Two teen friends Traci and Shannon worked at the resort named the Saint during the summers. They both worked as lifeguards and there was a tragedy one summer causing a rift between them. Traci goes on in life ending up marrying a saint the son of the owner of the Saint. There was a saying in that town that if you’re from the wrong side of the river your an ain’t but if your from the opposite side your a Saint. Traci was an ain’t. After her husband dies she’s the CEO of the Saint. There is all kinds of situations that arise running the Saint. There is a large cast of characters with numerous idiosyncrasies that play a role in the plot. MKA ties them all together and she’s at her very finest! An excellent beach read! Holds your attention and you don’t want to stop listening to it! She brings a mystery tone to it by a murder in it too. Plenty of scandals and secrets. Very intriguing! Plenty of twists and turns! Sprinkled in is some romance too. You don’t want to miss this one for sure!

The narrator was fabulous! She brought it to life with her voice! So easy to listen to her! Excellent!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers in letting me listen to this audiobook and allowing me to leave an honest review.

A fun summer read very typical of Mary Kay Andrews. The multiple POV are easy enough to follow, and atrong female characters are always a plus. A mix of murder and romance that will keep you entertained and searching for who done it. Thank you, NetGalley and St Martin's Press, for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review

If you like the Finlay Donovan series and the Aunties series by Jesse Q. Sutanto, I think you will also enjoy Summers at the Saint.

The St. Cecelia Hotel is a family-owned resort in Georgia, famous for its high-class atmosphere. If you were lucky enough to vacation there, you were called a "Saint", if not, you were an "Ain't". Traci was an Ain't who worked at the hotel when she was a young adult. She met and married the hotel owner's son and inherited his portion of the business after his unexpected, early death. The hotel has been struggling financially lately and Traci knows this summer is her last chance to turn things around. If that weren't challenging enough, she's also dealing with 2 death investigations - one from the past and the other in the present. A lot is going on at The Saint this summer. Traci has her work cut out for her in this twisty tale that combines mystery and romance.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a review copy of this audiobook.

In her latest beach read gem, Mary Kay Andrews transports readers to the sun-drenched shores of Georgia and the iconic St. Cecelia hotel in Summers at the Saint. It's an engaging tale of family drama, long-held secrets, and one woman's tenacious fight to save her beloved coastal resort.

Andrews's storytelling shines as protagonist Traci Eddings, the determined widow inheriting the struggling St. Cecelia, takes center stage. Facing financial turmoil, a scheming relative, and the revelation of a tragic past event, Traci must rally an endearing crew of summer staff to turn the hotel's fortunes around. Her journey crackles with spirited dialogue, a delightfully zany cast of characters, and Andrews's signature flair for capturing the soul of the Southern experience.

Andrews deftly juggles genres, infusing the summer drama with welcome dashes of romance, humor, and mystery. Her vibrant descriptions truly transport readers to the cloying salt air and lush coastal scenery of the Georgia lowcountry. If you've ever been to The Cloister on Sea Island or the Don CeSar in St. Pete, you're going to feel right at home at The Saint!

A true master of the beach read, Andrews has once again crafted a story that sparkles with wit, warmth and a celebratory zest for life's simple pleasures. Summers at the Saint is a delightfully immersive summer escape brimming with heart and humor.

I did listen to the audiobook of this one, and I thought it was a great listen. There are quite a few characters to keep track of, which is sometimes difficult with an audiobook, but this one was an easy listen.

very cozy ready! I had never read anything by this author before but will for sure be picking up other books from her!

Good mystery read with a fun setting and some interesting twists. Thank you to netgalley and Macmillan audio for the ARC.

Don't judge this book by its cover; it's not as lighthearted as it appears, but it was still a solid read.

The story revolves around Traci, the owner of the St. Cecelia Hotel, and her staff navigating a series of challenges during the summer. Right from the start, the hotel is beset by one problem after another. Adding to the intrigue, another death occurs on the premises! Are these events connected? Will Traci succeed in saving the hotel and ensuring its survival?

If you're a fan of the show The White Lotus, you'll definitely appreciate this novel. Keep in mind, the book takes on a more serious tone, blending mystery with a touch of romance. Despite the introduction of numerous characters, the author skillfully ensures the story remains easy to follow. It's an entertaining read and perfect for anyone seeking a summertime murder mystery.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Mary Kay Andrews, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

Summers at the Saint is the story of the St. Cecilia Resort, the Eddings family, Traci and Shannon and how their friendship, and lives, diverged after working at the Saint in their teens, the summer staff, and murder, This book was not what I was expecting from my limited knowledge of Andrews' work and the cover art, but I enjoyed the twists and turns and relationships that she laid out. This is an enjoyable mystery with a tiny bit of romance thrown in and I look forward to recommending it to both romance and mystery fans. Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the early listen in exchange for my honest opinion.

“You’re either a Saint, or an Ain’t.” It all depends on which side of the river you grew up on…💎

A cross between a whodunit and love story, drama and scandal abound in this new release by Mary Kay Andrews.

Her husband’s untimely death four years ago left Traci Eddings the owner of the St. Cecilia, the five star resort her husband’s family has owned for generations. But with post-Covid staff shortages, financial obstacles, and her greedy brother-in-law who’s always felt she didn’t belong in the family — let alone own the resort! — Traci is struggling to maintain the exacting demands of their uberwealthy clientele.

When the tragic death of one of their own and a horrible accident from years ago collide, all the buried secrets twist their way into the light.

I’m a firm believer that the narration can either make or break an audiobook. Sadly, the narration broke this one for me. The pacing was very slow (had to increase the speed to 1.5+), and the overly-exaggerated southern accents made the characters sound whiny, spoiled, and cruel to the extreme. For this listener, it made intriguing characters come across as silly.

The story itself was interesting, and I did enjoy it. But...it felt like too many subplots happening: the patriarch, the greedy brother-in-law, the old accident, the death, the shenanigans of the staff, the love story… Each had a compelling premise, but some could have been developed better. The ending felt rushed to tie up all the action.

This is an easy, quick read perfect for a day by the water, but I recommend a physical or e-copy, not the audio for this one.

Thank you to Mary Kay Andrews, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary advance copy! It was my pleasure to write this candid review.

I was able to pair the audiobook with the ebook and loved this novel. It’s true Mary Kay Andrews writing style. Her twists surprised me and I fell in love with the characters. The narrator chosen, Kathleen McInerney, always makes me think of MKA, she’s been used for several books. Such a great choice for Tracy in this book too.

Let me start by saying there are a lot, A LOT, of characters introduced in this novel. They all have a twisted detailed past and it feels kinda like being zapped, mid-season, into a soap opera. Mary Kay Andrew books usually have a mystery to solve, sometimes that includes a murder/homicide, sometimes it’s an item or persons secrets. Ingram this case the “murder” surprised me. She surprised me with the who, the how, the why, all of it.

This is a fantastic beach read for the summer or a quick vacation. The audiobook is perfect for long flights or car rides. Highly recommend Summers at the Saint.

I went in a bit blind to this. From the author and the cover, I was expecting a light vacation read. This is not it. It is about the investigation of a death of a small child which veers very far from my typical reading. To be fair, I didn't dig deep into the description but was expecting something totally different. I found it very hard to read and really struggle with bad things happening to kids, especially when it is discussed frequently. I know others will be able to disconnect and enjoy it, I just couldn't' finish it. A Rom Com book disguised as a Whodunnit.

The Saint is the class upper class playground where the rich can get away with it all from generation to generation. They expect everything to be just perfect and look forward to that each season. Now that the Saint is changing will people be able to behave the same? How will the staff handle a death of one of their own? A fast pace read that will have you longing for summer

You can always depend on Mary Kay Andrews for a fun, female-friendly read. She takes a "beach read" and elevates it, showing us that they don't need to be mindless to be entertaining. Her style is set, her writing and pacing are good, and her stories keep you interested throughout the book. This one is a perfect summer read!

I will be honest in saying that the first part of this book was more of a 3-3.5 star for me. Spent a good portion being confused and trying to figure out who all the characters were. There was almost too much going on and I was having a hard time keeping up. Unfortunately, that made some of the book drag on for me. Eventually as I continued on with the book I got more and more invested in the book and the characters leading me to a higher star review so maybe more of a 3.5-4. In case, you were grabbing this for a summer read I would just say it's not your typical summer read.

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Pub Date: May 7, 2024
How I Read It: 🎧

Synopsis
The St. Cecelia, aka The Saint, is the premiere resort on the coast of Georgia that holds a long history of family traditions. It’s also family owned, but with the recent passing of one of the owners, the resort seems to be going downhill and is bleeding money. But why? Can the staff be trusted? Will hiring new employees help turn things around? Find out as you meet the interesting characters who work at The Saint.

My Thoughts
This book was really good! MKA is such a great storyteller, and I always love the locations/setting in her books; they are my FAVORITE summer beach reads! This book was no exception. It was wonderfully written and was a page turner! I loved the main characters and the book had a few shocking moments/twists that added to the mystery of it all! If you’re looking for the perfect beach read this summer, pick this book up! You won’t regret it!

Final Thoughts
MKA’s books are always thick/long, but don’t let that deter you! Her books will hook you and you will be flipping through those pages like crazy to find out what happens in the end! I REALLY wanted to give this one five stars, but I had to deduct a 1/2 star for the swearing at the beginning of the book. It didn’t add anything to the story, and I felt the book could have gone without it since, it basically did continue on without it. It was just odd that it was thrown in there. The narrator, Kathleen McInerney, was AMAZING! I could listen to her read a book all day long!

❗️Of Note
📝 Family Drama
📝 Murder / Death
📝 Drugs / drug overdoses
📝 Swearing


Themes:
🔍 Mystery
🏖️ Beach Read

Ratings
Characters: 5 ⭐️
Pace: 5 ⭐️
Enjoyability: 5 ⭐️
Narrator: 5 ⭐️

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Summers at the Saint was such a fun audiobook to listen to!The narration was great and i was able to get a sense of each personality while listening.
It was the perfect book for summer filled with mystery, romance, and fun. This book kept me guessing until the end and the twists and turns were not what I expected.
If you are headed for the beach or looking for a fun and easy read this summer, be sure to pick this up!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the opportunity to listen to the audio version of #summeratthesaint!

Don’t get too comfortable thinking this is your relaxing beach read. The suspense, drama, twists, dark turns, and well-drawn characters will have you on the edge of your seat and you might even be ignoring your friends and family once you begin this page-turner! Andrews wastes no time drawing the reader in to the gorgeous Southern resort setting with its fine food, beautiful grounds and golf course, iconic sunsets, memorable events at the pool and beach, and masterful attention to details thanks to its lovely leader, Traci Eddins. The layers of storytelling in this novel locked me in, having to find out what was going to happen in not just one story line but in SO MANY story lines. The detailed characters made me feel like I had a sideline seat at the resort truly people-watching. I knew them! The dreamy resort, mystery, drama, crime, both likable and questionable characters—this book has it all to keep the reader highly entertained. Andrews’ skill as a writer shined as she brought the all the puzzle pieces and plot twists together for the reader in such a satisfying way. I loved the clever phrase in the book, “You’re either a “saint” or an “ain’t”! After reading this, I’m happy to just be an outsider looking in! Thank you for the visit to The Saint, #marykayandrews!

I just finished reading (listening) to "Summers at the Saint" by Mary Kay Andrews. This book was much better than I expected! It has mystery, thriller, and romance.

There are several likable characters, including the main character, Tracy Eddings, as well as Parish, Felice, Olivia, and Waylon.

The plot is interesting and complex. There are secrets that eventually come to light. The setting is an island off the coast of Georgia at a beautiful historic renovated beach resort called Saint Cecilia. It is set in modern day, post COVID Pandemic.

Tracy was from the wrong side of the town, but as a young adult, she got a job at the Saint as a lifeguard. She had a romance with Hoke, one of the sons of the resort's owner. Eventually, they married, and Hoke was in charge. After several years of wedded bliss, Hoke passed away in an accident. This story picks up about 5 years after that when Tracy is the resort's owner.

There is a murder mystery from the past that is still unsolved, and then another one occurs.

Kathleen McInerney is the narrator of this audiobook, and she did a great job with all the voices! She kept them all straight, which must be difficult with so many characters.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 5/5
Pacing - 5/5
Unputdownability - 5/5
Enjoyment - 5/5
Narration - 5/5
Cover - 3/5
Overall - 5/5

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Mary Kay Andrews for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you @macmillan.audio for early access to Summer at the Saint.

This was more than a beach read. Mary Kay Andrews writes lovely mysteries usually involving murder. The Saint is a luxury hotel on the Georgia Coast owned by the Eddings family for 3 generations. Traci grew up on the wrong side of town but married into the Eddings family. After her husband dies in a tragic plane crash, Traci becomes owner of the Saint. As a new summer kicks off, Traci battles with her terrible brother in-law, who hopes to see her fail. Traci is strapped for reliable help, so she builds an on-site dorm to house the 20 somethings, who can’t afford to live in town. Like a college dorm, the employees bond and party together. Sadly, one employee ends up dying, and they expect foul play.

Though there were good, bad and horrible characters, the characters were what made this book. I liked the mystery, rich summer people vibes, and the resurrection of long buried secrets. My only critique is that it felt quite long…. Longer than necessary.

✨ Genre: Mystery & Beach Read
🩷 Steamy rating: Very Mild
🤬 Profanity: Moderate
🎧 Method: Macmillan Audiobook

Triggers: Murder, drug use and abuse, rape, death of a spouse, Parkinson’s, and arson

#summeratthesaint #marykayandrews #macaudio2024 #macmillanaudio

Great mystery with some romance and family drama. Think you know who did it! Guess again.

The twists and turns are what keep you glued to this story. Some of these family issues have been going on for decades and are still unsolved. The awesome characters, stunning scenery, tangled motives, greed, secrets between friends and well paced intrigue are what make this book hard to put down.

I listened to the audiobook and it was really fun. The narrator - Kathleen McInerney - did a great job.