A quick and enjoyable beach read. MKA is a reliable author who will always deliver a fun read! I enjoyed the southern setting of this novel and the mystery storyline. I took points off my rating because I felt like the family moved on from the girls murder rather quickly and got back to business in a way that was unrealistic.

This was a darker book than I expected. That is not a bad thing, as it is well written and interesting. However, I don’t think I would characterize it as a beach read. There are a number of characters that are pretty “slimy” — manipulative, corrupt, self-entitled, etc. There are also some strong female characters for whom the reader will be rooting. The story has plenty of twists and turns.

Wow, a definitely case of don't judge a book by it's cover! This is a great read - not a light, fluffy romance but an interesting mystery with romance!

I've really enjoyed Mary Kay Andrews stories! They always have really great, realistic characters. I felt myself rooting for The Saint as well as many of the characters. I was drawn into the mystery and the family and town drama.

I did this as an audio and I found the narrator was wonderful - pulled me right into the story and kept me hooked!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchanged for my honest review.

3.5 STARS

Summer at the Saint is a captivating read that defies the typical lighthearted summer book, offering much more depth and complexity. With multiple intertwined storylines, it keeps you engaged, but at times I felt like there was too much happening with lots of side plots and characters. The characters were not as well-developed as previous books from Andrews, likely because this book had so many characters. It was a fun book to read and entertaining.

Mary Kay Andrews whisks readers away to the beach. In true Andrews fashion, she writes about characters you are drawn to love and sympathize with and root for throughout the book as they face new challenges. Traci is facing desperate times as she tries to save the summer resort she has loved since being a child. She does everything she can from asking her niece to stay the summer to help her to poaching staff from other locations to make things work out. A fun beach read.

In the few I have read from her, this author doesn’t disappoint. I enjoyed this story as it acted like a palate cleaner for me! Thank you to all involved on allowing me this book!

Murder mystery with loads of twists and a well deserved happily ever after,, perfect for the cozy mystery lovers out there.

This story blends in a bit of building romance with this mystery based on a delightful setting anyone would love to visit if it was a real location.The story is fresh, interesting, and well written!

There are Saints and there are Ain’ts. Traci Eddings, once a lifeguard who later became the owner of St. Cecilia, referred to as the Saint, has had a life full of twists and turns. Growing up as an outsider, she made a surprise move by marrying the boss’s son, only to become a widow. Now, she’s the owner of the resort that has fallen on hard times.

The snubbing class distinction that Traci experienced as a teenager has not escaped her now, especially when it is more than clear that more than one person is working against her. When she takes on her new staff, which includes hiring the daughter of her estranged best friend, Traci hopes that the summer season will be long enough to bring the glory back to the hotel, although they are hampered by a truly tragic event.

This captivating story of growth, brimming with remarkable depth, weaves a delightful blend of romance and mystery that keeps is certain to engage readers from beginning to end.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I've loved all of Mary Kay Andrews books, but this was was one of my top favourites by her. The audiobook was especially so so good!

To understand how I feel about Mary Kay Andrews, know this - I thought this was the first book I've read by her, but apparently it's my third (the first two in 2021), and I've rated them all three stars. They've been unmemorable to me. I just finished Summers at the Saint a few days ago, so it's fresh on my mind, and I can't say it'll be unmemorable. It's left an impression, I think, but who knows how I'll feel a few years from now.

The thing about this book though - it's a murder mystery set in Georgia, and I sure love a setting that I'm familiar with. But the folks in this story were so trusting of people they just met - when there's literally a murderer on the loose. It was so absurd. And I get the southern hospitality, but you're telling me you're gonna mingle up with some strange man when your niece has been murdered? It's unbelievable and wild.

I was intrigued. I engaged with the story. I had a good time. I just couldn't get over it. I couldn't. I'd be interested to see this as a mini-series though!

I loved this book by Mary Kay Andrews….but then I Love every book she’s written since the beginning. This one had romance, humor (of course), mystery and a positive vibe.

Absolutely fantastic! A perfect read by the beach, or to transport you to the beach. Full of mystery, this book keeps you guessing about what is going to happen next.

This book is a suspenseful, multi POV murder mystery masquerading as a beach read. I enjoyed the many characters and twists to the plot. The setting was immaculate and I would love to vacation at this resort! However, I really didn’t know which threads were part of the main plot. It had a little too much going on.

I really enjoyed reading Summers at the Saint. I will truly read anything written by Mary Kay Andrews. This book was classic and did not disappoint. I could not put it down and I am looking forward to recommending this to customers. I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

When Tracy Eddings has one Summer to turn her hotel around, she recwives a lot of pushback. She stands tall and works hard with a few trusted friends, Together can they bring this place back to it's glory..

This was a wonderful book. It was very entertaining. It was a quick read. I enjoyed it very much.

The St. Cecilia Resort, lovingly called The Saint, stood for something.
If you were part of the wealthy patrons and members of the club, you were a Saint, and everyone else was an Ain't.
Traci Eddings grew up on the wrong side of this equation but after marrying into the wealthy Eddings family, the owners of The Saint, her life turned around.
But when her husband suddenly passes, Traci finds herself alone, and struggling to keep the Saint profitable.
But when old secrets are dug up and new mysteries arise, Traci has more to lose then she thought.

I think this was my first Mary Kay Andrews novel and I was not disappointed. I was expecting it to be similar to an Elin Hilderbrand or Emily Giffin novel and that I wouldn't really get into it (aka I'd finish it just to give a review), but I wound up really enjoying it. I wasn't expecting a murder mystery to show up in this story. I was definitely expecting a beach read/summer romance (despite the fact there's literal snow on the ground currently) and this delivered way more.

This one has the coolest retro southern vibes that must be read! I loved the characters and the hotel. This book made me feel like I went on vacation. A work of art!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews in exchange for my honest review and opinion. LOVE MK Andrews and was so excited to be approved to read this way before all my friends and family. This book was a bit different that her typical books and I loved it. Lots of suspense in this one which was fun to read! LOVED this and can't wait to read her next release!

This was an interesting combination of romance and a cozy mystery in this beachfront small town that thrives on tourism. The drama of Traci's family was the one thing that kept me reading this book because overall I found the pace to be extremely slow and unnecessarily long.

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews is a fun and emotional read that mixes family drama, a bit of mystery, and a touch of romance, all set against the backdrop of a charming hotel. The story follows Traci Eddings, a woman who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks but found herself working at the St. Cecelia, a historic hotel known as “the Saint.” After a fateful summer where she marries the boss’s son, Traci becomes the widowed owner of the hotel, now struggling to keep it afloat amidst financial troubles, staff shortages, and the constant threat of her greedy brother-in-law.

What I really enjoyed about this book is how Traci refuses to give up, despite all the challenges she faces. She rallies a quirky team of new summer employees, including the daughter of her estranged best friend, and tries to turn things around for the hotel in just one season. But things take a darker turn when old secrets from a drowning at the hotel resurface, and a tragedy shakes Traci to her core.

The writing in Summers at the Saint has a great mix of lightheartedness and deeper emotions. Mary Kay Andrews adds twists and turns to the plot, keeping you hooked as Traci works to save the hotel while dealing with family drama and discovering new truths. There’s also a slow-burn romance that adds a little sweetness to the story.

Overall, this is a perfect beach read that has just the right balance of heart, humor, and suspense. Traci is a character you root for, and the setting of the St. Cecelia gives the story a nostalgic charm. If you’re looking for a light but meaningful book to get lost in, Summers at the Saint is definitely worth picking up.

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