The Summer Girl
by Elle Kennedy
Published by St. Martin's Press
Book 3 in the Avalon Bay series
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 candidate: 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.
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Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an arc via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
No lie, every time I get a copy of the newest Avalon Bay book, I have the same thought; Elle Kennedy has just written the best book in the series. I really liked Good Girl Complex. I adored Bad Girl Reputation. I loved The Summer Girl.
I'm not sure how Elle Kennedy can write such a simple, light-hearted romance, with virtually little drama between Cassie and Tate, and yet make the reader feel so invested. The Summer Girl has a rather simple storyline, but the characters really shine through and make this book delightful. Both Cassie and Tate are very relatable, in regards to their personalities and situations. Their chemistry with one another, and lighthearted banter was fun to read, and while I loved the romantic part of their relationship, I genuinely loved getting to know these two characters through one another. Their friendship is sweet, and seeing the characters through their eyes made it sweeter.
Sweet. I think that is my main takeaway from this book. Cassie and Tate's story is sweet, and they are so tender with one another. I enjoyed their story, and I love their personal character arcs. The Summer Girl is probably my favorite in the series so far. I promise you will love it too.
Coming soon after publication on July 18th, 2023