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.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the early copy of this book.
I am a huge fan of the show, "White Lotus." This book reminded me of that series. This book is filled with an array of colorful characters set against the backdrop of a 5 star resort. They say never to mix business with pleasure and no one follows this rule, leading to secrets and deception.
With money, comes power and with power comes corruption. The people of the Saint are the epitomy of corruption.
The Saint is a family owned resort designed to accommodate the rich. The majority of the characters we are introduced to work at the Saint in some capacity. The Saint is full of secrets, some dating back 20 years ago.
This book is the unraveling of these secrets and the web of lies that have created the foundation of the resort.
When one of the employees (and niece of the manager) is found dead after an after hours party, this book becomes the fast paced drop on a roller coaster ride, The twists and turns will leave you guessing until the very end.
While I think categorizing this novel as a romance is a bit far fetched, there is a relationship that is brewing in the latter half.
I thoroughly enjoyed the whodunnit of this novel and I loved that I wasn't able to predict the final outcome.

Very enjoyable read and a great vacation book!

At over 400 pages this was a whopper for a romance book, but there was so much more to it than that. There was a murder mystery, sweeping scenery and lots of adventure.
Traci Eddings inherited the St. Cecilia resort when her husband passed away and she is struggling to keep it afloat. But she’s not only inherited the resort, she’s inherited a whole lot of family drama as well. And as you get into the story, you find out that there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. And speaking of the scenes, the setting is stunningly gorgeous and makes me want to give up farm life and move down there and enjoy it for myself.
MKA sets the scene beautifully and brings a lot of characters to this luxury resort and also takes you back to when Traci lifeguarded for the “Saint” back when she was a teenager and then the present day running of the resort. There are also chapters from an Anonymous POV which bring in the mystery element to the story.
If you’re looking for a mystery with a side of romance, then this is the book for yiu.
Thanks to st. Martins press and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

The St. Cecelia, is a well-known coastal resort in Georgia where wealthy guests flock to each summer. Traci inherited her late husband’s share of the business that she now runs with her brother-in-law, Rick, but they each have different visions how the resort should be run. Once known for its premium service, the “Saint” doesn’t hold the same prestige as it used to. Traci hopes to bring it back to its once high standards but Rick is more concerned with the bottom line. When tragedy strikes the family, secrets emerge suggesting that something sinister had been occurring at the Saint for decades.

The storyline was captivating and the characters were believable. I really enjoyed Traci’s determination to make The Saint a better place and loved the twist behind the underlying mystery. This book packed a big punch from a family drama, to a buried secrets, a murder mystery and second chance romance!

DNF at 70%

Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. I just felt like there was too much going on and could not get invested in any of the characters’ stories. That being said, I did make it to about 3/4 of the book, so I might eventually get back to it.

I could totally see this being the perfect book for a lot of people. Just don’t expect a light, summery beach read, because this has more substance than that. I think fans of Mary Kay Andrews would absolutely enjoy this one, so don’t let my review steer you off; I’m clearly the minority with Goodreads’ rating being 4.25!!

Reward yourself with Mary Kay Andrew’s novel-a satisfying, uplifting summer treat. This double mystery set at “The Saint,” the stunning St. Cecelia Resort off the coast of Georgia, is perfect for your summer tote. This is a restorative tale packed with spoiled relationships between friends and family spanning decades. MKA has staffed The Saint with suspicious summer help, ungrateful, outrageous guests, and plenty of “over-the-top” events-from entertaining beach bashes to calamitous explosions-real and between friends! The unspooling mysteries will prolong and illuminate your summer reading days well into the night. Perfect with a glass of wine at sunset.

I have tried a Mary Kay Andrews book in the past and didn’t love it, but once I saw this one available I knew I had to give her another shot because people RAVE about her. However, unfortunately this one missed the mark for me. From the cover, I thought it was going to be a more lighthearted romance-y novel, and was surprised to find out it was a murder and true crime kind of vibe. Nonetheless, I persisted because I actually like mystery aspects in books! But I have been trying to read this one for months, and just find myself not wanting to pick it up, and not really “caring” about what happens like a reader should. There were certain aspects I enjoyed, like the beach setting but overall, I just don’t think this book was for me.

I went into this newest from Mary Kay Andrews with no idea of the premise. I loved the cover, and knew that from the experienced pen of the author, it would be a perfect novel for summer.

I really enjoyed Summers at the Saint. The setting at a gorgeous resort hotel in the southern USA was a great getaway. There are characters to love, dislike, and surprisingly, a mystery/suspense element that had me turning the pages.

Another winner from MKA! This will be a fantastic read for the patio, pool, or beach.

There could be TW for some readers, so check those out.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the electronic advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This book was cute and captivating and had my attention from start to finish. I enjoyed the characters and loved that there were multiple storylines which consisted of a murder mystery, lots of family drama and a little bit of romance.

I found Summers at the Saint a difficult book to get into. There was so much going on and so many points of view, that I just couldn’t connect with it. That said, I did like the lead character. But the intrigue and drama just wasn’t to my taste. Three stars.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.