Rating: 3.5 stars

This story promises a tantalizing mix of romance and murder mystery.

My reason for this rating is that there were way too many characters, there were also so many POVs to keep up with and it was giving me severe whiplash with trying to remember who was who. And it felt very repetitive at times.

However, despite its shortcomings, this book still remains an enjoyable read, perfect for lazy days lounging by the beach or cozy nights curled up with a good book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me access to this e-arc in an exchange for an honest review.

My first Mary Kay book. I received this as an arc on netgalley. This was a great thrill with twists and intrigue. Family secrets, employee secrets, twists, and turns to keep the story moving along. There are a lot of characters to keep up with, though. A murder mystery at The Saint with friendships, family drama, and romance entangled. I enjoyed this read. I would read her stories again in the future. Thanks, netgalley, for a fun read.

Mary Kay married the best of her books with this novel. I could absolutely see either The Jekyll Island Club or The King and Prince while reading this novel. I felt like I was reading a collaboration of Andrews’ first novels and her most recent work. I appreciated the complexity of this story with its twists and turns, and I appreciated how the characters, although different, complimented each other so well. Wonderful read!

Summers at the Saint is my first Mary Kay Andrews novel. I have no opinions regarding writing style here compared to other works.

This was a rough start in that more than 4 POVs is a turn off for me. I do try to be fair to all books giving them a chance, and I’m glad I did with this. The story started picking up for me around chapter 10 when I started vibing with one of the characters. Then the event occurred and I couldn’t put this down. The multi-POV does eventually stop, but it was difficult to get through.

I appreciate the author’s attention to detail on each character’s personality. Each character felt real, like someone I know or could potentially meet off page. The inclusion of a post-Covid pandemic world was intriguing for me as this aspect of a business I’m certain many people are facing.

This book is a mix of litfic and mystery. I kept reading for the mystery and the story really had my mind working on the “who done it” aspect. I think the FMC POV would have been sufficient, however I could really see why the author went the multiple POV route in the beginning.

My suggestion for readers that have a negative mindset for multi-POV is to skip this, this is not for them. If you’re good with multi-POV, this is worth the read. Some of the twists are predictable, some are not.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Fans of cozy mysteries will quickly get caught up in the characters, the mystery and a subtle romance that is weaved all throughout Summers at the Saint. Within this book, we had multiple point of views. I did not have any difficulties in the transitions from character to character. This allowed me to see the mysteries from various angles and kept me engaged as a reader. In this novel we actually have multiple mysteries but they were intertwined and created a cohesive and interconnected story. The mysteries kept me guessing and when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the final twist still surprised me. At times toward the end of the book, it felt like it was dragging a bit but by the end I liked the closure from the entire story line.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Went into this book expecting a typical beach read but was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns and a little mystery . Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Mary Kay Andrew’s for opportunity to read this novel. It’s a wonderful story from a beloved author and I enjoyed it !

Mary Kay is a genius with her writing. I have loved every one of her books I’ve read. This was no exception. It’s easy and it doesn’t ever feel like the book is so long. The plot kept my attention and it was overall enjoyable.

Thank you netgally

My Thoughts

Once an outsider now owner of the venerable landmark hotel Traci Eddings wants nothing more than to make The Saint Cecilia a contender once more as the place one comes for an unforgettable stay on the Georgia coast.

4 years prior when she took over as owner and CEO Traci was a new widow, a woman surrounded by in-laws who despised her.

Present day Traci is facing even more than the obvious troubles she is aware of and as the story unfolds even worse a heartbreaking loss no one saw coming.

The mystery aspects were revealed in a believable manner, the characters were engaging, the setting was beautifully described, the romantic relationship was setup nicely and all in all this book was a great introduction for me to the authors storytelling style.

Better yet how everything was tied together and resolved by end of the book satisfied me completely.
[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

Summers at the Saint - Mary Kay Andrews
Genre: contemporary, mystery, suspense, romance

When asked to read and review Mary Kay Andrews’ upcoming publication Summers at the Saint, I couldn’t agree quickly enough. As expected the novel was engaging, suspenseful, entertaining - an all around excellent read. Traci Eddings was widowed young and left to try and manage the St. Cecelia resort on the coast of Georgia. Traci was considered an Ain’t as she grew up - but marrying a St. Cecelia Eddings transforms her into a Saint. But as a young widow she is often at odds with this wealthy family as she tries to save the family business which has never seemed to recover after the Covid epidemic. She builds a new dorm, hires new employees including her beloved niece Parrish, the daughter of her former best friend Olivia, and KJ Parkhurst a local rich boy whose dad is trying to teach him a lesson, and looks toward a brighter future. But things go wrong quickly - Whelan is new in town and dredging up a tragic drowning from when she was a teenage lifeguard and complaints about everything from mattresses to wine abound. Soon the resort endures an unexpected death and a fire. What is going on at the Saint?
The world of the resort comes to life in this novel. Very quickly I could feel the pressures that Traci endures as she works to maintain St. Cecelia. The inner workings are fascinating to me (more on that later). I am torn between wanting to stay there and wanting to work there. The setting is beautiful and beachside and screams luxury. The town nearby - of the Ain’ts - is also well drawn and contributes well to the overall setting and conflicts of the novel. Andrews introduces a wide cast of characters and brings them to life. She explores the complexity of family. She tackles lifelong friendships through Traci and Shannon. She gives us romance - and we want romance - for Traci. We come to care greatly about some of the characters; we question others. We root for some, and against others. Like real life, our feelings about the characters change over the course of our reading. The plot - like that of Homewreckers for me - builds in complexity and suspense. First we are suspicious that someone is working against Traci to prevent her success (well, I was anyway). Then we gradually become more aware of the circumstances surrounding the drowning and its impact on lifelong friendships. I love how Andrews weaves all these threads together creating suspense and mystery (and that little bit of romance!).

I promised to talk about my fascination with the resort. As a school librarian, I spent most of my time reading YA. In that reading I became fascinated with boarding school books. I’ve never attended one; I never sent my kids, but, boy, I did read all that I could get my hands on. I guess it had something to do with the rarified air that I imagine existed there. Who really knows? But now that I have this time for adult reading, I’m suspecting I may replace boarding schools with exclusive resorts. I just read and reviewed Alison Espach’s The Wedding People and Nita Prose’s The Mystery Guest and loved the settings. I felt the same here. I’m not sure why. I am grateful for Andrews’ ability to bring St. Cecelia alive for me. And not to make a strained connection, I am glad that as things change, some small things can remain the same. I think Traci learns this among other things in Mary Kay Andrews’ Summers at the Saint. Listen, I think summer reads are good year round (see here), but if you are planning for summer, don’t miss this May 7 release.

3.5 stars rounded up. I love the cozy mystery genre, so this was a fun mash-up between that and a beach read. I enjoyed the book overall, but generally felt like there were so many storylines going that none of them felt like they were explored quite in-depth enough for me. Due to this, I think some of the actions of the characters felt kind of unbelievable. However, I liked the epilogue and wrap up and overall enjoyed this one so would recommend it!

This novel dabbles in the realistic with the idea that paths that lead people through different experiences. Traci and Shannon grew up in Bonaventure, a working-class neighborhood, and when they were older, they realized there is a well-defined different social class in their small community. There are those who live in their neighborhood and those on Cecilia Island at the Saint Cecelia Resort complex. Traci and Shannon realize that they live on the wrong side of the causeway, however, at age 19 both Traci and Shannon got jobs at the resort as lifeguards. That summer experience changed the trajectory of both their lives. Traci falls for the hotel owners son leading her away from the path of her upbringing and Shannon is single mom who becomes a nurse. The wedge between the young ladies friendship impacts them as adults. The multiple storylines add a layer of complexity that keeps you hooked, though I'll admit, it took a moment to catch up with all the characters and their perspectives. This novel takes the reader on a bit of an adventure similar to being a sleuth as well. The cover makes it look like it's a beach read, but it's actually a mix of a murder mystery with new adult with romance.  Pick this one up for a different look at a beach read, you will definitely fall in love with the setting and the characters grow on you. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity.

When I started reading this book I thought it was going to be a light summer romance type of book. I quickly discovered it was not a fun little romance, instead it was a little bit of romance with a whole lot of murder mystery. I really enjoyed this who-done-it story. However, I do have to say there was so much going on in this book, it will keep you on your toes. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital arc of this title.

A solid 3 star read. I love a good cozy mystery so MKA gets points for that as well as the fabulous ending that was laid out in the epilogue. With that being said, the beginning was a little too muddled for my liking- and if characters are given their own chapters, it needs to be consistent throughout. So overall the outline of the first 150 pages was a little messy. As the writing style became less chaotic, the story began to make sense, etc. I would definitely pick up another book from Andrews though! The vibe of this book was right up my alley.

Fun, unforgettable, brilliant!
Another amazing read from Mary Kay!

I read this in February and it definitely puts me in the mood for summer!
Recommending to all my friends!

Mary Kay Andrews' book are fun summer beach read in my opinion. This book is no exception. It is a fast paced read with a lot of adventure, mystery, and a little romance.

Traci Eddings grew up an Ain't and then married a Saint. After the loss of her husband Traci is trying to keep the Saint running. She is fighting her ill father-in-law and shady brother-in-law. She must get some new help to make sure the Summer at the Saint puts the company back into the black.

There is a whole slew of characters and some mystery about a drowning from 20 years ago. There are some fun and some scary moments for these characters but as with every great beach read, the ending makes you smile.

I highly recommend this for your summer vacation.


Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was my third Mary Kay Andrews book, and it is my favorite so far. It had mystery and suspense, and a little romance. It was entertaining and kept my interest throughout. I especially liked the characters and cared about what happened to them. There are a couple of story lines that I would have liked to have seen taken a little further. I would really like to see this turned into a series.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Traci fell in love for the first time from a boat looking at the confection that is the St Cecelia, a magnificent hotel and playground for the wealthy. It clientele returned season after season. Everyone called it the Saint. Local legend states there are two type of people here the Saints and the Aints. Traci began her career as an Aint , spending summers working the hotel, learning all the ways to accommodate the people who stayed in the hotel. The Eddings have owned the property , it being named for a daughter, and a promise to those who come to the Saint to never want to vacation anywhere else. It was through marriage to Hoke Eddding that Traci slowly began to cement her place in the family and on the property. It is Hoke’s death and Traci’s slow recovery from this tragic accident that sets the stage for a summer that few who loved the Saint will forget. The Saint is facing slower than usual reservations. Her acclaimed chef has left for a rival, property. The front desk manager is also gone with little explanation. Traci is hoping her niece will give her one more summer before she starts college. Traci needs to compete and promises the new hires a summer they will not forget. A promise Traci may soon regret. So the season begins and we are here under the pink and white umbrellas of the Saint, cold drinks in hand. A murder mystery to solve.
Happy reading

I would like to thank Net Galley, St. Martin's Publishing and Erica Martirano for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. Traci Eddings grew up on the "wrong side of the tracks" . She and her best friend Shannon were thrilled to get summer jobs at the Saint Cecilia Resort- "the Saint" as it was known. In the small town that they lived in, you were Saints or Aints- and Traci and Shannon were aints. That all changed the summer they were hired as life guards. Traci fell in love with Hoke, the son of the owner Fred Eddings. It was not all good that summer, a little boy drowned in the pool, Shannon was blamed and fired.Traci and Shannon never spoke again. Flash forward to the present, some 20 years later. Traci is a widow, and running the Saint. Her brother in law, Ric, is trying to make things difficult for her, especially when she recruits his daughter Parrish to work at the Saint for the summer. Traci hires some new staff, to offset staff shortages, including Felice, a new chef and Livvy- the daughter of her former best friend Shannon. Traci tries to institute changes, but comes up against a variety of problems, unhappy guests, suspicious money losses and eventually murder. This isa darker book than I imagined it would be . It is good, and held my interest. There are a lot of characters and a lot of plot lines.I do not want to give anything away, but it is not quite the breezy beach read it appears to be from the cover. It is engaging, with interesting characters and despite the numerous plot lines, everything is tied up at the end.It is a solid good read.

This book gripped my attention from the beginning. I was expecting a light summer story to give me a reprieve from the cold and dreary winter. Instead, I got a page-turner with so many twists and turns that I stayed up late and woke up early, in order to finish the book.

This was a fast paced read for me that was both character and plot driven. I enjoyed the way the characters were developed. It was easy to cheer for some of them and to not trust others because they came alive on the paper. It's hard to say more without giving major parts of the story away and revealing spoilers, but this would make a fabulous movie.

Before now I had only read Mary Kay Andrews Christmas stories, but after this one I am going to dive into her backlist books. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

From the cover, you might think this is a frothy romance or family drama—it has a little of the former and a lot of the latter, but it also includes a murder mystery.

Traci was gutted when her husband died in a plane crash four years ago, but she stepped up and took over his duties as CEO of the resort part of the family business. The villainous brother-in-law and his unlikeable wife are also part of the company. It’s difficult to find workers because housing is so expensive on the Georgia coast, but Traci manages to put together a team, some of whom are more trustworthy and competent than others.

I mostly enjoyed this, but there were a few things that really stretched believability, particularly about something that happened 20 years ago. I can’t say what the plot hole was, but “undiagnosed” means how could it be intentional?

When Traci interviews Felice for a job as a chef, she asks if Felice is married and has children. Since when is an employer allowed to do that? (I’m sure that used to be acceptable, but in more recent history, nope.)

It has its moments. NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES MAY 7, 2024.