In the last few years, I've become a fan of Mary Kay Andrews and her brand of charming Southern fiction. Summers at the Saint was a bit more of a murder mystery than other books of hers I've read, and I really enjoyed it. There were lots of characters that Andrews developed very well, a unique setting, and several twists I didn't see coming. I was excited to see that the audiobook was narrated by Kathleen McInerney, who has narrated several other Mary Kay Andrews novels that I loved. Her performance was so good and added so much to the story for me. I listened at 1.3X speed, which is typical for me and I find perfectly conversational.

I'm not sure why I thought this was a cute, beach bag type of read (it is but not how you're thinking!) and was shocked with how it turned out! I guess the "Don't judge a book by its cover" thing is true here, as when I was browsing NetGalley and requested this book for review, I thought "This will be a great beach/summer read, should be fun!" And it was, but not the steamy romance novel I thought it would be.

This is a fast-paced read, that I couldn't put down! There were twists and turns in the plot that I didn't see coming, as well as characters and the setting to fall in love with. This had me on my toes as I still believed this was a romance novel! I don't want to say much more because I'm worried I will ruin the book for someone!

I rated this 5 stars as I loved the pacing and plot, and who doesn't love a southern beachside hotel setting? This is a book to slip into your beach or pool bag, as you could easily read it in a day. I would recommend this to a friend who enjoys mystery novels as that is more in line with the plot than my original thought that it was a romance novel.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, Mary Kay Andrews, and Erica Martirano for the Digital Review Copy of Summers at the Saint. All opinions are my own.

This is not your typical beach read. While it did take place in a beautiful setting with a little side of romance there were some dark aspects to the story. Traci grew up in the shadow of "The Saint" and always dreamed of going there one day. Not only did she go there she ended up running the place after her husband passed away. But it was not always smooth sailing from there. She was constantly fighting the rest of the Eddings family. But this summer could be the end of the Saint if she can't get things turned around. She like everyone else in life is having a hard time finding workers so she gets creative in order to draw locals in to work. She hires her niece in guest relations, and that did not go over well. And the romance, she is drawn to the handsome landscape manager that helps her out of some sticky situations. Many twist and turns and some Oh My! moments. Great read for the summer.

I really loved this latest book from MKA, as well as her last holiday one. Summers at the Saint made me want to take a road trip up the coast to stay at a resort in Georgia. There was a good variety of characters that led up to a plot twist, just enough to keep it light and not confusing. Perfect summer mystery!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of Summers at the Saint for review. 5 stars!

Don't let the bright and cheerful cover fool you! Summers at the Saint is an intricately plotted family drama that also serves as a coming of age story and mystery. A number of darker topics, including sexual assault, drug use, and the death of a child are mentioned. Shifting points of view and a number of subplots move the narrative along and will keep many readers turning pages. However, a few of those subplots are left not fully resolved which made them seem unnecessary in the end. At over 400 pages, it does feel like it could have used a little bit of trimming down.

MKA- you did it again! This was such a great read. I loved the flow, and it is perfect for the beach or pool.

Summers at the Saint is the perfect beach read. Packed full of mystery, intrigue, romance and family drama.

Traci is struggling to keep the family resort open and prospering while dealing with other members of the family who don't exactly agree with her husbands decision to leave his portion of the family business to her.

I loved the characters. They were all well written with depth.

You really can't go wrong with a Mary Kay Andrews book.

Thanks to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc.

I absolutely loved this book! MKA never disappoints. I can always rely on her to write a solid detailed story that is the hardest to put down.
The interesting, lovable characters along with the descriptive location of the Saint made the book very enjoyable. I would love to visit a place like this. I felt it was a wonderful amount of mystery and women’s fiction. There were so many twists and turns.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with an Arc in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED every second of this book! I read it in less than a day and could not put it down. There were a lot of characters, yes, but the story worked so well together and the plot was well developed. It did not feel confusing at any point and kept me on the edge of my beach chair!

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews is an absolute delight, a perfect blend of charm, warmth, and engaging storytelling that makes for an unforgettable read. As my first novel by Andrews, I was thoroughly captivated by her vibrant writing style and her ability to bring characters and settings to life with such vividness.

The story centers around Riley Griggs, who returns to the family-owned beach resort, The Saint, for what she hopes will be a relaxing summer. Instead, she finds herself embroiled in a mystery that uncovers family secrets, old rivalries, and unexpected romances. Andrews weaves a rich tapestry of intrigue and emotion, keeping readers hooked from start to finish.

Riley is a wonderfully relatable protagonist, and her journey of self-discovery and resilience is both inspiring and heartwarming. The supporting characters are equally well-drawn, each contributing to the depth and warmth of the narrative. The coastal setting is described with such detail and affection that it becomes a character in its own right, evoking the beauty and nostalgia of summer days by the sea.

What truly stands out is Andrews' skillful balance of humor, drama, and romance. The dialogue is sharp and witty, the plot twists are well-executed, and the romantic elements are sweet without being saccharine. The book also touches on deeper themes of family, forgiveness, and the importance of facing one’s past.

Reading Summers at the Saint was a joyous experience, and I’m eager to explore more of Mary Kay Andrews' work. This novel is a perfect summer read, filled with heart, humor, and a touch of mystery. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an engaging and uplifting story!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The most delightful beach read!

After her husband passes away, Traci inherits the posh resort, the St.Cecelia. The resort is known for its gorgeous atmosphere and wealthy clientele. With the hotel she also inherits his family drama too. Between all the secrets and lies, all Traci wants to do is turn The Saint back to full potential. Can she fix the wrongs of the past?

This was the perfect balance of romance and mystery. There were twist and turns that kept me glued to the story. I could not put this down! A very quick, fast paced read! This is the most perfect vacation book! I know I’ll find myself coming back to this one!

📘: Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews
🗓️: May 7, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, Mary Kayla Andrews, and St.Martin’s Press for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Reviewed on NetGalley, Amazon, and Goodreads.

This story is more mystery than romance with the wonderful setting of a historic southern resort hotel. Traci has been barely surviving since her husband, Hoke, died four years ago. Hoke was part of the family that owned the Saint, and Traci “ain’t” but has been the one responsible for the running of the hotel since his death. Pandemic and economy have hit the bottom line hard, and another unexpected and suspicious death really puts the resort in financial trouble.
Lots of characters, plots and family drama, but it still seemed to move slowly. The romance part felt a bit forced and fast as much as I really liked Weyland. The Hudson storyline still felt unfinished, I’m still not sure I believe it was totally resolved.
This is a popular favorite by so many already so if you are looking for a summer setting with plenty of drama, this might be one for you!

This is a great summer mystery with a dash of romance. I was really compelled by the mystery, which drives the plot. Compared to other books by this author, I felt the character development wasn’t as strong, and the relationship between Traci and Whelan progressed very quickly.

First Mary Kay Andrews book I've had the pleasure of reading...but not the last! If your looking for a easy summer breezy book, this is not it! This story flows well, with intresting characters, mystery and plot twists, with a little romace tossed in for good measure. Definitely worth reading.

Thank you NetGalley and the author and publisher for a copy of this ARC.

The Saints is an exclusive resort on a small, private island called St. Cecelia off the coast of Georgia. There's multiple POVs going on including Traci who is struggling to keep the Saint running after her late husband unexpectedly past away. Whelan who is trying to figure how his younger brother drowned in the pool. Parrish who put her European vacation on hold to help her family's resort and so many more.

One thing that everyone has in common are secrets and some are much deeper than others. Each having their own reason to be working at the Saint this summer. The timeline occasionally bounces back to 20 years early while some of the characters figure out the truth behind a death at the resort.

Summers at the Saint is women's fiction with a touch of romantic suspense. It starts off slow in order to really build the foundation of the plot. A lot happens at the end and all the pieces finally start to make sense in the last 100 pages or so. Don't let the cover fool you thinking it's a cute summer read because there's a lot more to it.

This one is going to be the perfect beach read for summer!

I absolutely loved reading about Traci and the Saint. I felt like I was able to envision this upscale beach club and its motley crew of employees.

This one bordered on a cozy mystery vibe for me, and I really can't overstate how much I loved it. Mary Kay Andrews pulled at the heartstrings while also managing to pull off murder mystery, and romance. It was so many genres wrapped into one book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

🐚☀️🌊⛱️
Summer breezes, ocean waters, and sunny skies create a backdrop for great storylines created by @ Mary Kay Andrews in her latest NY Times best selling novel Summers at THE SAINT. That same background of sun, sand and water views will provide a reader in a lounge chair a great spot to read Summers at THE SAINT. But you can read this book in any season, any time of day or night because Mary Kay Andrews displays her talent of creating characters whose lives and interactions draw us into the story immediately and keep us turning the pages.
What can happen to marriages, friendships, family ties and businesses over time? As we all know: plenty! If we add the tensions created by stereotypical views of the upper class “Saints “ and the working-class “aint’s”, we have the ingredients of another great book by Mary Kay Andrews. She creates a story of interest and intrigue when she takes us behind the scenes at The Saint. Going behind the scenes leads to revelations that stun the characters as well as the reader. A story not to be missed !
I enjoyed this book so much, I urge you to get it as soon as possible if you don’t already have it.
So, if MKA’s readers are in their beach lounge chairs, they won’t be dozing, they will be alert and curious as they turn the pages of Summers at the Saint. Don’t forget to wear your sunhat 👒 and sunglasses 😎 while reading! 📖☀️🕶️🌅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a great surprise! I've read a few other books by Andrews before and they're always great beach reads. I tend to stick with just thrillers and romance books. What a great surprise when I discovered that this book had a murder mystery as a main plot point!

I really loved the backdrop of this story set in a cool resort hotel, the St. Cecelia. The main character, Traci, started working at the Saint as a young teen. She lived in the nearby town putting her on "wrong side of the track," and making her one of the "ain'ts" versus the Saints, the rich clientele at the hotel. But, a few years later she ends up engaged to one of the sons of the hotel. Traci was never fully embraced by the owners, her new in-laws, but she continued to work at the hotel and is now grown, a widow, and manager of the Saint.

At the start of summer, Traci realizes they need new staff and decides that a way to allure them is to convert an old building into a dorm setting. Now, a new mix of characters enter the story and are all woven together in more ways than just as co-workers. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I really enjoyed how the characters were all developed and how the mystery was unraveled. I didn't see the ending coming!

Definitely a must read!

Another hit for Mary Kay Andrews. Romance with a murder mystery? Set on an island resort? Yes, please! Go in knowing just that and enjoy!

Summers at the Saint is a great beach read. I thought it was going to be light hearted but it actually got pretty intense. The Saint is an exclusive beach resort. Traci is the manager trying to keep the Saint afloat after the pandemic finds them struggling with money and staffing. Traci decides to offer free housing and soon has a new chef and 3 young employees ready to work the summer. But somebody seems to be working against them and visitors are complaining about their drinks, their mattresses, their seafood. One night an employee dies on the hotel grounds. Suddenly Traci doesn't know who she can trust to figure out what is happening but everybody thinks they are a detective. Just when I thought I knew who was responsible, Mary Kay Andrews throws the reader a twist. And there was some romance too! Definitely kept me turning the pages.

Thank you to NewGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.