This is probably MKA’s best book yet! Set on the coast of Georgia, the St Cecelia hotel has been in the Eddings family for several generations. Traci is the widowed owner of “the Saint” as it’s called by the locals, and has about one season to reverse the downward projection of the landmark. She hires an unlikely crew to staff the hotel and refurbishes and old building for a dorm for them to live in. A series of set-backs and conflicts with her in-laws make her job harder but she manages to shoulder through. I was surprised to find mystery in this book as that’s not usual for MKA but I love it. This is a mystery with a side of romance and lots of twists and turns. I recommend this women's fiction/romance to all women. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review Summers at the Saint on NetGalley.

Published: 05/07/24

Stars: 2.5

Disappointing.

This simple cozy story had potential. This could have been a fun summer read for all ages if Andrews had written to her cover audience. I was looking for a book to recommend for vacation travel, and at over 400 pages this looked good.

Cozy, beach, summer fun mysteries don't have layered profanity. Andrews added these words for a word count? I have never read a review where I could audibly feel relief while hearing yes! there is swearing throughout the book. I have never seen a comment praising an author for dropping F words.

The story itself was all over the place. It really felt like a young person's first submission to publish. The characters never fully developed. The ending went on for what felt like hundreds of pages. Once the a reveal is made I like for a story to round up quickly; that is personal preference.

I appreciated how Olivia's Mom lived and the choices she made.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This story follows a resort that is struggling. For the summer, a bunch of new people are hired and you follow along for the ride through the summer.

I did not like the book itself. I did like the resort setting and the summer atmosphere. I also think the cover is great.

I felt like there were too many backstories and characters to follow. I just felt a bit bored throughout. I didn't really connect with anyone or the story itself. I wish it would've only followed a few characters instead of all of them.

I hope others love this book but it was not for me.

Who wouldn’t want to be a guest at the Saint?

The exclusive resort was only affordable to the rich, but the next best thing would be to work there.

But was it the best place to work?

Traci worked there in the summers as a teenager, met the owner’s son, married him, and is now running the place since her husband was killed in an airplane accident.

It all sounds wonderful, but things happened when Traci was a teenager and things are happening now.

Murder, mystery, great characters, behind-the-scenes scams, cunning characters, and all of it wrapped up for another wonderful, can't-put-down read by Mary Kay Andrews.

Don’t forget to pack this in your beach bag or even for reading on your back porch.

You won't want to miss it.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was fun! I mean, come on, it’s a new MKA so we all know we’re gonna love it! A little mystery thrown in and some romance! Always a pleasure and an honor to read a new one from this author! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this early copy for read and review

This is a story that revolves around a landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia. It has been around for years and has a reputation of attracting wealthy people/people of a certain class. The book goes back and forth between things that happened when two characters; Traci and Shannon were working in their late teens as lifeguards and to present day where Traci is running The Saint and trying to keep it operable after her husband dies. Many things seem to be going wrong and there are a few mysteries to figure out.

My thoughts....I have enjoyed this author's previous books and while I did like this book, I had a hard time feeling invested in the characters stories. There were several characters and I was confused about what was really happening until around the 50% mark. Overall, it is a good read, but had too many characters, too many different storylines, and the "romance" seemed off to me.

3.5 stars but rounding up to 4 stars on GR.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews.
Publication Date: May 7, 2024
Romance, Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary, Chick Lit

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews is an absolute hit! This book has a little bit of everything- a current day murder mystery, a death from the past being investigated, colleagues at a hotel trying to navigate friendships, a widow trying to find her way in her deceased husbands family business, and much, much more. There’s family drama, found family, past trauma, and some amateur sleuthing at work. And of course, you get your HEA! You are in for a real treat with this one!

Highly, highly recommend picking this one! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you for this advanced copy!

I was looking forward to another one of Mary Kay’s summer beach reads, and I will admit… I judged a book too hard by its cover. This wasn’t what I was expecting, and while I adore Mary Kay’s writing, I would encourage people to save this for after a trip to the beach.

This novel will have you cheering for the underdogs! Only the rich are welcome at the Saint hotel, until an ain’t marries into the wealthy family who owns the Saint. Betrayal, deceit, and the past come together to create a wonderfully woven story. Will the Saint’s bottom line be helped by the current summer season or will the bad guys crush the dreams.

Thank you NetGalley and Mary Kay Andrews and team for this ARC.

“Summers at the Saint” by Mary Kay Andrews is a captivating novel set against the backdrop of the St. Cecelia, a landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia. Here’s a glimpse of what awaits you in this delightful read:

The St. Cecelia, affectionately known as “the Saint,” is a place where traditions run deep and scandals run even deeper. Whether you’re a “Saint” (someone who grew up vacationing here) or an “Ain’t” (from the wrong side of the river), the hotel holds secrets and memories for all. Traci Eddings, once an outsider, now owns the hotel after marrying the boss’s son. Determined to restore its former glory, she faces staff shortages, financial troubles, and a conniving brother-in-law who wants her to fail. Traci enlists a motley crew of recently hired summer help, including the daughter of her estranged best friend. Together, they have one season to turn the hotel around.

There is mystery, tragedy, romance and redemption. Mary Kay Andrews weaves warmth, humor, and twists into this beach read with depth and heart.

Whether you’re a cozy mystery lover or simply seeking a captivating tale, “Summers at the Saint” promises an engaging journey through love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit. 🌊📚✨

This was a fun summer read. Vacation vibes, and a few mysteries as well as characters that I enjoyed spending time with.

Summers At The Saint is the perfect start of the summer type of book. It is a refreshing fiction with a combination of mystery and love..
Traci runs The Saint and has since her husband passed away in a tragic accident. While she loves what she does she is constantly bothered by her brother in law who resents her. While hiring summer help she inadvertently hires her ex best friend’s daughter who will share a dorm with her niece and two others.
The Saint is a wonderful book that answers unresolved issues from the past and renews a long lost friendship. It is full of twists and turns that keep you guessing what is coming next .
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy for my opinion.

Looking at the cover and title I expected a book about summer and the beach. Was not expecting the twist that came and was thoroughly invested in the book. Kind of had an Outer banks feel so I was hooked. A delightful read and a goond one to have in your beach bag for the beach or the pool. Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for a review.

3.5 ⭐️ This was definitely different than my normal read, but I had so much fun reading it! I felt like I was reading a TV show that had all the great aspects of a murder mystery and romance wrapped into one! This was my first Mary Kay Andrew’s book, but it definitely won’t be my last! This was a great pallet cleanser in between my normal reads and such a quick, fun, and easy read!

This was an advanced read copy I received through Netgalley so it’s not going to be officially published until May 7, 2024! But this is my honest review!

Hotel owner Traci Eddings has committed herself to keeping the Saint afloat after her husband's death. When tragedy strikes the Georgia coast, Traci and her employees find themselves on the case as they try to save the resort - and themselves.

This is a great beach read. The blurb and cover depict it as a classic summer novel, but it is largely a whodunnit with a scenic background. It's a tad long for its genre and a bit all over the place at times, but overall, it's a fun read and struck the right balance for me of being mysterious and suspenseful while not being overly dark.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: ⭐⭐⭐ | 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥: 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 & 𝐸-𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀

ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞: 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚, 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲, 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫, 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐞𝐭𝐜. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭, 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭. 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐭𝐚𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞.

𝐈 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞-𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 (𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐜𝐈𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐎𝐕𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝑀𝒶𝓇𝓎 𝒦𝒶𝓎 𝒜𝓃𝒹𝓇𝑒𝓌𝓈, 𝒮𝓉. 𝑀𝒶𝓇𝓉𝒾𝓃’𝓈 𝒫𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓈, 𝑀𝒶𝒸𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒶𝓃 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.

After the death of her beloved husband in a plane crash, Tracy is left to deal with her grief and replace her husband running the family’s resort. While she has been successful professionally, she has not moved on privately. When another devastating personal tragedy occurs, Tracy is determined to find out what is going on at the Saint. With the help of a new employee with an agenda of his own, Tracy is able to find answers and a reason to move on with her life.

I am a huge fan of Ms Andrews’ books. Although I certainly enjoyed this book, it is not one of my favorites. As in her other books, Ms. Andrews introduces a very likable heroine who is dealing with personal hardship. I think the difference for me, is how overwhelming Tracy’s loss felt. Also, this book reads more like a mystery—which I love—but the solution seemed a bit obvious.

The story presented an intriguing array of special characters, adding depth and uniqueness to the narrative. Despite its length, the plot remained captivating, holding my attention from beginning to end. While I didn't establish a personal connection with the story, I found myself immersed in its intricate details and compelling storyline. Each paragraph unfolded with a sense of purpose, weaving together various elements to create a rich tapestry of events. Although the characters felt distant at times, their development was carefully crafted, adding layers of complexity to the overall plot. Overall, it was a well-executed tale that offered an enjoyable and immersive reading experience.

The Saint, as it's known, is a summer destination resort community with all of the amenities, but it's been struggling with new competition in the area. Traci is doing everything she can to keep up appearances by hiring new help, maintaining the facilities, and attending to the guests and members. Convincing her niece to help her run it, things are going well, till odd occurrences start popping up.
When an unexpected death occurs, it's reminiscent of an incident years ago. Getting to the bottom of it unearths betrayal, pitting family against family, the community in fear, and secrets from the past. The deeper the investigation, the more questions there are, and the unraveling gives way to shocking revelations. With twists and unexpected turns, this book will leave you gasping for air as you sip your favorite drink by the pool.
This book has it all: a little romance, lots of intrigue, dead bodies, unsolved mysteries, and the perfect coastal setting. It's the consummate summer read to put in your beach bag.

I chose to get an ARC if this book based on the description. It reminded me of the Hulu show Saint X, which is a drama/mystery/summer vacay tv show.

Although it wasn’t the same storyline, I still kept getting the same vibes which helped the setting while reading this book and really immersed me. I really love the variety of themes mixed into this story. It was really a great balance, enough to keep you happy yet at the edge of your seat wanting more. You get the drama from family issues, you get struggle, suspense and mystery secrets and murder, and don’t forget you get the beachy vibes. Honestly I’m surprised this book didn’t feel all over the place, even with different situations and themes I really enjoyed it. I think the romance, deep history, and murder aspect mixed with the beach vibes lifted the story up and giving it a delicate balance which is difficult to achieve.

The only reason why this book didn’t get 5 stars is because some of the characters were a little annoying, which normally doesn’t bother me but they were just too much at times.