Although not a book I would purchase in my professional role, it is one that I will be recommending in my personal life! Thank you so much for allowing me to have access to the digital arc!

I always enjoy reading books by Mary Kay Andrews. This book has a little romance, a little mystery, and a little home renovation. Hattie tends to get in over her head with reno projects but fins a real deal on a beach house. That house comes with more than just old flooring! A TV producer gets involved and there are several romances for our main character to choose from.

This was such a perfect beachy summer read. I loved Hattie so much, and I loved that she felt so real! I really enjoyed the mystery, and the home renovation was a lot of fun.

The Homewreckers was a joy to read. Mary Kay Andrews has the ability to describe people and places in a way that makes you feel as if you're a part of it and not like you're reading it in a book. It's a lovely gift. Savannah and Tybee Island was a great subject for her to build the story around.

I always enjoy that this author manages to have a few plot lines going on at once. You have the home improvement tv show being filmed with a reluctant local woman as one of the stars along with a flashy designer from LA that the network decides to pair her with. There's plenty of drama taking place on set between them, the producer and other employees. As if that isn't enough, a seventeen year old mystery surfaces on the property when a missing woman's wallet is discovered in the wall of the house. That brings a whole new level of attention to the project with not only police attention but also possibly that of an abductor or murderer.

Ms. Andrews did a nice job of building the characters so that you could relate to them in either a positive or negative way. You weren't left any with impartiality - you definitely form an opinion. That's key to being invested in a book, in my opinion.

The Homewreckers was an enjoyable read and I devoured it. It will be perfect for the summer by the pool or on the beach.

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

Hattie, a young widow, has been working on flipping houses with her father-in-law’s company for years. When she makes a bad investment she is out to correct her mistake. Enter Mo, a Hollywood producer looking for his next big star for his new show Homewreckers. But can they overcome sabotaging vandals, a murder investigation, and a pressing timeline to make this flip a success? And maybe Hattie will find love along the way too.

I loved this one! The perfect summer read with a little bit of everything - girl power, friendship, murder, mystery, and romance. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the egalley in exchange for my honest review.

The release of a Mary Kay Andrews book signals the beginning of Summer reading. This book is fantastic! Loved the setting of Savannah. This author definitely writes about what she knows and this book has it all, home renovation, mystery, romance. So much going on, I couldn't put it down.

Mary Kay Andrews's books have always been synonymous with the start of summer to me (even if they typically come out at the beginning of May!). Her books are the perfect beach read, and The Homewreckers is no different. I was able to plug away at this book during a very busy time (prepping for our family Disney trip), so that was a win for me.

Hattie Kavanagh is trying to save her in-law's business after making a poor financial decision in flipping houses. In her hometown of Savannah, she runs into a producer for a home improvement network who is willing to work with her in flipping a new home and turning the process into a television show. What Hattie doesn't account for is the sparks that will fly with the producer and the show's other star; she also doesn't count on helping solve a murder mystery in the town. The book is fast-paced with the action, and it is full of likeable characters. Hattie is adorable, and you definitely root for her throughout the book!

I recommend you read this book if you like Southern charm and quick plot advancement. It is great for reading at the beach this summer!

I love Mary Kay Andrews (MKA) so I was super excited to read her newest novel, The Homewreckers! This one's got a little bit of everything. It has your classic MKA charm while also being a thriller, which hear me out totally works! It covers a little bit of everything - grief, family, reality TV, a dash of romance, flipping houses, small town drama, friendship, and a dead body. You'll be cheering for Hattie throughout this book and will absolutely want to move down to Savannah, Georgia.

If you want a fun and easy summer read and like to watch HGTV, pick up this charming 448 book when it's published on May 3, 2022!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

Hattie is a young widow who has purchased a beautiful old ramshackle Victorian home to restore. The house is beyond her budget and she must sell it or face greater financial devastation. Along comes Mo, a producer of television restoration projects. He encourages Hattie to be part of a production he is making as a fill-in. She sells the Victorian and becomes the winning bidder on a century-old home on the Tybee River. As the tale unfolds a murder mystery comes to life, strange things happen on the job site, and a love interest begins to bloom with Hattie and her co-star. This book has it all; a house emerging from neglect, a thriller of a mystery that gradually unfolds, and a love story that may or may not happen. Seasoned writer Mary Kay Andrews does a masterful job of intertwining all three stories and holding the readers' interest in a fun and appealing setting of Savannah, Georgia. The Homewreckers is a fun read. Thanks to #NetGalley#TheHomewreckers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved Hattie! She's been beaten down by life, but she is still full of spunk. The story has everything - romance, murder, drama, mystery all in the middle of a fixer up renovation! It was so fun that it kept me turning pages. I enjoyed all the characters, and I loved the ending. The book is a fast read and is a perfect summer vacation book! I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Hattie Kavanaugh works for her father-in-law's home restoration business...the business that her late husband was supposed to work at. Even though she has been a widow since she was 25, after just 5 short years of marriage, she has never remarried and her life doesn't hold much purpose besides work and her dogs. When Hattie buys a money pit of a house intending to try her hand and house flipping only to discover what a true dump she bought, she realizes she has to come up with some money immediately or Hattie’s dream might cost Kavanaugh & Son their livelihood. When a Hollywood producer shows up in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia, she gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: star in a beach house renovation reality show called The Homewreckers, cast against a male lead who may be a love interest, or may be the ultimate antagonist. Soon, there’s more at stake than bad pipes and dry rot: during the demolition, evidence comes to light that points to the mysterious disappearance of a young wife and mother years before.
This was a cute rom-com/mystery with southern flair and a take-charge female lead character who is fun and and sassy. The mystery will keep you guessing and the rom-com parts will keep you smiling. This is a great light read for those warm summer days at the beach.

The Homewreckers is going to be one of the runaway beach read books of the summer, I have no doubt. It has the requisite touch of romance, a good touch of a mystery, and ticks all the boxes for people who are obsessed with home improvement shows, like I am.

Hattie has had a fair amount of tragedy in her life, but she’s kept herself going working at her father in law’s construction company. Fate shines down on her one day, when a man literally falls through the floor and lands on top of her.

I really enjoyed the ins and outs of putting together a reality TV show about a house flipper. That was fun to read about. I loved that Hattie was a real person, not a celebrity who was flipping a house. Even though Mo was part of the whole LA scene, he really was very down to earth as well.

The first part of the book dragged a bit for me, but once I hit the 50% mark, things started rolling right a long and I was pretty engrossed in the story. I tried to make my own guesses as to who was involved with this 17 year old unsolved murder, but it took me quite a while to piece it together and figure out who it was, before it was revealed in the story.

I was sad that the book ended so abruptly with no time at all spent on Hattie and the guy she chose to be with, and yes I’m intentionally being vague here. But I was super glad with the choice she made, and I was happy with the overall resolution of all the pieces of the story.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

The wait for Mary Kay Andrews's new beach read is over! I'm a relatively new fan of Andrews but I wouldn't miss her new book for anything. And this year's is a great read.

Hattie Kavanaugh has been working for a home renovation company since she was 18. She married the owner's son when she was 20 and life looked perfect, but a tragic accident left her heartbroken. Her only happiness comes on the job site where she oversees every step of the renovation of a house flipping project. The first one was a success but the second was a bit more of a flop. Mo Lopez is looking for the next hit show for HPTV when he crosses paths with Hattie. He loves her passion for restoring historic homes in Savannah and is sure this is his big break. Of course, there are several "suggestions" from the network that leads to challenges and that is on top of discovering the wallet of a long-missing woman in the medicine cabinet of the derelict home they are flipping.

I'm a big fan of the home improvement shows on HGTV so I loved that the plot revolved around flipping a house. I also love historic renovation (I grew up watching This Old House) so while the house flipping was just the setting, I really enjoyed all the details. The characters are great too. Even the arrogant co-star who is a somewhat bigshot LA designer is enjoyable. I really liked Hattie. She is down-to-earth and while she has experienced great tragedy she hasn't given up hope. Mo is also a great character even though he is a bit more idealistic. But you can tell he really wants the best and wants others to succeed - and not only because it will mean his career is a success.

I thought that The Homewreckers had a different vibe than her previous summer books that I've read (which I admit I've only read a few). I discovered last fall that Andrews also writes Christmas books (if you missed it you can check out my review of The Santa Suit). I loved it, of course, and went looking for more of her Christmas books at my digital library. The ones I found were part of some of her series. There were several aspects of The Homewreckers that reminded me of the one listened to from the Weezie and Bebe Mystery series. Hattie reminded me a lot of Weezie. Part of the familiarity might be because the same narrator who read Christmas Bliss also is reading The Homewreckers. I like Kathleen McInerney as a narrator.

The previous books I've read have felt like complete stand alone novels, The Homewreckers had more of a start of series vibe. That might be because I felt that the character interactions and the renovation project was more the focus of the novel, even though there is a missing person/murder mystery.

The mystery is interesting and adds tension and intrigue to the plot. But it felt secondary to the story. It is probably wishful thinking on my part, but if this is the start of a new series, I don't think there would necessarily have to be a murder mystery every time. I think old houses have all kinds of secrets and discovering them could easily be an element of a series. Again, there is no indication that this will be a series - but I can dream!

Speaking of the mystery - it is interesting but not as intense as Hello, Summer was. You will definitely want answers and there are some "oh my" discoveries.

This book has a little bit of everything and is really a perfect book to read on the beach or by the pool or on your front porch. I listened to it while planting about 30 flowers, shrubs, herbs, and vegetable plants and it really made the work go quicker.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Tuesday, May 3 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2022/05/the-homewreckers-by-mary-kay-andrews.html

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒

The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews is a delightful cozy mystery, romance, and women’s fiction combination that I enjoyed thoroughly.

Hattie Kavanaugh has worked for Kavanaugh and Sons Restorations since she was 18 years old. At 20, she married the boss's son, Hank, and sadly at 25 years old, she became a widow when her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident. She learned the trade of home renovation and decided to take the insurance money and rehabilitate a home in Savannah. However, the home she chose to flip is a money pit, and she lost money on the deal. When Josh, a producer from a home renovation show, discovers her, they make a deal for her to star in a show called the Homewreckers where she will renovate a small beach cottage with a celebrity designer, Trae.


The Homewreckers has everything I wanted in a book about a reality DIY show. I also very much enjoyed the mystery and couldn’t figure it out until the end. I liked that it was a cold case and one that did not happen recently. I also loved all the issues they had in fixing up the home and especially the behind-the-scenes moments of filming a DIY show. The romance was light, and more of a side plot and I was fine with that as well.

The settings of Savannah, Georgia, and Tybee Island were beautiful. I loved the idea of them saving a run-down beach house and I could easily visualize the before and after of the renovation. I also enjoyed the pacing of the book. So many things went wrong and it seemed like Hattie was always trying to fix something or solve something. It was a delightful ride!

I recommend The Homewreckers to anyone who loves cozy mysteries and women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Homewreckers marks the thirtieth novel by the wonderful Mary Kay Andrews. Set in the Savannah/Tybee Island area of Georgia, this is the story of Hattie Kavanaugh, young, widowed contractor who specializes in the restoration of historical homes in the area. After a big fail in a restoration project where her company, Kavanaugh and Son, loses a good deal of their investment, she is approached by Mauricio (Mo) Lopez with the idea of creating a reality show called Saving Savannah to show the process of restoring these grand old dames.

Feeling her options to be limited, Hattie agrees and, reluctantly, meets the demands of the television channel contracting the show. The first step is for Hattie to obtain a property and this she does when she is awarded a sealed bid sale of a condemned property on Tybee Island’s Back River area. This angers the former property owners.

With limited filming time, much to do, the arrogant designer Trae Bartholomew as an unwanted co-star, long working days, and uncovering clues from an almost 20 year old cold case, Hattie constantly second guesses herself in doing this project. With arson at the site and other mysterious happenings, Hattie just wants the project done.

Mary Kay Andrews hits another one out of the park! With wonderful, rich characters and the sultry setting of coastal Georgia, this story exposes some of the unreal happenings in reality tv, the hard choices one must make for the good of the many, and what happens when clues arise to tear open a closed cold case. I very much enjoyed every aspect of this story and I wholeheartedly recommend it!

The Homewreckers is a fun beach read. A perfect mixture of romance, mystery and fun. Hattie and Cass run a home renovating business. Flipping houses. There’s some laugh out loud moments

With THE HOMEWRECKERS, Mary Kay Andrews tells the story of Hattie Kavanaugh, a long-time house renovation and house flipper expert with her late husband's family business. An opportunity to recover from a disastrous investment drops into her lap in the form of rescuing a dilapidated historic home on Tybee island for a reality television program with an experienced designer, producer, and cast of professionals. Complications abound: personally, romantically, business-wise, and ethically with the discovery of clues to a decades-old missing person case that heightens the tension, stakes, and pressure to deliver on-time, on-budget while handling bewildering events. I laughed out loud, marveled at all the moving parts involved in restoring a house for profit and an audience, and at how entertaining and diverting a story Andrews wrought. A wonderful beach read! I received an advance copy of this novel and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

The Homewreckers was the first novel I have read by Mary Kay Andrews. There is a lot going on in this book - we begin with a Prologue about a cheating wife, then launch into a story with multiple plot lines. While I had gone into this book assuming it would be a beachy romance, I soon realized this was not the case. Instead, much of the book focuses on a murder mystery that our main character, Hattie, is thrust into while working on a home renovation for a reality TV show. The murder mystery is the focal point of this book, and through multiple POVs the reader is led on a whodunnit ride that is both entertaining and sure to keep the reader guessing.

That being said, those expecting a romance may find themselves disappointed. While the murder mystery part of this story is well developed, the romances are not. Hattie is a widow, and while we see her open herself up to the possibility of new love, these connections seem random, rushed, and forced.

I look forward to reading more books by Mary Kay Andrews. This book highlighted her ability to develop characters that are charming, lovable, and people we want to cheer for. The writing was atmospheric and made me want to visit charming Tybee Island.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this digital ARC!

The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews

Hattie Kavanaugh has had it rough since her teens. Her dad got in trouble, her parents split up, her mom moved away, and she had to move in with her best friend's family. She married at 20 and was a widow at 25 but she didn't give up her love of home renovation. After her first success, her next house was a huge money pit and she's in debt and is at risk of losing her own beloved little home. Now her family consists of her and her rescue mutt and she's even pawned a precious ring that belonged to her late husband's family, just trying to stay afloat. She's a hard worker but nothing seems to be going her way.

A producer, Mo, hears a conversation between Hattie and her father-in-law and he wants to create a show about flipping houses in Savanah, with Hattie as the centerpiece. The show will be on a tight timeline and before Hattie knows it she is going to be restoring a wreck of a home, dealing with people she never would have spoken to in the past, and battling with her designer co-star, Trae. Pretty soon Hattie, whose grief over her late husband has her planning to be alone the rest of her life, is caught between the affections of Trae and Mo.

Hattie's bad luck continues when something belonging to a woman, who has been missing seventeen years, is found on the property of the house she is restoring. Soon investigators are involved, which introduces us to my favorite character, Makarowicz, a retired detective, who wants to get to the bottom of a long ago murder. This story is a romance, murder mystery, and journey of forgiveness and learning to move on after loss, and I enjoyed that the story was so complex and didn't just focus on the romantic side of things.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

The Homewreckers

All I knew about this book when I requested it was I love Mary Kay Andrews. She never disappoints!! The title immediately had me hooked, I love a home makeover show! Then a friend read this book and did not love it, but I took that with a grain of salt. She said, to her, it felt like two completely different books in one. I disagree. There were two distinct storylines but I think it worked and I loved it! Hattie Kavanaugh is a young widow, who works alongside her father-in-law at his construction company. When she bites off more than she can chew with a her current flip, she sells it quickly before she loses any more money. So when she is approached to be a part of a reality, home makeover show, she thinks this could be the opportunity she is looking for, to make back her money and restore the good name of the family business.

I enjoyed the setting of Tybee Island, the banter and tension between Hattie and her co-star, all while throwing in new evidence in the disappearance of a young mother 17 years prior. This book had me hooked from page 1!