Intense read, had to take a break to let my digital device charge! SO GOOD. A definite must read for summer and for anyone who loves a good murder mystery.

So Mary Kay Andrews has been referred to as the queen of beach reads and really that is quite true with this latest. Hello, Summer is Mary Kay Andrews latest contemporary romance that actually has a touch of mystery with the lead being a hard hitting journalist always chasing the truth in the latest story.

Conley Hawkins left her small beach town in the rearview mirror years ago to chase a career as a journalist. Conley actually had made a success of her career winning awards and working for a large paper in Atlanta but she continued to want more setting up a new job for more money but just as she was packing up to leave Atlanta the job fell through.

With her plans going up in smoke and no where to live or work Conley jumps in her car and heads south to the town she grew up in. Conley’s sister had taken over the family business running the small paper The Silver Bay Beacon but after arriving in town Conley quickly stumbles on a major story and finds herself working for her sister.

Hello, Summer takes the normal contemporary and puts it on a high octane path with such a fast paced hard hitting lead. We still have plenty of family drama with some romance mixed in but it was so much fun following along with Conley as she uncovered decades old scandals and stayed on top of current news. With plenty of edge of your seat intensity this one really kept the pages turning as I not only fell in love with the characters and setting but had fun with the breaking news stories along the way.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is a story about Conley, who returns to her hometown while in between jobs and winds up working with her sister running the family newspaper. I liked all of the characters and the dynamic between them. I would have liked more of a story between Conley and Skelley. There was one part of the story that was never resolved … the voices heard at the accident scene. I would give this book a solid 4.5. Mary Kay Andrews books never disappoint. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy😁

We can all benefit from a beautiful sunset, a favorite cocktail, and our family in challenging times. Such is the case with the protagonist in Hello, Summer. A young, professional woman returns to her family’s home on the gulf coast of Florida and encounters painful memories, strained relationships, and ultimately, reconciliation.

The character development is lovely and includes endearing “characters” and that town loner who you know is going to play a key role in the story but aren’t quite sure how until the end. The geographic setting lends an atmospheric feel and an air of romance to the story. The plot takes us through a political mystery and death, familial challenges, and a second-chance for love. This is so beautifully woven together that the reader moves effortlessly through the unfolding multiple elements. The characters are complex yet relatable, each having strengths, weaknesses, flaws, and successes.

Themes include abandonment, death and how differently people manage their emotions concerning them, and the bonds of love and family. The mystery is intriguing and has enough surprising twists to keep you guessing to the end. Andrews really is a master at weaving multiple storylines into a pleasing reader experience.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hello Summer by Mary Kay Andrews
Conley, whose a big shot journalists and comes from a family with a Newspaper back in Florida, leaves her job at Atlanta for another more promising career, but that blows up in her face, which sucks in my eyes, I seriously felt her pain. Anyway she goes back home to Florida.

Now, you would think that like most small towns not a lot goes on, and Conley thought the same thing, she isn’t even planning on staying in Silver Bay for long, but until the biggest story to ever happen it here fell literally on her lap? I mean come on!!! Why not take it!!!

Aside from her issues with her sister Grayson, which was something that was a huge turning point, Conley is getting the recognition she thinks will get her out of Silver Bay.

One think I love about a Mary Kay as a writer is her style, not all books are the same, I loved the mystery and the gossip!! Omg it was amazing! So much goes on in this book, especially if you are not paying attention, not, Conley is seriously a go getter, and I appreciate a woman who is about her business and who doesn’t stop until she gets what she needs, she won’t even sleep nor eat.

Ok and let’s talk about the romance, love always wins y’all!!!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this free ARC of Hello, Summer in exchange for my honest review. MKA does it again!!! 4.5 stars!!! If you’re a fan of her previous books like I am, you’ll love this one, too! If you’ve never read Mary Kay Andrews, what are you waiting for? Hello, Summer is a fun, fast read that draws you in from the very first pages. Conley is an ambitious female journalist who seems to be losing everything when we first meet her. Her trip back home to “the charming little village of Silver Bay” isn’t really a welcomed visit but rather the only place she has left to go when her life seems to drop out from under her.
MKA makes us come to know and love Conley, Lillian, Winnie, Skelly, Rowena, Grayson and so many more as small town family dramas begin to unfold, relationships are built, and of course, hearts become involved.
I look forward to reading every new MKA book because she takes you to lovely Southern towns, builds stories that draw you in and keep turning pages and at the same time make you care about the characters without being too heavy or too sappy.
It’s just not summer without reading a Mary Kay Andrews book. So treat yourself to Hello, Summer for this year’s best beach read!

The latest book by Mary Kay Andrews again offers a good story, some excellent characters, and an intriguing read. She has an ability to depict southern living in the panhandle of Florida in such a way you feel the heat and smell the salt in the air. If you are familiar with the area, many of her descriptions will ring true, from the small town featuring prominent churches to the way the residents all seem to know one another, as well as their ancestors back for several generations.
In this story she offers us a picture of a small town lawyer who manages to carve out a career as a successful 18 term member of congress who excelled in bringing lots of federal dollars into the area. The result is that he is revered by most of the locals who don’t want to hear anything negative about him; but that’s difficult when he dies in an unexplained car accident. She includes his grasping, second wife and his “born with a silver spoon in his mouth” son who both approach life with an air of entitlement that many residents are willing and even complicit in their maintaining.
On the opposite side of the story are Conley, the protagonist of this story who is a dedicated news reporter with personal experience in what it feels like to be abused by the son. She is also a member of the town’s aristocracy, albeit a different segment that is represented by bankers, the founder of the local newspaper and friends who all grew up on one of the more prominent streets in town. Her circle of friends went on to contribute to the town’s continuing existence as one of those idyllic small southern towns where everyone knows each other and graciousness is the way of life. Conley is somewhat the odd person out here, having moved to the metropolitan city of Atlanta and become a successful print reporter until circumstances upend her career path and she has to return home for what she plans will be a short hiatus.
There are multiple story lines here, including Conley’s relationship with her long time friend and neighbor, Skelly, who owns the pharmacy in town; her sister Grayson, who took over running the family paper and is paying for that decision with problems in her marriage; her grandmother, a grande dame of the town who exhibits all the charm as well as the steel spine that epitomizes a segment of iconic southern women; and her housekeeper, who is more a friend than employee and has her own reasons to hate the now dead senator. All these differing story lines dovetail beautifully into a tale that is part discovery of how the senator died, part description of southern living, perhaps from a standpoint that is dying out, and an awakening of what is truly important in life. Hint: It may be a career, it may be something entirely different.
This is an easy book to read, with no major surprises, but still a satisfying end to the story. The characters and town are so well drawn the reader will have no problem picking it up, putting it down to go shell some beans, burr some strawberries, or take a quick dip in the ocean and then come back to relax a bit with Conley and company. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital read copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An absolute fabulous summer read by Mary Kay Andrews.

Conley Hawkins has come home to Silver Bay after losing her job as a reporter. She shows up on her grandmothers’ doorstep, looking for a break before she starts sending out resumes. When she arrives, she finds that she has been out of touch with what has been happening with her family and friends. Her sister Grayson has been running the family newspaper business and it is in trouble. She vows she is only in town until she finds another job and does not want anything to do with her sister or the paper.

One night when out with an old friend Sean Kelly (Skelly), they come across a single vehicle crash on a deserted road. The deceased turns out to be a local politician and soon his death becomes quite the news story. Conley cannot help but get into her investigative role and wants to find out more about the story. She quickly becomes immersed in the story and the town folk. Silver Bay and the newspaper start getting a lot of national attention, and as things heat up, Conley must decide between her dream job and her family.

I absolutely loved this story by Mary Kay Andrews. The characters were so well written, and you can not help but fall in love with Conley’s grandmother Lorraine and her side kick Winnie, Skelly, Grayson and all the supporting characters. The story was fast paced, had a great mystery intwined with loss, love and coming home again. Thank you so much to the author Mary Kay Andrews, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to read and review. This is one summer read you don’t want to miss!

Customer Review
Scarlettleigh
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2020
A perfect blend of mystery, romance, interpersonal relationships! I'm a big fan of second-chance romance and this one hit the spot. The newspaper angle really was timely, especially in today's environment. Fleshed-out characters added a balance of comedic and seriousness to the book. Hello, Summer is definitely worth your time and money!

Knowing that there are books as stupendous as this makes what's going on around us a little easier to bear. Escape from the madness around us with this stellar book written by a woman who should be an automatic must read as she is mine. Happy reading!

When a new Mary Kay Andrews’ book comes out, everyone knows that summer is just around the corner. This year the book’s title, Hello, Summer, says it all.

Conley wiped the dirt from her small Florida hometown off her shoes and eventually became a Pulitzer-prize nominated investigative journalist. She’s about to start her dream job in Washington D.C. when the company suddenly closes down. Bereft and with nowhere to go, she returns to her grandmother’s home in coastal Silver Bay, Florida. There she finds family, old friends and intrigue.

Even though where I live all the beaches are closed down for the pandemic, I still couldn’t wait to slather on the sunscreen, lay outside, and read this picture-perfect beach read. Hello, Summer’s got family drama, southern charm, a murder mystery, and a bit of romance. Everything you want for a light read. 4 stars!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first book written by Mary Kay Andrews. I think I've been missing out. This story was fantastic.! Yes, it was kind of long, but I think that was needed so that the story could develop as well as it did. I did not feel that any page was unwarranted. The plot was so complicated and so well developed that the mystery just kept you going.
Some of the characters were quirky and some of them were rigid, but the blend was perfection. I loved how Ms. Andrews included the newspaper articles. It added another facet to the story. The plot included the always challenging family dynamics, small town idiosyncrasies, politics, mystery and a little romance to balance it all out. What a great mix!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I received an eARC of Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I give Hello, Summer 5 stars! I read this book in a day....couldn't put it down. Mary Kay Andrews never disappoints. I'm a big fan of hers and love her books! Hello, Summer has a solid and entertaining storyline with relatable characters. It has a little bit of drama, mystery, and romance. The perfect summer read!

Mary Kay Andrews is the queen of the summer read and Hello, Summer does not disappoint!

This book has everything. Part family drama, part mystery, part romance, and it does each of them extremely well! When I saw the length of this book I was hesitant, but I would have liked more! I hope we see more of Silver Bay and it's residents in the future.

This book is perfect for a beach or back porch read. Preferably with a large glass of sweet tea.

This is Mary Kay Andrews at her finest! I have been a fan of her writing since she wrote her first books as Kathy Trochek . After all these years, I think her stories have only gotten stronger. Ms. Andrews know how to tap into the atmosphere of the places where her stories take place. Hello Summer takes place in Silver Bay, Fl. a fictional town on the west coast of Florida. Conley returns to home to Silver Bay after being a journalist in Atlanta when the new job she thinks she has in Washington, DC falls through. Her sister and grandmother still live in Silver Bay and own The Beacon, the towns’ weekly newspaper. Conley, although a journalist wants nothing to do with her hometown or the newspaper, but along the way, there is a scandal of epic proportions and Conley can’t help but get involved. What ensues is another wonderful story with drama, comedy ( love the g’mama ), family dysfunction and love. It is a perfect beach read, and in these strange times, I thank Ms. Andrews for taking me on a wonderful journey.

Conley has quit her job in Atlanta for a much more lucrative job in DC. Well, DC does not work out and she has to crawl back home and work for her sister at her family owned newspaper. She and a “good” friend run upon a wreck one evening. And boy…does this open up a can of worms!
When Conley arrives home, there is quite a bit of animosity between her and her sister. As you can imagine…a little regret, a little jealousy just help add fuel to the fire. Then the story breaks and these two have to get their act together!
No author nails southern characters like MKA! The best one in this bunch…no doubt….Rowena! I think I know quite a few Rowenas here in my little town. Plus Conley’s grandmother. She does not take any crap from anyone.
I enjoyed this story. It is in true MKA fashion. It is quirky, mysterious, a little family drama and of course just a drop of a love story!
Do not miss this wonderful beach read!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Mary Kay Andrews has always been one of my favorite authors but she has outdone herself with Hello, Summer! Intrigue, adventure, suspense, love, happiness, sadness.....you will find it all in this wonderfully written book. Her characters are portrayed as if they were the next door neighbor. This is a definite summer read for everyone. Enjoy! 📚

Mary Kay Andrews never disappoints! She always comes through with an amazing story and her newest release is no exception. I got on the bandwagon too late and have a bunch of her books to get through, but I’ll get through them all eventually.

Conley Hawkins is an award winning journalist, who just lost her new job she never got to start. She decides to return to her hometown to visit her grandmother while sending out resumes for new jobs. However, her grandmother has other plans for her. Conley’s family owns the newspaper in their small town, and her grandmother convinces her to work there until she finds something else. But her sister, Grayson, is in charge at the paper and they aren’t on the best of terms.

When a local congressman dies under mysterious consequences, Conley finds herself in the midst of the mystery. She discovers a lot about herself and her family along the way of delving into the mystery surrounding the death of one of the state’s most prominent figures.

This book has so much to offer…mystery, family drama, politics and romance. This is the perfect summer read so make sure you add it to your beach reads list! On sale tomorrow! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Mary Kay Andrews is an author that I like to read when I want to escape to a warm destination. This story is set in sunny Florida and I loved the atmospheric quality of the book. She also excels at writing characters and each character in the story was well developed and interesting to read about.

The plot wasn't one that I was overly interested in and I found the story to be a bit too lengthy, I probably would have enjoyed it more had it been shorter (but I always prefer books that are less than 400 pages because I begin to lose interest most of the time).

Overall, a great book to read if you are looking for a great summer escape.

I received an e-arc of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I requested Hello, Summer because I just love Mary Kay Andrews and her beach reads, because they are always a must-read to kick off summer for me! This title was no exception, even with a slightly more intense plotline than her other novels I’ve read. Family secrets, political moves, romance and more - this title kept the story moving at all times!

Conley has left her job for something new, until she suddenly isn’t. Forced to head back to her family home in Florida, she's suddenly facing the memories, and people from her past she's spent years avoiding.

After running into her childhood friend Skelly at The Legion, the two witness an accident that leads to reviving her journalism job, but at her family’s small town newspaper, The Beacon.

Conley agrees to cover the story for her family’s paper and it takes us through a great story of regret, love, and so much more.

Andrews, as always, creates relatable characters with moving stories and an interwoven cast that keeps on surprising you. I absolutely loved how well we got to know each of these characters in relation to one another and how they all contributed to the plot.