Summers at the Saint is the latest novel by veteran author Mary Kay Andrews. I am not usually a fan of what I think of as light and fluffy books, but over the last couple of years, I’ve developed an appreciation for this author’s work. This story centers on a fashionable beach resort hotel and those that run it, with the focus primarily on the women. It’s a good summer read—not a bad choice to take to the beach, actually. My thanks go to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the invitation to read and review. This book will be available to the public May 7, 2024.

Our protagonist is Traci Eddings, the young widow of Hoke Eddings, heir to the Saint Cecilia resort. Traci has inherited part of the business from her late husband, but there is a power struggle in play as the book opens. The old man is dying, and the surviving heirs are scheming. The business seems to be on the rocks, or near to it, and Traci can’t figure out why. She makes several smart changes, hires good people, and yet…

We have interesting side characters. Parrish is Traci’s niece, whom she persuades to postpone her studies for one more summer as Traci implements the changes that are needed. We have the new cook, Felice, as well as Livvy, a capable young woman that Traci hires away from the diner where she is waiting tables; and we have Livvy’s mother Shannon, who used to be Traci’s best friend. Shannon completely dumped Traci many years ago, leaving Traci bewildered and hurt; she still feels that way. Lastly we have Whelan, who is working at the Saint as a pretext while he tries to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of his younger brother at the resort’s pool many years ago.

The book’s strongest aspect is the side characters, particularly Felice, Shannon and Livvy. Other characters are one dimensional, either entirely good or entirely awful. Rather, this is a plot based book. There are a great many moving parts, with a blend of genres that include romance, mystery, beach reads, women’s fiction, and contemporary family drama. It is in weaving the many pieces of this story that Andrews’s experience shines through. If there is a plot element that conflicts with another, or that is simply illogical, I didn’t spot it. At the end, everything and everyone is accounted for; in fact, I might have preferred not to have every single aspect resolved, and every positive character quite so perfectly happy. I seldom argue in favor of ambiguity, but in this case, it wouldn’t hurt.

I was fortunate enough to receive both the Kindle and audio versions, and once more, Kathleen McInerney does a fine job of narration with all of the women characters and the internal monologue. Her voice isn’t deep enough to voice the men’s characters well, and I suggest adding a second, male narrator next time around.

The story held my attention quite nicely as I did my morning bike ride, and I recommend it to Andrews’s loyal readers, and to those that enjoy a good beach read.

An enjoyable read and perfect for summer! I enjoyed the found family aspect of the secondary characters, the reconnection of old friendships, and the lovely romance. I wasn’t expecting the murder mystery and the new look at a 20-year-old death, but they just added to the story. I enjoy Mary Kay Andrews and Summers at the Saint did not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Mary Kay Andrews for the eARC.

A fun and fast read that includes some sunshine, family drama, and a murder. Layers of characters that all work together at the same legendary hotel. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

"Summers at the Saint" by Mary Kay Andrews is an absolute gem of a story that captivated me from beginning to end! As a fan of suspenseful narratives, I was thrilled by the twists and turns that kept me eagerly flipping pages.

Andrews masterfully crafts a tale that goes beyond mere murder mystery, incorporating layers of family drama and a touch of romance. While it took me a moment to familiarize myself with the array of characters and their perspectives, the intricate plot quickly drew me in.

From the outset, the story brims with intrigue. Lifeguards Traci and Shannon find themselves amidst the affluent patrons of "The Saint Cecelia" resort, setting the stage for a compelling narrative. Years later, Traci's life takes a dramatic turn as she becomes entwined with the family that owns the resort, only to face unforeseen tragedy and the daunting task of managing the struggling hotel alone.

The combination of mystery, murky pasts, and the challenges of operating a luxury resort in a post-pandemic world adds depth to the storyline. Traci and her young team's efforts to uphold the resort's legacy while confronting suspicious occurrences make for a riveting read.

While the initial introduction of multiple viewpoints may seem overwhelming, once immersed in the story, it becomes an enjoyable journey. Andrews skillfully balances the suspenseful elements with the warmth of summer, creating an irresistible literary escape.

"Summers at the Saint" is the perfect vacation companion, transporting readers to a sun-soaked setting where they can unravel mysteries alongside Traci and her team. With its engaging plot and just the right amount of suspense, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking a delightful blend of mystery and summer ambiance.

I just love me a Mary Kay Andrews book - they are entertaining all the way through and really keep you on your toes! Summers at the Saint was no exception. There were definitely quite a bit of plot lines, but I never found them hard to keep up with and personally they kept me engaged. This is the perfect vacation/summer read & I enjoyed it so much!

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book officially publishes on 05/07/24!

3.75 Stars

Don’t let the cover fool you. This is not the laid-back beach read you might be expecting. Mary Kay Andrews weaves a tale of mystery, a balance of unsavory vs likable characters and of course, a little romance.

There are quite a few storylines in this one book, but it somehow worked for me. I enjoyed the back and forth, the mysteries that enfolded and trying to figure out how it would all come together. Crimes committed, long buried secrets, mending fences, wrongs righted. Another fun, quick read by MKA.

If you are looking for something different than the light beach read, give this book a try. Thanks to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

I’ll admit, this isn’t what I was expecting when I picked up Mary Kay Andrew’s newest summer read. I typically expect a beachy romance novel and instead found a novel packed with drama, mystery and scandal within a beach setting. I’m here for it though! I loved the depth it added to the story.

The Saint Cecelia hotel, also known as “the Saint”, is a hotel on the Georgia coastline with a deep family history and rich history of scandal. Growing up in this region either meant you were a “Saint” if your family had the means to visit the Saint, or an “ain’t”. Traci Eddings was an ain’t until she began working for the Saint as a teenager and later married into the family. Now that she is widowed and half owner of the Saint, she is trying to bring it back to life. She enlists the help of her niece, Parrish, and a crew of summer workers to live on hotel property, including the daughter of her estranged best friend. Summer heats up and so does the drama. Someone ends up dead and Traci uncovers a decades old mystery that happened at the Saint.

Summers at the Saint releases May 7, 2024.

5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley, Mary Kay Andrews, and St. Martin’s Press for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mary Kay Andrews doesn't disappoint in this book. It's a mystery with friendship, romance, and family as the foundation. Traci Eddings is trying everything in her power to keep The Saint operating during difficult times, and she's being tested in multiple directions. When someone close to her meets an unexpected fate, Traci's eyes open to possibilities she never wanted to acknowledge. While many of the surprises were predictable for me, it was still fun to experience their revelations and get confirmation that everyone got what they ultimately deserved in the end. A solid beach read that will get you hooked pretty quickly.

Thanks to NetGalley and SMP for the arc.

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews is a great story about the Saint Cecelia Resort and the many secrets of the past and present. This was an easy read, a great book to read at the beach. You get sucked into the novel and then don't want to come up for air because Andrews throws another twist you didn't see coming. I loved the complexity of each character and how their lives were entangled. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 Rating

This book was definitely a slow burn for me. It was over 400 pages which is about 100 pages longer than it needed to be. I have read only one other book from this author and I loved it so I had high expectations for this but it fell flat for me. I thought it was going to be a beachy love story by looking at the cover so I was not expecting the murder mystery aspect. Parts of it was predicable but there were a few twists that I didn't see coming. There were lots of background characters throughout the book so I was a bit confused at times trying to follow the side stories. I felt like the story dragged on a bit but overall it was ok. I would read more from this author since I loved the first book from her but this book was a disappointment.

Summers at the Saint is the latest book by Mary Kay Andrews. It’s a great beach read but it’s also a mystery too. It really has a little bit of everything to keep the reader interested and turning the pages. The only thing is, I thought the book was rather long. Traci, the main character, was at one time an employee at the Saint along with her best friend Shannon. While lifeguarding there was a drowning that has forever bothered both girls because they never could figure out exactly what went wrong. Traci ends up marrying into the family that owns the Saint but after a tragic accident she is left widowed and the sole operator of running the resort. After the pandemic, things have been rather slow so Traci hires several new employees and trie to make changes to get things back up to speed, to increase revenue but yet keep up with tradition. There is a lot of shady things that take place that kept me glued to the pages. There is a murder, drug and alcohol abuse, arson and a past rape that has a surprising aspect to the stories ending. There’s also a little romance that made it a fun and enjoyable read. And there’s a twist regarding the mix-up surrounding the murder victim that was a complete surprise to me. I sure didn’t see that coming. I also thought the stories ending couldn’t have been more perfect. I was so happy that Traci was finally going to get everything she had ever really wanted. It was her happily ever after! This was a great read and it’s a book I’ll be recommending to others. I’d like to thank Kejana Ayala, Marketing Coordinator @ St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the widget and invite to read and NetGalley for the arc. I really enjoyed this, I’m giving it a 4 star rating and I look forward to reading more by Mary Kay Andrews in the future.

I love to jump into a good Mary Kay Andrews, and this one delivers. I thought I was picking up a cute beach read and it turned into a murder mystery in the best way possible. There are a lot of characters in this book to keep up with, as we have an entire hotel staff and some guests, but it was all laid out well and easy to keep up with, as the book will constantly hold your attention. I really liked Traci and some of the other side characters in the book. I saw many things coming and predicted several things that were going to happen, but I was slightly off on a few things…so I love when a book gets me like that. I couldn’t stop and had to know what was going on. Highly recommend putting this on your summer reading list!

Bottom Line: Read it!

Releases May 7, 2024

**I received a copy of Summers at the Saint from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

Another good summer mystery/southern read from Mary Kay Andrews. I loved that this one was based on the family and extended family of the rich and well off. There's a lot of tragedy, horror, and deadliness to keep you interested in the story with the touches of southern life and romance to soften the blows and lull you into the story. It was great!

Thank you Netgalley, St-Martin’s Press and the author.
I have read a few novels by this author and I have always enjoyed them.
Mary Kay Andrews puts in the novel part love story, part intrigue, murder, unlovable characters as well as lovable ones, all set on a resort for the rich.
I totally enjoyed it and could not put it down.
Thank you for another great story
Recommend
4 stars

Mary Kay Andrews does it again! This book was full of fun, mystery, and it was just delightful. I was a little worried at the beginning when multiple character were introduced. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep them all straight. But unlike other books with multiple characters, the characters are easy to remember and are integrated into the story well. I loved the story of the Saint and the members and guest who stayed there. Overall I give this book 5/5⭐️

Not what I was expecting from a Mary Kay Andrews summer beach read but I was still here for it. Twisty, with secrets, lies, murder mysteries, female friendships, love interests, reunions, inheritance fights and so much more!! I loved the setting at a Resort hotel with a long history, the flashbacks to the past and the new drama in the present. Suspenseful and entertaining, this is a great book for mindless fun this summer!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This book started off as literary fiction and ends up being a murder mystery. Two cases, one that happened about 20 years ago and one in the present all happening at the Saint. This book was such a fun read and will be easily devoured while sitting on the beach during the summer.

When the new MKA book lands on my porch, I feel like summer is not far away ☀️
Thank you @ stmartinspress for the gifted copy of Summers at the Saint {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 5.7.2024
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I read my first Mary Kay Andrews book, and now I am such a fan of her books. They always have just the right amount of everything—romance, mystery, friendship, found family, and, of course, a little family drama. Summers at the Saint was no exception. 

With every new book from MKA, I promise myself that I will savor every page. But there was just something about Summers at the Saint that had me devouring page after page. I stayed up too late and woke up eager to start reading where I left off. It was just one of those stories that provided the perfect distraction from life, and I didn’t want it to end. 

🔎 Mystery
🍑 Georgia Hotel
☺️ Found Family
🫶🏼 Perfect ending

⚠️ sexual assault

Summers at the Saint will pair perfectly with a summer vacation or backyard staycation. But, really, it would also pair perfectly with a rainy day - you can’t go wrong with this one!

3.5 rounded up!

I loved how Mary Kay Andrews was able to bring together beachy, murder mystery, and romance all in one book. I enjoyed the main and supportive characters and felt like each page brought out another layer that I had not expected. I was curious to know more each chapter I read. Some things were pretty obvious so I would have hoped for a little more mystery there, but at the end I got all the mystery I didn't even think of. I wish there was more to the Hunter mystery. I do feel like that part kind of fell flat in the end with so much suspense leading up to it. This is more of a murder mystery, although there is a small section of romance. I came into thinking there would be more romance. I love romance and mysteries so this was the perfect read for me. I know sometimes bringing in so many characters can confuse people, but I always write them down and then reference back because it really does add that extra suspense in a story. The more details in a book, the better. Mary Kay Andrews really knows how to bring the settings to life. I would recommend if you love thriller/mystery with a hint of romance.

First, I would like to thank Netgalley and Macmillan Audio promotions for the complimentary copies that allow me to read and listen to this book.
"The Saint" was a five star hotel resort along the coast of Georgia who by their prestigious and wealthy clientele and members has set the bar of who really are the "saints" and the "ain'ts". Traci had once dream of becoming of the saints and that became true when she married one of the sons of the owner. Running the operations of the resort alongside her husband has become Traci's passion until a tragedy has left her widowed and alone in the operations. Like most of the business, pandemic has dragged the financial stability of the resort on a rocky status and Traci must think of ways fast on how to get above by the opening of the summer season. But, there were mysterious happenings in the resort such as death and inside robbery. What must Traci do?
I was really hooked from the very start of this book. It has the set of quirky and fun characters that makes you decide whose side you will be on. The cozy mystery happening is just the icing on the cake. I must admit that I kinda predicted about thirty percent into the book of how the storyline is going to turn out but the way Mary Kay Andrews reveal each and every scenario has keep me on my toes and that was the best part that I love along with everything else. The narration by Kathleen Mcinerney was awesome! It is a fast read and perfect for the summer!