3 ⭐️’s

I will start by saying that this book wasn’t for me, but I believe a lot of people will find joy in it. For example, what kept me going was the interesting characters, writing, and plot that kept me on my toes, but I just couldn’t connect with the story like I wish I could. This is not a fault of the book, I suspect many people will enjoy this story, but I will repeat that this just wasn’t for me. I finished the book and that’s a testament to the writing and characters, but I don’t think I will continue to check out more from this series. However, I hope other people will give it a chance, and the audiobook narrator was superb.

This story follows characters at the hotel St. Cecelia through scandal, a historic crime, and family affairs that twist and turn to keep the reader guessing. With humor and whit, Mary Kay Andrew’s captures the readers attention and creates an atmosphere that is impeccable for this story’s setting.

When her husband Hoke passes away, Traci Eddings inherits the St. Cecilia resort. She feels as though she’s been thrown into the deep end and is struggling to survive. It doesn’t take long before she realizes that she’s inherited more than the resort; she’s inherited the family drama, too. As readers learn more about Hoke’s family-run business, they discover that there’s more than meets the eye at this fictional island resort on the Georgian coast. Can Traci right the wrongs of the past and carve a new history for ‘the saint’?

Allow MKA to set the scene and introduce the characters before she dives into the mystery, history and secrets in this luxury resort. She’ll take you back to Traci’s past when she did lifeguarding for the ‘saints’ and then immerse you in the present-day running of the resort. It’s a wonderful armchair travel on a dark, dreary winter’s day. I was immediately sucked in by the summery atmosphere and compelling mystery, rich in tradition and scandals.

This is a great mystery with a touch of romance and one that highlights betrayal and long-buried secrets. I can always count on MKA’s ability to write a heartfelt story, giving us a realistic view of human nature. For me, this one had the perfect balance; a main course mystery with a side dish of romance. I really look forward to my biannual MKA literary treat.

I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I liked this book so much, that I sought out an author lunch with Mary Kay Andrews for my mother and I to attend together. It has been a while since the two of us have equally enjoyed a "buddy-read" as much as we did with "Summers at the Saint." Mary Kay Andrews is a fabulous author to meet and interact with. ARC audiobook was narrated well and perfect for my commutes to work this summer.

The story is not as lighthearted as the cover suggests. The St. Cecelia Hotel is beset with problems and adding to this a murder and a romance. The narrator of the audio Kathleen McInerney did a fantastic job.

Love Mary Kay Andrews and this audiobook was fantastic. Fast paced! While kind of cheesy and predicitable, a perfect summer time beach read/listen!

I love Mary Kay Andrews’ books, she’s such a good story teller and this one reminded me of an Elin Hilderbrand beach read. This has a good mixture of family drama, mystery and romance. There’s always something going on so I never wanted to put it down. Also no shortage of characters which is my reason for taking a star off. It’s easy to follow the important characters, however it just wasn’t necessary to have 30+ extras even mentioned. I did a combo of the audio and physical. I really enjoyed the narrator! She held my attention and made it so easy to differentiate between characters.

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio & St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

This book was not as like a "typical" Mary Kay Andrews story. I enjoyed the story. It is about characters who work and stay at The Saint, a hotel in Georgia. One storyline is about challenges between the classes of people who work versus people who own and I typically enjoy reading that trope.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I am and always will be a fan of Mary Kay Andrews! I love snagging her novels as soon as they release and am so grateful I received a copy of this audiobook to listen to this summer.

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews is another charming, feel-good story from an author whose novels I always love. Set in the coastal town of St. Augustine, it follows Riley as she returns to help restore her family’s inn, "The Saint." Along the way, she reconnects with old friends, faces family challenges, and discovers a new romance.

True to Andrews' style, the book is filled with vivid descriptions that make the setting come alive, and the characters are warm and relatable. While the plot hits familiar beats, it’s still a heartwarming and enjoyable read. If you love stories about second chances, friendship, and a bit of summer romance, Summers at the Saint is a perfect escape. Andrews once again delivers a delightful beach read that will leave you smiling.

Mary Kay Andrews’s Summers at the Saint is a delightful, heartwarming read that perfectly captures the essence of a summer escape with its blend of romance, humor, and Southern charm. Set against the picturesque backdrop of a charming coastal town, the novel follows the journey of a woman rediscovering herself and finding new beginnings.

The story centers around the protagonist, who arrives at the Saint, a historic and quirky bed-and-breakfast, seeking a fresh start after a series of personal and professional setbacks. Andrews’s writing brings to life the vibrant and eclectic characters who inhabit this seaside sanctuary, each contributing to the novel’s rich tapestry of warmth and community spirit.

Andrews excels at creating a setting that feels both inviting and magical. The Saint becomes more than just a backdrop; it’s a character in its own right, with its old-world charm and eclectic personality. The romance that unfolds is both sweet and engaging, complemented by a cast of endearing supporting characters and a plot that balances light-hearted moments with deeper reflections on love and self-discovery.

Summers at the Saint is a quintessential Mary Kay Andrews novel, filled with wit, charm, and a touch of nostalgia. It’s a perfect choice for readers looking to immerse themselves in a feel-good story with a touch of Southern allure and a heartwarming exploration of second chances.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ARC!

This was my first book to read by Mary Kay Andrews and it did not disappoint. I loved the summer beach vibes with the element of mystery mixed in. I'm a huge thriller reader so I was intrigued by the murder mystery and the backstory of two friends that had a fallen out. There were a lot of characters to keep up with so I found myself often questioning how each person fit into the story and had to back track at times.

I never guessed the ending so it had a good surprise element to it. I like her writing style and ability to mix a light romance into the mystery.

I really enjoyed Kathleen McInerney as the narrator. She did a great job with all the characters voices and pacing of her reading.

omg this book had a little too much going on, it was very hard to follow and it's just made it a very difficult and not truly enjoyable read.

This is an example of why I love going into a book mostly blind. I'm sure I read the synopsis of this book months ago when I put it in my TBR, but by the time I picked it up to read, I didn't have any clue what was in store for me. And what a treat of an atmospheric Southern beachy mystery this turned out to be.

Was this a perfect book? No. Was it an engrossing and entertaining read? Yes.

In the beginning I was like why are there so many characters?! But as I continued on and the plot thickened, I became more and more invested in who and what and how and why. I was constantly changing my mind about the motives and the guilty parties and that is always the sign of a fun read.

I will say there were a couple elements of the reveals that didn't hit for me, but overall this was great.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook to review. All opinions are my own.

Content Warnings: infertility, unwanted pregnancy, sexual assault, child drowning, Parkinson's, death, murder, drug and alcohol use.

After reading "The Santa Suit" by Mary Kay Andrews and not loving it, I decided to give her another chance with "Summers at the Saint". Unfortunately, this one didn’t resonate with me either, and I’m beginning to think that Andrews' style might not be for me.

One of my main issues with this novel was that it felt misleading. I went into it expecting a light beach-read set at a resort, but what I got was more of a mystery-thriller. While I know beach-reads are typically on the fluffier side, this one felt almost too light, lacking the substance I was hoping for. The shift in genre didn’t match my expectations, and it wasn’t what I was looking for in a beach-read.

I also struggled with the narration by Kathleen McInerney. Although I’ve enjoyed her narration in other books, the novel starts with the voice of a young child, which I found grating. This initial impression stuck with me throughout the rest of the story, making it hard to fully enjoy the experience.

Thank you to Mary Kay Andrews, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book...a bit of summer fun, a bit of romance, and a bit of mystery...thoroughly enjoyable. Can recommend to a variety of readers!

Mary Kay Andrew’s has reemerged as one of my favorite quick read authors. I enjoyed the plot a lot. I typically do not go for mystery novels, but hers have been a hit for me. They remain lighthearted and fun with the search for the solve of the issue. The narration was great. It was easy to tell the difference between characters in the story. It was a great summer read!

Thank you, NetGalley for this book! From the cover I expected a light beach reach read with a little Romance brewing somewhere in there. What I got was, a great murder mystery that had you from the beginning of the book. Tons of twists and turns. (And yes a little bit of romance too) I loved the setting of an exclusive Island with a Grand Hotel, with young adults having fun, and a mix of the have and the have nots. Great read!

This book has some serious Nantucket vibes and I don't know I just didn't vibe with the exclusivity - I've never read anything by Mary Kay Andrews and I think I would try again but she's just not earning any awards for favorite rom coms over here.

Don't let this beach read of a cover fool you. Summers at the Saint is not a sweet summertime romance, which is what I expected. I guess this is what I get for going into books blind. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the story immensely.

Despite the length of this novel, I found this to be a page-turner. I tried to find additional chores to do so I could finish the audiobook faster. I loved the mystery and had to know who the murderer was ASAP. There are a lot of characters and plotlines, but Andrews does a fantastic job of writing them in an easy-to-follow way. If you are looking for a suspenseful murder mystery with the vibes of a seaside resort, I highly recommend it.

I think fans of single-POV stories will struggle with this one. There are a lot of POVs, and I had to take notes to keep some of them straight. I will note that the narrator, Kathleen McInerney, did a fantastic job voicing all the POVs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Past and present collide in this mystery/drama about The Saint Celcia Hotel. The Saint, as it is called, is a luxury resort on Georgia’s coast. If you were wealthy and stayed there, you were a “Saint.” If you were from the other side of the river, you were an “Ain’t.” The main character, Traci, grew up as an Ain’t, but like many of the locals she worked at The Saint during the summer to earn money for clothes, etc.
Like I mentioned, this is a mystery/drama story so of course, tragedy after tragedy occurs, but even so, through it all, Traci remains resilient. I enjoyed the story and all the different characters. This is a perfect read for summer!