I just adored this book. I think Mary Kay Andrews will be my new slump buster author or for when I need a genre change. I could absolutely picture this story as a Lifetime/Hallmark movie. This story of Letty and Maya and what happens after Maya’s mom/Letty’s sister is murdered had me hooked from the beginning and I was so rooting for them.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was my favorite Mary Kay Andrews book so far! I loved the characters, the storyline and the location it took place in. Letty did what she had to do when she found her sister dead. She took off with Maya, her sisters daughter to hide. All of the people at the Murmuring Surf Motel that Letty and Maya meet are so welcoming and even those crumudgen old folks staying at the motel have a certain charm. There's romance, friendship, murder and mystery, a little bit of everything in this book. A great beach read, highly recommended!!

Letty, having discovered her dead sister Tanya, takes off with her four-year-old niece, Maya. She had promised her sister that if anything ever happened to her, she would take off with Maya along with Tanya’s secret stash of cash. They headed to Florida to the Murmuring Surf, an old hotel with some elderly residents and quirky characters. Letty has no idea about this place, other than she found an old brochure with the hotel circled amongst her sister’s things. There were no vacant rooms, but Letty felt that they had to stay there. She soon talked the owner into letting her stay in a storage area, which she promptly cleared out and fixed up. This book had everything I love…..great characters, a good mystery with lots of twists and turns and a good flow. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am planning to read others from this author.

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This was a very enjoyable and entertaining book. It's been awhile since I've read a book by MKA and I really don't know why that is, but I'm glad I had the chance to read an early copy of this book. The plot was wonderful and I loved the quirky cast of characters especially Ava. She had a good heart. And I especially loved that the main protagonist's name was Letty. I don't see that very often! This is a great book that you'll want to take to the beach or the pool this summer. Actually, anywhere you read it will be just as good! Now I need to go read more of the MKA books waiting on my shelf.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the review copy.

This is a well written book that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. The author brings the story to life with her words, you can see the scenery and feel all the emotions. Wonderful book! Thank you St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Letty has found her sister, Tanya, murdered. Tanya has a little girl, Maya, 4, fathered by an ex-boyfriend and realtor, Evan. Although he is wealthy and has given her lots of money, Tanya is afraid of him. She had told Letty that if something happened to her, it was Evan that did it. She also told Letty to then take Maya and run. She showed her where she had a stash of cash to take.

Letty takes Maya, the money and drives down to Florida. Letty had found an article about a place called The Murmuring Surf Motel in Treasure Island, Florida. Letty is able to get a room there that had been used for storage but she had to clean it out first. The landlady, Ava, is a sweet woman but her son, Joe, is a cop and he is suspicious of Letty.

Letty does all she can to care for and comfort Maya and keep her head down so no one suspects her even when the news of Tanya’s death and Maya’s disappearance. Ava gives her a job helping with the motel’s reservations and also with cleaning the rooms.

There are a number of couples who come down to the motel each winter to stay. They don’t welcome Letty and especially, Maya as they don’t want a young child around.

As Letty and Maya become a part of the motel and Ava’s son, Joe, begins to fall in love with Letty, a family begins to form protecting her and Maya. But she is still afraid that someone will come after her and Maya.

This story reads like a TV series that one easily becomes addicted too. In fact, I think that this would make a fantastic movie for TV. There is intrigue, humor, friendship, and love. Even though the book is rather long, I did not want it to end. This book is a must-read. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Letty Carnahan is on the run with her 4yo niece, Maya, when she turns up at a hotel in Florida. She’s pretty sure she knows who killed her sister, Tanya, and she needs to keep her niece safe. But, she’s a newcomer to the area and the long-term snowbirds who stay at the hotel aren’t excited about Letty and Maya interrupting their routines.

Meanwhile, Joe DeCurtis, the hotel owner’s son and local cop begins looking into Letty’s past - questioning why she showed up out of the blue with no plans for the future. Joe develops feelings for Letty, but she can’t let herself fall for him.

As the truth of Tanya’s past comes to light, Letty and Maya are in even more danger. How can Letty protect Maya when she doesn’t know who she’s running from?

This was a fun, fast moving story. Mary Kay Andrew is “the queen of beach reads”, but this is the first of her books I’ve read. I think for a beach read it could have been a bit shorter, but I still enjoyed the ride. I both read and listened to the book and recommend it either way.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book and audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was expecting a beach read and The Newcomer was that, but it was a lot more. This was a bit Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, and Women's Fiction. “If anything bad happens to me—it’s Evan. Promise me you’ll take Maya and run. Promise me.” Tanya tells her sister. When Letty Carnahan finds her sister dead on her living room floor, she grabs Tanya's daughter along with her go bag and runs. What she wasn't expecting was to be the main suspect in Tanya's death. She finds a flyer in Tanya's bag advertising a small mom & pop motel in Treasure Island, Florida so that is where they head. They find a refuge there among the regulars and the owner who gives Lettie a job as well as helping out with childcare for Maya. The only catch is the owner's son is not only a handsome man, but her is a cop. Will she have to run again?

This book is not a fast moving action story, but a relatively slow moving story that allows us to get to know the characters and the motel which is a character in itself. I really liked the mixed of characters in this book. There were the regular residents of the motel who were a hoot. They bickered like family, yet supported one another when needed. Lettie was a very relatable and inspirational character. She left everything behind to support her sister and keep her niece safe. She has some baggage to get over if she and Joe are going to have any kind of a relationship. I liked learning her story through flashbacks and things she finally shares with Joe. Maya was adorable. I loved her personality and gumption. Did she see her mom get killed? That is a question that was in the back of my mind throughout this story. Eventually, there is some law enforcement involved in a case against Evan Wingfield, trying to gather information. Secrets about Tanya come out at the motel and give Joe and Letty some important information they need. Overall, this story had everything I was looking for, some romance, a fun setting, great characters, some suspense a bit of a mystery and a Happily Ever After.

I loved the cover art, the plot was promising, but the story fell flat.
I don’t enjoy delivering news that a book was less than grand; however, honest reviews must remain honest. The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews had a strong start, and I was invested in the beginning. As the story was built, it felt more and more disjointed. We’re bounced between perspectives without a clean transition between the two. It disrupted an already unnatural storytelling.

The hard hitting intense scenes seemed a little comedic. When we met the undercover FBI agent, it was a little corny. The dialogue in that scene was a lot of sentences stating “the obvious” in ways that normal people in conversation wouldn’t speak. This is also true of the “aha, gotcha” moments when they’re talking to the bad guys. Those conversations did not feel authentic.

In wrapping this up, I’ll mention that the romance story was too rushed and too forced. Joe was almost desperate to be with Letty, to the point of aggression and forcing her to feel guilt for not being ready. That’s not a set up for a relationship readers will root for. At one point when he’s professing his love, he’s mad and impatient that she has to make her niece a priority over him. How is that ok? Why does she love and want him after he behaves like a child?

This book was really close, but missed the mark in a few areas.

As always, I’m very grateful for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Horrified at finding her sister Tanya beaten to death on the floor, Letty Carnahan followed the instructions Tanya had given her just a few days before. She grabbed the go-bag Tanya always kept ready, and packed up Tanya’s daughter, four-year-old Maya, Maya’s favorite stuffed animal Ellie the Elephant, got in Tanya’s Mercedes, and headed out of New York as quickly as possible. In Tanya’s go-bag was a lot of cash, an exquisite diamond ring, and a faded advertisement for Murmuring Sands, a small motel in Florida. Ditching the Mercedes and buying a less conspicuous car, Letty and Maya went to Florida, and even though the neon sign in the parking lot said NO VACANCY, Letty was hopeful that there would be even a small room available, somewhere she could keep Maya safe from her father.

I loved Letty’s courage and determination to protect Maya, and I really liked the way the two adapted easily to life at Murmuring Sands. The other residents band together and become family, especially Ava, the owner, and her children, Joe and Isabelle, are a great support system for Letty and Maya. The Newcomer has everything you could want for a beach read – romance, mystery, intrigue, and FBI involvement – and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

I COULD NOT put this book down. I read it in about 2 days. I always love Mary Kay Andrews books but this may be my new favorite. It's so cute, got enough mystery/murder that it doesn't feel like a typical romance, and is just a fun beach read! I saw someone else say this is going to be the beach read of the year...I could not agree more!

Death, mystery, family relationships, romance, finding strength and more are all wrapped up in The Newcomer. I was drawn in from the beginning and except for its predictability I was fully engaged in this book. The Newcomer is another good beach read by Mary Kay Andrews.

MY BOOK REVIEW:

5 Stars: 5/5 Star Rating

Wow! I'm hooked. This is the first book I've read by Mary Kay Andrews and I'm totally hooked! My heart was aching for Letty and little Maya. The characters were so vivid that I felt as if they were my best friends. Ava, Joe, and even the cranky long-timers at the hotel drew me in and made me feel as though I knew them. I highly recommend this book to readers!

I received a digital copy of this book from netgalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are expressed are my own.

An engaging, fun, breezy beach read.
After finding her sister murdered, Letty is on the run with her niece Maya. Fleeing New York City , Letty seeks a safe refuge and ultimately winds up at the Murmuring Surf motel in a small Florida beach town. There they find a quirky community of regular snow birders and those that run the motel. More secrets are revealed and Letty struggles to keep her niece safe while ensuring her sister’s killer is found and justice is served.
The cast of colorful characters were full of personality and well described. It was easy to feel transported to this kitschy motel and small town. Looking for a family drama with light mystery, suspense and romance? Look no further, The Newcomer has this and more.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc of The Newcomer in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the story of Letty and Maya who are on the run after Letty finds Maya's mother (her sister) murdered. They run to Florida and quickly find a home at the Murmuring Surf.

This seemed a little long, but overall I really enjoyed it. I really liked Letty. She seemed very mature and responsible for her age. Letty is doing everything she can to protect herself and Maya. Joe was super protective of his mom and her motel. i thought it was a little odd that he went from being so suspicious of Letty to being so enamored of her.

I adored Maya and Ava. They were amazing supporting characters. The story kept me engaged and I couldn't wait to find out who the killer was and if they would catch him.

I will update with the link after I share on my bookstagram account.

When Letty shows up for her weekly visit to find her sister murdered, she does what her sister asked her to do: grab her niece Maya and Tanya’s go bag, and runs, only knowing that she needed to get far away from her sister’s ex and off the grid. When she finds an article with a small “hidden gem” motel in Florida circled, she decides it may be a good place to lay low and maybe figure out what meaning it had to her sister. Letty gets lucky, despite no vacancies, the owner finds a spot for Letty and Maya and they soon start to find a place, while Letty works to unravel her sister’s secrets and figure out how to prove her ex is guilty of murder.
A fast-paced mystery with wonderful and quirky characters, a touch of romance, and witty writing, Mary Kay Andrews serves up a perfect read to toss in your beach bag. THE NEWCOMER will keep you turning pages wherever you like to relax. Grab a cold beverage and relax while you let Andrews do what she does best: whisk you away with a fun read.
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#TheNewcomer #MaryKayAndrews #StMartinsPress

Letty's sister is killed by her boyfriend and Letty escapes with her niece Maya to Florida. She begins to work at a family owned motel but she is worried someone will recognize her.
This is such a good book, it will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The Newcomer is yet another wonderful combination of genres from prolific author Mary Kay Andrews. Letty Carnahan is on the run and has her 4 year old niece, Maya, with her. A month or so ago when Letty’s sister, Tanya, told her that if anything bad ever happened to her it would have been her ex Evan who did it, Letty was unbelieving. Begging Letty, she showed her where her “go bag” was and said she was her only hope to keep Maya safe.

On the Sunday morning when she walks into Tanya’s townhouse to find her sister’s lifeless body, Letty does just as her sister asked, taking the “go bag”, clothes for Maya, her sister’s Mercedes, and heads away with the only place in mind as an escape being the Murmuring Surf motel, reputed as a hidden gem in the worn article found in her sister’s bag. Ditching the Mercedes at an airport, renting a car there, then turning that car in a state or two later and buying a silver Kia, Letty finally makes it to Treasure Island, Florida, only to find a No Vacancy sign lit up on the motel. Exhausted and with a sleeping child in the backseat, Letty dozes in her driver’s seat at the far end of the motel parking lot.

As the sun rises, a tapping comes to the window backed by a large man making the noise. Son of motel owner Ava DeCurtis and local police detective, Joe DeCurtis adamantly tells Letty to move along, waking Maya, who immediately begins hollering that she needs to use the bathroom. With a crying child in her arms, Letty virtually ignores Joe and heads for the motel office where Ava insists that they can use the bathroom. When they come out 10 or so minutes later and Ava questions Letty about why she was sleeping in the parking lot, Letty comes up with a story about how her grandparents had come there long ago and told such lovely stories that she had come. When asked about Maya’s parents, Letty shared that her sister had recently died and she had custody of Maya.

With this information, Ava offers Letty what is used as a storeroom but is actually a small efficiency if Letty will do the work to make it habitable. Letty works all day to clear out the junk, eventually making it habitable for Maya and her. Next, a very kind Ava offers Letty a job when one of her employees quits. Ava has a sense that Letty needs her and acts accordingly.

Initially Letty is not well accepted by the elder season residents of the Surf, but as time goes by and they come to know her and Maya they become a large social network. However, when Vikki Hill, undercover FBI agent, arrives Letty is put in a position to share with Joe, and Vikki, what has happened.

This is a fast paced story with many twists. Ms. Andrews has seamlessly woven a mystery-thriller with a lovely romance to tell this tale. There is so much to this story that a review cannot do it justice! This is such a good story and I wholeheartedly recommend it!

I thought this was a fantastic book! I loved Letty and Maya and I adored all of the characters at the murmuring Gull. The cast of characters is what really makes this books and why I gave it five stars. I enjoyed the mystery too though I did think that there was a bit too much going at a couple points. There were one detail at the end that I found a bit unbelievable but for the sake of avoiding spoilers I am going to keep it to myself. Overall though - I loved the writing, the mystery element was well done and kept me interested right up until the end. I loved the narrator for the audio and thought she did a fantastic job!

Somehow The Newcomer is my first Mary Kay Andrews read (but won't be the last!). I absolutely adored the Florida setting, especially reading it during a wet Pacific Northwest spring. I loved everything about the Murmuring Surf & its quirky characters. The more serious plot thread, essentially a mystery, was really well done and I thought dealt with some pretty timely topics. I loved that the female characters were drawn so fully and with compassion. I can't wait to recommend The Newcomer to patrons!