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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read the ARC of That Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy. This is the third book in the Avalon Bay series. I've read the first but not that second book. This book could be read as a standalone but it does add some to the backstory if you've read another in the series. This is a quick, lighthearted summer read that wraps up neatly at the end. The classic "beach read." While I enjoyed the book and didn't find it hard to pick up, I did find the language often very juvenile. It is very much a YA book. I think I would have appreciated and liked this book more when I was younger.
Avalon Bay saved the best for last with this one. Light, sweet, funny, perfect summer read it had me smiling from the beginning. Lots of funny banter. Tate is adorable. Cass is sweet and I loved how it tied the series together.
I must admit, I didn't really enjoy this audiobook. I requested it on netgalley because of the cute, summery cover not knowing it was the third book in a series and never having read anything else by Elle Kennedy. Had I know her books were so spicy (I'd personally say raunchy) I would have passed. I saw one person rate this as 1/5 on the spicy scale and I guess I must have a really low tolerance for spice, cause The Summer Girl made me genuinely uncomfortable.
Besides that, it was just too stereotypical while also being relatively surface level. Cassie is a Virgin who wants a "summer fling," which I found strange right off the bat. We never really learn why she'd waited so long, besides that she's "shy" and socially awkward (a rambler) though her quick banter and immediate friends would suggest otherwise and her tiny frame with huge boobs surely make her physically desirable to many.
Cassie's mother is straight up toxic and deserves to be immediately caught off, but Cassie tends to "put a smile on" for all the people around her who let her down. And her relationship with her father is strained since he's remarried and has two young daughters to raise. I did enjoy Cassie's family dynamics, even though they are pretty painful.
I also liked how up front and open her and Tate are with each other - they discussed deep stuff easily, which is refreshing with a male, man-whore type, but that just kind of added to my perplexed face for some of these storylines. He's slept with everyone in town but he has a heart of gold... no one's mad at him or has felt jilted after no-strings sex? No one? And he's super emotionally available and mature while constantly saying "c*ck" and "t*ts" in his head?
I dunno. This just wasn't for me. I listened on 3x speed to get through. There is some great depth but some confusing character traits and I just didn't feel sold. Maybe if I'd read the rest of the series I'd feel more connected.
If you're ok with smut, it's probably a great summer read/listen.
Besides that, it was just too stereotypical while also being relatively surface level. Cassie is a Virgin who wants a "summer fling," which I found strange right off the bat. We never really learn why she'd waited so long, besides that she's "shy" and socially awkward (a rambler) though her quick banter and immediate friends would suggest otherwise and her tiny frame with huge boobs surely make her physically desirable to many.
Cassie's mother is straight up toxic and deserves to be immediately caught off, but Cassie tends to "put a smile on" for all the people around her who let her down. And her relationship with her father is strained since he's remarried and has two young daughters to raise. I did enjoy Cassie's family dynamics, even though they are pretty painful.
I also liked how up front and open her and Tate are with each other - they discussed deep stuff easily, which is refreshing with a male, man-whore type, but that just kind of added to my perplexed face for some of these storylines. He's slept with everyone in town but he has a heart of gold... no one's mad at him or has felt jilted after no-strings sex? No one? And he's super emotionally available and mature while constantly saying "c*ck" and "t*ts" in his head?
I dunno. This just wasn't for me. I listened on 3x speed to get through. There is some great depth but some confusing character traits and I just didn't feel sold. Maybe if I'd read the rest of the series I'd feel more connected.
If you're ok with smut, it's probably a great summer read/listen.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the arc of The Summer Girls! I love Elle Kennedy and I love this series and visiting Avalon Bay.
Cassandra (or Cassie to her close friends) grew up in Avalon Bay, until her parents divorce forced her to move to Boston with her controlling and narcissistic mother. She’s back for the summer, though, to help her grandma pack up their family house as she prepares to move. While Cassie is in Avalon Bay, she’s determined to have a “summer fling” filled with passion and sexual chemistry. Who does she meet but none other than Tate, the local surfer blondie who is known for his hookups.
Tate moved to Avalon Bay with his parents when he was in middle school/early high school. His parents are his best friends, and holds the standard that any relationship worth being in must match how in-love his parents are — hence all the hookups and no real relationships.
Cassie and Tate soon become close friends, and it’s up to Tate whether or not that friendship is going to stay platonic, or if he’ll be Cassie’s summer fling.
Like I said previously, I love this series! I’m a sucker for a romance book set in a beach town, and Elle delivers every time. I loved both of the main characters, and I think they’re my fav couple so far. Although I do like a bad boy (like Evan) and tattoos (like Cooper), there’s something about a sweet surfer boy close to his parents that’s also my cup of tea.
I also enjoyed how Tate’s character evolved throughout the book, and how it came to a shock that he could no longer hold his parents on the pedestal he once placed them.
Cassie’s character has gone through some shit, and Tate and her two close girlfriends (and eventually the local girls like Gen and Mac) stick by her and help her find the confidence she needs to break ties with her mom. Cassie also goes through body positivity struggles, which I relate to. Tate stands by her though and never lets her forget how beautiful she is, inside and out.
Anyone who loves Elle Kennedy and books that take place on the beach should definitely pick up The Summer Girl!
4⭐️ and 2.5
Cassandra (or Cassie to her close friends) grew up in Avalon Bay, until her parents divorce forced her to move to Boston with her controlling and narcissistic mother. She’s back for the summer, though, to help her grandma pack up their family house as she prepares to move. While Cassie is in Avalon Bay, she’s determined to have a “summer fling” filled with passion and sexual chemistry. Who does she meet but none other than Tate, the local surfer blondie who is known for his hookups.
Tate moved to Avalon Bay with his parents when he was in middle school/early high school. His parents are his best friends, and holds the standard that any relationship worth being in must match how in-love his parents are — hence all the hookups and no real relationships.
Cassie and Tate soon become close friends, and it’s up to Tate whether or not that friendship is going to stay platonic, or if he’ll be Cassie’s summer fling.
Like I said previously, I love this series! I’m a sucker for a romance book set in a beach town, and Elle delivers every time. I loved both of the main characters, and I think they’re my fav couple so far. Although I do like a bad boy (like Evan) and tattoos (like Cooper), there’s something about a sweet surfer boy close to his parents that’s also my cup of tea.
I also enjoyed how Tate’s character evolved throughout the book, and how it came to a shock that he could no longer hold his parents on the pedestal he once placed them.
Cassie’s character has gone through some shit, and Tate and her two close girlfriends (and eventually the local girls like Gen and Mac) stick by her and help her find the confidence she needs to break ties with her mom. Cassie also goes through body positivity struggles, which I relate to. Tate stands by her though and never lets her forget how beautiful she is, inside and out.
Anyone who loves Elle Kennedy and books that take place on the beach should definitely pick up The Summer Girl!
4⭐️ and 2.5
I liked this book because it had a good amount of story and spice. I appreciated the ending as well because it had a bit of an unpredictability to it. I definitely look forward to reading more of the series.
I swear all of the books from the Avalon Bay series are just perfect summer reads and The Summer Girl is no exception. This is book 3 in the series, but each book follows a different couple, so they can be read as standalones (but then you will miss out on all of the amazing characters so I don’t recommend skipping any of the books