First of all – I love MKA. I always look forward to her books. However, this was a departure from her normal type of book. I love MK for her mysteries, her romances, the setting descriptions, and her southern charm. Unfortunately a lot of that was missing in this book. First of all the language in the book was astonishing! I am no prude, but the amount of F bombs that were strewn throughout this book was alarming. It really felt like MKA was trying too hard to reach a certain audience. Which ultimately, felt alienating. There was a lot going on in this book. Too many mysteries, too many characters, and too much foul language. I was thoroughly disappointed.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I went into it kinda blind, thinking it was a fluffy romance novel, but it was SO MUCH MORE! There was family drama, workplace drama, investigations, murder, and more! I love how intertwined several of the characters were. This book would make an awesome movie, I could picture scenes being played out while reading. I LOVED it!

A GREAT READ, This is a story about the saints and the Aints. Traci and Shannon were the very best of friends until there was a drowning at The Saint where Traci and Shannon were Lifeguards they both did everything they could to save him. Shannon got fired that day. Was this an easy way out for management getting rid of Shannon. You will have to read in to see. Traci married Hoke Eddings son of Fred , owner of the Saint' Hoke was killed in a plane crush so Traci took control of his share and ran the Saint. You must really read this book as there is so much going on that it is hard to write about it without spoilers. All of this author's books are very good but in my opinion , this is one is GREAT.

I went into this book thinking it would be a lighthearted summer read. I forgot that Mary Kay Andrews imbues her novels with twists and turns along with the humor. Summers at the Saint IS a great beach read that will keep you engaged, but it's a little darker than you might think. That's NOT a bad thing.
The Saint is a century-old hotel run by the Eddings family. Traci, a former "townie" who married into the formidable family, was always made to feel like an outsider. Now, after her husband's death four years ago, she's running the hotel and trying desperately to get back in the black after the pandemic. She's got some new young adults on her staff that are promising and she's optimistic. Until the secrets start being revealed.
I was hooked on this one, and some of those twists were a complete surprise to me. The characters are skillfully created, and the storyline goes deeper than I expected. Definitely pick this one up for your beach vacation - or if you just wish you were going on a beach vacation.

I could not have loved this book more! I’ve been reading MKA for the last few years and always find her novels a delight but this one kicked it up a notch. I totally did not think it would have as much mystery as it did and it surprised me in the best way. I love how she is able to make each story so unique and “Summer At The Saint” is no exception.

This book gives total beach vibes with a hint of romance and a ton of mystery. I could not stop reading and fell in love with all of the characters, especially Traci, who’s still recovering from her late husband’s death while trying to rebuild the hotel business after the pandemic. Reading this book was like watching a movie in my brain- the descriptions were so spot on, I imagined I was right there alongside the characters throughout the book.

This is definitely one to preorder and read immediately! 5/5 stars

This is Dirty Dancing meets Outer Banks with, as told in the story, the Saints vs. the Ain'ts as rivals in this island setting. There's summer fun, mystery, luxury and love.

Mary Kay Andrews has done it again, written an engaging story that was hard to put down. Traci Eddings grew up on the wrong side of town and felt drawn to the pretty pink building at The Saint from the first time she saw it as a little girl. Now as a widow, she runs the place following the tragic death of her husband four years ago. After the pandemic, business has been slower and it is harder to find new employees, so Traci comes up with some ideas to attract some. After a death occurred, there is a mystery to solve and plenty of suspicious activity to make it hard to figure out who did it along with a second chance at love.

DNF at 28%

The dialogue in this book was stilted and unnatural but I was pushing through it until the homophobic slur arrived and now I’m not going to continue. I wasn’t asked to be a sensitivity reader, but you should consider hiring one and removing the derogatory language.

While Mary Kay Andrews may never win the Nobel Prize for literature, she's definitely won the hearts of her readers for her enjoyable and oh so readable writing. Summers At the Saint is the story of Traci Eddings after she takes on management of "The Saint Cecilia" aka The Saint, an exclusive resort owned by the Eddings family located on a private island off the coast of Georgia. Traci is struggling with the issues all business owners face: revenue, expenses, staffing issues, etc. Over time, Traci works thru some issues but is faced with others. Tragedies occur. Secrets are exposed. Old friendships are renewed and new friendships/relationships are developed all in the beautiful island setting. An enjoyable story and well worth the time. I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. If you're a Mary Kay Andrews fan or even if you're not, you will enjoy this one.

Summers at the Saint intricately weaves suspense and southern charm against the backdrop of a picturesque resort. With vivid descriptions and an engaging plot, the author expertly crafts a tale of secrets, betrayal, and unexpected twists. From the moment the protagonist arrives at the resort, tensions escalate, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the final page. A gripping read that transports you to the sultry atmosphere of the South while keeping you guessing until the very end.

My first Mary Kay Andrews but it won't be my last. I really enjoyed this book. The story flowed and the ending tied everything up nicely. It was a quick, read as I wanted to know what happened and who did what.

I have some older MKA books in my TBR and I think they will be moving up on the list. I look forward to reading more of her books.

I received an Advanced reader copy through NetGalley. This book was filled with interesting characters. The setting was perfect. The Saints and the Aints working together for generations. There are stories from Traci and Shannon’s teen summers to present day. Family secrets, death, and the running of a grand hotel collide at The Saint. This is definitely a story I will be recommending!

A lot is going on in this story, family and friend drama with a dose of mystery. Traci married into the Eddings family even though she was an Ain't and shouldn't have married a Saint. Now her husband has died and she is trying to hold together the legacy of their hotel, The Saint, but since the pandemic, nothing has been right. Traci decides to open up staff housing and hires her picks bypassing her general manager. Her hires bring in most of the remaining cast of characters. These new hires set out to build a summer of fun and work but events keep taking unexpected turns.

The story is written from each of the main characters' point of view and the author can seamlessly move the reader from one person's perspective to the next without having the story feel choppy. Some parts of the mystery, I figured out while reading, but other parts I was surprised with at the end. Throughout the story, the characters find out truths about their past and they build new friendships or repair old ones. This is an easy read with suspense and a bit of romance on the side.

"Summer at the Saint" is a captivating tale set against the backdrop of the iconic St. Cecelia hotel on the Georgia coast. Mary Kay Andrews skillfully crafts a story of resilience, friendship, and redemption as Traci Eddings navigates the challenges of restoring the hotel to its former glory while contending with personal and professional obstacles. With its richly drawn characters and intricate plot, this novel is a delightful blend of humor, drama, and romance that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Andrews' vivid descriptions and keen observations of human nature make "Summer at the Saint" a beach read with depth and heart, perfect for those who enjoy immersive storytelling with a touch of mystery and nostalgia.

I did thoroughly enjoy a lot of parts of this book however I won’t say it’s a favourite of mine. First there was too many characters to keep track of and I felt like they lacked enough depth for you to remember half of them. Secondly while the cover might not give it away the main storyline of this book follows more of murder mystery vibe and not as much a beach side romance. The setting was still romantic and I definitely enjoyed it but I probably won’t recommend this to people.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was going to be a more beachy read but it was more a cozy murder mystery. It had a darker edge than I was expecting as well.

Pacing was spot on and characters were well-drawn out and the story kept me reading.

I would read this author again.

Summers at the Saint
Mary Kay Andrews
Publication Date: May 7, 2024
3.5 (rounded to 4)/5 stars

The Saint, a luxury hotel and family business, is run by Traci after her husband tragically passes away. This book is a murder mystery which is a little deceiving based on the cover. It is a little slow for the first half of the book but picks up for the second half. There are a lot of POVs that are hard to keep track of in the beginning but come together eventually. There were a few twists in the book that were unexpected and kept it interesting.

Thank you to Mary Kay Andrews, St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A perfect summer read! I loved the resort setting. I'm in the hospitality industry and it reminded me of places I've worked. There were a mix of POVs in the beginning which was a great way to meet the characters. I was intrigued by the multiple secrets/mysteries going on. Highly recommend!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy. This seemed a lot different that MKA’s previous books. There seemed to be a darker edge and a more mysterious component. While this kept my interest; it wasn’t my favorite book.

4.5 stars! MKA for me is a go to for summer reading. Summer at the Saint has more of a mystery feel but in true MKA fashion it does not disappoint. A must for your summer TBR A full review coming soon.