Summer reading kicks off with MKA's newest, Summers At The Saint! It's got everything you expect from MKA, a little something for everyone, and you won't be disappointed!

Mary Kay Andrews is back with her first summer read in two years and it does not disappoint! It has everything I have come to love about MKA's summer reads: mystery, suspense, a bit of romance, and strong female characters. Most of all it has a summer time atmosphere. Summers at the Saint was the perfect book to kick off my summer reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book. All words and opinions are my own.

3/5 stars
This book was a trip. Within the first 9 chapters you get 9 different points of view and there are just as many plot lines. I was trying to explain this book to my mom once I finished and she was lost within 10 seconds. and unfortunately when you have so many plot points, some of them are bound to get forgotten when it comes to closure. And I was a little bit disappointed because one particular plot line was talked about and mentioned so much and had a particular point that was emphasized so much and was never given any closure and what was said about it was so disappointing. It just fell like Andrews had too many plot lines and realized when she was getting close to her page count realized that she hadn't resolved any of them. I really wanted more from the end that we didn't get.

This book took me places I definitely wasn’t expecting. Based on the cover I was expecting a light beach read. Though it definitely has aspects of that it touches on so many dark subjects. And it is full of twisty family dynamics that will keep you guessing. A bit of soap opera in a book I would say:
All in all I would definitely like to spend a summer at The Saint……just not as part of their staff.

I received a ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.

She does it again. She writes another book I immediately am sharing with friends. If coastal grandmother was a book, this would be it. All you want in a summer read and more.

Mary Kay Andrews writes the perfect summer reads. I recommend her book Save the date for everyone when asking for a beach read and now I will be adding this one to the list. This book is a murder mystery meets romance that kept me hooked until the end (which I did not see coming). The only critique I have is that there were so many characters I did find myself getting confused at times. Overall would be a good summer read that has a different spin to it than just a romance.

Easy summer read! The novel is set in a fun location with interesting characters. My only complaint would be that I struggled to keep up with the characters as the novel is told from many different points of view.

This was what started out as a sweet coming of age story quickly grew into a large murder mystery with layers going back generations! I enjoyed reading as the layers slowly peeled back to unravel family and company secrets galore.

4 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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!