When I requested a copy of this ARC I was very excited as I had recently read Bright Lights, Big Christmas and loved that story (it was my only 5 star romance last year). It is probably my fault in that I didn’t read the synopsis of this book, I just figured from the cover it was going to be another delightful romance story. This novel is more of a cozy mystery or light thriller than it is a romance so that threw me for a loop. It all felt a little too predictable and drawn out. I feel like the same story could have been told in about 100 less pages. It did have a great summer/vacation atmosphere so if you are looking for that in a book, this would be a good choice. I also was not expecting depictions of sexual assault so if that is triggering, steer away. Besides the assault scene there is very little other questionable content in the book. 3.5 stars rounded down because I have a feeling I will forget the plot by the end of the month.

I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of characters that are introduced in this book. Unfortunately, due to the length of the book, I found it difficult to keep reading in a digital format. If I had the physical book, it would have been a quicker read. I enjoyed having multiple characters to follow and felt that I was deeply invested in the lives of each one. From the rich to the check to check lives, all were bound together by one significant place.

I’m an avid MKA reader. She was the author that made me fall back in love with reading as an adult. This book was staple MKA. Little love, lots of plot, and tons of juicy scandal! It took awhile to settle into the story but once the scene was set, it was very engaging. True to her roots, MKA delivers a complex story with multiple view points. I cannot wait to talk this one over with my mom!

The first few chapters start off a little wonky in my opinion. There were too many characters introduced back to back and unfortunately for me it didn’t seem to flow well. It does all come together later (and each character has a place) but it was a choppy start. Once you get into the story it’s a lot of fun with the trademark humor MKA brings to all of her books. Picture an exclusive resort, shady staff, family drama, a little romance, and a murder mystery to keep you guessing. This would be a great vacation book! For a lengthy book, I felt the ending was a bit rushed and it did leave me with a few unanswered questions (like what happened to Ric???).

Overall, this is one I would recommend to those who enjoy women’s fiction and are MKA fans. While this wasn’t my favorite book by her…she is definitely one of my favorite authors! Love her and always look forward to reading her books.

P.S. The Karin Slaughter reference was on point🤣 Love her books!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to @netgalley and @StMartinsPress for this ARC. As a little girl Traci looked up to the 5 star resort, The Saint as an outsider. Now a grown up and widow after marrying the owner's son, she is in charge of this fascinating place. But this place isn't all it is cracked up to be. Many questions behind the scenes takes the polish off the silver. This book was good but full of drama. #SummersattheSaint #MaryKayAndrews #May2024 #StMartinsPress

This book is different than the other ones I’ve read by her.
I’ve read her romance and this is a murder mystery.
If you’re looking for a good murder mystery book with a lot of detail & a lot of characters this is your book. This is one where you have to be paying attention to all the different characters because of you don’t then you will be lost 40% of the time like I was.
Was it good? Yes it’s interesting.

In marrying Hoke, Traci became enmeshed in the Eddings family and their lives that revolved around the success of the Saint. The Saint actually became a member of the family and resonated as a character in the entirety of the book. It led to the demise of friendships such as Shannon and Traci's, cover ups of illicit behavior, and financial deception. Parrish, Livvy and Felicia were there because they believed in the success of the hotel. They wanted to part of the team that contributed to its success. However, as Livvy and Felicia began to unravel the truth when it came to the unusual circumstances surrounding Parrish's death and those whom actively participated in it, they quickly realized that one's supposed dedication such as Charlie was merely a facade. Like Ric, underlying motives prevailed even at the sacrifice of others. This book certainly had a large amount of twists and turns as the reader actively explored "who did it" which I found captivating. It gave a glimpse into how money can change a person's behavior only to benefit themselves. I was so happy with the ending especially when it came to Traci and Whelan. I highly recommend this book.

"Summers at the Saint" by Mary Kay Andrews immerses readers in the captivating world of the St. Cecelia, a historic hotel on the Georgia coast, where scandals and secrets abound. Traci Eddings, the determined widowed owner, faces numerous challenges as she strives to restore the hotel to its former glory amidst staff shortages and financial woes, all while battling her unscrupulous brother-in-law. With a cast of colorful characters and a storyline brimming with twists and turns, Andrews skillfully weaves together humor, warmth, and heart, creating a beach read that offers both depth and entertainment. "Summers at the Saint" is a delightful escape into a world of intrigue and romance, perfect for soaking up the sun and losing yourself in a captivating story.

Good beach read summer mystery with a little romance mixed in. This was an entertaining read and quick to read with different points of view throughout. A little confusing at first with the amount of characters that were quickly introduced but was easy to follow after. This had a good amount of twists and kept you guessing. Giving this on 3 stars liked it and will recommend. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading “Summers at the Saint” very much! It was a fun summer read. While there was a slow start, by the time I got halfway through I could put the book down. I was a little overwhelmed with all the different character’s perspectives at the beginning, but it didn’t become quite a problem as I expected it would be to keep them straight. While I was guessing throughout the whole book, I did not guess the ending to this one which is always a plus! Overall, I enjoyed reading this book!

I loved the setting. The history repeats let to a mystery and some real bad people. Even so I would like to stay at The Saint.

Wow!! This book was amazing. Romance, murder, mystery, secrets... It has it ALL. I need to go buy all of the books written by Mary Kay Andrews because she is an amazing writer!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to the editor and NetGalley for the ARC on this book for my honest review.

I loved this book. I was quickly hooked to the story and couldn't put it down. There were so many twists in the story that it kept me reading to get know what was going to happen next. I loved the main character Traci, growing up as an "Ain't" and as an adult running The Saint Cecelia hotel where the entire book took place. This book is a must read!

Summers at the Saint
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read Summers at the Saint before it was released. The premises of the story plays out like a whacky Dateline episode. Traci is the main character who grew up poor or as an “aint” and was always in awe of the Saint hotel. As a teenager, Traci and her best friend Shannon worked at the Saint as lifeguards. One summer a young boy drowned and their friendship ended.

Today Traci runs the Saint. She inherited it from her husbands passing. The saint was struggling and her Traci was going to overhaul the hotel and get it out of the red. Traci hired a handful of young adults to help at the Saint. Unknown to her, she hired Shannon’s daughter. Her niece uncovered that some of the employees were skimming money from the company. At an after work party, Parrish who was Traci’s niece, was drugged and died.

In the end, Traci and Livvy got to the bottom of the corruption at the Saint. It was discovered that Parrish was accidentally killed instead of Livvy since they looked alike and in the end were related. Traci and Shannon put the past behind them and became friends again. Also in the end, Traci got the man that she was interested in.

SUMMERS AT THE SAINT by Mary Kay Andrews is the quintessential summer read, blending cozy beach vibes with gripping suspense and a murder mystery that will keep you hooked. Set against the luxurious backdrop of a high-end resort, Andrews masterfully intertwines family drama and scandal, all while employing a rich tapestry of characters seen through multiple points of view. This book is a delightful concoction of intrigue and charm, making it a perfect pick for fans of Mary Kay Andrews and anyone looking for their next beach read obsession. Dive into this story and let the summer fun begin!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The first description of the St. Cecelia is from a young Traci Eddings who at the time was from the wrong side of the river and was known as an “Ain’t." She sees Cinderella's castle through the trees then fast forward, and she is now in charge of “the Saint.” Not only has she gone from an "Aint" to a "Saint" but things have changed over the years. Her best friend has not spoken to her since the summer they worked as lifeguards at “the Saint.” Her husband who happened to be the heir to “the Saint” has died in a tragic plane crash leaving Traci to pick up the pieces, continue the running of The Saint and dealing with her father and brother-in law.
There are many moving parts to Summer at the Saints that I wondered how would there be time to resolve it all. Mary Kay Andrews keeps the twist and turns going. I knew I had figured it out half way through and sat back to enjoy as it unfolded. I was completely off and was ready to convict the wrong person. Great beach read!
Thank you NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Mary Kay Andrews for ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I tried reading this while I was sick and unfortunately I couldn’t get into it enough to keep going. I hate not finishing books but I just didn’t find it interesting enough.

I received an advanced copy from netgalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

I'll have to tell you one thing: I will be turning around and re-reading this book quite soon. There are so many plots and sub-plots that sometimes it gets to be a little too much. But the more I read, the more enthralled I became with this novel. I got so caught up in everything that was going on that I just couldn't put this book down.

I must admit that Mary Kay Andrews is one of my favorite authors, but I will let you know right here that I don't always LOVE her books. This I indeed did!

The only tiny problem I had (and I admit that it is my problem alone) is that there was so much young adult issues going on and I'm a little too old to understand some of the lingo etc. Oh well, that's all on me!


Murder, theft, arson, financial difficulties, and possible love connections make this a perfect beach read. I have to admit that I didn't finally figure out who was behind all these machinations until the last quarter or so of this book.

I loved this book and can't wait to re-read it...slowly!

This was my first Mary Kay Andrews novel and I am so glad I read it! I loved Summers at the Saint! The characters were well developed, it was a little tricky at first with lots of characters being introduced, but once I got into the story I didn't really want my time at the Saint to end. I liked seeing the side of a resort where the staff have different backgrounds, are there for different reasons, and how they get to know each other.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.
I highly recommend Summers at the Saint!!

First, an admission. I clicked on the "request to review" button for this one based on two things, the summer at the beach type cover and an expectation of a fun romance from an author I've loved for years. Well, I got what I expected but, wow, way more. As it turned out, given my current leaning toward mysteries, this one was the perfect combo of romance, summer sun and fun, and, oh, my, murder and suspense.

There is a lot going on at the beginning, with characters seeming to come and go rapidly, so it did take me awhile to get my bearings. What appears to be a simple story line at first, Traci Eddings' efforts to save the venerable "Saint", ie St. Cecelia hotel/resort, quickly evolves into multiple story lines and characters you'll love. Well, most of them. Others, um, not so much. We meet Traci herself as a child of 6-7 when she gets her first glimpse of the Saint from her grandfather's simple fishing boat. It's quickly established that they, Traci and her family aren't wealthy enough to vacation here. But, she can work there. To cut to the chase, ah, romance. Traci and Hoke, the heir, meet, fall in love, and marry. All is right in their world...until it isn't. Hoke dies and Traci, barely accepted by his upper class family, struggles. Then odd things start happening, including a mysterious death.

That is where the plot takes off and, oh, my, buckle your seat belt. I won't detail the plot further, I'm sure others have done a far better job, but will say that I found what I was expecting and then some. Yes, there is romance. There's also family dynamics, most difficult, and social divides, not to mention that pesky murder. The ending is action and emotion packed, not to mention with more than a bit of romance tossed in, too, so fasten your seat belt and enjoy the ride. 4.5 rounded to 5 star. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress for this fun, romantic, and suspenseful early peek at the goings on at the Saint.