Elle KennedyThe Summer Girl: An Avalon Bay Novel (Avalon Bay, 3)

I have been planning to pick up an Elle Kennedy book for a while now as I have heard nothing but great things about her writing from all of my friends, so I was really excited when the opportunity to read the advanced audio for the publisher The Summer Girl came up. Also, not only is it narrated by one of my favorite audiobook narrators of all time, Caitlin Elizabeth/Kelly who also narrates The Folk of the Air series, we also get Teddy Hamilton dual narrating with her who also absolutely slays the narration of Xaden in Fourth Wing so I was pumped to see that duo! And y’all, WHAT A DUO they make! Seriously y’all, this pairing is perfection. They both fit the characters flawlessly and brought so much life to the characters, plot and spice. (Folks trust me, audio spice is where it’s at and Teddy Hamilton will show you why!) This pairing felt really natural and I’d love to read them together again! The story itself is a fun and spicy contemporary romance filled with the search for summer love set amidst the beach town of Avalon Bay. I was looking for something light, spicy, fun and funny to read and this was all the above, and so much more! It ticked off all the boxes for whit, humor and banter I needed in my current book slump, while also delivering cheek burning scenes to leave me grinning like that grinch gif we all know and love. I often reach for contemporary romance as a reset when I’m not sure what to read, just read a heavy fantasy, or I am being extra mood readery and couldn’t rec this more for curing all the above. When I started The Summer Girl, little did I know that it would not only single handedly cure my Fourth Wing book hangover, but I would also relate so heavily to our female main character Cassie, who is definitely not a ginger. Cassie is a glass is always half full type of girl like myself, and while this can be a strength in life, as Cassie finds, it can also get you into trouble when you were always searching for the silver linings, maybe avoiding the reality of life’s hardships, or letting your boundaries not exist in the name of being easygoing. Cassie has a wonderful journey of discovery in this book that really made me feel seen, and uncovered some self love I’d been lacking in the boundary department. It was quickly for me more than just another fun quick read which was a fantastic surprise. Cassie is easy to love, and easier to root for as she is looking for a summer love type of fling in Avalon Bay before she heads back to college. While looking for Mr Right Now she meets Tate in the most awkward way possible, by overhearing him getting dumped. Their entire first interaction made me feel so seen because I too am the awkward “omfg I can’t believe what just came out of my mouth my brain is not in charge I swear!” type of person, so it really felt like I was reading myself on the page when Cassie repeatedly puts her foot into her mouth amidst rambling nonsense after this and many more awkward Tate encounters. (Hi it’s me, I’m the problem it’s me!) Thankfully, Tate seems to enjoy her quirkiness, and fate brings them together for another happenstance meeting when it turns out he is housesitting for the summer next-door to her grandmothers house, where she is staying. From there on out we go on a really great ride as these two cultivate a really unique and honest friendship, while glaringly ignoring the very clear sparks exploding between them….until they don’t. I’ll let you unravel their story as it unfolds because I wouldn’t dare spoil Elle Kennedy’s incredible comedic timing, but!! Let me tell you it is IMPOSSIBLE to not root for them. This story isn’t just another summer fling poolside read, it’s honest, and filled with self discovery, honesty, learning to love yourself better, how to develop boundaries, that you deserve them and finding exactly what you really needed when you weren’t looking for anything but casual. The spice is equally as honest, real, balanced well with the plot, and yes y’all we get a lip bite worthy GOOD GIRL. This book will in no way leave you wanting more…well besides the next book in the Avalon series. Overall a smash hit for my first trip into Elle Kennedy, and will definitely not be the last now that I’m officially off to go buy everything in her catalog that I can get my hands on!TW: Narcissistic Parent and body shamingThank you Macmillan Audio the opportunity to read this, my views are my own.

I loved the first book, enjoyed the second and found this one quite repetitive. The writing style changed, felt like it was forced to try to incorporate cool slang. Didn't feel natural at all. It's like it lost it's charm of the serie. Maybe 2 books were enough..

“The need to belong is deeply ingrained in us. I think it’s because there’s no worse feeling in the world than being on the outside looking in.”- Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl (Avalon Bay, Book 3)ARC review 📝 Am I the only one terrified of love triangles?! Just me?! Oh well. I am. I knew this would be Tate’s book and I skipped the blurb because I was terrified of seeing Wyatt’s and Alana’s names there. But I forgot that Elle Kennedy is a queen and would never do us dirty like that 👏🏼🤌🏼And that’s how we get to meet Cassie. Now, Cassie is my favorite. Cassie is a Gen + Mac blend with her own shine. Cassie is also the best character-person I’ve ever met. And I mean it because that betrayal at the end by the one person I wasn’t expecting… I would’ve flipped. And she… understood. I’m telling you, best character-person ever.And Tate knows it too. From the first time these two strangers meet under quite uncomfortable circumstances, you could feel the chemistry there. But more than any attraction, a chemistry of easy friendship. An easy friendship with tons of pull sure, but friendship nevertheless.I really thought Bad Girl Reputation would be my series favorite. Boy was I wrong. This, this was the one. Although I’m still livid over that betrayal. Okay, others may not see it as a betrayal. But I trusted this betrayer. I thought, “we’re cool! You’re nice” 👀 and then… not cool. Not cool at all. Like I’m still not okay with the whole thing and I finished the book hours ago.But back to the review. This book is amazing. Elle Kennedy is amazing. Tate and Cassie are amazing. LL Cool J aka Pierre is amazing. You get what I’m trying to say: go preorder like I did 😎What’s inside:🖤contemporary romance🖤neighbor romance🖤friends to friends with benefits to lovers🖤close proximity🖤small beach town romance🖤dual POVNA. 5 stars ⭐️

The Summer Girl is book three of the Avalon Bay series of interconnected standalones. This is by far my favorite of the series! Cassie is back in Avalon Bay to help her grandmother pack up her home so she can go live closer to her family. While she is there she wants to have a summer fling without all the feelings. She just wants to have some fun before she starts her senior year of college. Tate is the town player but when Cassie suggests they have a “friends with benefits” fling, Tate turns her down because he doesn’t want her to catch feelings and get her heart broken. I loved everything about this book…the banter, the angst, the humor, the spice, and the friendships (and getting more of Mac, Cooper, Gen, and Evan). Tate and Cassie are couple goals! I loved the chemistry between them and the sexual tension was there from the get go! I think my favorite part of their relationship was the fun, lighthearted banter between them. It had me laughing out loud several times. However, I wasn’t prepared for the emotions in this book at all! I had to grab a tissue more than once! Overall I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend especially if you are looking for a cute and fun summer read!

This book is the 3rd one in the Avalon Bay series. I devoured this just like I did with the first 2. Elle kennedy never disappoints me with her books.Cassie stays for the summer in Avalon with her grandmother and she is on the hunt for a summer fling.The first night in town she stumbles into Tate at a bonfire, who turns out will be her neighbor for the summer. They hit it off right from the beginning and everything is great until Tate friend zones her. Cassie is still wanting to find a summer fling, Tate decides to be her wingman and try and help her find one.Of course that isn’t as easy when feelings start to become present between the both of them.While reading this I fell more and more in love with their relationship and friendship. And the twist at the end of the book I was not excepting what so ever.This book is dual POVFriends to loversThe spice in the book was excellent it wasn’t overpowering but it was still very good.Elle Kennedy’s books are such good quick reads, I highly recommend this series and this book alone!