I was excited to see a Mary Kay Andrews book show up as a possible new ARC to add to my reading list. I have enjoyed most of her books in the past, and this storyline and scenario sounded right up my alley! Overall, the book was fun and enjoyable, but I did struggle with so many different vantage points and sometimes had a hard time keeping track whose point of view I was reading from. There was a LOT going on in this book, between Traci's trying to save the resort that was handed down to her after her husband's passing, or Parrish's attempt to help her aunt out while not angering her father more, Felice's need to survive after her no good boyfriend left her high and dry, I could go on and on. There were quite a few character's who we got to know and read from their POV, that sometimes it seemed a little muddled. The book was enjoyable though, and there were some twists and turns I did NOT see coming - so that was a pleasant surprise. All in all, it was a fun read and will certainly make for an enjoyable beach or summer read for many this year. I will not hesitate in the future to read another ARC from Mary Kay and hope that there are more to read and provide feedback. Mary Kay's books are simply fun reads that let you slip into another world and escape from it all!

Thank you again to NetGalley for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review.

Summers at the Saint is a perfect beach read with a twist. Mary Kay Andrews delivers on a story that is sure to capture summer readers with a beautiful setting, engaging characters, and multiple interesting storylines. It was a quick read for me with just the right mix of friendships, romance, and mystery.
I would definitely recommend this book as a great summer escape.

Just like all of MKA's books, I was drawn in by the end of page one and couldn't put the book down. I wanted to vacation at the Saint, work at the Saint, and help solve a couple mysteries at the Saint. The book has me constantly wondering "who did it?" The characters were easy to fall in love with, and hard to say goodbye to. This was an ARC copy that I read, and to be honest I can't wait to have the hardback book in my hands that I pre-ordered just so I can read it again while sitting at the beach this summer. If you like a good book full of mystery, love, comedy, and and great ending then you'll want to read this book. I'm glad I always take MKA's advice when she announces her new books yearly along with saying "buy my book damnit." I own a copy of every book she's written and look forward to reading this book again.

The Saints luxury resort is the setting for an engaging story. There is a class divide between the 'Saints' who visit or reside at the resort and the 'Aints' who live in town and might be on the staff. Traci lifeguarded there one summer and fell in love with the owner's son. Now widowed, she works hard running the resort. Short staffed, she recruits new staff and converts a building to a dorm for affordable housing for them. One of the new staff is a niece which causes additional hard feelings with her brother-in-law. A second one ends up being her former best friend' Shannon s daughter. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher. This is my honest and voluntary given review. Seeing the story through so many points of view pulled me into the story. There are a couple of mysteries to be solved and twists that surprised me. This is a very good book.

Set at an ancient old money summer hotel on a southern island/coast of Georgia, SUMMERS AT THE SAINT carries some mystery, family drama, and strong FMCs. Thank you @stmartinspress for my early copy as well as my early audio copy!

So I haven’t read a whole lot of Mary Kay Andrews’ novels, but I am impressed by her ability to keep up with modern social commentary and dialogue.

I actually thought this was going to be a light beachy read perfect for summer, and what I got was more than that, shockingly more! There is mystery, murder, some mayhem and a WHOLE LOT of family drama!

Some unnecessary use of profanity in strange parts, if that happens to not be your thing. A couple of names didn’t seem to meet the characters’ ages, which confused me along the way.

The audio narration worked great with the characters in the novel- I could picture their voices as such.

Overall a book you can definitely grab to take to the beach and leave in a little free library when you are finished.

I absolutely loved this book, and I think it’s MKA at her best. And it’s possible it may be my favorite yet? The Saint has it all: secrets,
Love, Family, jobs, lives at stake, romance - and I just kept turning the pages!! Thank you for this gifted earc!!

4.5⭐️ Another great summer read by MKA!

What a fun murder mystery! I started to figure it out part of the way through, but that didn't take away from how fun this story is. I loved how all the characters came together! I would love it if there was a book 2. I want to know how Livvy, Felice, Tracy, Whelan, and Shannon are doing!


2 things you should keep in mind as you start this one. Don't let the page count scare you! These are short, fast-paced chapters. Also, you will meet A LOT of characters in the first few chapters. It will seem confusing, but I promise it's not.

The Saint luxury hotel is in financial trouble and CEO Traci Eddings is creative in ways to resurrect the hotel. Her ideas for staffing the much needed positions leads to some wonderful relationships but also big trouble, deceit, and murder. A truly exciting novel that moves along quickly.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the perfect summer read. If you’re on an airplane, at the beach or by the pool, Summers at the Saint is a lighthearted, easy read with a little bit of murder and intrigue.
You’ll join Traci Eddings and the crew she cobbles together (think Breakfast Club) in an attempt to save The Saint, a luxury hotel and resort that’s been in her deceased husband’s family for years. Will Traci be able to preserve his legacy or are there too many forces working against her?

Mary Kay Evens is certainly an established author with a very strong following. I had not yet read any of her work and decided to try this one out. I’ve come to the conclusion that she is not for me.

Summers at the Saint is a mix of mystery and romance set in a southern hotel resort. I was hoping for more of a cozy mystery, but I felt overloaded early on being introduced to what (I guess ) becomes a cast of suspects one at a time through their point of view. This made it rough going from the start as many of these characters are not very likable.

As the story progressed for me it felt very contrived. There was little I was surprised about and the characters are not much more than their plot function. When someone is murdered about 1/3 of the way in, one mystery becomes two, but neither was all that interesting.

I will say I did feel for the main character ( despite the fact she can’t see what is right in front of her) and the romance in this was quite sweet. I freely admit this may simply be a matter of my personal taste, but I don’t see myself picking up another book from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan audio and St martins press for advances audio and e copies of the book for review purposes.

Traci Eddings finds herself thrust into the role of owner after her husband's passing, inheriting not just the resort, but also a boatload of family drama. From the get-go, you'll feel like you're right there with Traci, navigating the challenges of keeping the Saint afloat while dodging her scheming brother-in-law's attempts to sink it.

But this isn't just a story about running a hotel – it's a tale of secrets, scandals, and second chances. As Traci digs into the Saint's past, uncovering long-buried mysteries and facing her own demons, you won't be able to put the book down. And let's not forget the sizzling romance that heats up the pages!

Mary Kay Andrews has a knack for creating characters you'll want to catch up with and settings so vivid, you'll swear you can feel the sand between your toes. "Summers at the Saint" is no exception – it's like embarking on a thrilling adventure with old friends.

This is the perfect summer read whether you're lounging by the pool or curled up on the couch. You won't want to miss it! Thank you to Netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Mary Kay Andrews' 'Summers at the Saint' is a delightful escape into the world of St. Cecelia, where tradition, intrigue, and summer romance collide. Traci Eddings, the determined widow and owner of the beloved hotel, faces challenges both personal and professional as she strives to restore the Saint to its former glory.

Andrews' storytelling is infused with warmth, humor, and a keen eye for human nature, making 'Summers at the Saint' a beach read with depth and heart. As Traci navigates staff shortages, financial woes, and familial betrayal, readers are drawn into her journey of resilience and redemption.

With its captivating twists and turns, 'Summers at the Saint' offers a perfect blend of drama, romance, and nostalgia. Andrews' knack for creating vivid characters and evocative settings ensures that readers will be swept away by the charm and allure of St. Cecelia. (I received an advance reader copy of this book, and all opinions are my own.) Whether you're lounging by the pool or curled up on the couch, this novel is sure to transport you to a world of summer magic.

Okay this was really wonderful. It felt vacation-y and camp-y and was just so fun. I was not expecting so much mystery, but it kept me guessing up until the end. This would be a PERFECT beach read! Mary Kay Andrews is so wonderful-- I've loved all of the books I've read of hers.

If you're vacationing near the water this summer, pick this up for sure!

Summer at the Saint was a great read. I read and listened to the audiobook.
I thought this would be a lovely beach reach read with romance and a little drama but I was wrong. There was an event that happened that shocked me ( I did not see it coming) and then the investigations to figure it out were jaw dropping. Yes, there was romance drama as well as family and customer drama with mysteries thrown in for good measure. This book has it all!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

This is probably MKA’s best book yet! Set on the coast of Georgia, the St Cecelia hotel has been in the Eddings family for several generations. Traci is the widowed owner of “the Saint” as it’s called by the locals, and has about one season to reverse the downward projection of the landmark. She hires an unlikely crew to staff the hotel and refurbishes and old building for a dorm for them to live in. A series of set-backs and conflicts with her in-laws make her job harder but she manages to shoulder through. I was surprised to find mystery in this book as that’s not usual for MKA but I love it. This is a mystery with a side of romance and lots of twists and turns. I recommend this women's fiction/romance to all women. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review Summers at the Saint on NetGalley.

Published: 05/07/24

Stars: 2.5

Disappointing.

This simple cozy story had potential. This could have been a fun summer read for all ages if Andrews had written to her cover audience. I was looking for a book to recommend for vacation travel, and at over 400 pages this looked good.

Cozy, beach, summer fun mysteries don't have layered profanity. Andrews added these words for a word count? I have never read a review where I could audibly feel relief while hearing yes! there is swearing throughout the book. I have never seen a comment praising an author for dropping F words.

The story itself was all over the place. It really felt like a young person's first submission to publish. The characters never fully developed. The ending went on for what felt like hundreds of pages. Once the a reveal is made I like for a story to round up quickly; that is personal preference.

I appreciated how Olivia's Mom lived and the choices she made.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This story follows a resort that is struggling. For the summer, a bunch of new people are hired and you follow along for the ride through the summer.

I did not like the book itself. I did like the resort setting and the summer atmosphere. I also think the cover is great.

I felt like there were too many backstories and characters to follow. I just felt a bit bored throughout. I didn't really connect with anyone or the story itself. I wish it would've only followed a few characters instead of all of them.

I hope others love this book but it was not for me.

Who wouldn’t want to be a guest at the Saint?

The exclusive resort was only affordable to the rich, but the next best thing would be to work there.

But was it the best place to work?

Traci worked there in the summers as a teenager, met the owner’s son, married him, and is now running the place since her husband was killed in an airplane accident.

It all sounds wonderful, but things happened when Traci was a teenager and things are happening now.

Murder, mystery, great characters, behind-the-scenes scams, cunning characters, and all of it wrapped up for another wonderful, can't-put-down read by Mary Kay Andrews.

Don’t forget to pack this in your beach bag or even for reading on your back porch.

You won't want to miss it.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was fun! I mean, come on, it’s a new MKA so we all know we’re gonna love it! A little mystery thrown in and some romance! Always a pleasure and an honor to read a new one from this author! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this early copy for read and review

This is a story that revolves around a landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia. It has been around for years and has a reputation of attracting wealthy people/people of a certain class. The book goes back and forth between things that happened when two characters; Traci and Shannon were working in their late teens as lifeguards and to present day where Traci is running The Saint and trying to keep it operable after her husband dies. Many things seem to be going wrong and there are a few mysteries to figure out.

My thoughts....I have enjoyed this author's previous books and while I did like this book, I had a hard time feeling invested in the characters stories. There were several characters and I was confused about what was really happening until around the 50% mark. Overall, it is a good read, but had too many characters, too many different storylines, and the "romance" seemed off to me.

3.5 stars but rounding up to 4 stars on GR.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews.
Publication Date: May 7, 2024
Romance, Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary, Chick Lit