What a great summer read with a little bit of mystery and romance thrown in. With a family full of characters, some actual family and some become found family, there is no shortage of personalities. I loved all of the characters and it felt like I was with them on the coast of Georgia. The St Cecelia has been in Traci’s late husband, Hoke’s family for a long time, and she must answer to them. Traci learns how to take over the St Cecelia, she finds new ways to recruit and hire staff after losing the head chef, the front manager and being understaffed. I love family drama books and this one definitely had family drama. There were a few twists that caught me off guard. I was expecting more of a tie to the deaths than what was presented at the end. This was an excellent summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Mary Kay Andrews is an automatic buy for me. Her stories are fun and sweet and make great vacation reads. This one was a little dark compared to her other novels and I really enjoyed it.

I would like to go to the Saint and hang out. Andrews made it sound like a great place to vacation (other than the murder part!). A couple of summers ago I spent a few days on Mackinac Island and this story felt like it could have been on Mackinac. I know it's not the same but felt the same. I love a small town with vacationers and townies and town "royalty".

If you want a quick vacation read, pick this one up and give it a go.

4.5 Stars

I devoured this book! It’s the perfect summer read. The setting is a five-star hotel, The Saint Cecila, in a beach town in Georgia and it’s filled with drama, mystery and a little romance. There was multiple POV’s and a lot of different storylines going on but I loved how everything came together at the end. I loved the full cast of characters and the murder mystery kept me intrigued and listening. This is the perfect book to kick off summer!

The narration was by Kathleen McInerney. She did a great job making the characters come to life.

In “Summers at the Saint,” Mary Kay Andrews masterfully weaves a tale that transcends typical genre boundaries, blending elements of romance, mystery, and women’s fiction into a captivating narrative. Set against the backdrop of the iconic St. Cecelia hotel, Andrews delves into a world where tradition collides with scandal, and where the past casts a long shadow over the present.

At the heart of the story is Traci Eddings, a widow determined to restore the Saint to its former glory despite facing myriad challenges, from staff shortages to familial betrayal. Andrews’ journalistic background shines through as she skillfully crafts a multi-layered plot filled with twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

What sets “Summers at the Saint” apart is its rich cast of characters, each with their own secrets and motivations. Through multiple points of view and a series of well-executed flashbacks, Andrews brings these characters to life, making it impossible not to become emotionally invested in their fates.

But perhaps the true strength of the novel lies in its portrayal of female relationships. From Traci’s bonds with her friends and family to the camaraderie among the Saint’s staff, Andrews captures the power of women supporting women in a way that feels both authentic and uplifting.

The Narration:

I had the pleasure of experiencing the audiobook version of “Summers at the Saint,” narrated by Kathleen McInerney. Her exceptional performance breathed life into Andrews’ characters, providing distinct voices for each and enhancing the overall listening experience.

Final Thoughts:

“Summers at the Saint” is a must-read for fans of women’s fiction and mystery alike. With its compelling storylines, well-developed characters, and evocative setting, it’s a book that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned. Whether you choose to read the print version or listen to the audiobook, you’re in for a treat.

4.5 stars (rounded up to 5)

Thank you to St Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ARC of the book and audiobook. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

The cover and author name originally piqued my interest for this book. I thought the cover was fun. This will be a front runner for a great summer beach read!

The narration was well done by narrator Kathleen McInerney. I listened at 1.5x.

Likes: Multiple viewpoints; family drama; murder mystery; buried secrets; great narrator
Dislikes: Too long, over 14 hours

This was my second Mary Kay Andrews book, and I have to be honest they aren't my cup of tea.
There is nothing wrong with them. Just a little too slow for me and wasn't feeling any character connections,
If your looking for a sweet little mystery this one might be the one for you. One you will want to add to your summer reads list.

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for my gifted copy.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Mary Kay Andrews for the gifted ALC!

Like many other early readers, I was surprised this wasn't a fun summer read, but that's definitely not a bad thing! At the heart of this story is a murder mystery and I couldn't stop listening until I got to the end. I really enjoyed the narration of this one.

This was somehow my first book by Andrews but after really enjoying this one I think I'm going to need to add more of her backlist to my TBR.

For anyone who happens to see this review and thinks it'll be just a fun beach read, please know it's quite a bit darker than that!

Summers at the Saint is out tomorrow, and I highly recommend picking up a copy for yourself!

Summers at the Saint ~ Mary Kay Andrews

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summers at the Saint was a fantastic read. The cast of characters were all so enjoyable and so relatable in their own ways. I really loved Traci and her storyline. The Saint had the perfect summer atmosphere. The twists and turns were perfect and kept me hooked into the story. Summers at the Saint was absolutely not what I was expecting but I loved it! There was a touch of romance, suspense, mystery, family drama, along with the summery feel. The narrator of the audiobook also did an amazing job!

Traci Eddings inherits the Saint Cecelia resort when her husband, Hoke, suddenly passes away. The resort has a long family history and Traci in charge of keeping it running. This year she decides to house the summer workers in a dorm and bring in some new young workers to keep the hotel running. Each of the workers has their own secrets mixed in with the family drama and the history of the hotel and the scene is set for a roller coaster of a story!

I would highly recommend you add this to your summer TBR!

Summers at the Saint
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
MKA did it again!! The Quenn of summer romance!! It was so Fun. I couldn't wait to find out who done it. So many layers & some of it was a total surprise. It was a great book. It had everything in it. It was filled with Suspense, Thriller, Romance, & surprises. Thank you NetGalley!!

This was such an enjoyable summer read. I loved the setting of the book and how the author transports you to The Saint. This book gave me all of the summer vibes making it a perfect cozy, beach read. This book is a great blend of mystery and a touch of romance, but it also touched on so many different topics- navigating friendships, family dynamics, secrets, and betrayal. I don’t know what I was expecting, but this book took so many turns that I was not expecting. This book was engaging so well written, and I really enjoyed the way the story wrapped up. Kathleen McInerney and she did an excellent job at narrating the book, keeping me invested in the storyline. I would recommend adding this one to your TBR, and would recommend the audiobook.

Read if you enjoy:
✔️Mystery + romance
✔️Secrets + betrayal
✔️Multiple POVs

Thank you @macmillan.audio for my ALC!

This cover is gorgeous but boy did it mislead me. I thought this was a lighthearted summer read and it was far more mysterious and dark than I expected.

Traci Eddings worked as a teen at The Saint as a lifeguard. Later she met and married one of the ons of the original owners. When he dies unexpectedly in a plane crash, she ends up running the Saint. But boy did she end up with more than she expected.

Also the rest of the family, aside from the niece, are really pieces of work and do not do anything to make her life easier.

Besides all the family drama, this one has murder, fire, untrustworthy employees, and finally a little romance!

The audio was well done and made it feel a bit like a TV drama!

Many thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio for an ALC and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Traci Eddings, widowed owner of the St. Cecelia hotel, faces staff shortages, financial woes, and family betrayal as she fights to revive the hotel's glory days. With a motley crew of summer help, including her estranged best friend's daughter, Traci navigates romance and scandal in Mary Kay Andrews' heartwarming tale.

The summer vibes were vivid, the twists surprised me, and the southern charm was charming. But overall this story didn’t wow me. I can’t pinpoint a specific element that intensely lacked, but I also can’t think of an aspect that sparkled either (except for the ocean of course). If you’re a fan of Mary Kay Andrews, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, but I’m learning that I like to save her southern sweetness for quick holiday novellas.

I listened to the audiobook, and while I generally enjoy this narrator for Mary Kay Andrew’s holiday stories, I think her tone was too upbeat for this particular novel. I know this murder mystery is suppose to have the feel of chick lit, but I think a different narrator could have made the story seem less silly.

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the ALC ☀️🏖️#MacAudio2024

Perfect for you if you like:
Charming seaside locales
“Spunky”? twists and turns (I have no other way of describing MKA’s whimsical suspense style)
Cozy mysteries with family drama
New adult characters

Similar to:
Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies by Catherine Mack (I have not read this)
The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews
Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita

⛔️cracked door romance subplot
⚠️explicit language, recreational drug use, death/murder, rape, fire

I was expecting a lighthearted rom com when I picked up this book, but instead got a somewhat lighthearted murder mystery. There was a lot going on in this book and a TON of characters that all seemed to mesh together. The POVs swapped 10 million times the first half of the book which was really hard to keep up with.

It was also so much longer than needed. 15 hour audiobook that would’ve been 10…. seriously. Yet with how long the book was, it still left me wanting so much more.

The ending took a much different turn that I thought it would and I liked the fast pace of the last few hours of the book. But it left so many plot holes and wrapped up endings that didn’t really make sense.

Thank you to Netgalley & Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.

🌴 🌴 🌴 🌴 🌴 / 5

Wow! This book was magnificent and had a lot going on! I have mainly read MKA’s Christmas books so I jumped at the opportunity to read and listen to this one!

The book takes place in at the Saint, a beautiful 5 ⭐️ resort in Georgia, I was not sure what to expect but there a number of interesting sub-plots filled with dark secrets! I absolutely loved this book and basically listened/read it the entire weekend! The narration was great and the book was fast paced! My only complaint is that I wish I could have some of Felice’s cooking and reading it on a poolside chair at the Saint!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s press, and Macmillian Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to this book! Jessica Clarke, the narrator of the audiobook, was amazing to listen to! Add this to your TBR, it is out May 7, 2024!

“People—and it’s mostly the ones who’ve never had any—they say money can’t buy happiness. But you know what it can buy? Choices.”

I am HERE for the summery beach reads with a little sprinkle of murder and a dash of mystery and drama. I couldn’t put this book down!

Summers At The Saint has everything you need in a story to keep you invested and flipping those pages. There’s family drama, questionable characters, some down and dirty business deals, all set against the backdrop of a pink beach resort for the wealthy and connected.

The audiobook was so good as well! I love having multiple copies of a book so I can read when I have some down time and listen when I need to multitask! A win/win for sure. The narrator did a fantastic job of making this story come to life for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press, and @marykayandrews for the ALC and ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I only started reading Mar Kay Andrews two years ago through a recommendation of a friend. Since then I have read a dozen of her books and enjoyed them all. This new release is no exception. I found Summers at the Saint to be well-written and engaging, a true page-turner. MKA has a way of adding mystery to each of her books that I find intriguing. Her character development is well done. This novel in particular is the story of the "Haves and the Have-Nots". I would not call it a light-hearted beach read, but I do highly recommend it. The narrator is excellent.

Mary Kay Andrews, the queen of beach reads, returns following Bright Lights Big Christmas with her annual captivating beach read, SUMMERS AT THE SAINT —a distinguished coastal resort with dark secrets of the past collide with the present in this cozy murder mystery and more!

Welcome to the Saint Cecelia, a stunning landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia.

Traci Eddings grew up admiring the grand hotel, considering it a fairy castle called The Saint. The first time she stepped on the property was when she was thirteen, when Meredith, a new girl from school, invited her to a birthday party.

The rich kids were called Saints. Those not were just Ain'ts. Her family was an outsider, neither wealthy nor connected enough to vacation at the resort. But she had always wanted to work there. She did so and wound up marrying the owner's son, Hoke.

Now Traci is widowed and has inherited the resort. She has a grand vision to return it to its early glory days but has been thrown into financial woes, staff shortages, and family drama.

Is there more than meets the eye at this coastal island resort?

However, she must contend with her greedy brother-in-law, who would love to see her fail. She has one summer to turn it around.

Traci hires a crew for the summer, including the daughter of her estranged best friend. She also recruits her niece Parrish and several new employees to live in a newly renovated dorm since housing is so expensive on the island while keeping the hotel afloat. Plus, it makes them more attractive to provide housing. (Old Edwards Inn properties also offer this in Highlands, NC, which makes sense since there is no affordable housing there.)

Then, a strange death occurs during a party which raises eyebrows and other suspicions at The Saint, and it all falls back on Traci since it was her idea for the dorm. Is there a murderer among them or someone from the outside?

We learn more about Traci and her estranged friend, Shannon (there is background history here), who despises the Saint and does not want her daughter working there. We meet five employees who all live together at the dorm and are all witnesses to the death.

Then, the girls do a little sleuthing to try and discover the web of deceit that may lead to the murder.

A mystery of the past meets the present regarding a tragic drowning of one of their own at the hotel. What other secrets has The Saint been hiding or covering over the years? Will the hotel survive with all the bad press and media?

Told from POVs: Traci, Olivia (Livvy), Parrish, Shannon, Felice, KJ, Garrett, and Whelan. (2002/past and present)

CAPTIVATING! When reading a MKA book, you must set aside the time and prepare for an adventure. Her books are always fresh and clever, well-written with vivid settings, well-developed characters, a heartwarming story, a great mystery, and a takeaway message. SUMMERS AT THE SAINT draws you in and hooks you from the first page to the last.

A mix of historical, murder mystery, coming of age, mothers and children, women's fiction, contemporary, nostalgia, humor, suspense, romance, literary, and a must-read beach read, all in one!

From dark secrets of the past and scandals to those who want to keep them buried. The novel will take you back to those summer days at hotels, motels, and when you were a teen.

I am a huge fan of Mary Kay and have read all her books. Whether for summer or holiday, they are always entertaining and full of heart with her signature style and wit.

From the stunning front cover to the cast of characters, SUMMERS AT THE SAINT reminded me a bit of Red Oaks (TV series), which is hilarious set in the 80s—(fav) a coming-of-age set at The Red Oaks Country Club with all the teens with their last summer before college; employees, parents, summer flings, scandal, and more (not a hotel), but with the same drama.

AUDIOBOOK: I read the book and listened to the spectacular audiobook! As always, MKA and Kathleen McInerney (a favorite narrator) are a match made in heaven. I laughed so hard that I was glued to my iPhone for hours and could not put it down. Her distinct voice was perfect for all the multi-voices and highly impressive. I loved the audiobook and highly recommend it.

As a VP of Regional Sales, Marketing, and Design for large hotels and resorts for many years, and later a consultant for inns, cottages, resorts, and vacation rentals. I always enjoy reading stories about coastal historical hotels, resorts and the hospitality business.

A #1 Beach Read Pick from a master Southern storyteller! A summer favorite. Get SUMMERS AT THE SAINT on your TBR list. Beach bag ready! I loved the Epilogue one year later. No one does summer like MKA! Always the best summer and holiday stories. Perfect for your upcoming Memorial Weekend getaway or at home in a comfy chair—allow the novel to transport you.

Thanks to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for a digital e-book reading copy, St. Martins Press for a stunning paperback copy, and Macmillan Audio #MacAudio2024 for an advanced listening audio copy. #SMPInfluencers

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: May 7, 2024
May Newsletter
May 2024 Must-Read Books

🏨 Summer at The Saints - Mary Kay Andrews

3.5 ⭐️ - I liked this, but I wanted to love it. I am a big fan of MKA. Her books always surprise me. While this one was lovable and “light,” I just didn’t feel wowed. It was good, but I was looking for great.

Again, overall, I enjoyed it. It was a fun listen but it was lonnnnng. I’m always surprised by the length of MKA books. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was a touch shorter. There were also a lot of characters. Now, this could be an audio thing but i struggled at times to keep track. I’m not sure if I would have felt this if I read the physical book. But on the plus side, it had romance, it had mystery, it had family drama, it had a fun summer setting. All of those things kept me into the book and were parts of the story I enjoyed. Recommended to MKA readers or someone who likes mystery in the summer. Don’t be fooled by the cute cover, it’s not all fun and games inside the book!

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC and to MacMillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There are many storylines in Summers at The Saint and it was difficult to keep them all straight at the beginning; Mystery Romance Murder Theft. Eventually things setting down and the story takes off.
I’ve only read Mary Kay’s Christmas books, so this an interesting read. There is plenty of action to keep you occupied while sitting beach or poolside this summer !

I paired the audio with the eARC.
I always enjoy listening to books narrated by Kathleen McInerney.

Here we go! It is time for MKA’s new beach read that is out just in time for the start of summer! MKA always has a lot going on in her books and there is a little bit of everything for a reader to enjoy here.

We have suspense, mystery intrigue and even a little romance thrown in. There are family secrets, betrayals, danger, and murders! If you have followed my reviews for some time you know MKA is an auto-read author for me. And she’s also from Georgia, so that automatically gives her bonus points. She’s wonderful to meet as well.

The narrator is Kathleen McInerney again and these two are just perfection together. MKA’s story telling her McInerney’s narration just bring it.

Do me a favor, if you have yet to read a book by MKA, please pick one up and read it. If audiobooks are your thing, listen to it and experience both wonderful ladies!