At over 400 pages this was a whopper for a romance book, but there was so much more to it than that. There was a murder mystery, sweeping scenery and lots of adventure.
Traci Eddings inherited the St. Cecilia resort when her husband passed away and she is struggling to keep it afloat. But she’s not only inherited the resort, she’s inherited a whole lot of family drama as well. And as you get into the story, you find out that there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. And speaking of the scenes, the setting is stunningly gorgeous and makes me want to give up farm life and move down there and enjoy it for myself.
MKA sets the scene beautifully and brings a lot of characters to this luxury resort and also takes you back to when Traci lifeguarded for the “Saint” back when she was a teenager and then the present day running of the resort. There are also chapters from an Anonymous POV which bring in the mystery element to the story.
If you’re looking for a mystery with a side of romance, then this is the book for yiu.
Thanks to st. Martins press and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

The St. Cecelia, is a well-known coastal resort in Georgia where wealthy guests flock to each summer. Traci inherited her late husband’s share of the business that she now runs with her brother-in-law, Rick, but they each have different visions how the resort should be run. Once known for its premium service, the “Saint” doesn’t hold the same prestige as it used to. Traci hopes to bring it back to its once high standards but Rick is more concerned with the bottom line. When tragedy strikes the family, secrets emerge suggesting that something sinister had been occurring at the Saint for decades.

The storyline was captivating and the characters were believable. I really enjoyed Traci’s determination to make The Saint a better place and loved the twist behind the underlying mystery. This book packed a big punch from a family drama, to a buried secrets, a murder mystery and second chance romance!

DNF at 70%

Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. I just felt like there was too much going on and could not get invested in any of the characters’ stories. That being said, I did make it to about 3/4 of the book, so I might eventually get back to it.

I could totally see this being the perfect book for a lot of people. Just don’t expect a light, summery beach read, because this has more substance than that. I think fans of Mary Kay Andrews would absolutely enjoy this one, so don’t let my review steer you off; I’m clearly the minority with Goodreads’ rating being 4.25!!

Reward yourself with Mary Kay Andrew’s novel-a satisfying, uplifting summer treat. This double mystery set at “The Saint,” the stunning St. Cecelia Resort off the coast of Georgia, is perfect for your summer tote. This is a restorative tale packed with spoiled relationships between friends and family spanning decades. MKA has staffed The Saint with suspicious summer help, ungrateful, outrageous guests, and plenty of “over-the-top” events-from entertaining beach bashes to calamitous explosions-real and between friends! The unspooling mysteries will prolong and illuminate your summer reading days well into the night. Perfect with a glass of wine at sunset.

I have tried a Mary Kay Andrews book in the past and didn’t love it, but once I saw this one available I knew I had to give her another shot because people RAVE about her. However, unfortunately this one missed the mark for me. From the cover, I thought it was going to be a more lighthearted romance-y novel, and was surprised to find out it was a murder and true crime kind of vibe. Nonetheless, I persisted because I actually like mystery aspects in books! But I have been trying to read this one for months, and just find myself not wanting to pick it up, and not really “caring” about what happens like a reader should. There were certain aspects I enjoyed, like the beach setting but overall, I just don’t think this book was for me.

I went into this newest from Mary Kay Andrews with no idea of the premise. I loved the cover, and knew that from the experienced pen of the author, it would be a perfect novel for summer.

I really enjoyed Summers at the Saint. The setting at a gorgeous resort hotel in the southern USA was a great getaway. There are characters to love, dislike, and surprisingly, a mystery/suspense element that had me turning the pages.

Another winner from MKA! This will be a fantastic read for the patio, pool, or beach.

There could be TW for some readers, so check those out.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the electronic advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This book was cute and captivating and had my attention from start to finish. I enjoyed the characters and loved that there were multiple storylines which consisted of a murder mystery, lots of family drama and a little bit of romance.

I found Summers at the Saint a difficult book to get into. There was so much going on and so many points of view, that I just couldn’t connect with it. That said, I did like the lead character. But the intrigue and drama just wasn’t to my taste. Three stars.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summers at the Saint was full of family drama, mystery, and just the hint of romance for an entertaining summer read. Traci Eddings runs the Saint, a haven for the rich on the coast. From a poor family, Traci fell in love and married Hoke. Widowed now, Traci is trying to keep the Saint’s bottom line running above water. New hires and new policies seem to be moving the hotel in the right direction, until her niece is murdered and her brother-in-laws plotting puts the hotel at risk. Full of shady characters, the story twists and turns until you cannot tell whom to trust and the past comes in to play to save the Saint. Great world building and some strong heroines drive another great storyline with a satisfying HEA from an author who is a must read. My voluntary, unbiased, and non mandatory review is based upon a free review copy from NetGalley.

Loved Summers at the Saint! The perfect beachy summer read is coming out just in time for your beach vacation. A must-read for lovers of Elin Hildebrand.

What I was expecting was a nice little beach-type romance. What I got was a story with a little bit of romance and a whole lot more. This book included, desperation, romance, murder, a beach and sunset, extortion, clear cut protagonist and antagonist, a hunky guy and a young lady whose world will be turned upside down. If you hadn't guessed, I loved this book and will highly recommend it.
Thank you #netgalley and #marykayandrews for the ARC of #summersatthesaint

I LOVED this book. This was my first title by Mary Kay Andrews, despite having several on my TBR.

Best friends Traci and Shannon grew up hearing that "either you're a Saint, or you're an ain't." The Saint Cecilia is an ultra posh, exclusive club that the elite summer at. Traci and Shannon fell under the category of "ain't." Both girls managed to secure summer jobs as lifeguards at the Saint, until tragedy struck, sending one girl home and damaging their friendship.

Fast forward, Traci is now the CEO of the Saint. Her late husband, Hoke Eddings was the CEO until his unexpected death. Traci is doing everything she can to keep the hotel profitable and run it the way her husband did. There are obstacles in Traci's way and as she corrects course she is faced with even bigger challenges and heartache.

This book had everything; heartache, family drama, murder, secrets, and new love. Despite clocking in at 400 pages, I managed to read this within just a few days; that's how good it was!

Put it on your TBR, you won't regret it.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for this ARC.

What a fun book! I felt immersed in the multiple characters and storylines from the beginning and wasn't quite sure where the story would go, and was pleasantly surprised. There are a couple of unexpected points in the plot (I don't want to give away anything), but all part of the family drama/saga! If you've ever traveled in the South, you'll relate to various aspects of this book and the vivid descriptions of the coastal South communities. This had great characters and great storylines - highly recommend as a beach read.
Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for access to this e-ARC.

This novel by MKA is my favorite of the three I’ve read so far. The characters came to life, thoroughly engaging my interest immediately. The action is absorbing and the dynamics of Traci’s dysfunctional family and the gradual revelations of organized theft, blackmail, illegitimate heirs, murder and attempted murder make the book hard to put down. The pacing is perfect, and the setting of the exclusive resort on the Georgia shoreline, the haves and have nots of the beach town, and the friendships and budding romance of the story’s main character all contribute to a great story.

I read an advanced copy of this thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley. This was definitely set to be a beach read but with unexpected twists and turns. Summers at the Saint is set amongst a beautiful back drop of a posh hotel where the wealthy frequent. Those in the town that it is located are often seen as the “Ain’ts” because they cannot afford the luxuries of the hotel, and also often struggle to make a livable wage. This novel focuses on Traci Eddings, who grew up as an “Ain’t” but married a wealthy man, who later passed away. The twists and turns that this novel takes the reader on are very addicting, and kept me binge reading. There is mystery, deception, murder, and a whodunit focus in this novel. I definitely would recommend a reader going in with limited information in regards to what this novel is about. There were a lot of people in this novel, but I found it easy enough to keep up with. Highly recommend for fans of mystery, summer reads, and Mary Kay Andrew’s!

I'm all in when it comes to this authors books, I was a bit surprised at the way this one turned out, good storyline, good plot twists , beautiful background setting , the murder and mystery was a bit much for a summer read but This author has always written good stories.

Finally! This only took me just about the entire month of March to read. First chapter(s) I strongly considered not finishing this book. I don’t think I really even enjoyed it until I got close to halfway through it which it felt like eternity getting to that point. If this book is indicative of her other books (writing/plots) this will likely be a one & done for me. WAY too many characters especially how the author introduced them all in the beginning & basically a character or more each chapter. To me it made it confusing & just too much to start off with. The writing seemed adolescent at times which was odd. The plot had potential..I guess? I will say Andrews is good at being descriptive of the surroundings & describing the buildings landscape & all that. Otherwise though the characters were unlikable, no real character development just surface level characters that all act like teenagers. A lot of repetition in this book that just added to the feeling of a neverending book. I think the only saving grace for this one was the little bit of twist & romance added in after around 50% or so. I’d skip this one if you’re reading my review & have not read it yet.

Thank you to both NetGalley & the publisher St Martins Press, I always am very appreciative of you giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy, thank you 🙏

Another great cozy mystery, perfect for summer beach reading! Like every other novel by the great Mary Kay Andrews, this was such a fun time. I loved everything about this resort and getting to know all the "aints" that made their way to making it home for the summer. There were a few unexpected twists that made this an exciting and page turning read. The narration was also great and made for a fun listening experience. I am always looking for the next great read from MKA, and this one did not disappoint.
Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to read, listen, and review this advanced copy.

Mary Kay Andrews got me again in this pool of cozy suspense and nostalgia as old friendships rekindle amidst a backdrop of financial turmoil.

Traci has married into the powerful family that owns the Saint, a luxurious hotel she's always dreamed of. After her husband's death and the decline in the patriarch's health, she and her brother-in-law have been at odds, and the hotel's financial health hasn't been as stellar. So she recruits her niece Parrish and a number of new employees to live in a newly built dorm and help the hotel stay afloat. In the middle of this, a strange death occurs during a party that raises doubts about the motives associated with those financial troubles.

3.5 rounded up

This book follows the stories of Traci, her estranged best friend from youth, and those five employees who all live together in the dorm and become key witnesses to the death. It's no secret how much I enjoy Mary Kay Andrews's books, but that can create unmet expectations. However, this didn't happen with this book. Some elements of it did seem recycled from her previous stories, more than usual, but it wasn't in a way that made it easier to guess the answer to its mystery, so don't worry.

I was curious about Traci because she has more financial stability than Andrews's usual choice of main character, even with how her business could be in danger, but it didn't make much of a difference. I also thought there were some elements that seemed to be building up and ended up being not much. It wasn't that the answer to that was bad, just that I had expected better. These small cracks in my expectations took away some of the sweetness of the read, but only partially. And of course, it could be something that only I thought should have had more importance, and other readers won't feel the same way.

As for the conclusion, it was good. A lot of it is easy to guess, but the development isn't boring until you get to the "answer key." The romance was weird to me, on the other hand. Luckily, I didn't pick this for the romance, but this could have been a better read without that awkward couple. It's funny to conclude this, because I know Andrews from her romance novels, but this one wasn't to my taste. And I think those are my criticisms. Overall, this was a very enjoyable book, making it one of my favorites by this author. It's always such a good time when summer comes and I get to read another of Mary Kay Andrews's mysteries.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Mary Kay Andrews has another excellent novel. The setting is the Saint, an exclusive resort on the coast of Georgia and the well-to-do family that owns it. One pictures St. Simons and the environs. Of course, they come with unique personalities. The widow of the one son, Traci, is trying to run the resort after the untimely death of her husband. But her husband's brother never liked her and is as unscrupulous as they come. There is a thrilling mixture of intrigue, pitting the well-to-do's against the locals. There are so many plot twists that you will have a hard time putting the one down!