Traci Eddings is the widowed owner of the Saint. A popular resort owned by the Eddings family for years. Her husband passed away and she stayed owner/operator of the business. The problem is Ric, her late husband’s brother, who is a jerk. To be honest, the whole family is horrible. She misses her husband because he wasn’t like the rest.

She hires new staff for the upcoming season and they all seem to have come from complicated life situations. This job gives them new meaning and a place to stay, work and meet friends. Until…a murder happens shortly into the season and now one of them is gone.

I am surprised that this story took the course that it did. At first glance, it appeared to be more of a fun and flirty summer romance but it is far from that. I love the mystery and suspense building throughout and the characters are full of life. They are believable whether they are likable or easy to hate. Some are very easy to despise which is necessary for the story to be as engaging as it is.

However, we do see some romance too! This book has it all. I would love to see a limited series come out of this book. Think of The White Lotus meets Dynasty and how popular those shows were. There’s no doubt Summers at the Saint would measure up just fine.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book.

Super- excited to share my first review of an advanced copy. Thanks so much to Net Galley for my copy of Summers at The Saint! Reading it in winter offers a nice escape. The Saint is an old resort in South Carolina. It's owned by a family who has had its share of sadness. Naomi's husband grew up at the Saint, & she grew up as an A'int in town, but they fell in love when she worked there as a teenager. When he dies in a plane accident, she takes over the running of the hotel.
​As the summer picks up, Naomi gets to know some new employees, including one who is trying to figure out a sad chapter from the Saints' past. There's a death, and the pace of the plot picks up quickly from there. This book has it all- some mystery, a smidge of romance, & plenty of drama. I also enjoyed the descriptions of flowers & fresh seafood- definitely part of seaside escapism for me. I've read a few of Mary Kay Andrews' books in the past, & this one didn't disappoint.

This was a fun read about a murder at the famous Saint hotel on St. Cecelia Island, Georgia. The owner must hire some new faces for the upcoming season, and as she does, trouble ensues. There are in-law issues, there are employees issues, there are friend issues. There's a light romance, as well.

This book could have been edited down a bit - I got a little bogged down, and "ready to be done" about halfway through. I stuck with it and the action did happen in the last few pages. I was hoping for a more compelling mystery. The ending was satisfying, so I'm glad I made it through.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Summers at the Saint.

Summers at the Saint

I honestly do not think that Mary Kay Andrews can ever write a novel that I will not absolutely love!

Summers at the Saint is a beautifully told story of the "Saints" and the "Ain'ts".

I could not put the book down once I started reading it. Traci Eddings is the underdog and is in constant battle with her Brother-in-law and his wife, Ric & Madelyn Eddings. Traci has a special bond with her niece Parrish and convinces Parrish to work at The Saint for the summer instead of going off to Europe. Traci also wants a change at the resort and hires new head chef Felice and Olivia Grayson to work in the restaurant. She also constructs a dorm for the staff to live to make it more enticing, affordable and convenient to attract and maintain new staff.

You quickly discover that there seems to be under the table dealings happening at the Saint and Traci is not in the know about any of it. The long time people, who she considered friends and like family, are the ones that are betraying her. Will she figure it all out before its to late?

Murder, Sabotage, Lies and Deceit all are at the fore front of the storyline but what I loved the best about this book is the loyalty and friendships between the ladies, Traci, Shannon, Parrish, Livvy, & Felice.

Great Summer Read for those that need one!

Overall 5.0 rating.

Thank you to St. Martin's Publishing Group, Mary Kay Andrews, Kejana Ayala & NetGalley for my free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Character Notes:

Charlie Burroughs - GM - didn't like him at the very start of the book.

Traci Eddings- married hoke Eddings. the good brother, and inherited the "Saint" business after Hoke died in a plane crash.

Hoke Eddings - Traci husband who died in a Helicopter crash - the nice brother.

Parrish Eddings - niece to Traci - Ric is dad and Madelyn is step mom. Both evil characters from the start in my opinion.

Ric (Frederick) Eddings - Parrish dad and sister-in-law is Traci. he was Hoke's older brother and runs a portion of the business.

Olivia Grayson - mom is Shannon - Traci poached to work at the saint.

Shannon - mom to Olivia aka "livvy" and used to be best friends with Traci until an incident broke their friendship apart

Felice Bonpierre- Stolen food truck, credit card stolen by boyfriend Dione. Left her all along at a motel. Traci brings her on as new head chef at the saint.

Kevin John Parkhurst (KJ) - spoiled rich kid who is given a job at the saint to do the grunt work to teach him a lesson.

Spenser & Betsy - KJ parents

Garrett - head waiter at the verandah - not a nice person.

On the surface this book appears to be your typical summer read. It is so much more - beach read combined with mystery. It was definitely a pleasant surprise.

This is the story of Traci Eddings who is trying to run a hotel despite losing her husband in a tragic accident. Traci and her crew of young, vibrant personalities make this story intriguing. This is the perfect balance between beach read and mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins for the ARC for my honest opinion. Once again, I will be looking forward to Mary Kay Andrews next novel!

I was so excited to get approved to read Summers at The Saint, and it did not disappoint. This novel thrived on so many levels. It’s fun, it’s clever and it’s mysterious - the trifecta of a good book.

The Saint Cecilia Hotel, known to the locals as The Saint, is a high-end resort for the rich. Traci Eddings inherits the job of CEO after her husband dies in a plane wreck. As she struggles to keep the hotel running post-pandemic, she hires what she believes to be a great crew of newbies. But things aren’t always what they appear to be.

This book kept me turning page after page late into the night. It’s quite suspenseful and intriguing. If you’re looking for a great beach read, this would be the perfect choice. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this 5-star book.

—Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.


This is actually a cozy mystery with romantic elements in it. It was unexpected yet it was so good!
I loved the many perspectives and the genre blending story telling.

Wow, what a cute and captivating story "Summers at the Saint" turned out to be! I'm all in for suspenseful tales, and this one had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
Mary Kay Andrews weaves a narrative that's not just a murder mystery but also a rollercoaster of family drama and a sprinkle of romance. 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.
The plot is intriguing right from the get-go. Two lifeguards, Traci and Shannon, working for the "saints" among the affluent crowd!
Fast forward a few years, and Traci's life takes a turn when she marries into the family that owns the resort. The joy is short-lived as tragedy strikes, leaving Traci to manage the struggling hotel on her own.
The mix of mystery, shady histories, and the challenges of running a high-end resort in a post-pandemic world adds layers to the story. Traci, along with her crew of young employees, becomes the heart of "The Saint Cecelia." Their struggles to maintain the legacy of the resort while dealing with suspicious activities create a compelling narrative.
Sure, the start might be a bit busy with numerous points of view, but once you settle in, it's an absolute delight. Mary Kay Andrews creates a perfect balance between the suspenseful mysteries and the warmth of summer vibes. It's like a literary vacation you never want to end.

This was on the longer side but a great balance of chick lit and mystery. Really enjoyed it!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

This was almost a 5 star read for me because I did really love the second half of the book. It was so engaging and thrilling. I didn’t want to put it down! The only reason it’s not a 5 star read for me is because I felt the book started off very slow. I struggled to get into it at first. Around 40% of the way through, something BIG happens and that’s when I got hooked!

This story is centered around Traci Eddings. As a teen, she worked as a lifeguard at “The Saint”, a five-star hotel resort along the coast. While working alongside her best friend Shannon, an 8 year old boy drowned. Shannon was fired, but because Traci was engaged to the resort owner’s son, Hoke, she was allowed to continue working. Because of this, Traci & Shannon stopped being friends. Years later, Hoke is killed in a tragic plane crash, leaving Traci to run the resort. A staff member ends up murdered and the circumstances around it are very mysterious…

Big thanks to @netgalley & @stmartinspress for granting me this ARC! Highly recommend grabbing this one when it officially comes out May 7th!!

I look forward each year to the arrival of summer fun launched with a summer book by MKA. With her usual wit and quirky characters, she weaves together a plot including murder, deceit, romance, friendship with plenty of action and surprises thrown in.

It is always interesting to expect one thing from a story and then be surprised to find the story is different. This one I expected a woman’s fiction with romance but we are delivered a murder mystery. This is a multiple murder mystery, perfect for the cozy mystery lovers out there.

This story blends in a bit of building romance with this mystery based on a delightful setting anyone would love to visit if it was a real location. I literally consumed this book. The story is fresh and interesting.

Andrews adds loads of twists and turns with characters that keep you guessing throughout. Her characters are spiteful, sneaky, trusting, and oblivious to reality. I enjoyed each of them as they added so much to the plot and kept us on our toes as we dive into each of the issues at hand.

There is plenty to keep track of in this story but it flows easily and Andrews manages to surprise me a time or two. The HEA at the end is so well deserved and worth it all. This just isn’t a beach read. It is an anytime read!

Review: This has got to be my favorite book by Andrews!! It had a thriller aspect that I have not seen in her previous books and it reeled me in! I went into this book completely blind just knowing that I was going to love it because of the author. And I was right!! I am so blessed that I was given early access to this book by @netgalley and @stmartinspress ! Definitely recommend getting this book as soon as it comes out! It has multiple POVs, romance, mystery, murder and sabotage! Enjoy!!

Shannon and Traci were childhood friends from the "wrong side of the causeway". As young adults, they worked at the Saint resort until a tragic accident lost Shannon her job and ended their friendship. Twenty years later, Traci is the CEO of the Saint after her husband died in a plane crash. Its hard to get employees at the Saint as housing is so expensive. She converts the old golf cart barn into dormitories for staff. She hires Shannon's 20 year old daughter, Olivia to work at the Saint much to Shannon's dismay. Olivia and 4 other employees live in the new dormitory. As Traci struggles to hang on the the Saint through economic difficulties, we see theft, murder and intrigue at the Saint. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. I have read several of Mary Kay Andrews books and highly recommend this one.

I have always enjoyed Mary Kay Andrews writing style and story lines, this newest novel did not disappoint. This novel is set on Cecilia Island at the St. Cecilia Resort (The Saint). This resort had been around for many years and staffed mainly by locals. The joke around the town was there were two types of people: The Saints and The Aints, and the Aints were the workers for the elites that owned and visited the resort. Traci and her friend Shannon worked many summers at the Saint where Traci met and married Hoke (the owner’s son). After Hoke passed away it was on Traci’s shoulders to keep the resort running. Hoke’s family is constantly trying to cause problems for Traci and this particular summer things come to a head. Tragedy strikes at The Saint and a tragedy from many years prior is being questioned. The mystery surrounding these events combine to make a wonderful read. I think that this book would be a great read for anyone who enjoys fiction with a little bit of mystery, a little bit of romance and a little bit of intrigue. I really enjoyed this novel and read it very quickly.

I'm usually a fan of Andrews. This one just okay for me. Little darker than her others. I look fwd to Andrews for light, guilty fun. This one fell a little short.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a good book! I was not expecting the multiple different perspectives and I was a little worried it was going to be hard to follow, but it really helped tell the whole story here. Loved all the twists and turns mixed in with the romance, and can't wait to read more MKA!

4.5 stars! Mary Kay Andrews never disappoints. I've read only 3 of her books but they've all been delightful and everything I look for in a good book. Mystery/Romance/Drama- this book will make a perfect beach or pool side read!

Mary Kay Andrews has done it again!! Love this book! The twists and unexpected events in the story kept me turning the pages. The setting is off the coast of Georgia in an historic hotel. The description of the hotel had me wanting to book a room stat. As always, Mary Kay Andrews’ characters are quirky & strong-willed. This is a must summer read. Break out your beach chair & be prepared to laugh,cry & cheer. Thank you NetGalley & Saint Martin’s Press for an advanced reader copy of this wonderful book! You can add this one to your bookshelves on May 7th!

Wow, great read! I really love the way Mary Kay Andrews writes and I think she does a great job at creating these wonderful characters. She really does bring the characters alive on the pages and I thought this storyline was one that kept you wanting to read more.