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Member Reviews

I am a long-time fan of Elle Kennedy and her latest is definitely a case of it's not you, it's me. I think I've reached an age where I'm too old for college-age characters and love triangles. Ah well, we'll always have The Deal!

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Abbey plans to spend a year abroad studying in London, but when she arrives at her flat, she realizes that the roommates she thought were females are all actually males. Darn the male/female names! Keeping this little detail from her wildly famous rockstar father is a bit of a challenge but Abbey is committed to having the best year in London, It also helps that one of her roommates is super hot. Loved the chemistry between the characters. Kennedy knows how to write romance!

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A younger Elle Kennedy romance!
This one hit directly in my heart because I was one of those classic undergrads that did a study abroad, and I happened to go to England. I think it made parts of it feel a bit nostalgic but also cheesy, but that was definitely a me problem! I love that she ends up rooming with three guys, and the love triangle was not something I was expecting going in, but also can see why it works so well. A fun and charming read when you are feeling a bit of wanderlust.

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This is my first Elle Kennedy book. I've seen lots of good things about her writing on social media so I was excited to be approved for this book. Let's start with what I liked about this book... I liked the premise and the diverse characters. I liked the mystery of the painting. I liked that Abbey was serious about going to college. I liked her realistic/overbearing father.

However, I didn't care for the "love triangle" aspect of this book. I understand why it was included --- it linked the story of the painting with Abbey's real life --- however, it seemed really immature and silly that so many people wanted to be involved with Abbey. She was a likeable character but having 3 different characters interested in her for various reasons seemed overkill.

This doesn't mean I won't try an Elle Kennedy book again -- I just wasn't impressed with this one.

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Girl Abroad” was a great read. Abbey Bly’s character development is strong and happens quickly throughout the book. Another one of the story’s ‘pros’ is that the love triangle wasn’t the only plot for readers to get lost in. The mystery of Abbey’s research project and the information it uncovered added a unique element to the typical romance storylines seen today. I highly recommend this book for your next adult romance read if you want a fun and fast-paced story. I really truly enjoyed!

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A cute, lighthearted read. This is the kind of story you cuddle up with when life sends lemons. A girl starting over, off to London and finding adventure. A perfect redemption story.

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I think I would have likely this more if the main character had been a little more mature. Obviously I don't expect a 19 year old to be super mature but I think it kind of hindered the plot a little bit. The mystery aspect was interesting but didn't really flow with the rest of the story. I would have enjoyed more activity from the cast of characters than reading about the mystery she was solving. Overall it was a good book, just not favorite of hers.

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I love Elle Kennedy and Girl Abroad is a pretty decent read. There is a little love triangle and a small mystery. Overall the story is decent. I like the characters, but I wanted more and quicker. It took me a long time to finish this book, which I wasn't expecting, but I just wasn't in love with the book enough to read it quickly.

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Honestly after her last indie novel (The Graham Effect), which was great, this one was fine but felt kind of slight and a bit phoned in. The historical mystery was the most interesting part, and that's something I never in a million years thought I'd say in the review for an Elle Kennedy book!

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The protagonist, Abbie, is forced to study abroad to escape her overprotective father, but discovers her roommates are hot guys who she cannot date. She also has a crush on a British musician who has already taken her. The book is a good read for a reading slump, but there is a lack of spice.

The book has some flaws, such as Abbie is an annoying fmc, her lack of female friendships, and the love triangle trope. The characters are stereotyped and not all have connections to the British aristocracy. The book is not completely romanticized, and the characters feel weird due to their stereotypes.

In summary, the book is a fast-paced, easy-to-read drama set in London, with a focus on angst and the consequences of thinking with your dick. The book receives three stars from the author, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

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I was really disappointed by this book, so much so that I did not even finish it. The MC whose name I cannot remember felt very sheltered and something about her vibe was off. I also don't like the dynamic of one sheltered woman living with several men. I'm sure the book is really effective for people who like those tropes, it just wasn't for me.

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This book was ok. I think I would have liked it more if the main character wasn't 19. She felt like a very young 19 year old and her age was constantly mentioned. Also, there was to much about the mystery of the woman in the picture. This plot point seemed more important then the romance(s).

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Elle Kennedy has written another good book! I've enjoyed her writing for a while and this was no exception. While it maybe wasn't as fast-paced as the others I've read, it was still a good read. I think our patrons will enjoy it and we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

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Elle Kennedy will forever hold a special place in my heart. The Deal was one of the first New Adult romances that I ever read (and adored), so I was very excited to read something new by her. This had all of the humor and banter that she always includes in her books, and the friendships between Abbey and her roommates was great. As a former history major, I also loved the side plot of Abbey's research project into Josephine and the Tulley family. (the primary source research!).

Unfortunately, I would have to say that I liked that side plot more than the actual romance. To be fair, I knew this was going to be different than Kennedy's other books, and love triangles are not my favorite. While I really enjoyed the idea of Abbey having a wild and wonderful time during her year studying abroad, making memories with her new friends, going on adventures, and yes, even having multiple different flings, it almost felt like too much. I never really felt fully invested in either Nate or Jack, and I maybe would have preferred the ending to be less final in that regard. Just let a girl have her fun!

Also the third act conflict was infuriating and Abbey forgave things incredibly too easily.

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This story follows Abby Bly, who gets the chance to study abroad for a year in London, and things take a turn when she arrives and finds out her roommates are all boys.

I’m so happy I got an ARC for this book! It was fun and got me out of my reading slump. I hadn’t read any books by Elle Kennedy before, and I’m glad I finally did. I liked her writing style, so this won’t be my last book by her.

Overall, this story was very cute, and entertaining. I could honestly picture it as a Netflix movie in the future. I liked Abby, she was a relatable character, and the banter between her and her roommates was well done. It was a good romance, with some mystery added, which I thought made the story more interesting.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

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This was exactly what I wanted it to be!! Fun, mysterious, cheeky, and messy!! Innocent/ sheltered girl goes abroad and accidentally signs up to be roommates with 3 men!! She finds herself in a love triangle and with a mystery to solve! I had so much fun reading this! Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for a review !!

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"Girl Abroad" by Elle Kennedy promises a fun romp through London as Abbey Bly, a nineteen-year-old eager to break free from her overbearing father, finds herself living with charming yet off-limits male roommates. While the premise offers entertainment, the novel falls short in complexity, leaning heavily on predictable tropes. Abbey's journey is engaging but lacks depth, with the romantic entanglements feeling somewhat contrived. Despite these shortcomings, Kennedy delivers a light-hearted read perfect for fans of breezy romances, albeit one that doesn't offer much beyond its surface-level charm.

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In Girl Abroad by Elle Kennedy, Abbey Bly, the daughter of an aging rockstar, finally has a chance to explore the world outside of her sheltered upbringing. And explore, she does! Spending a study year abroad in London, she finds herself living with three guys, involved in a love triangle with one of her flatmates and a brooding musician and trying to solve a mystery from an aristocratic family's past.

Kennedy's trademark banter and humor shine through this story especially with the character of Lee. This is definitely a coming of age story with all of the mistakes and stumbles the characters go through.

Fans of Kennedy's Off Campus and Briar U books might be a bit surprised by the single POV and lower level of spice but should enjoy the story.

Thanks to Net Galley and Bloom Books for the advanced reader copy.

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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/510993/spicy-author-elle-kennedy-hockey-books-are-so-popular-fancasting-jacob-elordi-nicholas-galitzine/

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Abbey Bly is the daughter of an aging rock star who quit touring when she was 11 to become an overprotective, full-time dad. The last thing he wants is for Abbey to repeat his mistakes. So, when she announces she is going to Pembridge University in London for her sophomore year, he doesn’t take the news well. When she arrives, she discovers that what she thought were three female roommates are actually attractive men (with androgynous names). Lee is the fashionable gay one, Jamie the whorish aristocratic one, and Jack the Australian Chris Hemsworth lookalike who she’s instantly attracted to. However, the number one (and only) house rule is no fraternizing among housemates.

Unlike their American counterparts, these three are not impressed with her dad’s fame which is a huge relief to her. As Jamie says, “Englishmen only make a big deal about pints and footy.” Being the daughter of a rockstar and a groupie, Abbey never understood musician worship until her first night out with the gang…when she’s dumbstruck by the edgy singer/guitarist on stage, Nate. Soon, she’s juggling her feelings for two guys and still keeping the truth of her living arrangement from her dad.

In addition to the romance, there’s also a mystery element to Girl Abroad. Shortly after Abbey is given a year-long assignment to research and report on an interesting topic, she discovers a painting of a mysterious woman from the 1940s-50s at an estate sale at an ancestral home of the Tulley family, aristocrats who have fallen on hard times. She decides to investigate what this woman’s connection is to the Tulleys, one of whom paid to have her portrait painted. The only clue she has is a Dear John letter tucked into the back of the frame from Josephine to the man she’s rejecting. Josephine was in a love triangle, and it’s Abbey’s job to discover who she chose and what became of them all. As a librarian and lover of research, I found this subplot really compelling.

One big frustration I had that almost spoiled the book completely for me is that nearly halfway through the book, Abbey is in a love triangle with two different guys, but she can’t have either of them. It’s a double slow burn, but when it catches fire, it feels almost like cheating although none of them is willing to commit. It’s all a little too messy for my taste, especially when the feelings are strong all around. I didn’t feel Abbey had enough of a personality for two guys to fall for her, and her behavior was really hypocritical. Unfortunately, aside from the mystery element, there isn’t much to recommend this story. It falls far short of Kennedy’s hockey romances.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Bloom Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

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