Summertime, beach resort, romance, mystery…and murder. What a treat to read an #NetGalley advanced reader copy (ARC) of SUMMERS AT THE SAINT by Mary Kay Andrews!

It was a light, easy-read story with twists and turns you won't see coming. Filled with juicy secrets, family discord, shady deals, murder, past indiscretions, strong females, misplaced trust, new employees with all their "baggage," and a side dish of romance, you'll need to set aside time for this one. Once you start it, you'll put everything else on hold. A MUST for your 2024 summer reading!

Just when you think you understand everything going on, MKA throws in a new twist. At first I was concerned about the large cast of characters and keeping them straight. Silly me. The writing was in the hands of a MASTER. Not only could I keep them straight, they were all necessary to the story.

The perfect beach suspense read with a large cast of characters, an idyllic beach resort setting, and a propulsive mystery.

This bright and cheery cover includes my favorite summer color combination of team and pinks, which happens to be the color palate of the luxurious St. Cecelia resort on the coast of Georgia. Still run by the founders family, the resort is steeped in tradition and secrets. As the local area's largest employer, the resort brings together a variety of characters from members, hotel guests, chefs, golf pros, servers, and housekeepers. In order to provide affordable on-island housing to local workers, resort CEO, Traci Eddings converts the golf cart shack into a new dorm-like living situation. Traci is trying to creatively figure out ways to solve the resorts fledging financial woes, but then new information about a long-ago drowning at the hotel and a tragic death of one of their own staff threatens to bring down Traci's late-husband's family dreams.

Mary Kay Andrews is the queen of bringing a diverse cast of characters to life, and Summers at the Saint is the perfect example. I loved the short chapters that bounced between the multiple POVs, realistically showing all aspects of resort life. Scandals and secrets from decades ago to the present kept the plot propulsive, and had me rooting for Traci and her allies against corruption and greed. With a great blend of humor, suspense, and romance, this page-turn is sure to be a summer blockbuster for a variety of readers!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my e-arc in exchange for my honest review. I will be sharing on my social accounts on pub week!

MKA is the queen of summer reads for me .Grad a cocktail and your book for the beach .This book had so many characters with different personalities.This was romance and mystery all combined into this book .It is a must read for this summer .As akways she did not disappoint me .

What a fun ride! Multiple POVs, an engrossing plot, and twist and turns along the way. If you ever want a beach read that’s more than the typical cozy romance, you want to add a little suspense and murder mystery, I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this gifted eARC!

Another winner from Mary Kay Andrews. This was an enjoyable book, full of romance and suspense. The book was a great summer read, easy to get into, and it held my interest.
The plot twist at the end was so unexpected, but a great finish to the book. I highly recommend this book.

The Saint Cecilia is an exclusive resort in GA, holding lots of secrets. This is not the lighthearted beach read that the cover suggests- as it is part detective/crime novel dealing with drugs, assault, and lots of drama.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC copy -- reviews are my own

Suspense, mystery and romance all set at a beachside resort --who could want more ?

In it's hay day The Saint was an upper class resort that Traci Eddings always fantasized about and as a teenager worked at the hotel and married the owner's son. After his tragic death, she inherits the now failing and troubled resort and his troubled family too. She is determined to bring The Saint back to its glory days and make her husband and his family proud. But staffing issues and a long ago death at the hotel may threaten that. Can Traci revive The Saint and repair her broken heart? Can Traci find peace and happiness again at The Saint ?

Delightful characters and a captivating setting make this the perfect summer read

Also Reviewed on Goodreads and BookBub

Something about this book just didn’t work for me. It was still a good book but I could never connect with the characters the way I usually can with Andrew’s books. I’ve loved many of her past books so I look forward to trying more of them in the future.

Everyone refers to the St. Cecelia as “the Saint.” If you grew up vacationing 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.

Told with Mary Kay Andrew’s trademark warmth and humor, Summers at the Saint is a beach read with depth and heart. This one needs to be in your beach bag this summer! #SummersattheSaint #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthors

Mary Kay Andrews remains the queen of my summer reading! She once again paints a story of richly drawn characters against a lush and sun-dappled backdrop. Although I can practically feel the sun on my shoulders while reading this book, I can also feel the tension between my shoulder blades as the layered plotlines are revealed - fraught relationships, a struggling business in a post-pandemic world, and <gasp> an old murder mystery! This book is packed with all of the ingredients for the perfect beach read, and I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to kick off this season with Summers at the Saint!

Thank you to NetGalley, Mary Kay Andrews, and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to start my summer vacation early in return for my honest review.

This was my first non-holiday book by Mary Kay Andrews and WOW! I went into this expecting a light, summer read and I was so surprised in a good way. Somehow this was a light, summer read but so much more. I loved the setting of the Saint and the beach vibes you got throughout but greatly appreciated the depth of the plot and almost thriller fell I felt at times. When I first started reading the book I was concerned about the number of characters that were introduced, thinking it would be hard to keep straight, but that was not the case at all. Once the story got going I was drawn in and wanted to just keep reading to see where we were headed next. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future! Thank for NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I have only read one book written by Ms. Andrews before, and it was a feel-good Christmas story. Based on that and the cover of this book, I was expecting a feel-good beach read as well. However, this is not the case. Instead, it's a kind of sad murder mystery.

The story begins with Traci Eddings, who is in charge of The Saint, a luxury resort hotel. Traci is remembering her deceased husband and trying to deal with her staff leaving the hotel for other companies that pay more. Unable to pay more, Traci decides to turn an unused building into a dorm for staff to live in for free. This reminds her of the time she was a 19-year-old lifeguard at The Saint.

After this, the story introduces multiple points of view from different characters. This makes the story busy and, in some cases, hard to follow, as there are no headers for each of the characters. One of these characters will also be murdered.

After getting into the story quite a bit, I did find it enjoyable. I wouldn't call it cozy, but you do get that summer vibe. There is also a love story thrown in between the murder and death. Traci seems to have the short end of every stick but does a great job keeping her head above water.

Overall, this is a summer beach murder mystery with a splash of feel-good and a dash of suspense. Although it was a bit messy with all of the different perspectives, it was ultimately a fun ride.

I really really enjoyed this new MKA book!! It’s my new favorite.

I loved the characters, setting, storyline, all of it! It made me feel like I was really at the resort.

The only thing was that I felt that it was a little long.

My review will be posted on my Instagram (Bookmarkedfavs) within the next few days!

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews is a delightful beach read that will whisk you away to the charming shores of the South. With vibrant characters and a plot filled with twists and turns, this novel is the perfect companion for lazy summer afternoons. Andrews effortlessly blends romance, humor, and mystery, making it a must-read for any beach bag. Get ready to soak up the sun and get lost in the pages of this captivating story! Thank you so much for the ARC!! 💓☀️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews.
MKA has done it again! She is a master of the fun beach read with a twist of mystery! An upscale beach resort creates the perfect setting for a modern whodunnit and gives off a summertime vibe.
The book features a cast of strong, smart females and solid male hero, with some quirky (and shady) supporting characters woven in. With a decades-old suspicious drowning, a murder, and shady back-door deals, there's never a dull moment for any of them or the reader.

Mary Kay Andres is officially back. She is one f my tried and true authors whose books I will always reach for. However, the last few have been somewhat formulaic in my opinion. Summers at the Saint include the well-drawn characters and description of place that make her novels som hard to put down. This is a mystery/beach read/family saga and I was NOT expecting any of the twists. I would hav loved to hav seen/known more about Peyton’s mother, but she’s well written as she is. It also shows what happens when regret and mixed signals cause long-term heartache. I really loved everything about this book, including the behind-the-scenes look at a fancy resort. This is one of my picks for summer.

DNF at 29% - by this time, it still wasn’t pulling me in and i found myself not wanting to read this after picking it up a week later. It seems as though every character has a POV, so I found myself unsure of who the main character was or which one I needed to focus on. This is advertised as a “beach read”, but I would disagree. I think it’s a read you need to be ready to dive into for a long while. I also didn’t like that the author used a derogatory term to describe mexicans in chapter 7. As a mexican, puerto rican woman, I found it very offending and bothering in the context as I don’t think it was necessary to use.

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews May 7, 2024

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary copy of this novel!

I have really enjoyed reading novels by Mary Kay Andrews and her newest novel, Summers at The Saint, definitely does not disappoint. Her newest novel has it all…a murder mystery suspense old and new, lost loves, new relationships, romance, and a whole lot of summer action!!!

After Traci Eddings’ husband, Hoke, dies in a plane crash, she is left to manage a high-end resort, The Saint Cecilia. Hoke’s brother Ric takes care of the financial dealings, but Traci does not trust him. Years ago, when Traci and her friend Shannon worked as lifeguards at The Saint’s pool, a boy died from drowning. Years later, the incident gets forgotten, but not by everyone. Something about the boy’s drowning does not sit well with his half-brother. Now, Traci’s niece is found dead and there are more questions rather than answers. Are both incidents related? What did Traci’s niece, Parrish, uncover? Could that have gotten her killed? There is some shady business going on at The Saint, and it is up to Traci and some of the other employees to figure out what is going on before more people get hurt.

This was a 5-star read for me!!! There are two mysteries to solve…one past, one present. This is a perfect summer mystery beach read! Available May 7, 2024, just in time for Summer!

First thought: OMG this is amazing! You get hooked from the beginning and as the story unravels it continues to twist and pull you in! The characters have depth and make you cheer them on. Loved this so much, it’s a great read going into summer! Highly recommend it has a bit of everything for everyone.

This story is about the The Saint. Which is a posh 5 star resort for the elite. You either are a member of The Saint or an Ain’t.

Traci and her bestie were ain’ts and worked as a lifeguards at The Saint as teenagers. Traci fell in love with the son of the owner that summer and became a Saint. However also that summer a little boy lost his life in the pool and Shannon her bestie was blamed and banished from The Saint. Their worlds went two different directions.

Fast forward 20+yrs and Traci is a widow and now the CEO running The Saint. Due to Covid and a large reservation the resort is in the red. So this season is critical and will be the tipping point.

The story tethers between past and current and is multi pov of a few key members of the staff. You get bits and pieces of the scandal happening and small clues to try and solve the mysteries of The Saint. There will be murder, blackmail, mistakes, buried secrets, mistakes and so much more.

This is a summer must read run and add to TBR now, this book Launch Day is May 7th, 2024.

Literally Themes you’ll find:

* Exclusive 5⭐️ Resort for the Elite
* Summer Season
* Buried Secrets
* Multi POV
* Murder
* Inheritance
* Finding Justice
* Second Chance Romance
* Staff Housing

☀️🛟🕶️☀️🛟🕶️☀️🛟🕶️☀️🛟🕶️☀️

I have enjoyed Andrew's summer mysteries and this one was no exception. This one is set at the Saint hotel in a small town that you are a Saint you ain't. The story centers on Tracy who was an aint that married the hotel's son who has since passed away and the pressure to keep the hotel successful rest on her. She hires a crew for the summer and lots of trouble starts happening at the hotel. There's a death and the mystery around it along with things happening at the hotel. I enjoyed how the story unfolded and how each one of tied to the hotel.

Kathleen McInerney did a great job with the narration. Thank you @stmartinspress @macmillan.audio @netgalley for a copy of this beach summer read.