Jennifer Dugan can always be relied on to write a sweet usually always summery contemporary. I would recommend her books to anybody looking for a good YA contemporary to read in a day or two. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Birdie and Cass were cute and I enjoyed their relationship most of the time. They definitely had their sweet moments that made you want to root for them to work out in the end. I did feel like they were kind of constantly arguing about the same thing over and over again most times though. Going into their relationship they knew there were some big class differences. Cass having to work for everything she has, busting her ass to make the money she has, to get the scholarship she needed to go to college, watching all her friends and their families struggle the same as hers does. While Birdie is a little bit your typical rich girl on the outside. She has had everything handed to her, she comes from wealth and money already. Also she and her mom are big social media influencers and they put mostly their entire life on camera on the internet and she doesn't think much about the cost of her lifestyle at all. They were definitely bound to have some disagreements and fights over that and then just the general "new relationship struggles" issues but I just don't know how productive they were to the plot after about the 3rd time of the same fight. The resolution that happened at the end feels like it could've happened way sooner too. I think the arguing mostly happened because the girls lacked trust in each other because they'd only really been around the other for a month or so. But they were for the most part cute together and I liked them separately too.

Im not totally sure how to feel about Birdie's dad George though? It sounded to me like "Look at all the horrible things he does to the town and the housing market, but he's also one of the good ones because he's not as bad as others who do it" Isn't he still kind of horrible if he never plans to stop doing it? It was confusing to me but not like a dealbreaker. I would have loved to meet some of Cass's other friends and neighbors/community in general though because she definitely seemed to care about what happened to them a great deal and I kind of did too honestly. Summer towns have their charm about them to tourists but its a different kind of magic to those who live there year round. To them its home, and I just wanted to see more of it in general. I think I had a good time with this overall, Its great for the summer upcoming like i've said that all of Jennifer Dugan's books are. Maybe not my absolute favorite story, but out of all her cover's this one might be my favorite. Please never change the cover artist lol.

Jennifer Dugan writes such deep and thoughtful sapphic YA romance. The characters are strong and flawed, much like any of us. Not my favourite book by this author, but worth a read nonetheless.

I received a ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and penguin group for the chance to read this book.

Although the story got off to a slow start, I'm glad that I stuck with it. I am not a fan of books with influencers or nepo babies as main characters, but I think that Birdie grew on me. Birdie is a rich teenager, and her mom has made being an influencer their whole lives. Birdie has grown up spoiled and rich, but when she crashes an expensive car, her parents decide to give her a break from the influencer life.

She heads to her beach house in a small town, and she has to get a real job as a parking lot attendant. Being in the real work is a bit of culture shock for Birdie. Cass knew Birdie when they were growing up because Cass's dad works for Birdie's dad. Cass is working class, and she has always resented Birdie for her wealth.

With Cass and Birdie first to work together for the summer, feelings develop. Cass doesn't want to like Birdie, and Birdie has always secretly crushed on Cass.

This is a sweet sapphic YA romance, but I wanted more from the characters. They felt very one dimensional, and it didn't feel enough of the romance between the two characters.

Birdie and Cass are from different worlds: Birdie is a teen social media influencer who comes from a wealthy family, just waiting for her 18th birthday so she can secure her inheritance and start her own purse design label. Cass is a lifeguard who also works every job Birdie’s dad offers her, to set aside money so she can pay for college, while also spending time volunteering with a group that protects the beach town’s locals from being priced out of their own homes by people like Birdie’s father. They come from different worlds. They can’t stand each other. But when they’re forced to spend time together, things change.

I thought this book was so cute. I loved that Birdie and Cass felt real, and their struggles with each other and themselves felt natural. I appreciated that their romance also felt natural and wasn’t linear.

I am a big Jennifer Dugan fan, so was absolutely thrilled to get approved for this ARC.

As can only be expected with her YA books, this is perfect for a sweet, easy read, chock full of butterflies. Cass and Birdie both have some significant character development, and what I particularly enjoyed is that it wasn't hinged on each other; rather, they both did a lot of independent work.

The two characters are distinct, unique, and make for a very cute couple. That said - they're kids. They are very one-track minded, because they are kids - and also because their upbringings are so different from one another. They're not going to have some fantastic depth of character when they've only experienced their own little corner of the world - and that's exactly what should be expected, in my opinion.

Summer Girls by Jennifer Dugan is a book about Cass who lives in a vacation town with one rule - she does not get involved with "summer girls". That is until Birdie, the quintessential "summer girl" comes to town and everything changes. Overall this book is light hearted, endearing, and an easy read. The characters are likable and both main characters learn something from each other. You might expect this book to be about a rich girl who just doesn't get it, but in reality you see that everyone has their struggles. The author also does a really good job of capturing how queer people don't just come out once, but many times throughout their lives. I really reccomend picking this book up.

Heartwarming, romantic, and inspiring.

A teen child of an influencer crashes her boyfriend's car on a livestream and was sent to stay with her father while on a social media detox. A resident of the small, tourist area is recruited to "keep an eye" on the aforementioned teen. Through some forced proximity, the two realize their feelings that have been there since childhood.

I loved the representation of a bisexual teen being out and proud, while another struggling inside the closet. Additionally, there are other dynamics at play, such as wealth and disparity. Through various challenges, the characters go through the motions and learn what it means to fight for what - and who - you love.

What a fantastic, charming, and delightful story.

Sharp, messy, and deeply honest, Summer Girls is a sapphic summer romance that isn’t afraid to dive into the complexities of identity, friendship, and what it means to be truly seen. Jennifer Dugan captures the highs and lows of teen emotions with humor and heart, making this a perfect beach read with bite. A must-read for fans of queer coming-of-age stories.

Summer Girls is a fun, low angst, summery YA romance. This book would be a good one to read at the beach or poolside.

Birdie is a spoiled rich girl whose influencer mom has been monetizing her life via social media since Birdie was in diapers. Her dad is a real estate developer who buys run down properties in a beach town and flips them into short-term rentals. Birdie gets in trouble after wrecking her boyfriend's car and gets sent to spend the summer in the beach town with her dad, where she has to get a job and isn't allowed social media. Cass is a townie, whose father has worked for Birdie's dad as a handyman/property manager, and who also has done odd jobs for him. Birdie's dad pays Cass to basically babysit Birdie and get her a job working at the beach.

Birdie was an interesting character in that she is wealthy and spoiled, but also her overbearing mom has been forcing her to broadcast her entire childhood to the world. Cass is more what you'd expect - she's irritated at Birdie being entitled and oblivious to real world struggles. However, she is a passionate advocate for fair and equal housing, which isn't something you expect for an eighteen year old. Once they start developing feelings for each other, they've very cute together.

I liked the supporting characters on Cass's side, but found the ones on Birdie's side harder to wrap my head around, especially her father. He's actively gentrifying the town, yet best friends and employer to the leader of a coalition that's actively fighting against his business practices (Cass's dad). I really don't get how Birdie and Cass's fathers square their own relationship.

This book was very emotional. As a mother it was hard to read some things that happened in this book but as a daughter myself I understood some things parents don’t. I also feel like I understand what kids don’t. It’s an odd place to be young and a mom but overall I felt as though this book was good for both adults and kids. It talked about some topics most Ya doesn’t touch on which I appreciated but also felt it was at lot at times. Overall it’s about who’s reading the story and what we get from it not about what others think. We’re all designed to see the world from a different perspective than others. If you like deep conversation topics and romance this is a good book for you but there are some flaws. 3.5/5 stars

A perfect book for a hot and sunny day of summer.

This was my first time reading a novel by Jennifer Dugan — even though I’ve known about her other books — and I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get into this story and just read nonstop. Dugan’s writing is smooth, heartfelt, and effortlessly engaging, making it the kind of book you can happily devour in one or two sittings.

The novel delivers exactly what I hoped for in a queer coming-of-age story: complex friendships, tender romance, and a nostalgic summer backdrop that captures both the excitement and uncertainty of growing up. Dugan has a talent for balancing humor and vulnerability, and it shows here in the layered dynamics between the characters.

That said, there were a couple of things that kept this from being a full 5-star read for me. The Coalition storyline left me wanting more — I was really intrigued by the tension between Gordo and Cass’s dad. Throughout the book, Cass mentions that her dad keeps Gordo around just to keep an eye on him, and I was hoping for a deeper backstory or more resolution about their history. Instead, it felt like everything wrapped up a little too neatly before the final act.

Also, Birdie’s mom — even though she’s only in the story briefly — was such an insufferable character that her scenes left a sour note for me.

Despite these minor frustrations, I still thoroughly enjoyed The Summer Girls. If you love YA contemporaries with queer friendships, summer nostalgia, and emotionally honest storytelling, this is one to add to your TBR — and I’ll definitely be picking up more of Jennifer Dugan’s backlist soon.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on April 30th, 2025. Links provided.

Summer Girls follows Cass, a working-class teen from a coastal town, who wants nothing to do with the wealthy tourists that invade every summer—especially the spoiled “summer girls.” Birdie, the daughter of a real estate mogul and a social media influencer, ends up in town for the summer as punishment for crashing her boyfriend’s car. Tasked with keeping an eye on Birdie, Cass is drawn into an unexpected connection with her, and as their relationship develops, both girls are forced to confront old assumptions, economic divides, and unresolved feelings from the past.

Summer Girls didn’t quite hit the mark for me. While the premise had potential, the characters felt a bit one-dimensional. Birdie, the influencer daughter of a real estate mogul, didn’t spark much interest and was incredibly annoying throughout the majority of the book. Then, the romance between her and Cass felt rushed with horrible communication and no real chemistry in my opinion. The constant focus on class differences became repetitive and honestly annoying after awhile. Cass would call Birdie out, storm off, rinse, repeat. Also, it really rubbed me the wrong way that Birdie’s dad was portrayed as some “good guy” who helped Cass and her family while at the same time his company was literally, actively working against everything Cass and her family stood for and were trying to accomplish. Make it make sense. Lastly, while Birdie did have some character growth, I didn’t feel like we really got any comeuppance for the way her dad and mom acted throughout the book. It might work for someone looking for a light, quick summer read, but it left me feeling slightly annoyed and unfulfilled. Still, 3 stars for having some cute moments, great setting, and a cute cover.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of Summer Girls in return for my honest review.

This was a really sweet romance between two seemingly opposites. Cass and Birdie live lives that are worlds apart in many ways, but ultimately they are bound together by work, common interests and love.

What fascinated me most about this book was the way social media can have such control on people’s lives; Birdie’s mother posted her since she was a baby and now that’s all she knows. Seeing the fallout of “scandal” and social media hiatus really was intriguing, and the impact of that on Birdie’s life direction was, too.

Full of drama and life lessons, I loved this read. The setting was great and there was plenty of familial relationships as well as friendships that were lovely to experience.

This was such a well-crafted and refreshing YA read!

I was in the mood for something sweet and low on spice, and this summery novel delivered exactly what I needed. The plot is cute and engaging, the pacing is easy to settle into, and it weaves in some meaningful life lessons without feeling heavy-handed.

It’s the perfect pick for a cozy afternoon or a sunny day escape—lighthearted, heartfelt, and totally charming.

In Summer Girls By Jennifer Dugan a rich social media influencer named Birdie (not her real name) is exiled to her parent’s beach house for the summer as a punishment. Her dad, a real estate developer/airbnb owner, hires Cass to keep an eye on Birdie for the summer. Cass and Birdie used to be friends as children but grew apart. Cass is reluctant about the job as she views Birdie as one of those stuck up tourists who visit for the summer, but needs the money for college and likes Birdie’s dad, despite actively working against what his company does. This story focuses a lot on rich versus poor.

The characters in this book were compelling. Even the ones I didn’t like I enjoyed reading about. I loved the character of Birdie especially. She was flawed but trying and you could really see the character growth throughout the book. Cass I found a bit harder to like. She came off close minded and just felt like she kept expecting the worse from Birdie.

I found the lack of communication between Birdie and Cass frustrating. Even when they seemed to talk by the next chapter it was the talk never happened.

Overall, a good book. It kept my attention and had a dramatic enough finish to keep me wanting to see it through to the end.

Thank you Jennifer Dugan, Penguin Young Readers Group, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely loved Birdie & the way she changed through out this novel (for the better) by Jennifer Dugan. The character involvement by everyone was top tier. This is the second novel I’ve read by this author and I have loved them both! It’s a must read. Thanks to netgalley & the publisher for this ARC.

Jennifer Dugan does it again! A near perfect LGBTQ+ YA romance novel, this book sweeps you off your feet and will keep you engaged until the very last page. Featuring Cass, who absolutely refuses to date summer girls and Birdie, the quintessential summer girl you kind of know where the book is headed, but it's adorable and fun nonetheless. A perfect summer read, I hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I did. 4.5/5

I have read every Jennifer Dugan book ever written and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. Summer Girls was a slice of fresh, sweet, enemies to lovers cake. Her commentary on children being used for social media content was spot on.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

2.5/5 ~ Too one-dimensional to be really good.

Birdie is a rich influencer who has to spend the summer in her father's beach house, without social media, can you imagine!? In this beach town, Cass says she's poor but she is actually working class and works at the beach to be able to afford going to university. Cass has to look after Birdie for the summer, in exchange for loads of money from Birdie's father.

They start off hating each other but since they're both hot, they quickly remember they used to have crushes on each other as kids (kids!?) so yeah now they're dating...

The drama comes from the same things over and over and over: Cass and Birdie's differences in wealth. It was their main conflict and it came up so often without ever really getting into real talk. Cass just always says Birdie doesn't understand then storms off. Great communication skills!

Anyways... I'm sure Summer Girls will be enjoyed by some as it's a fast read, sapphic romance that's enjoyable for summer and beach reads.
For me, the characters, the romance and the plot lacked dimension.

thank you to the author and publisher for sending me an e-ARC through NetGalley.

I really liked the setting of the book—the summer beach town atmosphere felt vivid and made for a relaxing, easy read. I also appreciated how the story touched on issues like wealth and housing equity. Those elements added some depth and made the book stand out a bit from typical summer romances.

That said, I struggled with the romance. I wish there had been more tension between Birdie and Cass throughout the story. Aside from the conflict near the end, their relationship felt a little too easy, and the insta-love was hard to fully buy into. I was hoping for more complexity in their dynamic.

Overall, Summer Girls had some strong points, but the romance didn’t quite hit the mark for me.