The Summer Girl Quotes

“You don’t do it for an apology. You do it for yourself. Because when you don’t release those dark emotions, you end up bottling them up. You let them consume you from the inside out until you’re running upstairs in tears believing you’re unworthy or unattractive or whatever other false ideas she planted in your mind—when in reality, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever fucking met.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“People aren’t black-and-white creatures. Sure, we know what right and wrong ought to be. But sometimes the line between those is a bit gray. Life clouds your judgment and you cross lines you never thought you’d cross. People do stupid things.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“You always make yourself needlessly anxious by assuming the outcome.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“Sometimes I think the dementia was worse than his actual death.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“Should I be jealous? Of the boat, I mean?” “Probably.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“Look, we never truly know our parents. They lived entire lives before we ever came along, you know? All those experiences shaped them, made them who they are, and sometimes people become set in their ways and their personality defects, and it takes something major to jar them into making a change.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“Then she shocks the hell out of me. On an impatient groan, she mumbles, “Screw it,” and the next thing I know, her soft lips are pressed against mine. Christ. Yes.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“When are you seeing your father?” Grandma asks as we head down the sidewalk. The air is so hot and humid that the pavement beneath our feet is practically hissing from the heat. “Friday,” I answer. “I’m going over there for dinner. And then Saturday evening we might take the girls out somewhere. Maybe mini golf.” “That will be fun. He wasn’t able to see you this weekend?” Although there’s no judgment in her voice, I can’t help but come to Dad’s defense. “The girls had a whole bunch of birthday parties to attend. I guess their entire social circle is a bunch of July babies.” And he couldn’t step away for an hour or so and take you to lunch? Dinner? Do the girls not have a mother who can watch them for a while? Isn’t their bedtime eight o’clock? All valid questions if she’d asked, but Grandma has more tact than that and knows my relationship with Dad is complicated.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“Having a best friend whose mother is a clinical psychologist is definitely a pain in the ass sometimes. I’ve known Peyton since we were eleven—we met not long after Mom and I moved to Boston—and Peyton’s mother would constantly pry into my psyche when I was a kid. She always tried getting me to talk about my parents’ divorce, how it made me feel, how my mother’s criticism affected me. Blah, blah, and blah. I don’t need a shrink to tell me there’s a direct correlation between my insecurities and my mother’s verbal attacks. Or that my mother is a raging bitch. I know it all too well. On the rare occasions Dad and I have spoken about her, he’s admitted that Mom has always skewed more toward me me me on the altruism scale. But the divorce really twisted something inside her. Made her worse. It certainly didn’t help that he remarried within a year and a half and now has two other daughters. “Mom thinks we need to silence your inner critic. Aka your mother’s horrible voice in your head.” “I shut my inner critic up all the time. Silver lining, remember?” Because while my grandmother’s life rule is to make sure you get murdered in your Sunday best, mine has always been to look on the bright side. Find the silver lining in every situation, because the alternative—wallowing in the darkness—is bound to destroy you.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“She chuckles. “Have you forgotten my most important rule of life, dear? Always leave the house dressed as if you’re going to—” “—be murdered,” I finish, rolling my eyes. “Oh, I remember.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“Tate will never get lost, not as long as the stars are still in the sky.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“Slender, except for my huge chest. Really, my boobs are probably more effective weapons than my fists.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“Black, because that’s the only color with the ability to make my boobs appear smaller. In light colors, they’re bouncing around like two uncontained beach balls, even with a super supportive bra.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“The sunset is almost as pretty as she is.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“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

“It’s so strange returning to my childhood home when I don’t even have my own bedroom there anymore. The twins usurped it because it’s larger than the other option, which Dad and Nia use as a guest room now. That’s where I sleep when I come to visit, ensuring my old house never quite feels like home anymore. Also, Nia redecorated the entire place not long after she moved in. Where my mom’s design eye lends itself to grays, creams, and whites and modern furnishings, Nia is all about bright colors. She loves mismatched furniture, pieces that offer a cozy rather than museum-like feel. I can’t deny I like Nia’s décor better. I also can’t deny it stings that Dad’s new daughters sleep in my room.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“Come on, friend, let’s go back to the party. I desperately need another drink.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“Maybe her friend was just fucking with me. My gaze rests on her lips. Goddamn, she’s licking them again. She has no idea what that does to me.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“It was supposed to be a summer fling, but I don’t want it to end.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“It’s not always about the destination. Sometimes it’s all about the journey.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“blurt out. “I, um…” My brain scrambles”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“officially dumped before—that would require being”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“I'm gay so I don't care”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“Man, I never want to be in the position where I have to choose between my kid and my boat”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl

“Who’s asking him out? Just go and talk to him. See if you like him. Then you can decide if you even want to ask him out. You always make yourself needlessly anxious by assuming the outcome.”
― Elle Kennedy, The Summer Girl