When a new Mary Kay Andrews title comes out, you snap it up and settle in for a good, entertaining read that sets the tone for the rest of the new beach reads of summer. So HELLO, SUMMER jumped to the top of my TBR pile. All of the classic Andrews titles' markers are here. The main character has shaken off the small town dust for the big city job. Due to circumstances beyond her control, finds herself right back where she started. Except now she is working the family paper under the watchful eye of her sister, who is definitely not impressed with her big city experience. It looks to be a long, boring summer until a senator is killed in a local car accident. As she investigates the accident for her paper, the story kicks boring right out of the box.
An excellent read for anyone looking for an original story line that has enough twists, turns and interesting characters to keep you picking your book up for just a couple more minutes that turn into 50 pages and an hour later. Another great book from Andrews is what we expected and just what we got.

This book was great, I really loved it. As a journalist, I loved the descriptions of small town newspaper life, as it was brilliantly evocative, and I thought the characters were really well drawn, too. The added mystery of what had happened to the central character also threaded through the book and kept me guessing right up until the end. I read this book at the start of lockdown here in the UK, when things were stressful, and this book really, really helped take my mind off everything. A great read!

Conley is ready to leave her current job for a new position at a big-city newspaper. She has packed everything she owns for the trek north and is at her farewell party when she learns that the new job has fallen through. Since she's burned her bridges in Atlanta, she decides to go home to the small town she grew up in, while she figures out what to do next. While working for the tiny newspaper that has been in her family for ages, she witnesses an accident involving a local politician. As she works on the story, she uncovers secrets that some in town would rather not see the light of day.

When a new Mary Kay Andrews books comes out, that's a sure sign that summer is just around the corner, and I always look forward to a 'fluff' book, but fluff with substance. This book is no exception, and it was just what I needed with everything going on in the world at this moment. It gave me a chance to escape, a chance to get to know a town and characters that aren't always what they seem, and even a bit of mystery to go along with the romance and family issues. I look forward to reading Ms. Andrews' next book!

What a great book! I thought this is a wonderful summer beach read; a little romance, a little mystery and a good story. This is a a perfect book to read during this stressful time of "staying home." It takes your mind away from from all the news and what's going on in the world. It's always nice to read a story with a happy ending. Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC.

Mary Kay Andrews has another winner with Hello, Sumner. Set in Sunset Bay, Florida, this book has it all-mysterious death, family drama, romance and the quirky southern characters Ms. Andrews is known for. For me, this book revealed itself slowly, but was never dull. I enjoyed all the facets of the book, some more than others, Overall, a great beach read and for those of us who love Mary Kay Andrews a solid story.

Thank you to #Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced e-copy!

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I liked the fact that it was a twist on her normal beach reads but it dragged a bit for me. Although it included summer feels and a romance with a touch of mystery, there were a lot characters and back stories that felt a bit unnecessary. I would get into the story just to be pulled out of it because of the info dumping.

This was not my favorite of Mary Kay Andrews beach stories and I felt a bit disappointed. However, maybe I wasn’t in the right mood for it. If you are looking for a mystery, summer read with a bit of family drama, I recommend that you try this one out.

Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews is women’s fiction with family drama, mystery, romance and the beach, too. Silver Bay, FL may seem like a small town where nothing ever happens but this summer it is hotter than the summer sun when Conley comes homes and does her big city investigating.

The title alone made me want to read this book since spring has been a challenging season for almost everyone. I am ready for a complex story involving a few people as compared to the world-wide one we are all living. So a well written compelling beach story is just what the doctor ordered. Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews is all that and more.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The characters in Hello, Summer are so vivid that they feel like people I want to know. Mary Kay Andrews has written an exceptional book that gives the reader a little bit of everything - mystery, love, romance, family.

Another summer whodunnit by Mary Kay Andrews for us to find out who killed someone even us would have if we had had the chance.

Conley has lost her job and goes home to her grandmother and estranged sister until she finds out what to do. There, she has to work for her family's local newspaper and she barely has time to underestimate the work when a big case falls on her lap. A congressman dies in a shady car accident, and the more she investigates, the juicier the story becomes. This could even be her ticket out.

I really enjoy Ms. Andrews's books, how it's not that much much of a thriller and not that much of a romance, and lately you even have good doses of (good) family drama. It's become one of the things I look forward when summer approaches. This one follows those tracks, with familiar elements from her latest books if you've read any, but that will probably lead you to wrong guesses (it led me, at lease). It's not that the key to the mystery was that unpredictable, but that she totally fooled me.

But then we come to the flaws that made this read the less perfect among her recent works. The book is long, very long, unnecessarily... yeah, you got it. For example, good job writing down all those articles so we could feel more of Conley, but they were just repetitions of what we had already seen; I would had kept them out. There were passages that got too wordy, and surely there were characters that had no reason to even exist. Why talk so much about her mom? Why create Buddy Bright?

The romance was also bland. I don't remember feeling this dissatisfied with a romance by this writer before. Of course, because she's done it before, I kept suspecting her romantic interest and this didn't help, but I was suspecting most of the characters and it didn't get in the way of me enjoying them. I didn't feel enough sparks, just that. It would be okay for a pure-bred thriller, but Ms. Andrews's proposal goes much beyond. So I was disappointed.

The parts about journalism, while I'm not in the area, felt exciting, on the other hand. I also loved the characters working for her newspaper, The Beacon. I also enjoyed a lot her grandmother and Winnie. These parts were very charming. And, as mentioned, I couldn't predict the ending, though I acknowledge that maybe I could have had I not overthought it.

This book rated average. It's long, but with good elements to make it up. The mystery part wasn't that intriguing but it was enough to keep me curious, too. It's great for readers that like a more tempered, less upbeat thriller and a good read for the summer for those who already follow the writer, like me.

This one just wasn't for me. I read to about 20% and I wasn't excited about it. I'm in the minority here though, and those that usually like MKA books should still give it a try! I was excited to read it because of the beach setting and journalism vibes but I just didn't connect with it. I think I was expcecting a more traditional "beach read" type of book. I sincerely appreciate the chance to read and review.

Thoroughly enjoyed this latest book by Mary Kay Andrews. This is a fun read and a perfect escape from the real world. I loved the plot and the way the characters developed. When Conley is forced to leave Atlanta and move back to a small town, the wheels are put in motion for an intriguing mystery to come to light. As Conley begins to uncover the details around a local Congressman’s death, she turns things upside down in her personal and professional life. This well written and well paced book needs to be on your summer reading list.

As a person that makes sure she reads every book MKA writes I was so happy to get a copy from NetGalley before it was released. Conley, just lost her new job before it even started in DC. So she goes home to regroup as a news reporter. Her family just happens to own a newspaper in the small town she grew up in. Even though this is not where she wants to be a tragic accident happens that causes her to put all of her reporting skills to the test. This is a great book for the summer or for right now when the world seems to be on edge. I love MKA writing that what can seem on first glance as a "fluffy, summer read" can turn into a book about love, loss and family ties. You won't regret picking up Hello, Summer!

Enjoyable beach, pool, or bathtub read. Small-town girl turned star big-city reporter returns to her roots when her shot at an exciting Washington, D.C., job falls through. Familiar MKA themes of facing your past, resolving family conflicts, and finding what you seek closest to home.

The book crackles in the scenes of newsgathering and writing on deadline. The descriptions of home-cooked, often home-grown food are incredibly appetizing and reflect the characters and the setting, from the shrimp remoulade at the beach house to the handmade cherry coke at the soda fountain. The author paints beautiful sunsets -- always different, always compelling.

The book is thick with plots and subplots, which caused the book to sag a little for me. They also seemed to divert from the plotline that I found most compelling..

I’m a big Mary Kay Andrews fan so I was excited to read this! At times, it felt like this was two separate stories. While it did all tie together in the end, some parts could’ve been left out. However, it was a good read!

Hello, Summer - the perfect beach read! This somehow is the first book I've ready by Mary Kay Andrews, and I will have to go look for more. Hello, Summer combines small southern town charm and big city ambition with an engaging story of a small town newspaper investigating the death of a local politician. The characters are warm and vivid, and there's just enough romance to make it fun. This is a fun, light, but somewhat suspenseful read, with enough depth that kept me wanting to read just one more chapter. Highly recommend as a great summer read - I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc - 4.5 stars!

I feel like it's been awhile since a MKA book made me swoon. This one did. I loved the suspense of it and I lovedhow the characters developed. To see how much Conley and her sister grew and evolved, made this story one that I didn't want to put down. Well worth picking up!

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3243876977

I loved this book. It has everything family drama, mystery and romance. Conley Hawkins had a job lined up as a journalist in Washington D.C.. but it falls through, she goes home to Silver Bay to stay with her grandmother. Conley ends up working at the family newspaper The Silver Bay Beacon, which is run by her sister Grayson. One of the things she has to do is rewrite the Hello Summer column. Conley with her good friend Sean Kelly witness an accident. They come to find out it’s a local hometown hero/congressman. Conley starts digging around and thinks his accident is not just an accident. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for my ARC. This is my own opinion.

Hello Summer by Mary Kay Andrews Reviewed on April 29, 2020 2.6 rounded up

Our April weather has been a lot like summer so I thought this might be a fun read.
I do like author, Mary Kay Andrews and have read three other novels. Really liked "Summer Rental" as we have vacationed many times on the Outer Banks. I also liked "Ladies’ Night".]. But this didn’t click for me. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t good … perhaps… I just wasn’t in the mood. I prefer psychological thrillers but do enjoy a nice comfy beach read.

Want to thank NetGalley and I just love St. Martin’s Press so was pleased with being granted this early release granted to me in exchange for an honest profession review. The Publishing date is schedule for Tuesday May 5, 2020.

Expecting a good , but light beach read in Mary Kay Andrew's latest story, but was I surprised. Conley returns home to a small town in Florida after losing a great investigative journalism job, even before it got started. She's going to be living with her grandmother and working in the family newspaper business, The Beacon, for her older sister.

The first word that comes to mind is boring and humdrum, however this book is anything but. Enter the suspicion death of a longtime politician, a disgruntled deputy, the brooding and suspicious nighttime DJ, a forgotten first live, and a host of family issues to give you one great story!

Not your typical fluffy beach read that's for sure. You've got to read this one. It's tough to put down, and although some humor dispkayed, is not your typical Mary Kay Andrew's book. It was so much better so go out and read it. Great characters, twisting plot, and a HEA.

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

I was so excited to receive a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

i have read Mary Kay Andrews in the past and I took a break because I felt like her books were a bit repetitive in the plot line. I was so happy to see a shift in emphasis for the majority of this book. This book follows Conleya news reporter who is just about to leave her job in Atlanta to take a higher paying job in DC. On the day of her farewell party, Conley learns that her new job has gone under. Conley decides to return home while she searches for a new position. However once she makes it back home in Florida, she realizes life has changed dramatically since her last visit home. Her grandmother is ill, but refuses to admit it, her sister is trying to hold on to the family's small town weekly newspaper, but is looking to sale, and her neighbor is suddenly interested in her but she can't commit. It's not until a local congressman dies in mysterious circumstances that Conley realizes she might be onto something and home could mean more to her than ever before.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found the main character relatable. Conley is in a stroke of bad luck, but is determined to make things better all the while arguing with relatives the whole way. It leads to a good mystery filled with suspense, and even a little romance.