The Saint is a country club for the wealthy.
A kid died many years ago when Traci was a lifeguard there. The other lifeguard had been fired but it was no one's fault. Now his half brother is looking into what really happened. Traci is also trying to keep the club going and finding new ideas and remodeling where she can,. Her husband had a died a few years ago and so she inherited his part of the hotel while his brother is trying to make her look bad.
Then someone ends up dead and more things come into light. I really liked Traci and her niece.It was a good book
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

In her latest beach read gem, Mary Kay Andrews transports readers to the sun-drenched shores of Georgia and the iconic St. Cecelia hotel in Summers at the Saint. It's an engaging tale of family drama, long-held secrets, and one woman's tenacious fight to save her beloved coastal resort.

Andrews's storytelling shines as protagonist Traci Eddings, the determined widow inheriting the struggling St. Cecelia, takes center stage. Facing financial turmoil, a scheming relative, and the revelation of a tragic past event, Traci must rally an endearing crew of summer staff to turn the hotel's fortunes around. Her journey crackles with spirited dialogue, a delightfully zany cast of characters, and Andrews's signature flair for capturing the soul of the Southern experience.

Andrews deftly juggles genres, infusing the summer drama with welcome dashes of romance, humor, and mystery. Her vibrant descriptions truly transport readers to the cloying salt air and lush coastal scenery of the Georgia lowcountry. If you've ever been to The Cloister on Sea Island or the Don CeSar in St. Pete, you're going to feel right at home at The Saint!

A true master of the beach read, Andrews has once again crafted a story that sparkles with wit, warmth and a celebratory zest for life's simple pleasures. Summers at the Saint is a delightfully immersive summer escape brimming with heart and humor.

I really enjoyed this book and found the setting and all of the characters to be so charming. The plot was good and had great twists but the only deterrent was that the transitions sometimes seemed a bit off.

Perfect beach read! I have previously only read Mary Kay Andrew’s holiday books, so this one - which I loved - encourages me to go and read her many previous summer books. The setting is fantastic and there’s a murder mystery woven into the plot which kept me up late reading just one more chapter.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC. Summers at the Saint is available now! It’s an enchanting escape.

You know that summer is just around the corner when Mary Kay Andrews releases a new novel! Summers at the Saint is that new book!
St. Cecelia is the name of the Georgia hotel and club frequented by the wealthy. Although everyone refers it as The Saint, the employees from the other side of the tracks refer to themselves as 'the ain'ts. Traci Eddings was an ain't - but she's now running the resort after the death of her beloved husband.

I always enjoy Andrews' protagonists. They're driven, smart, kind, intelligent and fair - someone you'd like to know in real life. Traci is very mindful of the staff are doing, providing some perks to keep them happy. It's been hard to find staffing this year.

Readers are going to know what Traci doesn't. We get to see what's going on under the surface. And it's not good at all. I have to say, I didn't expect some of what happens, but it was quite all believable. I was so mad with those characters!

To temper that plotline, is a perfect yes, no, maybe so romance. There's also some twists that I didn't see coming - and they changed my prediction for the final pages. I was happily wrong!

The narrator was Kathleen McInerney - a favorite of mine. She's voiced quite a few of Andrews' other titles and they've also been wonderful to listen to. McInerney's voice matched the plot if that makes sense. She embodies the characters and brings them to life. Each character has been given an identifiable and believable voice - both male and female, young and old. Her voice is very pleasant to listen to, and she enunciates very well. Her voice easily portrays the emotions and actions of the plot. An excellent presentation of a wonderful book!

Andrews has done it again. She's written another book that grabbed my attention and held it from first chapter to last. A must for your earphones and beach bag.

I received this for review from the publisher. Whew there was a lot of drama and mystery in this book. This is the story of the Eddings family and centers mostly on Traci, the widow of Hoak, air to the St. Cecilia Hotel. Traci is trying to build back the failing hotel to the days of its grandeur. Not everyone in the family agrees with Traci’s execution and the hijinksc ensues.
This story was much deeper than I anticipated. From the cover I expected a high energy beach book. Although it does take place at the beach and has those summer vibes, this is not the Nantucket love story I was thinking it was. There is murder, betrayal, mystery and yes romance. I enjoyed this very much even though it was different from what I anticipated.

Looking for a good read to take on summer vacation? No need to look further than Mary Kay Andrews' latest summer romantic mystery. It's set on a private island off the Georgia coast at the Saint Cecelia, an exclusive beach resort and country club. It's been in the Eddings family for a hundred years and is now being run by Traci Eddings, the widow of the family's youngest son.

The busy season is about to start and Traci is having trouble with staffing. She's decided to create a dorm out of an old garage to provide free housing for her employees as an added incentive, along with an attractive signing bonus. And she begs her niece Parrish to postpone a European trip to man the front desk as guest relations director.

Parrish soon notices guests are reporting some strange problems, such as uncomfortable mattresses and poor television reception, and starts keeping a 'bitch book.' There are complaints from restaurant diners too about not receiving top-notch liquors and the new executive chef notices less-than-fresh-fish from longtime suppliers. What's going on at the Saint?

When one of the staff is found dead, two of her dorm mates team up to figure out who killed her. But are they putting themselves in harm's way? Meanwhile Traci is becoming entangled in a possible romantic relationship. Is she ready to begin again?

Although some parts of the mystery are easy to figure out, there is still a nice twist up MKA's sleeve. This is a fun, light, and entertaining read. I've read some complaints about the number of f-bombs in this story but I was thinking as I read that MKA is a master of creating realistic conversations in this day and age.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for an arc of this new novel via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

This was a good mystery with just a little sprinkle of romance thrown in. Traci runs the 5-star hotel that she inherited when her husband died, along with the headaches that can happen when trying to keep the members and guests happy. I liked the young characters who lived in the staff dorm. There was one character that I initially thought was going to be a decent guy and he turned out to be a jerk. My favorite character was Felice, the no- nonsense chef who doesn’t let anyone push her around. I enjoyed this book that wasn’t too intense, but wasn’t simple fluff either.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Mary Kay Andrews is an author that I look forward to reading. Each time there is a new book, I have to get it to add to my shelves.
#SummersattheSaint was no exception. Taking place at a resort in Georgia, this book had a great story, some mystery, murder and interesting characters.
Traci lost her husband a few years ago and she was thrust into his job managing his family’s resort. At the beginning of the Summer she makes some staff changes much to the dismay of her brother in law.
Shortly after the changes we have a murder, some thefts and maybe a little romance.
I really enjoyed this book and I wish it wasn’t over.
I originally got this book as a free read ARC from @netgalley, but waited to buy the hard copy when it came out.

Well this was not what I expected! (The cost of not reading the synopsis!) I was ready for some fun summer hijinks at a glamorous resort, but was shocked by a dead body! Once I processed that, I flew through this 400+ page book. So many twists and reveals. Some I saw coming, many I did not. I like it that way, it makes me feel smart while still being entertained! Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Mary Kay Andrews is one of the top chick lit/romance writers. I was taken to The Saint, I could see the glamour of the hotel, the beauty of the surrounding, and when she describes the sunset, it came to life for me.

Romance is a small part of the story; the murder mystery and family drama is the main part of the story. I was intrigued by the family drama and felt like it was portrayed as real life would be. When money is involved, life can get messy. Traci was the bigger, smarter person than the Edding’s family gave her credit for. She was willing to fight for what was right and stand up for her employees that were faithful to her.

This is a different type of Mary Kay Andrews. There is a lot going on in the book, at times it may have been more than needed. But I love every word of Summers at The Saint. The book entertained me, took me to an beach hotel, and introduced me to some amazing characters.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for a copy of the book in via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

It’s always funny when you think you are getting a cutesy summer read and end up with a murder mystery. I was not expecting there to be such tension that unfolded in this book based on the cover, but this one was a roller coaster!

The St. Cecilia Hotel (also known as the Saint) has been entertaining some of the richest coastal clientele for generations at the hands of the Eddings family. Now, a widowed Traci Eddings has been tasked with running the hotel – which is no easy feat.

Between staffing issues, difficult guests, and financial troubles that threaten to ruin the hotel’s luxury reputation, Traci pulls together a crew of promising employees to help her revive the Saint experience. But when a tragic death pulls attention, her brother-in-law threatens to take everything from her, and shady dealings come to light, it seems all of the cards are being played against Traci and her beloved hotel.

There were a lot of characters and sub-plots happening here that kept me entertained. It felt like every chapter there was something new being introduced – which some may find chaotic or hard to keep track of, but I felt it helped to really drive the plot forward.

That being said, there were a lot of elements of this that were completely predictable. Even the twists that were trying to be “surprise” elements I could sniff out happening from a mile away. I find that chick lit disguised as mystery tends to be like this for avid thriller readers, so I’m not all that surprised, but that’s the reason why I am giving this an average rating.

Still a fun, summer read, but something that I think I will forget by the time September rolls around.

In “Summers at the Saint,” Mary Kay Andrews masterfully weaves a tale that transcends typical genre boundaries, blending elements of romance, mystery, and women’s fiction into a captivating narrative. Set against the backdrop of the iconic St. Cecelia hotel, Andrews delves into a world where tradition collides with scandal, and where the past casts a long shadow over the present.

At the heart of the story is Traci Eddings, a widow determined to restore the Saint to its former glory despite facing myriad challenges, from staff shortages to familial betrayal. Andrews’ journalistic background shines through as she skillfully crafts a multi-layered plot filled with twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

What sets “Summers at the Saint” apart is its rich cast of characters, each with their own secrets and motivations. Through multiple points of view and a series of well-executed flashbacks, Andrews brings these characters to life, making it impossible not to become emotionally invested in their fates.

But perhaps the true strength of the novel lies in its portrayal of female relationships. From Traci’s bonds with her friends and family to the camaraderie among the Saint’s staff, Andrews captures the power of women supporting women in a way that feels both authentic and uplifting.

Final Thoughts:

“Summers at the Saint” is a must-read for fans of women’s fiction and mystery alike. With its compelling storylines, well-developed characters, and evocative setting, it’s a book that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned. Whether you choose to read the print version or listen to the audiobook, you’re in for a treat.

4.5 stars (rounded up to 5)

Thank you to St Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ARC of the book and audiobook. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Thank you to St Martins Press & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Mary Kay will absolutely remain my Queen of Summer Romance! The settings, the characters, the unique storylines, she nails it every single time and Summers at the Saint was no exception!

This will be a must read this summer, so go ahead and throw it in your beach bag!

I was so excited to read another one of Mary Kay Andrews’ books and this was definitely worth the ride! I didn’t expect to go on quite the wild roller coaster! I absolutely loved many of the characters and felt super connected to the story and the outcome!! I would absolutely love to see more in this world, but with the epilogue, I’m not sure we would! Add this to your summer reading list!

I absolutely LOVED this book! I also listened to the audio as well as reading the E-ARC and I highly recommend doing that! The story is about Traci Eddings and her husband died in a tragic plane accident so she takes over the St.Cecelia hotel in coastal Georgia also known as "the Saint." Traci hires new staff in order to better the hotel and its guests. There are many scenarios throughout the story unfortunately that lead to solving a murder mystery. This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I felt like I was really in each scenario! As the story escalates you find more and more information about family throughout the story and why they did what they did. This is such a GREAT beach read as it does take place at the beach! Highly recommend!!

I was able to pair the audiobook with the ebook and loved this novel. It’s true Mary Kay Andrews writing style. Her twists surprised me and I fell in love with the characters. The narrator chosen, Kathleen McInerney, always makes me think of MKA, she’s been used for several books. Such a great choice for Tracy in this book too.

Let me start by saying there are a lot, A LOT, of characters introduced in this novel. They all have a twisted detailed past and it feels kinda like being zapped, mid-season, into a soap opera. Mary Kay Andrew books usually have a mystery to solve, sometimes that includes a murder/homicide, sometimes it’s an item or persons secrets. Ingram this case the “murder” surprised me. She surprised me with the who, the how, the why, all of it.

This is a fantastic beach read for the summer or a quick vacation. The audiobook is perfect for long flights or car rides. Highly recommend Summers at the Saint.

I went in a bit blind to this. From the author and the cover, I was expecting a light vacation read. This is not it. It is about the investigation of a death of a small child which veers very far from my typical reading. To be fair, I didn't dig deep into the description but was expecting something totally different. I found it very hard to read and really struggle with bad things happening to kids, especially when it is discussed frequently. I know others will be able to disconnect and enjoy it, I just couldn't' finish it. A Rom Com book disguised as a Whodunnit.

Mary Kay Andrews can do no wrong. Every book you pick from her you know it’s going to catch your attention and leave you wanting more, this one was no different. I loved the romance mixed with a little bit of murder mystery, it’s the perfect beach read!

This is a classis Mary Kay Andrews and I loved every second of it. I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of it, and though for a while I thought it didn't have a huge place in the story, but as everything came together it ended up being so perfect. These characters were great, and hopefully we get a little bit more in this world. This is the perfect beach read.