They are both fun, interesting and likable characters. They aren't going to replace Summer and Fritz for me but they are still one of my favorites.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

I didn't <i>not</i> like this, but by the end of the book, I realized I know nothing about Cassie other than she's insecure and has big boobs, and nothing about Tate other than he's a nice guy and is super hot. Oh, and Cassie babbles a lot.

Cassie and Tate were fine together, but without much depth to their characters, it's hard to say they had much chemistry.