This is a book review of The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy without major spoilers.
If it weren’t for someone gifting me this via a blind date with a book, I would not have read it. Apparently this is book number three in another Elle Kennedy series. After reading The Deal, I was a little wary, but this book took me by surprise, in a mostly good way.
The Facts
Author: Elle Kennedy
Release Date: July 18, 2023
Genre: Romance
Main Characters: Cassie & Tate
Number of Pages: 389
Rating: 3.75 out of 5
What I Liked
There were moments when I genuinely laughed out loud, like when Tate’s dog eats half a container of cookies and farts so loud, it scares the dog into barking for five minutes straight. Or when Cassie easily tells Tate going to the spa is more important than his dignity.
Though it is a bit sad to think about, I found Cassie’s situation with her parents to be insanely relatable, and it felt nice to be seen. I relate to being an afterthought to my dad and having an indescribable, complicated relationship. Cassie’s relationship with her mom feels like I’m looking in a mirror; I spent a good portion of my childhood listening to attacks on my father and my appearance. The way Cassie’s mom acts is literally like my mom, even now that I’m an adult. As Cassie said, “Sometimes it’s so hard to forget you’re not dealing with a normal human. Narcissists are a whole other breed.”
I love Zale. I feel like he should’ve been a mildly bigger character. He immediately gave me Owen Thiele energy (side note: I love how much Owen Thiele is blowing up right now).
The way Aaron responds to Cassie ending their fling, a word the book loves to repeatedly use, is truly all I could ever hope for. Appreciation for not ghosting and communicating the desire to end things? Unheard of. My consideration got me a simple one emoji response.
What I... Didn't
Referring to a woman’s breasts as a “rack” gave me the biggest ick, and it kept. Freaking. Happening.
If they’re talking about the song I think they’re talking about, I would not describe Nick Jonas’ song “Jealous” as “heart-breaking” nor “soul crushing.”
The plot twist between Tate’s parents and Cassie’s mom immediately made this book lose the 4-star rating I was mentally giving it. Then it becomes the reason for the third act breakup? Thumbs down. Big ick.
Final Thoughts
It took nine pages before there is a Briar U mention. It always comes back to Briar University. I wonder how it gets brought up in the first two books of the Avalon Bay series.
Anyway, this particular book in the series is incredibly well-written compared to The Deal. You can tell Elle Kennedy’s writing has matured over the years. Though, it felt like I needed to know about sailboats to fully enjoy the book. If this book wasn’t free, I probably would not have read it, but I’m happy I did.
As I close this book for the first and last time, I can’t help but think of Grandma Tanner’s most important rule of life: “Always leave the house dressed as if you’re going to be murdered.”
"You can't trust a person who's spent years making you feel unworthy."
