Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the advanced readers copy. I have enjoyed several titles from Mary Kay Andrews before, I liken them to a fun summer treat like a Pina Colada. The Newcomer certainly has plenty of Southern charm, as 30-something Letty and her young niece Maya flee a terrible crime scene in NYC and end up sheltering in
The Murmuring Surf, an old fashioned beachfront motel outside of Tampa. Not surprisingly there is a love interest for Letty, local cop Joe who also happens to be the son of the motel's owner.
The problem with this book, is quite simply, the length. I kept checking how much time was left on the recording, thinking surely it has to be close to ending, only to see another 5 plus hours left. (I checked the page count, which is 448). There just isn't enough interesting plot to support such a long book. If the characters hadn't have been as likable, I most likely would have given up about 1/2 way through.
The Newcomer provides some worthy poolside entertainment, but it would have greatly benefited from a more ruthless editor.

“Motherhood, Letty reflected, was the most exhausting thing she’d ever done.” Amen to that!

After finding her sister dead in her NYC townhouse, Letty Carnahan is certain that Tanya’s sleazy real estate entrepreneur ex Evan is the one responsible. Tanya had recently warned Letty that if anything happened to her she was to take her daughter Maya and run, so she does just that. After hours of driving she is exhausted, hungry, and Maya has to pee. Following her sisters hints she finds herself at The Murmuring Surf Motel where there is a No Vacancy sign lit and the sharks are circling. She meets the owners son Joe, a hot local police detective, and the sparks fly. But Letty has to stay anonymous so Evan can’t find them. Can she find romance while raising her niece and trying to solve her sisters murder, all while residing in a quaint seaside motel teeming with ornery retirees?

This book had a little bit of everything and I’m here for it! There is suspense. A cozy beachside lodge. A romance. A murder mystery. Shady business dealings. A coveted Louis Vuitton. All of this wraps up into the most adorable story! I was approved for both the print and audio versions of this book and I am finding that I am enjoying this more and more. I love to listen while doing errands and then pick it up on the kindle version when I sit down to read. The audio narrator was superb! I loved the way she did little Mya’s voice, really encompassing the childlike wonder of a 4 year old. This book is so fun and it is perfect for easing into those lighter Spring reads!

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and the author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. Available May 4, 2021!

Mary Kay Andrews does it again
This was a fantastic story! There was action and drama and of course romance.
From the beginning of this book, I was intrigued by this story!
I also loved the narrator. Very easy to follow along with!

What a wonderful storyteller Mary Kay Andrews is. This book was quite enjoyable. It makes you want to head to a coastal town but without the murder in the mystery.

Letty and her niece were extremely adorable. I loved the little nicknames that rhymed with their first names that was such a nice touch. This was overall a very good murder mystery.

This was my first introduction to a Mary Kay Andrews book and between the time when I requested this ARC and the time I actually read it, I totally forgot what it was supposed to be about. But that didn't matter to me. I greatly enjoyed this novel. It's got the right mix of suspense, fun characters, seriousness, and fun. Although there is some suspense and waiting impatiently, I would not classify this as a thriller. It's deeper than that. I would call it Contemporary, maybe Romance, with a hint of Mystery. I really enjoyed the characters and I would be very happy if this was actually a series (though it does not end on a cliffhanger, so that's doubtful.)

In Michigan we are slowly crawling towards spring, leaving me desperate for sunshine and a frothy pool read! THE NEWCOMER fit the bill for a light mystery with a side of beachy romance. Letty finds her sister murdered in her apartment and gets out of dodge with her young niece, Maya. They seek out a seaside haven at Florida’s coastal Murmuring Surf Hotel, which has secrets (and antics!) of its own.

The heart of this found-family story is the charming characters and the relationships they develop. Letty’s devotion to Maya was tender & sweet, and the way they were accepted by the tenants of The Murmuring Surf was heartwarming.

At 448 pages, this makes for quite a hefty beach read. The mystery lost a bit of momentum due to the length; nothing central to the story would have been lost with a shorter novel. If you’re looking for a light read for hours at the beach, you’ll surely get your money's worth with this one!

RATING: 3.5/5 stars (rounded up)

AUDIO NOTES: The audiobook was narrated by Kathleen McInerney. Listeners should be aware that a four year old girl is a main character in the novel and the narration reflects this. This wasn’t a problem for me but consider the physical copy if you don’t prefer an adult imitating a child’s voice.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s press and Macmillan audio for an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Mary Kay Andrews book AND my first audiobook. I wish I would have read the book instead of listening to the audio. This has nothing to do with the narrator and everything to deal with my inability to focus on the audio. I had to backtrack at times and still missed things.

That being said, I enjoyed this suspenseful story of Letty and 4-year-old Maya on the run from Letty’s sister’s ex and murderer. Hiding out in a retirement resort in Florida, Letty finds out more than she expected about her sister’s secret life before moving in with her in NYC. I won’t say anything more...

This is an excellent beach read to take on your summer holiday. Enjoy!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced copy.

Pros: This book was very much what I expected based on the description and the genre. That comment is meant to be a good thing—when I want to read a “beach book,” I want to be able to depend on the book to fit the genre. I listened to this book, but I think it would be a great book to read on a Florida beach as that’s where most of the book takes place.

Cons: This book felt 50+ pages longer than it needed to be.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book!

This was a fun read! I alternated reading and listening to the audiobook and I must say the narrator was wonderful! She really held my interest and kept me captivated. This will be perfect for the beach or pool days as it’s lengthy enough to only need this one. It’s part mystery, part romance with a some family drama thrown in the mix so it has a little bit for everyone! I expect this to be a very popular book this summer!

I’ve heard about Mary Kay Andrews before and have been wanting to read one of her books for so long. So when I saw this audiobook I grabbed it ASAP and started right off.

Letty & Maya are on the run from Evan suspecting that he killed Tanya - Maya’s mother and Letty’s half-sister. On the run Letty doesn’t easily trust anyone, but when a Floridian small town motel owner and her family shows care towards her and Maya, Letty lets her guard down and tries to blend in. But the past haunts her, the mystery of her sister’s death needs to be solved. To help with that, Letty gets the help of a local cop, Joe. As the story progresses knots around Tanya’s life unfold one by one revealing the truth.

Part mystery, part romance and part women’s fiction surrounding the life of a single mother - THE NEWCOMER is a perfect summer read blend. The small town feels and well rounded characters complemented well with the story. Joe’s mom Ava and the little Maya were so adorable, I must say they were my favourite supporting characters. The audiobook narration kept me intrigued and entertained.

Thank you Macmillan audio for the ALC.

Another fabulous book by this wonderfully prolific author. This was truly a fun listen with great narration (and of course a great read too). Romance, murder, intrigue, theft, cheating, lies, stealing, manipulation, a really cute little girl and a fantastic, if not a little bit annoying cast of characters. Letty and Tanya were sisters who were vastly different. Letty, the older of the two was an amazing sister and good person trying to support herself as a waitress/struggling actress. She always looked out for her younger sister Tanya and believed whatever line of nonsense she doled out. She just wanted to see the good in her until one final betrayal was enough for her to walk away. Tanya was all about Tanya and had no problem screwing over any and everyone in her path, her sister included. She was in a word, heartless. Three years later Letty gives in and reconnects, but only because of Maya, Tanya’s daughter. She tells Letty that if anything ever happens to her to take her “grab bag” of stashed cash grab Maya and run. Run far and fast and keep away from Evan, the babies father and reason for their previous separation. When Letty finds Tanya dead she does as instructed and they hit the road and head to a little town in Florida after having found an article about it in Tanya things. She believed it would be a safe haven for her to hide out in until she figured out her next move. Little did she know……it’s a bumpy road to learning to trust, find out the truth of what happened to her sister while in Florida, what kind of trouble her sister had caused, create a new and safe life for herself and Maya and maybe, just maybe find a new life and love of her own. It’s a great combo of mystery, romance that is true perfection.

4 1/2 stars....

There was so much to love about this book. The character development was top notch. Ms. Andrews described these characters in so much detail, that I felt as if I knew them. I loved Letty and Joe's slow burn romance. The residents at the motel were such a great cast of characters. Then there is Maya. What a little cutie!!

In addition to fabulous characters, The Newcomer had an inventive and creative plot. It did boast a few surprises along the way. However, for the most part, this was just a well-written novel that I found enjoyable and easy to relate to. It's an easy read that's just perfect for a beach vacation.

In addition, I also reviewed the audiobook. Anyone who reads my reviews, knows I love to have access to both the book and audio so I can bounce back and forth between them. The audiobook was well done and enjoyable to listen to. The narration kept me engaged and entertained.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Reading The Newcomer reminded me of eating one of those colossal entrees served at the Cheesecake Factory.

- Wow, this looks great!

- Mmm, this is really good.

- Geez, it seems like I’ve barely put a dent in this.

- Oh man, I’m running out of steam.

- Seriously, who needs this much of a good thing?!

Hopefully you get my point, regardless of if you’ve had your own trough, I mean plate, of Crusted Chicken Romano or not.

This the first book I’ve read by Mary Kay Andrews, which makes me - you guessed it! - a MKA newcomer. From what I understand, it’s a little different than most of her other books primarily due to a slightly darker tone and subject matter. A woman, with her 4-year-old niece, is hiding out in Florida from her sister’s baby daddy after he kills her and is looking for said 4-year-old.

I did enjoy the light and snappy writing style, but in case it’s not yet clear, this book is just too long. The mystery and romance aren’t entirely original either, and the characters are somehow simultaneously cliched and unbelievable. The Florida motel setting is great though, and something about it gave me southern Schitt’s Creek vibes.

Would I read a Mary Kay Andrews book again? Absolutely. I’d just want it to be a smaller portion.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley. I would recommend the print version over audio given the presence of a 4-year-old prominent character. That much of a grown woman doing baby talk really started to grind my gears after awhile.

This is my first-ever Mary Kay Andrews novel. And it was mostly enjoyable! But I’m not sure this should be called a beach read. Even if it’s coming out in May and it’s written by the Queen of Beach reads. Instead, I’d call it contemporary women’s fiction for those who enjoy mysteries with a side of romance. Or is that a beach read these days? :)

“The Newcomer” opens with Letty finding her sister, Tanya, the day she’s killed. And Tanya’s daughter Maya is in the apartment. Letty remembers a previous warning from her sister: If I wind up dead, it’s because of Maya’s father and you need to take her and run.

So Letty and Maya leave NYC for a sleepy motel in Florida. This is where they meet up with cranky, unwelcoming snowbirds. They also befriend a the lovely motel owner and her son, Joe. Turns out, Joe is a handsome local detective and love interest. He’s also someone who can help Letty solve her sister’s murder.

Most of the story is about Maya finding her “home” as a newcomer. She also (sort of) grieves her sister’s death and learns how to parent Maya. A lot of the plot is quite unrealistic, but it’s a feel-good story. So I’m sort of looking the other way.

The audiobook narrator, Kathleen McInerney, kept this story interesting, despite the crazy long length (14 hours). Luckily readers can speed up the narration to 2.5+ and still understand the content. Several times I wondered why there were so. many. words.

I’m giving this audiobook a 3.5, rounded down to 3. Definitely grab the audio, or you’ll likely find yourself skimming through chapters to get to the end.


A big thanks to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for an advance listener copy, via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

4.5 stars

I stayed up until 2:00 am to finish. On a Sunday night. (er, Monday morning?)

More thriller than romance. Letty enters her sister's house to find her dead and her four-year-old niece crying at the top of the stairs. Tonya, Letty's sister, predicted her death and told Letty to go on the run with Maya (the niece). Letty goes on the run, but finds out there is a lot more happening than she realized. Not only is Maya's dad trying to find them, but someone else from Tonya's past pops up. Letty realizes there is a lot she didn't know about Tonya. She discovers she is in more danger than she realized.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story. The narrator, Kathleen McInerney, does a good job. The pacing is good. The narration is clear. It is over 14 hours long, but it flew by.

As I mentioned before, this is pretty light on the romance- at least for an author that is typically most associated with romance. A couple of kisses and one non-explicit sex scene (not exactly closed door, but not super descriptive).

Overall, I definitely recommend. This was almost 5 stars for me. Almost. I feel the relationship between Letty and Joe was missing a foundation, is how I suppose to describe it. It wasn't insta-love, but they progressed to being in love suddenly. And the epilogue was kind of disappointing.

I was given a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

What could be better than a summer mystery? Letty’s sister always said if something happened her it would be her ex’s fault. After Letty finds her sister dead, she takes her four-year-old niece and escapes New York City, finding refuge in a Florida motel.

This book has so much to offer: suspense, romance, and a hilarious cast of secondary characters. The “snowbirds” or the motel regulars add so much humor to this one. Although it was a slow burn, the drama kept me interested the whole time. This book is the perfect beach read!

This audiobook was phenomenal. The narrator did an excellent job at the voices for the various characters, and even with so many characters, each one had their own distinct voice.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook. The Newcomer will be released May 4th!

I want to start off with that the narrator for The Newcomer did a wonderful job differentiating the different characters’ voices.

While I really enjoyed Hello, Summer, I felt this book fell a bit flat. The suspense aspect was good but I believe if the secondary characters were half the amount and the story was edited down, it would have made for an entertaining read. I felt there were too many details and fillers that were unnecessary for this story that had the potential of being just as good as Hello, Summer.

I did like the multiple layers of Tanya’s character that Letty came to discover and Maya was charming and lovely in her adolescent innocence that sweetened the tone of the story.

I really wanted to like this one but it just was way too long and didn’t capture my attention the entire time.

This was my first Mary Kay Andrews book and I really liked it! 

The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews is an enjoyable read with a little bit of everything - romance, murder mystery, a little suspense and an FBI investigation, family drama, a beach vacation, an adorable four year old you will just fall in love with, and very likeable protagonists.
 
The narrative is a steady pace with plot points developing in every chapter. The characters are well developed and created with care. You really like the good guys and really dislike the bad ones. You find yourself quickly picking sides and rooting for the underdogs. 

While this story does contain potentially heavy subject matter, it is told in such a way that the whole book remains totally beach-read worthy. 

I alternated between listening to the audiobook excellently narrated by Kathleen McInerney and reading the ebook - both are very pleasant! Thank you Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and Mary Kay Andrews for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review!

Rounding up to a 5. If you are a fan of Mary Kay Andrews (author of more than 2 dozen books); you will probably also love this one. If nothing else, read this book for the "walker scene". You'll know it when you get there.

You need to suspend reality a little bit; none of the snowbirds noticed news reports about a former actress on the run with 4 year old Maya after the murder of her estranged sister. It didn't take much to put that thought on hold and enjoy this book. The audio was very well done; a bit long at 448 pages / 14 1/2 hours. But isn't that perfect for a beach read?

Publication date is May 4, 2021! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (St. Martin's Press) and the author Mary Kay Andrews, for the opportunity to listen to the advance copy of The Newcomber in exchange for an honest review. Audio was well done, narrated by Kathleen McInerney.

Interesting. I tried to post an amazon review; but since I didn't purchase the book via amazon, I wasn't able to review via amazon.

Mary Kay Andrews is one of my all time favorites! If you’ve never read any of her books, now is the time. The Newcomer is filled with murder, suspense, and of course a little romance. The story features interesting and complex characters, with bits of humor sprinkled throughout. You won’t want to miss this summer release!