Traci grew up on the wrong side of the river. She worked at the luxurious Saint resort in different roles as a teen including lifeguard. A suspicious drowning happened while she was working with her best friend. They tried to save the little boy but it was too late. A year or so later she met and fell in love with the son of the Saints' owner. They were married for several years until he died in a plane crash. She became the CEO of the resort which the family was not happy about. She did her best to keep it running during the pandemic.

This was the first time I read anything by this author but it will not be my last. It was categorized as romance so that was what I was expecting. Romance was a tiny fraction of the book. I was not disappointed. Traci was a strong woman who was holding her own against people who didn't think she was capable of running the resort.

The first few chapters introduced many characters. I found that confusing at first. As the book progressed, everything began to make sense of who everyone was. There were several unexpected twists. I thought I knew what was going to happen but it:would go in a different direction.

I enjoyed the story. It was a little long but needed to be to play out all the twists. I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy.

"I recently read a book perfect for a quick beach or summer read. It had many characters, making it challenging to keep track of them all. Nevertheless, the book had a lovely beach hotel atmosphere, highlighting the contrast between the "Saints" (wealthy) and the "Ain'ts" (poor).

The main protagonist, Traci Eddings, is an "Ain't," and she gets to work at the Saint for the summer. She falls in love with the owner's son and, after her husband's death, inherits The Saint. She faces many challenges, including financial difficulties. Can she save the hotel? Will she succeed in making it a welcoming place for everyone, regardless of their background?

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and was delighted to get an ARC copy of it."

Thank you to Net Galley for the e-ARC of Summers at the Saint! I don’t think I was expecting the mystery element that wove throughout this book, only thinking it would be a fun summer adventure at a southern resort. There were interesting plot twists, relationships built on trust and deception. Elements of “coming of age” wove in as well as Parrish and Olivia and Felice attempted to find their place, professional paths and meaning amidst the pressures of others. I loved watching the evolution of Traci coming through heartache paving her own path. All in all, another great one by Mary Kay Andrews!

I absolutely loved this story. It had fun summer vibes at a swanky resort, a large cast of characters, and a murder mystery- all rolled into one. Definitely my favorite Mary Kay Andrew’s book so far!

It was a bit predictable, but there were a couple twists I didn’t see coming, and some of the dialogue towards the end made me cringe, but overall it was a fast-paced story.

I love MKA! This is going to be a fantastic weekend/summer/beach/etc read. Family drama, a who dunnit, and a little romance make this a fantastic read! Not typical MKA with the murder and I was a bit sad at who was killed off but the story and writing was fantastic!

Thank you to Net Galley for offering a digital ARC of Summers at the Saint! I don’t think I was expecting the mystery element that wove throughout this book, only thinking it would be a fun summer adventure at a southern resort. There were interesting plot twists, relationships built on trust and deception. Elements of “coming of age” wove in as well as Parrish and Olivia and Felice attempted to find their place, professional paths and meaning amidst the pressures of others. I loved watching the evolution of Traci coming through heartache paving her own path. All in all, another great one by Mary Kay Andrews!

3.5 stars. This was my first Mary Kay Andrews novel and probably won't be my last because I really did think that this was fun and kept me on the edge of my seat at the end. First, let me tell you about the things I really liked. The characters were thoroughly fleshed out and their dynamics were fun. I felt this was part social commentary - with touches on class disparity, race, and homophobia. The middle was a little hard to get through, but the last few chapters - WOW! PLOT TWIST PAGE TURNERS!

Now on to the things that irked me while reading: There were too many characters. After reading some other reviews, it seems this is common for a Mary Kay Andrews novel, so probably doesn't bother her fanbase much. Although they were fleshed out and done well, it was almost too much. Similarly, there were TOOO MANY PLOT LINES! When I reached 50% I was asking myself what this book was actually about?? Romance? Mystery? Just contemporary/women's lit? I think there were parts that went on too long, and a lot of repetitive conversations so that each of the many character could be caught up to what was happening. The romance between the main character and someone else (no spoilers) honestly, didn't add anything to the story and could have been left out completely to shorten things a bit. I think the cover is misleading and the prognosis too, to an extent. It is not a romance beach read. This is a mystery novel with a romance subplot and a lot of other stuff going on. I definitely thought it was a fun read, but a lot to process.

Thank you to Mary Kay Andrews and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The St. Cecelia – known as “the Saint” – is where the wealthy spend their summers. But the resort community is making some changes to get back to its former glory. Traci Eddings, who owns the resort after her husband’s death, enlists a new crew of staffers (even building them staff housing) to help turn business around. But it’s not smooth sailing. Soon, Traci is dealing with a shocking and heartbreaking murder, greedy in-laws, her p*ssed off former best friend, and a lot of secrets coming to the surface. (And maybe she has a shot at romance, too.)

I didn’t want to put this book down. It is Mary Kay Andrews’ best book in the last few years. It’s jam-packed with twists and turns and a bundle of characters, and has a dash of humor. I rooted for Traci, Olivia, and Felice – and for the Saint.

I do think that, because the book was so jam-packed, a couple things didn’t quite feel developed. I would have liked to have a little more background on the new staff and interaction between them. (It’s actually a compliment that I wanted the book to be longer.) Also, there was a lot going on behind the scenes at the Saint that Traci was unaware of, though she seemed pretty hands-on. Perhaps it was because she was a little out of it since her husband died? It wasn’t a big deal, but it did make me question her management style for a minute.

I really did like this book. It’s a fun, twisty read that will be perfect for summer.

That was a lovely surprise. The main reason why i picked this book, besides for the cover, was the blurb. And i’m so glad because it definitely meet my expectations. We follow our main protagonist, Traci, who is trying to salvage her hotel after the death of her husband. This book is a combination of a murder mystery, different characters and summery vibes. I would definitely recommend.

The Saint is an aging resort off the Georgia coast that has catered to an exclusive clientele for generations. The resort guests are known as “saints” and the locals are known as “ain’ts”. As a girl Traci and her best friend were workers at the Saint. These days she is the widowed owner of the hotel. She is trying her best to maintain it as the wonderful resort it once was. Her challenges are economics, labor and her brother-in-law. She is making progress until tragedy strikes. Her niece is killed and events from a long ago summer may be related.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an eGalley of this title.

The St. Cecilia, known as “the Saint”, is a sprawling pink themed resort that caters to only the wealthiest on a private island on the coast of Georgia. Under that lavish, polished exterior, however, all is not what it seems.

Those who stay here are known as “the Saints”; the townies who can’t afford to and only work there are the “Ain’ts”. Lifeguard Traci Eddings was an Ain’t until the boss’s son fell in love with and married her. Widowed when he was killed in a plane crash, Traci now tirelessly runs the resort, trying to continue it’s legacy and save it from financial difficulties. She is often at odds with her unscrupulous brother-in-law who never accepted her into the family. As she strives to staff the resort for the summer, there seems to be something nefarious going on and when someone ends up dead, there is that mystery to solve, along with what is going on with complaints of inferior supplies, as well as what really happened when a young child drown there many years ago. Oh, and, there may be a new man in her life as well!

Mary Kay Andrews is a popular author and this is the first book of hers that I have read. Despite the length, it was a fast, very engrossing read. A multi layered story, some of it was predictable, other times there were surprises. Genre bending and contemporary, there was mystery, family drama, and some romance. I liked how the first few chapters introduced the main players and their stories before pulling them together and I loved the setting. This was a pleasing read, perfect for days at the beach!

Wow! Loved this book. Thanks St. Martin's Press for offering this early. Mary Kay Andrews did a wonderful job mixing up murder, mystery and romance. Very speedy read! Thanks NetGalley now I don't have to wait until May.

The book cover of Summers at the Saint makes it appear as though it is a breezy beach read even though nothing could be farther than the truth. Although there are definitely elements of summer fun, the cheery book cover belies the darker themes of murder and mystery that are a part of this story and elevate it to a completely bingeable novel.

Traci Eddings is the owner of the illustrious Saint hotel, a property that she inherited as a result of the tragic early death of her beloved husband Hoke. The business has floundered in recent years due to Covid and other financial factors and Traci is determined to make this a profitable summer and restore the Saint to its place of glory in the eyes of elite vacation goers.

However, the summer is heralded by a horrific murder that affects Traci personally and plunges her into the depths of an all too familiar pattern of grief. An investigator also descends on the hotel, determined to solve the drowning of a child that happened at the hotel years ago when Traci worked as a lifeguard.

As disturbing secrets are revealed, Traci must question whom she can really trust and guide her personal legacy as well as the future of the Saint.

Even though this was not a traditional beach read, I loved the mystery and thriller elements. Andrews created an interesting cast of characters and delved into some interesting dynamics about family, friendship, and personal responsibility.

My only criticism is that one of the thriller elements of the plot line was left hanging-I can't really reveal more than that without adding a spoiler. My hope is that maybe since this is an ARC, that plot line will be resolved in the final copy.

However, as always a solid delivery from Andrews with a few thrilling surprises along the way.

I just love Mary Kay Andrews’ books. Summers at the Saint was the most delightful beach read/mystery. Definitely a new favorite of her summer books.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Set at a historic hotel on the coast of Georgia, Summers at the Saint is the perfect title to quick off beach reads season. With mystery and intrigue that keeps the pages turning, Mary Kay Andrews newest title is perfect for readers of Elin Hilderbrand.

Traci’s dream of one day working at the Saint has come true and now she’s running the hotel. Raised in town and commonly called an “Ain’t”, Traci started at the Saint scooping ice cream as a teenager. She goes on to marry the owner and inherits the ups and downs of running a family hospitality business. Now faced with numerous operational challenges, unexplained thefts, lost inventory and a missing resort manager, the future of the Saint is in jeopardy.

The combination of family dynamics, murder mystery and great characters creates a heartfelt story with suspense and a touch of romance. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and it may be my favorite Mary Kay Andrews yet. The scene is set on the southern coast and it was so vivid I could nearly picture myself summering at the Saint. I enjoyed the characters that also added to the ambiance of the resort life as well as the crusty old members who you can just picture hanging around a resort like this one. The intermingling of the resort dynamics, mystery, murder and intrigue kept me at rapt attention throughout the duration of the book. The sub plot of the evolving relationship between Traci and Whelen was touched on just enough not to toss it into the romance genre.

Overall I would recommend this for anyone looking for a beach book or something to read poolside with cocktail this summer!

"Summers at the Saint" is a delightful novel that unfolds against the picturesque backdrop of the historic St. Cecelia hotel on the Georgia coast. Author Mary Kay Andrews skillfully blends elements of romance, mystery, and family drama, creating an engaging beach read.

For readers who enjoy contemporary romance, intriguing mysteries, and heartwarming fiction, I wholeheartedly recommend "Summers at the Saint." Whether you find yourself lounging by the pool or cozied up indoors on a rainy day, this novel will transport you to the charming world of the St. Cecelia and leave you with a contented smile.

It was an ok read. Not amazing, not terrible. I felt like there a few times that I wanted to put the book down because of how slow paced it was. There definitely was some twists that I wasn’t expecting, but ultimately this read was a little lackluster.

I always enjoy some MKA! This one seemed a little sadder and a little darker than her usual, but I don’t mind (kinda) dark. I love thrillers and wanted more info so I could figure out who dunnit, but I realized that didn’t matter - the plot was much more than that.
I liked the multiple perspectives that eventually dwindled down to just a few, and I loved the setting and all the details of the Saint. I do wish the ending wasn’t so predictable and sweet, but I did truly enjoy this book and read it in just a sitting or two. Fans of MKA will not be disappointed and I think this being a bit out of her usual realm can bring in some new devotees too!

I adore Mary Kay Andrews books, truly never disappointed. This was no exception it was fun had the perfect combo of mystery and romance.