ARC Review Book Review by A Book Wanderer

ARC Book Review | The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy

Title: The Summer Girl (Avalon Bay, #3)
Author: Elle Kennedy
Genre: Romance, New Adult
Publishes On: July 18, 2023
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Source: digital
Pages: 392

Synopsis:

College student Cassie Soul hasn’t spent an entire summer in Avalon Bay in years, not since her parents divorced and her mother spitefully whisked her away to Boston. Now that her grandmother is selling the boardwalk hotel that’s been in their family for five decades, Cassie returns to the quaint beach town to spend time with family, ring in her twenty-first birthday…and maybe find herself a summer fling.  

On her first night in town, she finds the perfect Tate Bartlett, Avalon Bay’s fun-loving golden boy. 

Tate, sailing instructor and lovable player, is no stranger to flings. In fact, he’s always down for a good time. But the moment he meets Cassie, he knows she’s not the girl you play games with. Cassie is gorgeous, hilarious, and, frankly, the coolest person he’s ever met. The last thing he wants to do is risk breaking her heart, and so he reluctantly puts her in the friend-zone…only to realize he made a huge mistake. Soon, his attraction to Cassie becomes impossible to ignore. He wants that fling now. Big-time. 

And maybe even something more. 

As Cassie and Tate walk the line between friends and lovers, they’re about to discover that their situation is the least complicated part of this equation. Because Avalon Bay is full of secrets—and their relationship might not survive when those secrets come to light.

Elle Kennedy’s next spicy and emotional romance in the blockbuster Avalon Bay series.

My thoughts

(Spoiler free)

Revisiting Avalon Bay is always a nice way to spend a day or two. And The Summer Girl, the third installment in the Avalon Bay series by Elle Kennedy, was everything I wanted it to be and more! Fun, romantic, and surprising, I didn’t want Cassie and Tate’s story to end.

If you’ve read the previous two books in the series—Good Girl Complex and Bad Girl Reputation—you’ll recognize many of the characters. While Cassie is a new addition, Tate has appeared as a side character in the other books. And our lead characters from the first two books are here, as well, since this group of friends is a close one. But like Cassie, we have several new side characters, who only enhance the story. I can’t help wondering who the next book will be about when a side character makes an appearance in a scene. While reading the previous books is not necessary, I highly recommend them!

“We’re friends.”
“We are,” he agrees. 
“Friends shouldn’t do this.” 
“Probably not.”

Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

I adored the setting of The Summer Girl. Not only the setting of Avalon Bay with it’s beachside campfires, but having Cassie and Tate be neighbors for the summer. It led to so many romantic encounters, including one particularly steamy scene that will remain quite memorable.

In this dual point of view romance, Cassie and Tate are beautifully flawed, enigmatic characters. Their chemistry leaps off the page, and they just make sense together. Cassie is kind, to a fault, and Tate, try as he might, can’t resist Cassie. I enjoyed their push and pull, and watching as Tate battled with himself. It’s a sweet friends-to-lovers story!

There is a surprise twist I didn’t see coming, mostly because I was just reading for enjoyment, not thinking too hard about where the story was heading. I wasn’t too sure how I felt about it at first, but Kennedy weaved it so expertly into the existing story, it made the ending that much more satisfying.

There’s plenty to love in this one: beachside parties, late-night chats, magical boat rides, and a local Beach Games event that had me cheering for the characters. If you’re a fan of Elle Kennedy or simply a fan of summer romances, you’ll enjoy The Summer Girl!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.

(All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.)

My Rating:

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Bookshop | Amazon

(Levels inspired by The Well-Read Librarian from Sourcebooks)

➤My review of Good Girl Complex (Avalon Bay, #1)

➤My review of Bad Girl Reputation (Avalon Bay, #2)

About the Author

Elle Kennedy

A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

ellekennedy.com

A Song For A Book

Just like I did for Good Girl Complex and Bad Girl Reputation, I created an inspired playlist on Spotify to accompany The Summer Girl. I’ve included it below, and I’ll be highlighting “Late Night Talking” by Harry Styles. It has just the right upbeat, fun, flirty sound to match Cassie and Tate’s romance. There is a song I included on my playlist that would have been a little spoiler-y if I highlighted it, but you’ll have to read the book and listen to find it. 😉

Things haven’t been quite the same
There’s a haze on the horizon, babe
It’s only been a couple of days
And I miss you, mm, yeah
When nothin’ really goes to plan
You stub your toe or break your camera
I’ll do everythin’ I can
To help you through

If you’re feelin’ down
I just wanna make you happier, baby
Wish I was around
I just wanna make you happier, baby

We’ve been doin’ all this late night talkin’
‘Bout anythin’ you want until the mornin’
Now you’re in my life
I can’t get you off my mind…

Will you be adding The Summer Girl to your tbr? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Wandering!

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