Fantastic book by Mary Kay Andrews! I couldn't put it down. The ending really surprised me. I can't wait to read more from this author!

I think this book is perhaps marketed a bit incorrectly, as there are descriptions of "fun and heart-warming," a very beachy, carefree cover, but really the book does not align with that. There's a LOT of heaviness, darkness, and very much the opposite of fun. The book follows many characters and at times it can be hard to remember how they all intertwine. I don't think this dark turn is bad, I just was not in the headspace and was expecting a lighter, more uplifting beachy themed read than this. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

Such a wonderful summer read. I loved everything from the complex characters to the drama. The author's storytelling skills can literally keep you glued to the pages. Absolute bliss!

What I thought was going to be a cute, fluffy beach romance turned into a suspenseful murder mystery. I loved the setting and southern charm at the beautiful, inclusive, seaside resort for the wealthy. The author creates an intriguing cast of characters who have different backgrounds, motives and secrets. Page by page, scandals come to light and secrets are exposed, making this book hard to put down at times. There were a few surprising twists and I enjoyed how the story interlaces mystery and romance.
Overall, this is an engaging read I recommend you grab for a beach day!

Beautiful setting, but I couldn't get into this book as much as I wanted to. It felt like I was simply passing time, It's certainly an interesting premise, and I do like the writing style. I might like this a lot better if I read it at the height of summer, so I'll give it another chance.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. Had to ruminate on this book since I was mood reading it.

Perfect summer read!

I really love Mary Kay Andrews' books. They are a saucy mixture of romance, mystery, human foibles, class differences, and, above all, The South (of the USA). Summers at the Saint is Ms Andrews at her best, twisty mystery and bold romance. As an oldish person, I feel a bit out of touch with some of the characters' antics, but, oh well, I gotta keep up with the times, right? Anyway, I highly recommend this book for you summer (beach?, resort?, backyard?) enjoyment.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me an e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

l absolutely loved this book. I was a bit nervous because of some of the reviews but it was a favorite of mine.
Lots of mystery with some romance in the mix.
When Traci's husband dies she inherits his resort hotel. She has to deal with the drama his family brings. There is drama of things going on in the hotel that Traci isn't aware of.
Her employees start noticing things happening around the hotel that are just a bit off. Then there is a murder end everyone is trying to figure out what happened. I loved the mystery going on.
Thank you to netgalley for gifting me a copy of the book.

Cute beach read! The author does a good job with character development so you feel as though you know and related to the characters. The book was a little slow at times, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

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!

MKA returns to the summer read with the allure of a grand southern hotel, where a lot of mysterious things have happened and some odd / illegal things continue to happen. As Traci Eddings tries to staff the Saint for the summer, she makes some strides forward, yet there are some nightmarish steps back.

Summers at the Saint is a hard-to-put down summer read. This grand hotel had me aching for summer, and I’m glad I had this read to get me started.

I've been reading Mary Kay Andrews books for years, and I always enjoy them. Whether it's a summer romance, a cozy mystery, or a holiday romp, the stories are always so entertaining. Summers at the Saint is no exception. It has family drama, an old mystery and a new one, and a lovely romance.

The story takes place at a place called The Saint, an exclusive resort run by Traci after her husband died tragically. It's the start of the season, and The Saint might be in financial trouble, and Traci is doing everything she can to keep the business afloat. But with missing inventory, long-held secrets, and a shocking murder plaguing the resort, Traci and others must figure out what's going on before it's too late.

There are a lot of layers to the story, and it's told from a multitude of perspectives as well as small glimpses into the past. There are a lot of different points of view, and I was a little worried at the beginning that there might be too many, but it totally worked in the context of the story. The Saint, an exclusive resort, has many employees, and this family-run business has its fair share of secrets, and there's a lot to unravel. I was hooked from the start when an incident at the resort changed the course of many characters' lives.

There are a lot of dark elements to the story, what with the murder, the grief, fractured friendships and marriages, animosity between family and friends, attempted murders, and more, but the story is well-balanced with budding friendships and romantic relationships, second chances, family bonding, and a gorgeous coastal setting in the summer. I actually thought the beachy, sunny, and beautiful setting juxtaposed the darker aspects of the plot really well.

MKA is an author I always look forward to reading, and buddy reading Summers at the Saint with Leslie @ Books Are the New Black was so much fun. The story was quick and entertaining, and even though we predicted a few things pretty early on, it was still fun to see how things played out.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Whirlwind of a read with romance, murder, and mystery.

Setting is the Georgia coast where Saint Cecelia aka The Saint is a posh hotel where the elite go and those that are not of that status are called the The Aint's.....haha

Traci Edding lands a job at the hotel and ends up married and widowed as well as landing sole ownership of the hotel. So much happens that makes this book such an exciting read.

I highly recommend this book for those that love a good fast paced read that will keep your interest all the way through,

Thank you NetGalley for the digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have to come to really appreciate how Andrews’ summer books are completely genre bending. I went into this one blind and honestly loved the cover. I mean it screams summer, right?
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I went in thinking this would be a fun light summer read and it was up until a point and then holy crap it wasn’t. I don’t want to say too much because I really loved being surprised in this one. This one is out tomorrow!

Huge thank you to #StMartinsPress #MacAudio2024 and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Every book I’ve read by this author has been good.
At first the Saint reminded me of the hotel from Dirty Dancing. As the story goes on it becomes a murder mystery with some unexpected twists. It’s a hard to put down book! Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Wow. I was on the edge of my seat for the last half of this book! Very hard to put this one down and do the things I needed to do. I’m a long time MKA fan. - This book was great as they all are! Just a head’s up, this is definitely more of a mystery than some of her books.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Summer at the Saint is an entertaining women's fiction novel. It has murder mystery, humor, and unexpected twists and turns. Going into this story, I thought it would have a bit more romance and I'm slightly disappointed that there wasn't more. However, the story was captivating and very well written. I was drawn into the story and the characters' lives, of which there's quite a bit. It was a bit jarring at the beginning to get so many different POVs and I was wondering who a given person was, but as the story got going, it was fine. Overall, it was a great read!

Hands down, my favorite summer beach read from MKA and quite possibly her best book yet!! The month of May to me means having a new MKA book in my hands to welcome in summer, usually pool and/or ocean side on vacation. It's just not summer without a new MKA novel! This year, I was able to read it early, cozied up at home with my blanket and furbaby on my lap. I thought that might hinder the way the book felt because this story is set at Saint, a resort with a pool and the ocean, but given how the story plays out, it felt right for me!! No matter where you read this novel, you will enjoy it. It's mysterious and captivating. It keeps you turning the pages, and you don't want to stop reading. You want to know what happened over 20 yrs ago & what happens next as well as who done it. I read this book so quickly. You can picture Saint, the restaurant, other amenities, the Eddings family members, the Saint staff, and the guests as if you were there, even in the tense moments. This was a super fun summer read!!

Thank you, @netgalley and @stmartinspress, for the opportunity to read and review early. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

THE SAINTS & THE AIN’TS

Mary Kay Andrews offers readers a look into the St. Cecelia, a landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia. For those fortunate to grow up going there, they were “the Saints.” Those from the wrong side of the river were known as “an Ain’t.” Andrews’ main character, Traci, was from the wrong side but found a job there one summer and found the love of her life. He happened to be the grandson of the founder of The Saint. They were happily married and were in the process of bringing The Saint back to its Glory Days when he died unexpectedly. Traci finds herself widowed and left with a monumental task ahead of her, particularly since she has to deal with her unscrupulous brother-in-law at every step. Traci is always looking for quality help and hires a super young woman who turns out to be her former best friend’s daughter and reignites a hotbed of emotions. They have been on the outs since the summer they worked at The Saint.

Andrews has invented a lively cast of characters for this novel. The Saint requires summer help, and Traci decides to hire a group of young adults and provide them with a lodge. Andrews could have written an entire book on that! They do provide help, but the young people are also running their own game behind the scenes.

As the rebuilding continues, Traci realizes some things are not adding up. Money is going out rapidly for what they are getting in return. She knows who is behind it, but can she prove it? And a mystery man shows up in town asking questions about something from the past. Is he there to ruin The Saint or finally solve what happened that fateful day that changed so many lives? What other mysteries might he solve?

I enjoyed the plot of this novel. Andrews exhibits the way the “haves” treat the “have-nots” no matter where they are in the world. It is a story of how one woman knew what it was like to cross from one world into another, and she never forgot. She wanted to help others be the best they could be. The one thing I did not like about this novel was the language. It was unnecessary.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own and without influence.

Synopsis in a sentence (or two):
Mismanaged hotel intrigue meets family drama and murder mysteries

Characters:
The characters within Summer at the Saint fit the narrative perfectly. It is very clear from the start that some of the characters do not have the hotel’s best interest in mind and these characters come off as absolutely unlikable. On the other hand, Traci, the Saint Resort owner, has a strong love for the hotel, and it’s easy to like her strong dedication to her employees and career.

Pacing/Storyline:
I’ve been watching Jane the Virgin lately, so perhaps that’s why I found this Mary Kay Andrews so delightful. I’ve read many of Mary Kay Andrews’ novels, and this may be my favorite. I love a beach read, and this one managed to be an escape read and murder mystery all at once.

The story opens with a clear understanding that The Saint Hotel is struggling. Traci, the owner, works diligently to bring in new employees and treat them well. Each employee has a different reason for taking the job, and their backstories immediately pulled me in. Having not read the synopsis, I was surprised when one of the central characters was murdered. Nothing came as a shock concerning the murder plotline, but that didn’t change my interest level and the fact that I raced through this one in a weekend.

Read this if:
I recommend this one to readers who love:
📚cozy beachside mysteries
📚Robyn Carr, Elin Hildebrand, Jennifer Weiner
📚hotel staff-themed plots (i.e., Dirty Dancing & Jane the Virgin)

Rating: 4.0

Disclosure:
Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, Mary Kay Andrews, and Erica Martirano for the Digital Review Copy of Summers at the Saint. All opinions are my own.

I was able to download Summers at the Saint on NetGalley and I am so glad I did! It is my first Mary Kay Andrews Book and I am mad at myself for that. If her other books are like this one I will definitely be picking another one up.

This book was perfect as the nights get longer and the sun feels warmer. It had everything I love in a book; mystery, romance, and characters you root for. I was completely shocked by some of what happened and it took the book in a direction I was not expecting but really enjoyed.

Summers at the Saint comes out May 7.