Another great book by Ms Andrews! Loved the characters, the plot and settings. She writes the best summer/beach books. Connecting the murder with the incident in Tanya’s past was a little much but it all worked out well. Enjoyed the residents of the motel. They were a hoot. Fun read!

When Petty finds her sister Tanya laying on the floor, she knows she's already on the run. She's promised her sister to take her of Maya, whatever it takes. And she'll honor that promise.
After leaving New York in a rush, crossing several states in her wake, she parks in front of the Murmuring Surf And the story begins...
I've read several books from this author before, and this one is great. There's mystery, there's drama, there's romance. A good plot full of wonderful characters. It took me a day to get to the last page, and I enjoyed every one of them.
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

While I loved the premise, I just couldn’t get into the plot. I read to about 18% and just didn’t feel invested in the storyline. My apologies!!
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Love, love, love Mary Kay Andrews. However, this book took me awhile to get into. I thought that I finally found the one book of hers I wasn't in love with. But with persistence, I hit a point, like all of her novels, where I couldn't put it down. In the end, she challenged me to dig deeper and enjoy the ride. And enjoy it I did. Many thanks Ms. Andrews for taking my mind off of fast gear from work and the pandemic.

A mix of family drama, murder, mystery and love, from New York to sunny Florida. Prepare yourself, this is a book you can't put down. Two sisters so completely different but as they say " blood is thicker than water" and Letty will let nothing get in her way of keeping her sister's promise. On the run with her 2 year old niece you travel with Letty from New York, escaping to Florida. landing at the "Murmuring Surf Hotel". There Letty settles in with the "hotel regulars" and even lands a job as an assistant to the owner. Trying to unravel the mystery of her sister's secret life Letty discovers her sister was less than truthful. Letty's not alone as she tackles the dangers of her sister's past. She meets Joe, hotel owners son and local police detective. Full of surprises, love and lots of laughs. As with many of Mary Kay Andrew's books this too is a great beach read.

This book is perfect for anyone looking for a fun, light beach read. The plot and characters are nothing that has not been done before, but Mary Kay Andrews does it very well. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nope, just too, too corny for me. Really lay on the southern "isms" and it didn't speak of anything I needed to hear. When I read one line that was something like faster than a rat on a Cheeto, I'd had enough.
I think it was the last book by Mary Kay Andrews I thought was something too silly to read. I don't know why I requested this, but I won't be reading more of her books.
Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

A great beach read with the perfect balance of love, family and intrigue.
A woman on the run from an evil man and his scheme to frame her for her sister's murder. A little girl who has lost her mother. A policeman looking for the answers to a unsolved crime. A community of snowbirds. Somehow, Mary Kay Andrews draws this unlikely group into a novel about finding yourself and forgiving your past. A page turning tale that will keep you on the edge of your beach towel!

What is family? Is it something you are born into, something you create, or some mysterious combination?

Mary Kay Andrews explores these questions with humor and liveliness. Her main character, Letty, shows an indomitable spirit when left to take care of her niece while being on the run. Other characters flesh out the story and add interest and humor.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review The Newcomer. A fun book to relax with and read in these cold winter days!

My first time to read this author and I enjoyed the mystery which I tried to figure out along the way but she had me stumped! A nice book that you will enjoy.

The Newcomers by Mary Kay Andrews was my very first novel bythis author! A special thank you to NetGalley for granting me an early release ofthis book! It comes out May 4, 2021.When Letty’s sister, Tanya, is mysterious murdered in herNYC apartment, it’s up to Letty to flee with Tanya’s 4 year old daughter Mya.Off they go to Treasure Island, FL (I was there 2 yrs ago, so this was a greatsetting for the book!), staying at a motel called the Murmuring Surf. Lettyquickly becomes one of the regulars, only to find the hidden past her sisterleft behind in that very motel. With Mya’s father in search of them, and accusing Letty ofher sister’s murder, she’s a fugitive on the loose. With the help of the peoplefrom the motel and the FBI, can Letty keep her and Mya safe or will she beunder arrest for a murder she didn’t commit??This is a great book, with straight forward story and an endingthat’s exciting to find out the answers. It was a little drawn out at the end.The book was 448 pages and could have been wrapped up a bit sooner, in my opinion.
Overall a great story and I would definitely read MKA again!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Beach books just always make me happy. This book did not disappoint! The characters and the plot are realistic, mixed with an interesting twist it hooked me from the get go.

My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me review my first book from this author.

Letty Carnahan goes for her regular Sunday visit with her niece Maya, only to walk in and find her sister Tanya, Maya s mother dead. Tanya had left Letty a note that if anything ever happened to her to grab Maya, and run, which she did , to the Murmuring Surf Motel, in Florida, a place where Tanya had worked. While there Letty discovers many secrets about her sister.....an involvement with criminal Declan Rooney, and being chased by Maya s father to get his daughter back. Can Letty conceal her identity while interacting with the colorful cast of characters , protect Maya, and find out who really killed her sister and clear her name? Please read this fun tale and find out?

This was my first time reading a Mary Kay Andrews book, and now that I have, I can see why her books are so popular. Although it wasn’t the best book I have ever read, it was fun, and it kept me entertained from start to finish. This book is the perfect beach/snowy day read, and makes for a nice distraction if you find yourself in need of an escape. A nice, easy read that will occupy your mind for a few hours.


The plot and mystery may be a little far fetched at times, but it was simple without being boring and addictive. The story weaves between past and present, but it was written in a way that’s easy enough to follow along with, without getting confused about the events taking place.

I liked Ava and her adorable niece even more, and I loved that part of the story takes place at a motel. There’s just something about motels/hotels that I love, both in real life and in stories.

If you’re in need of an escape from reality, pick this book up and let your mind venture to the beachside motel alongside the characters!

I really struggled with this book. The writing style is one where you go back and forth between the present and memories — works in some books, didn’t work well for me here. I also had a hard time getting into Letty as a heroine — and having two small children myself, the behavior of the 4 year old and how much they cooperated was hard for me to read as well because it just read as unrealistic. This just wasn’t the one for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. Everything you look for in a book. An easy read that keeps you in suspense as the plot evolves. The reader falls in love with the characters as the characters fall in love with each other. A little far fetched but definitely worth reading!

The Newcomer is a great fictional mystery/romance novel. It captures your interest right from the beginning when the main character, Letty and her niece Maya pull into a Florida beach town motel called “Murmuring Surf”. As the story unfolds you find that you are unable to put this easy read down. Letty is running away not only from the law, but her previous life as well. Letty’s untrustworthy boyfriend has taken up with her beautiful sister, but when she discovers her murdered body, she grabs her young niece Maya and leaves. She knows she will be the main suspect and cannot risk hanging around.

The owner of the motel, Ava, feels sorry for Letty and takes her on as an assistant, not aware that Letty may be wanted for murder and that she kidnapped her sister's four-year-old child. Ava’s son Joe is a police officer and is suspicious of Letty from the beginning. Many intriguing developments occur throughout the story, including a little romance. The motel is a winter get a way for many retirees, and Mary Kay Andrews infuses plenty of humor at their expense and the readers enjoyment. The plot thickens further into the story, as does Letty’s relationships; all of this culminating into a gratifying ending.

This is the first novel of Mary Kay Andrews I have read, and I genuinely enjoyed it and will explore many more. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this preview copy. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fictional romance/mystery!

4/12 stars!! This is a fun, fast read. I loved the people at the Murmuring Surf and I would love to vacation there! Letty is a great MC and the supporting characters are well done. The romance adds to the story in the best way. I enjoyed this from start to finish! Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

The Newcomer is not what I thought it would be. While it does have a little romance, the story mostly focuses on a murder and keeping the victim’s daughter safe. Letty did not believe her sister when she promised to take her niece and run if anything happened. But that’s exactly what she ends up doing. I enjoyed the setting of a Gulf-front property with its eclectic characters. It is the perfect beach read for the summer.

WOW! There was so much going on in this book that I could hardly put it down! It was great to see how the people at The Murmuring Surf embraced Letty and Maya and kept them safe during everything that unfolding. Two mysteries that were eventually tied together. What a super read!