"Summers at the Saint" by Mary Kay Andrews is set in a beautiful coastal 5 star resort right on the beach in Georgia. We have come to expect oceans and beaches, gardens and golf courses, sunshine and pools, and regional customs in detail from the books and southern locations to which this author transports the reader. In that aspect, this novel hits the mark in a very satisfying way.

Where I had a harder time investing my interest was in the characters that populated this story. While many were interesting, overall, for this reader, most just did not rise to the level of fully developed and made real through plot and dialogue. A focus on the people and what they say and do is very important in developing my ongoing investment in a story. I have come to expect that front and center with this author and I missed having that connection here.

For this reader, "Summers at the Saint" is an enjoyable and good read by the author. Her fans (of which I am one) will be glad they travelled to Bonaventura, Georgia and spent time at the Saint Cecilia. It was just not as satisfying in its totality as past novels in her collection of satisfying storytelling.

This novel enjoys a May 7, 2024 publication date. My thanks for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book and my apologies for not finishing and reviewing prior to its release date.

#SummersAtTheSaint
#MaryKayAndrews
#NetGalley

Traci Eddings was an “ain’t” but she married into The Saint. Then her husband was tragically killed in a plane crash. This left Traci running the St Cecelia, a resort on the coast of Georgia. Now, strange things are happening and her niece has been killed. Traci is not going down without a fight.

Talk about great characters! This book is full of them. And some of them I want to beat with a muddy stick!

Then there are all the plot twists! You have family drama, assault, murder and theft, all in one novel! Everyone needs to start their summer with Mary Kay Andrews! You will not be sorry!

The narrator is Kathleen McInerney. She narrates all of MKA books and she does a fantastic job!

Need a fabulous book to take to the beach or to just read wherever…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

This is my first Mary Kay Andrews book (I know, she's prolific), so I didn't go in with any preconceived notions, other than that it was classified as a romance/women's fiction book.

In reality, it's really not a romance, but perhaps a romantic suspense book. I, however, would classify it more as a mystery with romantic storylines. There's been a rash of books I've read recently that have attempted to shoehorn themselves into the romance genre, and it ultimately backfires when the actual book is better classified in other genres.

My primary concern, however, is that there are so many POVs in this book that it is overwhelming and each POV has a backstory and intertwined plot. Those plots loosely link up at the end, but it feels muddied and unfocused and too long (448 pages? You've got to be kidding me).

There's also a storyline about an LGBTQ+ character and some of the language used is..., to put it kindly, outdated. I do understand that the point was that the character's family wouldn't approve of the person if they came out, but I just...would not be throwing around the f-word in a book in 2024 without it being so crucial to the storyline that there wasn't another option.

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

Happy Pub Week to Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews!

This book had me hooked from the start with its mix of romance and mystery set in a charming beach hotel.

Traci Eddings, the owner of the iconic St. Cecelia hotel in Georgia, is determined to restore it to its former glory. As she faces staff shortages, financial woes, and sabotage from her own family, Traci enlists a quirky crew of summer hires to help turn things around. However, the discovery of an old hotel tragedy and a recent mysterious death throw unexpected challenges her way.

The characters in this book are wonderfully crafted, each with their own motives and secrets. The plot kept me guessing with its unexpected twists and turns. While the ending tied up some loose ends predictably, I still found it satisfying. Overall, a delightful summer read that blends humor, drama, and heartwarming moments.

The audiobook narration was great. After reading Summers at the Saint, I just want to be sipping cocktails and soaking up the sun at a beach hotel.

Thank you Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

Mary Kay Andrews is considered one of the “Queens of the Summer Beach Read” and this book is a great summer read! It’s a mystery and romance and I really liked it.

From the publisher:
“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.”

The characters are extremely well developed and interesting, and the reader gets a good idea of what the place is like and what it would be like to stay there. Definitely get this one for your next trip to the beach or pool! 4.5 stars.

Thanks to the St. Martin’s and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I think after many years of reading her books I am finally ready to move on from Mary Kay Andrews.

This book was cringy. Multiple times I felt almost second hand embarrassment at some of the comments the characters made. No grown woman in her 40's says "me likey" when taking about a man. I feel like Mary Kay Andrews is out of touch. This book just didn't make any sense to me. Nothing was developed. The characters relationships came out of nowhere and it was just terrible. How did Livvy and Felice go from barely speaking and Felice noticeably disliking Livvy to being best friends.

I especially hate how Mary Kay Andrews writes her male characters. Towards the end of the book Whelen downright pouts because Traci doesn't want to have sex with him because she has a houseguest. What makes someone think writing like that is a good idea, especially when the character is supposed to be such a good guy.

I initially really liked the idea of a book set at a summer resort and it could have been so good but none of the characters were likable. I remember having this issue with some of Mary Kay Andrews last books but not to the extent of this one. Ultimately I don't think I will be reading any more of her books.

Summary: Traci Eddings grew up on the wrong side of the river as an "Ain't" who worked at the Saint in the summer. One fateful summer she met the boss's son and married him. But life changed drastically for her when her husband died and she was left with the hotel trying to bring it back to its glory days. Between her greedy brother-in-law, staff shortages, and financial troubles, Traci is trying to turn it all around in one summer. However, when one of their own dies tragically, Traci must use her gut to save everything her husband built.

Thoughts: This was my first Mary Kay Andrews that wasn't set at Christmas and I loved it so so much!! Traci was such a strong FMC throughout this book, not only being a widow but also trying to save the hotel that her husband loved so much. In addition, I love how she never really took anything from her horrible brother-in-law, always seeking a way to get around his schemes. To begin, this book had A LOT of characters to keep track of, but they are all very different so that helped a lot. I loved how this had a mystery when one of the members tragically died, and even though there were some clues as to where the story was leading, some twists changed it all up. The small love story of Traci and Whelan added a lighter piece to this story and I loved that Whelan was there when Traci really needed someone in her corner. A great summer beach read, especially if you want a little mystery sprinkled in with your romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC of this book!!

Its not summer without a MKA book!! Summers at the Saint might just be my new favorite of all the MKA books! I LOVED all the characters! I was not expecting the death of a certain character, but i loved how the story played out! We gradually learned more and more about each person to keep us hooked. A little romance, a little arson, a murder & lots of scheming along with fun in the sun! I highly recommend this book!

I haven’t read a huge number of Mary Kay Andrews' books, but this one felt different. I’m trying to narrow down why, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. All in all, it was good. Some parts felt super busy. Others seemed a lot slower. I liked the mystery and suspense. The mystery kept me guessing for far longer than I thought it would, so it was not a simple plot in that aspect. While it was entertaining, and I did look forward to getting back to it when I had time, it did lack that unputdownable quality her other books had. Despite it all, I look forward to what’s next. This is only my opinion, and I encourage you to try it because what’s not up my alley might undoubtedly be for you.

NICUnurse’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭑ (3.5)

Oh how I love kicking off the season with MKA! This one in particular is the perfect summer read. We're hosting her here at the bookstore and we have an iconic hotel in town! MKA continues to be such a fantastic storyteller. With characters you want to root for, a sprinkle of mystery and romance + an iconic backdrop/ setting!

Is it even summer without a new book from Mary Kay Andrews? Traci grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, but one fateful summer of working at the Saint, a GA coastal landmark and the it place to be, she was introduced to how the "other half lives" and even began a whirlwind romance with the boss' son. Now, she's the widowed owner of a fledgling hotel, and everyone in her life expects her to fail. She has a summer to turn things around. She hires summer help to help make summers at the Saint a thing again, but will the history of a drowning keep her from succeeding? Traci is `nothing if not gutsy-and she strives to make things right and bring justice to those involved. She might even find love along the way! This author is one of my faves. She's a masterful storyteller with a knack for realistic and relatable characters! High recommend that you pick up this perfect beach/poolside read!

A perfect read that gives you all the elements of friendship, love, mystery, twists and "didn't see that coming"! Add to that some history, family drama, and well-developed likeable characters, and this will keep the reader turning the pages. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #SummersattheSaint

Great story!

This was a very well-crafted story with all the elements this author is known for. A beautiful resort, on the ocean, that has a sordid underbelly. A family at odds with each other. Friendships long ago destroyed coming back together, and new ones created. All these are skillfully woven into a fast-paced plot that captured me and kept me wanting to read and do nothing else! Recommended!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Summers at the Saint is the latest beach read from Mary Kay Andrews, and I was so excited to read it! The book follows a cast of characters who live and work at The Saint, an exclusive island resort steeped in Southern grandeur and tradition. There is romance, mystery, old wrongs made right, and plot lines that weave around each other, seemingly unrelated until their connection becomes evident. This book is engaging, has a lot going on that somehow isn’t confusing despite jumps across time, and doesn’t shy away from mixing the bitter ugly with the sweet. I loved that the main characters in her books are getting older, what a treat to read about someone who has lived some life! In particular, I think she really did a great job turning what could have been a fluffy book into one with more substance. MKA writes the sweetest love stories, and her own love of the South is evident in how beautifully she describes warm summer nights and small coastal towns. There is no question that any fan of MKA’s writing should pick this up.

That being said, this book was not my favorite of hers and I was filled with a vague sense of disappointment when I finished it that I can’t really put my finger on. I don’t think it had anything to do with the actual details of the book’s plot (although there were things I loved and things I didn’t), but more to do with my preconceived idea of what I wanted this book to be. I was expecting more tropical glamour. I wanted to be whisked away on a fabulous vacation, where strong clever women rule and beach tanned men with sexy Southern accents fall in love with them. And there was all of that, but it just felt more watered down than I’m used to from MKA. But it wouldn’t be summer without her, and reading this book inspired me to go back to my trusty favorites- Spring Fever and Save The Date!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC. As someone who has visited a beach community many times that sounds EXACTLY like the Saint resort in the novel, I was excited to read this novel. It has all the ingredients for a spicy beach read: beach, sun, lots of interesting characters, and crime. Unfortunately, I can’t say I would recommend it. It fell flat for me. Sometimes it was the way the characters interacted with each other, other times it was plot lines in the story. I have to be honest- I think it would make a great miniseries on Hulu or Netflix. It just didn’t work for me as a novel.

This book was a real surprise for me - in a good way! I anticipated a light summer read, but also found a murder mystery, complex family drama, and a bit of a surprise romance. It reminded me of "Malibu Rising" and Elin Hildebrand books in terms of vibes and writing style.

I was a bit worried when I was like 6 chapters in and each had been a different character focus, but it set the characters up well and was not how the remainder of the book was set up. So, if it feels overwhelming initially, it turns into a more typical novel pretty quickly.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

Summers at the Saint was such a cute and enjoyable story. This had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen next. This story grabs your attention right from the start and keeps you interested until the end. This had romance, mystery and was suspenseful. I can't wait to read more of Mary Kay Andrews books. They are so enjoyable and are great summertime reads or anytime reads. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for my honest opinion. This is such a fun read and a must read.

I’m always a big fan of behind-the-scenes books in hospitality since I worked in it for so long. This story had it all: great characters (both good and bad), a fun setting of a resort on a private island, romance, and a mystery. There are so many twists and turns that will keep you guessing, all the while falling in love with the characters who are well-developed and who you can’t help but root for. I loved everything about this book and highly recommend for a beach vacation, a rainy day, or any other situation where you just want to read.

There is something about a new Mary Kay Andrews book that indicates summer is coming. Her novels always put me in that laid back summer mood. This book takes us to the Saint....a beach hotel that has been family owned. It is currently under the management of Traci Eddings who has put her heart and soul into the place ever since her husband's tragic passing. The hotel is floundering a bit so Traci decides to progressively hire an assortment of people, including her niece and the daughter of her former best friend. When tragedy strikes and scandals come to light, Traci has to fight even harder to keep the Saint going.

Andrews writes her characters like no other author I've read. They are fun, scandalous, and bursting with personality. I loved Traci and her messy crew. She has real grit and as events come to pass we see secrets uncovered and Traci comes to find out who she truly has in her corner. Not all the characters are lovable as they are not meant to be. As a reader, you love to hate them. The ending is super satisfying. You feel like you are right there in a beach chair sipping a drink and watching this all unfold. From the first page, this story grabs you. I couldn't stop reading as I wanted to see it all unfold.

I have been a long time fan of Mary Kay Andrews and this book is a perfect example of why. She's a storyteller and does such a great job of doing so. I highly recommend you pick this one up for your next beach read.

This book was simply average for me. While I did finish it, this plot was a bit all over the map for me and I found I wasn't wanting to reach for it often. I found the plot to be a bit repetitive at times and didn't hold my interest well. A good summer read but forgettable overall.