Got to preview this as an ARC through Net Gallery. The only other book I’ve read by this author was “The Newcomer” and I definitely liked that one better. This one seemed to have a lot of serious things happen (death of a spouse, family trauma, death of an employee/niece, rape, drowning, affairs, drug use, murder, etc.) but overall the book didn’t feel very deep. I feel like some of those situations should have tugged at my heart at least a little, and they just… didn’t. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Maybe it was trying to be too many types of books at once, it got spread a little thin? It was sort of a murder mystery, sort of a thriller, sort of a romance, but it never really was enough of any of them to draw me in. I struggled with some of the plot holes and how conveniently some things were figured out. The automatic jump to who figured out Fred had an illegitimate child was the worst. But there were some twists and turns I didn’t see coming, mainly who was the mastermind behind all the deception and deaths, so it was entertaining. I finished it in a couple days, but I wouldn’t be likely to recommend it to a friend as an amazing book. 3.5⭐️

Very excited to read this book from one of my favorite authors. As usual, her storyline moves the book along well. While I got a little lost amongst the characters, I quickly got the players sorted out. I love how often they take place during the summer because I needed the warm vibes during a January cold snap. A nice mix of beach read and thriller. Happy endings are much appreciated.

Get ready for the ride. Summers at the Saint does not disappoint. It is the story of The Saint, a 5 Star hotel and private club on the beach and the "aints",the residents of the town from outside. It's got it all, murder, mystery and love. Mary Kay Andrews does building the characters. A good story that will keep you reading from the start.

Mary Kay Andrews has written another great story full of likable and interesting characters along with a well developed plot.

Traci went from an “Ain’t” to a “Saint” when she married the son of the family who owned St Cecelia resort on the Georgia coast. Unfortunately, her husband has passed away and she has been running the resort in his place and barely getting by despite decent bookings and a full restaurant. She lost her chef and guest relations manager to a newer resort just days before their busy summer season and she hires some local kids and her niece to fill those positions. This brings together our cast of characters. Of course, nothing is ever as it seems and we quickly learn about a mysterious drowning when Traci was a young lifeguard at the resort, some family drama is front and center in Traci’s daily life, a death of a beloved person, a bit of employee shenanigans, and a budding new romance round out the story.

I really enjoyed the book despite a busy start with perhaps a bit too many POV’s but after we get a little back story on the characters it move away from that. The ending felt a little rushed but not unrealistic and I closed the book feeling satisfied with it. This is the perfect book to take on vacation or sit in your favorite chair with a cold glass of sweet tea to spend some time trying to solve the mysteries in the story.

I really enjoyed this book—I finished it in just over 24hrs! There were a lot of characters, and that felt a bit overwhelming at first, but they all tied together so beautifully that I found it was just right. I loved how the story unfolded, and how so many past events wound together to connect with the present. I loved how strong Traci, Livvy, and Felice were, and how the bad guys got their comeuppance.

Really fantastic read that I definitely recommend.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved Summer at the Saint! I read it in 2 days. Couldn't put it down. A good who done it book with a little romance thrown in. Mary Kay Andrews books are always a good read.

MKA does not disappoint! With hints of SAINT Pete and the Georgia coast this book draws you in very quickly. The mystery and intrigue with surprising twists are excellent. Aint one but multiple reasons that the Saint is definitely a must read :)

#SummersAtTheSaint
#MaryKayAndrews

This book was a great beach read, full of twists and turns!

Summers at the Saint follows widow Traci Eddings and her crew of young employees at her late husband’s family-owned resort as they navigate the struggles of keeping the high-end “Saint Cecelia” afloat in a post-pandemic world. Between a shady history, tragedies past and present, and suspicious activity all around them, Traci and her team need to figure out who they can trust to keep “The Saint” in business for generations to come.

Weaving between a couple storylines, this book did a great job keeping me on my toes and rooting for our protagonists. I wish we had gotten to spend more time with some of the side characters as well! With the South Georgia setting and the undercurrent of “haves” and “have nots”, I think fans of shows like Outer Banks will love this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

It’s an impressive number: 37. That’s how many books Mary Kay Andrews has written including this one which comes out just in time for the beach.

It takes place at an exclusive resort on an island off of the beautiful Georgia coast. It’s just large enough for a bunch of wealthy club members to hang out at the beautiful pool, golf courses, shops and luxury hotel. This isn’t St. Simons Island. It’s a fictious place called, “Saint Cecelia.”

Everything was in pretty good shape until the pandemic rolled around and made a dent into the revenue lines. Now, Traci, who manages the hotel has a big challenge: her head chef and guest relations manager are leaving for higher wages at a resort in Hilton Head. She needs a good plan to quickly replace a few key positions in time for the summer crowd.

It all started 20 or so years ago when Traci and her good friend, Shannon, were lifeguards at this club for rich kids and their families. They worked for the “saints” when everyone else including Traci and Shannon on the coast were the “aint’s” of family money.

That was until a few years later when Traci married Hoke. His father owned the resort and she was beyond happy like she won the gold. But the reader knows something has to happen and it does: Hoke dies in a plane accident. Afterwards, Traci is still there managing the hotel even though it’s in the red. It’s a challenge and she knows she can get through it.

However, it’s not so easy. Hoke’s brother, Ric, is in charge of the real estate side of the business and his father with Parkinson’s is in a specialty care home. Ric is someone she doesn’t trust. Hang on tight as this story flows quickly into a murder mystery. The first few chapters gives the reader a clear picture of the main characters involved. She then moves on to the story with what I thought I could predict but…not quite.

Mary Kay Andrews has a style of her own and as I was reading, I could picture her fingers moving at a fast pace on a laptop and a smile on her face thinking: this is going to be a good one. And it is. While it’s entertaining, she points out the serious side of how difficult it is for restaurants and hotels to stay competitive. Sadly, the pandemic closed a lot of doors. Maybe it’s not my favorite of the many that she’s written, but it’s up there.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of May 7, 2024.

Just finished this amazing and delightful novel by new to me Mary Kay Andrews.
Yes, it might be 400 pages but I didn't let that stop me. There's just so much going on in this adventure.
Yes, I would read another Mary Kay Andrew's novel. I loved every minute of it.
And I loved the idea that my last name Parrish was used as a first name! How cool is that?!
There's a few characters in there that I wanted to strangle of course. Garrett, Madelyn and KJ.
I think my favorite part was the setting. She described that place so well that I felt like I was there.
I do agree with another reader that we could do without the profanity. I'd rather she use other words. In my opinion it would still be well received without that. Only thing I didn't like about the book. Otherwise, 5 stars
I highly recommend it! Great storyline with mystery mixed in to keep it going.
My thanks to Netgalley and St..Martin's for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Traci and Shannon grew up in Bonaventure, a working-class neighborhood, and when they were older, they realized there is a well-defined different social class in their small community. There are those who live in their neighborhood and those on Cecilia Island at the Saint Cecelia Resort complex. Traci and Shannon realize that they live on the wrong side of the causeway, however, at age 19 both Traci and Shannon got jobs at the resort as lifeguards. That summer experience changed the trajectory of both their lives.
Traci meets and marries Hoke Eddings, grandson of the founder of the beach resort, and Shannon, now a nurse, raises her baby daughter as a single mother. At age 40 Traci is a widow resulting from a tragic airplane accident that took the life of her bellowed husband. She inherits the hotel on the property and takes over Hoke’s role of overseeing the management and ensuring the success of the hotel.
All the main characters are strong and unforgettable. This story takes you on a a wild ride with many moving parts and surprising situations. The revelation of a tightly held secret of over twenty years has the potential of changing many lives. Traci and Shannon’s relationship has been estranged for over 20 years although they are brought back together as the result of a shocking discovery.
Mary Kay Andrews is a master storyteller and I’ve enjoyed every book of hers that I’ve read, although I would love it if some of her characters didn’t use profanity. Her stories would be just as fascinating and heartfelt.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions expressed are my own.

“Summers at the Saint” is a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat story that kept me guessing until the last colorful sunset rose over the summer sky. Southern charm and hospitality are front and center as we join Traci Eddings, the CEO of “The Saint” as she welcomes summer, new employees, and the many guests who flock to Saint Cecelia for sun, sand and delicious food. This summer Traci needs a chef and a personable, unflappable individual to work at the guest relations desk. Her new chef sought her out as the lure of free on-site housing was too much to pass up. Traci didn’t have to go too far to find the perfect manager to greet the guests upon their arrival, and a new waitress arrived on the scene who was thrilled to be working at such an historic and iconic hotel.

Traci treats all of her employees as if they are part of her family and with any close-knit group there is bound to be drama, in-fighting, and deep, dark secrets that are best left in the past. Traci had her work cut out for her as she navigated suspicious activity throughout the resort, her constant loneliness and the possibility of a romance that she never expected. As with any Mary Kay Andrews masterpiece, the vivid descriptions of the serene resort made me want to book my next vacation right away! I fell in love with all of the characters and wanted this book to go on forever!

As a fan of Mary Kay Andrews, I rely on her books for first-rate story-telling, identifiable main characters , and evocative setting descriptions. Summers at the Saint did not disappoint.

Traci is a former “Ain’t” (townie) in the town where the posh Saint resort dominates and is the major employer. She marries into the family that owns the property. Her husband apparently was the only ethical member of the family. Now a widow, she must grapple with horrible in-laws and the challenges of the hospitality industry post-pandemic.

I kept rooting for Traci and her common sense and fair solutions to all the challenges she encounters. As often with Andrews’ novels, there are descriptions of building improvements and high end food. Never boring and lots of fun to read about.

This was superb escapism!

MKA did it again! This one was really wonderful and I loved the different point of views all trying to make it in the world.

Summers At the Saint. Mary Kay Andrews began her writing career with her Callahan Garrity cozy little mysteries. This book takes mystery to a much deeper level with a diverse collection of characters so well defined that the reader becomes completely immersed in the stories of the struggling widow, her niece, the daughter of a woman who used to be her best friend, a chef who has issues with suppliers, a man investigating the death of his brother and the in-laws who might be more like outlaws. The conclusion was unexpected and stunning. Do not peek at the ending! I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

Another great book by Mary Kay Andrew’s! So many twists and turns that you don’t see coming…it keeps you wanting to forget everything else and keep going through the chapters. By allowing NetGalley participants easy access, I can only imagine a great number of five star reviews will follow. Thank you for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were interesting and dynamic; Traci was an excellent narrator- she kept me wanting to know what was going to happen.. i would think I knew the outcome but i didn’t. I always like to be kept in suspense when reading and I was not disappointed!

Another great novel by one of my favorite authors, Summer at the Saint revolves around a powerful family who runs a huge resort. There's romance, drama, and a great set of characters.

I really enjoyed this book. Read it in one day. I was sure what was going on starting with Traci and Shannon. When the mysterious new guy shows up to question what happened to his little brother 20 years ago I thought this was the story line but didn’t know how the women played into this. I never would have guessed who Livvies father was but I’m glad it turned out like it did. As far as the saints and ain’t I did not think this was still happening but I have lived a sheltered life.

I could not put this book down!! If you like to be kept on your toes then this is for you. I liked the character build up and the story line!