Full review will be posted on goodreads, storygraph, and instagram then linked here shortly!

3.75 stars

This one was really interesting and I really enjoyed our main character, Traci. I loved the rich people drama of it all and the messy wealthy family saga aspect to the story. It did feel like it dragged on a little bit too much and some of it could have been cut out but otherwise I enjoyed it! I can't believe I haven't read a book by Mary Kay Andrews before and I definitely plan to read more soon!

Have a beach trip coming soon and need some summer reads recommendations? Look no further this is the perfect book for the occasion! I absolutely enjoyed every second of reading this! Had everything I loved in a book, mystery, drama, romance. Grab this book if you haven’t yet, go I won’t regret it!

I was so thrilled to have the opportunity to read Mary Kay Andrews' newest beach read!
From the first chapter, I was buckled in for an entertaining ride as each character's story was introduced and woven into one another's. The character development was spot on, the plots (multiple!!!) were well executed, and I was trying to solve the "who dun it" until the reveal!
As I read this book, I kept picturing each of these characters and the gorgeous property of The Saint. It feels like a perfect book-to-Netflix move or limited series. I'd love a little epilogue or second book to make this a series!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this digital advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest opinions!

Title: Summers at the Saint
Author: Mary Kay Andrews
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5

Welcome to the St. Cecelia, a landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia, where traditions run deep and scandals run even deeper. . . .

Everyone refers to the St. Cecelia as “the Saint.” If you grew up coming here, you were “a Saint.” If you came from the wrong side of the river, you were “an Ain’t.” Traci Eddings was one of those outsiders whose family wasn’t rich enough or connected enough to vacation here. But she could work here. One fateful summer she did, and married the boss’s son. Now, she’s the widowed owner of the hotel, determined to see it return to its glory days, even as staff shortages and financial troubles threaten to ruin it. Plus, her greedy and unscrupulous brother-in-law wants to make sure she fails. Enlisting a motley crew of recently hired summer help—including the daughter of her estranged best friend—Traci has one summer season to turn it around. But new information about a long-ago drowning at the hotel threatens to come to light, and the tragic death of one of their own brings Traci to the brink of despair.

Traci Eddings has her back against the pink-painted wall of this beloved institution. And it will take all the wits and guts she has to see wrongs put to right, to see guilty parties put in their place, and maybe even to find a new romance along the way.

I didn’t realize this was also going to be a murder mystery/thriller read (sort of), along with romance, but I enjoyed it. Man, Traci’s family really sucks. I didn’t care for any of them at all, except her niece. This isn’t necessarily a summer read, but it was a pleasant, quick read, and I liked the romantic pairing amidst all the other things going on. The food descriptions from the new chef made me hungry!

Mary Kay Andrews is a bestselling author. Summers at the Saint is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Mary Kay Andrew’s at her finest!!! This book had it all. I’m not usually a mystery reader but Mary Kay has a way of dragging me into the story’s and I can’t put it down. Loved this book so much.

Wow! What a ride! This was a great book to take on vacation with a suspenseful mystery set in a luxurious Southern hotel with a hint of second chance romance. My favorite way to start the summer is with a new book from MKA and SUMMER'S AT THE SAINT didn't disappoint.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced digital copy of the book!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC of Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews.

First and foremost, if you read and enjoy Mary Kay Andrews’ books, this one is as good as any others. A bit of suspense/mystery with a touch of romance blooming. Can’t get better than that. Read this one at the perfect time as summer is approaching. Just the right mood setting for thinking about beach trips, hopefully sans murders or attempts 🤨. The characters in this book, Traci, Whelan, Livvy, Felice are of different ages but you can feel connected to all of them which is just one of the many things I love about Andrews’ books. Trust me, pic this one up and give it a try!!

Its just not the summer without a book from Mary Kay Andrew, Elin Hildebrand and Nancy Thayer - my three favorite summer authors. This book is classic Mary Kay Andrews and I absolutely loved the characters and the situations they were in. THank you for the opportunity!!

Mary Kay Andrews wrote another enjoyable beach read that involves family drama, mysteries, and friendship set in a resort on the coast of Georgia. I enjoyed getting to know her characters and the challenges of running a resort. Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Don't let this bright and beautiful cover fool ya! With the Saints, the Ain'ts, and a newly discovered dead body, Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews is full of drama and intrigue!

Traci Eddings runs the Saint Cecelia Resort, "The Saint," where the wealthy come to play every summer. Still grieving the passing of her husband, Hoke, her world is rocked yet again by another tragic death. Traci has her hands full mourning and struggling to keep the Saint in the black as the summer season begins.

I love books with wealthy characters who think they can do anything they want. I also love when they get their comeuppance! Mary Kay Andrews has done it again with a page-turner perfect for tossing in the beach bag or for a day by the pool!

Read this if you like:
•  books with family drama
•  stories set in small coastal towns
•  books with Dynasty vibes

I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK! Historic hotel, multiple POVs, and looming secrets? Say less.

At the beautiful St. Celeila Hotel, aka "The Saint", Traci Eddings has done what many attempted but few could achieve - moving up from an Ain't to a Saint. Faced with staff shortages, financial problems, and truly awful in-laws (IYKYK), Traci is determined to bring The Saint back to its former glory to honor her late husband, Hoke. With a fresh new summer crew, secrets from the past, and a hint of new romance (hello mysterious strange rolling into town), Traci's summer is about to take a lot of unexpected turns. Filled with twists, turns, and revelations, this book is the perfect summer read!

I had the pleasure of meeting MKA at M.Judson Booksellers in Greenville, SC during her book tour. Hearing her speak about her writing process and inspirations for this book made reading this one so much more fun!

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Mary Kay Andrews for allowing me access to this book. All opinions are my own.

I don’t know how I managed to go this long without reading Mary Kay Andrews, but shame on me! What an absolute delight of a book. I felt like I should have been lying on the beach—this was a perfect escape. There were rich people behaving badly, there was beautiful scenery, there was family drama, there were mysteries, there was romance, what more could you ask for? I loved this book from page one to the last sentence and I could have read a few hundred more pages. Perfect for summer!

Book Review: Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews

Mary Kay Andrews’ Summers at the Saint is a delightful and heartwarming read that encapsulates the essence of summer with its charming setting and engaging characters. As a fan of Andrews’ previous works, I found this novel to be a wonderful addition to her repertoire, offering a perfect blend of romance, mystery, and humor.

The story is set in the idyllic coastal town of St. Ann’s Island, where protagonist Hattie Kavanaugh takes on the ambitious project of renovating an old, historic hotel, The Saint. Andrews masterfully brings the setting to life, with vivid descriptions that make the reader feel the ocean breeze and see the quaint, picturesque details of the island.

Hattie is a compelling lead, a determined and resourceful woman whose passion for restoration and love for her community drive the narrative. Her interactions with the quirky and endearing townsfolk add depth and color to the story. The relationships she forms, particularly with her crew and the enigmatic but charming architect, Andrew, are central to the plot and are developed with a mix of warmth and realism.

One of the novel’s strengths is its blend of genres. Andrews weaves a light-hearted romance with a touch of mystery as Hattie uncovers secrets hidden within The Saint. This subplot keeps the reader intrigued and adds an element of suspense that balances the romantic storyline.

The theme of second chances is prominent throughout the book. Hattie’s journey is not just about renovating a building, but also about rebuilding her life and finding new opportunities for happiness and fulfillment. This theme resonates well and adds a layer of emotional depth to the narrative.

Andrews’ writing style is engaging and accessible, making Summers at the Saint an easy and enjoyable read. Her talent for creating vivid settings and relatable characters is evident, and her dialogue is both witty and natural.

In conclusion, Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews is a perfect summer read that will appeal to fans of romance, mystery, and stories about personal growth and community. Its captivating setting, endearing characters, and engaging plot make it a standout novel that is sure to leave readers with a warm, satisfied feeling. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on St. Ann’s Island and would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a charming and uplifting escape.

Thanks @netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for letting me read and review this book!

Summers at the Saint is a story well told. The plot grabs you and absorbs you into the world of the Saint from page one and you must not stop reading until you find out what happens. The Saint is an historic hotel with a gated and privileged housing community contained within. This community and business holds a lot of secrets and it isn’t willing to shed them easily. In this town, there are the “Saints” and the “'Aints” – the haves and the have nots. The novel is clever in it is the story of what happens when one of the Aints breaks through and ends up being an owner/CEO of the joint. The book can please lovers of three genres of books – rom-com, mystery and culturally-relevant books as it is rich with authentic Post-Covid pop culture.

Traci is the former Aint that is struggling to maintain the glory of the place for the upcoming summer season. Mary Kay Andrews does an excellent job of showing the post-Covid strain of finding workers and overcoming economic losses caused by the Covid shutdown. The authenticity of this storyline is an important commentary on everyday life in the U.S. in 2024. Works of art or more valuable when they can authentically show and describe the history of the times they are written in. And this book can be savored and also revisited later to understand our current history. Traci decides to overcome the difficulty in finding employees by offering bonuses and repurposing an old building to provide onsite dormitory living to attract workers to this very expensive place to live.

Traci thinks she thinks she has a plan and everything will work out because of her well thought out plan and the gifted crew that she recruits. Little does she know that there are dark forces tangled up with her past and the mysterious goings on of her youth that are going to decide whether the Saint sinks or swims.

Mary Kay Andrews not only has told a great story in her book, but with very modern characters. All of the characters in this book are richly written and add to the captivating storyline. Felice is a chef with a vision, that is has been stiffed by her boyfriend leaving with all of her stuff in the middle of the night. Livvy is her long-lost friend Shannon’s daughter. Garrett is the shifty head waiter. KJ is the son a rich patron that is flunking out of school. Whelan is the hunky man of mystery that is figuring out his past. Traci’s brother-in-law, sister-in-law and a whole host of characters come together to play key roles in the story. All of these characters are believable and add to the easy readability of this book.

There are 75 chapters in this book, but that should not intimidate readers. In fact, I would gladly buy a sequel with another 75 chapters. It’s been a long time since I’ve read Mary Kay Andrews and I was surprised to find such modern book with authentic pop culture references that would appeal to all ages. I am grateful to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me an Arc in exchange for my review.

SUMMERS AT THE SAINT
Mary Kay Andrews

This is your sign from the universe telling you that just because a popular author is liked by many doesn’t mean they are going to be liked by you. The only difference between your and Tiffany’s reading experience is you.

Don’t let Tiffany pick the books you read.

SUMMERS AT THE SAINT is about a resort, Traci, the owner of the resort, and it’s about a class structure (the SAINTS and the AINTS), you either are or you ain’t,

Traci must have a great summer season to save herself and her hotel. She has a reputation to uphold and a sneaky family member to keep on her watchlist. To complicate things, she just hired her ex-besties daughter which is its own box of trouble.

Will she save herself? Will she save the resort?

I was stuck on a 10-hour flight in a tight seat and chose this to listen to.

That was a mistake but not my first one. It felt torturous listening to the audiobook and the combination of being confined to a sitting position while listening felt like it would never end. If I had died on the flight and SUMMERS AT THE SAINT was the last book, I ever read my elders would assuredly roll over in their graves.

My first mistake was not reading the synopsis or checking out any other books by Andrews before requesting this one. I wanted an escape, something set on hot summery days, maybe an even hotter summer fling, anything but this.

Thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copies!

SUMMERS AT THE SAINT…⭐⭐

Mary Kay Andrews can do no wrong! A summer is not complete without one of her books and this one was another winner!

A ritzy resort, a murder, and family drama...what more could you want? This one was absolutely amazing! Fun, but with a touch of suspense and mystery! I will be recommending this one non-stop to people to add to their summer reading list!

Looking for a great summer read? Look no further than Mary Kay Andrews' latest romantic mystery set on a private island off the Georgia coast at the exclusive Saint Cecelia beach resort and country club. Run by Traci Eddings, the widow of the family's youngest son, the resort faces challenges as the busy season approaches. To address staffing issues, Traci converts an old garage into a dorm for employees and persuades her niece Parrish to postpone her European trip to manage guest relations. When a staff member is found dead, Parrish's dorm mates investigate, risking their own safety. Meanwhile, Traci navigates a potential new romance. Despite some predictable elements, Andrews delivers a fun, light, and entertaining read with a surprising twist and realistic dialogue.

Thought this was suppose to be a romance, but it’s more like a mystery. I liked it though. Very light and easy read. Kept me entertained and did not expect who the bad guys were!

Summers at the Saint follows Traci Eddings the manager at the St. Cecilia or "The Saint" resort. Traci assembles a staff, including her beloved niece to be the summer employees at the Saint.

First, I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. I didn't really know what to expect going in and the twists and turns in the book kept me glued to the pages. Reader beware, it certainly isn't just a funny rom-com like the cover art would lead you to believe. It ends up being more of a mystery novel after one of the staff members goes missing!

Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it for summer reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to @netgalley and publishers for an arc of Summers At The Saint.
Loved this book which makes me want to go to a Tybee Island in Georgia!