Elle Kennedy is a hot name in romance, thanks to BookTok. I mostly see The Deal [Buy Bookshop Amazon] and it’s subsequent novels, but coming in a close second lately is the Avalon Bay series. I’ve previously reviewed the first two books Good Girl Complex [Buy Bookshop Amazon] and Bad Girl Reputation [Buy Bookshop Amazon], so I couldn’t leave you hanging with book three.

Elle is spitting these books out fast, and The Summer Girl is already out now [Buy Bookshop Amazon]. This story follows Cassie, who, as the title suggests, is only in Avalon Bay for the summer. Her grandparents built the hotel that Mac bought in book one, so she’s spending one last summer in town leading up to the hotel’s re-opening. Cassie figures, while she’s there, she might as well have a summer fling and the guy house sitting next door might just be the perfect option.

Tate would totally be on board with this plan if Mac didn’t point out that Cassie isn’t the kind of girl you play games with. He’s a known player, but she’s pretty innocent, so he does the logical thing and friend-zones Cassie…. and we all know he’s going to regret that idea.

I have mixed feelings on this one. Was it enjoyable? Yes. Does it stand out amongst the crowd of romances out there right now? Not so much. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with it, but the connection between Tate and Cassie isn’t what stands out the most.

That dynamic goes to the one between Cassie and her mom. The storyline there is much more memorable, and important. It highlights the struggle to connect with a narcissistic parent and just how far people like that will go to come out on top. It’s more emotional, compelling, and needed in fiction.

I don’t know if there will be an Avalon Bay #4 yet, but I do hope this series continues.

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