“People—and it’s mostly the ones who’ve never had any—they say money can’t buy happiness. But you know what it can buy? Choices.”

I am HERE for the summery beach reads with a little sprinkle of murder and a dash of mystery and drama. I couldn’t put this book down!

Summers At The Saint has everything you need in a story to keep you invested and flipping those pages. There’s family drama, questionable characters, some down and dirty business deals, all set against the backdrop of a pink beach resort for the wealthy and connected.

The audiobook was so good as well! I love having multiple copies of a book so I can read when I have some down time and listen when I need to multitask! A win/win for sure. The narrator did a fantastic job of making this story come to life for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press, and @marykayandrews for the ALC and ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It pains me to DNF and give this rating because I’ve loved other books she’s written. The setting was lovely, and I was expecting a light beach read, but that’s definitely not what I was getting. This was just too much. Too many characters, unlikeable at that, and too many separate things going on. It just wasn’t for me, and I couldn’t connect with it.

"Summers at the Saint" by Mary Kay Andrews offers a delightful blend of tradition, scandal, and redemption set against the backdrop of the iconic St. Cecelia hotel on the Georgia coast.

Traci Eddings, the widowed owner of the hotel, faces a daunting task as she strives to restore the Saint to its former glory amid staff shortages, financial woes, and the scheming of her greedy brother-in-law. With a motley crew of summer hires, including the daughter of her estranged best friend, Traci must navigate personal and professional challenges while uncovering long-buried secrets that threaten to unravel everything.

Andrews expertly weaves together a captivating narrative filled with warmth, humor, and unexpected twists. Traci's journey is both relatable and inspiring as she confronts adversity with determination and resilience, ultimately finding strength in the face of despair. The richly detailed setting of the St. Cecelia, with its colorful characters and deep-rooted traditions, adds depth and authenticity to the story.

With its blend of romance, mystery, and heartwarming moments, "Summers at the Saint" is more than just a beach read—it's a compelling tale of friendship, forgiveness, and the enduring power of hope. Andrews' skillful storytelling and keen insight into human nature make this novel a perfect summer escape that leaves a lasting impression.

🏨 Summer at The Saints - Mary Kay Andrews

3.5⭐️ - I liked this, but I wanted to love it. I am a big fan of MKA. Her books always surprise me. While this one was lovable and “light,” I just didn’t feel wowed. It was good, but I was looking for great.

Again, overall, I enjoyed it. It was a fun listen but it was lonnnnng. I’m always surprised by the length of MKA books. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was a touch shorter. There were also a lot of characters. Now, this could be an audio thing but i struggled at times to keep track. I’m not sure if I would have felt this if I read the physical book. But on the plus side, it had romance, it had mystery, it had family drama, it had a fun summer setting. All of those things kept me into the book and were parts of the story I enjoyed. Recommended to MKA readers or someone who likes mystery in the summer. Don’t be fooled by the cute cover, it’s not all fun and games inside the book!

I absolutely loved this novel. Mary Kay Andrews did not disappoint with the drama.
This book was fantastic and is going to be a wonderful summer read. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press or the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC and to MacMillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There are many storylines in Summers at The Saint and it was difficult to keep them all straight at the beginning; Mystery Romance Murder Theft. Eventually things setting down and the story takes off.
I’ve only read Mary Kay’s Christmas books, so this an interesting read. There is plenty of action to keep you occupied while sitting beach or poolside this summer !

I paired the audio with the eARC.
I always enjoy listening to books narrated by Kathleen McInerney.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for the #AdvanceReviewCopy

Genre: Mystery/Women’s Fiction
Release Date: May 2024

Summary: Traci grew up on the other side of the river making her an outcast when it comes to the prestigious resort named The St. Cecelia (The Saint for short). But eventually, Traci marries the owner’s son and after his accidental death, things change and Traci now owns and runs the hotel. This however has been no easy feat as her late husband’s family is not only restful of her, but her brother-in-law continues to give her a hard time daily. Traci must continue to navigate the muddy waters and when an expected turn of events occurs, her life changes once again. Searching for answers, praying for strength, and managing her in-laws is more than Traci can take.

My Thoughts: Like all Mary Kay Andrews books, I loved this one. It grabbed my attention from page 1. This is really like 2 murder mysteries in one. One is a blast from the past, while the other is current. There were a slew of characters introduced early on but this was done with care and intention, allowing the reader to get to know each one carefully. There was never confusion around the characters due to the flawless execution. Each character and story blended nicely with the overall arc like a well fitted glove. The mystery kept me on my toes, even though I did figure out early on what was happening and who the guilty parties were. I think this still worked because I truly connected to a lot of the characters, and became deeply invested in their outcomes. The book also offers much more than the mystery as it contains family drama, loss and explores failed friendships.

Packed with many punches, this one will have you curled up reading anywhere you have the time to fit in just one more page.

Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A perfect summertime beachy read. Goes great with lemonade or white wine, sunshine, and several hours to just devour it without stopping. 😁

The setting is a posh hotel on the Georgia coast known as St. Cecelia or The Saint for short. The high dollar guests are known as the Saints and those from the other side of the river are known as an Ain't. Traci and her friend were so excited to be lifeguards for the summer. On those long ago summer days, Traci never dreamed she would one day be running this hotel that she is so enamored with. The summer was joyful, but was also marked by tragedy and lives were forever changed.

Traci ended up dating and then marrying one of the owner's sons, Hoke. Unfortunately, now she is widow trying to run this exclusive resort all while battling with her pain in the backside brother-in-law. Business is just now picking back up after the Covid shutdowns. Traci needs this summer to be successful, but it seems everywhere she turns something is going wrong. Staffing is an issue, but she finds a way to make things work.

This story had the perfect blend of mystery, family drama, long lost friendships and new romance, which made this such a delight to read. There are mysterious characters, betrayal and coverups that will shock you. Most importantly this is the perfect beach read and will put you right in the mood for a summer day at the beach or pool. The Saint lived in my mind for most the day today as I flew through the pages desperately wanting to know how this one would end, all while wishing I was a guest at The Saint.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Summers at the Saint has romance, intrigue, and rich people doing rich people things. The story is told from multiple points of view, as people from both sides of the tracks come together at an iconic southern beach resort. The widowed main character, Traci, is trying to navigate running an aging resort in a post-Covid world. The story unfolds quickly, with a few unexpected twists. The setting and the pace make this a great vacation read!

This book is a perfect summer read for anyone who loves a drama filled story about rich people behaving badly. It was told from multiple viewpoints with a mystery at its core, I was intrigued to keep reading, but some of the characters and situations left me unsettled.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. This was my fifth book by Mary Kay Andrew’s and it won’t be my last. Summers at the Saint follows Traci, the owner of the Saint, a five star hotel as she navigates the summer season along with her staff Parrish, Livvy, and Felcia. They face many hurdles along the way. Summers at the Saint will be a popular choice this summer for a feel-good book with thrilling twists.

I look forward to Mary Kay Andrews every year, and I usually love her stories. But unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this book. While her settings are always lovely and charming, this story has too many characters & felt chaotic. The cover suggests a fun beach read, but instead Andrew’s gave us a darker story than what I’m used to with her. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book.

St. Cecelia, a luxury hotel/resort known as “the Saint,” has been a dividing ground for generations. If your family was wealthy enough to be admitted, you were a Saint; if not, you were an Ain’t. Traci grew up an Ain’t – until she met and eventually married the boss’s son. Upon his death, she took over running the hotel, determined to overcome financial troubles and staff shortages and return the Saint to its former glory. It will take everything she has to accomplish this before everything comes tumbling down around her.

I have read and enjoyed nearly every book this author has written, and this was no exception. I really liked Traci, her willingness to listen to her staff and her determination to get to the bottom of the problems that arose and turn the hotel around. I figured out who was behind each of the issues that came up before they were revealed in the book, but this is billed as a romance, not a mystery, so that wasn’t surprising. The romance itself wasn’t a surprise either, but I liked the way it developed as the book progressed.

I can’t wait to read MKA’s next book, which will most likely be a Christmas-themed romance.

There isn't an MKA's book/novel I haven't liked and I just added "Summers at the Saint" to that list. The beachside hotel setting was a visual delightful in the way it was described. I was expecting the perfect summer read and got so much more with a mystery as well. There was so much goodness and complexity in this story that I couldn't put it down. Such depth to the amazing mix of colorful characters. Traci's strength was uplifting and captivating as she handled everything thrown at her, secrets, murder, theives and deceit all while trying to save The Saint." This book was equal parts suspense, cute, emotional, exciting, intriguing and inspirational with some romance too. Truly an incredible entertaining read, an absolute delight!

Somehow I had never read a book by Mary Kay Andrews before I started reading her latest novel, Summers at The Saint. I really enjoyed this book. It had so many things that I love in a murder mystery. The setting of a tourist island in Georgia sounds like it could have been any of the little barrier islands that dot the coast of Southern states. The female protagonists all had some grit to them despite their differences. The twists were surprising. I now want to pick up another Andrews book to read soon!

I recommend this book if you love books about the darker side of paradise. It will be a great thriller to read at the beach or when you are mentally ready to be transported there.

Thank you @stmartinspress for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

(This same review was shared on the Barnes & Noble website)

This was my first book by Mary Kay Andrews and I can honestly say that I’m officially a fan. This book had me on my toes constantly trying to figure out what was going to happen next! I struggled in the beginning to keep up with all the characters, but you adjust quickly. I felt heartbroken, happy, irritated, and anxious throughout the entire book. This author truly knows how to make her words come to life. I highly suggest!

Summers at the Saint is a captivating, cute, cozy mystery with a bit of romance snuck in. Mary Kay Andrews is one of those authors that never disappoints, I know I can pick up a pick by Andrews and enjoy it.

Summers at the Saint takes place at a fancy resort on the seaside in Georgia. Traci and Shannon were lifeguards at the fancy resort where there were the Saints (rich families) and the Aints (families that couldn't afford to stay at the Saint. Traci and Shannon were both Aints, until Traci marries the son of the resort owner. Then we flash to the present and Traci is widowed and mourning. her husband who has died in an accident. At the same time she is trying to get the resort back into a better financial situation while there is drama with her terrible, evil brother in law.

Enter a few more characters, plus family drama, then a murder. In my opinion, there were a few too many characters for the plot. Traci and Livvy are very rich characters, but I feel like more could have been done with Parrish and Whelan. Also, a little more chemistry in the love interest was needed.

Overall, I"m giving this a 4 out of 5.

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews is the not light, cute summer beach read you may be expecting based on the cover. Inside the pages you'll find murder, mystery, conspiracies, and a FMC you can't help but root for. Tracy has been running The Saint; a swanky, five star island resort, since her late husband died in a freak plane crash. In a town known for being a Saint or an Aint, Tracy was once from the other wise of the town, working as a lifeguard for The Saint when she met her future husband. Struggling with staffing shortages since the pandemic shut down the world, Tracy decides to build an on-property dorm style building for staff and creatively recruits new people to staff The Saint for the summer. Only Tracy doesn't get the easy, profitable summer she hoped.

With so many different characters to keep track of, I expected to get lost mid-way through but I didn't. Andrews crafted a page turning mystery filled with family drama, conspiracies, and broken friendships, oh and add a dose of romance to the mix. I really liked the story but I had two minor critiques. I was frustrated with the pressuring of Tracy towards the end of the book with her love interest. In modern times where enthusiastic consent is a must, I felt it toed a line I didn't love and didn't feel fit the character. I also thought some aspects of the mystery were a little heavy handed; for example, when discussing how someone may have found our about a secret it was suggested "Oh when that person cleaned out the house maybe they found the NDA" and sure enough two chapters later, it was said verbatim.

Over a compelling read that I enjoyed. Thank you SMP for the gifted ARC.

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews. So much more than a summer “beach” read. There are murders, past and present, family drama, arson, kickbacks, twist and turns, a quintessential grumpy entitled customer, Mr McBee, and so much more. Well written and relateable "Saints" and "Ain'ts", you either love them or not. Traci and Whelan are well matched couple and are deserving of their second chance at love. Very entertaining and engrossing read.

Thank you to May Kay Andrews, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.