Summers at the Saint
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
MKA did it again!! The Quenn of summer romance!! It was so Fun. I couldn't wait to find out who done it. So many layers & some of it was a total surprise. It was a great book. It had everything in it. It was filled with Suspense, Thriller, Romance, & surprises. Thank you NetGalley!!

This was such an enjoyable summer read. I loved the setting of the book and how the author transports you to The Saint. This book gave me all of the summer vibes making it a perfect cozy, beach read. This book is a great blend of mystery and a touch of romance, but it also touched on so many different topics- navigating friendships, family dynamics, secrets, and betrayal. I don’t know what I was expecting, but this book took so many turns that I was not expecting. This book was engaging so well written, and I really enjoyed the way the story wrapped up. Kathleen McInerney and she did an excellent job at narrating the book, keeping me invested in the storyline. I would recommend adding this one to your TBR, and would recommend the audiobook.

Read if you enjoy:
✔️Mystery + romance
✔️Secrets + betrayal
✔️Multiple POVs

Thank you @macmillan.audio for my ALC!

This cover is gorgeous but boy did it mislead me. I thought this was a lighthearted summer read and it was far more mysterious and dark than I expected.

Traci Eddings worked as a teen at The Saint as a lifeguard. Later she met and married one of the ons of the original owners. When he dies unexpectedly in a plane crash, she ends up running the Saint. But boy did she end up with more than she expected.

Also the rest of the family, aside from the niece, are really pieces of work and do not do anything to make her life easier.

Besides all the family drama, this one has murder, fire, untrustworthy employees, and finally a little romance!

The audio was well done and made it feel a bit like a TV drama!

Many thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio for an ALC and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Traci Eddings, widowed owner of the St. Cecelia hotel, faces staff shortages, financial woes, and family betrayal as she fights to revive the hotel's glory days. With a motley crew of summer help, including her estranged best friend's daughter, Traci navigates romance and scandal in Mary Kay Andrews' heartwarming tale.

The summer vibes were vivid, the twists surprised me, and the southern charm was charming. But overall this story didn’t wow me. I can’t pinpoint a specific element that intensely lacked, but I also can’t think of an aspect that sparkled either (except for the ocean of course). If you’re a fan of Mary Kay Andrews, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, but I’m learning that I like to save her southern sweetness for quick holiday novellas.

I listened to the audiobook, and while I generally enjoy this narrator for Mary Kay Andrew’s holiday stories, I think her tone was too upbeat for this particular novel. I know this murder mystery is suppose to have the feel of chick lit, but I think a different narrator could have made the story seem less silly.

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the ALC ☀️🏖️#MacAudio2024

Perfect for you if you like:
Charming seaside locales
“Spunky”? twists and turns (I have no other way of describing MKA’s whimsical suspense style)
Cozy mysteries with family drama
New adult characters

Similar to:
Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies by Catherine Mack (I have not read this)
The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews
Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita

⛔️cracked door romance subplot
⚠️explicit language, recreational drug use, death/murder, rape, fire

I was expecting a lighthearted rom com when I picked up this book, but instead got a somewhat lighthearted murder mystery. There was a lot going on in this book and a TON of characters that all seemed to mesh together. The POVs swapped 10 million times the first half of the book which was really hard to keep up with.

It was also so much longer than needed. 15 hour audiobook that would’ve been 10…. seriously. Yet with how long the book was, it still left me wanting so much more.

The ending took a much different turn that I thought it would and I liked the fast pace of the last few hours of the book. But it left so many plot holes and wrapped up endings that didn’t really make sense.

Thank you to Netgalley & Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.

🌴 🌴 🌴 🌴 🌴 / 5

Wow! This book was magnificent and had a lot going on! I have mainly read MKA’s Christmas books so I jumped at the opportunity to read and listen to this one!

The book takes place in at the Saint, a beautiful 5 ⭐️ resort in Georgia, I was not sure what to expect but there a number of interesting sub-plots filled with dark secrets! I absolutely loved this book and basically listened/read it the entire weekend! The narration was great and the book was fast paced! My only complaint is that I wish I could have some of Felice’s cooking and reading it on a poolside chair at the Saint!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s press, and Macmillian Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to this book! Jessica Clarke, the narrator of the audiobook, was amazing to listen to! Add this to your TBR, it is out May 7, 2024!

“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.

I only started reading Mar Kay Andrews two years ago through a recommendation of a friend. Since then I have read a dozen of her books and enjoyed them all. This new release is no exception. I found Summers at the Saint to be well-written and engaging, a true page-turner. MKA has a way of adding mystery to each of her books that I find intriguing. Her character development is well done. This novel in particular is the story of the "Haves and the Have-Nots". I would not call it a light-hearted beach read, but I do highly recommend it. The narrator is excellent.

Mary Kay Andrews, the queen of beach reads, returns following Bright Lights Big Christmas with her annual captivating beach read, SUMMERS AT THE SAINT —a distinguished coastal resort with dark secrets of the past collide with the present in this cozy murder mystery and more!

Welcome to the Saint Cecelia, a stunning landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia.

Traci Eddings grew up admiring the grand hotel, considering it a fairy castle called The Saint. The first time she stepped on the property was when she was thirteen, when Meredith, a new girl from school, invited her to a birthday party.

The rich kids were called Saints. Those not were just Ain'ts. Her family was an outsider, neither wealthy nor connected enough to vacation at the resort. But she had always wanted to work there. She did so and wound up marrying the owner's son, Hoke.

Now Traci is widowed and has inherited the resort. She has a grand vision to return it to its early glory days but has been thrown into financial woes, staff shortages, and family drama.

Is there more than meets the eye at this coastal island resort?

However, she must contend with her greedy brother-in-law, who would love to see her fail. She has one summer to turn it around.

Traci hires a crew for the summer, including the daughter of her estranged best friend. She also recruits her niece Parrish and several new employees to live in a newly renovated dorm since housing is so expensive on the island while keeping the hotel afloat. Plus, it makes them more attractive to provide housing. (Old Edwards Inn properties also offer this in Highlands, NC, which makes sense since there is no affordable housing there.)

Then, a strange death occurs during a party which raises eyebrows and other suspicions at The Saint, and it all falls back on Traci since it was her idea for the dorm. Is there a murderer among them or someone from the outside?

We learn more about Traci and her estranged friend, Shannon (there is background history here), who despises the Saint and does not want her daughter working there. We meet five employees who all live together at the dorm and are all witnesses to the death.

Then, the girls do a little sleuthing to try and discover the web of deceit that may lead to the murder.

A mystery of the past meets the present regarding a tragic drowning of one of their own at the hotel. What other secrets has The Saint been hiding or covering over the years? Will the hotel survive with all the bad press and media?

Told from POVs: Traci, Olivia (Livvy), Parrish, Shannon, Felice, KJ, Garrett, and Whelan. (2002/past and present)

CAPTIVATING! When reading a MKA book, you must set aside the time and prepare for an adventure. Her books are always fresh and clever, well-written with vivid settings, well-developed characters, a heartwarming story, a great mystery, and a takeaway message. SUMMERS AT THE SAINT draws you in and hooks you from the first page to the last.

A mix of historical, murder mystery, coming of age, mothers and children, women's fiction, contemporary, nostalgia, humor, suspense, romance, literary, and a must-read beach read, all in one!

From dark secrets of the past and scandals to those who want to keep them buried. The novel will take you back to those summer days at hotels, motels, and when you were a teen.

I am a huge fan of Mary Kay and have read all her books. Whether for summer or holiday, they are always entertaining and full of heart with her signature style and wit.

From the stunning front cover to the cast of characters, SUMMERS AT THE SAINT reminded me a bit of Red Oaks (TV series), which is hilarious set in the 80s—(fav) a coming-of-age set at The Red Oaks Country Club with all the teens with their last summer before college; employees, parents, summer flings, scandal, and more (not a hotel), but with the same drama.

AUDIOBOOK: I read the book and listened to the spectacular audiobook! As always, MKA and Kathleen McInerney (a favorite narrator) are a match made in heaven. I laughed so hard that I was glued to my iPhone for hours and could not put it down. Her distinct voice was perfect for all the multi-voices and highly impressive. I loved the audiobook and highly recommend it.

As a VP of Regional Sales, Marketing, and Design for large hotels and resorts for many years, and later a consultant for inns, cottages, resorts, and vacation rentals. I always enjoy reading stories about coastal historical hotels, resorts and the hospitality business.

A #1 Beach Read Pick from a master Southern storyteller! A summer favorite. Get SUMMERS AT THE SAINT on your TBR list. Beach bag ready! I loved the Epilogue one year later. No one does summer like MKA! Always the best summer and holiday stories. Perfect for your upcoming Memorial Weekend getaway or at home in a comfy chair—allow the novel to transport you.

Thanks to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for a digital e-book reading copy, St. Martins Press for a stunning paperback copy, and Macmillan Audio #MacAudio2024 for an advanced listening audio copy. #SMPInfluencers

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: May 7, 2024
May Newsletter
May 2024 Must-Read Books

🏨 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!

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.

Here we go! It is time for MKA’s new beach read that is out just in time for the start of summer! MKA always has a lot going on in her books and there is a little bit of everything for a reader to enjoy here.

We have suspense, mystery intrigue and even a little romance thrown in. There are family secrets, betrayals, danger, and murders! If you have followed my reviews for some time you know MKA is an auto-read author for me. And she’s also from Georgia, so that automatically gives her bonus points. She’s wonderful to meet as well.

The narrator is Kathleen McInerney again and these two are just perfection together. MKA’s story telling her McInerney’s narration just bring it.

Do me a favor, if you have yet to read a book by MKA, please pick one up and read it. If audiobooks are your thing, listen to it and experience both wonderful ladies!

When you live near the beautiful hotel the Saint, depending on where you live you’re either a Saint or an ain’t. Traci was an ain’t until she married into the family that owned the Saint. After her husband tragically dies in a plane crash, she is left in charge of the storied hotel; but now it’s floundering and she have one last summer to figure out how to save it. She also has to contend with her unscrupulous and greedy brother-in-law and his manipulative wife who are always trying to sabotage her. Trying to hire the best people she can, Traci thinks she is finally on the path to saving the Saint when one her own is found murdered. While uncovering the facts to solve the murder Traci realizes that the people she trusted the most may not be who she thought they were.

This was my first novel by Mary Kay Andrews and I enjoyed it. This isn’t the fluffy beach romance read I thought it was going to be but more of a light beach mystery with a dash of family drama (and an even smaller dash of romance). I think it’s the perfect book to read while on vacation because it will keep you completely engaged for the day while sitting by the pool, lake, ocean or body of water of your choice. Are the characters super believable? Not really. Do I need that for this type of book? Not really. Did I enjoy it anyway? Yes. I would call it a popcorn read (or again, your vacation snack of choice). I may grab another of hers for my summer vacation. I actually did this one entirely on audio and thought the voice of the narrator worked really well.

3.75 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio

✨Book Review✨

Summers at The Saint
Mary Kay Andrew’s

This was a fast easy read that gave off Elin Hilderbrand vibes. It might have been the beach setting or the mix of mystery and romance that made me make those comparisons.

Traci (the female MC) was a very well rounded character. I liked her dedication to the hotel and keeping her husband’s memory alive through her work there. Spending a summer living in dorms to work at a beach hotel sounds like something my younger self would have enjoyed!

The first third of the book there were so many new characters being introduced and the POVs switched multiple times that it was a bit hard to keep up. The ending was also confusing for me too. I didn’t totally get the why behind some of the mystery.

🎧Narration was done by Kathleen McInerney. She did an amazing job narrating a large number of characters. I will definitely listen to another one that she narrates.

Thank you @macmillian.audio AND @netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC.

At the heart of this story is Traci Eddings, the determined widow and underdog heroine who finds herself grappling with the monumental task of reviving the faded grandeur of the Saint. Her character is masterfully crafted (just like all the others), embodying both vulnerability and tenacity, making her struggles and aspirations deeply relatable. Traci's journey is not just about saving a hotel; it's about reclaiming her life and forging a future she can be proud of.

I love the combination of mystery and romance and how the subplots all come together in the end. In true Mary Kay Andrews fashion, the setting of Summers at the Saint becomes a character. The Saint, with its history and idiosyncrasies, is portrayed so vividly that one can almost smell the salty sea breeze and hear the chatter of the guests. This sense of place is integral to the story's charm and helps anchor the myriad plot threads.

4.5 for me so I will round up to 5.. Whew! Mary Kay Andrews, did not hold back on the mysterious drama in this one. At first there were a few storylines going on that needed to keep straight and I had to listen carefully. It was all brought together at the end. I loved how it was truly a vibe of the six degrees of separation.

I was expecting a cute summer read and a whole lot of romance. Mary Kay brought some romance but she really brought the mystery with a murder in and resort scandals.

I enjoyed this book and it is definitely a binge worthy summer read (more of the cozy mystery vibes).

My only question is what the heck was up with the air conditioners? All the other resort “quirks” were answered. Did I miss it?

Thank you MacMillian Audio and St Martins Press for this audio arc!

When I selected this book, I thought I was getting a nice, fun, summer chick lit read. This is the first Mary Kay Andrews book that I have read, and I would definitely read another. I have to say it was not what I was expecting, and I really enjoyed it. While it had a lot of light moments there were some great twists and I enjoyed the mystery, suspense, backstabbing and a whole cast of characters that start out as strangers, but end up as a cohesive unit. The author created a wonderful plot with interesting characters.

The setting of the Saint and the relationships of the characters was enjoyable and a great place to stage this story. The young characters, the older characters and the past were all fascinating and I wanted to continue reading to see where it would go next. It was a great read, I would highly recommend to people. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was enjoyable and brought the characters to life.

Thanks Net Galley. for the opportunity, listen to this audiobook. I look forward to more books from this author.

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 was fortunate to get this book on audio and in ebook format, and took advantage of both, reading the print book when I was unable to listen. The narrator did an excellent job of voicing the characters and portraying the circumstances of the story. I will certainly listen to other books that she narrates, and I can’t wait to read MKA’s next book, which will most likely be a Christmas-themed romance.

Kathleen McInerney knocked it out of the park narrating Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews. With a host of characters to keep track of and some with accents, I applaud Kathleen McInerney for being able to bring each character to life and for giving each character their own voice so I always knew who was speaking in the dialogue sections. Great audiobook!

Thank you Macmillian Audio for the gifted ALC!

4.5 stars rounded up. Based on the cover of this book I thought it was going to be a cute little summer romance book, but I got way more than I bargained for. Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews had a little bit of everything — romance, sure, but also, family drama, mystery and suspense. I wasn’t expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised by how all the story likes twisted and wove together to create a very fulfilling novel.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.