3.5⭐️

I’ve read and Mary Kay Andrews books previously, so I was excited to dive into Summers at the Saint. However, it wasn’t quite what I expected. Somehow, a lot was going on but little actually happened. It felt uneven and leaned a bit further into the murder mystery aspect than I’d expected. Still entertaining enough, just not quite as I’d hoped.

Thank you Mary Kay Andrews, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

It's been a long while since I've read one of Andrews novels. She kept my interest most of the time, however, it didn't have me itching to get back to it each time I was able. It was interesting to get the background of how a resort is run featuring a historic family enterprise and the idiosyncratic issues of each member of the family involved in keeping it running.

The main character Traci is a widow who was married to a son of the patriarch of the family who is now on his deathbed as this opens. Traci inherited her deceased husbands portion of the business, but her ruthless son-in-law butts heads with her throughout the novel. There are a couple of mysteries, past and present that are addressed, with some unforeseen resolutions, but nothing earth-shattering, in my humble opinion.

I'd give it a strong 3-star rating, and did finish it. The epilogue wraps things up nicely. My thanks to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the pre-release e-ARC and provide an honest opinion of this work.

"Summer at the Saint" by Mary Kay Andrews is a great beach read! Andrews delivers a story rich with contrasts between social classes, personal challenges, and deep-seated secrets.

Dive into the lives of Traci and Shannon, best friends whose summer jobs at the upscale St. Cecilia Resort change everything for them. Traci marries the boss's son, Hoke, but then years later becomes a widow and inherits the resort. Her best friend Shannon is a single mom who hasn’t spoken to her in 20 years.

Lives full of secrets, a shocking revelation brings the two back into contact. While it isn’t a great reunion, they eventually find themselves working together to solve the mystery and save the resort.

This book mixes drama and romance in just the right amounts, making it a perfect read for those looking to lose themselves in a world of luxury, heartache, and hidden pasts.

Grab this book for an exciting mystery getaway!

Summers at the Saint is expected to be published May 7, 2024

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this eARC.

Family feuds, staffing issues, and deadly secrets at a summer resort

On an island off the Georgia coast sits an elegant summer resort, the Saint Cecilia, built and run by the Eddings family in the 1920’s. There is a definite divide between the wealthy people who are members and guests of the Saint and the townspeople of neighboring Bonaventure….you are either a “Saint” or an “Ain’t”, and ne’er the twain shall meet. Traci was definitely an Ain’t, until the summer of 2002 when she worked as a lifeguard at the Saint alongside her best friend Shannon and fell in love with Hoke Eddings. The tragic drowning of Hudson, the eight year old son of a guest at the resort, marred the summer and ended the girls’ friendship….people blamed Shannon for the tragic accident, while Traci ended up marrying Hoke. Twenty years later, Hoke has died and Traci is running the resort while her brother-in-law Ric runs the real estate division. They don’t get along (they never have) and when Traci convinces her niece Parrish (Ric’s daughter) to run the front desk for the coming summer, Ric is furious. But Traci is desperate; it is becoming impossible to find quality workers in the post-COVID world, especially when nearby housing is so expensive that workers can’t afford to live there. Even after coming up with some creative solutions, the business is still in a precarious position. Something is wrong at the Saint, and someone will die before the truth will be discovered.
Summers at the Saint is, like author Mary Kay Andrews’ previous novels, an entertaining read. Traci is an appealing character to whom I could readily relate. She is the girl from the wrong side of the tracks (or in this case, the wrong side of the causeway) who found love with the wealthy and privileged Hoke, but lost him all too soon. She is left with a family who never thought she was good enough for them but has to endure her. She is close to her niece Parrish, which just causes more problems between Traci and Ric, and has never understood why her friend Shannon cut her out of her life even though they live so close to one another. What happened during the summer of 2002 is still a mystery on several levels, and in the present day things aren’t going well at the Saint. Traci has plenty of problems on her hands, which escalate beyond what she would ever have imagined…but help from Whelan, a man who has arrived in the area with his own agenda, may give her a second chance at love. The story moves along quickly, and readers who are suspicious by nature (as I am) will sense that no one is quite what they seem to be. Readers of authors like Elin HIldebrand, Susan Mallory and Nancy Thayer will enjoy this tale of love, family drama, the haves vs the have nots and the dark side of the service industry. Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for allowing me access to an early copy of this great summer read….grab your beach towel and sunscreen, and enjoy the ride!

I didn’t know what to expect picking up this book. What a pleasant surprise! What starts as a fun beach read, slowly transforms into a thriller with twists and turns. As you read, you slowly learn more about the Eddings’ history and unsolved mysteries of The Saint. Overall, a fun read!

DNF, unfortunately I couldn’t get through this one. I previously enjoyed Mary Kay Andrew’s’ book, but this one fell flat and was a bit of a snooze for me. I struggled to get through the small bit that I did, but couldn’t keep going to finish it. Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

I have come to love books crafted by Mary Kay Andrews. This one was a nice and easy read ... though a little bit on the raunchy side for my taste. A little bit of romance and a lot of family drama and a murder mystery thrown into the mix. That makes for a fun time getting lost in the story. I had a good idea what was really going on, so I wasn’t surprised by the ending. But it will had lots of twists and turns and random storylines that keep you interested. The characters were well developed with lots of personalities ... devious, naive and gullible, truly invested in doing what is best for everyone ... and the way Traci works so hard to make The Saint Cecelia a working classy resort kept my attention. While touted as a summer beach read, this is one that would be enjoyed any day of the year.

Another delightful read from Mary Kay Andrews! I look forward to her next adventure in the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews is another hit for me by this author. I started the book without reading the publisher's blur, so I didn't realize going in that it would be a pretty involved mystery. That was a fun surprise, one that had me wondering throughout 'who done it' in all of the twists and turns. The story follows CEO Traci Eddings as she does her best to keep her swanky resort "The Saint" afloat amid a murder, drowning, fire, greedy family members, nefarious employees, and a little bit of romance. The setting sounds beautiful and MKA does a great job of painting a picture to be imagined in my mind with well-fleshed out characters. This book held my interest throughout, I fully enjoyed it!

Traci Eddings hasn’t always been part of The Saint’s “in crowd,” but while she was working there in high school she met and married the son of the owners of the prestigious resort. After his death she has tried to do her part to bring The Saint back to its glory days. With staff shortages, budget issues and an unexpected murder investigation, Traci is struggling. With the help of a couple employees Traci will give her all to make her deceased husband proud.

You can always count on Andrews to give us a fantastic summer read that is full of mystery and suspense. This one has tons of characters, but each is utilized and needed for the plot. I thought it was fantastic!

I devoured Summers at the Saint and now have to pick my jaw up from the ground by being so shocked! This was the first book I read by Mary Kay Andrews and I can’t wait to read other works by her.

I don’t normally like third person narratives but MKA’s story had me dying to know what happened. There was lots of family drama, some romance and murder to solve. The multiple storylines added incite and complexity that made me keep reading. At first all the characters names and roles confused me, but it added a unique perspective to the story.

Traci Eddings runs the high-end hotel ever since her husband passed away. There are many challenges of continuing the family legacy especially after the pandemic. Traci and her employees work to make their guests happy as well as solve a murder that happened on the property. You think you know someone, but can you really trust them?

This book was a fun read and made me wish I was reading by the pool at the Saint. Perfect if you like a summer read with an added murder mystery to keep you engaged.

Something I really loved about Summers at the Saint were the varying points of view. I think that this really added to the overall story and the way it was told. It was not at all confusing or too many. There want a dual timeline and yet we still got a story from the past that intertwined with the current ongoings. And the pacing gave a little away here and there until that all led to the big reveals. Solid writing, likable characters, and good plot.

Thank you NetGalley, St Martins Press and Mary Kay Andrews for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tracie is working hard to ensure her late husband’s family resort, The Saint, returns to its glory and success while dealing with low staff, a sleazy brother-in-law and high operational costs.

The first few chapters were meeting all the different players in the story and at first it felt like it would be hard to keep them straight but the storyline was engaging and easy to follow.

This story had turns I didn’t expect, the blurb doesn’t do it even hint at so much that’s in the book which is great however it was advertised as a romance which is a VERY small aspect of this book.

I don’t love to compare to other authors but this was my first time reading a Mary Kay Andrews book and it reminded me of Elin Hilderbrand.

Overall, a quick and entertaining read. 3.5 rounded up to 4.

This book had me guessing right up until the very end. Traci is CEO of the Saint, an exclusive gated resort in town who is struggling to keep the hotel afloat after the pandemic. So she thinks up an idea to build a dorm on the property to help find staff and stop losing good people to other resorts. As the dorm fills up with staff, we are introduced to so many characters with challenges they are facing as they start work at the Saint. During the summer a death occurs at the hotel, and then everyone is trying to figure out how they died. This investigation, also brings back memories of a death on the property 20 years ago. There were so many great characters, beautiful scenery, and a compelling mystery. A great beach read! I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

Mary Kay Andrews, the queen of beach reads, returns following Bright Lights Big Christmas with her annual captivating beach read, SUMMERS AT THE SAINT —a distinguished coastal resort with dark secrets of the past colliding with the present in this cozy murder mystery and more!

Welcome to the Saint Cecelia, a stunning landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia.

Traci Eddings grew up admiring the grand hotel, considering it a fairy castle called The Saint. The first time she stepped on the property was when she was thirteen, when Meredith, a new girl from school, invited her to a birthday party.

The rich kids were called Saints. Those not were just Ain'ts. Her family was an outsider, neither wealthy nor connected enough to vacation at the resort. But she had always wanted to work there. She did so and wound up marrying the owner's son, Hoke.

Now Traci is widowed and has inherited the resort. She has a grand vision to return it to its early glory days but has been thrown into financial woes, staff shortages, and family drama.

Is there more than meets the eye at this coastal island resort? However, she must contend with her greedy brother-in-law, who would love to see her fail. She has one summer to turn it around.

Traci hires a crew for the summer, including the daughter of her estranged best friend. She also recruits her niece Parrish and several new employees to live in a newly renovated dorm since housing is so expensive on the island while keeping the hotel afloat. Plus, it makes them more attractive to provide housing. (Old Edwards Inn properties also offer this in Highlands, NC, which makes sense since there is no affordable housing there.)

Then, a strange death occurs during a party which raises eyebrows and other suspicions at The Saint, and it all falls back on Traci since it was her idea for the dorm. Is there a murderer among them or someone from the outside?

We learn more about Traci and her estranged friend, Shannon (there is background history here), who despises the Saint and does not want her daughter working there. We meet five employees who all live together at the dorm and are all witnesses to the death.

Then, the girls do a little sleuthing to try and discover the web of deceit that may lead to the murder.

A mystery of the past meets the present regarding a tragic drowning of one of their own at the hotel. What other secrets has The Saint been hiding or covering over the years? Will the hotel survive with all the bad press and media?

Told from POVs: Traci, Olivia (Livvy), Parrish, Shannon, Felice, KJ, Garrett, and Whelan. (2002/past and present)

CAPTIVATING! When you start reading a MKA book, you must set aside the time and prepare for an adventure. Her books are always fresh and clever, well-written with vivid settings, well-developed characters, a heartwarming story, a great mystery, and a takeaway message. SUMMERS AT THE SAINT draws you in and hooks you from the first page to the last.

A mix of historical, murder mystery, coming of age, mothers and children, women's fiction, contemporary, nostalgia, humor, suspense, romance, literary, and a must-read beach read, all in one!

From dark secrets of the past and scandals to those who want to keep them buried. The novel will take you back to those summer days at hotels, motels, and when you were a teen.

I am a huge fan of Mary Kay and have read all her books. Whether for summer or holiday, they are always entertaining and full of heart with her signature style and wit.

From the stunning front cover to the cast of characters, SUMMERS AT THE SAINT reminded me a bit of Red Oaks (TV series), which is hilarious set in the 80s—(fav) a coming-of-age set at The Red Oaks Country Club with all the teens with their last summer before college; employees, parents, summer flings, scandal, and more (not a hotel), but with the same drama.

AUDIOBOOK: I read the book and listened to the spectacular audiobook! As always, MKA and Kathleen McInerney (a favorite narrator) are a match made in heaven. I laughed so hard that I was glued to my iPhone for hours and could not put it down. Her distinct voice was perfect for all the multi-voices and highly impressive. I loved the audiobook and highly recommend it.

As a VP of Regional Sales, Marketing, and Design for large hotels and resorts for many years, and later a consultant for inns, cottages, resorts, and vacation rentals. I always enjoy reading stories about coastal historical hotels, resorts and the hospitality business.

A #1 Beach Read Pick from a master Southern storyteller! A summer favorite. Get SUMMERS AT THE SAINT on your TBR list. Beach bag ready! I loved the Epilogue one year later. No one does summer like MKA! Always the best summer and holiday stories. Perfect for your upcoming Memorial Weekend getaway or at home in a comfy chair—allow the novel to transport you.

Thanks to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for a digital e-book reading copy, St. Martins Press for a stunning paperback copy, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening audio copy. #SMPInfluencers

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My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: May 7, 2024
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(4.5⭐️) This book had everything I wanted and more! The fancy resort setting was vividly described and felt very summery to me. I also loved that we got the POVs of multiple employees, and saw different aspects of the resort through their jobs; we’re introduced to everyone within the first few chapters, but it was easy to get the hang of who was who and keep everything straight. The setting and multiple employee POV reminded me a lot of The Hotel Nantucket, which I also loved.

The mystery plot definitely drove the story, but there was some romance here and there that I enjoyed, as well as moments that had me laughing out loud. There were several twists I didn’t see coming, and the last 1/4 had me on the edge of my seat, not stopping until I knew how everything ended. There were a lot of intertwined pieces to the story, and I think they wrap up nicely at the end. This was the perfect book to read heading into the summer season, and would make a great beach/pool read.

"The Saint" is the Saint Cecilia resort on the Georgia coast, a family-run hotel that has been around for decades. As teenagers, locals Traci and Shannon worked as lifeguards at the pool until their paths diverged after the summer of 2002. Traci married the younger son of the family that owns that resort and she now runs the place, while Shannon finished nursing school despite being a single mother. Their paths cross again when Traci hires Shannon's daughter, Olivia (Livvy) to work at the Saint, offering her a job as well as a room in the newly built employee dorm, along with Traci's niece, one other long-term employee, and two more new hires. With her father-in-law near death, Traci has to navigate her greedy brother-in-law's attempts to push her out of the family business while also trying to bring the Saint back to financial solvency, deal with a stranger who seems intent on digging into a drowning that happened at the Saint over 20 years ago (while Shannon and Traci were the lifeguards on duty), and deal with the suspicious death of someone close to her. Told from multiple perspectives, including Traci's, the plot weaves mystery and a bit of romance into a story I found hard to put down. The characters are well drawn and the interesting, and I cared what happened to them. I (for one) was surprised to learn what really happened with respect to the "mystery components" of the story, not because the outcomes were unlikely but because I'd missed some of the masterfully placed clues. I predict this will be one of the summer's hottest beach reads!

Traci Eddings is a widow who runs the five star hotel and resort called "The Saint." Once an A'int, Traci married heir Hoke Eddings and has put her life and soul into the Eddings family legacy. When Traci needs help at the resort she decides to hire Livvy, her former best friends daughter, and Felice a down on her luck chef. She also gets stuck with KJ, a grandson of a member of the resort. With the addition of already staff member Garrett, the four of them and Traci's niece, Parrish move into the college like housing provided for the staff. But this summer at The Saint turns out to be anything but a 5 star experience.

As a fan of Mary Kay Andrews other novels, this one did not disappoint! It had a little but of everything. Murder, plot twists, and romance. This story has a mix of vibrant and unique characters that each have a role in the events that unfold throughout the summer.

You'll love this story if you love
-Family secrets
-Murder mysteries
-Small romances
-Multiple characters

Thank you Mary Kay Andrews, Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for this E-ARC!

St Cecilia, a luxury five star resort on Georgia's coast, encompasses a fantastic backdrop for a cosy mystery steeped in tradition, class, and hushed up scandals!

Traci Eddings grew up as an Ain't--a working class of Boneparture. She marries into the prestigious Eddings family. But, when her sweet husband suddenly dies in a small plane crash, Traci is running the resort. And, a lot of people aren't happy about it.

With a mix of mystery and fun secondary character, the pages just fly on this fun beach read! It's just an absolute blast to read. The ending just kept me guessing until the very end!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the copy of the book. It's out May 7, 2024! It NEEDS to be in your beach bag this summer.

One of my favorite authors has done it again! Summers at the Saint is Mary Kay Andrews’ latest novel and in true MKA style, it is as good or better than her prior novels. They just keep getting better.

The story unfolds through multiple points of view while the characters are being introduced to the reader. The story then evolves through the lens of a third party. A little different approach from the author’s usual style, but it works very well and kept the narrative tight.

The characters are interesting and varied. I love how MKA is able to imbue fresh and diverse personalities into her characters and Summers contains an abundance of fully developed characters to both love and despise.

There are multiple storylines involving murder, embezzlement, romance, bribery and extortion. They are all neatly wrapped up in a cohesive package filled with surprising plot twists and more. Fans of MKA will not be disappointed. Five stars.

I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

Multiple POV, mystery, found family

Man! I was expecting a cutesy, found family banding together to save a hotel. However, things get VERY serious around the 30%mark and I was hooked on this mystery. There were so many threads and twists but the author did a good job tying it all up neatly in the end.