My brain always tells me I’m getting a fun, light beach read but that is definitely not how Mary Kay Andrews rolls. This story had some fun twists and turns that I very much enjoyed, I was disappointed when one of my favourite characters got murdered but it added to the story. The characters were great. Traci & Shannon’s story was good and only got better as the book progressed, Parrish, Olivia, Felice, K.J & Garrett added the fun with their young people escapades. I liked Whelan and was happy for Traci, I really wanted Ric & Madelyn to “get it” and they really did themselves in with their evilness. The mystery of what was really going on at the Saint moved the story along. This book was fabulous & I thought it was great.

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

Summers at the Saint was so much more than I anticipated it to be, in a good way! I have read several MKA books and have enjoyed them all but this one takes the cake. It is about a multi-generation family owned, elite resort, called St. Cecilia, also known as The Saint, set on an island off the coast of Georgia. The story focuses more on the family and the employees, rather than the guest, giving a modern day Dirty Dancing vibe, which I loved. Sounds perfect, right? However, looks can be deceiving and not everything is as perfect as it appears. After all, you’re either a Saint or an ain’t.

I loved the diversity of characters and how MKA uses strong independent FMC in her books. I appreciate that the author repeats key info from time to time, to help the reader to remember small tidbits of info that may have been missed/forgotten but are important to know. Furthermore, she does this in a way that doesn’t feel redundant. There is a lot going on and a lot of characters to keep track of but it wasn’t hard to follow and easily kept my attention.

I was fortunate enough to have an epub and an audio copy of the book and appreciated having both. Kathleen McInerney’s narration enhances the experience, bringing the characters to life with impeccable tones and inflections while creating a believable narration. McInerney delivered a spectacular performance from start to finish.

Do yourself a favor and go in blind, like I did, you won’t be disappointed! There’s a little bit of everything…romance, mystery, suspense, unseen twists, and plenty of family drama making it a perfect summer read!

TW—drug abuse, death, rape

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, MacMillan Audio and Mary Kay Andrews for granting me early access to Summers at the Saint in exchange for an honest review.

Are you a Saint or are you an Ain't?

Summer beach reads begin with the name Mary Kay Andrews and this Summer is no exception!

Welcome to the coast of Georgia and the landmark hotel St. Cecelia, where traditions run deep and scandals run even deeper.
The locals affectionately refer to it as “The Saint.” If you grew up coming here, you were considered “a Saint,” but if you came from the wrong side of the river, you were labeled “an Ain’t.”

Traci Eddings, an outsider, worked at the hotel one fateful summer and ended up marrying the boss’s son. Now, as the widowed owner of the hotel, she’s determined to restore it to its former glory despite staff shortages and financial troubles. Her greedy brother-in-law wants her to fail, but Traci enlists a motley crew of recently hired summer help, including the daughter of her estranged best friend. Together, they have one summer season to turn things around.

However, new information about a long-ago drowning at the hotel threatens to come to light, and the tragic death of one of their own pushes Traci to the brink of despair. With her back against the pink-painted walls of this beloved institution, she’ll need all her wits and guts to right wrongs, put guilty parties in their place, and perhaps even find a new romance along the way.

Mary Kay Andrews weaves warmth, humor, and twists into this beach read with depth and heart. The novel promises mystery, romance, and the magic of restoring friendships. Kudos to Kathleen McInerney for her narration. The book was so easy to follow and her narration between multiple characters was on point.

If you’re looking for a delightful escape that combines mystery, romance, and summer fun, “Summers at the Saint”is a great choice. So grab a copy, find a sunny spot, and get ready to be swept away by the magic of this coastal retreat!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy an ALC of the book.

I loved this book so much, from the cover I thought this was going to be a romance but boy was I surprised when it turned out to be a murder mystery.

I haven't read a lot of Mary Kay Andrews' books (yet), but I've really enjoyed the ones I have read. As someone born & raised in Georgia, they're a bit like going home. The surroundings are comfortable, whether they're on the Atlantic or the Gulf, in the mountains or a city. And I know I'll end up hungry for whatever her characters are cooking - literally.
This book was no exception. Set on the property of an old family-run exclusive resort on the coast of Georgia, we get to know both the family that runs the resort as well as the people in the surrounding area that keep the place running. There are quite a few characters introduced in the beginning, old and new staff members, the family that's working hard to keep The Saint afloat, and a stranger who's come to town to solve a mystery of his own. There's are other mysteries here - disappearing merchandise, odd complaints that shouldn't logically be happening, and oh by the way, a murder. There's a lot going on, but Andrews keeps the plates spinning in a way that makes it easy to keep up with the characters and the happenings. I listened to the audiobook, and Kathleen McInerney does a fine job of giving characters individual voices that helps keep them all straight.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

You know it’s summer time (or Christmas) when Mary Kay Andrews shows up and this one certainly screams summer read between its cover and charming coastal setting!

If you don’t already know, MKA has a knack for flawlessly blending multiple genres and offering readers such diverse stories! Summers at the Saint intertwines family tensions, hidden truths, a gripping murder mystery and the prospect of a second chance romance. What’s not to adore?

MKA is just such a wonderful storyteller and knows how to write such intriguing character driven novels. Don’t let this one being 400+ pages stop you from picking up this truly delightful read!

I am always a huge fan of Mary Kay Andrews. I look forward to her mysteries, romances and the southern setting. But this one fell flat. I felt like she was trying to achieve a certain type of audience with this book that is unlike her normal audience and it was a definite miss. There was way too much going on and felt like none of it was wrapped up.

Traci Eddings runs The St. Cecilia hotel (aka “The Saint”), a luxurious pink Georgia landmark that’s the summertime playground of wealthy members and guests. This summer though, things are looking a little less rosy as bookings are down and key employees quit to work at a new resort up the coast. To get the hotel back on track, Traci assembles a ragtag staff of employees, including her niece, a posh frat bro who flunked out of college, and the daughter of Traci’s estranged childhood bestie. When tragedy strikes too close to home, Traci finds out how many secrets are lurking the shadows of The Saint.

If you love Mary Kay Andrews for beach reads with a side of romance like I do, Summers at the Saint delivers on that front and a whole lot more! There’s murder, an old mysterious death, family secrets, drama, and intrigue too. Featuring a large cast with no shortage of ulterior motives and a web of lies connecting the past and the present, this story breezes by even though it has almost 450 pages. With a well-crafted mystery, a cast of characters you’ll love (and love to hate!), and MKA’s signature writing style, this book had me wishing I could spend my summer at The Saint!

The audiobook is narrated by Kathleen McInerney, and she does a great job! All of her voices and accents made it really easy to keep track of the characters and follow the story!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing me an advance copy of this book.

I absolutely LOVED this book! I also listened to the audio as well as reading the E-ARC and I highly recommend doing that! The story is about Traci Eddings and her husband died in a tragic plane accident so she takes over the St.Cecelia hotel in coastal Georgia also known as "the Saint." Traci hires new staff in order to better the hotel and its guests. There are many scenarios throughout the story unfortunately that lead to solving a murder mystery. This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I felt like I was really in each scenario! As the story escalates you find more and more information about family throughout the story and why they did what they did. This is such a GREAT beach read as it does take place at the beach! Highly recommend!!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for my gifted copy!

Crazy enough, this was my first book by Andrews, despite having several on my shelf. I went into this totally blind, honestly thinking it was going to be a summer romance. Not. At. All. I got so much more than I anticipated.

Summers at the Saint takes place on the beautiful coast of Georgia, in a grand hotel called St. Cecelia, or "The Saint." Here lies mysteries, mayhem, and a ton of wealthy family drama. The story follows Traci Eddings, who, after her husband dies is left in charge of The Saint. Growing up Traci worked at the hotel as a lifeguard, when a young boy drowned in the pool. This is kind of where the story gets its wings and I can't say much else without giving anything away.

I honestly didn't expect so much mystery in this story and I was here for all of it. The audio was fantastic as it was narrated by Kathleen McInerney, who had me hanging on to every word. At a little over 14 hours the audio seriously flies by and she speaks in such a way that you are able to speed it up some and keep pace just fine. I was truly entertained and maybe now I can give some of those books on my shelf some attention!

“If what you’re doing doesn’t terrify you, you aren’t doing it right.” Sage advice from my favorite character!

I went into this assuming it would be a cute summer read. I got so much more than that—what an absolute delight! Murder, mystery, family, multiple scandals, and SO MUCH MORE.

Taking place over a few weeks at the beginning of the summer season, Summers at the Saint tells the tale of both an idyllic beach resort, and how messy things can get when family works together.

I absolutely loved the characters (even the terrible ones; they were all written authentically and believably). The setting was perfection. Having lived in the south for many years, I could picture The Saint and all of its beauty (and the people who would stay there). I was on the edge of my seat for much of the book after things started to go sideways, and was thrilled with how much story the author packed into this book.

On audio, the narrator was phenomenal. She nailed all of the women and their personalities, and was the perfect choice for a southern-set read.

Highly recommend you add this to your summer reading list!

This is a wonderful summer beach read. It has a little bit of everything, some family drama, romance, a small town, and a mystery to solve. Mary Kay Andrews always writes a captivating story that you can easily get lost in. The narration of this book was outstanding. It was only one person but each character had a distinct voice. The southern accents were realistic.

This one has it all. Summer time vibes… family drama…romance… and … (*gasp*) murder! If this cover doesn’t scream “beach read”, I don’t know what does. 🍹 
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The St. Cecilia hotel is called “The Saint”. It was a luxurious hotel “back in the day” and ultra wealthy guests would spend their summers there. Traci Eddings sure wasn’t one, but she did spend a summer working there. She ended up marrying the bosses son. Hoake dies (not a a spoiler, btw) and Traci inherited the hotel. She loves the hotel, but certainly not all of the family drama that comes with it. Trying to bring The Saint back to it’s glory proves to be a lot of work. What follows is drama, humor, twists, secrets…. all set at a posh seaside resort. 🐚 I highly recommend it! Kathleen McInerney delivers a very lively narration, full of a lot of life and bubbly personality. ☀️ She does a great job of narrating a full cast of characters. Be sure and pick this one up to throw in your beach bag this summer. 🏝️

I read my first Mary Kay Andrews book years ago when I traveled with my mom for a work conference to Palm Beach. I found it at a beachside bookshop and it was raining the next day. I sat with my grandfather at the pool all day under a huge umbrella to keep us out of the warm rain, and read the book. We split nachos. It was such a great day!

I bring that up to say that since my very first Mary Kay Andrews book, I’ve been hooked. Now when summer is approaching I know it’s time for a new MKA book and they always charm me. In her latest book, Summers at the Saint, romance, mystery, and long-buried secrets collide one summer at a luxury resort.

What is Summers at the Saint about?

On a small island off the coast of Georgia sits a stunning luxury resort called the St. Cecilia, that is more commonly referred to as the Saint. Traci Eddings was six when she first spotted the pink castle-like building of the Saint. She was thirteen when she first stepped on the property for a friend’s birthday party. She was fifteen when she and her best friend Shannon got summer jobs working at the ice cream parlor at the Saint and learned that there were two social classes: the Saints and the Ain’ts. She was nineteen when she met and fell in love with Hoke Eddings, the son of the family who owned the Saint.

Nineteen years later, Traci is widowed and the owner of the Saint. When staff shortages and financial troubles plaguing the hospitality industry since the pandemic threaten to upend the busy summer resort season, Traci finds a way to restaff and keep the resort running. She has converted an old building into dormitories so staff have a free place to stay for the summer, and she’s gone out to recruit a new chef and customer service staff. Including the daughter of her former best friend Shannon, who is not pleased to have her daughter working for Traci or the Saint, and the daughter of her unscrupulous brother-in-law who turned down a summer program to help out at the Saint.

When new information comes to light about a tragic drowning that occurred at the hotel twenty years earlier, Traci finds herself up against nearly insurmountable challenges to keep the resort afloat. Things are off to a rocky start, and when another murder occurs at the resort, Traci may not be able to salvage the resort she’s loved from the moment she laid eyes on it.

What did I think?

Summers at the Saint is a wonderful example of what a talented storyteller Mary Kay Andrews is. Whether you’re new to her books or a longtime fan, her latest novel will captivate you. Well-crafted characters and vivid imagery make the reader feel as though they are at the Saint as the events of the novel unfold. I could picture the pink-and-white striped awnings, the lush green golf course, and the sweeping ocean views.

Traci is the central character, but Andrews builds out a full cast who add texture and intrigue to the story. Chapters are narrated from a variety of perspectives, including Shannon’s daughter Olivia, the son of a wealthy family whose dad wants him to learn a lesson by working at the Saint, and Traci’s beloved niece, Parrish. The characters are well-developed, but what makes them shine are the complex and often emotional relationships among them. There are several families who are experiencing the seams beginning to pull apart. Traci and Shannon’s friendship is introduced in the first chapter, and their falling out and hurt feelings in the present harken to real life friendships.

There were characters I loved and others I loathed. There was a bit of romance in a subplot that added a light breath that lifted the story up. Traci can’t seem to catch a break this summer. More than anyone else, the Saint is important to her and so is her husband’s legacy. But with so many things going wrong, it’s hard to not wonder if this is a streak of misfortune, or whether someone is behind it. The drowning from two decades earlier seems when it’s first introduced as the catalyst that broke Traci and Shannon’s friendship, but as the book goes on it becomes clear that the drowning may have more fallout than it first appears to.

The threads of suspense, mystery, family, friendship, secrets, forgiveness, drama, romance, and status weave together throughout the story, building a layered story that had me locked in to the story. A cast of complex characters and a beautiful and vivid setting make this book a perfect beach read.

What did I think of the audiobook?

Kathleen McInerney narrates the audiobook and she brought the story to life through her engaging narrative style and her comfort portraying a wide variety of characters and their stories. A book like Summers at the Saint lends well to audio format because there is so much vivid imagery, it gives the reader the chance to close their eyes and picture the setting. You’ll feel like you’ve been to the Saint and experienced its lush and picturesque charm!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for my copy. Opinions are my own.

For years now, Mary Kay Andrews has kicked off my summer reading. And this book, set at a posh resort on the coast of Georgia has wealthy people behaving badly, and a pair of deadly mysteries to solve.

MKA is a gifted storyteller. Her books captivate. She is fantastic at mashing up genres, and this book mixes mystery and women's fiction with a dash of romance. The setting is lovely. A family run business, The Saint is an exclusive coastal resort struggling to regain its former luster. It is vividly depicted, as is the surrounding area, giving the book great summer vibes.

The book's many characters, particularly the smart and compassionate Traci, are very well-developed. Despite the large cast, Andrew's skill ensures each character is distinct and easy to follow, even through the multiple POV format. Witty dialogue, friendship, romance, loss, family dysfunction, deception, and secrets are skillfully woven together, creating a compelling drama with a few surprising twists that ends up being very heartwarming. The writing is great, as always, and it is perfectly paced.

I could not put this down and alternated between the ebook and the audiobook. Kathleen McInerney narrates the audiobook, as she has many of MKA's books and delivers another amazing performance. She gave each character a unique voice and captured the emotions, humor, drama, and suspense perfectly. This is very entertaining and makes a perfect addition to that summer reading list. I loved it!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the free book and audiobook!

I had no expectations going into this book! I have never read a Mary Kay Andrews book but just knowing the popularity of the author, I knew it would be something! What? I wasn’t sure. BUT! What I got was sooooo entertaining! I can tell why she’s popular!

There is a lot going on in this book! When I tell you I didn’t know what to expect, I mean it! I didn’t even read the synopsis, I saw a pretty cover & I thought yes that looks interesting! I was thinking just purely based on the cover & the first couple chapters this would be a light fluffy “let’s save the hotel with this ragtag group!” So when the death happened?!? I was SHOCKED! An author killing off a character we get their perspective?! I couldn’t believe it but I really enjoyed it!! I was fully invested in that storyline. I liked how we had all these different people trying to solve the mystery and how it really felt authentic to how people would actually act in this situation.

Speaking of characters, man were there a lot! At the beginning I was like oh no! I’m not gonna be able to keep everybody straight. Especially bc it’s a little bit of whip lash trying to keep up with the changing perspectives. But she handles this perfectly (as any seasoned author would!) I found that just being along for the ride & not getting bogged down with who’s who really made me understand what was going on with the changing perspectives. I think my favorite characters were traci and livvy, they were so spunky and I really liked how they would stop at nothing to find out what happened to Parrish!

My only negative here is the whole storyline with the past & the guy (honestly can’t remember his name) trying to find out what happened to his brother. I didn’t think we needed that storyline other than to show how bad of a guy ric was & to provide a love interest for traci. I think I could have done without that but that’s only personal preference!!

I really enjoyed my time with this book & now I’m curious to read more MKA!

Summers at the Saint is my 3rd MKA book and the best one I've read yet! It gave me slight Hotel Nantucket vibes, so if you like that book you'll probably like this too.
This book has a variety of genres- a little drama, a little mystery, and even a little romance. It also covers two time periods and BOTH are exciting. The past has a suspicious drowning and some ex bff drama, and the present has a murder and other suspicious happenings at the hotel. I enjoyed how likeable the main character is. Though she is owner of a fancy resort and therefore a "saint", she grew up as an "ain't" and married into the life. It wasn't a book that's obnoxiously about rich, country club folk. I did find myself wondering how she didn't suspect something fishy (literally) was going on at the resort.
Although I listened to it, this would be a fun beach read! But if you do choose to listen, the narrator was great.
Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the chance to listen early in exchange for an honest review!

"Summers at The Saint" delivers a riveting narrative filled with unexpected twists and turns that defy expectations in the best possible way. Traci Eddings, widow and proprietor of the esteemed hotel The St. Cecelia, navigates the intricate dynamics of wealth and status in her community, where being dubbed a 'Saint' or 'Ain't' carries weighty implications. However, a fateful summer alters Traci's circumstances, setting the stage for a story brimming with decades-old mysteries, present-day intrigue, and a cast of vibrant characters with complex motivations.
Mary Kay Andrews masterfully weaves together a tapestry of unsolved secrets, shady pasts, and the challenges of maintaining a high-end resort in a post-pandemic era. Traci and her dedicated team, facing both internal and external threats to the resort's legacy, emerge as the heart of "The Saint Cecelia." Despite an initially busy array of perspectives, the narrative swiftly coalesces into a captivating blend of suspense and summer warmth.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for early access to this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

I had a great time reading this! I was entertained enough to finish listening to the audio book in a single day. Although there are many characters to follow, Tricia, the fmc is very likable. The plot is well-written and moves quickly. There's a murder, family problems, betrayals, secrets, friendships, and even a developing romance! Although the plot had a few awkward transitions, this is a nice choice if you're looking for a quick read with a hint of mystery.

ARC - Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!

This book was a fun & quirky read! Definitely heavy on the quirky and leaning into the cozy mystery vibes. I liked the multiple POV's in this book, but sometimes it was hard to follow all of them. This book had a lot of twists thrown in. I predicted some of them, but not all, which I appreciated. I do think there should have been a trigger warning for SA, and was a little frustrated that there wasn't. Overall, this was a quick listen and a good book to binge with audio.

Posted on Goodreads, instagram stories, and Storygraph 5/6, will post on instagram feed the week of 5/6