4.5 stars rounded up to 5! I loved this book! This was my first Mary Kay Andrews book, but now, I have to read them all!

The Saint Cecelia ("The Saint") is a resort/country club/hotel located on the coast of Georgia known for its characteristic pink facade that 13 year old Traci Eddings described as "a pink fairy castle". It is a place where the rich and privileged come to play. The Saint has been owned by the Eddings family for years, and it employs quite a few people from the local community. There are many personalities that come together at The Saint which result in great friendships, drama and scandal. Andrews' character development is fabulous; I felt like I knew these people, and I loved the relationships she cultivated. They all have to deal with life's tough and unfair problems, but how each of them deals and treats others is different. Some are good-hearted; others are not. But how much of that has to do with their upbringing? Summers at the Saint is funny, tragic, dramatic and full of emotion. I highly recommend picking up a copy to read this spring or summer. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC.

Here's the thing about this book. It was probably among my top ten books to read for this year, and I was SO excited to receive an ARC and be able to read it ahead of time. However, it just sort of ... fell flat for me. It's possible I went in with too many expectations, and the disappointment was a little stronger with this, than if I wasn't anticipating it as much.

The way I perceived Summers at the Saint was the opposite of how I usually go through books. I was super into the first few chapters and absolutely loved the character building. Yes, there was a whole ensemble of characters but surely they would all seamlessly be woven into a common storyline? Well ... yes and no.

Starting with what was good — there was obviously a clear vision for what the main plot was and it was interesting enough to keep my attention. I liked the aspect of a little mystery thrown into a backdrop of family drama, and privilege versus not. The nuances with who the characters were really caught my attention in the beginning and I was looking forward to how the larger plot would play out with the obvious disappearance/mystery.

I guess that's where the problems started for me. I remember reading the book, a few chapters in, and there were already like five different POVs introduced. And I thought that had to be it, but then there was another POV, and then another, and ... another. It was very difficult for me to keep track of how the characters fit into the story and their relationships because almost every chapter was being told from a different perspective, at least in the beginning. I think that's why I never could clearly connect all the side characters to the main characters and actually be invested in what they were contributing to the story.

I enjoyed how the bond between Traci and Shannon was explored, and how it played out in the present. I also appreciated the little power struggle Traci was going through since her husband died, and the whole storyline with her niece. It's not debatable that there was a lot going on plot wise and I actually think there was so much potential there because it had all elements of being a very good story. But something in the way it was told and executed just didn't play out as well as I wanted it to, and I found myself struggling to understand all the characters.

In the end, I only cared about Traci and Shannon and their history more than anything that was happening in the present, which says a lot I suppose. I don't think this is a bad book by any means, and I know a lot of people have enjoyed it; I think it just didn't resonate with me on a personal level, unfortunately.

Wow a must read for this summer!!!! MKA has outdone herself with this new book. It has everything you need to be an outstanding read~ drama, loss, love, loveable, courageous characters.

Loved this MKA book!
She has outdone it this time with the twists and her typical wit!
It’s summer but the St. Cecelia Resort (The Saint) in Georgia needs employees. The current owner ,Traci, must fine ways to get out of their financial troubles and return The Saint to its former status. The stairs she knew well as one on the islands former “have nots” - unable to afford to stay.
Now as owner, she must navigate the nefarious brother-in-law, her estranged best friend and a sad event from the past that resurfaces.
You will want to read this one!
Out 5/7/24 preorder today!

#mka
#summersatthesaint
#stmartinspress

Mary Kay Andrews does it again with a great written story. I love how colorful the cover is.

This story was fun and a great summer mystery with twists and turns. While reading and getting into the story it makes you feel like your on vacation at The Saint! The story flows well even though there is alot going on. I just loved the characters and story.

I will ready anything by this author and will recommend.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

MKA has written another fun, atmospheric summer mystery with twists I didn't see coming! She made me feel like I was vacationing at The Saint. There are many characters to keep up with but the storytelling flows so smoothly that it was easy to keep up. Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and author Mary Kay Andrews for allowing me to preview this book, Summer at the Saint.
Saint Cecilia Resort is an exclusive members only private island off the Georgia coast accessible only by boat or causeway…
Who wouldn’t want to spend the summer here? As a child Traci dreamed of being rich enough to belong to “The Saint”.
Fast forward 25 years Traci is now widowed and partial owner of The Saint bearing all the ups and downs that come with it, including murder.
The cover and some of Ms Andrew’s previous works would lead one to believe that this is a Beach Read. It is not! It is full of intrigue, lies, backstabbing and a little love too!
I rate Summer at the Saint 4⭐️

So much fun! The perfect beach read that also contains an emotional punch. Heartfelt and a romance that I embraced, I’ll remember this book for a long time to come.

Mary Kay Andrews has really became a favorite of mine. She can tackle the beachy romance and mystery stories. Summers at the saint is the absolute perfect beach read. Teenage best friends grow up and apart and a mysterious death what’s not to love!

I didn't love this one as much as I have enjoyed other MKA. I didn't like that they made the niece feel guilty for wanting to experience Europe instead of saving the family business. I don't believe that it's any family member's job to save a family business, so I had a hard time getting past that. Because of this decision, some others happened that obviously aren't great, so I don't think this is an MKA that I'd recommend to anyone looking for a beach read.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

loved this romance and how the characters were able to figure things out and find their way to love. Loved the friends .

The perfect Summer mystery read! Loved the the Georgia beach town setting.

The only thing keeping me from giving this 5 stars is there were times the transitions from one character to the next sometimes didn’t make sense to me. I had to go back a few pages to figure it out a few times. Other than that though, loved it!

This book was the perfect summer vacation read! I have enjoyed Mary Kay Andrew’s books in the past, so I was very excited to receive this ARC. The characters were so interesting to follow, and she explained the setting perfectly. The mystery and plot had me captivated until the very end. Thank you Netgalley and Mary Kay Andrew’s for the ARC!

The Saint Cecelia, a sprawling oceanfront hotel complex, is the setting for this summer’s beach read “Summers at the Saint by the talented Mary Kay Andrews. Traci Eddings, a widow since her husband’s tragic death four years earlier, has inherited the hotel and a lifestyle far different from her simple childhood. She now deals with employees, ever increasing financial problems and her untrustworthy brother-in-law. She still missing her best friend Shannon who hasn’t spoken to her since a child drowned in the hotel pool when they were lifeguards years earlier. Now with her niece Parrish at the front desk, Shannon’s daughter Livvy a server in the hotel restaurant and star chef Felice in the kitchen, it looks like a good summer is in store for The Saint. However, there is a heartbreaking death at a hotel after party, suspicions of mismanagement, and an investigation of that long ago drowning. Traci needs to discover the secrets that hide in The Saint before there can be more tragedy.

Mary Kay Andrews has delivered a suspenseful, impossible to put down mystery! I love The Saint and its pink clothed employees! I love the behind-the-scenes look at hotel management! I want to read more about Traci and Whelan!

I had the privilege of meeting Mary Kay Andrews on Tybee Island a few years ago, and I am always amazed at the stories that she can bring to life. Summers at the Saint take us back years to a summer of tragedy and loss to current day with a thrilling Who Done It of who is ripping off the Saint, and who is willing to kill for it.

As the summer season gets underway, secrets, new and old, are slowly revealed. How will the “Saints” and the “Ain’ts” handle the information that is disclosed?

Get ready for the drama!

This book is full of the drama but Mary Kay Andrews adds a touch of humor that helps to balance the storyline.

She does such a good job with her characters; she has ones that are total jerks and others you truly hope come out on top and it is so satisfying when each gets what they deserve.

The setting also sounds gorgeous with this luxury hotel in Southern Georgia along the coast. It is perfect for the story with all this opulence around but all these dirty secrets coming out.

I highly recommend Summers at the Saint. It will be the perfect beach read this year!

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a big fan of Mary Kay Andrews and this may be my all time favorite of her books.

The story set at St. Cecilia Resort, nicknamed The Saint. Traci is not a resort goer, she's what you might call a "townie," or an "Ain't" if you grew up in Bonaventure, the town across the bridge from the resort. Traci's been working at the resort since she was 17, starting as a lifeguard and working her way up.

She marries the owner's younger son, Hoke. But then tragedy strikes when her husband dies in a plane crash five years later. Now, she's part-owner of the resort, much to the annoyance of her in-laws.

There are all sorts of secrets and scandals lurking around The Saint. A really great story that you will not want to put down! I highly recommend.

I am shocked that I enjoyed this one as much as I did. I've only read The Newcomer and Bright Lights, Big Christmas by MKA before, and they've been hit or miss for me. But this one.... was a hit!!
We start off by getting character backstory of our main characters: Traci, Shannon, Olivia, Felice, KJ, Garrett, Whelan. It's a lot of characters, but they all play an important role! I found them easy to keep track of, too, because they all had such distinct personalities and quirks.
Summers at the Saint gave off the perfect beachy vibes. I was instantly transported to the resort. I wanted to BE a guest at The Saint. It seems so fun! I found the explanations of the hospitality business interesting - it didn't bore me at all. I thought the guest interactions with the staff were hilarious.
Now the murder mystery aspect to this story was a pleasant surprise! I love mysteries, so I enjoyed following Livvy and Felice on their amateur investigation. The whole thing kept throwing me for a loop and I found myself unable to put this book down.
And of course I can't forget to shoutout the little romance side story with Traci and Whelan. I loved their dynamic.
The only thing that bothered me about this was that the police investigation and the arson were a little bit "out there" and unbelievable. I don't think an actual sheriff's deputy would let a civilian conduct a suspect interview. I think the investigation could have been handled better. But that's minor in the grand scheme of things.
Overall, I loved this book! We got a great character-driven story, some mystery, some romance, some amateur sleuth, all the beachy summery vibes... this book caters to everyone. Highly recommend if you're looking for a fun beach read that will keep you on your toes!

Summer with a twist: this year’s Mary Kay Andrews summer release has extra mystery, action, and all your favorite MKA elements.

On a small island off the Georgia coast, the town is divided by a causeway: you’re either a Saint, or an Ain’t. The Saint Cecelia Resort is a hotel and golf club where Georgia’s finest retreat for the summer. Traci Eddings grew up an Ain’t, but married the youngest son of the Saint Cecelia’s owner. Now CEO of the Saint, Traci is majorly sweating the upcoming summer season. This year is extra-important for their bottom line, which is the worst time for a twenty year old drowning mystery and new dangers threaten the Saints and the A’ints, alike.

Mary Kay Andrews has been synonymous with hit summer beach books for at least a decade. Every year, I look forward to her new releases. As the diligent backlist reader that I am, of course I’ve read almost everything she’s ever written, including her original Callahan Garrity mystery series. This series was written under a different name, back in the day, but rebranded with the MKA name and re-released a few years ago. It’s a fantastic series for those who love the mystery and suspense elements often found in MKA books!

Summers matches her Callahan Garrity vibes, with more of the plot centering on the dual mysteries. The combination of interesting characters and strong mystery hook caught me right away. I had a hard time putting this one down– I just had to know how it ends!

Don’t worry, beach read fans: the hallmarks of an MKA classic are here as well, seamlessly woven in. Gorgeously described settings, unique locales (and unique locals), luscious food descriptions, a will they-won’t they romance, and a bit of social commentary are all well established. They’re balanced with the mystery and suspense angles of the books. So don’t fear: this is still a great beach read. Maybe not an after-dark on the beach read (for scaredy-cat me, at least!), but still a beach read!

Summers at the Saint will be available May 7, 2024.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for a digital ARC such that I could share my honest opinion.

I received an ARC of this book. I love this author's books! This story had it all...family struggles, love, secrets and a mystery too. I could not stop reading! Very enjoyable and satisfying story!